The Evaluation of a 5-miRNA Panel in Patients with Periodontitis Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Side by side with tooth decay, periodontitis remains one of the most common oral diseases and is increasingly recognized as a serious public health concern worldwide. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims at comparing the levels of 5 specific miRNAs (miR-29b-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-181a-5p, and miR-192-5p) in patients with periodontal disease and healthy controls. METHODS: The pathogenic mechanism is related to the activation of immune response and significant alteration of coding and noncoding genes, including miRNA. The study includes 50 subjects (17 with periodontal disease and 33 healthy controls) with a mean age of 45.3 y. In both periodontitis patients and healthy controls, a panel of 5 miRNAs (miR-29b-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-181a-5p, and miR-192-5p) is examined by determining their expression levels with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The periodontitis patients express high levels of all the investigated miRNAs. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis shows an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.69 to 0.74 for individual transcripts with the highest AUC value observed for miR-192, followed by miR-181a. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that the 5-miRNA panel can be used as biomarker for periodontitis. In this way, all implantology procedures and treatment options for patients diagnosed with periodontitis can be improved for better long-term results, predictability, and follow-up frequency. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: The discovery of a miRNA panel as a potential biomarker for periodontitis offers major opportunities for practical application. Our study can improve diagnostic accuracy; researchers can develop new theories on molecular mechanisms and biomarker discovery.

Exosomes as divine messengers: are they the Hermes of modern molecular oncology?

Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles that convey key elements with the potential to modulate intercellular communication. They are known to be secreted from all types of cells, and are crucial messengers that can regulate cellular processes by 'trafficking' molecules from cells of one tissue to another. The exosomal content has been shown to be broad, composed of different types of cytokines, growth factors, proteins, or nucleic acids. Besides messenger RNA (mRNA) they can also contain noncoding transcripts such as microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small endogenous cellular regulators of protein expression. In diseases such as cancer, exosomes can facilitate tumor progression by altering their vesicular content and supplying the tumor niche with molecules that favor the progression of oncogenic processes such as proliferation, invasion and metastasis, or even drug resistance. The packaging of their molecular content is known to be tissue specific, a fact that makes them interesting tools in clinical diagnostics and ideal candidates for biomarkers. In the current report, we describe the main properties of exosomes and explain their involvement in processes such as cell differentiation and cell death. Furthermore, we emphasize the need of developing patient-targeted treatments by applying the conceptualization of exosomal-derived miRNA-based therapeutics.

The significance of PDGF expression in serum of colorectal carcinoma patients--correlation with Duke's classification. Can PDGF become a potential biomarker?

BACKGROUND: The expression of serum angiogenic factors has been associated with tumor dissemination and poor prognosis in multiple cancer types. However, it is still unclear whether these angiogenic molecules can be used as an independent molecular marker or in correlation with other parameters for predicting the prognosis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC)patients. METHODS: Protein expression was evaluated in 28 CRC and 10 control cases using Angiogenesis Fast Quant technology. RESULTS: In this study, we found downregulation of PDGF-bb protein expression in the serum of patients with colorectal cancer compared with the control group. Thus, PDGF-bb might play an essential function in the progression of CRC. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that the PDGF-bb protein expression might be an independent prognostic marker or in association with other parameters for CRC patients.

p53 gene therapy using RNA interference.

p53 gene, discovered almost 35 years ago, keeps the main role in cell cycle control, apoptosis pathways and transcription. p53 gene is found mutated in more than 50% of all human cancers in different locations. Many structures from viral to non viral were designed to incorporate and deliver in appropriate conditions forms of p53 gene or its transcripts, systemically to target tumor cells and to eliminate them through apoptosis or to restore the normal tumor suppressor gene role. Each delivery system presents advantages and low performance in relation to immune system recognition and acceptance. One of the major discoveries in the last years, silencing of RNA, represents a powerful tool for inhibiting post transcriptional control of gene expression. According to several studies, the RNA silencing technology for p53 transcripts together with other carriers or transporters at nano level can be used for creating new therapeutic models. RNA interference for p53 uses different double-stranded (ds) molecules like short interfering (si) RNA and, despite the difficulty of introducing them into mammalian cells due to immune system response, it can be exploited in cancer therapy.