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The article focuses on a study that investigates the relationship between permeability of human amnion to calcium ions and histamine H1-receptor expression in corresponding amniotic epithelial cells (AEC). It discusses several facts including quantitative immunohistochemistry, infiltration of acute inflammatory cells within membranes and amnion permeability.

The article focuses on a study which correlates between H1-receptor expression and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) levels within cultured human amniotic epithelial cells (HAEC). It discusses several facts which includes anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities of SLPI, inhibition of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) -mediated histamine by natural chymase inhibitor and influence of SLPI on local production of proinflammatory cytokines.

The article focuses on a study that investigates the effect of histamine chloramine (HisCl) on the development of casein-induced inflammation in rats. It discusses the reaction of histamine reacts with hypochlorous acid (HClO) which leads to the formation of histamine chloramine (HisCl) which inhibits reactive oxygen production in neutrophils.

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Angiogenesis plays a key role in the progression of malignant tumors. In recent years, anti-angiogenic drugs have been shown to be effective against tumors. However, some tumors are able to adopt escape mechanisms, suggesting that the vascular network in these tumors may be formed or may function in a different way. Medulloblastomas are tumors characterized by poor prognosis and low patient survival rates. These tumors rarely metastasize, but the reason why they almost always recur locally is not known. Central to mediating neoplastic changes is the interaction between cell surface receptors and their cognate ligands, which through intracellular signaling induce alternations in gene expression. In this context, the aim of our present study was to examine in medulloblastoma the distribution of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and receptor for advanced glycosylation end-product (RAGE), and mast cells associated with the tumor neovascularization process. Immunohistochemical study with a battery of specific antibodies was used. The results show that in the tumor necrotic area, TLR2 participates in all steps of vascular network formation, but in regions where the tumor was not affected by necrosis, the capillary network was TLR2 immunonegative. The TLR2 vascular network of the necrotic area was not associated with RAGE and mast cells. However, in the region of the medulloblastoma not affected by necrosis, the RAGE receptor was present in the endothelium of all capillaries, and mast cells were numerous only in the perivascular space of large brain and meningeal vessels at the border of the tumor. In conclusion, our results show that the receptor of innate immunity TLR2 plays an important role in recognition of ligands delivered by dying necrotic medulloblastoma cells and participates in tumor neovascularization. Moreover, the results show that the RAGE receptor and mast cells operate in different medulloblastoma regions and influence different parts of the tumor vascular network.

Inflammation is a normal host defense reaction to infections and tissue injury. In pathology, the process of inflammation is deregulated by various environmental factors, prolonged activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), induction of epigenetic machinery or expression of receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). In the present study, we examined immunoexpression of proteins participating in the above-mentioned mechanisms, in the brain of patients with viral meningoencephalitis. The results showed that depending on the period of the disease, the process of inflammation is deregulated in different ways. In an early period of viral meningoencephalitis, we found numerous so-called microglial nodules which were strongly immunopositive to methyl-CpG protein 2 (MeCP2). This protein is an epigenetic factor important for methylation of DNA; therefore, our results suggest that cells collected in the nodules may participate in modification of the host defense reaction. Moreover, in the early period of viral meningoencephalitis, we found that Purkinje cells of the cerebellum contain TLR3 or TLR9 receptors that can recognize viral pathogens and may activate a self-destructive mechanism in these neurons. In the later (advanced) period of viral meningoencephalitis, despite some of the above observations, RAGE protein was detected in the brain of adult and aging patients. It means that in this period of the disease, the inflammatory process may be deregulated by numerous post-translationally modified proteins that are transported to the brain after binding with activated RAGE. In addition, young patients appeared more susceptible to viral infections than adult and aging patients, because most of them died during the early period of meningoencephalitis.

The relationship between inflammation, immunity and cancer is widely accepted but mechanisms mediating this relationship remain unknown. Our present study was undertaken to examine the presence and distribution of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in necrotic areas of medulloblastoma. These receptors fulfil the criteria postulated for the receptors of innate immunity and signalling from TLRs induces synthesis of various pro-inflammatory cytokines, enzymes and mediators. The study was performed on human medulloblastoma samples containing areas of necrosis within the tumour and/or within the normal nerve tissue at the periphery of the tumour. Proteins of four TLRs: TLR 2, 3, 4 and 9 were detected in the tissue with the immunohistochemical method using the specific antibodies. Two types of necrotic areas were found. In the first type, the area of dead cells was surrounded by undifferentiated medulloblastoma cells. A lot of these cells expressed TLR 2 and TLR 3 antigens. TLR 2 was also expressed on the wall of de novo formed blood vessels that fill tumour regions already cleared from dead cells. The second type of necrotic areas were found at the periphery of the tumour and composed of normal nerve tissue cells. TLR 2, TLR 3 and TLR 9 were detected in hypertrophic glia cells. Our findings show a new function of TLRs as sensors of pathogens released by medulloblastoma dead cells. This new function may provide a key link connecting innate immunity, neuroinflammation and angiogenesis in the tumour.

