Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2013; tom 51, nr 1

Sporadic pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease, affecting almost exclusively women. It is characterized by intense proliferation of smooth muscle-like cells (LAM cells) in the lungs and around bronchi, blood and lymphatic vessels, which leads to the formation of thin-walled cysts (Figure 1A), the degeneration and remodeling of lung tissue, progressive deterioration of lung function and eventually to death [1–3].

Lectins have been widely used as histochemical reagents for the investigation of cell and tissue glycoconjugates since the early 1970s [1–4]. Although the number of lectins currently exceeds 2000, purification and characterization of lectins with rare carbohydrate specificities still remain of interest [4, 5].

The kidney controls the volume of blood that is required for proper perfusion of organs. Primary dysfunction of either the kidney or the heart may initiate impairment of the other, which has been described as the cardiorenal syndrome [1]. Acute worsening of cardiac performance leading to deterioration of renal function is classified as type 1, and chronic heart failure causing progressive kidney dysfunction as type 2 of the cardiorenal syndrome [1].

Uterine myomas are the most common benign tumors in women, but in spite of this, the mechanisms and factors that control their formation and development are poorly understood. Many studies showed the participation of pro-inflammatory factors in the pathogenesis of various types of cancer [1–4] through their effects on cell growth and differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling [1, 2, 4, 5], i.e. events that are central to tumor growth.

Late prostate cancer (PC) recognition is the main cause of treatment failure, similarly as in other neoplastic diseases. Earlier recognition based on biological markers could be helpful in identification of biological differences in benign and malignant lesions, what could further help in precise indication for more aggressive post-operative treatment (chemo/radiotherapy).

CD200 (formerly OX2) is a type 1a membrane protein with two extracellular Ig superfamily domains, a single transmembrane region, and a short cytoplasmic tail [1,2], broadly expressed on a variety of cell types, such as some dendritic cells, thymocytes, T and B lymphocytes, neurons, kidney glomeruli, syncytiotrophoblasts, and endothelial cells [3].

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a polypeptide hormone mainly synthesized and excreted by cardiomyocytes. However, ANP is not only a cardiac hormonesince it plays a role in the functions of many different organs such as brain [1, 2], kidney [3], turbinates [4], lung [5], pleura [6] and also pancreas [7].

Galanin is a 29–30 amino acid neuropeptide, which is present in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues. Its primary structure is highly conserved among vertebrates (almost 90%), indicating the importance of the neuropeptide.

Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) is one of the most active members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like family [1]. As a result of the alternative splicing of NRG1 gene, at least six isoforms of Nrg1, including type I to III Nrg1alpha and Nrg1beta, have been identified [2].

Valproic acid (VPA, 2-propylvaleric acid) and its derivate, valproate, are commonly used antiepileptic drugs with a high effectiveness in seizure control [1]. Additionally, VPA is widely used as a mood-stabilizer in bipolar disorder [2], in the treatment of schizophrenia [3], neuropathic pain [4] as well as migraine headache prophylaxis [5].