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1.
Diabetes Metab Res Rev ; 40(4): e3811, 2024 May.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38751148

RESUMEN

AIMS: Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) do not appear to have an elevated risk of severe Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Pre-existing immune reactivity to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in unexposed individuals may serve as a protective factor. Hence, our study was designed to evaluate the existence of T cells with reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 antigens in unexposed patients with T1D. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from SARS-CoV-2 unexposed patients with T1D and healthy control subjects. SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells were identified in PBMCs by ex-vivo interferon (IFN)γ-ELISpot and flow cytometric assays. The epitope specificity of T cells in T1D was inferred through T Cell Receptor sequencing and GLIPH2 clustering analysis. RESULTS: T1D patients unexposed to SARS-CoV-2 exhibited higher rates of virus-specific T cells than controls. The T cells primarily responded to peptides from the ORF7/8, ORF3a, and nucleocapsid proteins. Nucleocapsid peptides predominantly indicated a CD4+ response, whereas ORF3a and ORF7/8 peptides elicited both CD4+ and CD8+ responses. The GLIPH2 clustering analysis of TCRß sequences suggested that TCRß clusters, associated with the autoantigens proinsulin and Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT-8), might share specificity towards ORF7b and ORF3a viral epitopes. Notably, PBMCs from three T1D patients exhibited T cell reactivity against both ORF7b/ORF3a viral epitopes and proinsulin/ZnT-8 autoantigens. CONCLUSIONS: The increased frequency of SAR-CoV-2- reactive T cells in T1D patients might protect against severe COVID-19 and overt infections. These results emphasise the long-standing association between viral infections and T1D.


Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/inmunología , SARS-CoV-2/inmunología , COVID-19/inmunología , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Linfocitos T/inmunología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Epítopos de Linfocito T/inmunología , Adulto Joven
2.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(10)2024 May 18.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38791543

RESUMEN

Doublecortin, encoded by the DCX gene, plays a crucial role in the neuronal migration process during brain development. Pathogenic variants of the DCX gene are the major causes of the "lissencephaly (LIS) spectrum", which comprehends a milder phenotype like Subcortical Band Heterotopia (SBH) in heterozygous female subjects. We performed targeted sequencing in three unrelated female cases with SBH. We identified three DCX-related variants: a novel missense (c.601A>G: p.Lys201Glu), a novel nonsense (c.210C>G: p.Tyr70*), and a previously identified nonsense (c.907C>T: p.Arg303*) variant. The novel c.601A>G: p.Lys201Glu variant shows a mother-daughter transmission pattern across four generations. The proband exhibits focal epilepsy and achieved seizure freedom with a combination of oxcarbazepine and levetiracetam. All other affected members have no history of epileptic seizures. Brain MRIs of the affected members shows predominant fronto-central SBH with mixed pachygyria on the overlying cortex. The two nonsense variants were identified in two unrelated probands with SBH, severe drug-resistant epilepsy and intellectual disability. These novel DCX variants further expand the genotypic-phenotypic correlations of lissencephaly spectrum disorders. Our documented phenotypic descriptions of three unrelated families provide valuable insights and stimulate further discussions on DCX-SBH cases.


Asunto(s)
Lisencefalias Clásicas y Heterotopias Subcorticales en Banda , Proteínas de Dominio Doblecortina , Proteína Doblecortina , Proteínas Asociadas a Microtúbulos , Linaje , Fenotipo , Humanos , Femenino , Proteínas Asociadas a Microtúbulos/genética , Lisencefalias Clásicas y Heterotopias Subcorticales en Banda/genética , Lisencefalias Clásicas y Heterotopias Subcorticales en Banda/patología , Neuropéptidos/genética , Codón sin Sentido/genética , Adulto , Mutación Missense , Niño , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Preescolar , Adolescente
3.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol ; 278(10): 3725-3730, 2021 Oct.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33095432

