T1α (also known as Podoplanin), is a highly expressed gene found in lung alveolar type I (ATI) epithelial cells and in several other organ systems including lymphatic vessels and kidney. T1α is necessary for proper alveolar development and cell proliferation in the lung. It encodes an apical surface membrane protein involved in cell migration and morphogenesis. T1α also is upregulated at the leading edge of invasive tumors, and is used as a negative prognostic for remission-free recovery in cancer patients. Although T1α is known to interact with other cell membrane proteins, its molecular function and mechanism of action is not fully understood. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of T1α regulation in normal lung alveolar development, we decided to identify T1α interacting proteins in lung cells. We performed mass spectrometry analysis on protein bands isolated from T1α co-immunoprecipitation, western blot, and immunofluorescence analyses. The mass spectrometry analysis of co-immunoprecipitated proteins with T1α resulted in the identification of several T1α interacting protein candidates, most notably Myh9. Myh9 is a member of a family of non-muscle myosins which is expressed in the lung epithelium, as well as in the kidneys’ podocytes, where its absence leads to a phenotype similar to reduced expression of T1α. Moreover, we confirmed the interaction of Myh9 with T1α by co-immunoprecipitation analysis in cell lysates derived from E10, a murine ATI-like cell line. Similarly, immunofluorescence staining showed that in the murine lung Myh9 and T1α display similar patterns of expression at the edge of ATI epithelial cells. Our results suggest that T1α interaction with Myh9 may play an important role in T1α-mediated cell migration and morphogenesis.

Distinction of primary skin adnexal carcinomas from cutaneous metastasis of adenocarcinomas is challenging. In this study, we evaluated podoplanin immunoreactivity in a series of primary skin adnexal tumors and adenocarcinomas metastatic to skin using a D2-40 antibody. The initial test series were composed of a total of 93 cases including 32 primary skin adnexal carcinomas, 46 benign primary adnexal tumors, and 15 cutaneous metastatic adenocarcinomas. We found that variable D2-40 reactivity was seen in all of the primary cutaneous carcinomas including sebaceous carcinomas (10/10), squamous cell carcinomas (10/10), porocarcinomas (4/4), trichilemmal carcinomas (4/4), skin adnexal carcinomas not otherwise specified (4/4), and in the majority of benign skin adnexal tumors. In contrast, no podoplanin immunoreactivity was seen in any of the 15 (0/15) cutaneous metastases. To confirm the initial findings and to further explore the utility of podoplanin reactivity in the distinction of these tumors, we also examined a test set of 35 unknown cases, including 21 adenocarcinomas metastatic to skin and 14 primary adnexal tumors, in a blinded fashion. In this test set of cases, podoplanin was negative in 22 cases and positive in 13 cases. Of the 22 podoplanin negative cases, 20 were proven to be metastatic adenocarcinoma. Of the 13 D2-40 positive cases, 12 were proven to be primary adnexal tumors. Our results suggest that podoplanin can be a useful tool to distinguish primary skin adnexal carcinomas form adenocarcinomas metastatic to skin with high sensitivity (94.5%) and specificity (97.2%).

Head and neck cancer (HNC) makes up 6 ¢H of the cancer patients in the world every year. This disease usually occurs in males and the incidence is increasing year by year. According to statistical analysis, HNC has less than 50 ¢H five-year survival rate. Therefore, the research of HNC seems imminent so that may lead to the development of new approaches of diagnosis and therapy. Recent research had shown that expression of podoplanin caused cellular proliferation, and may be associated with tumor invasion, metastasis and malignant prognosis. Podoplanin, a mucin-type transmembrane sialoglycoprotein, is highly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells but not expressed in vascular endothelial cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and pathological significance of podoplanin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Therefore, we collected clinical specimen and associated patient history of OSCC. Further, we used the human cell lines of HNSCC (Fadu, Hep2) to investigate the molecular regulation of podoplanin. Podoplanin expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot assay firstly. As shown, podoplanin was found to be overexpressed in tumors compared with normal adjacent tissues. Further, immunohistochemical analysis revealed the location of podoplanin expression in OSCC tissues. The results showed that podoplanin had higher expression in T4 stage tumor section than in normal adjacent tissues of OSCC samples, or in T1 stage. Here, podoplanin was highly expressed in the OSCC tumor cell and lymphatics of stage T4 OSCC tissue. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of podoplanin in OSCC patients was associated with decreased five-years survival rate. In the univariate analysis, several factors were statistically significantly associated with disease-specific survival rate, including Tumor stage, Nodal stage, and podoplanin expression. In the subsequent multivariate analysis, only Tumor stage and Nodal stage showed a trend toward worse disease-specific survival. To further investigate the regulatory mechanism of podoplanin and its position of expression within the cell, immunofluorescence and transfection were utilized to assay. The results showed that podoplanin was expressed in the nuclear membrane of the Fadu and Hep2 cell lines, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was involved. We suggest that the role of podoplanin in OSCC should be further investigated for potential future treatment.

