Smoking-Dependent Association of Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with Pulmonary Function Parameters in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

: One of the members of the neurotrophin (NT) family is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In addition to its role in the nerve system, it has been found to play a role in lung health and diseases. : The serum concentrations of BDNF were assessed in 57 patients with COPD and in 19 control individuals and the possible associations of BDNF with the spirometric indexes and disease stages were explored.

Interleukin-6-Positive Immune Cells as a Possible New Immunologic Marker Associated With the Colorectal Cancer Prognosis.

Chronic inflammation creates tumor microenvironment (TME) that facilitates colorectal cancer (CRC) cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and tumor progression. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine with a pleiotropic effect on CRC development. We aimed to evaluate IL-6 expression in tumor cells and in immune cells in TME, to assess the serum level and IL6 -174 G/C genotype distribution and to correlate the results with selected morphologic and clinical parameters that may add useful information in understanding the mechanisms of human CRC progression.

Role of Elevated Serum TGF-β1 and the Common Promoter -509C/T Polymorphism in the Development and Progression of Primary Glial Tumors and Brain Metastases.

: The role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) has been widely studied in the context of carcinogenesis. It has been involved in the pathogenesis of primary brain tumors or brain metastases due to its pleiotropic effects on immune regulation and tissue homeostasis. In line with recent findings, the aim of the current study was to examine the role of circulating TGF-β1 and the -509C/T functional polymorphism (rs1800469) in the gene promoter in the susceptibility and progression of primary brain tumors and brain metastases among patients from the Bulgarian population.

Protective Role of -197 A/G Heterozygosity in the Development and Severity of Colorectal Cancer in the Bulgarian Population.

: Interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, expressed mainly by a novel subset of CD-positive (+) T-helper (Th) cells of the immune system, has been closely related to inflammatory conditions underlying colorectal cancer pathogenesis. Accordingly, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the and genes (rs2275913 and rs763780, respectively) with the susceptibility and severity of CRC patients from the Bulgarian population. : 136 patients with histologically confirmed CRC diagnosis and 116 healthy individuals were recruited in the present study.

MMP12 -82 A>G Promoter Polymorphism in Bronchial Asthma in a Population of Central Bulgaria.

A characteristic feature of inflamed lungs in bronchial asthma (BA) is airway remodeling. Due to limited information on this topic in the literature, we aimed to explore the possible role of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the macrophage elastase gene MMP12 82A>G (rs2276109) as a predisposing factor for BA in an ethnic Bulgarian population. Using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified fragments (PCR-RFLP), we performed genotype analysis of 58 patients and 119 control individuals.

Promoter polymorphisms in TGFB1 and IL10 genes influence tumor dendritic cells infiltration, development and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Background: Anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 have a complex role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Dendritic cells (DCs) are the cellular component of the inflammatory microenvironment in the tumor and infiltration of tumors by DCs is associated with better prognosis and fewer metastases.

Methods: In the present study, we explored the role of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of TGFB1 and IL10 genes and their associations with infiltrating DCs in CRC.

Impact of TGF-β1 expression and -509C>T polymorphism in the TGF-β1 gene on the progression and survival of gastric cancer.

The aim of this study was to examine the expression of TGF-β1 and TGF-β receptor type II (RII) and the impact of the -509C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene in relation to clinicopathological factors in gastric cancer (GC). Using immunohistochemistry we investigated 43 patients with GC for expression of TGF-β1 and TGF-β-RII. Consequently, RFLP-PCR was performed to analyze the presence of -509C>T polymorphism in the TGF-β1 gene.

Association of IL-12Bpro polymorphism with tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Chronic inflammation is a key component in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). A notable hallmark of the inflammation process is the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by infiltrating cells of the immune system. Defects in dendritic cells (DCs) recruitment, maturation and cytokine release are a hallmark of the CRC strategy to escape immune surveillance.

The G allele of MMP12 -82 A > G promoter polymorphism as a protective factor for COPD in Bulgarian population.

Chronic inflammation and remodelling of the small airways are features related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the current study, we aimed to explore the possible role of MMP12 -82 A > G (rs2276109) promoter polymorphism in the development of COPD in a population from Bulgaria (167 patients with COPD and 119 control individuals). The genotype and allele distributions differed significantly between COPD patients and controls (p = .

Expression of E-Cadherin/Beta-Catenin in Epithelial Carcinomas of the Thyroid Gland.

Background: The aberrant activation of Wnt signalling pathway may be a common denominator for the development of thyroid tumorigenesis. It was announced that the loss of E-cadherin rather than β-catenin mutation represents a crucial event in determining the degree of differentiation of thyroid carcinomas.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in the thyroid cancer tissue and to correlate these data with some histological and clinical parameters of the tumours.

Impact of HER2 codon 655 polymorphism and expression of HER2 and HER3 in non small cell lung cancer patients.

The aim of the study was to assess the expression and significance of HER2 and HER3, and Ile/Val single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of HER2 in lung cancer patients. Thirty seven cases of lung cancer were investigated immunohistochemically for HER2 and HER3 expression. PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to analyze the presence of HER-2 SNP at codon 655 in 20 samples.