Veronica Balatti

MicroRNAs dysregulation in human malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Background:Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare but aggressive asbestos-related cancer that develops by mesothelial cell transformation. At present, there are no effective therapies for MPM. Great efforts have been made in finding specific markers/mechanisms for MPM onset, including studies into microRNAs (miRNAs). Recent studies have shown the differential expression of mature miRNAs in several human cancers, suggesting their potential role as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Methods:In this study, we investigated miRNAs profile in five human normal pleural mesothelial short-term cell cultures (HMCs) and five MPMs, with microarray approach. These results were confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Results:A comparative analysis of miRNA expression in MPM and HMCs was carried out. Microarray profiling showed different miRNA expression between MPM and HMCs. Specifically, members of the oncomiRNA miR 17-92 cluster and its paralogs, namely miR 17-5p, 18a, 19b, 20a, 20b, 25, 92, 106a, 106b, were markedly upregulated. Besides, in our investigation, additional miRNAs, such as miR-7, miR-182, miR-214, and miR-497 were found to be dysregulated in MPM. Conclusions:These data are in agreement with results that have previously been reported on dysregulated miRNAs for other solid human tumors. Moreover, in our investigation, additional miRNAs were found to be dysregulated in MPM. Interestingly, gene products that regulate the cell cycle are targets and predicted targets for these miRNAs. Our data suggest that specific miRNAs could be key players in MPM development/progression. In addition, some of these miRNAs may represent MPM markers and potential targets for new therapeutic approaches.

Simian virus 40 in humans

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a monkey virus that was administered to human populations by contaminated vaccines which were produced in SV40 naturally infected monkey cells.Recent molecular biology and epidemiological studies suggest that SV40 may be contagiously transmitted in humans by horizontal infection, independently from the earlier administration of SV40-contaminated vaccines.SV40 footprints in humans have been found associated at high prevalence with specific tumor types such as brain and bone tumors, mesotheliomas and lymphomas and with kidney diseases, and at lower prevalence in blood samples from healthy donors.Contrasting reports appeared in the literature on the circulation of SV40 in humans by contagious transmission and its association, as a possible etiologic cofactor, with specific human tumors. As a consequence of the conflicting results, a considerable debate has developed in the scientific community. In the present review we consider the main results obtained by different groups investigating SV40 sequences in human tumors and in blood specimens, the putative role of SV40 in the onset/progression of specific human tumors, and comment on the hypotheses arising from these data.

Gram-Negative Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Retention by a Positively Charged New-Generation Filter

ABSTRACT Removing endotoxins is an important target in the pharmaceutical industry and in clinical practice. A filter introduced into an intravenous line prevents microbiological contamination, but to date no filters have retained bacterial endotoxins. In our study, we assayed a new-generation filter which is able to capture endotoxins from solutions.

Glioblastoma in a Patient with Professional Exposure to the Oncogenic Polyomavirus SV40

In previous investigations, the transforming sequences of simian virus 40 (SV40) had been found in human brain tumors, thereby suggesting a role for SV40 in human tumorigenesis. A recent study reported the case of a meningioma in a SV40-exposed scientist. The patients meningioma contained SV40 DNA sequences identical to those the patient had ever been exposed in the laboratory. The aim of this study was to investigate another case of SV40-exposed scientist with glioblastoma multiforme. After surgical resection of the larger neoplastic lesion, the patients tumor and blood samples were analyzed for SV40 sequences by PCR and filter hybridization. The differences among polymaviruses, such as SV40, BK and JC, and among SV40 strains were found in the T antigen (Tag) coding sequences and in the regulatory regions. Therefore, we analyzed the conserved SV40 regulatory region and Tag oncoprotein coding sequences in the patients specimen. The results did not reveal the SV40 DNA sequences detectable from this patient. Our data do not support in this clinical case the link between the SV40 exposure and the brain tumor.