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders such as dizziness and vertigo have been reported by patients with COVID-19; however, they have been rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to study the prevalence of subjective tinnitus and dizziness in a sample of COVID-19 patients using an online 10-item close-ended questionnaire. METHODS: A multicentric study that included 15 Italian hospitals in different regions was conducted using an online 10-item close-ended questionnaire developed to identify the presence of tinnitus and balance disorders in patients with COVID-19 between May 5 and June 10, 2020. The questionnaire was administered to 185 patients in a period of > 30 - < 60 days after diagnosis of COVID-19; responses were recorded in an online Excel spreadsheet. The questionnaire was composed of three sections: (1) demographic information; (2) presence and characteristics of tinnitus and dizziness after COVID-19 diagnosis; (3) possible association with migraine. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (18.4%) reported equilibrium disorders after COVID-19 diagnosis. Of these, 32 patients reported dizziness (94.1%) and 2 (5.9%) reported acute vertigo attacks. Forty-three patients (23.2%) reported tinnitus; 14 (7.6%) reported both tinnitus and equilibrium disorders. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the presence of subjective otoneurological symptoms such as tinnitus and balance disorders can affect COVID-19 patients; further studies are necessary to investigate the prevalence and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these subjective symptoms in COVID-19 patients.


Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Acúfeno , Prueba de COVID-19 , Mareo/epidemiología , Mareo/etiología , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , Acúfeno/epidemiología , Vértigo/diagnóstico , Vértigo/epidemiología
4.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol ; 278(1): 247-255, 2021 Jan.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32749606

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: The presence of many asymptomatic COVID-19 cases may increase the risks of disease dissemination, mainly for physicians. There are numerous reports on the frequent findings of sudden anosmia or hyposmia, before or at the same time of the typical COVID-19 symptoms onset. The aim of this study was to verify the association of olfactory impairment and COVID-19, providing a basis for subsequent research in the field of COVID-19 clinical heterogeneity. METHODS: We developed a 15-item online questionnaire on "Sudden Olfactory Loss (SOL) and COVID-19" that was administered during March 2020 to Italian general practitioners registered to a social media group. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty responses were received. SOL was identified as a significant sign of infection in COVID-19 patients, mainly aged between 30 and 40 years, even in the absence of other symptoms. SOL was present as an initial symptom in 46.7% of subjects, and in 16.7%, it was the only symptom. Among the COVID-19 confirmed cases, SOL occurred as the only symptom in 19.2% of patients. CONCLUSION: SOL could represent a possible early symptom in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 subjects. Subjects affected by SOL should be considered as potential COVID-19 cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.


Asunto(s)
Anosmia/etiología , COVID-19/diagnóstico , Trastornos del Olfato/etiología , Adulto , Anosmia/diagnóstico , Anosmia/epidemiología , Biomarcadores , COVID-19/complicaciones , COVID-19/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Italia/epidemiología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Trastornos del Olfato/diagnóstico , Trastornos del Olfato/epidemiología , SARS-CoV-2 , Encuestas y Cuestionarios
5.
Immunogenetics ; 72(4): 241-250, 2020 05.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32219493

RESUMEN

Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is a very common inflammatory skin disease, but limited data are available on the genetic characterization (somatic mutations, microarrays, and genome-wide association study (GWAS)) of skin lesions in affected dogs. microRNAs are good biomarkers in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases in people. The aim of this study was to evaluate microRNA expression in the skin of atopic beagles, before and after exposure to Dermatophagoides farinae. Four atopic and four unrelated age-matched healthy beagle dogs were enrolled. Total RNA was extracted from flash-frozen skin biopsies of healthy and atopic dogs. For the atopic dogs, skin biopsies were taken from non-lesional (day 0) and lesional skin (day 28 of weekly environmental challenge with Dermatophagoides farinae). Small RNA libraries were constructed and sequenced. The microRNA sequences were aligned to CanFam3.1 genome. Differential expressed microRNAs were selected on the basis of fold-change and statistical significance (fold-change ≥ 1.5 and p ≤ 0.05 as thresholds. A total of 277 microRNAs were sequenced. One hundred and twenty-one differentially regulated microRNAs were identified between non-lesional and healthy skin. Among these, two were increased amount and 119 were decreased amount. A total of 45 differentially regulated microRNAs between lesional and healthy skin were identified, 44 were decreased amount and one was increased amount. Finally, only two increased amount microRNAs were present in lesional skin when compared with that of non-lesional skin. This is the first study in which dysregulation of microRNAs has been associated with lesional and non-lesional canine AD. Larger studies are needed to understand the role of microRNA in canine AD.


