Response mechanisms of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), experimentally infected with a Danish strain of Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 were investigated using molecular tools (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry. Expression of ten immune-relevant genes and reactivity with five different antibodies in the epidermis of skin and fin tissue were analysed in susceptible but responding rainbow trout. Rainbow trout were susceptible with regard to the parasite strain which initially colonised fins but relocated to the body region as infection progressed. The ten investigated genes encoding the cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10 and markers for adaptive immune activity, such as CD-4, CD-8, TCR-α, IgM, IgT and MHC II, were not found significantly regulated during the course of infection although IFN-γ showed a slight up-regulation. Immunohistochemical analyses showed positive reactivity with antibodies against CD3, B-lymphocytes, neutrophilic granulocytes and collectin but not with mAb against IgM. No staining differences between infected and non-infected skin and fin tissue were detected.
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β is a transcription factor which plays a crucial role during ontogenesis in the differentiation of visceral endoderm from primitive endoderm, and is especially important for the normal development of the kidney, urogenital tract, gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas. Despite the growing knowledge about the potential involvement of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β in the process of carcinogenesis, the exact underlying mechanism that would explain its rather varied effects in different tumours has not been sufficiently investigated. Most of the data regarding the significance of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β arise from genome-wide association studies and is concerned with the influence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β on either the increased or decreased susceptibility to certain types of cancer. However, the influence of both the germinal and somatic mutations of this gene on the process of carcino-genesis is still poorly understood. According to current data, in some tumours hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β acts as a protooncogene, while in others as a tumour suppressor gene, although the reasons for this are not clear. The exact incidence of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β mutations and the spectrum of
tumours in which they may play a role in the process of carcinogenesis remain unknown. From the practical point of view, immunohistochemical expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β can be used in differential diagnostics of certain tumours, especially clear cell carcinoma. In our article we review the current knowledge regarding the significance of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β in carcinogenesis. and Corresponding author: Michaela Bártů
Infertility affects approximately 48 million couples globally. Despite the enormous progress of the methods of reproductive medicine that has been made since the first test-tube baby was born in 1978, the implantation rate of day-3 embryos is only around 15-20 % and 30 % of day-5 embryos. Numerous strategies aim to improve implantation rates and prevent repeated implantation failure. However, there is no specific general recommendation leading to satisfying results. One of the many risk factors relevant in this regard is the uterine immunological make-up, mainly the uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells. They orchestrate the overall immune response during implantation by influencing trophoblast invasion and vascular remodeling and throughout pregnancy, uNK cells are also the main immune cells at the maternal–fetal interface. Previously, uNK count has been correlated with various fertility issues including idiopathic recurrent miscarriage. The present study used endometrial samples collected from 256 patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF), habitual abortion (HA) and idiopathic sterility. Samples were collected between day 19 and 21 of the menstrual cycle mainly by Pipelle endometrial sampling. The samples were fixed in formalin for 24 hours and further processed for immunohistochemistry using anti-CD56 to visualize this antigen marker of uNK cells. Immunohistochemical counting was performed to assess the low, normal, or elevated count of uNK cells. According to the one-way ANOVA test, the age of our patients did not have any influence on the count of uNK cells. With Spearman correlation analysis, we found statistically significant correlation (p-value 0.05) of -0.133 between prior miscarriage and lower uNK cell count. Using the same analysis we found statistically significant correlation (correlation 0.233 with p-value 0.01) between number of uNK cells and activation status. Patients with higher uNK cells were more frequenty diagnosed with endometriosis (p-value 0.05, correlation 0.130). Patients with an immunological factor of sterility (defined by a clinical immunologist) had a lower chance of gravidity (-0.203 with p-value 0.01). Based on our results, we can confirm that there is a correlation between RIF, HA, idiopathic sterility, endometriosis, and immunological factor of sterility (uNK cell count). The true predictive value with regard to fertility outcomes needs to be addressed in future research.