Exploring hTERT promoter methylation in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are telomerase-positive tumors expressing hTERT, although neither gene rearrangement/amplification nor promoter hotspot mutations could explain the hTERT re-expression. As the hTERT promoter is rich in CpG, we investigated the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms in its re-expression. We analyzed hTERT promoter methylation status in CTCL cells compared with healthy cells.

Xenograft and cell culture models of Sézary syndrome reveal cell of origin diversity and subclonal heterogeneity.

Sézary Syndrome (SS) is a rare aggressive epidermotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) defined by erythroderma, pruritis, and a circulating atypical CD4 + T-cell clonal population. The diversity of Sézary cell (SC) phenotype and genotype may reflect either plasticity or heterogeneity, which was difficult to evaluate dynamically until the achievement of long-term SC expansion. Therefore, we developed six defined culture conditions allowing for the expansion of SC defined by their phenotype and monoclonality in four of seven SS cases.

Exposure of Anopheles mosquitoes to trypanosomes reduces reproductive fitness and enhances susceptibility to Plasmodium.

During a blood meal, female Anopheles mosquitoes are potentially exposed to diverse microbes in addition to the malaria parasite, Plasmodium. Human and animal African trypanosomiases are frequently co-endemic with malaria in Africa. It is not known whether exposure of Anopheles to trypanosomes influences their fitness or ability to transmit Plasmodium.

Evolution of sexually-transferred steroids and mating-induced phenotypes in Anopheles mosquitoes.

Human malaria, which remains a major public health problem, is transmitted by a subset of Anopheles mosquitoes belonging to only three out of eight subgenera: Anopheles, Cellia and Nyssorhynchus. Unlike almost every other insect species, males of some Anopheles species produce steroid hormones which are transferred to females during copulation to influence their reproduction. Steroids are consequently a potential target for malaria vector control.

Dual role of the Anopheles coluzzii Venus Kinase Receptor in both larval growth and immunity.

Vector-borne diseases and especially malaria are responsible for more than half million deaths annually. The increase of insecticide resistance in wild populations of Anopheles malaria vectors emphasises the need for novel vector control strategies as well as for identifying novel vector targets. Venus kinase receptors (VKRs) constitute a Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) family only found in invertebrates.

Calcium Independent Effect of Orai1 and STIM1 in Non-Hodgkin B Cell Lymphoma Dissemination.

Ca release-activated Ca channels, composed of Orai1 and STIM1 (stromal interaction molecule 1) proteins, are the main Ca entry mechanism in lymphocytes. Their role in cell migration and metastasis is demonstrated in solid cancers but it remains elusive in malignant hemopathies. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is characterized by the dissemination of neoplastic B cells throughout the organism which is under the control of chemokines such as Stromal Derived Factor 1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXCR4.