Publications by authors named "Angela Mercuri"
In this study, we compared the overall gene and pathway expression profiles of HS-5 and HS-27A stromal cell lines with those of primary bone marrow MSCs to verify if they can be considered a reliable alternative tool for evaluating the contribution of MSCs in tumor development and immunomodulation. Indeed, due to their easier manipulation as compared to primary MSC cultures, several published studies took advantage of stromal cell lines to assess the biological mechanisms mediated by stromal cells in influencing tumor biology and immune responses. However, the process carried out to obtain immortalized cell lines could profoundly alter gene expression profile, and consequently their biological characteristics, leading to debatable results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of Notch signaling in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is still under investigation. We have previously shown that high levels of Notch receptors and ligands could interfere with drug response. In this study, the protein expression of 79 AML blast samples collected from newly diagnosed patients was examined through flow cytometry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are versatile adult cells important for forming various tissue types and can modulate immune responses when stimulated by inflammation.
- The study focused on characterizing the contents of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from MSCs (MSC-EVs), examining their role in immune functions.
- Key findings highlighted specific proteins and miRNAs associated with immunology and identified the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and actin cytoskeleton regulation as significant in MSC-EV-mediated communication with B cells, suggesting new therapeutic targets.
Article Synopsis
- * High-risk B-ALL patients show increased expression of Notch3, Notch4, and Jagged2, while chemotherapy reduces the expression of other Notch receptors.
- * Combining conventional chemotherapy with Notch inhibitors significantly enhances cell death in B-ALL cells and improves survival outcomes in mouse models, suggesting that targeting the Notch pathway could be a promising treatment strategy for B-ALL patients.
Article Synopsis
- Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare condition in children involving blood breakdown, blood clots, infections, and bone marrow issues, with the study focusing on 16 young patients diagnosed with PNH.
- A significant finding is that classic PNH patients experienced a longer diagnosis delay compared to those with PNH associated with bone marrow disorders (PNH/BMD), with classic patients having higher LDH levels, bilirubin, reticulocyte counts, and larger PNH clone sizes.
- The study emphasizes that most pediatric PNH cases are PNH/BMD and highlights the importance of quickly screening for PNH, especially in cases of unexpected blood clots.
Objectives: Shwachman-Diamond syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, skeletal abnormalities, and bone marrow failure, with high risk of leukemic evolution. The aim of the study was the immunophenotypic characterization of bone marrow cells from patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome to assess the maturation pathway of blood progenitor cells and to identify the presence of recurrent abnormalities.
Methods: Bone marrow samples from nineteen patients and eleven controls were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry.