AJP Centennial Articles
The American Society for Investigative Pathology in the Next Century
This article highlights the ASIP Centennial Celebration, marking the formation of one of its two predecessor societies, the American Society for Experimental Pathology (ASEP).The American Journal of Pathology Centennial Project: The Centennial Celebration Is Over, But the Science Moves Forward
This article closes out the AJP Centennial Project, which highlighted the contributions of The American Journal of Pathology in the 100 years since formation of the American Society for Investigative Pathology.Wounds That Will Not Heal: Pervasive Cellular Reprogramming in Cancer
There has been an explosion of articles on epithelial-mesenchymal transition and other modes of cellular reprogramming that influence the tumor microenvironment. Many controversies exist and remain to be resolved. The interest of the pathologists in the molecular and functional parallels between wound healing and the developing tumor stroma has its earliest origin in the writings of Rudolph Virchow in the 19th century. Since then, most of the focus has been primarily on the dynamics of the extracellular matrix; however, new interest has been redirected toward deciphering and understanding the enigmatic, yet elegant, plasticity of the cellular components of the proliferating epithelia and stroma and how they are reciprocally influenced.It’s a Cell-Eat-Cell World: Autophagy and Phagocytosis
The process of cellular eating, or the phagocytic swallowing of one cell by another, is an ancient manifestation of the struggle for life itself. Following the endosymbiotic origin of eukaryotic cells, increased cellular and then multicellular complexity was accompanied by the emergence of autophagic mechanisms for self-digestion. Heterophagy and autophagy function not only to protect the nutritive status of cells, but also as defensive responses against microbial pathogens externally or the ill effects of damaged proteins and organelles within.S. Burt Wolbach, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Blood-Sucking Arthropods: Triumph of an Early Investigative Pathologist
In a series of four articles published between 1916 and 1919 in The Journal of Medical Research, precursor to The American Journal of Pathology, the investigative pathologist S. Burt Wolbach unambiguously showed that Rocky Mountain spotted fever has a tick-borne mode of transmission, the causative agent replicates intracellularly, and the disease is fundamentally a vasculitis. Although underappreciated, Wolbach’s tour-de-force work epitomized investigative pathology. These four articles should be mandatory reading for young investigators and are recommended also to seasoned investigators who seek reinvigoration in the beauty in their craft.Adaptive Immunity and Atherosclerosis: Mouse Tales in the
Chronic inflammation driven by immune responses to lipid deposition in the arterial wall is now understood to be fundamental to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The frequent presence of T lymphocytes in human atherosclerotic lesions was first described in the 1980s, but experiments to test whether adaptive immunity influences lesion development and phenotype required animal models. The American Journal of Pathology has published many research articles focused on the role of inflammation and adaptive immunity in diet-induced and genetically manipulated murine models of atherosclerosis.Matrix Metalloproteinases: Changing Roles in Tumor Progression and Metastasis
Articles on tumor invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis in normal and disease states have been well represented among the pages of The American Journal of Pathology. In addition to exciting interest in a variety of disease processes, these studies have been central in defining the emerging field in cancer research known as the tumor microenvironment. Early studies in this field established the importance of the extracellular matrix on tumor cell growth and differentiation. With time, the role of the extracellular matrix and matrix metalloproteinases in the regulation of tumor invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis was recognized, and AJP has published seminal articles in this field.Cerebral Malaria: We Have Come a Long Way
Despite decades of research, cerebral malaria remains one of the most serious complications of Plasmodium infection and is a significant burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, where, despite effective antiparasitic treatment, survivors develop long-term neurological sequelae. Although much remains to be discovered about the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria, The American Journal of Pathology has been seminal in presenting original research from both human and experimental models. These studies have afforded significant insight into the mechanism of cerebral damage in this devastating disease.Tumor Cell Vasculogenic Mimicry: From Controversy to Therapeutic Promise
In 1999, The American Journal of Pathology published an article entitled “Vascular Channel Formation by Human Melanoma Cells in Vivo and in Vitro: Vasculogenic Mimicry,” by Maniotis and colleagues, which ignited a spirited debate for several years and earned distinction as a citation classic. Tumor cell vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the plasticity of aggressive cancer cells forming de novo vascular networks, which thereby contribute to perfusion of rapidly growing tumors, transporting fluid from leaky vessels, and/or connecting with the constitutional endothelial-lined vasculature.The Dark Side of Publishing: Promoting Ethics in 2003 to 2008
This ASIP Centennial Perspective describes the publishing backdrop that created a need for the Journal Scientific Integrity Policy as well as comments on the current state of scientific misconduct.A Brief History of Anti-VEGF for the Treatment of Ocular Angiogenesis
In 1994, The American Journal of Pathology published a key article reporting that hypoxic retina produces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), suggesting a role for VEGF in ocular neovascularization. Subsequent developments in anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular eye disease have improved visual outcomes and changed the standard of care in retinal medicine and ophthalmology.A Historical Perspective on Sepsis
In North America, approximately 700,000 cases of sepsis occur each year, with mortality ranging between 30% and 50%. The American Journal of Pathology has featured numerous articles on the topic, revealing mechanistic insights gleaned from both experimental rodent models and human sepsis. Nonetheless, there remains urgent need to determine the basis for sepsis-related complications and how they can be avoided, as well as how they can be most effectively treated once recognized. This historical perspective reviews what we currently understand about the mechanisms of sepsis, as well as the barriers that remain in our treatment strategies.Plaque Attack: One Hundred Years of Atherosclerosis in
Research articles on atherosclerosis have been well represented in The American Journal of Pathology (AJP), with more than 500 articles published since 1925. An initial focus on descriptive studies led to the proposal that atherosclerosis occurs as a response to vascular injury. With time, this view was modified by a greater understanding of the roles played by lipids and integrity of the vessel wall's constituent cells and matrix. AJP has been a major contributor to the field, publishing numerous seminal research papers and review articles on the latest advances in atherosclerosis.Alzheimer's Disease 2012: The Great Amyloid Gamble
Alzheimer's disease threatens to become the scourge of the 21st century. Hundreds of millions of aging people throughout the world are at risk, but it is clear that the disease encompasses more than just the natural aging process. Deposits of amyloid β peptides in the brains of demented individuals are a defining feature of the disease, yet two decades of intensive investigation, focusing on reducing or removing amyloid deposits, have failed to produce any meaningful therapeutic interventions. Some researchers question whether amyloid is the appropriate target.The American Journal of Pathology Centennial Project: Celebrating 100 Years of the American Society for Investigative Pathology
This article introduces the AJP Centennial Project, which will highlight the contributions of The American Journal of Pathology in the 100 years since formation of the American Society for Investigative Pathology.