A podoplanina humana é uma glicoproteína que se expressa em várias células e tecidos normais e neoplásicos, inclusive aqueles de origem odontogênica. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a imunolocalização da podoplanina em tumores odontogênicos epiteliais com e sem ectomesênquima incluindo oito ameloblastomas, nove tumores odontogênicos adenomatóides, vinte tumores odontogênicos queratocísticos, cinco cistos odontogênicos ortoqueratinizados, um tumor odontogênico epitelial calcificante, dois fibromas ameloblásticos, quatro fibroodontomas ameloblásticos e cinco tumores odontogênicos císticos calcificantes. Todos os tumores odontogênicos foram submetidos a imuno-histoquímica para o anticorpo anti-podoplanina numa diluição de 1:100 e avaliados, microscopicamente, com base na distribuição tecidual e na intensidade da imunomarcação. Para os tumores odontogênicos queratocísticos e cistos odontogênicos ortoqueratinizados além da podoplanina foi determinado o índice de proliferação celular baseado na positividade nuclear das células do epitélio odontogênico imunomarcadas com o Ki-67 na diluição de 1:200 e comparados estatisticamente pelo coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. Os resultados mostraram uma forte expressão da podoplanina na membrana e no citoplasma do epitélio odontogênico da maioria dos tumores analisados, bem como, em células ectomesênquimais como os odontoblastos e suas extensões dentinárias. A ausência da podoplanina foi identificada nos ameloblastos completamente diferenciados, nas áreas de metaplasia escamosa, nas células fantasmas, nas áreas de calcificação e nos depósitos extracelulares de material eosinofílicos observados nos tumores odontogênicos. No tumor odontogênico queratocístico observou-se uma forte expressão da podoplanina na camada basal e suprabasal do epitélio, enquanto que, nos cistos odontogênicos ortoqueratinizados esta expressão estava ausente ou fracamente distribuída no epitélio. Houve uma correlação estatisticamente significativa (p=0,006) entre a expressão de podoplanina e o índice de proliferação celular dos tumores odontogênicos queratocísticos e cistos odontogênicos ortoqueratinizados. Estes resultados sugerem que a podoplanina participa dos processos de proliferação e diferenciação celular dos epitélios odontogênicos presentes nos tumores odontogênicos benignos dos ossos maxilares. / Human podoplanin is a glycoprotein expressed in various cells and normal and neoplastic tissues, including those of odontogenic origin. The aim of this study was to identify the immunolocalization of podoplanin in epithelial odontogenic tumors with and without ectomesenchyme, including eight ameloblastomas, nine adenomatoid odontogenic tumors, twenty keratocystic odontogenic tumors, five orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts, one calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor, two ameloblastic fibromas, four ameloblastic fibro-odontomas and five calcifying cystic odontogenic tumors. All odontogenic tumors were submitted to immunohistochemistry using a podoplanin antibody at a dilution of 1:100 and evaluated microscopically, based on the tissue distribution and intensity of immunoreactivity. For keratocystic odontogenic tumors and orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts, in addition to podoplanin, the index of cell proliferation was determined based on the nuclear positivity of odontogenic epithelial cells immunostained with Ki-67 at a dilution of 1:200 and statistically compared by the Spearman correlation coefficient. The results showed strong expression of podoplanin in the membrane and cytoplasm of the odontogenic epithelium of most tumors analyzed, as well as in ectomesenchymal cells as odontoblasts and dentinal projections. Absence of podoplanin was observed in fully differentiated ameloblasts, in areas of squamous metaplasia, in ghost cells, in areas of calcification and extracellular deposits of eosinophilic material observed in odontogenic tumors. The keratocystic odontogenic tumor exhibited strong expression of podoplanin in basal and suprabasal epithelial layers, while in orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts this expression was absent or weakly distributed in the epithelium. There was statistically significant correlation (p=0,006) between the expression of podoplanin and the cellular proliferation index of odontogenic tumors and orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts. These results suggest that podoplanin participates in the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation of odontogenic epithelium present in benign odontogenic tumors of the jaws.

