Pericardium
Mary N. Sheppard in Practical Cardiovascular Pathology, 2022
It can be extremely difficult to distinguish reactive mesothelial proliferations from malignant mesothelioma. Benign mesothelial proliferations can be seen with recurrent pericardial effusions that suggest malignancy and the cells can be very pleomorphic, which presents difficulties in cytological examination. In general, malignant mesotheliomas infiltrate the underlying fibrous and fatty tissue or myocardium, and have spindle malignant sarcomatoid areas, all features lacking in reactive mesothelial processes. Immunohistochemical stains are of no use in separating malignant from benign mesothelial reactions but strong EMA expression favours malignancy. Also, use of keratin immunostaining may help in determining infiltration of cells into the pericardial fat, which never occurs in benign lesions.
Basic science of endometriosis
Caroline Overton, Colin Davis, Lindsay McMillan, Robert W Shaw, Charles Koh in An Atlas of ENDOMETRIOSIS, 2020
There is evidence of increased fibrinolytic activity in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis, resulting in endometrial fragments with a high potential to degrade the extracellular matrix and facilitate implantation. The peritoneum possesses an inherent fibrinolytic activity that is responsible for the degradation of fibrin deposits initiated after an injury. This physiological function allows repair of the mesothelium, and therefore prevents the formation of adhesions. The peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis and pelvic adhesions has been shown to have an increased fibrinolytic activity that may be implicated in reducing the formation of new adhesions. Endometriotic tissue has abnormal proteolytic capacity. Proteolytic status is determined by the imbalance between plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors, which are expressed differently in different types of lesion and at different stages of disease.
The respiratory system
C. Simon Herrington in Muir's Textbook of Pathology, 2020
Malignant mesothelioma is usually unilateral, starting as small nodules over the visceral pleura and extending to cover the entire lung (Figure 8.37). As the pleural cavity is obliterated, it is impossible to define the origin of the tumour. The tumour can also encase the pericardium, myocardium, mediastinum, aorta, oesophagus, and other great vessels, and grow into the underlying lung. Lymph node and distant metastases may subsequently develop. These tumours are divided into epithelioid (60%), sarcomatoid (20%), and mixed (20%) subtypes. The epithelioid subtype is composed of cuboidal cells and often shows tubulopapillary, acinar, or microcystic architecture. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma consists of malignant spindle cells among collagen. Mixed mesothelioma shows both patterns. The diagnosis of mesothelioma and its differentiation from reactive mesothelium and metastatic carcinoma can be difficult. Mucin stains are negative in mesothelioma and a panel of immunostains is helpful. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common than pleural disease and is often associated with frank asbestosis. There is a vague abdominal discomfort and distension with decreased appetite and constipation.
Asbestos dust concentrations and health conditions of workers at asbestos-cement corrugated sheet production manufacturers in Vietnam: a nationwide assessment
Published in International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 2023
Hang Thi Le, Hoa Thi Dinh, Tam Thi Ngo
This survey suggested several recommendations. Firstly, factories, especially small-scale factories, need to improve the working environment conditions, especially personal asbestos exposure. Optimizing the production process through automation is a necessary trend that factories need to apply in the production process. Secondly, it is necessary to conduct periodic health checks for this group of workers, to detect early signs of cancer and lung disease, thereby helping to prevent disease. Third, it is necessary to improve the process of assessing and monitoring the environment and workers’ health at these factories, applying information technology, and thereby helping management agencies to access data on issues related to health and safety on time. Fourth, given the low cost of asbestos-cement corrugated sheets in construction, completely banning asbestos is difficult in Vietnam in the near future; however, the government should have clear and possible road maps to ban the use of asbestos to avoid any potential consequences. Finally, with the onset of mesothelioma requiring a long period of asbestos exposure, further studies are needed to evaluate biomarkers for early warning of mesothelial cancer development in this group of workers.
Proteomic study of mesothelial and endothelial cross-talk: key lessons
Published in Expert Review of Proteomics, 2022
Juan Manuel Sacnun, Rebecca Herzog, Klaus Kratochwill
Mesothelial cells (MCs) represent the uppermost cell layer lining the peritoneum, pleura, and pericardium, thus the ones exposed to luminal fluids such as peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids, intraperitoneal chemotherapeutic agents, and ascites. MCs are derived from the mesoderm presenting both epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics. They form a monolayer, the mesothelium, serving as lubricated protective barrier for intraperitoneal and thoracic organs [1–3]. However, the mesothelium has a wide range of functions including cytokine production, transport, inflammation mediation, and coagulation [4–16]. In research focusing on (non-mesothelioma) mesothelium, different cells are used ranging from immortalized human pleural (MeT-5A) and peritoneal (HMRSV5) cell lines to primary MC isolated from omentum, effluent, pericardial, or pleural tissue from humans or animals.
Novel mesothelin antibody-drug conjugates: current evidence and future role in the treatment of ovarian cancer
Published in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, 2021
Dennis Mauricio, Justin Harold, Joan R. Tymon-Rosario, Burak Zeybek, Alessandro D. Santin
Mesothelial cells line the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. Mesothelin (MSLN) is a surface glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked membrane glycoprotein originally identified in 1992 [5,15,16]. The amino-terminal peptide end attached to mesothelin (megakaryocyte potentiating factor, or MPF) was discovered in a pancreatic cancer cell line and is so named due to its stimulation of megakaryocytes via IL-3 [17]. The role of mesothelin physiologically and in the pathogenesis of certain cancers is yet to be completely elucidated; however, it does mediate cellular adhesion via binding to CA125/MUC16. This is hypothesized to result in the characteristic peritoneal dissemination of epithelial ovarian cancer. Intracellularly, binding of mesothelin results in downstream activation of signaling pathways including MAPK, NFkB, and PI3K that result in avoidance of apoptosis [15,18,19]. Mesothelin may also be detected in serum, potentially lending itself to functioning as a tumor marker [16,20,21]. As of yet, it has not been used as a criterion or biomarker [16,20]
Related Knowledge Centers
- Abdominopelvic Cavity
- Epithelium
- Mesoderm
- Peritoneum
- Simple Squamous Epithelium
- Pleural Cavity
- Lung
- Membrane
- Body Cavity
- Pulmonary Pleurae