Asunto(s)
Dermatitis Atópica/genética , Enfermedades de los Perros/genética , MicroARNs/genética , Animales , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Dermatitis Atópica/patología , Dermatophagoides farinae/patogenicidad , Perros , Expresión Génica , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Piel/patología
6.
Int J Mol Sci ; 21(7)2020 Mar 30.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32235561

RESUMEN

The T cells are key players of the response to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy (CBI) and monitoring the strength and specificity of antitumor T-cell reactivity remains a crucial but elusive component of precision immunotherapy. The entire assembly of T-cell receptor (TCR) sequences accounts for antigen specificity and strength of the T-cell immune response. The TCR repertoire hence represents a "footprint" of the conditions faced by T cells that dynamically evolves according to the challenges that arise for the immune system, such as tumor neo-antigenic load. Hence, TCR repertoire analysis is becoming increasingly important to comprehensively understand the nature of a successful antitumor T-cell response, and to improve the success and safety of current CBI.


Asunto(s)
Inmunoterapia/métodos , Neoplasias/terapia , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfocitos T/inmunología , Linfocitos T/inmunología , Animales , Células Presentadoras de Antígenos/inmunología , Humanos , Neoplasias/inmunología
7.
Int J Mol Sci ; 18(10)2017 10 17.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29039805

RESUMEN

Erythroid differentiation is a complex and multistep process during which an adequate supply of iron for hemoglobinization is required. The role of ferritin heavy subunit, in this process, has been mainly attributed to its capacity to maintain iron in a non-toxic form. We propose a new role for ferritin heavy subunit (FHC) in controlling the erythroid commitment of K562 erythro-myeloid cells. FHC knockdown induces a change in the balance of GATA transcription factors and significantly reduces the expression of a repertoire of erythroid-specific genes, including α- and γ-globins, as well as CD71 and CD235a surface markers, in the absence of differentiation stimuli. These molecular changes are also reflected at the morphological level. Moreover, the ability of FHC-silenced K562 cells to respond to the erythroid-specific inducer hemin is almost completely abolished. Interestingly, we found that this new role for FHC is largely mediated via regulation of miR-150, one of the main microRNA implicated in the cell-fate choice of common erythroid/megakaryocytic progenitors. These findings shed further insight into the biological properties of FHCand delineate a role in erythroid differentiation where this protein does not act as a mere iron metabolism-related factor but also as a critical regulator of the expression of genes of central relevance for erythropoiesis.


Asunto(s)
Células Eritroides/citología , Células Eritroides/metabolismo , Eritropoyesis/genética , Ferritinas/genética , Factor de Transcripción GATA1/genética , Silenciador del Gen , MicroARNs/genética , Dominios y Motivos de Interacción de Proteínas/genética , Biología Computacional/métodos , Células Precursoras Eritroides , Ferritinas/química , Factor de Transcripción GATA1/metabolismo , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Técnicas de Silenciamiento del Gen , Humanos , Células K562 , Interferencia de ARN
8.
Int J Mol Sci ; 17(9)2016 08 27.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27618896

RESUMEN

Naturally occurring resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) can negatively impact the response to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) agents-based therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Herein, we set out to characterize the RASs in the HCV1b genome from serum samples of DAA-naïve patients in the context of the SINERGIE (South Italian Network for Rational Guidelines and International Epidemiology, 2014) project. We deep-sequenced the NS3/4A protease region of the viral population using the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine, and patient-specific majority rule consensus sequence summaries were constructed with a combination of freely available next generation sequencing data analysis software. We detected NS3/4A protease major and minor variants associated with resistance to boceprevir (V36L), telaprevir (V36L, I132V), simeprevir (V36L), and grazoprevir (V36L, V170I). Furthermore, we sequenced part of HCV NS5B polymerase using Sanger-sequencing and detected a natural RAS for dasabuvir (C316N). This mutation could be important for treatment strategies in cases of previous therapy failure.


