A first-in-class Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein activator with anti-tumor activity in hematologic cancers.

Hematological cancers are among the most common cancers in adults and children. Despite significant improvements in therapies, many patients still succumb to the disease. Therefore, novel therapies are needed. The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) family regulates actin assembly in conjunction with the Arp2/3 complex, a ubiquitous nucleation factor. WASp is expressed exclusively in hematopoietic cells and exists in two allosteric conformations: autoinhibited or activated. Here, we describe the development of EG-011, a first-in-class small molecule activator of the WASp auto-inhibited form. EG-011 possesses in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity as a single agent in lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, including models of secondary resistance to PI3K, BTK, and proteasome inhibitors. The in vitro activity was confirmed in a lymphoma xenograft. Actin polymerization and WASp binding was demonstrated using multiple techniques. Transcriptome analysis highlighted homology with drugs-inducing actin polymerization.

Turner Syndrome Mosaicism 45,X/46,XY with Genital Ambiguity and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Translational Approach of a Rare Italian Case.

Turner syndrome (gonadal dysgenesis with short stature and sterility) is characterized by chromosomal karyotype 45,X in 50% of cases or by mosaicism (45,X/46,XX and 45,X/46,XY) in 30-40% or X structural defects (deletions, long arm isochromosome, ring chromosome). When mosaic Turner syndrome (TS) occurs with a Y chromosome, there may be ambiguous genitalia. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited neuromuscular disease with an X-Linked recessive pattern of inheritance that predominantly affects males, while females are usually asymptomatic. DMD has also been observed in groups of females affected by TS, not homozygous for the mutation. Here, we report a case of an Indian neonate born with ambiguous genitalia diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound who had a karyotype of 45,X/46,XY and who also had Duchenne muscular dystrophy caused by a de novo mutation in the DMD gene. Physical examination was normal without the typical dysmorphic features of TS with the exception of the genitourinary system showing ambiguous genitalia. Gender was assigned as female. At the age of three years, she had increasing difficulty walking, running, jumping and climbing stairs, proximal upper and lower extremity muscle weakness and a positive Gowers' sign. In addition, the serum creatine kinase (CK) value was over 30X the upper limit of normal. This study shows that DMD can occur in females with TS having 45,X/46,XY mosaicism and that this coexistence should be considered in women affected by TS who start to develop potential typical symptoms such as motor or developmental delay.

Exosomes from Human Periapical Cyst-MSCs: Theranostic Application in Parkinson's Disease.

The scientific community continuously strives to get new disease models, to discover early markers or novel therapeutic approaches, improving the diagnosis and prognosis of several human pathologies. Parkinson's Disease (PD) is characterized by a long asymptomatic phase, characterized by a selective loss of dopaminergic neurons. Recently, the human Periapical Cyst-Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hPCy-MSCs) have been differentiated in functional dopaminergic neurons: such oral-derived MSCs and the hPCy-MSCs-derived exosomes may represent a strategic and useful in vitro study-model, as well as intriguing therapeutic carriers. Circadian rhythm (CR) alteration variously impacts on PD pathways: an interesting research target is represented by the analysis of the exosomes released by dopaminergic neurons, derived from neural-differentiated hPCy-MSCs, after having reproduced in-vitro PD-like conditions. This review aims to describe the crosstalk among some aspects of circadian rhythm related to the onset of PD and the exosomes released by cells of PD patients. More in detail: the first part of this article will describe the main characteristics of circadian rhythm and the involvement of the exosomes found to be effective in the pathogenesis of PD. Finally, the authors will suggest how those exosomes derived from dopaminergic neurons, obtained by oral-derived stem cells (hPCy-MSCs) may represent a smart model for the in vitro research on PD, to find new biomarkers, to test new drugs or, fatally, to find new pathways applicable in future therapeutic approaches.

Strategic Tools in Regenerative and Translational Dentistry.

Human oral-derived stem cells can be easily obtained from several oral tissues, such as dental pulp, periodontal ligament, from gingiva, or periapical cysts. Due to their differentiation potential, oral-derived mesenchymal stem cells are promising for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The regenerative ability showed by some oral tissues strongly depends on their sleeping adult stem cell populations that are able to repair small defects and to manage local inflammation. To date, researchers are working on effective and efficient methods to ensure safe and predictable protocols to translate stem cell research into human models. In the last decades, the challenge has been to finally use oral-derived stem cells together with biomaterials or scaffold-free techniques, to obtain strategic tools for regenerative and translational dentistry. This paper aims to give a clear point of view on state of the art developments, with some exciting insights into future strategies.