A expressão do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular tipo C (VEGF-C) e de podoplanina pelas células malignas tem sido associada com a maior ocorrência de metástases regionais e/ou pior prognóstico para os pacientes com câncer de boca. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o significado clinico da expressão de VEGF-C e podoplanina em 42 carcinomas espinocelulares (CEC) bem diferenciado de boca, com e sem comprometimento linfonodal, incluindo oito carcinomas verrucosos, tratados no Departamento de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, do Hospital do Câncer A. C. Camargo, São Paulo, no período de 1980 a 2000. Os pacientes foram analisados quanto ao gênero, idade, cor, tabagismo, etilismo, localização do tumor primário, classificação pelo sistema TNM, tratamento, ocorrência de recidivas local e regional, metástase à distância, de segundo tumor primário, além da presença de infiltrações perineural, muscular, glandular e óssea e de embolizações vasculares. Analisou-se também o índice histopatológico de malignidade tumoral e as expressões imuno-histoquímica de VEGFC e de podoplanina pelas células malignas no front de invasão tumoral. A associação das expressões de VEGF-C e podoplanina com as variáveis estudadas foi calculada pelo teste quiquadrado. As probabilidades de sobrevida, acumuladas nos períodos de 5 e 10 anos calculadas pelo método de Kaplan-Meier e comparadas pelo teste de long-rank. A maioria dos CEC de boca, incluindo os carcinomas verrucosos, exibiu uma forte expressão de VEGF-C pelas células malignas. Houve uma tendência, sem associação estatisticamente significativa, dos pacientes com CEC de boca e forte expressão de VEGF-C apresentarem maior freqüência de recidivas locais e/ou regionais. A forte expressão de podoplanina foi significativamente associada com o gênero masculino (p=0,037), com o estadiamento T1 e T2 (p=0,037), com o estadio clínico I e II (p=0,027) e com a presença de infiltração glandular (p=0,003). As recidivas locais e regionais foram detectadas mais freqüentemente nos CEC de boca com forte expressão de podoplanina, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significativa, quando comparados com aqueles com expressão fraca da proteína. As taxas de sobrevida global e específica por câncer para os pacientes com tumores com forte expressão de VEGF-C e a taxa de sobrevida global para a forte expressão de podoplanina foram percentualmente menores do que aquelas dos pacientes com tumores com fraca expressão destas proteínas. O comprometimento linfonodal cervical se mostrou fator de prognóstico significativo (p=0,001) para os pacientes com câncer de boca. Estes resultados sugerem que a forte expressão de VEGF-C e podoplanina pelas células malignas juntamente com o comprometimento linfonodal regional são fatores indicativos de uma evolução clínica desfavorável e de um pior prognóstico para os pacientes com CEC bem diferenciados de boca. / The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and podoplanin by malignant cells has been associated with a greater incidence of regional metastasis and/or poor prognosis for patients with oral cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of VEGF-C and podoplanin expression in 42 well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), with and without lymph node involvement, including eight verrucous carcinoma, treated at the Department of the Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, A. C. Camargo Cancer Hospital, São Paulo, from 1980 to 2000. Patients were evaluated according the following parameters: gender, age, ethnic group, tobacco and/or alcohol consumption, tumor location, TNM stage, treatment and clinical follow-up (recurrence, occurrence of a second primary tumor and death) and the presence of perineural, muscular, glandular and bone infiltrations or vascular embolizations. In addition, we investigated the histopathological malignancy index and the immunohistochemistry expression of VEGF-C and podoplanin by malignant cells in the invasive front tumor. Chisquare test or Fishers exact test was used to analyze the association of VEGF-C and podoplanin with demographic, clinical and microscopic variables in OSCC patients. The 5 and 10-year survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and the comparison of the survival curves were performed using log rank test. Most of OSCC, including verrucous carcinoma, showed a high expression of VEGF-C by malignant cells. The OSCC patients with high expression of VEGF-C showed a tendency, without statistical significance, of local and/or regional recurrence. The overexpression of podoplanin was significantly associated with the male gender (p=0,037), with T1 and T2 stage (p=0,037), with I and II clinical stage (p=0,027) and with the presence of glandular infiltration (p=0,003). The local and regional recurrences were detected more frequently in OSCC with high expression of podoplanin, without statistical significant difference, when compared with those with low expression of the protein. The overall survival rates and cancer specific survival rates for OSCC patients with high VEGF-C expression and the overall survival rate for OSCC patients with podoplanin overexpression were lower than those of OSCC patients with low expression of these proteins. The cervical lymph node involvement was significant prognostic factor (p=0,001) for patients with oral cancer. These results suggest that the overexpression of VEGF-C and podoplanin by malignant cells and regional lymph node involvement are indicative factors of an unfavorable clinical outcome and a poor prognosis for patients with well-differentiated OSCC.