Asunto(s)
Antivirales/farmacología , Hepacivirus/efectos de los fármacos , Hepacivirus/genética , Farmacorresistencia Viral/genética , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento , Humanos , Mutación , Oligopéptidos/farmacología , Prolina/análogos & derivados , Prolina/farmacología , Simeprevir/farmacología , Proteínas no Estructurales Virales/genética
9.
Blood ; 121(13): 2452-61, 2013 Mar 28.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23349393

RESUMEN

The Polycomb group (PcG) protein BMI1 is a key factor in regulating hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and leukemic stem cell self-renewal and functions in the context of the Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1). In humans, each of the 5 subunits of PRC1 has paralog family members of which many reside in PRC1 complexes, likely in a mutually exclusive manner, pointing toward a previously unanticipated complexity of Polycomb-mediated silencing. We used an RNA interference screening approach to test the functionality of these paralogs in human hematopoiesis. Our data demonstrate a lack of redundancy between various paralog family members, suggestive of functional diversification between PcG proteins. By using an in vivo biotinylation tagging approach followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to identify PcG interaction partners, we confirmed the existence of multiple specific PRC1 complexes. We find that CBX2 is a nonredundant CBX paralog vital for HSC and progenitor function that directly regulates the expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, independently of BMI1 that dominantly controls expression of the INK4A/ARF locus. Taken together, our data show that different PRC1 paralog family members have nonredundant and locus-specific gene regulatory activities that are essential for human hematopoiesis.


Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/fisiología , Silenciador del Gen , Sitios Genéticos/genética , Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/genética , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Femenino , Sangre Fetal/citología , Sangre Fetal/metabolismo , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Silenciador del Gen/fisiología , Hematopoyesis/genética , Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/fisiología , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Familia de Multigenes/genética , Familia de Multigenes/fisiología , Embarazo , Isoformas de Proteínas/genética , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Isoformas de Proteínas/fisiología , Proteínas Represoras/genética , Proteínas Represoras/metabolismo , Proteínas Represoras/fisiología , Homología de Secuencia , Especificidad por Sustrato/genética
10.
Nucleic Acids Res ; 41(6): 3772-86, 2013 Apr 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23393186

RESUMEN

Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) molecules are heterodimeric surface proteins involved in the presentation of exogenous antigens during the adaptive immune response. We demonstrate the existence of a fine level of regulation, coupling the transcription and processing of mRNAs encoding α and ß chains of MHCII molecules, mediated through binding of their Untraslated Regions (UTRs) to the same ribonucleoproteic complex (RNP). We propose a dynamic model, in the context of the 'MHCII RNA operon' in which the increasing levels of DRA and DRB mRNAs are docked by the RNP acting as a bridge between 5'- and 3'-UTR of the same messenger, building a loop structure and, at the same time, joining the two chains, thanks to shared common predicted secondary structure motifs. According to cell needs, as during immune surveillance, this RNP machinery guarantees a balanced synthesis of DRA and DRB mRNAs and a consequent balanced surface expression of the heterodimer.


Asunto(s)
Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Cadenas alfa de HLA-DR/genética , Cadenas beta de HLA-DR/química , Regiones no Traducidas 5' , Proteínas Adaptadoras Transductoras de Señales/antagonistas & inhibidores , Línea Celular Tumoral , ADN Complementario/metabolismo , Antígenos HLA-DR/análisis , Cadenas alfa de HLA-DR/química , Cadenas alfa de HLA-DR/metabolismo , Cadenas beta de HLA-DR/genética , Cadenas beta de HLA-DR/metabolismo , Humanos , Modelos Genéticos , Proteínas del Factor Nuclear 90/antagonistas & inhibidores , Motivos de Nucleótidos , Multimerización de Proteína , Procesamiento Postranscripcional del ARN , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/antagonistas & inhibidores , Ribonucleoproteínas/metabolismo , Transcripción Genética
11.
Am J Pathol ; 180(3): 1202-1214, 2012 Mar.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22245727

RESUMEN

The aim of the present work was to identify protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) as novel, candidate tumor suppressor genes in lung cancer. Among the 38 PTPs in the human genome that show specificity for phosphotyrosine, we identified six PTPs by quantitative RT-PCR whose mRNA expression levels were significantly down-regulated in lung cancer-derived cell lines (ie, PTPRE, PTPRF, PTPRU, PTPRK, PTPRD, and PTPN13). After validation in primary samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we selected PTPN13 for further studies. The results presented here demonstrate that PTPN13 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene that is frequently inactivated in NSCLC through the loss of either mRNA and protein expression (64/87, 73%) or somatic mutation (approximately 8%). Loss of PTPN13 expression was apparently due to the loss of one or both copies of the PTPN13 locus at 4q (approximately 26% double deletion and approximately 37% single deletion) but not to promoter methylation. Finally, the manipulation of PTPN13 expression in lung cancer cells (ie, NCI-H292, A549) demonstrated that PTPN13 negatively regulates anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth in vitro and restrains tumorigenicity in vivo, possibly through the control of the tyrosine phosphorylation of both EGFR and HER2. In conclusion, the expression screening of PTPs in lung cancer reported here has identified PTPN13 as a novel candidate tumor suppressor in NSCLC whose loss increases signaling from epidermal growth factor receptor and HER2 tyrosine kinase receptors.


