Paola De Sanctis

Caveolin-1 Reduces Osteosarcoma Metastases by Inhibiting c-Src Activity and Met Signaling

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is highly expressed in normal osteoblasts. This article reports that Cav-1 down-regulation is part of osteoblast transformation and osteosarcoma progression and validates its role as oncosuppressor in human osteosarcoma. A survey of 6-year follow-up indicates a better overall survival for osteosarcoma expressing a level of Cav-1 similar to osteoblasts. However, the majority of primary osteosarcoma shows significantly lower levels of Cav-1 than normal osteoblasts. Accordingly, Met-induced osteoblast transformation is associated with Cav-1 down-regulation. In vitro, osteosarcoma cell lines forced to overexpress Cav-1 show reduced malignancy with inhibited anchorage-independent growth, migration, and invasion. In vivo, Cav-1 overexpression abrogates the metastatic ability of osteosarcoma cells. c-Src and c-Met tyrosine kinases, which are activated in osteosarcoma, colocalize with Cav-1 and are inhibited on Cav-1 overexpression. Thus, Cav-1 behaves as an oncosuppressor in osteosarcoma. Altogether, data suggest that Cav-1 down-modulation might function as a permissive mechanism, which, by unleashing c-Src and Met signaling, enables osteosarcoma cells to invade neighboring tissues. These data strengthen the rationale to target c-Src family kinases and/or Met receptor to improve the extremely poor prognosis of metastatic osteosarcoma.

Performance of messenger RNAs circulating in maternal blood in the prediction of preeclampsia at 10-14 weeks.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether the combined distribution of a panel of cellular messenger RNA markers can detect preeclampsia long before onset. STUDY DESIGN We compared blood at 10-14 weeks from 11 women who ultimately experienced preeclampsia with 88 matched control subjects. After multiples of the median conversion of all the markers, logistic regression was used to calculate the risk of the development of preeclampsia. RESULTS Higher multiples of the median values than expected were found for endoglin, fms-related tyrosine kinase 1, and transforming growth factor-β1. Lower multiples of the median values were found for placental growth factor and placental protein 13. Endoglin fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 and transforming growth factor-β1 had the best discriminant power. Messenger RNA species provided independent contributions to the prediction of preeclampsia. In fact, 11 women with preeclampsia scored a median risk of 50% of experiencing preeclampsia. Control subjects scored a median risk of preeclampsia of 0.18%. The detection rate at a 5% false positive rate was 72.3%. CONCLUSION The messenger RNA dosage in maternal blood would be a useful method for the calculation of the risk of the development of preeclampsia.

Gene expression in chorionic villous samples at 11 weeks of gestation in women who develop pre‐eclampsia later in pregnancy: implications for screening

To determine the gene expression profile in chorionic villous samples (CVSs) of women destined to develop pre‐eclampsia (PE).

Identification of circulating placental mRNA in maternal blood of pregnancies affected with fetal congenital heart diseases at the second trimester of pregnancy: implications for early molecular screening

To investigate whether a significantly aberrant expression of circulating placental mRNA genes related with cardiogenesis can be detected at the second trimester of pregnancy.

Performance of peripheral (serum and molecular) blood markers for diagnosis of endometriosis.

PurposeTo quantify the mRNA levels of MMP-3, MMP-9, VEGF and Survivin in peripheral blood and the serum levels of CA-125 and Ca19-9 in women with and without endometriosis and to investigate the performance of these markers to differentiate between deep and ovarian endometriosis.MethodsA case control study enrolled a series of 60 patients. Twenty controls have been matched with 20 cases of ovarian and 20 cases of deep endometriosis. Univariable and multivariable performance of serum CA125 and CA19-9, mRNA for Survivin, MMP9, MMP3 and VEGF genes have been evaluated by means of ROC curves and logistic regression, respectively.ResultsNo difference in markers’ concentration was detected between ovarian and deep endometriosis. In comparison with controls, serum CA125 and CA19 yielded the better sensitivity followed by mRNA for Survivin gene (81.5, 51.9 and 7.5% at 10% false positive rate, respectively). Multivariable estimated odds of endometriosis yielded a sensitivity of 87% at the same false positive rate.ConclusionsA combination of serum and molecular markers could allow a better diagnosis of endometriosis.

Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 mRNA: A Promising Peripheral Blood Marker for Diagnosis of Endometriosis

Background/Aims: Endometriosis is an invasive disease. Its diagnosis depends on laparoscopy, which is traumatic and associated with potential complications. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, reliable, and less invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis. We hypothesized that genes related to cell invasion would be transcriptionally upregulated in endometriosis, and tested whether blood levels of their transcripts might be used as biomarkers of endometriosis.Methods:We used quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to quantify the mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and MMP-9 in peripheral blood from 20 patients with mild/intermediate endometriosis, 20 patients with severe endometriosis and 20 endometriosis-free subjects. Results:Our results indicate that circulating mRNA for MMP-3 is significantly higher in patients with endometriosis than in control patients, regardless of the degree of severity. Conversely, the level of circulating mRNA for VEGFA and MMP-9 did not distinguish patients from controls. Conclusion: MMP-3 mRNA is a promising peripheral blood marker that discriminates between patients with endometriosis and healthy subjects. Our results support the possibility of finding genes suitable for diagnostic qRT-PCR for endometriosis in peripheral blood and should be explored further.