Adipose Tissue as a Strategic Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Bone Regeneration: A Topical Review on the Most Promising Craniomaxillofacial Applications.

Bone regeneration in craniomaxillofacial surgery represents an issue that involves both surgical and aesthetic aspects. The most recent studies on bone tissue engineering involving adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) have clearly demonstrated that such cells can play a crucial role in the treatment of craniomaxillofacial defects, given their strong commitment towards the osteogenic phenotype. A deeper knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying ASCs is crucial for a correct understanding of the potentialities of ASCs-based therapies in the most complex maxillofacial applications. In this topical review, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms of ASCs related to their support toward angiogenesis and osteogenesis, during bone regeneration. Moreover, we analyzed both case reports and clinical trials reporting the most promising clinical applications of ASCs in the treatment of craniomaxillofacial defects. Our study aimed to report the main molecular and clinical features shown by ASCs, used as a therapeutic support in bone engineering, as compared to the use of conventional autologous and allogeneic bone grafts.

Mechanical influence of tissue culture plates and extracellular matrix on mesenchymal stem cell behavior: A topical review.

Tissue engineering applications need a continuous development of new biomaterials able to generate an ideal cell-extracellular matrix interaction. The stem cell fate is regulated by several factors, such as growth factors or transcription factors. The most recent literature has reported several publications able to demonstrate that environmental factors also contribute to the regulation of stem cell behavior, leading to the opinion that the environment plays the major role in the cell differentiation.The interaction between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and extracellular environment has been widely described, and it has a crucial role in regulating the cell phenotype. In our laboratory (Tecnologica Research Institute, Crotone, Italy), we have recently studied how several physical factors influence the distribution and the morphology of MSCs isolated from dental pulp, and how they are able to regulate stem cell differentiation. Mechanical and geometrical factors are only a small part of the environmental factors able to influence stem cell behavior, however, this influence should be properly known: in fact, this assumption must be clearly considered during those studies involving MSCs; furthermore, these interactions should be considered as an important bias that involves an high number of studies on the MSCs, since in worldwide laboratories the scientists mostly use tissue culture plates for their experiments.

Heat shock protein 70 regulates Tcl1 expression in leukemia and lymphomas.

T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 (TCL1) is an oncogene overexpressed in T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia and in B-cell malignancies including B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphomas. To date, only a limited number of Tcl1-interacting proteins that regulate its oncogenic function have been identified. Prior studies used a proteomic approach to identify a novel interaction between Tcl1 with Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated. The association of Tcl1 and Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated leads to activation of the NF-κB pathway. Here, we demonstrate that Tcl1 also interacts with heat shock protein (Hsp) 70. The Tcl1-Hsp70 complex was validated by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. In addition, we report that Hsp70, a protein that plays a critical role in the folding and maturation of several oncogenic proteins, associates with Tcl1 protein and stabilizes its expression. The inhibition of the ATPase activity of Hsp70 results in ubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation of Tcl1. The inhibition of Hsp70 significantly reduced the growth of lymphoma xenografts in vivo and down-regulated the expression of Tcl1 protein. Our findings reveal a functional interaction between Tcl1 and Hsp70 and identify Tcl1 as a novel Hsp70 client protein. These findings suggest that inhibition of Hsp70 may represent an alternative effective therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphomas via its ability to inhibit the oncogenic functions of Tcl1.

The regenerative medicine in oral and maxillofacial surgery: the most important innovations in the clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells.

Regenerative medicine is an emerging field of biotechnology that combines various aspects of medicine, cell and molecular biology, materials science and bioengineering in order to regenerate, repair or replace tissues. The oral surgery and maxillofacial surgery have a role in the treatment of traumatic or degenerative diseases that lead to a tissue loss: frequently, to rehabilitate these minuses, you should use techniques that have been improved over time. Since 1990, we started with the use of growth factors and platelet concentrates in oral and maxillofacial surgery; in the following period we start to use biomaterials, as well as several type of scaffolds and autologous tissues. The frontier of regenerative medicine nowadays is represented by the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs): overcoming the ethical problems thanks to the use of mesenchymal stem cells from adult patient, and with the increasingly sophisticated technology to support their manipulation, MSCs are undoubtedly the future of medicine regenerative and they are showing perspectives unimaginable just a few years ago. Most recent studies are aimed to tissues regeneration using MSCs taken from sites that are even more accessible and rich in stem cells: the oral cavity turned out to be an important source of MSCs with the advantage to be easily accessible to the surgeon, thus avoiding to increase the morbidity of the patient. The future is the regeneration of whole organs or biological systems consisting of many different tissues, starting from an initial stem cell line, perhaps using innovative scaffolds together with the nano-engineering of biological tissues.

