Publications by authors named "Cinzia Pistis"
Objective: Several clinical studies have proposed the infusion of adipose mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) as an alternative therapy for joint diseases with inflammatory components, such as osteoarthritis. Indeed, AMSCs are able to stimulate tissue repair through a paracrine activity and the interaction with the inflammatory microenvironment seems to have a critical role.
Design: To reproduce the inflammatory microenvironment, AMSCs were exposed to osteoarthritic synovial fluid (SF) for 48 h and the effect of their secretome on differentiation of monocytes (M0) into macrophages M1-like and mature dendritic cells (mDCs) was evaluated.
The predominant mechanism by which adipose mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) participate to tissue repair is through a paracrine activity and their communication with the inflammatory microenvironment is essential part of this process. This hypothesis has been strengthened by the recent discovery that stem cells release not only soluble factors but also extracellular vesicles, which elicit similar biological activity to the stem cells themselves. We demonstrated that the treatment with inflammatory cytokines increases the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory potential of AMSCs-derived exosomes, which acquire the ability to shift macrophages from M1 to M2 phenotype by shuttling miRNA regulating macrophages polarization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExploring the Possible Prognostic Role of B-Lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS) in a Large Series of Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors.
Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets
January 2019
Background And Objective: BLyS (B-Lymphocyte stimulator) is over-expressed in several tumoral settings, with direct or indirect effects on neoplastic proliferation and possibly representing a therapeutic target. In this study, we explored the role of BLyS in a large population of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).
Methods: The study analyzed the stored sera of 124 consecutive unselected patients with NETs: 36 lung carcinoids (24 typical, 12 atypical), 47 gastroenteric tract and 41 pancreatic (30 non-functioning and 11 functioning: 9 insulinomas, 2 glucagonomas).
Background And Objective: In Alzheimer disease (AD) inflammation becomes evident throughout the course of the disease. However, the association between inflammation, cognitive impairment, and cerebrospinal biomarkers (Aβ42, t-tau, p-tau181, and Aβ42/p-tau181 ratio) is poorly understood.
Methods: A large panel of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor) was analyzed using a multiplex immunoassay in 27 patients with a diagnosis of AD dementia and in 18 control subjects.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates and characterizes exosomes derived from synovial fluid in patients with gonarthrosis, using two different isolation methods and evaluating their immune regulatory effects.
- - Exosomes were isolated from inflamed synovial fluid and found to express specific markers; however, isolation using Exoquick required additional purification to remove contamination by immune complexes.
- - Findings reveal that these exosomes can significantly stimulate inflammatory responses in M1 macrophages, suggesting they may contribute to the progression of gonarthrosis.
Purpose: To explore the role of plasmatic platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), a marker of cardiovascular risk, in patients with anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL).
Methods: PAF-AH activity was assessed in a series of 167 unselected patients screened for aPL in a context of thrombotic events, risk of thrombosis or obstetric complications and in 77 blood donors.
Results: 116/167 patients showed positive results for at least one aPL among IgG/IgM anti-prothrombin/phosphatidylserine (aPS/PT), anti-cardiolipin (aCL), anti-beta2-glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) or lupus anticoagulant (LAC), while 51/167 patients resulted aPL-negative.
Background: A reliable identification of ADAb represents a fundamental tool in the followup of patients under treatment with anti-TNF drugs.
Objectives: To compare three immunoenzymatic assays for anti-adalimumab antibodies (AAA) detection.
Methods: The study was performed in 40 patients with chronic inflammatory polyarthritis, comprising both patients showing a good response to adalimumab (ADL) and patients who lost response or did not respond to ADL, recently or in the past (retrospective study).