Elevated Serum Level of HMGB1 in Patients with the Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

Pregnancy problems are common in patients with rheumatic disease; indeed, autoimmune disorders and autoantibodies can affect pregnancy progress and lead to maternal complications. Recent studies have highlighted a close association between HMGB1, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. Thus, in this investigation, we analyzed serum levels of HMGB1, an alarmin which plays a pivotal role in inducing and enhancing immune cell function.

SIRT1-SIRT3 Axis Regulates Cellular Response to Oxidative Stress and Etoposide.

Sirtuins are conserved NAD -dependent deacylases. SIRT1 is a nuclear and cytoplasmic sirtuin involved in the control of histones a transcription factors function. SIRT3 is a mitochondrial protein, which regulates mitochondrial function.

Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons Induce Autophagic Vacuoles in Neuroblastoma Cell Lines.

Since graphene nanoparticles are attracting increasing interest in relation to medical applications, it is important to understand their potential effects on humans. In the present study, we prepared graphene oxide (GO) nanoribbons by oxidative unzipping of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and analyzed their toxicity in two human neuroblastoma cell lines. Neuroblastoma is the most common solid neoplasia in children.

Autophagy generates citrullinated peptides in human synoviocytes: a possible trigger for anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies.

Objectives: Autophagy may represent a functional processing event that creates a substrate for autoreactivity. In particular, autophagy may play a role in the pathogenesis of RA, since autophagy is a key cellular event involved in the generation of citrullinated peptides, with consequent breakage of tolerance. Thus, in RA, autophagy may be the common feature in several situations (including smoking, joint injury and infection) that may drive the adaptive responses to citrullinated self-proteins.

"New" antigenic targets and methodological approaches for refining laboratory diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are a heterogeneous group of antibodies directed against phospholipids or protein/phospholipid complexes. Currently, aPLs are assessed using either "solid-phase" assays that identify anticardiolipin antibodies and anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies or "liquid-phase" assay that identifies lupus anticoagulant. However, in the last few years, "new" antigenic targets and methodological approaches have been employed for refining laboratory diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).