Objective To measure the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α in acral malignant melanoma (MM) tissue and to investigate its relationship with the stem cell factor (SCF)/c-kit pathway.Methods Immunohistochemical staining was performed to measure the expression of HIF-1α in tissue specimens from lesions of 93 patients with acral MM,21 with non-acral MM,39 with acral melanocytic nevi,and from the normal acral skin of 15 healthy human controls.Meanwhile,the expression of c-kit was detected by immunohistochemical staining in the 93 acral MM tissue specimens.Statistical comparisons were carried out by chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test.The relationship of HIF-1α expression with c-kit expression as well as tumor progression and staging was assessed by Spearman correlation analysis.Results Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression rate of HIF-1α was 87.10％ (81/93) in acral MM specimens,90.48％ (19/21) in non-acral MM specimens,15.38％ (6/39) in acral melanocytic nevus specimens,but 0 (0/15) in the normal acral skin specimens.The expression of HIF-1α was significantly higher in acral MM lesions than in normal acral skin and acral melanocytic nevus lesions (both P ＜ 0.01),and significantly different between acral MM and non-acral MM lesions (P ＜ 0.01).Moreover,HIF-1α expression was positively correlated with Clark level and Breslow depth of melanoma (rs =0.442,0.368,respectively,both P ＜ 0.01),with the progression of acral MM (from in situ to aggressive and metastatic MM) (rs =0.420,P ＜ 0.01),and with the expression of c-kit (rs =0.307,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions HIF-1α is highly expressed in acral MM,positively correlated with the staging,progression and aggression of MM,and co-expressed with c-kit in acral MM tissue,suggesting that both HIF-1α and c-kit take part in the pathogenesis of acral MM.

Objective To investigate the expressions of Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF1) and β-catenin in extramammary Paget's disease tissue as well as their significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the protein expressions of NHERF1 and β-catenin in paraffin-embeded tissue samples from 18 patients with in situ and 22 patients with invasive extramammary Paget's disease.Results There was a high expression of NHERF1 protein in 18 (81.82％) invasive and 7 (38.89％) in situ extramammary Paget's disease samples (x2 =7.78,P ＜ 0.01).Statistical differences were observed in the membrane expression rate and cytoplasmic or nuclear expression rate of β-catenin between invasive and in situ extramammary Paget's disease tissue samples (0 (0/22) vs.33.33％ (6/18),x2 =8.63,P ＜ 0.01; 81.82％ (18/22) vs.44.44％ (8/18),x2 =6.08,P ＜ 0.05).In extramammary Paget's disease in situ tissue samples,the expression of NHERF1 was negatively correlated with the cytomembrane expression of β-catenin (ρ =-0.488,P ＜ 0.01),but positively correlated with the cytoplasmic or nuclear expression of β-catenin (ρ =0.623,P ＜ 0.01),and there was a negative correlation between the cytomembrane and cytoplasmic or nuclear expression of β-catenin (ρ =-0.572,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions There is an abnormal expression of NHERF1 and β-catenin in extramammary Paget's disease tissue,which may be associated with the initiation,progression,and invasion of primary extramammary Paget's disease.

Objective To detect the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) tissue and to assess its relationship with melanoma proliferation,invasion and metastasis.Methods Western blot was conducted to measure the protein expression of TIMP-4 in five fresh lesional and paratumoral tissue specimens of CMM and three fresh tissue specimens of nevi.Immunohistochemistry was carried out to quantify the expression of TIMP-4,Ki-67,matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2),vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD63 in paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 43 cases of CMM and 51 cases of nevi.The degree of malignancy of melanoma was evaluated in these lesions.Results Western blot analysis showed that the expression of TIMP-4 was significantly higher in 4 of 5 CMM tissue specimens than in corresponding paratumoral tissue specimens and nevus tissue specimens.Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression rate of TIMP-4 was 86.04％ (37/43) in melanoma tissue,compared to 19.6％ (10/51) in nevus tissue (x2 =31.55,P ＜ 0.05).The expression of TIMP-4 increased sequentially from in situ melanoma to invasive and metastatic melanoma (rs =0.309,P ＜ 0.05).As far as CMM was concerned,the TIMP-4 expression was uncorrelated with any of the known prognostic variables including clinical stage,Clark level,Breslow depth,presence of ulcer,and Ki-67 expression (all P ＞ 0.05),but positively correlated with the expressions of VEGF (rs =0.345,P ＜ 0.05) and CD63 (rs =0.555,P ＜ 0.01).The median expression level of TIMP-4 was significantly higher in MMP-2-positive than in MMP-2-negative melanoma tissue samples (3 vs.0,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions TIMP-4 protein is highly expressed in CMM tissue,which may be closely associated with the initiation and progression of CMM,especially with the metastasis of and angiogenesis in CMM.