Asunto(s)
Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/genética , Eliminación de Gen , Genes Supresores de Tumor , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Proteína Tirosina Fosfatasa no Receptora Tipo 13/genética , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Animales , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Metilación de ADN , Receptores ErbB/metabolismo , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Desnudos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proteína Tirosina Fosfatasa no Receptora Tipo 13/metabolismo , Proteína Tirosina Fosfatasa no Receptora Tipo 13/fisiología , ARN/metabolismo , ARN Interferente Pequeño/genética , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto , Adulto Joven
12.
Neurobiol Aging ; 125: 123-124, 2023 05.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36828691

RESUMEN

Recently, a novel pathogenic variant in Annexin A1 protein (c.4G > A, p.Ala2Thr) has been identified in an Iranian consanguineous family with autosomal recessive parkinsonism. The deficiencies of ANXA1 could lead to extracellular SNCA accumulation, defects in intracellular signaling pathways and synaptic plasticity causing parkinsonism. The aim of this study was to identify rare ANXA1 variants in 95 early-onset PD patients from South Italy. Sequencing analysis of ANXA1 gene revealed only 2 synonymous variants in PD patients (rs1050305, rs149033255). Therefore, we conclude that the recently published ANXA1 mutation is not a common cause of EOPD in Southern Italy.


Asunto(s)
Trastornos Parkinsonianos , Humanos , Edad de Inicio , Irán , Italia , Mutación/genética , Trastornos Parkinsonianos/genética
13.
Lab Anim ; 57(3): 247-258, 2023 Jun.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36601775

RESUMEN

A comprehensive pathological analysis of inbred strains is essential to define strain-specific spontaneous lesions and to understand whether a specific phenotype results from experimental intervention or reflects a naturally occurring disease. This study aimed to report and describe a novel condition affecting the skeletal muscles of an inbred C57BL/6NCrl mouse colony characterised by large sarcoplasmic vacuoles in the muscle fibres of male mice in the subsarcolemmal spaces and the intermyofibrillary network. There was no muscle weakness, loss of ambulation or cardiac/respiratory involvement. Post-mortem evaluation and histological analysis excluded the presence of pathological accumulations or lesions in other tissues and organs. Changes were seen in fibre size, with many hypotrophic and some slightly hypertrophic fibres. Histological, immunohistochemical and molecular analyses of the vacuolar content revealed dysregulation of the autophagy machinery while ruling out a morphologically similar condition marked by the accumulation of tubular aggregates.


Asunto(s)
Músculo Esquelético , Vacuolas , Masculino , Ratones , Animales , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Vacuolas/patología , Músculo Esquelético/patología , Fenotipo , Autofagia
15.
Cancers (Basel) ; 14(11)2022 May 26.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35681625

RESUMEN

The gain-of-function mutation in the pleckstrin homology domain of AKT1 (AKT1E17K) occurs in lung and breast cancer. Through the use of human cellular models and of a AKT1E17K transgenic Cre-inducible murine strain (R26-AKT1E17K mice), we have demonstrated that AKT1E17K is a bona fide oncogene for lung epithelial cells. However, the role of AKT1E17K in breast cancer remains to be determined. Here, we report the generation and the characterization of a MMTV-CRE; R26-AKT1E17K mouse strain that expresses the mutant AKT1E17K allele in the mammary epithelium. We observed that AKT1E17K stimulates the development of mammary tumors classified as ductal adenocarcinoma of medium-high grade and presented a variety of proliferative alterations classified as adenosis with low-to-high grade dysplasia in the mammary epithelium. A subsequent immunohistochemical characterization suggested they were PR-/HER2-/ER+, basal-like and CK8-/CK10-/CK5+/CK14+. We also observed that, in parallel with an increased proliferation rate, tumors expressing mutant AKT1E17K presented an activation of the GSK3/cyclin D1 pathway in the mammary epithelium and cluster significantly with the human basal-like tumors. In conclusion, we demonstrate AKT1E17K is a bona fide oncogene that can initiate tumors at high efficiency in murine mammary epithelium in vivo.

