- In Situ Detection of mRNA and RNA Component of Human Telomerase in Proliferative Lesions of the Stomach.
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Mi Sook Kim, Sang Woo Juhng
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Korean J Pathol. 2001;35(4):299-305.
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 Abstract
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- BACKGROUND
Proliferative lesions of the stomach were investigated by in situ hybridization using RNA probes for telomerase components and compared with the results by TRAP (telomeric repeat amplification protocol) assay.
METHODS
RNA probes for hTR (human telomerase RNA component) and hTERT (mRNA coding for a catalytic subunit of human telomerase) were made by cloning and in vitro transcription.
The probes were applied for in situ hybridization in 23 cases of adenocarcinoma of the intestinal type and adjacent dysplasia, and in the normal and metaplastic mucosa of the stomach.
RESULTS
Telomerase activity by TRAP was positive in all cases of adenocarcinoma, most cases of dysplasia, and many cases of normal mucosa. hTR in situ hybridization showed positive staining in the adenocarcinoma cells, dysplastic cells, a few cells in the proliferation zone of the normal mucosa, and a few infiltrated lymphocytes. hTERT showed positive staining in the same cells.
CONCLUSIONS
Telomerase is expressed in most cases of dysplastic lesions and is thought to be acquired in the early steps of carcinogenesis. The expression is noted in a few cells of the normal proliferative zones and the infiltrated lymphocytes, emphasizing the importance of in situ detection of telomerase at the cell level.
- mRNA is Synthesized Mainly at the Phase between the Euchromatin and Heterochromatin: Proposal of a Phase Theory.
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Mi Sook Kim, Sang Woo Juhng
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Korean J Pathol. 2001;35(2):93-97.
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Abstract
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- BACKGROUND
Malignant cell nuclei, in general, have increased amounts of heterochromatin and decreased electron densities of euchromatin, making the chromatin pattern coarser than that of benign cell nuclei. The chromatin pattern in benign and malignant cells, however, is barely explained in terms of molecular structure. In this study, the chromatin pattern of metaplastic and carcinomatous squamous cells of the uterine cervix was correlated with transcriptional activity by ultrastructural autoradiography.
METHODS: Punch-biopsied tissues were cultured with 3H-uridine for 5 minutes and processed for electron microscopy. Thin sections of the tissues on nickel grids were covered with photosensitive emulsion and kept cold in a dark room for 10 to 16 weeks. After development and staining, the tissues were observed by electron microscopy.
RESULTS
The nuclei of the metaplastic squamous cells consisted mostly of euchromatin. A few silver grains were observed, mainly at the periphery of the nuclei. The nuclei of the carcinomatous cells had increased amounts of heterochromatin along the nuclear membrane, and also in the euchromatin area. Silver grains were observed mainly at the boundary between the heterochromatin and euchromatin.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that an increased amount of heterochromatin in carcinomatous cells results in an increase of the boundary area between the heterochromatin and euchromatin, an area which may be a transcriptionally active site.
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