Human hair, a kind of natural fiber mainly composed of keratin and keratin-associated proteins, is a good biological sample that can be used to characterize the status of the body in a certain period of time. It is of highly importance in the detection of drugs, alcohol and stimulants because of the advantages of low cost, easy collection, easy transportation and storage. Proteomics is an emerging technology widely used in the field of life sciences to study protein expression and regulation at the holistic level. Investigating the composition and dynamic changes of hair proteins in different populations would have great potential in finding disease markers and distinguishing personal traits. In this paper, the structure and composition of hair, the changes of hair composition under psychological stress, and the research progress of hair proteomics were comprehensively reviewed. This will help using hair proteomics to identify body characteristics.
Humans ; Human Characteristics ; Proteomics ; Hair/chemistry* ; Keratins/chemistry* ; Metabolomics

We report a case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of a sublingual gland in a 70-year-old man. Under a clinical diagnosis of benign salivary gland tumor, excision of the mass with the sublingual salivary gland in an en bloc fashion via an intraoral approach was performed. Histopathologically, there was a rupture of the fibrous capsule and diffuse cell-rich sheets composed of myoepithelial cells with round nuclei were also seen. Immunohistochemically, the cells that composed of cell rich sheets were positive to smooth muscle actin. Final diagnosis of myoepithelial carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma was made.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; pathology ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; chemistry ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; analysis ; Humans ; Keratins ; analysis ; Male ; Myoepithelioma ; chemistry ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; S100 Proteins ; analysis ; Sublingual Gland Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of human hair keratin (HHK) in peripheral nerve repair and explore the mechanism of sciatic nerve regeneration.

METHODSRat models of sciatic nerve damage was established by creating a 10-mm gap in the sciatic nerve, which was bridged with a HHK implant. Histological examinations of the nerve tissues were performed at different time points after the surgery.

RESULTSDuring the period from 2 days to 2 weeks following HHK implantation, Schwann cells were found to undergo dedifferentiation and proliferate along the HHK implant. Three weeks after HHK implantation, numerous macrophages and megakaryocytes occurred around the HHK, and a large quantity of regenerated Schwann cells aligned in orderly fashion was seen between the fine filaments of partially degraded HHK, where axons and capillaries were also observed. Six weeks later, massive nerve fibers and capillaries developed around the HHK, and at 9 weeks, the HHK implant was substantially degraded and numerous regenerated nerve fibers occurred characterized by obvious epineurium and perineurium. Till 12 weeks after HHK implantation, HHK was almost completely degraded and replaced by the newly regenerated nerve fibers that had grown across the nerve defect.

CONCLUSIONSHHK is an ideal material for nerve injury repair. Apocytosis plays a key role in the differentiation process of highly differentiated Schwann cells into immature Schwann cells following nerve injury. As a protective mechanism, the axons undergo enclosure and dissociation following injuries, and the intact axons give rise to growth cones that extend fibers of growing buds to competitively bind the one or more Schwann cells, but only one such but finally develops into a complete axon. The nerve fiber barrier membrane is derived from the capillary menchymal stem cells and the outmost vascular barrier membrane. The regeneration of the Schwann cells, axons and the nerve membrane is the result of self-organization through a well synchronized and coordinated mechanism.

Animals ; Female ; Hair ; chemistry ; Humans ; Keratins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; physiology ; Prostheses and Implants ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo obtain large quantities of well differentiated urinary bladder transitional epithelial cells for used as the seed cells in bladder tissue engineering, and evaluate the cytocompatibility of silk fibroin film with the transitional cells in vitro to assess the possibility of tissue-engineered urinary organ construction.

METHODSThe urinary bladder transitional epithelial cells were isolated from the bladders of New Zealand rabbits and cultured in vitro as the seed cells, whose morphology was observed and the specific protein (cytokeratin) expression identified by immunofluorescence assay. The cells were seeded in 96-well plates at 1 x 10(>4)/ml and incubated with silk fibroin film leaching solution or culture medium (negative control). MTT assay was performed to determine the cell proliferation rates of the wells and evaluate the cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility of the silk fibroin film.