A expressão do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular tipo C (VEGF-C) e de podoplanina pelas células malignas tem sido associada com a maior ocorrência de metástases regionais e/ou pior prognóstico para os pacientes com câncer de boca. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o significado clinico da expressão de VEGF-C e podoplanina em 42 carcinomas espinocelulares (CEC) bem diferenciado de boca, com e sem comprometimento linfonodal, incluindo oito carcinomas verrucosos, tratados no Departamento de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, do Hospital do Câncer A. C. Camargo, São Paulo, no período de 1980 a 2000. Os pacientes foram analisados quanto ao gênero, idade, cor, tabagismo, etilismo, localização do tumor primário, classificação pelo sistema TNM, tratamento, ocorrência de recidivas local e regional, metástase à distância, de segundo tumor primário, além da presença de infiltrações perineural, muscular, glandular e óssea e de embolizações vasculares. Analisou-se também o índice histopatológico de malignidade tumoral e as expressões imuno-histoquímica de VEGFC e de podoplanina pelas células malignas no front de invasão tumoral. A associação das expressões de VEGF-C e podoplanina com as variáveis estudadas foi calculada pelo teste quiquadrado. As probabilidades de sobrevida, acumuladas nos períodos de 5 e 10 anos calculadas pelo método de Kaplan-Meier e comparadas pelo teste de long-rank. A maioria dos CEC de boca, incluindo os carcinomas verrucosos, exibiu uma forte expressão de VEGF-C pelas células malignas. Houve uma tendência, sem associação estatisticamente significativa, dos pacientes com CEC de boca e forte expressão de VEGF-C apresentarem maior freqüência de recidivas locais e/ou regionais. A forte expressão de podoplanina foi significativamente associada com o gênero masculino (p=0,037), com o estadiamento T1 e T2 (p=0,037), com o estadio clínico I e II (p=0,027) e com a presença de infiltração glandular (p=0,003). As recidivas locais e regionais foram detectadas mais freqüentemente nos CEC de boca com forte expressão de podoplanina, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significativa, quando comparados com aqueles com expressão fraca da proteína. As taxas de sobrevida global e específica por câncer para os pacientes com tumores com forte expressão de VEGF-C e a taxa de sobrevida global para a forte expressão de podoplanina foram percentualmente menores do que aquelas dos pacientes com tumores com fraca expressão destas proteínas. O comprometimento linfonodal cervical se mostrou fator de prognóstico significativo (p=0,001) para os pacientes com câncer de boca. Estes resultados sugerem que a forte expressão de VEGF-C e podoplanina pelas células malignas juntamente com o comprometimento linfonodal regional são fatores indicativos de uma evolução clínica desfavorável e de um pior prognóstico para os pacientes com CEC bem diferenciados de boca. / The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and podoplanin by malignant cells has been associated with a greater incidence of regional metastasis and/or poor prognosis for patients with oral cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of VEGF-C and podoplanin expression in 42 well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), with and without lymph node involvement, including eight verrucous carcinoma, treated at the Department of the Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, A. C. Camargo Cancer Hospital, São Paulo, from 1980 to 2000. Patients were evaluated according the following parameters: gender, age, ethnic group, tobacco and/or alcohol consumption, tumor location, TNM stage, treatment and clinical follow-up (recurrence, occurrence of a second primary tumor and death) and the presence of perineural, muscular, glandular and bone infiltrations or vascular embolizations. In addition, we investigated the histopathological malignancy index and the immunohistochemistry expression of VEGF-C and podoplanin by malignant cells in the invasive front tumor. Chisquare test or Fishers exact test was used to analyze the association of VEGF-C and podoplanin with demographic, clinical and microscopic variables in OSCC patients. The 5 and 10-year survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and the comparison of the survival curves were performed using log rank test. Most of OSCC, including verrucous carcinoma, showed a high expression of VEGF-C by malignant cells. The OSCC patients with high expression of VEGF-C showed a tendency, without statistical significance, of local and/or regional recurrence. The overexpression of podoplanin was significantly associated with the male gender (p=0,037), with T1 and T2 stage (p=0,037), with I and II clinical stage (p=0,027) and with the presence of glandular infiltration (p=0,003). The local and regional recurrences were detected more frequently in OSCC with high expression of podoplanin, without statistical significant difference, when compared with those with low expression of the protein. The overall survival rates and cancer specific survival rates for OSCC patients with high VEGF-C expression and the overall survival rate for OSCC patients with podoplanin overexpression were lower than those of OSCC patients with low expression of these proteins. The cervical lymph node involvement was significant prognostic factor (p=0,001) for patients with oral cancer. These results suggest that the overexpression of VEGF-C and podoplanin by malignant cells and regional lymph node involvement are indicative factors of an unfavorable clinical outcome and a poor prognosis for patients with well-differentiated OSCC.

