0000000000080509
AUTHOR
Alessandra Bommarito
Functional and molecular charecterizzation of cancer stam cells in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Analisi dei meccanismi di controllo dell’apoptosi in una linea cellulare β-pancreatica resistente all’effetto delle citochine.
A type I Interferon (IFN-α)-induced distal enhancer differentially regulates the P1 and P2 c-Myc promoters.
BRAFV600E mutation and timp-1 hyper-expression in classical variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
Identification and enrichment of thyroid stem cells in anaplastic cell lines
Limbal stem cells as a potential source of pancreatic beta cells
BACKGROUND/RATIONAL Beta cell replacement therapy represents an alternative approach to conventional insulin regimen for the management of type 1 diabetes. Stem cells theoretically represent a suitable and renewable source of surrogate beta cells. Recently, it has been demonstrated that corneal epithelium contains stem cells in the basal layer of the limbus. Our aim was to isolate and characterize limbal stem cells (LSCs) from adult corneal-limbal biopsies, and to assess their capability to differentiate into insulin-producing cells. METHODS 2-3 mm2 biopsies were obtained from limbus and central cornea of four patients undergoing surgery for ocular diseases not involving conjuctive or corne…
BRAFV600E mutation, TIMP-1 upregulation, and NF-κB activation: closing the loop on the papillary thyroid cancer trilogy.
BRAFV600E is the most common mutation found in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB have been shown to play an important role in thyroid cancer. In particular, TIMP-1 binds its receptor CD63 on cell surface membrane and activates Akt signaling pathway, which is eventually responsible for its anti-apoptotic activity. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether interplay among these three factors exists and exerts a functional role in PTCs. To this purpose, 56 PTC specimens were analyzed for BRAFV600E mutation, TIMP-1 expression, and NF-κB activation. We found that BRAFV600E mutation occurs selectively in PTC nodules an…
In Vitro Phenotypic, Genomic and Proteomic Characterization of a Cytokine-Resistant Murine β-TC3 Cell Line
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is caused by the selective destruction of insulin-producing β-cells. This process is mediated by cells of the immune system through release of nitric oxide, free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which induce a complex network of intracellular signalling cascades, eventually affecting the expression of genes involved in β-cell survival. The aim of our study was to investigate possible mechanisms of resistance to cytokine-induced β-cell death. To this purpose, we created a cytokine-resistant β-cell line (β-TC3R) by chronically treating the β-TC3 murine insulinoma cell line with IL-1β + IFN-γ. β-TC3R cells exhibited higher proliferation rate and resistan…
In Vitro Identification and Characterization of CD133pos Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Lines
BackgroundRecent publications suggest that neoplastic initiation and growth are dependent on a small subset of cells, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs). Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma (ATC) is a very aggressive solid tumor with poor prognosis, characterized by high dedifferentiation. The existence of CSCs might account for the heterogeneity of ATC lesions. CD133 has been identified as a stem cell marker for normal and cancerous tissues, although its biological function remains unknown.Methodology/principal findingsATC cell lines ARO, KAT-4, KAT-18 and FRO were analyzed for CD133 expression. Flow cytometry showed CD133(pos) cells only in ARO and KAT-4 (64+/-9% and 57+/-12%, respectively). These …
No association between BRAFV660E and metalloproteinase activity in anaplastic thyroid cell lines
Molecular characterization of cancer stem cells in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNAB) Molecular Analysis for the Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma through BRAFv600E mutation and RET/PTC rearrangement
Objective: To evaluate BRAFV600E mutation on consecutive fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens in order to assess FNAB’s usefulness in preoperative papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) diagnosis with the contemporaneous analysis of RET=PTC1 and RET=PTC3 rearrangements obtained from ex vivo thyroid nodules. Design: Thyroid FNABs from 156 subjects with nodules and 49 corresponding surgical samples were examined for the presence of BRAF mutation by real-time allele-specific polymerase chain reaction, confirmed with the use of a laser pressure catapulting system. Samples were also examined for RET=PTC rearrangements. The results were compared with the cytological diagnosis and histopathol…
BRAFV660E mutation and Timp-1 hyper-expression in classical variants of papyllary thyroid carcinoma.
BrafV600E mutation and hyperexpression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in papillary thyroid carcinoma
ISOLAMENTO E CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI CELLULE STAMINALI NELLE LINEE CELLULARI DI CARCINOMA TIROIDEO
Differential protein expression in cytokine-sensitive and -resistant pancreatic beta cell lines
Development and characterization of co-loaded curcumin/triazole-halloysite systems and evaluation of their potential anticancer activity.
Abstract Positively charged halloysite nanotubes functionalized with triazolium salts (f-HNT) were employed as a carrier for curcumin molecules delivery. The synthesis of these f-HNT new materials is described. Their interaction with curcumin was evaluated by means dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV–vis spectroscopy in comparison with pristine unmodified HNT (p-HNT). The curcumin load into HNT was estimated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements, while the morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Release of curcumin from f-HNT, at three different pH values, by means of UV–vis spectroscopy was also studied. Furthermore, different cancer cell …