16.
Transl Oncol ; 14(3): 101013, 2021 Mar.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33516089

RESUMEN

Copy Number Alterations (CNAs) represent the most common genetic alterations identified in ovarian cancer cells, being responsible for the extensive genomic instability observed in this cancer. Here we report the identification of CNAs in a cohort of Italian patients affected by ovarian cancer performed by SNP-based array. Our analysis allowed the identification of 201 significantly altered chromosomal bands (70 copy number gains; 131 copy number losses). The 3300 genes subjected to CNA identified here were compared to those present in the TCGA dataset. The analysis allowed the identification of 11 genes with increased CN and mRNA expression (PDCD10, EBAG9, NUDCD1, ENY2, CSNK2A1, TBC1D20, ZCCHC3, STARD3, C19orf12, POP4, UQCRFS1). PDCD10 was selected for further studies because of the highest frequency of CNA. PDCD10 was found, by immunostaining of three different Tissue Micro Arrays, to be over-expressed in the majority of ovarian primary cancer samples and in metastatic lesions. Moreover, significant correlations were found in specific subsets of patients, between increased PDCD10 expression and grade (p < 0.005), nodal involvement (p < 0.05) or advanced FIGO stage (p < 0.01). Finally, manipulation of PDCD10 expression by shRNA in ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-5 and OVCA429) demonstrated a positive role for PDCD10 in the control of cell growth and motility in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. In conclusion, this study allowed the identification of novel genes subjected to copy number alterations in ovarian cancer. In particular, the results reported here point to a prominent role of PDCD10 as a bona fide oncogene.

17.
Am J Transl Res ; 11(3): 1771-1779, 2019.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30972200

RESUMEN

Intraoperative auto-transfusion with the use of cell saver systems is routinely used to reduce the rate of packed red blood transfusion in major surgery. Nevertheless some concerns have been raised on possible risks of coagulation disorders. The aim of the study was to analyze the blood processed by the cell saver, ready to be re-infused to the patient, in order to individuate unexpected cellular components, that can favor coagulopathy. We tested the blood processed by the cell saver in thirteen patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery with Cellsearch®, ScreenCell®, Cytology and Immunofluorescence. Those four methods allowed us to look for the presence of unexpected cells, quantify and characterize them. Furthermore, the blood processed by the cell saver was mixed with the patient's peripheral blood and analyzed with the ROTEM® thromboelastography. The Cellsearch® revealed and counted a mean number of 1241 unexpected cells/7.5 ml in the blood processed by the cell saver. The ScreenCell® and Cytology confirmed the presence of non-hematological cells. Immunofluorescence showed positivity for Calretinin and WT-1, confirming the mesothelial origin. Moreover we detected a peculiar arrangement of the platelets around the mesothelial cells in a "cloud" form, suggesting platelet activation. The ROTEM® analysis showed a significantly longer clot formation time, smaller clot amplitude and maximum clot firmness, compared to controls. In conclusion we demonstrated the presence of mesothelial cells in the cell saving blood, ready to be auto-transfused. This finding can contribute to develop a platelet depletion coagulopathy, with coagulation factors consumption.

18.
Mol Cancer Ther ; 18(2): 482-493, 2019 02.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30425132

RESUMEN

The CDK inhibitor, p27kip1, encoded by the Cdkn1b gene can negatively modulate cell proliferation. The control of p27 activity during the cell cycle is regulated at multiple levels, including transcription, translation, and protein stability. The last residue of p27 (threonine 198 in human, threonine 197 in mouse) is involved in the control of protein stability. We have generated a murine knock-in model (Cdkn1b T197A) in which threonine 197 is replaced by alanine, which renders p27 protein highly unstable due to a high rate of proteasomal degradation. Expectedly, Cdkn1b T197A/T197A mice present with increased body size and weight, organomegaly, and multiple organ hyperplasia, similar to what is observed in Cdkn1b KO/KO mice. We investigated the effects exerted by the restoration of normal levels of p27 protein in the tissue of Cdkn1b T197A/T197A mice. We found that proteasome inhibition with bortezomib rescues the hyperplasia induced by the lack of p27 expression in Cdkn1b T197A/T197A but not in Cdkn1b KO/KO mice. However, BAY 11-7082, a proteasome inhibitor that stabilizes IκB but not p27, fails to rescue hyperplasia in Cdkn1b T197A/T197A mice. Bortezomib increases p27 half-life and reduces the proliferation in MEFs derived from Cdkn1b T197A/T197A but not from Cdkn1b WT/WT mice, whereas BAY 11-7082 had no effect on the protein levels of p27 and on the proliferation rate of Cdkn1b T197A/T197A MEFs.The results presented here demonstrate that Cdkn1b T197A/T197A mice represent an attractive in vivo model to investigate whether the targeting of p27 degradation machinery might prove beneficial in the treatment of a variety of human proliferative disorders caused by increased turnover of p27 protein.