Tcl1 interacts with Atm and enhances NF-κB activation in hematologic malignancies.

The T-cell leukemia/lymphoma 1 (TCL1) oncogene is a target of chromosomal translocations and inversions at 14q31.2, and its rearrangement in T cells causes T-cell prolymphocytic leukemias. TCL1 dysregulation in B cells is responsible for the development of an aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common human leukemia. We have investigated the mechanisms underlying the oncogenic functions of Tcl1 protein using a mass spectrometry approach and have identified Atm (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) as a candidate Tcl1-interacting protein. The Tcl1-Atm complex formation was validated by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Importantly, we show that the association of Atm with Tcl1 leads to enhanced IκBα phosphorylation and ubiquitination and subsequent activation of the NF-κB pathway. Our findings reveal functional cross-talk between Atm and Tcl1 and provide evidence for a novel pathway that could be targeted in leukemias and lymphomas.

Functionalized magnesium alloys obtained by superplastic forming process retain osteoinductive and antibacterial properties: An in-vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the biocompatibility, osteogenic and antibacterial activity of biomedical devices based on Magnesium (Mg) Alloys manufactured by Superplastic Forming process (SPF) and subjected to Hydrothermal (HT) and Sol-Gel Treatment (Sol-Gel). METHODS: Mg-SPF devices subjected to Hydrothermal (Mg-SPF+HT) and Sol-Gel Treatment (Mg-SPF+Sol-Gel) were investigated. The biocompatibility of Mg-SPF+Sol-Gel and Mg-SPF+HT devices was observed by indirect and direct cytotoxicity assays, whereas the colonization of sample surfaces was assessed by confocal microscopy. qRT-PCR analysis and microbial growth curve analyses were employed to evaluate the osteogenic and antibacterial activity of both SPF-Mg treated devices, respectively. RESULTS: Mg-SPF+HT and Mg-SPF+Sol-Gel showed a high degree of biocompatibility. Analysis of mRNA expression of osteogenic genes in cells cultured on Mg-treated devices revealed a significant upregulation of the expression levels of BMP2 and Runx-2. Furthermore, the bacterial growth in strains developed in contact with both the Mg-SPF+HT and Mg-SPF+Sol-Gel devices was lower than that observed in the control. SIGNIFICANCE: Hydrothermal and Sol-Gel Treatments of Mg alloys obtained through the SPF process demonstrated bioactive, osteogenic and antibacterial activity, offering a promising alternative to conventional Mg-based devices. The obtained Mg-based materials may have the potential to enhance the tunability of temporary devices in maxillary reconstruction, eliminating the need for second surgeries, and ensuring a good bone reconstruction and a reduced implant failure rate due to bacterial infections.

Expanding the genetic and clinical spectrum of osteogenesis imperfecta: identification of novel rare pathogenic variants in type I collagen-encoding genes.

Introduction: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous skeletal disorder. The majority of affected cases are attributed to autosomal dominant pathogenic variants (PVs) found in the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes, which encode type I collagen. However, PVs in other genes involved in collagen posttranslational modification, processing, crosslinking, osteoblast differentiation, and bone mineralization have also been associated with OI. Methods: In this study, we present the results of next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis using a custom panel of 11 genes known to be associated with OI. This clinical study enrolled a total of 10 patients, comprising 7 male and 3 female patients from 7 families, all from the Puglia Region in South Italy, providing a detailed overview of their age, gender, family history, OI type, and non-skeletal features. Results: The genetic analysis revealed 5 PVs in the COL1A1 gene and 2 PVs in the COL1A2 gene. Importantly, three of these PVs have not been previously reported in the literature. These include two novel heterozygous frameshift PVs in COL1A1 (c.2890_2893del and c.3887del) and one novel heterozygous missense PV in COL1A2 (c.596G>T). Discussion: The identification of these previously unreported PVs expands the variant spectrum of the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes and may have implications for accurate diagnosis, genetic counselling, and potential therapeutic interventions in affected individuals and their families.