Objective To investigate the roles of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1, ERK2 and Cyclin D1 proteins in malignant melanoma (MM) and ordinary nevus. Methods By SP immunohistochemical method, the expression of ERK1, ERK2 and Cyclin D1 proteins was detected in 30 cases of MM and 13 cases of ordinary nevi. Results The expression of ERK1, ERK2 and Cyclin D1 proteins was higher in MMs than that in ordinary nevi (P

Objective To investigate the effects of HINT1 on the growth of and apoptosis in malignant melanoma in nude mouse models established by subcutaneous xenotransplantation of human melanoma A375 cells. Methods Three groups of nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with A375 cells transfected with pcDNA 3.1/myc-His (-) A-HINT1 (HINT1-A375), A375 cells transfected with pcDNA 3.1/myc-His (-) A empty vector (neo-A375), and untransfected A375 cells, respectively. Then, the growth of transplanted tumors was observed and tumor formation rate was calculated. Thirty-three days after the inoculation, mice were killed and tumor tissue was obtained followed by the examination of tumor weight and volume. Histopathology was performed to observe the morphological features of tumor cells and in situ end labeling technique (TUNEL)was carried out to assess the apoptosis in transplanted tumor cells. Results The tumor formation rate was consistently 100% in the three groups. The transplanted tumor in HINT1 group grew more slowly than that in the other two groups, and significant difference was observed as early as day 18 (P ＜ 0.01 ). Lower tumor weight and volume were noted in the HINT1 group compared with the neo group and A375 cell group (0.04 ±0.00 g vs. 0.23 ± 0.00 g and 0.29 ± 0.03 g, 0.06 ± 0.04 cm3 vs. 0.34 ± 0.15 cm3 and 0.43 ± 0.19 cm3 respectively, all P ＜ 0.01 ). Histopathology revealed smaller tumor nests, slight atypia of tumor cells with no obvious pathologic mitoses or necrosis in HINT1 group in comparison with the other two groups. Immunohistochemistry and TUNEL revealed that the percentage of apoptotic cells in HINT1 group was statistically higher than that in the neo group and A375 cell group (12.87% ± 1.18% vs. 3.22% ± 0.49% and 3.00% ± 0.53%, both P ＜0.01 ). Conclusion High expression of HINTl could inhibit the growth of and promote the apoptosis in malignant melanoma in nude mice subcutaneous xenotransplantation models, suggesting that HINT1 gene might be responsible for tumor suppression in human malignant melanoma.

Objective To investigate the expression of insulin-like growth factor-Ⅱ(IGF-Ⅱ) mRNAbinding protein-3 (IMP3) in tissue of benign nevi and malignant melanoma,and to evaluate the role of IMP3 in the development and diagnosis of malignant melanoma.Methods Immunohistochemistry was performed to measure the expression of IMP3 in tissue samples from 28 cases of malignant melanoma,8 Spitz nevi,6 dysplastic nevi and 25 benign nevi.Results Immunohistochemically,IMP3 was observed in 23 of 28 melanoma samples,4 of 8 Spitz nevus samples and 2 of 6 dysplastic nevus samples,but not in benign nevus samples.The expression level of IMP3 wag significantly higher in tissue of melanoma than in that of Spitz nevi and dysplastic nevi (both P<0.05),also higher in tissue of aggressive melanoma than that of melanoma in situ(P<0.01).Conclusions IMP3 seems to be a biomarker for the progression of benign nevi to malignant melanoma,and may be utilized to distinguish melanoma from benign nevi.

Objective To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of dysplastic nevus. Methods The specimens from 11 patients with dysplastic nevus were studied for their histological characteristics using haematoxylin and eosin staining, and the patients were analyzed for their clinical manifestations. Results Among the 11 patients, 7 had multiple lesions while the remaining 4 had single lesion. Of the 11 studied lesions, 8 had a diameter ≥ 5 mm; 4 had an obscure margin; 6 had an irregular shape; 4 were irregularly pigmented; 6 displayed an erythematous base. Skin biopsy demonstrated that 3 cases were junctional nevus and 8 were compound nevus. Lentiginous proliferation along the dermal-epidermal junction was observed as a typical histological pattern of all cases. The nevus cells proliferated irregularly and tended toward confluence, forming an appearance of “bridging”. Atypical melanocytes spread subepidermally in a pagetoid manner. Extensive proliferation of melanocytes at the epidermal-dermal junction was observed, with some cells extending beyond the dermal nevus component. Cytological criteria for melanocytic atypia included a nucleus, which was polymorphous and larger than that of a keratinocyte, presence of nucleoli, and hyperchromasia as well as variation in nuclear staining. Conclusions It is important to evaluate the relationship between the histopathologic characteristics and clinical phenotypes of dysplastic nevus, which cannot be diagnosed only based on the atypia of its histological appearance.

