Search results for "BLAST"

Pleomorphic anaplastic neuroblastoma

2000

How to minimise the effect of tumour cell content in detection of aberrant genetic markers in neuroblastoma

2011

Background: Clinical heterogeneity reflects the complexity of genetic events associated with neuroblastoma (NB). To identify the status of all described genetic loci with possible prognostic interest, high-throughput approaches have been used, but only with tumour cell content >60%. In some tumours, necrotic, haemorrhagic and/or calcification areas influence the low amount of neuroblasts. We evaluated the effect of tumour cell content in the detection of relevant aberrant genetic markers (AGM) diagnosed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) on tissue microarrays (TMA) in NB. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-three MYCN non-amplified primary NB included in 12 TMAs were analysed. Results…

Analysis of biological prognostic factors using tissue microarrays in neuroblastic tumors

2009

Background Neuroblastic tumors (NT) are pediatric neoplasms with a heterogeneous genetic profile. They present genotypic alterations of prognostic value, the study of which is mandatory in designing therapeutic management. Tissue microarrays (TMA) from paraffin material allow the analysis of a large number of cases with minimal costs. The main purpose of the present study is to analyze specific genetic markers of neuroblastic tumors included in TMAs and determine their prognostic value. We compare the results obtained by different molecular techniques at different substrates to evaluate the feasibility of these assays. Procedure One hundred thirty-nine samples were included in four differen…

Lrp4, a Novel Receptor for Dickkopf 1 and Sclerostin, Is Expressed by Osteoblasts and Regulates Bone Growth and Turnover In Vivo

2009

Lrp4 is a multifunctional member of the low density lipoprotein-receptor gene family and a modulator of extracellular cell signaling pathways in development. For example, Lrp4 binds Wise, a secreted Wnt modulator and BMP antagonist. Lrp4 shares structural elements within the extracellular ligand binding domain with Lrp5 and Lrp6, two established Wnt co-receptors with important roles in osteogenesis. Sclerostin is a potent osteocyte secreted inhibitor of bone formation that directly binds Lrp5 and Lrp6 and modulates both BMP and Wnt signaling. The anti-osteogenic effect of sclerostin is thought to be mediated mainly by inhibition of Wnt signaling through Lrp5/6 within osteoblasts. Dickkopf1 …

A Transgenic Mouse Model of Inducible Macrophage Depletion

2009

Whether the wound macrophage is a key regulatory inflammatory cell type in skin repair has been a matter of debate. A transgenic mouse model mediating inducible macrophage depletion during skin repair has not been used to date to address this question. Here, we specifically rendered the monocyte/macrophage leukocyte lineage sensitive to diphtheria toxin by expressing the lysozyme M promoter-driven, Cre-mediated excision of a transcriptional STOP cassette from the simian DT receptor gene in mice (lysM-Cre/DTR). Application of diphtheria toxin to lysM-Cre/DTR mice led to a rapid reduction in both skin tissue and wound macrophage numbers at sites of injury. Macrophage-depleted mice revealed a …

Cdc42 in osterix-expressing cells alters osteoblast behavior and myeloid lineage commitment

2021

Osteoblasts are not only responsible for bone formation. They also support hematopoiesis. This requires responding to cues originating from several signaling pathways, a task performed by Rho GTPases. We therefore examined several transgenic mouse models and used inhibitors of Cdc42 in vitro. Deletion of Cdc42 in vivo using the Osterix promoter suppressed osteoblast function, while its deletion in differentiating osteoblasts using the Collagen-a1(I) promoter decreased osteoblast numbers. In both cases, bone mineral density diminished confirming the importance of Cdc42. Evaluation of hematopoiesis revealed that deletion of Cdc42 using the Osterix, but not the Collagen-a1(I) promoter increase…

C1q acts in the tumour microenvironment as a cancer-promoting factor independently of complement activation

2015

Complement C1q is the activator of the classical pathway. However, it is now recognized that C1q can exert functions unrelated to complement activation. Here we show that C1q, but not C4, is expressed in the stroma and vascular endothelium of several human malignant tumours. Compared with wild-type (WT) or C3- or C5-deficient mice, C1q-deficient (C1qa−/−) mice bearing a syngeneic B16 melanoma exhibit a slower tumour growth and prolonged survival. This effect is not attributable to differences in the tumour-infiltrating immune cells. Tumours developing in WT mice display early deposition of C1q, higher vascular density and an increase in the number of lung metastases compared with C1qa−/− mi…

A BMP7 Variant Inhibits Tumor Angiogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo through Direct Modulation of Endothelial Cell Biology

2015

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), members of the TGF-β superfamily, have numerous biological activities including control of growth, differentiation, and vascular development. Using an in vitro co-culture endothelial cord formation assay, we investigated the role of a BMP7 variant (BMP7v) in VEGF, bFGF, and tumor-driven angiogenesis. BMP7v treatment led to disruption of neo-endothelial cord formation and regression of existing VEGF and bFGF cords in vitro. Using a series of tumor cell models capable of driving angiogenesis in vitro, BMP7v treatment completely blocked cord formation. Pre-treatment of endothelial cells with BMP7v significantly reduced their cord forming ability, indicating …

Oral verruciform xanthoma and erythroplakia associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease: A rare case report and review of the literature

2017

Abstract Background Oral verruciform xanthoma is an uncommon benign lesion. Although oral verruciform xanthoma occurs in healthy individuals, it has been also reported in association with some inflammatory conditions. The aim of this study is to report a case of oral verruciform xanthoma associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease and to review the literature on this topic. Case presentation A 47-year-old Caucasian male presented to the Sector of Oral Medicine “V. Margiotta”, University Policlinic “P. Giaccone” of Palermo complaining of a mass on the gingiva. He first noticed the painless mass 1 year ago. He reported to have undergone allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation …

Effect of the Bovine Oviductal Fluid onIn VitroFertilization, Development and Gene Expression ofIn Vitro-Produced Bovine Blastocysts

2012

Oviductal microenvironment generally provides better condi-tions for early embryo development than the conventionalin vitro system. In an attempt to simulate the oviductconditions or the main potentially influencing factors, theeffect was studied of a bovine oviductal fluid (bOF) treatmentapplied prior to IVF on (i) IVF parameters, (ii) cleavage rate,(iii) blastocyst yield and (iv) blastocyst quality. Embryo qualitywas assessed by morphological embryo quality and relativetranscript abundance of several developmental genes in bovineblastocysts. Furthermore, to study the effect of bOF withoutthe male effect and zona–sperm interaction, artificially acti-vated metaphase II oocytes were also treated w…