RESULTSThe isolated urinary bladder transitional epithelial cells reached confluence after 9-10 days of culture, which showed positive staining for immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibody against cytokeratin. The absorbance of the cells culture in the presence of silk fibroin film leaching solution averaged 0.424-/+0.020, 0.996-/+0.118 and 1.285-/+0.048 after at 24, 72 and 120 h of cell culture, and that of the negative control group at the time points was 0.419-/+0.030, 1.105-/+0.098 and 1.228-/+0.052, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSilk fibroin film has good cytocompatibility with rabbit urinary bladder transitional epithelial cells, and may serve as good scaffold material for urologic tissue engineering.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; Urinary Bladder ; cytology

Adult ; Dendritic Cells ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of tea polyphenol (TP) on the proliferation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLFs).

METHODSHPDLFs were primary cultured from tissue explants, and the cells of the 5th to 8th passages were used after immunohistochemical identification (with SABC method) of keratin and vimentin expressions. The cells were divided into 5 groups and treated with TP at 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, and 0.0625 mg/ml, respectively, with another group without TP treatment as the blank control group. Cell counting and MTT colorimetric assay were performed to assess the cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was employed to determine the DNA content of the HPDLFs.

RESULTSDifferent concentrations of TP all significantly increased the proliferation and DNA synthesis of the HPDLFs (P<0.05), and TP treatment at 0.5 mg/ml for 6 h produced the optimal effect.

CONCLUSIONTP has obviously effect in promoting the proliferation of HPDLFs.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; biosynthesis ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Polyphenols ; Tea ; chemistry ; Vimentin ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo improve the histocompatibility of chicken calamus keratin (CCK) graft by collagen-gel coating or using of cyclosporine A (CsA).

METHODSThirty SD rats were equally randomized into 5 groups, and in 4 of them, CCK implantation into the bilateral erector spinae was performed on different treatment protocols. In group A, the rats received daily intraperitoneal injection of CsA (5 mg/kg) for two consecutive weeks after CCK implantation; in group B, CCK was soaked in CsA (2.5 mg/ml) solution at 4 degrees Celsius; for 48 h before grafting; in group C, CCK coated with collagen gel was grafted; and in group D, only CCK was implanted. Rats in the fifth group received only cutaneous incision as well as muscular dissection to serve as the blank control. CCK degradation and its effect on the surrounding tissues were observed at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after grafting. Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify T lymphocyte infiltration in the host tissues.

RESULTSAll the rats survived the operation. Numerous macrophages, especially multinucleated giant cells occurred on the peripheral of the CCK grafts, and small degraded CCK pieces were observed in their cytoplasm. Only a few inflammatory cells were seen in the host tissues. At 2, 4 and 8 weeks after CCK implantation, only a few CD3-positive cells were found in all the groups, and in group A and B, the density of T lymphocytes was significantly lower than that in group D, and there was no significant difference between group A and the blank control group.

CONCLUSIONSCsA significantly improves the histocompatibility of CCK material, and short-term systemic CsA administration achieves the best results. Macrophages, especially multinucleated giant cells participate in CCK degradation in vivo.

Animals ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; Chickens ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Feathers ; chemistry ; Female ; Gels ; Histocompatibility ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Implants, Experimental ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Keratins ; chemistry ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; chemistry ; drug effects ; surgery ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spine ; T-Lymphocytes ; chemistry ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the unique structural features of chicken calamus keratin (CCK) conduit as a candidate scaffold material for tissue engineering and its in vivo degradation and histocompatibility after its implantation into living tissues.

METHODSChicken calami were taken from healthy chickens and treated through sequential, controllable physical and biochemical procedures for preparation of three types of CCK conduits, namely CCK-I (mildly treated), CCK-II (moderately treated) and CCK-III (intensely treated). Light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed for morphological observation. Each of these three types of CCK pieces (experimental group) and the untreated ones (control group) was implanted into the dorsal muscular tissue on both sides of SD rats, respectively. Routine tissue sectioning and HE stain were performed to identify the morphological changes under light microscope. Each of the CCK threads (experimental group) and the untreated chicken calamus threads (control group) was also grafted within the sciatic nerve bundles of SD rats, respectively.

