Aankondiging ITMC 2017

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Nieuws uit UGent, MaTCh, CTSE - EXOLIGAMENTZ

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Enzymatic degradation of tumor necrosis factor by activated human neutrophils: role of elastase

Although the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) as mediator of inflammation is now well established, its interactions with polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the possible hydrolytic action on TNF of intra-lysosomal enzymes released by activated PMN in the extracellular medium. We first incubated I-125 radiolabeled TNF in vitro with activated PMN and by HPLC analysis, we observed a degradation process completely blocked by the previous addition of alpha 1-Antitrypsin (AT) to the incubation medium. By comparing several degradative patterns of TNF obtained with purified leukocyte proteases and supernatant of activated PMN, we identified elastase as the major enzyme involved in this catabolic process of TNF. In a second part, we determined the bioactivity of the cleavage fragments of recombinant human TNF (rhTNF) by a cytotoxicity assay. None of the fragments was found biologically active. Our results suggest that, at inflammatory sites, an enzymatic degradation of TNF may occur in the pericellular area of activated PMN. This new catabolic pathway leading to inactivation of TNF might be regarded as an effective local negative feed-back process limiting the potentially toxic effects of this cytokine.

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CTLA-4 expression in the non-small cell lung cancer patient tumor microenvironment: diverging prognostic impact in primary tumors and lymph node metastases

Abstract

The immune checkpoint receptor CTLA-4 plays a crucial part in negatively regulating T cell activation and maintaining self-tolerance. It is frequently overexpressed in a variety of malignancies, yet its prognostic impact in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. We constructed tissue microarrays from tumor tissue samples and evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of CTLA-4 in 536 patients with primary resected stage I–IIIA NSCLC. Expression of CTLA-4 was analyzed in tumor and stromal primary tumor tissue and in locoregional metastatic lymph nodes. CTLA-4 expression in neither tumor epithelial cells (T-CTLA-4) nor stromal cells (S-CTLA-4) of primary tumors was significantly associated with disease-specific survival (DSS) in all patients. However, high S-CTLA-4 expression independently predicted significantly improved DSS in the squamous cell carcinoma subgroup (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41–0.93, P = 0.021). In contrast, there was an independent negative prognostic impact of T-CTLA-4 expression in metastatic lymph nodes (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.03–2.65, P = 0.039). Our results indicate that the expression of CTLA-4 has diverging prognostic impacts in metastatic NSCLC lymph nodes versus primary tumors. The presented results highlight important differences in the tumor microenvironments of primary and metastatic NSCLC tissues, and have potential to guide treatment and clinical sampling strategies.

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Giant spontaneous herniation of the post-pneumonectomy cavity

Abstract

Following a pneumonectomy, excessive mediastinal shift can cause rare complications involving the post-pneumonectomy cavity, which can become the seat of herniation of the residual lung and of the heart. We herein report an even more rare event, entailing an impressive herniation of the actual entire post-pneumonectomy cavity through an intercostal space, which developed spontaneously nearly 3 years after surgery. Surgical excision of the hernia sac and repair of the defect with polypropylene mesh provided adequate treatment and good cosmetic results. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and no signs of recurrence have been observed.

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Successful laparoscopic repair of gastro-gastric fistula following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at Harlem Community Hospital

Abstract

Gastro-gastric fistula is a communication between the gastric remnant and gastric pouch. It is a rare complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. It is caused by anastomotic leak, marginal ulcers, distal obstruction or erosion from foreign body. In this case report, we are presenting a successful laparoscopic repair of gastro-gastric fistula in a patient who presented with weight gain after initial loss.

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Hydrogeologische studie van de sokkel en het Landeniaan onder het oostelijk gedeelte van Oost-Vlaanderen en het Westelijk gedeelte van Vlaams-Brabant, inventarisatie gegevens dossiers 23/7 en 23/8

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