OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serum level of lumican (LUM) and its clinical correlation with disease and immune activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The serum LUM levels in both RA patients and health controls (HCs) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The clinical and laboratory data of the patients were collected. The LUM levels in the patients with different clinical features were analyzed. The correlation between the clinical data, laboratory parameters, and serum LUM levels were also analyzed. Independent samples t test, Spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis. Analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis test, the least significant difference (LSD)-t test and Bonferroni correction were used for statistical analysis. The Pearson Chi-square test was used for comparison of the rates between the groups. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The levels of LUM were elevated in the RA patients than in the HCs (P < 0.000 1). Serum LUM levels were correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), immunoglobulin A (IgA), titers of platelet (PLT) and 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28, all P < 0.05). Next, we compared the serum LUM levels in the RA patients with different characteristics, and no difference was found in serum LUM levels between early-RA and RA, the same to RA with different gender (P>0.05). The levels of serum LUM were elevated in the RF positive patients (P < 0.000 1), and in the RF and anti-CCP positive patients (P < 0.05) than in the RA patients with negative RF whether the anti-CCP was positive. In addition, no differences were found between the RA patients with negative RF whether the anti-CCP was positive (P>0.05). All the levels of serum LUM were elevated in the RA patients with different CRP or ESR than in the HCs (P < 0.05), and the serum LUM levels in the RA patients with elevated ESR and CRP were significantly elevated in those with normal ESR and CRP (P < 0.05). Additionally, the results demonstrated that serum LUM levels were positively associated with RA disease activity, and they were declined in RA sustained remission than those in middle or high disease activity (P < 0.05). Furthermore, no difference was found between the RA patients in remission and HCs (P>0.05). No differences were found in the RA patients with and without complications including interstitial pneumonia disease, Sjögren's syndrome, thyroid gland diseases and osteoporosis (P>0.05). The LUM positivity rates were significantly elevated in the RF positive patients than the RF negative patients in RA (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION LUM, a cyclocitrullinated protein, might be a promising biomarker which could reflect both disease activity and immune activity in RA.
Humans ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology* ; Lumican/blood* ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism* ; Female ; Male ; Rheumatoid Factor/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans/blood* ; Blood Sedimentation ; Keratan Sulfate/blood* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Aged

PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of cultured rabbit corneal keratocytes in vitro and evaluate the possibility of differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to keratocytes using the keratocyte conditioned medium (KCM). METHODS: Isolated keratocytes were seeded on the stromal side of amniotic membranes (AM) or plastic dishes, and morphologic changes were evaluated. Rabbit mesenchymal stem cells were cultured on AM with alpha-MEM (minimum essential medium alpha) and KCM. The gene expression patterns of specific keratocyte markers (keratocan, lumican, and aldehyde dehydrogenase family, member A1 (ALDH1A1)) of cultured cells were evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Keratocytes on AM showed dendritic morphology with slow proliferation in contrast, cells on dishes were stellate in shape with fast proliferation. Cultured keratocytes on AM maintained the expression of keratocan, lumican and ALDH1A1 while keratocytes on plastic dishes steadily lost their keratocyte marker gene expression. Additionally, mesenchymal stem cells cultured with KCM on AM induced expression of keratocan and ALDH1A1. CONCLUSIONS: Keratocytes cultured on AM stromal matrix maintained their characteristic morphology and marker gene expression. Morphology changes and marker gene expressions of mesenchymal stem cells suggest an ability to differentiate into keratocytes when grown on AM with KCM.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; Amnion ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans ; Corneal Keratocytes ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Keratan Sulfate ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Organic Chemicals ; Plastics ; Seeds