Asunto(s)
Sustitución de Aminoácidos , Bortezomib/farmacología , Inhibidor p27 de las Quinasas Dependientes de la Ciclina/química , Inhibidor p27 de las Quinasas Dependientes de la Ciclina/genética , Modelos Animales , Animales , Técnicas de Sustitución del Gen , Hiperplasia , Ratones , Nitrilos/farmacología , Complejo de la Endopetidasa Proteasomal/metabolismo , Estabilidad Proteica , Proteolisis , Sulfonas/farmacología
19.
Sci Adv ; 5(2): eaav5590, 2019 02.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30775443

RESUMEN

Breast cancer (BC) resistance to endocrine therapy results from constitutively active or aberrant estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling, and ways to block ERα pathway in these tumors are sought after. We identified the H3K79 methyltransferase DOT1L as a novel cofactor of ERα in BC cell chromatin, where the two proteins colocalize to regulate estrogen target gene transcription. DOT1L blockade reduces proliferation of hormone-responsive BC cells in vivo and in vitro, consequent to cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, with widespread effects on ER-dependent gene transcription, including ERα and FOXA1 gene silencing. Antiestrogen-resistant BC cells respond to DOT1L inhibition also in mouse xenografts, with reduction in ERα levels, H3K79 methylation, and tumor growth. These results indicate that DOT1L is an exploitable epigenetic target for treatment of endocrine therapy-resistant ERα-positive BCs.


Asunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/genética , Moduladores de los Receptores de Estrógeno/farmacología , Receptor alfa de Estrógeno/genética , Silenciador del Gen , N-Metiltransferasa de Histona-Lisina/antagonistas & inhibidores , Animales , Puntos de Control del Ciclo Celular , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Cromatina/genética , Cromatina/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Receptor alfa de Estrógeno/metabolismo , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , N-Metiltransferasa de Histona-Lisina/metabolismo , Humanos , Ratones , Unión Proteica , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Transcripción Genética , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto
20.
Oncotarget ; 9(32): 22749-22768, 2018 Apr 27.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29854313

RESUMEN

In this study, we have set-up a routine pipeline to evaluate the clinical application of Oncomine™ Focus Assay, a panel that allows the simultaneous detection of single nucleotide hotspot mutations in 35 genes, copy number alterations (CNAs) in 19 genes and gene fusions involving 23 genes in cancer samples. For this study we retrospectively selected 106 patients that were submitted to surgical resection for lung, gastric, colon or rectal cancer. We found that 56 patients out of 106 showed at least one alteration (53%), with 47 patients carrying at least one relevant nucleotide variant, 10 patients carrying at least one CNA and 3 patients carrying one gene fusion. On the basis of the mutational profiles obtained, we have identified 22 patients (20.7%) that were potentially eligible for targeted therapy. The most frequently mutated genes across all tumor types included KRAS (30 patients), PIK3CA (16 patients), BRAF (6 patients), EGFR (5 patients), NRAS (4 patients) and ERBB2 (3 patients) whereas CCND1, ERBB2, EGFR and MYC were the genes most frequently subjected to copy number gain. Finally, gene fusions were identified only in lung cancer patients and involved MET [MET(13)-MET(15) fusion] and FGFR3 [FGFR3(chr 17)-TACC3(chr 11)]. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the analysis with a multi-biomarker panel of cancer patients after surgery, may present several potential advantages in clinical daily practice, including the simultaneous detection of different potentially druggable alterations, reasonable costs, short time of testing and automated interpretation of results.

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