Objective: To study the mutation of ENG, ACVRL1, and SMAD4 genes in one of a family of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and explore its molecular pathogenesis. Methods: A family spectrum of a patient with a clinical diagnosis of HHT was surveyed. Peripheral blood samples from proband and their eldest were collected, and ENG, ACVRL1 and SMAD4 gene analysis was performed by chip capture high-throughput sequencing. The mutation detected was verified by Sanger. Results: 9 of the 71 family members were diagnosed with HHT with the main manifestation of recurrent nasal bleeding. Genetic analysis showed that the proband and the eldest son of ENG gene exon 9 frameshift mutation: c.1502-1503insGG (p.Gly501GlyfsX18) , and mutations in ACVRL1 and SMAD4 genes were not detected. Conclusion: The frameshift mutation c.1502-1503insGG (p.Gly501GlyfsX18) of the ENG gene is the genetic basis for the pathogenesis of this HHT family.
Endoglin ; Exons ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Mutation ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of flow cytometric scoring system in the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). METHODS: The phenotypes of erythroid and immature cells were analyzed retrospectively in 130 MDS patients, 19 healthy controls and 89 pathological controls, all of them were well clinically immunophenotyped. The 4-parameter scoring system reported in the literature was studied, including myeloblast-related cluster size, B-progenitor-related cluster size, lymphocyte to myeloblast CD45 ratio, and granulocyte to lymphocyte side scatter ratio. The two flow cytomatric parameters of the erythroid scoring system were analyzed, including CD36 coefficient of variation (CV) and CD71CV. According to our previous study, the percentage of CD117CD105 myeloid progenitor cells and the proportion of CD105 cells in CD117 cells were selected to establish a two-parameter scoring system, and compared with the four-parameter scoring system and the erythroid scoring system. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the four-parameter scoring system and the erythroid scoring system for the diagnosis of low-risk MDS was 43.5% and 63.0%, and the specificity was 87.0% and 63.9%, respectively. After combining the two scoring systems, the sensitivity to diagnose low-risk MDS was 73.9% and the specificity was 62.0%. The sensitivity of the two-parameter scoring system for the diagnosis of low-risk MDS was 76.1% with a specificity of 81.5%. Combined with the four-parameter scoring system, the sensitivity was increased to 78.3%, but the specificity was reduced to 71.3%. After combining with the erythroid scoring system, the sensitivity reached 87.0%, but the specificity was reduced to 54.6%. CONCLUSION Using the two-parameter scoring system alone can achieve great sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of low risk MDS.
Endoglin ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; diagnosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To detect the serum levels of soluble endothelial glycoprotein endoglin (s-Eng) in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and to evaluate the correlation between s-Eng levels and clinical features and laboratory parameters. METHODS: The levels of serum s-Eng were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 139 patients with APS, 44 patients with SLE but no APS, 37 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), 23 patients with Bechet's disease (BD), 22 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 22 persistent anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) positive individuals without SLE or APS (simply aCL positive group) and 87 health controls (HC) without any auto-immune diseases. These APS patients included 64 primary APS patients and 75 APS patients secondary to SLE.The correlation between the clinical data, laboratory parameters, and serum s-Eng levels were analyzed.Independent samples t test, paired t test, Chi-square Test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's χ² test were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: (1) The serum levels of s-Eng were significantly higher in the patients with APS whether primary or secondary to SLE than in the health controls and simply aCL positive group and the patients with other autoimmune diseases, including SLE, pSS, BD and SSc (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the serum s-Eng levels between simply aCL positive group and health controls [(5.17±2.00) mg/L vs. (5.04±1.11) mg/L, P>0.05]. (2) The best cut-off value for the diagnosis of APS was no less than 8.37 mg/L as mean ± 3SD value, with the sensitivity at 0.772 and the specificity at 0.928. The Youden index was 0.700. These results indicated good validity of s-Eng as a diagnostic marker for APS. (3) The proportions of artery thrombosis and pathological pregnancy were higher in the group of s-Eng-positive APS patients than that in s-Eng-negative group (46/81 vs. 19/58, 29/65 vs. 10/44, respectively, all P<0.05). The levels of PLT were lower in the group of s-Eng-positive APS patients (72.00×10⁹/L vs. 119.00×10⁹/L, P<0.001). (4) The proportions of the presence (93.83% vs. 37.93%, P<0.001) and titer (61.70 U/mL vs. 15.45 U/mL, P<0.001) of aCL were both higher in the group of s-Eng-positive APS patients than in s-Eng-negative group. The proportions of the presence (61.73% vs. 43.10%, P<0.05) and titer (33.48 U/mL vs.17.40 U/mL, P<0.05) of anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibody were both higher in the group of s-Eng-positive APS patients than in s-Eng-negative group too. CONCLUSION s-Eng serum levels were significantly increased in the patients with APS, and it may play a role as acomplementary serological marker for the diagnosis and risk prediction of APS.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Autoantibodies ; Endoglin/blood* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy

Objective: To explore the diagnostic significance of the combination of clinical and genetic detection of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) by analyzing the clinical and genetic diagnosis of a family with HHT. Methods: Medical history data of the probands and their family members were collected, and the sequence analyses of coding regions of ENG, ACVRL1, SMAD4 and GDF2 genes were performed by PCR-sequencing method, and a comprehensive diagnosis was made based on the clinical features and gene detection results. After the pathogenic gene variation was identified, 11 members of 3 generations of the family were tested for pathogenic gene mutation. Results: There was an ACVRL1 c.715_716delAG mutation in the proband and 9 other family members, which caused p.S239C. Based on the clinical and genetic findings, the 7 suspected were diagnosed and 2 asymptomatic patients were found to carry the mutation site. Conclusion: The combination of clinical features and gene detection can determine the etiology and classification of HHT, which is convenient for the early diagnosis and prevention of the disease.
Activin Receptors, Type II/genetics* ; Endoglin/genetics* ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/genetics*

BACKGROUNDProgranulin is a newly discovered 88-kDa glycoprotein originally purified from the highly tumorigenic mouse teratoma-derived cell line PC. Its expression is closely correlated with the development and metastasis of several cancers. However, no immunohistochemical evidence currently exists to correlate progranulin expression with clinicopathologic features in breast carcinoma biopsies, and the role of progranulin as a new marker of metastatic risk and prognosis in breast cancer has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic and prognostic implications of progranulin expression in breast carcinoma and its correlation with tumor angiogenesis.

METHODSProgranulin expression was determined immunohistochemically in 183 surgical specimens from patients with breast cancer and 20 tissue samples from breast fibroadenomas. The tumor angiogenesis-related biomarker, vascular endothelial growth factor was assayed and microvessel density was assessed by counting vascular endothelial cells in tumor tissues labeled with endoglin antibody. The relationship between progranulin expression and the clinicopathologic data were analyzed.

RESULTSProgranulin proteins were overexpressed in breast cancer. The level of progranulin expression was significantly correlated with tumor size (P = 0.004), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) and TNM staging (P < 0.001). High progranulin expression was associated with higher tumor angiogenesis, reflected by increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression (P < 0.001) and higher microvessel density (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONProgranulin may be a valuable marker for assessing the metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer, and could provide the basis for new combination regimens with antiangiogenic activity.

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Endoglin ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; Antigens, CD ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Endoglin ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo carry out genetic testing for a family affected with pulmonary hypertension (PH) as the initial sign of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

METHODSHigh throughput sequencing was performed to detect potential mutation in the coding regions of endoglin (ENG), activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ACVRL1) and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD4) genes.

RESULTSA pathogenic heterozygous c.814C>T (p.Gln272Ter) mutation of the ACVRL1 gene was identified in the proband. Her mother and two sons have carried the same mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe c.814C>T (p.Gln272Ter) mutation of the ACVRL1 gene probably underlies the disease in this family. Genetic testing should be recommended to HHT patient, in particular those with pulmonary hypertension.

Activin Receptors, Type II ; genetics ; Child ; Endoglin ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic ; complications

BACKGROUNDRecombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin, Endostar) has been proved to be an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Docetaxel has been also considered as a common chemotherapeutic agent with inhibition of angiogenesis of malignancies. However, their function has been seldom compared and a best synergism protocol is not determined. This study aimed to compare the effects of two drugs, investigate their combined impact on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), a molecular basis and find ideal protocols to inhibit endothelial cell proliferation.

