Jorge Luiz Silva Araújo-Filho

A distribuição dos eosinófilos nas diferentes fases de evolução do granuloma hepático em camundongos infectados pelo Schistosoma mansoni

In the present study, the distribution of eosinophils at different stages of the formation of hepatic granuloma in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni was evaluated. From the results obtained, we suggest a new classification for the evolution of hepatic granuloma in mice, constructed from the phases described by other authors. In each phase, there is a different pattern of eosinophil distribution. In the exudative-necrotic phase, the eosinophils are concentrated in the periphery and center of the granuloma, and are scarce in the necrotic area; in the productive phase, the eosinophils are dispersed throughout the granuloma; and in the cure due to fibrosis phase, the eosinophils are concentrated in the periphery and center of the granuloma. Eosinophils were found in direct contact with the eggs at all stages of evolution of the granuloma. It was concluded that the dynamics of eosinophils have an important role in forming the granulomatous reaction of the host and in resolving the inflammatory process caused by the parasite egg, as well as adding new data regarding hepatic granuloma classification.

Digital image analysis of skin neoplasms evaluated by lectin histochemistry: potential marker to biochemical alterations and tumour differential diagnosis

The present study aims to evaluate, through lectin histochemistry, the alterations in the expression of cell surface carbohydrate between benign and malignant lesions of skin using computer image analysis. Skin fragments were obtained through biopsies and diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), epidermoid carcinoma (EpC), trichoepithelioma (TE), keratoacanthoma (KA), seborrheic keratosis (SK) and actinic keratosis (AK). Lectins Con A, WGA, PNA, UEA-I and LTA were used in histochemistry study. Image analysis was carried out in a workstation using OPTIMASTM software system. PNA strong binding pattern to studied tumours evidenced the high expression of D-galactose residues in the epidermal neoplasms when compared to other sugars recognized by the other lectins. Among benign neoplasms, KA presented a high expression of glucose/mannose, a-fucose and D-galactose residues evidenced by the intense staining of Con A (94.7%), LTA (84.2%) and PNA (89.4%), respectively. Malignant tumours showed distinct binding patterns. EpC presented significant binding only by PNA lectin. BCC was differentially stained in comparison to the staining pattern observed in benign lesions such as TE. Qualitative (lectin histochemistry) and quantitative (digital image analysis) data obtained in this study evidenced those lectins are potential markers to biochemical alterations in skin neoplasms.

Galectina-3 em tumores de próstata: imuno-histoquímica e análise digital de imagens

Immunohistochemistry helps pathologists in the diagnosis of prostatic diseases, mainly carcinomas. Equally important, digital image analysis is being increasingly used to study alterations in the prostate. The present work aims to morphometrically quantify the immunostain of galectin-3 expressed in normal prostate (NP), benign hyperplasia (BH) and prostatic adenocarcinoma (PA) in humans. Immunohistochemistry was developed using monoclonal anti-galectin-3 antibody. Surgical specimens from different patients with BH (n = 12), PA (n = 10) and NP (n = 10) were fixed in formalin, processed and embedded in paraffin. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to confirm the diagnosis. Tissue slices (4µm) were incubated with anti-galectin-3 antibody solution for one hour at room temperature and then incubated with a secondary anti-body conjugated to peroxidase (30 minutes). The stain pattern was visualized with diaminobenzidine (DAB) and hydrogen peroxide. Image analysis was carried out using a workstation consisting of a standard light microscope equipped with a digitalizing camera connected to a desktop personal computer. Image storage and retrieval was managed using the OPTIMAS® software system. For prostatic adenocarcinoma cells a significant decreased (p < 0.001) staining pattern for galectin-3 was observed. Computer image analysis detected stained areas of atypic prostatic cells: BH (875.9 ± 52.1µm2), PA (120.2 ± 23.3µm2) and NP (238.4 ± 27.6µm2). The different patterns of galectin-3 expression distinguished the neoplasic cells from normal prostatic ones and significant alterations in the galectin-3 expression into the studied tumor lesions.

Immobilization of Anti-Galectin-3 onto Polysiloxane-Polyvinyl Alcohol Disks for Tumor Prostatic Diseases Diagnosis

This work aimed to immobilize the antibody anti-galectin-3 onto polysiloxane–polyvinyl alcohol (POS-PVA) support, to evaluate its capacity to capture the serum antigen galectin-3 and to quantify by ELISA the antigen levels in sera from patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma (PA) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and healthy individuals. Also, for comparative effect, the galectin-3 expression in the prostate tissue through immunohistochemistry was evaluated. The optical density (galectin-3 level) values established for the sera from PA and BPH patients were lower compared with those found for the healthy individuals. Galectin-3 immunohistochemically showed a significant increase and reduction of the cytoplasmatic protein expression in BPH and PA, respectively, compared with the normal prostate. These results showed that POS-PVA disks could be used as solid phase to immobilize serum galectins and in immunoassays procedures for the correspondent IgG anti-galectins detection in human sera.