Immunostaining Intensity (immunostaining + intensity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Overexpression of GAP-43 modifies the distribution of the receptors for myelin-associated growth-inhibitory proteins in injured Purkinje axons

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 10 2009
Simona Foscarin
Abstract Neurons with enhanced intrinsic growth capabilities can elongate their axons into non-permissive territories, but the mechanisms that enable the outgrowing processes to overcome environmental inhibition are largely unknown. To address this issue, we examined adult mouse Purkinje cells that overexpress the axonal growth-associated protein GAP-43. After injury, these neurons exhibit sprouting along the intracortical neuritic course and at the severed stump in the white matter. To determine whether GAP-43-overexpressing Purkinje cells are responsive to extrinsic inhibitory cues, we investigated the content and subcellular localization of major receptors for myelin-associated inhibitory proteins, PlexinB1 and the Nogo receptor (NgR) with the related co-receptors LINGO-1 and p75. Expression of these molecules, estimated by measuring perikaryal immunostaining intensity and Western blot, was not different in wild-type or transgenic mice, and it was not overtly modified after axotomy. Following injury, however, the content of PlexinB1 was significantly reduced in GAP-43-overexpressing neurites. Furthermore, in the same axons the distribution of both PlexinB1 and NgR was altered, being inverse to that of GAP-43. Labelling for the two receptors was conspicuously reduced on the axonal surface and it was almost undetectable in the outgrowing sprouts, which showed strong GAP-43 immunoreactivity. These observations indicate that although GAP-43 overexpression does not modify the expression of receptors for myelin-associated inhibitory factors, it interferes with their subcellular localization and exposure on the neuritic membrane. Therefore, GAP-43 promotes axon growth by multiple synergistic mechanisms that potentiate the intrinsic motility of the elongating processes, while reducing their sensitivity to environmental inhibition. [source]


Alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase: a multi-institutional study of a new prostate cancer marker

HISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Z Jiang
Aim :,To test whether ,-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR) is a sensitive and specific marker of prostate cancer. Methods and results :,The expression levels of AMACR mRNA were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. A total of 807 prostatic specimens were further examined by immunohistochemistry specific for AMACR. Quantitative immunostaining analyses were carried out by using the ChromaVision Automated Cellular Imaging System and the Ariol SL-50 Imaging System, respectively. AMACR mRNA levels measured in prostatic adenocarcinoma were 55 times higher than those in benign prostate tissue. Of 454 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma, 441 were positive for AMACR, while 254 of 277 cases of benign prostate were negative for AMACR. The sensitivity and specificity of AMACR immunodetection of prostatic adenocarcinomas were 97% and 92%, respectively. Both positive and negative predictive values were 95%. By automatic imaging analyses, the AMACR immunostaining intensity and percentage in prostatic adenocarcinomas were also significantly higher than those in benign prostatic tissue (105.9 versus 16.1 for intensity, 45.7% versus 0.02% and 35.03% versus 4.64% for percentage, respectively). Conclusions :,We have demonstrated the promising features of AMACR as a biomarker for prostate cancer in this large series and the potential to develop automated quantitative diagnostic tests. [source]


Tenascin expression in actinic keratosis

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 11 2006
Maria Lentini
Background:, Tenascin is an extracellular matrix protein frequently expressed around neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of the skin. Actinic keratoses (AKs) are intraepidermal neoplastic lesions of the sun-exposed skin. They are classified according to the extension of dysplasia in four stages; they also present different histological varieties. Methods:, We performed an immunohistochemical study using tenascin monoclonal antibody diluted 1 : 50 on 150 cases of AKs classified, respectively, in histotypes (38 hypertrophic, 18 atrophic, 21 bowenoid, 19 acantolytic, and 40 mixed) and in stages (27 stage I, 46 stage II, 42 stage III, and 35 stage IV; 14 in tumoral progression). Results:, Tenascin positivity was observed in all cases at the dermal level close to the epithelial lesion. The intensity of reaction increased from stage I to stage IV and, of course, also in tumoral progression. Its expression was not related to the histotypes. In very few cases, the atypical keratinocytes were positive. Conclusions:, Tenascin expression in AKs is related to the stages of dysplasia. In fact, the immunostaining intensity corresponds to the degree of the dysplasia rather than the thickness of the involved epidermis. Tenascin plays a role in neoplastic progression working as an anti-adhesive factor. [source]


Immunohistochemical detection of cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 in tissue and in serum from men with cancer or benign enlargement of the prostate gland

THE PROSTATE, Issue 6 2006
Anders Bjartell
Abstract BACKGROUND Recently, the gene for cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP-3) was reported to be highly upregulated in prostate cancer (PCa) compared to benign prostatic tissue. The current aims were to investigate diagnostic use of tissue expression and immunodetection in serum of CRISP-3 for detection or monitoring of PCa. METHODS Radical prostatectomy specimens and tissue microarrays from transurethral resections and metastases were analyzed for CRISP-3 and PSA by immunohistochemistry. CRISP-3 in tissue homogenates and in serum was measured by an in-house ELISA and PSA by a commercially available immunoassay. RESULTS Immunostaining for CRISP-3 in benign prostatic epithelium was generally weak or not detectable. Specific and strong immunostaining was found in a major proportion of cells in high-grade prostatic-intraepithelial-neoplasia (HG-PIN,12/17 patients), in most primary tumors (111/115), and in lymph node (11/15) and bone (12/15) metastases. CRISP-3 immunostaining intensity was regularly strong in areas of Gleason grades 4/5, where PSA-immunoreaction was less intense. Serum levels of CRISP-3 were not different in patients with PCa (n,=,152) compared to men with BPH (n,=,81). There was a very weak co-variation between levels of CRISP-3 versus PSA in serum from PCa patients (P,<,0.05). After orchiectomy, levels of CRISP-3 in serum decreased in median with 11% compared to a 97% median decrease of PSA in serum from 15/20 patients with advanced PCa. CONCLUSIONS Strong immunostaining for CRISP-3 is common in HG-PIN and preserved in most PCa specimens, which warrant further immunohistochemical studies of CRISP-3 in PCa. Serum levels of CRISP-3 do not primarily reflect PCa. Prostate 66:591,603, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]