sulfate is highly postively stained in myxoid stromal tissue, and chondroitin 6-sulfate is highly positively stained in chondroid mesenchymal tissue, both glycosaminoglycans are positively stained in non-luminal cell of ductal area. 2. Dermatan sulfate and keratan sulfate is positively stained in periductal non-luminal tumor cells. 3. In immunohistochemical study, heparan sulfate is weakly stained in luminal cells and non-luminal cells around duct, and chondroid mesenchymal tissue. 4. In transmission electromicroscopic view, the tumor cells are composed of modified myoepithelial cells, and contain many microfilaments and well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum. 5. In Immuno-Blot analysis, the expression of glycosaminoglycans is expressed mostly in chondroitin 6-sulfate and chondroitin 4-sulfate. From the results obtained in this study, tumor cells of pleomorphic adenoma are composed of modified myoepithelial cells, and glycosaminoglycans of chondroitin 4-sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate mostly participate in the development of pleomorphic adenoma, but dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans were expressed variably.]]>
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Bone and Bones ; Chondroitin Sulfates ; Dermatan Sulfate ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Epithelial Cells ; Formaldehyde ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Heparitin Sulfate ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Keratan Sulfate ; Microscopy ; Paraffin ; Parotid Gland ; Phenobarbital ; Salivary Glands ; Sublingual Gland ; Submandibular Gland

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is malignant tumor in salivary gland, and its behavior is very invasive. Of all malignant tumor adenoid cystic carcinoma is occured in frequency of 4.4% in major salivary gland, and 1.29% in minor salivary gland. Histopathologically, adenoid cystic carcinoma is characterized by a cribriform appearance, and tubular form and solid nest type tumor can be seen. The tumor cell structure composed of modified myoepithelial cell, and basaloid cell. Extracellular matrix of this tumor cell contains variable ground substance with basement membrane component. Basement membrane matrix composed of collagen fibers, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and its function is well known that it participate in differentiation, proliferation, and growth of tumor cell. Basement membrane molecule is essential for invasion of peripheral nerve, blood vessel, skeletal muscle in tumor cell of adenoid cystic carcinoma. In many studies, the tumor cell of adenoid cystic carcinoma containing modified myoepithelial cell participate in synthesis of proteoglycan. In this study, tissue sample of adenoid cystic carcinoma of human salivary gland were obtained from 15 surgical specimen, and all specimen were routinely fixed in 10% formalin and embedded. Serial 4-micrometer thick sections were cut from paraffin blocks. the histopathologic evaluation was done with light microscopy. And, the immunohistochemical staining, characteristics of glycosaminoglycan were observed. For biochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycan, isolation of crude glycosaminoglycan from tumor tissue and Western bolt analysis were carried out. With transmission electomicroscopy, tumor cell were observed. Biologic behavior of adenoid cystic carcinoma was observed with distribution and expression of basement membrane of glycosaminoglycan in tumor cells, The results obtained were as follows: 1. In immunohistochemical study, chondroitin sulfate is postively stained in tumor cell and interstitial space, dermatan sulfate is weakly stained in ductal cell. But keratan sulfate is negatively stained. 2. In immunohistochemical study, heparan sulfate is strong positive stained in tumor cell and basement membrane, especially in invasion area to peripheral nerve tissue. 3. In transmission electromicroscpic view, the tumor cells are composed modifed myoepithelial cells, and contains many microvilli and rough endoplasmic reticulum. 4. In Western blot analysis, the expression of glycosaminoglycan is expressed mostly in heparan sulfate. From the results obtained in this study, tumor cell of adenoid cystic carcinoma is composed modified myoepithelial cell, and glycosaminoglycan of basement membrane molecule of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate mostly participate in the development and invasiveness of adenoid cystic carcinoma by immunohistochemical study and western blot analysis.
Adenoids* ; Basement Membrane ; Blood Vessels ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Chondroitin Sulfates ; Collagen ; Dermatan Sulfate ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Extracellular Matrix ; Formaldehyde ; Glycoproteins ; Heparitin Sulfate ; Humans ; Keratan Sulfate ; Microscopy ; Microvilli ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Paraffin ; Peripheral Nerves ; Proteoglycans ; Salivary Glands ; Salivary Glands, Minor