METHODSHUVECs on confluent growth or activated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were treated by rh-endostatin or/and docetaxel at respective gradient concentration in following operations as cell proliferation determined by MTT assay, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and markers of CD146, CD62E and CD105 detected by flow cytometery, the structure of the channel formed by HUVECs measured by tube formation count.

RESULTSRh-endostatin exhibited time dependent inhibition of proliferation while docetaxel showed both time and dose dependent inhibition. HUVECs accumulated in G(0)-G(1) with decreased numbers of cells in G(2) after a single treatment of rh-endostatin or that followed by docetaxel treatment. Cells accumulated in G(2) after both a single docetaxel and simultaneous administration. Both the number of cells in G(0)-G(1) and apoptotic cells were increased by docetaxel followed by rh-endostatin treatment. The number of non-apoptotic cells at G(0)-G(1) was increased by first administering rh-endostatin then docetaxel. Sequential treatment of docetaxel followed by rh-endostatin resulted in the greatest increase in apoptosis (34.7%) and the second highest apoptosis was seen with simultaneous administration (18.2%). Expression of CD146 and CD105 on confluent HUVECs was reduced at certain doses of rh-endostatin and/or docetaxel. However, rh-endostatin reduced CD105 without any apparent impact on either CD146 or CD62E expression, whereas these markers were down-regulated by docetaxel after pre-activation by VEGF. Rh-endostatin treatment maintained tube-like structures for a limited time. In contrast, docetaxel swiftly reduced tube formation. Simultaneous treatment, or docetaxel followed by rh-endostatin, exhibited a stronger inhibition on tube formation than either agent alone.

CONCLUSIONSBoth rh-endostatin and docetaxel can inhibit HUVEC proliferation while the high apoptotic rate after combined administration was probably owing to different sequent administration by docetaxel followed by rh-endostatin or simultaneous treatment. Both proliferation and adhesion molecules on HUVECs of confluent growth are down-regulated by the two drugs. The rh-endostatin decreased proliferation markers, but only slightly modified adhesion molecules, while both markers were down-regulated by docetaxel on HUVECs activated by VEGF. Rh-endostatin could maintain adhesion of HUVECs at first then induce cells apoptosis to damage tube formation. We hypothesize that it could lead to vascular normalization in short time. In contrast, docetaxel can suppress HUVEC proliferation, adhesion, and reduced tube formation swiftly due to its cytotoxicity. Combined treatments can induce a synergistic inhibition of tube formation.

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CD146 Antigen ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; E-Selectin ; metabolism ; Endoglin ; Endostatins ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Taxoids ; pharmacology

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Endoglin ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Thy-1 Antigens ; metabolism ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of microvessel density (MVD) and blood vessel invade (BVI) as the indexes in predicting prognosis of rectal carcinoma at stages I to II.

METHODSTumor tissues from 380 patients who underwent resection of stage I or II rectal cancer were analyzed for MVD and BVI by immunohistochemical S-P method with anti-CD105 and anti-CD 34 antibody. Binary and multivariable Cox regression was applied to indicate independent factors associated with overall survival.

RESULTSCD105 was present in the neovascularity of the cancer tissue but not in the normal tissue, while CD34 was present in the tumor tissue and the normal tissue. BVI on CD34 staining was significantly higher than that on HE staining. Multivariable analysis revealed that TNM stage, CD34-BVI, histologic type, and CD105-MDV were independent risk factors to predict the possibility of poor prognosis of stage I or II rectal cancer. CD34-BVI or CD105-MVD positivity had a hazard ratio of 4.483 (95% confidence interval 2.861-7.026) for mortality.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of CD34-BVI and CD105-MVD are independent factors to predict the possibility of poor survival of stage I or II rectal carcinoma. Detection of CD105-MVD combined with CD34-BVI may help predict clinical outcome and design further individualized adjuvant treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Endoglin ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Rectal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnosis ; pathology