A podoplanina humana é uma glicoproteína que se expressa em várias células e tecidos normais e neoplásicos, inclusive aqueles de origem odontogênica. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a imunolocalização da podoplanina em tumores odontogênicos epiteliais com e sem ectomesênquima incluindo oito ameloblastomas, nove tumores odontogênicos adenomatóides, vinte tumores odontogênicos queratocísticos, cinco cistos odontogênicos ortoqueratinizados, um tumor odontogênico epitelial calcificante, dois fibromas ameloblásticos, quatro fibroodontomas ameloblásticos e cinco tumores odontogênicos císticos calcificantes. Todos os tumores odontogênicos foram submetidos a imuno-histoquímica para o anticorpo anti-podoplanina numa diluição de 1:100 e avaliados, microscopicamente, com base na distribuição tecidual e na intensidade da imunomarcação. Para os tumores odontogênicos queratocísticos e cistos odontogênicos ortoqueratinizados além da podoplanina foi determinado o índice de proliferação celular baseado na positividade nuclear das células do epitélio odontogênico imunomarcadas com o Ki-67 na diluição de 1:200 e comparados estatisticamente pelo coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. Os resultados mostraram uma forte expressão da podoplanina na membrana e no citoplasma do epitélio odontogênico da maioria dos tumores analisados, bem como, em células ectomesênquimais como os odontoblastos e suas extensões dentinárias. A ausência da podoplanina foi identificada nos ameloblastos completamente diferenciados, nas áreas de metaplasia escamosa, nas células fantasmas, nas áreas de calcificação e nos depósitos extracelulares de material eosinofílicos observados nos tumores odontogênicos. No tumor odontogênico queratocístico observou-se uma forte expressão da podoplanina na camada basal e suprabasal do epitélio, enquanto que, nos cistos odontogênicos ortoqueratinizados esta expressão estava ausente ou fracamente distribuída no epitélio. Houve uma correlação estatisticamente significativa (p=0,006) entre a expressão de podoplanina e o índice de proliferação celular dos tumores odontogênicos queratocísticos e cistos odontogênicos ortoqueratinizados. Estes resultados sugerem que a podoplanina participa dos processos de proliferação e diferenciação celular dos epitélios odontogênicos presentes nos tumores odontogênicos benignos dos ossos maxilares. / Human podoplanin is a glycoprotein expressed in various cells and normal and neoplastic tissues, including those of odontogenic origin. The aim of this study was to identify the immunolocalization of podoplanin in epithelial odontogenic tumors with and without ectomesenchyme, including eight ameloblastomas, nine adenomatoid odontogenic tumors, twenty keratocystic odontogenic tumors, five orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts, one calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor, two ameloblastic fibromas, four ameloblastic fibro-odontomas and five calcifying cystic odontogenic tumors. All odontogenic tumors were submitted to immunohistochemistry using a podoplanin antibody at a dilution of 1:100 and evaluated microscopically, based on the tissue distribution and intensity of immunoreactivity. For keratocystic odontogenic tumors and orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts, in addition to podoplanin, the index of cell proliferation was determined based on the nuclear positivity of odontogenic epithelial cells immunostained with Ki-67 at a dilution of 1:200 and statistically compared by the Spearman correlation coefficient. The results showed strong expression of podoplanin in the membrane and cytoplasm of the odontogenic epithelium of most tumors analyzed, as well as in ectomesenchymal cells as odontoblasts and dentinal projections. Absence of podoplanin was observed in fully differentiated ameloblasts, in areas of squamous metaplasia, in ghost cells, in areas of calcification and extracellular deposits of eosinophilic material observed in odontogenic tumors. The keratocystic odontogenic tumor exhibited strong expression of podoplanin in basal and suprabasal epithelial layers, while in orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts this expression was absent or weakly distributed in the epithelium. There was statistically significant correlation (p=0,006) between the expression of podoplanin and the cellular proliferation index of odontogenic tumors and orthokeratinized odontogenic cysts. These results suggest that podoplanin participates in the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation of odontogenic epithelium present in benign odontogenic tumors of the jaws.

