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Effects of retinoids on human thymus-dependent and thymus-independent mitogenesis.

The effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), 13-cis-retinoic acid, and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide on the mitogenic responses of various populations of human lymphocytes have been evaluated. Superoptimal concentrations of mitogens allowed the greatest RA-induced potentiation of lymphocyte proliferation. All three retinoids at concentrations as low as 5 x 10(-14)M significantly potentiated the proliferation of adenoidal and tonsillar lymphocytes stimulated by pokeweed mitogen (PWM). However, the responses of adenoidal and tonsillar lymphocytes to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain A were not potentiated by retinoids. Retinoids also caused significant potentiation of proliferation of PWM-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). However, endpoint concentrations of retinoids required to significantly potentiate PBL proliferative responses to PWM were much higher than required for potentiation of adenoidal or tonsillar lymphocytes. PBL responses to concanavalin A (Con A) were significantly potentiated by retinoid concentrations as low as 10(-8) to 10(-10) M. Retinoid-potentiated responses were also observed wi Con A-stimulated thymocytes, but the endpoint concentrations required for significant potentiation were 10-fold higher than required to potentiate PBL responses to Con A. These data indicate that the sensitivity of lymphocytes to the retinoid-mediated potentiation of mitogenesis depends on the lymphoid compartment from which the cells are obtained. Tonsillar and adenoidal lymphocytes were the most responsive of the lymphocytes tested to the retinoid-induced potentiation of PWM responses. In addition, retinoids appear to selectively potentiate T cell-dependent proliferative activity.

Adenoids↗

Angiomatoid neuroendocrine carcinoma of the thymus: report of a distinctive morphological variant of neuroendocrine tumor of the thymus resembling a vascular neoplasm.

Three cases of primary thymic neuroendocrine tumors characterized by prominent angiomatoid features that resembled a vascular neoplasm are presented. The patients were all men between 52 and 59 years of age who presented with chest pain and shortness of breath attributable to a large anterior mediastinal mass. The lesions ranged in size from 6 cm to 15 cm in greatest diameter, and were grossly soft and well circumscribed, but not encapsulated. The cut surface was remarkable for multiple blood-filled cyst-like spaces admixed with focal solid, hemorrhagic areas. Histologically, the tumors contained multiple cystically dilated spaces filled with blood which imparted the lesion with a striking angiomatoid appearance. The walls of the cysts were lined by a monotonous proliferation of round to oval cells with distinct cell borders, round central nuclei, and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitotic activity was present in all cases and varied from 3 to 8 mitoses per 10 high-power fields. Immunohistochemical studies performed in two cases showed positivity of the tumor cells for keratin, Leu 7, and synaptophysin, and focal chromogranin positivity in one. Follow-up information obtained in two patients showed that both had died of tumor 4 and 8 years after initial diagnosis. The present cases show an unusual morphological appearance of thymic neuroendocrine tumors that may be mistaken for a vascular neoplasm. Immunohistochemical stains may be of importance in such instances in arriving at the correct diagnosis.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