Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.17 (lysozyme)
 21,489 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We performed molecular biological studies as well as immunohistochemical analysis of three cases of giant cell carcinoma of the pancreas. Histologically, one case was a pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma consisting of pleomorphic giant/ small cells and spindle cells, one an osteoclast-like giant cell tumor composed of osteoclastoid giant cells and pleomorphic small cells, and one a pleomorphic giant cell carcinoma with osteoclastoid giant cells. Immunohistochemically, pleomorphic giant cells and small pleomorphic cells were positive for epithelial and mesenchymal markers throughout the cases. Osteoclastoid cells were strongly positive for PG-M1 (CD68), but negative for lysozyme and epithelial markers. Pleomorphic spindle cells showed the same immunoreactivity as pleomorphic giant/small cells. Genetically, all cases contained a mutation in the K-ras (codons 12, 13) oncogene, but neither p53 (exons 5-8) nor p16INK4 (exons 1, 2) gene mutations were found in any case. Furthermore, Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the p53, p161NK4. APC, and DPC4 gene loci was not found in any of the cases. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated this tumor to be of epithelial origin with mesenchymal differentiation. Genetically, initiation of the tumor is similar to that of usual ductal adenocarcinoma, but progression might be rather different. The peculiar histologic and biologic features of this tumor would be the result of changes in other functional genes.
Pancreas 1999 Apr
PMID:Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis of giant cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a report of three cases. 1020 90

The most common cause for the clinical signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in dogs is pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA). In the subclinical phase of EPI, before total atrophy occurs, exocrine pancreas is affected by infiltrative lymphocytic inflammation, which gradually leads to selective destruction and atrophy of the acinar tissue.Here, we analyzed the role of cell-mediated and humoral immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atrophic lymphocytic pancreatitis in German shepherd dogs and rough-coated collies. Pancreas biopsies and serum samples were obtained from 12 dogs with subclinical EPI (SEPI), 13 dogs with clinical EPI and 13 healthy control dogs. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that, in the subclinical phase, the majority of the infiltrating lymphocytes were T-cells with an almost equal number of CD4+ 'T-helper' and CD8+ 'cytotoxic' T-lymphocytes. The distribution of the two lymphocyte subsets was different. Typically, the CD4+ cells were present in large cellular infiltrates in the affected parenchyma, and the scattered CD8+ cells had infiltrated both the affected and the normal parenchyma. In sections where destruction of acinar parenchyma was present, the CD8+ T-cells were predominant. In cases of marked T-cell infiltration, CD79+ B-lymphocytes and plasma cells, and lysozyme-positive macrophages were also detected. Lymphoid follicle germinal centers with a majority of cells staining positively for CD79 were found. The lymphocytic infiltration in the totally atrophic tissue of dogs with clinical EPI was less prominent. Indirect immunofluorescence staining showed serum antibodies reacting weakly with pancreatic acinar cells in five out of nine dogs with subclinical and three out of 10 dogs with clinical EPI, but not in the control dogs. The results suggest that the tissue destruction is largely T-cell-mediated, although the presence of numerous B-lymphocytes and pancreas-specific antibodies in the sera of some dogs indicate that humoral mechanisms are also involved. In conclusion, this study suggests that the atrophic lymphocytic pancreatitis in German shepherds and rough-coated collies is an autoimmune disease.
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PMID:Cellular and humoral immune responses in atrophic lymphocytic pancreatitis in German shepherd dogs and rough-coated collies. 1097 89