The Tumour Suppressor Fhit Protein Activates C-Raf Ubiquitination and Degradation in Human Melanoma Cells by Interacting with Hsp90.

Fhit protein expression is reduced in the majority of human tumors; moreover, its restoration both triggers apoptosis of cancer cells and suppresses tumor formation in a large number of preclinical models of cancers. In the following study, we observed that Fhit expression is significantly reduced in human melanoma cells, and their in vivo growth is blocked by a recombinant adenovirus carrying the FHIT gene. Importantly, we found here that Fhit physically interacts with Hsp90. Since Hsp90 is a chaperone with a crucial function in the conformational maturation and stabilization of C-Raf, we also investigated whether Fhit could interfere with the Hsp90/C-Raf protein complex in melanoma. Interestingly, the administration of the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-AAG, in combination with Fhit protein overexpression in melanoma cells, reacts synergistically to increase C-Raf ubiquitination and degradation. These data reveal Hsp90 as a novel interactor of Fhit and suggest that FHIT activity restoration could represent a helpful strategy for suppressing the oncogenic C-Raf pathway in the therapy of human melanoma.

Germline Testing in a Cohort of Patients at High Risk of Hereditary Cancer Predisposition Syndromes: First Two-Year Results from South Italy.

Germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes are responsible for 5 to 10% of all diagnosed cancers, which are commonly known as hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes (HCPS). A total of 104 individuals at high risk of HCPS were selected by genetic counselling for genetic testing in the past 2 years. Most of them were subjects having a personal and family history of breast cancer (BC) selected according to current established criteria. Genes analysis involved in HCPS was assessed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) using a custom cancer panel with high- and moderate-risk susceptibility genes. Germline PVs were identified in 17 of 104 individuals (16.3%) analysed, while variants of uncertain significance (VUS) were identified in 21/104 (20.2%) cases. Concerning the germline PVs distribution among the 13 BC individuals with positive findings, 8/13 (61.5%) were in the BRCA1/2 genes, whereas 5/13 (38.4%) were in other high- or moderate-risk genes including PALB2, TP53, ATM and CHEK2. NGS genetic testing showed that 6/13 (46.1%) of the PVs observed in BC patients were detected in triple-negative BC. Interestingly, the likelihood of carrying the PVs in the moderate-to-high-risk genes calculated by the cancer risk model BOADICEA was significantly higher in pathogenic variant carriers than in negative subjects. Collectively, this study shows that multigene panel testing can offer an effective diagnostic approach for patients at high risk of hereditary cancers.

Design, synthesis, biophysical and biological studies of trisubstituted naphthalimides as G-quadruplex ligands.

A series of trisubstituted naphthalimides have been synthesized and evaluated as telomeric G-quadruplex ligands by biophysical methods. Affinity for telomeric G-quadruplex AGGG(TTAGGG)(3) binding was first screened by fluorescence titrations. Subsequently, the interaction of the telomeric G-quadruplex with compounds showing the best affinity has been studied by isothermal titration calorimetry and UV-melting experiments. The two best compounds of the series tightly bind the telomeric quadruplex with a 2:1 drug/DNA stoichiometry. These derivatives have been further evaluated for their ability to inhibit telomerase by a TRAP assay and their pharmacological properties by treating melanoma (M14) and human lung cancer (A549) cell lines with increasing drug concentrations. A dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation was observed for all cellular lines during short-term treatment.

A Dedifferentiation Strategy to Enhance the Osteogenic Potential of Dental Derived Stem Cells.

Dental stem cells (DSCs) holds the ability to differentiate into numerous cell types. This property makes these cells particularly appropriate for therapeutic use in regenerative medicine. We report evidence that when DSCs undergo osteogenic differentiation, the osteoblast-like cells can be reverted back to a stem-like state and then further differentiated toward the osteogenic phenotype again, without gene manipulation. We have investigated two different MSCs types, both from dental tissues: dental follicle progenitor stem cells (DFPCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). After osteogenic differentiation, both DFPCs and DPSCs can be reverted to a naïve stem cell-like status; importantly, dedifferentiated DSCs showed a greater potential to further differentiate toward the osteogenic phenotype. Our report aims to demonstrate for the first time that it is possible, under physiological conditions, to control the dedifferentiation of DSCs and that the rerouting of cell fate could potentially be used to enhance their osteogenic therapeutic potential. Significantly, this study first validates the use of dedifferentiated DSCs as an alternative source for bone tissue engineering.