Aims: T1α/(podoplanin) is abundantly expressed in the alveolar epithelial type I cells (ATI) of rodent and human lungs. Caveolin-1 is a classical primary structural protein of plasmalemal invaginations, so-called caveolae, which represent specialized lipid rafts, and which are particularly abundant in ATI cells. The biological functions of T1α in the alveolar epithelium are unknown. Here we report on the characteristics of raft domains in the microplicae/microvillar protrusions of ATI cells, which contain T1α. Methods: Detergent resistant membranes (DRMs) from cell lysates of the mouse epithelial ATI-like cell line E10 were prepared using different detergents followed by flotation in a sucrose gradient and tested by Western and dot blots with raft markers (caveolin-1, GM1) and nonraft markers (transferrin receptor, PDI and β-Cop). Immunocytochemistry was employed for the localization of T1α in E10 cells and in situ in rat lungs. Results: Our biochemical results showed that the solubility or insolubility of T1α and caveolin-1 differs in Triton X-100 and Lubrol WX, two distinct non-ionic detergents. Caveolin-1 was unsoluble in both detergents, whereas T1α was Triton X-100 soluble but Lubrol WX insoluble. Immunofluorescence double stainings revealed that both proteins were colocalized with GM1, while caveolin-1 and T1α were not colocalized in the plasma membrane. Cholesterol depletion modified the segregation of T1α in Lubrol WX DRMs. Cellular processes in ultrathin sections of cultured mouse E10 cells were immunogold positive. Immunoelectron microscopy (postembedding) of rat lung tissue revealed the preferential localization of T1α on apical microvillar protrusions of ATI cells. Conclusion: We conclude that T1α and caveolin-1 are located in distinct plasma membrane microdomains, which differ in their protein-lipid interactions. The raft-associated distribution of T1α may have an impact on a specific, not yet clarified function of this protein in the alveolar epithelium. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Background: Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OTSCC) is the most frequent and aggressive carcinoma in the head and neck region. Its incidence has increased during the last decades, especially in young patients (≤40 years) mainly female. These young patients have either not been exposed to the traditional risk factors for this disease, or have a much reduced duration of exposure than the typical OTSCC patient. The reasons behind this increasing incidence remain unknown. The aims of this thesis were to analyse the presence and possible role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oral tongue cancer in correlation with its surrogate marker p16 and its receptor syndecan-1. Other aims were to evaluate expression of EMT (epithelial to mesenchymal transition) - related markers, such as E-cadherin, β-catenin, CK5 and CK19, and to address the potential predictive role of podoplanin in the loco-regional metastatic process. Clinical parameters including age, sex, geographical distribution, relapse, tumour staging and grading were also investigated for a possible correlation with biomarker expression and prediction of survival rate and therapeutic strategy. Materials and methods: More than one hundred samples of OTSCC coming from two University Hospitals of two different countries (Sweden and Italy) were analysed. HPV presence was evaluated by in situ hybridisation for detection of the high-risk HPV 16 and indirectly by immunohistochemistry (IHC) of its surrogate marker p16. Expression of the HPV receptor syndecan-1 and the EMT biomarkers E-cadherin, β-catenin, CK5, CK19 were also evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Samples were scored using a quick score (QS), taking both number and intensity of cells stained into account. Podoplanin expression was investigated at both protein and RNA level. Results: Tumour size and lymph node metastasis correlated to both overall and disease-free survival. Despite variable expression of the syndecan-1 receptor, HPV 16 was not detected in any sample analysed, excluding a possible association with p16, which was expressed in 33% of the cases. All EMT-related markers were commonly expressed in tongue cancer. Data showed E-cadherin to be an independent prognostic factor with higher expression associated with poor overall survival. Notably, E-cadherin, β-catenin and CK5 directly correlated to each other. Multivariate analysis of clinical data demonstrated that age of the patient is an independent prognostic factor with younger patients showing a worse survival rate. Patients younger than 40 years also showed significantly higher expression of podoplanin. Data for geographic distribution revealed a difference in expression of E-cadherin between Swedish and Italian patients. Conclusions: In contrast to SCC of the base of the tongue and the tonsil, HPV is not present in OTSCC, excluding HPV infection as a risk factor. Higher levels of E-cadherin and young age is associated with poor survival in OTSCC patients. The different frequency of EMT markers seen between Swedish and Italian patients suggests an important role for the environment and the geographical area in the onset of different molecular patterns of OTSCC.

