The basement membrane (BM) separates epithelial elements from the surrounding stroma. BM is dynamic in regulation of epithelial cells differentiation as well as their organization into 3-dimensional tissues. In these functions, among the molecules of the BM, laminins are especially dynamic. Laminins are distributed in a spatially and temporally regulated manner in various epithelial tissues. Various changes in the laminin distribution accompany the malignant transformation of epithelia. The role of the BM and laminins in the progression of carcinomas is not well understood. The BM has been suggested to act as a mechanical barrier against carcinoma cell invasion. BM laminins may play an active role in regulating the migration and proliferation of the carcinoma cells. Laminin isoform laminin-5 expression is typical for some invasive carcinomas and it may act as a ligand for invading carcinoma cells. Neoexpression of laminin-5 has also been associated to proliferative activity of the carcinoma cells. Integrins ␣ 3 ␤ 1 and ␣ 6 ␤ 4 are probable cell surface receptors acting with laminin-5 in the regulation of carcoma cell invasion and proliferation. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: laminin-5; carcinomas; invasion; integrin; basement membranesBasement membrane (BM) is a densified sheet of proteins of the extracellular matrix. The BM separates connective tissue from epithelium. In addition, endothelium, various types of muscle cell, lipocytes and Schwann cells are surrounded by BM. 1 Structural components of the BM are at least laminins, type IV collagens, nidogens, proteoglycans such as perlecan, fibulins as well as type VII collagen in the BMs containing lamina fibroreticularis layer. Additionally, fibronectin and tenascin are often located to the BM region, but they are not the structural components of the BMs. BM molecules are produced in cooperation between epithelial and mesenchymal cells. 2 Collagen type IV is a helical, trimeric protein. The most widely expressed type IV collagen trimer is composed of 2 ␣1(IV) chains and one ␣2(IV) chain. 3 The ␣3(IV)-␣6(IV) chains have a more restricted tissue distribution, present for example in the kidney. 4 -6 Nidogen-1 is a 150 kD glycoprotein consisting of three globular domains. 7 It binds collagen IV and laminin networks together. 8 Nidogen-1 binds also perlecan, fibulin-1 and fibulin-2. 9 Type VII collagen forms the anchoring fibrils and connects the BM lamina densa to the underlying connective tissue at least in BMs of stratified epithelium. 10,11 Type VII collagen binds, laminin-5 and type IV collagen. 12 The functions of BM in offering mechanical support are well known. 1 In addition to mechanical functions, the BM influences for cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, migration and gene expression. 13,14 BM acts as a factor in maintaining polarity and organization of epithelial cells 1,13,15,16 and it is an active regulator in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during epithelial cell development. 17 BM molecules can regulate the activity of growth facto...

Resin salve prepared from Norway spruce (Picea abies) has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat skin diseases. The authors studied with transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and with electron physiology, changes in cell wall and cell membrane of Staphylococcus aureus after exposure of the bacterial cultures to resin. After exposure, cell wall thickening, cell aggregation, changed branching of fatty acids, and dissipation of membrane potential of the bacterial cells were observed. The authors conclude that spruce resin affects the cell viability via changes in the cell wall and membrane, and impairs, thereby, the synthesis of energy in the bacteria.

Resin salve made from Norway spruce (Picea abies) is traditionally used in folk medicine to heal skin ulcers and infected wounds. Its antimicrobial properties were studied against certain human bacteria important in infected skin wounds. The sensitivity of the resin against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was studied in vitro by methods that are routinely used in microbiology laboratories. The resin salve exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against all tested Gram-positive bacteria but only against Proteus vulgaris of the Gram-negative bacteria. Interestingly, the resin inhibited the growth of bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), both on agar plates and in culture media. The study demonstrated antimicrobial activity of the resin salve and provided objective evidence of its antimicrobial properties. It gives some explanations why the traditional use of home-made resin salve from Norway spruce is experienced as being effective in the treatment of infected skin ulcers.

Interplay between laminin-5 (Ln-5) and its integrin (Int) receptors alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1 and alpha6beta4 has been implicated in the progression and invasion of carcinomas. In this study we found abundant immunoreactivity for chains of Ln-5 (alpha3-beta3-gamma2) and Ln-10 (alpha5-beta1-gamma1), as well as for type VII collagen, in basement membranes (BM) of colorectal adenomas. In carcinomas of all differentiation grades, Lns were seen in tumor BMs, whereas type VII collagen was almost absent. Ln-5 appeared to accumulate along the invading edges of carcinomas, while Ln-10 was mostly absent. Immunoreactivity for Ln al chain, a component of Lns-1 and -3, was not seen in adenomas or carcinomas. Immunoreactivity for alpha2, alpha6, beta1 and beta4 Ints was found in all tumors and that for alpha3 Int in all adenomas and most of the carcinomas, often in colocalization with Ln-5. Immunoblotting of carcinoma tissues showed that the gamma2 chain of Ln-5 was present as typical Mr 105000 and 155000 isoforms. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed production of Ln-5 by cultured colon carcinoma cells. In quantitative cell adhesion experiments, function-blocking MAbs to alpha3 and beta1 Int subunits, but not those to Int alpha2 or alpha6 subunits, significantly inhibited the adhesion of cells to Ln-5. Our results suggest that BM composition in colorectal adenomas reflects the properties of surface epithelial BM of colorectal mucosa. In invading carcinomas, trimeric Ln-5, produced by carcinoma cells, is a major BM component and the cells use the alpha3beta1 Int complex for adhesion to Ln-5.

Traditional resin salve is significantly more effective in the treatment of infected and noninfected severe pressure ulcers than cellulose polymer gauzes.