Search results for "Intracellular signaling"
showing 10 items of 144 documents
Proteomic identification of FHL1 as the protein mutated in human reducing body myopathy
2007
Reducing body myopathy (RBM) is a rare disorder causing progressive muscular weakness characterized by aggresome-like inclusions in the myofibrils. Identification of genes responsible for RBM by traditional genetic approaches has been impossible due to the frequently sporadic occurrence in affected patients and small family sizes. As an alternative approach to gene identification, we used laser microdissection of intracytoplasmic inclusions identified in patient muscle biopsies, followed by nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and proteomic analysis. The most prominent component of the inclusions was the Xq26.3-encoded four and a half LIM domain 1 (FHL1) protein, expresse…
A3 adenosine receptor: Homology modeling and 3D-QSAR studies
2012
Adenosine receptors (AR) belong to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). They are divided into four subtypes (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3) [1], and can be distinguished on the basis of their distinct molecular structures, distinct tissues distribution, and selectivity for adenosine analogs [2,3]. The hA3R, the most recently identified adenosine receptor, is involved in a variety of intracellular signaling pathways and physiological functions [4]. Expression of A3R was reported to be elevated in cancerous tissues [5], and A3 antagonists have been proposed for therapeutic treatments of cancer. The recent literature availability of crystal structure of hA2A adenosine receptor (PDB c…
Transplanting the genetic susceptibility to Crohn’s disease
2003
Susceptibility to Crohn’s disease may be transferred via haematopoietic stem cells, highlighting the pivotal role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease Crohn’s disease (CD) is one of the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The prevalence of CD has increased in Western countries over the past decades and mainly young patients are affected, with a peak incidence between 15 and 35 years.1 The aetiology of IBD is still unclear and should be considered as multifactorial according to recent studies.2 Genetic factors seem to play a pathogenic role as well as environmental, infectious, and immunological factors. All of these different aetiological aspects …
A prospective randomised, open-labeled, trial comparing sirolimus-containing versus mTOR-inhibitor-free immunosuppression in patients undergoing live…
2010
Abstract Background The potential anti-cancer effects of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors are being intensively studied. To date, however, few randomised clinical trials (RCT) have been performed to demonstrate anti-neoplastic effects in the pure oncology setting, and at present, no oncology endpoint-directed RCT has been reported in the high-malignancy risk population of immunosuppressed transplant recipients. Interestingly, since mTOR inhibitors have both immunosuppressive and anti-cancer effects, they have the potential to simultaneously protect against immunologic graft loss and tumour development. Therefore, we designed a prospective RCT to determine if the mTOR inhibito…
Intracellular signalling via the AKT axis and downstream effectors is active and prognostically significant in cancer of unknown primary (CUP): a stu…
2012
Background: Hypothesising that cancer of unknown primary (CUP) may harbour unique characteristics, we present a translational study of the immunohistochemical expression and clinical correlation of key PTEN/AKT pathway molecules. Patients and methods: We collected 100 paraffin-embedded CUP tissue blocks. We studied using tissue microarrays the expression of PTEN, phospho-AKT, Cyclin D1, p21, phospho-RPS6. From the percentage of staining tumour cells and the literature, we selected cut-offs to classify the expression of each biomolecule. We correlated IHC expression with clinical data. Results: PTEN, pAKT, and pRPS6 showed frequent expression. At univariate analysis, high IHC expression of p…
Through Predictive Personalized Medicine.
2020
Neuroblastoma (NBM) is a deadly form of solid tumor mostly observed in the pediatric age. Although survival rates largely differ depending on host factors and tumor-related features, treatment for clinically aggressive forms of NBM remains challenging. Scientific advances are paving the way to improved and safer therapeutic protocols, and immunotherapy is quickly rising as a promising treatment that is potentially safer and complementary to traditionally adopted surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Improving therapeutic outcomes requires new approaches to be explored and validated. In-silico predictive models based on analysis of a plethora of data have been proposed by Lomba…
Endothelial Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibits glioma angiogenesis and normalizes tumor blood vessels by inducing PDGF-B expression
2012
Wnt modulates glioma vascularization by regulating PDGF-B expression.
Young woman with Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome and a novel mutation in the EYA-1 gene
2011
Branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease clinically characterized by the coexistence of some or all of the following major disorders: deafness, cervical branchial fistulae, preauricular pits, and renal abnormalities. Most families with BOR syndrome have mutations on the EYA-1 gene on chromosome 8q. We present the case of a 23-year-old Italian woman without a familial history of BOR syndrome. The patient, who had hearing loss and a history of surgeries for correction of bilateral cervical branchial fistulae and bilateral preauricular pits, presented with renal impairment, hypertension and overt proteinuria. DNA sequencing showed a novel heterozygous mutation 1420-14…
Dextran sulfate sodium leads to chronic colitis and pathological angiogenesis in Endoglin heterozygous mice
2010
Pathological angiogenesis is an intrinsic component of chronic intestinal inflammation, which results in remodeling and expansion of the gut microvascular bed. Endoglin is essential for endothelial cell function and physiological angiogenesis. In this study we investigated its potential role in the regulation of inflammation by testing the response of Endoglin heterozygous (Eng(+/-)) mice to experimental colitis.C57BL/6 Eng(+/-) and littermate control mice drank water supplemented with 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 5 days and were monitored for up to 26 days for clinical signs of colitis. Inflammation, crypt damage, and angiogenic index were scored on histological sections of distal c…
Cell viability, osteoblast differentiation, and gene expression are altered in human osteoblasts from hypertrophic fracture non-unions
2007
Recent studies have provided evidence that the number and proliferation capacity of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, as well as the number of osteoprogenitor cells are reduced in patients with fracture non-unions. For fracture non-unions that do not heal after appropriate surgical intervention, the question arises as to what extent systemic cellular dysfunctions should be considered as being pathogenetic factors. For this purpose, we have examined the hypothesis that the cell function of osteoblasts isolated from patients with fracture non-unions may differ from those of normal control individuals in an identical and controlled in vitro situation. We analyzed the osteoblast cell …