Inactivation of p53 and p73 is known to promote thyroid cancer progression. We now describe p63 expression and function in human thyroid cancer. TAp63a is expressed in most thyroid cancer specimens and cell lines, but not in normal thyrocytes. However, in thyroid cancer cells TAp63a fails to induce the target genes (p21Cip1, Bax, MDM2) and, as a consequence, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis occur. Moreover, TAp63a antagonizes the effect of p53 on target genes, cell viability and foci formation, and p63 gene silencing by small interfering (si) RNA results in improved p53 activity. This unusual effect of TAp63a depends on the protein C-terminus, since TAp63b and TAp63g isoforms, which have a different arrangement of their C-terminus, are still able to induce the target genes and to exert tumour-restraining effects in thyroid cancer cells. Our data outline the existence of a complex network among p53 family members, where TAp63a may promote thyroid tumour progression by inactivating the tumour suppressor activity of p53.

Carnosine is an endogenous dipeptide abundant in the central nervous system, where by acting as intracellular pH buffering molecule, Zn/Cu ion chelator, antioxidant and anti-crosslinking agent, it exerts a well-recognized multi-protective homeostatic function for neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Carnosine seems to counteract proteotoxicity and protein accumulation in neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, its direct impact on the dynamics of AD-related fibril formation remains uninvestigated. We considered the effects of carnosine on the formation of fibrils/aggregates of the amyloidogenic peptide fragment Aβ1-42, a major hallmark of AD injury. Atomic force microscopy and thioflavin T assays showed inhibition of Aβ1-42 fibrillogenesis in vitro and differences in the aggregation state of Aβ1-42 small pre-fibrillar structures (monomers and small oligomers) in the presence of carnosine. in silico molecular docking supported the experimental data, calculating possible conformational carnosine/Aβ1-42 interactions. Overall, our results suggest an effective role of carnosine against Aβ1-42 aggregation.

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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a public health problem worldwide. Several therapeutic strategies have been made to accelerate recovery and improve renal survival. Recent studies have shown that human adult renal progenitor cells (ARPCs) participate in kidney repair processes, and may be used as a possible treatment to promote regeneration in acute kidney injury. Here, we show that human tubular ARPCs (tARPCs) protect physically injured or chemically damaged renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) by preventing cisplatin-induced apoptosis and enhancing proliferation of survived cells. tARPCs without toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) expression or TLR2 blocking completely abrogated this regenerative effect. Only tARPCs, and not glomerular ARPCs, were able to induce tubular cell regeneration process and it occurred only after damage detection. Moreover, we have found that ARPCs secreted inhibin-A and decorin following the RPTEC damage and that these secreted factors were directly involved in cell regeneration process. Polysaccharide synthetic vesicles containing these molecules were constructed and co-cultured with cisplatin damaged RPTECs. These synthetic vesicles were not only incorporated into the cells, but they were also able to induce a substantial increase in cell number and viability. The findings of this study increase the knowledge of renal repair processes and may be the first step in the development of new specific therapeutic strategies for renal repair.

BackgroundInterferon Regulatory Factor 5 is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes involved in the response to viral infection and in the stimulation of the immune system. Moreover, multiple studies have demonstrated that it negatively regulates cell growth and oncogenesis, favoring cell differentiation and apoptosis.Thyroid carcinoma represents 98% of all thyroid malignancies and has shown a steady increase in incidence in both the USA and western European countries.FindingsWe investigated the expression, localization and function of IRF5 in thyroid cancer cells and found that it is highly expressed in both primary and immortalized thyroid carcinomas but not in normal thyrocytes. IRF5 levels were variably modulated by Interferon alpha but IRF5 only localized in the cytoplasmic compartment, thus failing to induce p21 expression as previously reported in different cell models. Furthermore, ectopic IRF5 increased both the proliferation rate and the clonogenic potential of malignant thyroid cells, protecting them from the cytotoxic effects of DNA-damaging agents. These results were directly attributable to IRF5, as demonstrated by the reduction in colony-forming ability of thyroid cancer cells after IRF5 silencing. An IRF5-dependent induction of endogenous B-Raf observed in all thyroid cancer cells might contribute to these unexpected effects.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that, in thyroid malignancies, IRF5 displays tumor-promoting rather than tumor-suppressor activities.

The Ets variant gene 6 (ETV6/TEL) gene is rearranged in the majority of patients with 12p13 translocations fused to a number of different partners. We present here a case of acute myeloid leukemia M4 with eosinophilia (AML-M4Eo) positive for the CBFb/MYH11 rearrangement and carrying a t(1;12)(q25;p13) that involves the ETV6 gene at 12p13. By 3′rapid amplification of cDNA ends-polymerase chain reaction (3′RACE-PCR), a novel fusion transcript was identified between the ETV6 and the Abelson-related gene (ARG) at 1q25, resulting in a chimeric protein consisting of the HLH oligomerization domain of ETV6 and the SH2, SH3, and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) domains of ARG. The reciprocal transcript ARG-ETV6 was also detected in the patient RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), although at a lower expression level. The ARG gene encodes for a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase characterized by high homology with c-Abl in the TK, SH2, and SH3 domains. This is the first report on ARGinvolvement in a human malignancy.

Novel synthetic peptides represent smart molecules for antigen-antibody interactions in several bioanalytics applications, from purification to serum screening. Their immobilization onto a solid phase is considered a key point for sensitivity increasing. In this view, we exploited Quartz Crystal Microbalance with simultaneous frequency and dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) with a double aim, specifically, as investigative tool for spacers monolayer assembling and its functional evaluation, as well as high sensitive method for specific immunosorbent assays. The method was applied to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) detection by studying the interactions between synthetic phosphorylated and un-phosphorylated α-enolase peptides with sera of healthy and PDAC patients. The synthetic peptides were immobilized on the gold surface of the QCM-D sensor via a self-assembled alkanethiol monolayer. The presented experimental results can be applied to the development of surfaces less sensitive to non-specific interactions with the final target to suggest specific protocols for detecting PDAC markers with un-labeled biosensors.

In the field of nanomedicine, superparamagnetic nanoparticles are one of the most studied nanomaterials for theranostics. In this study, a one-pot synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles is presented, with an increased control on particle size from 10 to 40 nm. Monitoring of vacuum level is introduced here as a crucial parameter for achieving a fine particle morphology. The magnetic properties of these nanoparticles are highly affected by disorders or mismatches in crystal structure. A prolonged oxidation step is applied to the obtained nanoparticles to transform the magnetic phases into a pure maghemite one, confirmed by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, by Mössbauer spectrometry and, indirectly, by increased performances in magnetization curves and in relaxation times. Afterward, the attained nanoparticles are transferred into water by a nonderivatized dextran coating. Thermogravimetric analysis confirms that polysaccharide molecules replace oleic acid on the surface by stabilizing the particles in the aqueous phase and culture media. Preliminary in vitro test reveals that the dextran-coated nanoparticles are not passively internalized from the cells. As a proof of concept, a secondary layer of chitosan assures a positive charge to the nanoparticle surface, thus enhancing cellular internalization.