Objective To measure histidine triad nucleotide?binding protein 1(HINT1)protein expression and gene promoter methylation, and to analyze the relationship between HINT1 gene promoter methylation and clinical pathological features of melanoma. Methods Fifty?six patients with melanoma and 51 patients with nevus were enrolled as subjects and controls, respectively. Methylation?specific PCR (MSP) was performed to measure the methylation of HINT1 gene promoter in lesional and paratumoral tissue specimens from the patients with melanoma, as well as in lesional specimens from the patients with nevus. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to quantify the expression of HINT1 protein in these tissue specimens. Results MSP showed that the methylation rate of HINT1 gene promoter was significantly higher in melanoma tissues than in paratumoral and nevus tissues(76.8%[43/56]vs. 33.9%[19/56]and 35.3%[18/51], χ2 = 20.810 and 18.749, respectively, both P < 0.05), but was insignificantly different between paratumoral and nevus tissues(χ2=0.022, P>0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression rate of HINT1 was 21.4%(12/56)in melanoma tissues, compared to 82.4%(42/51)in nevus tissues(χ2 = 39.633, P <0.01). There was a significant difference in the methylation rate of HINT1 promoter between HINT1?positive and ?negative melanoma tissues(6/12 vs. 37/44[84.1%], P<0.05), and between Clark levelⅠ-ⅡandⅢ-Ⅴmelanoma tissues(59.1%[13/22]vs. 88.2%[30/34],χ2=6.365,P=0.012). Conclusions HINT1 protein is lowly expressed in melanoma, which may be associated with high methylation of its gene promoter. Moreover, the high methylation ofHINT1 gene promoter may be involved in the initiation and progression of melanoma.

Objective To analyze clinicopathologic features of sebaceoma. Methods Clinical, pathologic and immunohistochemical findings from 31 cases of sebaceoma were retrospectively analyzed. The clinicopathologic features of sebaceoma were investigated. Results There were 9 males and 22 females. The patients′ age was 53.90 ± 15.40 years, and the clinical course was 9.41 ± 13.75 years. Sebaceoma predominantly affected the face. The common lesion of sebaceoma was red, yellowish?red, skin?colored or slight brown papules, with no subjective symptoms in most cases. Histopathologically, neoplasms had symmetric structures, and were located in the dermis. Epidermal involvements were found in 9 cases. The neoplasm cells were mainly composed of basaloid cells, a few mature sebocytes and some transition cells. The proportion of mature sebocyts was less than 1%in 26 cases, less than 20%in 2 cases, and 20%-40%in 3 cases. Mitoses were occasionally found in 5 cases. One patient was complicated by eccrine poroma. Varying amounts of ducts were found in all the patients. Immunohistochemical staining showed that epithelial membrane antigen was expressed on ducts and mature sebocytes in all the patients, while epithelial antigen was undetected in any of the patients. Carcinoembryonic antigen, androgen receptor and D2?40 were found in 20, 24 and 28 patients with sebaceoma, respectively. Conclusions The diagnosis of sebaceoma mainly depends on histopathological examination. Combined immunohistochemical detection of epithelial membrane antigen, androgen receptor and D2?40 is beneficial to its differential diagnosis.

Objective To explore the proliferation characteristics of primary small intestinal epithelial cells of tree shrews and the characteristics of human rotavirus(RV) G1P[8] infection to these cells,and establish a model of tree shrew primary small intestinal epithelial cells infected with human rotavirus G1P[8].Methods The primary small intestinal epithelial cells were obtained by collagenase Ⅺ and dispase I digestion from tree shrew.After purification and identification,the obtained primary small intestinal epithelial cells were infected with RV.Then,culture supernatants of infected cells were collected every 12 hours after infection.Viral titer and viral load were subsequently determined.Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence observation were used to detect the expression of RV protein VP6 in the primary cells.The infectivity of RV to the tree shrew primary cells was finally evaluated.Results After purification and identification of primary epithelial cells from the tree shrew,high purity above 90% primary tree shrew small intestinal epithelial cells was obtained.These primary small intestinal epithelial cells could be infected with RV virus by comparing the virus infectivity to primary renal cells,HCT116 cells and MA104 cells.The virus titer reached to 2.0×105TCID 50/mL at 72 h after infection.Using Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence observation,the specific viral protein of VP6 was determined to be expressed in the tree shrew primary small intestinal epithelial cells,and were located in the cytoplasm from days 1 to 5.Conclusions The separation,purification and cultivation methods of tree shrew primary small intestinal epithelial cells are successful,and the tree shrew model of RV-infected the tree shrew primary small intestinal epithelial cells is successfully established.