Ricerc@Sapienza

Most Ewing sarcomas are characterized by the in-frame chromosomal translocation t(11;22) generating the EWS–FLI1 oncogene. EWS–FLI1 protein interacts with the RNA helicase DHX9 and affects transcription and processing of genes involved in neoplastic transformation, including CCND1 (the cyclin D1 gene), which contributes to cell-cycle dysregulation in cancer.

Background and Objectives: Gastric cancers are usually characterized using Lauren's classification into intestinal and diffuse types. We previously documented the down-modulation of miR31, miR148a, miR204, and miR375 in gastric cancers. We aimed this manuscript to investigate these miRs with the end-points of diagnosis, Lauren's classification and prognosis. Methods: A total of 117 resected non-cardial adenocarcinomas were evaluated for miRs' expressions. The performance of miRs’ expressions for cancer diagnosis was tested using ROC curves.

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and young adults.
The identification of proteins which exhibit different subcellular localization in low- versus
high-risk osteosarcoma can be instrumental to obtain prognostic information and to
develop innovative therapeutic strategies. Beside the well-characterized membrane and
cytoplasmic localization of Src protein, this study evaluated the prognostic relevance of its
so-far unknown nuclear compartmentalization. We analyzed the subcellular distribution

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells is often associated with overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2). Modulators of these transporters might be helpful in overcoming MDR. Moreover, exploiting collateral sensitivity (CS) could be another approach for efficient treatment of cancer.

Centromeres are highly specialized chromatin domains that enable chromosome segregation and orchestrate faithful cell division. Human centromeres are composed of tandem arrays of ?-satellite DNA, which spans up to several megabases. Little is known about the mechanisms that maintain integrity of the long arrays of ?-satellite DNA repeats. Here, we monitored centromeric repeat stability in human cells using chromosome-orientation fluorescent in situ hybridization (CO-FISH).

Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction has been reported in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Thus, the availability of CF EC is
paramount to uncover mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in CF. Using collagenase digestion, we isolated cells from
small fragments of pulmonary artery dissected from non-CF lobes or explanted CF lungs. These cells were a
heterogeneous mixture, containing variable percentages of EC. To obtain virtually pure pulmonary artery endothelial cells

The aim of the present in vitro study was to compare the effects of synthetic and plant-derived mTOR regulators on healthy human ovarian cells. We compared the effect of two synthetic mammalian mTOR blockers MC2141 and MC2183 with that of natural/plant-derived mTOR blocker rapamycin and mTOR activator resveratrol on cultured human ovarian granulosa cells. We evaluated the accumulation of markers for the mTOR system (sirtuin 1; SIRT 1), proliferation (PCNA), and apoptosis (caspase 3) along with the expression of the transcription factor p53 by quantitative immunocytochemistry.

Background: The diagnosis of glioblastoma (GBM), a most aggressive primary brain tumor with a median survival of 14.6 months, carries a dismal prognosis. GBMs are characterized by numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations, affecting patient survival and treatment response. Epigenetic mechanisms are deregulated in GBM as a result of aberrant expression/activity of epigenetic enzymes, including histone deacetylases (HDAC) which remove acetyl groups from histones regulating chromatin accessibility.

Redox signaling regulates different gastrointestinal (G.I.) epithelium functions. At the intestinal level, the loss of redox homeostasis in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is responsible for the pathogenesis and development of a wide diversity of G.I. disorders. Thus, the manipulation of oxidative stress in IECs could represent an important pharmacological target for different diseasesIn this study, peptides released from in vitro gastro intestinal digestion of different buffalo-milk commercial dairy products were identified and evaluated for their bioactive properties.

Pomegranate peel is a natural source of phenolics, claimed to possess healing properties, among which are antioxidant and antidiabetic. In the present study, an ethyl acetate extract, obtained by Soxhlet from the peel of Dente di Cavallo DC2 pomegranate (PGE) and characterized to contain 4% w/w of ellagic acid, has been evaluated for its hypoglycemic, antiglycation, and antioxidative cytoprotective properties, in order to provide possible evidence for future nutraceutical applications.