INTRODUÇÃO: A metástase linfonodal em adenocarcinomas de endométrio reduz significativamente as taxas de sobrevida. Poucos estudos relacionando a microdensidade vascular linfática (MDVL) intratumoral e sobrevida em adenocarcinomas endometriais estão disponíveis atualmente. OBJETIVO: O propósito deste estudo foi avaliar a microdensidade vascular linfática intratumoral dos adenocarcinomas de endométrio e investigar a sua associação com fatores patológicos clássicos, metástase linfonodal e sobrevida. MÉTODOS: Cinquenta e sete pacientes com adenocarcinoma de endométrio, diagnosticadas entre 2000 a 2008 submetidas a estadiamento cirúrgico completo e avaliação da MDVL intratumoral e outras variáveis histológicas. Os micro vasos linfáticos foram identificados através de reação imunoistoquímica utilizando um anticorpo monoclonal contra a podoplanina humana (clone D2-40) e avaliados pela contagem do número de vasos linfáticos marcados em 10 campos com maior densidade vascular em aumento de 400 vezes. A MDVL foi expressa pela média do número de vasos nestes 10 campos microscópicos de maior densidade vascular. A seguir, investigamos a associação entre MDVL com achados clínico-patológicos e prognóstico. Nossos resultados demonstraram que a média do número de vasos linfáticos contados em todos os casos variou de 0 a 4.7. O valor da mediana obtida da média da MDVL foi de 0,5 e foi definido como valor de corte entre baixa e alta MDVL. RESULTADOS: Identificamos baixa MDVL intratumoral em 27 (47,4%) pacientes e alta MDVL em 30 (52,6%) das pacientes. A elevada MDVL intratumoral foi associada com menor comprometimento linfonodal e casos fatais, menor infiltração miometrial e de anexos e menor comprometimento cervical e peritoneal. Não foi obtida associação entre MDVL e idade, tipo histológico pelo sistema da FIGO, invasão vascular ou comprometimento linfonodal. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados mostram associação entre elevada MDVL intratumoral com fatores prognósticos favoráveis no câncer endometrial / INTRODUCTION: Lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer significantly decreases survival rate. Few data on the influence of intratumoral lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) on survival in endometrial cancer are available. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess the intratumoral LMVD of endometrial adenocarcinomas and to investigate its association with classical pathological factors, lymph node metastasis and survival. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 underwent complete surgical staging and evaluation of intratumoral LMVD and other histologic variables. Lymphatic microvessels were identified by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibody against human podoplanin (clone D2-40) and evaluated by counting the number of immunostained lymphatic vessels in 10 hot spot areas at 400X magnification. The LMVD was expressed by the mean number of vessels in these 10 hot spot microscopic fields. We next investigated the association of LMVD with the clinicopathologic findings and prognosis. Our results demonstrated that the mean number of lymphatic vessels counted in all cases ranged between 0 and 4.7. The median value of mean LMVD was 0.5, and defined the cut-off for low and high LMVD. RESULTS: We identified low intratumoral LMVD in 27 (47.4%) patients and high LMVD in 30 (52.6%) patients. High intratumoral LMVD was associated with lesser nodal involvement and fatal cases, lesser miometrial and adnaexal infiltration, and lesser cervical and peritoneal involvement. No association was seen between LMVD and age, FIGO staging histological type, vascular invasion, or lymph node involvement. CONCLUSION: Our results show association of high intratumoral LMVD with favorable prognosis in endometrial cancer