Rosalba Masciulli
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
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Featured researches published by Rosalba Masciulli.
European Journal of Cancer and Clinical Oncology | 1990
Silvia Scalzo; Antonio Gengaro; Giovanni Boccoli; Rosalba Masciulli; G. Giannella; Giuseppe Salvo; Paolo Marolla; Paolo Carlini; Giorgio Massimini; Eduardo E. Holdener; Ugo Testa; Federico Calabresi; Cesare Peschle
Four patients out of twenty with renal cancer and melanoma undergoing cancer immunotherapy with interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon alpha-2 (IFN-alpha 2) had laboratory evidence of hypothyroidism starting at cycle three to six, with a decline in serum thyroxine below normal and, in three cases, a rise in serum thyrotropin and thyroglobulin. One hypothyroid patient had elevated serum antimicrosomal antibody titres before the start of treatment and two others responded similarly during therapy. Three of the sixteen euthyroid patients also developed elevated titres of this antibody. Partial or complete remission was observed in seven of the patients--three of the four with hypothyroidism showed tumour regression. Thus IL-2 and IFN-alpha 2 can cause hypothyroidism, presumably via induction or exacerbation of autoimmune thyroid reactions. The occurrence of hypothyroidism may be mediated by high-dose IL-2 (rather than by LAK cell therapy as previously suggested) and potentiated by IFN-alpha 2.
European Journal of Cancer | 1992
Giuseppe Salvo; Paola Samoggia; Rosalba Masciulli; Giovanni Boccoli; Paola Allavena; Gualtiero Mariani; Angela Bullo; E. Montesoro; Bulgarini D; Paolo Carlini; Enzo Maria Ruggeri; Maria Grazia Arena; Antonio Camagna; Ugo Testa; Federico Calabresi; Cesare Peschle
As early as 10-15 min after the start of a 30 min interleukin-2 (IL-2) infusion, a rapid, virtually complete disappearance of all natural killer (NK) lymphocyte subpopulations (including both CD3- CD56+ and CD3+ CD56+ cells with either alpha/beta or gamma/delta T-cell receptor) was observed from peripheral blood. In contrast, the number of T lymphocytes (CD3+ CD56-) was unmodified for at least 2 h after IL-2 injection. The IL-2-induced, rapid disappearance from peripheral blood of NK and NK-like lymphocytes may be related to their massive adherence to the activated endothelium. In this regard, IL-2 infusion caused a very rapid rise of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plasma concentration, whereas other cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), were induced only at later times. In vitro experiments indicated that IL-2, either alone or better combined with TNF-alpha, exerts a rapid and selective stimulatory effect on NK adhesion to endothelial cells. On the basis of these findings, we suggest that the activation of NK lymphocytes induced by IL-2, alone or combined with TNF-alpha, plays a key role in mediating the massive and selective adherence of NK and NK-like cells following IL-2 bolus infusion.
Leukemia | 1998
Ugo Testa; Francesco Grignani; Hj Hassan; Daniela Rogaia; Rosalba Masciulli; Vania Gelmetti; R. Guerriero; G. Macioce; Concetta Liberatore; Tiziano Barberi; Gualtiero Mariani; Pg Pelicci; Cesare Peschle
We have analyzed the differentiation program of growth factor-dependent TF-1 erythroleukemia cells as well as clones with inducible expression of the APL-specific PML/RARα protein. We have shown that TF-1 cells may be induced to megakaryocytic differentiation by phorbol ester (phorbol dibutyrate, PDB) addition, particularly when combined with thrombopoietin (Tpo). RT-PCR studies showed that Tpo induces Tpo receptor (TpoR or c-mpl), whose expression was further potentiated by PDB addition. When the cells are induced with both PDB and Tpo erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) expression was inhibited. In the absence of Zn2+-induced PML/RARα expression, PDB and Tpo induced megakaryocytic differentiation of TF-1 MTPR clones as observed in ‘wild-type’ TF-1 cells. Conversely, when PML/RARα expression was induced by Zn2+, PDB and Tpo treatment of these clones caused only a reduced level of megakaryocytic differentiation. These observations indicate that: (1) TF-1 cells as well as other erythroleukemic cells, possess the capacity to differentiate to megakaryocytic cells when grown in the presence of protein kinase (PKC) activators and more efficiently when combined with Tpo; (2) the PML/RARα gene has a wide capacity to interfere with the program of hematopoietic differentiation, including megakaryocytic differentiation. Finally, we also observed that PML/RARα expression in TF-1 cells induces an up-modulation of interleukin-3 receptor, c-kit and c-mpl, a phenomenon which may offer these cells a growth advantage.
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy | 1990
Ugo Testa; Alessandra Carè; E. Montesoro; C. Fossati; G. Giannella; Rosalba Masciulli; M. Fagioli; D. Bulgarini; D. Habetswallner; Giancarlo Isacchi; P. G. Pelicci; C. Peschle
SummaryWe have developed a culture system for “longterm” growth of human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells exhibiting an elevated, wide-spectrum antitumor cytotoxicity. The system allows the exponential growth of monocyte-depleted low-density lymphocytes in the presence of human serum and recombinant human interleukin-2 (103 U/ml), alone or in combination with interleukin-1 α or β (both at 10 U/ml). Eighteen cultures were established from 18 normal adult donors. The membrane phenotypes of the final LAK cell population, assessed by a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), consist of three main types: (a) NKH-1+, Tiα/β−, Tiγ/δ−, and CD3− lymphocytes; (b) NKH-1+, Tiα/β−, Tiγ/δ+, and CD3+ lymphocytes and (c) NKH-1+, Tiα/β+, Tiγ/δ− and CD3+ lymphocytes. Northern blot analysis showed that all these cell populations express relatively high levels of perforin RNA, particularly cells exhibiting the first phenotype. This culture system may provide a tool for cellular and molecular studies on the mechanisms of antitumor cytotoxicity, as well as the basis for new adoptive immunotherapy protocols in advanced cancer.
Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità | 2009
Barbara Brunetto; Sonia Brescianini; Bianca Barletta; Cinzia Butteroni; Daniela Rotondi; Rosalba Masciulli; Malaguti Aliberti; Carlo Pini; Gabriella Di Felice; Patrizia Iacovacci
Exposure to indoor allergens is an important risk factor for sensitisation and respiratory allergy. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the levels of mite, cat and latex allergens in dust collected from an indoor workplace and to assess whether the exposure to these allergens was associated with the allergy symptoms reported by employees. Sixty dust samples were collected. Allergen concentrations were measured with antibody based ELISAs. All 144 participants compiled a questionnaire exploring possible symptoms of allergy. No association between latex allergen exposure and symptoms was found in spite of the high frequency of latex allergens. Mite allergens were detected in a minority of rooms. Cat allergen was the most important indoor allergen in the sampled workplace and exposure to this allergen could represent a risk for employees.
Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità | 2009
Barbara Brunetto; Bianca Barletta; Sonia Brescianini; Rosalba Masciulli; Luca Perfetti; Gianna Moscato; Liliana Frusteri; Maria Antonietta Schirru; Carlo Pini; Gabriella Di Felice; Patrizia Iacovacci
Exposure to indoor allergens can occur both at home and in public places such as schools and workplaces. To investigate and compare the presence of indoor allergens in different kind of environments (schools, offices and homes), dust samples were collected from furniture, desks, mattresses and floors with a standardized procedure. Samples were analyzed for Der p 1, Der f 1, Mite group 2 (mites) and Fel d 1(cat) by monoclonal antibody ELISA assay. Mite allergens were detected with low frequencies in schools and workplaces and with high frequency in homes. Fel d 1 was found with high frequency in every examined environment. Homes rather than public places can represent the environment where people can easier incur in mite allergy. All environments could be at risk for cat allergen exposure.
Cancer Investigation | 1994
Camillo F. Pollera; Federico Calabresi; Monica Moreschi; Enzo Maria Ruggeri; Diana Giannarelli; Rosalba Masciulli; Ugo Testa; Cesare Peschle
Given the antitumor activity of interleukin-2 (IL-2) against some drug-resistant cancer cells, 17 previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer entered a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and immunological effects of combining 12-week high dose-intense chemotherapy based on a modified Evans regimen (CAV/PE) with different IL-2 schedules (6-12 MU/m2 week as a 48-72-h infusion using the same cumulative dose, 72 MU/m2). Despite significant myelotoxicity, up to 70% of the intended dose intensity was delivered, showing no differences with regard to the IL-2 schedule used. Immunotherapy-induced toxicity was usually mild and manageable. No limiting effects were observed in patients receiving immunotherapy except for a very poor compliance to the 12-week IL-2 regimen. The low-dose 72-h infusion was the optimal IL-2 schedule. As given in this study, neither of the alternating CAV/PE regimens abrogated the effects of IL-2 on T-cell and NK-cell subsets, showing typical kinetics with rebound in lymphocytes following each discontinuation of the IL-2. While immunological changes cannot predict the antitumor effect of IL-2, they are consistent with those described for IL-2 alone, suggesting its compatibility with high dose-intense chemotherapy. Although no definite advantages have been demonstrated in this small pilot study with significant unbalanced prognostic factors (12% 2-year survival), both the preserved immunostimulatory effects and the lack of limiting overlapping toxicity make this combined approach promising and worthy of further clinical investigation.
Medical Hypotheses | 1998
Antonio Camagna; Ugo Testa; Rosalba Masciulli; Tiziano Barberi; Paola Samoggia; Elena Tritarelli; E. Pustorino; Lorena Cipollone; L. Ciancio; P. del Duca; S. Dionisi; L. Del Vecchio; G. Misasi; C. de Martinis; Cesare Peschle
Both human cell lines HL-60 and AML-193 exhibit a myeloblastic and promyelocytic morphology, respectively, but may be regarded as bipotent leukemic precursors. They can be triggered to differentiate to either granulocytes or monocytes upon retinoic acid (RA) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (D3) addition, respectively. We have investigated the effect of combined addition of these chemical inducers on the in-vitro differentiation of both cell lines. RA and D3 added together exert synergistic effects on the in-vitro maturation of these myeloid cell lines. Interestingly, the additive effects were lost if the cells were incubated with the inducers added at sequential times. The synergistic effect could be transposed in vivo and could be clinically significant in the treatment of the promyelocytic leukemia. This clinical strategy may help to prevent retinoic acid resistance or to overcome it in patients relapsed after RA therapy and usually unresponsive to a reinduction therapy with RA alone.
Journal of Immunology | 1993
Ugo Testa; Rosalba Masciulli; Elena Tritarelli; R Pustorino; Gualtiero Mariani; Robert Martucci; T Barberi; Antonio Camagna; Mauro Valtieri; Cesare Peschle
Blood | 1996
Ugo Testa; C Fossati; Paola Samoggia; Rosalba Masciulli; Gualtiero Mariani; Hamisa Jane Hassan; Nadia Maria Sposi; Raffaella Guerriero; V Rosato; Marco Gabbianelli; Elvira Pelosi; Mauro Valtieri; Cesare Peschle