Spermatozoa-like cell invaders (nuclear vlimata) in human neoplasia.
Spermatozoa-like cells (nuclear vlimata) have been identified in malignant cell cultures and embryonic cells, also common in the cytology and histology of all types of human neoplasia even after chemotherapy. A new mechanism of invasion of malignant cells has been described, according to which neoplastic cells behave and function as parasites using host-cells to divide, survive and eventually produce nuclear vlimata (bullets). Nuclear vlimata are the end cell products of incomplete, unequal, assymetrical division of neoplastic cells. The nuclear vlima exhibits similar morphology to spermatozoa and virus (head with, or without, tail) and invades the cytoplasm and/or nucleus of surrounding host-cells by a similar mechanism to sperm-oocyte interaction (fertilization) or viral cell infection, in the events of nuclear vlima-->tumor-->nuclear vlima-->tumor. The nuclear vlima head contains and transfers DNA, and when incorporated into the host-nucleus is indistinguishable from nucleoli and when in the cytoplasm is similar to sperm pronucleus, observed after sperm penetration of the oocyte. Function of nuclear vlimata is directly dependent on the specific extracellular matrix produced by malignant cells, consisting of glycosaminoglycans-protease-membranes. This mechanism of invasion constitutes the link of all scientific information concerning human neoplasia.
Logothetou-Rella
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Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
D004247:DNA