Objective and Design: Considering the role of histaminergic pathway in the differentiation of stem cells, we compared expression patterns of H(1) and H(2) receptors in the human amniotic epithelial cells (HAEC) culture at different stages of nicotinamide-induced differentiation into PBLC with the control HAEC., Material and Methods: HAEC isolated after term pregnancies (N = 12) were cultured in vitro. Altogether, 72 cultures were established. The culture medium in the studied group was supplemented on Day 5 with nicotinamide (10 mM). C-peptide concentration in the medium collected every 3 days for 15 days was determined immunoenzymatically as a marker of differentiation. At the same intervals the cultures were formalin-fixed and paraffinembedded for H(1) and H(2) receptors immunostaining. Quantitative immunohistochemistry was applied for evaluation of H(1) and H(2) expression., Results: C-peptide was detected on Day 6 and the levels were kept gradually increased until Day 12, then stayed at almost the same level, 3.7-fold higher than initially. Expression of H(2) was unchanged until Day 9 after nicotinamide addition, then was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased and amounted (mean % value for the measurements performed on Day 12 and Day 15, +/-SEM) 49.73 +/- 11.03 of the reference value obtained in control HAEC., Conclusion: Variable expression of H(2) during nicotinamide-induced differentiation of HAEC into PBLC may define a time-point, indicating involvement of histamine at the earlier stages.

Introduction: Conventional physiotherapy (electrotherapy, magnetic fields), kinesitherapy, and whole-body cryotherapy (plus kinesitherapy) are used to relieve pain and inflammation or to improve function in rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different physiotherapies and cryotherapy on biochemical blood parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA)., Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with RA and 17 patients with OA received whole-body cryotherapy at -140 to -160 degrees C for 2 to 3 min, once daily for 4 weeks. The second group of patients (24 with RA and 28 with OA) received conventional physiotherapy for 4 weeks. We measured the parameters of neutrophil activation (respiratory burst, calprotectin) and markers of cartilage metabolism [N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase (NAHase), ectonucleotide pyrophosphohydrolase (NTPPHase)] twice: before and 3 months after cryotherapy or physiotherapy., Results: We showed, for the first time, that cryotherapy significantly reduced (P < 0.001) histamine levels in the blood of patients with RA. The effect was long-lasting (for at least 3 months). The levels of blood histamine in patients with OA were not changed significantly. Cryotherapy also downregulated the respiratory burst of PMNs and NAHase activity and upregulated calprotectin levels and the activity of NTPPHase. However, these changes were not statistically significant. In contrast, there were no significant changes in histamine levels or the other biochemical parameters measured in groups of patients treated only with physiotherapy and kinesitherapy., Conclusion: It may be concluded that the beneficial clinical effects of cryotherapy in RA patients are in part due to the action on the production, release, or degradation of histamine.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) and its hemodynamic effects on placental vasculature mediated via Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1) may play significant role in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Placental lactogen (HPL) production directly reflects placental function. We compared influence of Ang II on HPL production in normal and IUGR-complicated pregnancies and correlated this phenomenon with AT1 expression. Basal and Ang II-evoked HPL secretion was examined in perfused placental lobules using ELISA. After immunostaining of placental sections, AT1 expression was estimated using quantitative morphometry. Ang II increased HPL secretion. Ang II-evoked increase in HPL concentration in the perfusion fluid was 27.36+/-6.4 (%, +/-SEM) lower in IUGR (p<0.05) compared to normal-course pregnancies. AT1 expression was significantly decreased in IUGR and was 78.12+/-8.2 (%, +/-SEM) of the mean value of controls. Demonstrating that Ang II-evoked secretion of HPL in preeclampsia-free IUGR is decreased and correlates with down-regulated expression of AT1, we present a new approach to the pathophysiology of IUGR.

Eleven cases of newborns with acrania and macroscopically diagnosed anencephaly were neuropathologically examined. They presented changes in which 1 group corresponded to the diagnosis of aprosencephaly. In the second group, the development of prosencephalic structures was more advanced. The pathomechanism of the observed anomalies was analyzed in relation to data provided by molecular-genetic classification of nervous system malformations, but that did not exclude the influence of eventual extrinsic factors.

Disturbances in cell migration are heterogenic disorders of brain development commonly associated with epilepsy and mental retardation. We report a 45-year-old oligophrenic man with defect of lower limbs and family history of mental retardation who died because of brainstem hemorrhage. At post-mortem and histopathological examination, complex brain malformation characterized by bilateral periventricular heterotopia, cortical dysgenesia, partial agenesia of corpus callosum and thin-walled blood vessels was found. Immunohistochemical examination revealed the presence of fibronectin, collagen IV and laminin in wall of pathological vessels. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in neurons within heterotopias and dysgenic cortex was negative. It may indicate their maturity and indirectly, normal activity of postsynaptic NMDA receptors that explains absence of epileptic attacks in our patient. The presence of COX-2-negative neurons and compounds of basal lamina in fetal-like vessels within heterotopias and dysgenic cortex, suggests that these probably initially immature structures became mature during 45 years of patient's life.