RESULTSThe wall of the chicken calamus was composed of 4 compact parts from inside to outside on cross sections, namely the innermost basophilic homogenous coarse line, 3-5 layers of acidophilic corneum, 60-100 layers of circular keratin tracts containing massive pigment granules, and 10-20 outmost layers of keratin tracts with only a few pigment granules. The three-dimensional surface features of chicken calamus identified by SEM, as compared with untreated chicken calamus, was characterized by loose arrangement containing horizontal and vertical keratins with obvious pores of different sizes and depths on its surface. At 8 weeks after implantation into the muscular tissue in experimental groups, the CCK grafts were degraded into thin filaments or/and dispersed pieces and fine granules with the appearance of blood vessels, which facilitated the absorption of the degradation products; at 12 weeks, the grafts were markedly degraded into tiny fragments. In the control group, in contrast, the grafts remains intact throughout the experiment. After implantation of the material into the nerve bundles, similar cell infiltration and tissue responses to the grafts were observed as compared to those occur in intramuscular grafting. The degradation products did not seem to cause nerve tissue degeneration or necrosis.

CONCLUSIONSFresh chicken calamus is a natural tube composed of multi-layered compact keratin tracts with pigment granules and small amount of matrix, and is non-absorbable in vivo, and therefore does not favor the purpose for use directly as a candidate biological scaffold. After proper treatment, the chicken calamus becomes loosely arranged porous material, and can be degraded and absorbed in vivo without resulting in tissue degradation or necrosis, suggesting its potential for applications in tissue engineering.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Chickens ; Female ; Implants, Experimental ; Keratins ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Muscles ; innervation ; physiology ; surgery ; Nerve Regeneration ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the toxicity of chicken calamus keratin (CCK) conduit as a tissue-engineered scaffold material.

METHODSThe chemical composition of the leaching solution of CCK was determined by means of ultraviolet spectrometry, and the toxic effects of the solution was evaluated by skin sensitization test in rats, intracutaneous stimulation test in rabbits, acute systemic toxicity test in mice, and cytotoxicity test in L929 cells.

RESULTSThe leaching solution of CCK consisted mainly of middle-molecular-weight peptides with a small quantity of macromolecular proteins. Skin sensitization test in rats showed that application of the CCK leaching solution caused no obvious skin reddening, regional edema, or skin necrosis. Intracutaneous injection of the leaching solution in rabbits did not induce obvious skin stimulation manifested by intradermal erythema or edema. In acute systemic toxic test, administration of the leaching solution in mice caused no death, organ dysfunction, cyanosis, tremor, severe peritoneal irritation, ptosis, or dyspnoea. In vitro cytotoxicity test indicated that the cell toxicity of the CCK leaching solution was approximately at 0 level.

CONCLUSIONCCK contained in the treated chicken calamus easily undergoes hydrolysis to release mainly some peptides which do not induce obvious toxic effects, suggesting the safe potential applications of CCK conduit as a tissue-engineering biomaterial.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chickens ; Feathers ; chemistry ; Female ; Keratins ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Skin Irritancy Tests ; Solutions ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry ; Toxicity Tests ; methods

The distinction between benign and malignant thyroid tumors is critical for the management of patients with thyroid nodules. We applied immunohistochemical staining for galectin-3, HBME-1, cytokeratin 19 (CK19), high molecular weight cytokeratin (HMWCK), cyclin D1 and p27(kip1) in 295 thyroid lesions to determine their diagnostic accuracy. The expression of all markers was significantly associated with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).The sensitivity for the diagnosis of DTC was 94.7% with galectin-3, 91.3% with HBME-1, and 90.3% with CK19. The specificities of these markers were 95.5%, 69.7%, and 83.1%, respectively. Combining these markers, co-expression of galectin-3 and CK19 or galectin-3 and HBME-1 was seen in 93.2% of carcinomas but in none of the benign nodules. Comparing follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPC) with follicular carcinoma (FC), the expression of galectin-3, CK19, and HMWCK was significantly higher in FVPC. When comparing FC with FA, the expression of galectin-3 and HBME-1 was significantly higher in FC. These results suggest that 1) galectin-3 is a useful marker in the distinction between benign and malignant thyroid tumors, 2) the combined use of HBME-1 and CK19 can increase the diagnostic accuracy, and 3) the use of CK19 and HMWCK can aid in the differential diagnosis between PC and FC.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/diagnosis/metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular/diagnosis/metabolism ; Cyclin D1/analysis ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27/analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Galectin 3/analysis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/analysis ; Keratin-19/analysis ; Keratins/analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland/chemistry/*pathology ; Thyroid Nodule/*diagnosis/metabolism ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*analysis