Case Report: Identification of a Novel Pathogenic Germline TP53 Variant in a Family With Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is an inherited autosomal dominant disease characterized by a predisposition to many cancers. Germline pathogenic variants in TP53 are primarily responsible for LFS. By performing a targeted sequencing panel in a proband with liver carcinoma having a deceased son affected by osteosarcoma, we found the novel heterozygous frameshift variant c.645del (p.Ser215Argfs*32) in the TP53 gene. This variant co-segregated with typical LFS cancers in the family pedigree, consistent with the pathogenicity of this novel and previously undescribed TP53 variant.

A Familial Form of Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex Associated with a Pathogenic Variant in KRT5.

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex is a disease that belongs to a group of genodermatoses characterised by the formation of superficial bullous lesions caused by minor mechanical trauma to the skin. The skin fragility observed in the EBS is mainly caused by pathogenic variants in the KRT5 and KRT14 genes that compromise the mechanical stability of epithelial cells. By performing DNA sequencing in a female patient with EBS, we found the pathogenic variant c.967G>A (p.Val323Met) in the KRT5 gene. This variant co-segregated with EBS in the family pedigree and was transmitted in an autosomal dominant inheritance manner. This is the first report showing a familial form of EBS due to this pathogenic variant.

7q35 Microdeletion and 15q13.3 and Xp22.33 Microduplications in a Patient with Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy, Microcephaly, Dysmorphisms, Severe Psychomotor Delay and Intellectual Disability.

Copy number variations (CNVs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we describe the detection of three CNVs simultaneously in a female patient with evidence of severe myoclonic epilepsy, microcephaly, hypertelorism, dimorphisms as well as severe psychomotor delay and intellectual disability. Array-CGH analysis revealed a ∼240 kb microdeletion at the 7q35 inherited from her father, a ∼538 kb microduplication at the 15q13.3 region and a ∼178 kb microduplication at Xp22.33 region, both transmitted from her mother. The microdeletion in 7q35 was included within an intragenic region of the contactin associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) gene, whereas the microduplications at 15q13.3 and Xp22.33 involved the cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 7 subunit (CHRNA7) and the cytokine receptor-like factor 2 (CRLF2) genes, respectively. Here, we describe a female patient harbouring three CNVs whose additive contribution could be responsible for her clinical phenotypes.

Evaluation of Profile Changes in Class II Individuals Treated by Means of Herbst Miniscope Appliance.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the profile changes following orthopedic/orthodontic treatment with the Herbst Miniscope® appliance in subjects affected with Class II malocclusion with mandibular retrusion. METHODS: A total of 44 patients presenting a skeletal Angle Class II malocclusion (ANB > 4°) due to mandibular retrusion and a cervical maturation stage between CS2 and CS3 were included in the study. Of these 44 patients, 22 (mean age 11.9 ± 1.3, HBT group) were treated using the Herbst appliance, while 22 (mean age 10.6 ± 1.3, CTR group) were followed for a 12-month observational period. A cephalometric tracing was performed at the beginning of treatment (T0) and after 12 months (T1). RESULTS: In both groups there was a significant advancement of soft tissue pogonion (HBT = 3.5 ± 3.0 mm, p < 0.001; CTR = 2.2 ± 2.9 mm, p < 0.001), but the difference between the two groups was not significant (p = 0.172). On the contrary, both groups had a significant advancement of the mandibular sulcus (HBT = 3.7 ± 2.8 mm, p < 0.001; CTR = 1.2 ± 2.2 mm, p < 0.001) and a lower lip protrusion (HBT = 3.45 ± 2.51 mm, p < 0.001; CTR = 1.7 ± 2.7 mm, p = 0.008), but in both cases the HBT group showed a statistically significant greater increase in sulcus protrusion (p = 0.002) and lower lip protrusion (p = 0.029) than controls. There were no statistically significant effects on the upper jaw. CONCLUSIONS: The Herbst appliance advanced the lower jaw soft tissues.