Jan Plzák

Upregulation of IL‐6, IL‐8 and CXCL‐1 production in dermal fibroblasts by normal/malignant epithelial cells in vitro: Immunohistochemical and transcriptomic analyses

Considering an analogy between wound healing and tumour progression, we studied chemokine and cytokine transcription and expression in normal fibroblasts by co‐culture and in situ.

Smooth muscle actin-expressing stromal fibroblasts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Increased expression of galectin-1 and induction of poor prognosis factors

Tumor stroma is an active part influencing the biological properties of malignancies via molecular cross‐talk. Cancer‐associated fibroblasts play a significant role in this interaction. These cells frequently express smooth muscle actin and can be classified as myofibroblasts. The adhesion/growth‐regulatory lectin galectin‐1 is an effector for their generation. In our study, we set the presence of smooth muscle actin‐positive cancer‐associated fibroblasts in relation to this endogenous lectin and an in vivo competitor (galectin‐3). In squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck, upregulation of galectin‐1 presence was highly significantly correlated to presence of smooth muscle actin‐positive cancer‐associated fibroblasts in the tumor (p = 4 × 10−8). To pinpoint further correlations on the molecular level, we applied microarray analyses to the transcription profiles of the corresponding tumors. Significant correlations of several transcripts were detected with the protein level of galectin‐1 in the cancer‐associated fibroblasts. These activated genes (MAP3K2, TRIM23, PTPLAD1, FUSIP1, SLC25A40 and SPIN1) are related to known squamous‐cell‐carcinoma poor‐prognosis factors, NF‐κB upregulation and splicing downregulation. These results provide new insights into the significance of presence of myofibroblasts in squamous cell carcinoma.

Comparison of Helicobacter Pylori Genotypes Obtained from the Oropharynx and Stomach of the Same Individuals – A Pilot Study

Helicobacter pylori has been recently detected in the oral cavity and oropharynx. However, the role it plays in oral and oropharyngeal pathogenesis remains unclear. The virulence of H. pylori strains can be distinguished according to the virulence factors genes carried. Our research has been focused on realtime PCR analysis of cagA and vacA genes of H. pylori strains in tonsils and tonsillar squamous cell cancer and their comparison with H. pylori strains obtained from the gastric mucosa of the same patients. Urea breath test (UBT) test was used to detect a gastric H. pylori infection in 20 patients with previously proven H. pylori in the oropharynx. Genotyping of H. pylori in gastric biopsies was performed in patients with positive gastric infection. Out of 20 patients positive for oropharyngeal H. pylori, 8 were positive for concurrent gastric H. pylori infection. In 6 of them gastric biopsies were obtained. Comparison of oropharyngeal and stomach H. pylori genotypes showed important differences. Four of 6 patients had different H. pylori strains in the oropharynx and stomach. The differences were found in cagA gene as well as in vacA gene. The finding of oral presence of H. pylori without concurrent stomach infection was confirmed using UBT. The results show that more than one H. pylori strain can be present in oropharynx and stomach in the same patient. The oropharyngeal infection seems to be independent to the gastric infection.

The role of dendritic cells in the pharynx.

Abstract. The tonsils are organized as lymphoepithelial structures that play an important role in protecting both the upper respiratory and alimentary tract regions against incoming antigens. This function requires dendritic cells, professional antigen-presenting cells that act as peripheral sentinels, specializing in the uptake, processing and presentation of antigenic material. This article gives a brief review on dendritic cells with regard to their origin, life cycle and functions in the pharyngeal mucosa. The regulation of immune responses in tonsils by dendritic cells is discussed. Their importance in some disease states is also mentioned.

Helicobacter pylori – Not Only a Gastric Pathogene?

Petr Lukes1, Jaromir Astl1, Emil Pavlik2, Bela Potuznikova2, Jan Plzak1,3, Martin Chovanec1,3 and Jan Betka1 1Charles University in Prague, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague 2Charles University in Prague, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, Prague 3Charles University in Prague, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Anatomy, Prague Czech Republic