Search results for " stroma"

2016

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widespread inflammatory skin disease with an early onset, characterized by pruritus, eczematous lesions and skin dryness. This chronic relapsing disease is believed to be primarily a result of a defective epidermal barrier function associated with genetic susceptibility, immune hyper-responsiveness of the skin and environmental factors. Although the important role of abnormal immune reactivity in the pathogenesis of AD is widely accepted, the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) remains elusive. We found that the Treg population is expanded in a mouse model of AD, i.e. mice topically treated with vitamin D3 (VitD). Moreover, mice with AD-like symptoms exhibit incre…

Liquid Biopsy in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

2017

Over the past 15 years, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have emerged from a poorly understood neoplasm to a well-defined tumor entity. Starting from 2000, the discovery of gain-of-function mutations involving KIT or PDGFRα (platelet-derived growth factor-α) genes and the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as imatinib, revolutionized dramatically the management of GISTs. Due to the almost continual emergence of new data about biological complexity of GISTs and more sophisticated whole-genome technologies, to date, the role of molecular biology is clinically important to drive therapeutic decision making.

Spray dried hyaluronic acid microparticles for adhesion controlled aggregation and potential stimulation of stem cells

2017

Spray-dried microparticles of a derivative of hyaluronic acid (HA) have been engineered to obtain a controlled aggregation with Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) into 3D constructs. We demonstrated the utility of chemical functionalization of a native constituent of the extracellular matrix to improve processing performances and to control on stem cell adhesion and differentiation. Native hyaluronic acid (HA), cell adhesive peptides (RGD), transforming growth factor β3, dexamethasone are biological agents potentially suitable for chondrogenic stimulation of hMSCS. However unmodified HA suffers of drawbacks in terms of stability and versatility of processing. Functionalization strategies…

Interleukin-9 over-expression and T helper 9 polarization in systemic sclerosis patients.

2017

Summary T helper 9 (Th9) cells and interleukin (IL)-9 are involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. The exact role of IL-9 and Th9 cells in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have not yet been studied adequately. IL-9, IL-9R, transcription factor PU.1 (PU.1), IL-4, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β expression were assessed in skin and kidney biopsies of SSc patients and healthy controls (HC) by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The cellular source of IL-9 was also analysed by confocal microscopy analysis. Peripheral IL-9-producing cells were also studied by flow cytometry. The functional relevance of IL-9 increased expression in SSc …

Mesenchymal stromal cells and rheumatic diseases: new tools from pathogenesis to regenerative therapies

2015

In recent years, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been largely investigated and tested as a new therapeutic tool for several clinical applications, including the treatment of different rheumatic diseases. MSCs are responsible for the normal turnover and maintenance of adult mesenchymal tissues as the result of their multipotent differentiation abilities and their secretion of a variety of cytokines and growth factors. Although initially derived from bone marrow, MSCs are present in many different tissues such as many peri-articular tissues. MSCs may exert immune-modulatory properties, modulating different immune cells in both in vitro and in vivo models, and they are considered immune-…

Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of chromosomal imbalances and their target genes in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

2007

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. The tumors characteristically harbor KIT or PDGFRA mutations, and mutant tumors respond to imatinib mesylate (Glivectrade mark). Chromosomal imbalances resulting in altered gene dosage are known to have a role in the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors, but the target genes remain to be identified. The present study aimed to identify some of these genes. In total, 35 GIST samples were screened for chromosomal imbalances by array-based comparative genomic hybridization. A cDNA array was used to define the minimal common overlapping areas of DNA copy number change. Eight confirmative, …

Impact of Corneoscleral Contact Lens Usage on Corneal Biomechanical Parameters in Keratoconic Eyes

2019

Objective To analyze the changes in corneal biomechanical parameters of keratoconic eyes with and without intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implants after 1 year of corneoscleral contact lens (CScL) wear. Methods Seventy-four eyes of 74 patients were divided into three groups: healthy subjects (29 eyes, control group), and 2 groups of subjects with keratoconic eyes (one group of 20 eyes with ICRS implants and one of 25 eyes without them), which were fitted with CScL. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), and corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc) were evaluated before fitting CScL and after 1 year of CScL wear. In addition, endothelial cell count (ECC) and centr…

Intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation in paracentral keratoconus with coincident topographic and coma axis.

2012

To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, and safety of implantation of Ferrara-type intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) for refractive correction of paracentral keratoconus.Fernández-Vega Ophthalmological Institute, Oviedo, Spain.Cohort study.Snellen uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities and residual refractive errors were recorded before and 6 months after ICRS implantation for keratoconus. The tunnels for ICRS implantation were created with a femtosecond laser. The power vector and the Alpins method were used to analyze postoperative refractive outcomes.The study evaluated 56 eyes of 49 patients. The mean UDVA was 0.17 ± 0.14 (SD) preoperatively and 0.41 …

Prognostic time dependence of deletions affecting codons 557 and/or 558 of KIT gene for relapse-free survival (RFS) in localized GIST: a Spanish Grou…

2010

Background: To assess whether deletions involving codons 557 and/or 558 (critical deletions) of exon 11 of KIT are relevant in the prognosis of relapse-free survival (RFS) in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients with a long follow-up. Patients and methods: A univariate and multivariate analysis for RFS were carried out on 162 localized GIST patients over the entire follow-up period and over the intervals 0-4 years and >4 years. Factors assessed among others were Fletcher/National Institutes of Health and Miettinen-Lasota/Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (M-L/AFIP) risk categories, critical deletions and non-deletion-type mutation (NDTM) within exon 11 of KIT. Results: Multivari…

Stromal SPARC contributes to the detrimental fibrotic changes associated with myeloproliferation whereas its deficiency favors myeloid cell expansion.

2012

Abstract In myeloid malignancies, the neoplastic clone outgrows normal hematopoietic cells toward BM failure. This event is also sustained by detrimental stromal changes, such as BM fibrosis and osteosclerosis, whose occurrence is harbinger of a dismal prognosis. We show that the matricellular protein SPARC contributes to the BM stromal response to myeloproliferation. The degree of SPARC expression in BM stromal elements, including CD146+ mesenchymal stromal cells, correlates with the degree of stromal changes, and the severity of BM failure characterizing the prototypical myeloproliferative neoplasm primary myelofibrosis. Using Sparc−/− mice and BM chimeras, we demonstrate that SPARC contr…