Elevated maternal placental protein 13 serum levels at term of pregnancy in postpartum major hemorrhage (>1000 mLs). A prospective cohort study

To compare placental protein 13 (PP13) levels in the serum of women with primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) with a control population.

CD99 polymorphisms significantly influence the probability to develop Ewing sarcoma in earlier age and patient disease progression.

Ewing sarcoma (EWS), the second most common primary bone tumor in pediatric age, is known for its paucity of recurrent somatic abnormalities. Apart from the chimeric oncoprotein that derives from the fusion of EWS and FLI genes, recent genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility variants near the EGR2 gene that regulate DNA binding of EWS-FLI. However, to induce transformation, EWS-FLI requires the presence of additional molecular events, including the expression of CD99, a cell surface molecule with critical relevance for the pathogenesis of EWS. High expression of CD99 is a common and distinctive feature of EWS cells, and it has largely been used for the differential diagnosis of the disease. The present study first links CD99 germline genetic variants to the susceptibility of EWS development and its progression. In particular, a panel of 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms has been genotyped in a case-control study. The CD99 rs311059 T variant was found to be significantly associated [P value = 0.0029; ORhet = 3.9 (95% CI 1.5-9.8) and ORhom = 5.3 (95% CI 1.2-23.7)] with EWS onset in patients less than 14 years old, while the CD99 rs312257-T was observed to be associated [P value = 0.0265; ORhet = 3.5 (95% CI 1.3-9.9)] with a reduced risk of relapse. Besides confirming the importance of CD99, our findings indicate that polymorphic variations in this gene may affect either development or progression of EWS, leading to further understanding of this cancer and development of better diagnostics/prognostics for children and adolescents with this devastating disease.

Contents Vol. 82, 2015

Founded 1938 as ‘Schweizerische Zeitschrift für allgemeine Pathologie und Bakteriologie’ by A. v. Albertini, A. Grumbach and H. Mooser, continued as ‘Pathologia et Microbiologia’ (1960–1975) and ‘Experimental Cell Biology’ (1976–1989); incorporating ‘Pathology and Immunopathology Research’, founded 1982 as ‘Survey and Synthesis of Pathology Research’ by J.M. Cruse and R.E. Lewis, continued as ‘Pathobiology’, edited by J.M. Cruse and R.E. Lewis (1990–1998) Continued by Ch. Wittekind (1999–2004)

Abstract 4325: CD99 suppresses osteosarcoma cell migration by favouring the oncosoppressor N-cadherin/beta-catenin signalling pathway in contrast to ezrin.

CD99 is a 32-kDa highly glycosylated transmembrane protein encoded by MIC2 gene which shares no homology with any known family of proteins except Xga and mouse CD99L2 proteins. Located in the pseudoautosomal region of chromosomes X and Y, MIC2 encodes two distinct products by alternative splicing of gene transcripts: a long form (32-kDa), corresponding to the full-length protein (CD99wt) and a short form harbouring a deletion in the intracytoplasmic domain (CD99 sh). CD99 is involved in multiple cellular events including cell adhesion, apoptosis, differentiation of T- cells and thymocytes, transendothelial migration of leukocytes, maintenance of cellular morphology and regulation of intracellular membrane protein trafficking either in physiology and in pathological conditions. In osteosarcoma, CD99 is expressed at low levels and functions as a tumor suppressor. The two alternative spliced isoforms are associated to distinct functional outcomes: CD99sh expression increases, whereas wtCD99 significantly inhibits migration, invasiveness and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells (Manara MC, 2006; Scotlandi K 2007). In this study, we specifically analyzed modulation of cell-cell contacts, reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, and modulation of signalling pathways by comparing osteosarcoma cells characterized by different metastasis capabilities and CD99 expression, to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for metastasis. Our data indicate that expression of CD99wt induces recruitment of beta-catenin to adherens injunctions through N-cadherin up-regulation. In addition, forced expression of CD99wt inhibits the expression of several molecules crucial to remodeling the actin cytoskeleton, such as ACTR2 (also named ARP2), ARPC1A and ROCK II as well as ezrin, an ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family member that has been clearly associated with tumor progression and metastatic spread either in experimental models and clinical samples of osteosarcoma. Functional studies by siRNA and/or specific inhibitors point to ROCKII as a crucial intracellular mediator regulating osteosarcoma metastasis capabilities. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4325. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4325