Publications by authors named "Francesco Caroli"

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the field of genomics and created new opportunities for basic research. We described the strategy for the NGS validation of the "dysglycaemia panel" composed by 44 genes related to glucose metabolism disorders (MODY, Wolfram syndrome) and familial renal glycosuria using Ion AmpliSeq technology combined with Ion-PGM. Anonymized DNA of 32 previously genotyped cases with 33 different variants were used to optimize the methodology.

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Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a neurocutaneous disorder caused by mutations in gene, coding for neurofibromin 1. NF1 can be associated with Moyamoya disease (MMD), and this association, typical of paediatric patients, is referred to as Moyamoya syndrome (MMS). MMD is a cerebral arteriopathy characterized by the occlusion of intracranial arteries and collateral vessel formation, which increase the risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic events.

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Early-onset myopathy, areflexia, respiratory distress, and dysphagia (EMARDD) is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation in the gene (OMIM #614399). Phenotypic spectrum of EMARDD is variable, ranging from severe infantile forms in which patients are ventilator-dependent and die in childhood, to milder chronic disorders with a more favorable course (mild variant, mvEMARDD). Here we describe a 22 years old boy, offspring of consanguineous parents, presenting a congenital myopathic phenotype since infancy with elbow contractures and scoliosis.

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Alexander disease is a leukodystrophy caused by heterozygous mutations of gene. Recurrence in siblings from healthy parents provides a confirmation to the transmission of variants through germinal mosaicism. With the use of DNA isolated from peripheral blood, next-generation sequencing (NGS) of locus was performed with deep coverage (≥500×) in 11 probands and their parents (trios) with probands heterozygous for apparently mutations.

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Purpose: NLRC4-associated autoinflammatory disease (NLRC4-AID) is an autosomal dominant condition presenting with a range of clinical manifestations which can include macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) and severe enterocolitis. We now report the first homozygous mutation in NLRC4 (c.478G > A, p.

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Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) include a large group of inherited diseases sharing either poor, dysregulated, or absent and/or acquired function in one or more components of the immune system. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has driven a rapid increase in the recognition of such defects, though the wide heterogeneity of genetically diverse but phenotypically overlapping diseases has often prevented the molecular characterization of the most complex patients. Two hundred and seventy-two patients were submitted to three successive NGS-based gene panels composed of 58, 146, and 312 genes.

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Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a proteiform genetic condition caused by pathogenic variants in and characterized by a heterogeneous phenotypic presentation. Relevant genotype-phenotype correlations have recently emerged, but only few pertinent studies are available. We retrospectively reviewed clinical, instrumental, and genetic data from a cohort of 583 individuals meeting at least 1 diagnostic National Institutes of Health (NIH) criterion for NF1.

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Background: Deficiency of the natural antagonist of interleukin-1 was first described in 2009 and so far 20 patients has been reported. In Brazil just two cases have been reported both carrying the same homozygous 15 bp deletion. Blocking interleukin-1 has changed rate survival for DIRA patients.

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T-cell-based immunotherapy strategies have profoundly improved the clinical management of several solid tumors and hematological malignancies. A recently developed and promising immunotherapy approach is to redirect polyclonal MHC-unrestricted T lymphocytes toward cancer cells by bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) that engage the CD3 complex and a tumor-associated antigen (TAA). The TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2) is an attractive immunotherapy target, frequently expressed by neoplastic cells, that we decided to exploit as a TAA.

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Objectives: The number of innate immune system disorders classified as systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAID) has increased in recent years. More than 70% of patients with clinical manifestations of SAID did not receive a molecular diagnosis, thus being classed as so-called undifferentiated or undefined SAID (uSAID). The aim of the present study was to evaluate a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based clinically oriented protocol in patients with uSAID.

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Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or TRAIL-receptor agonistic monoclonal antibodies promote apoptosis in most cancer cells, and the differential expression of TRAIL-R2 between tumor and normal tissues allows its exploitation as a tumor-associated antigen. The use of these antibodies as anticancer agents has been extensively studied, but the results of clinical trials were disappointing. The observed lack of anticancer activity could be attributed to intrinsic or acquired resistance of tumor cells to this type of treatment.

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Objectives: Systemic auto-inflammatory disorders (SAIDs) are a heterogeneous group of monogenic diseases sharing a primary dysfunction of the innate immune system. More than 50% of patients with SAID does not show any mutation at gene(s) tested because of lack of precise clinical classification criteria and/or incomplete gene screening. To improve the molecular diagnosis and genotype interpretation of SAIDs, we undertook the development of a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based protocol designed to simultaneous screening of 10 genes.

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The association of pyoderma gangrenosum, acne, and suppurative hidradenitis (PASH) has recently been described and suggested to be a new entity within the spectrum of autoinflammatory syndromes, which are characterized by recurrent episodes of sterile inflammation, without circulating autoantibodies and autoreactive T-cells. We conducted an observational study on 5 patients with PASH syndrome, analyzing their clinical features, genetic profile of 10 genes already known to be involved in autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs), and cytokine expression pattern both in lesional skin and serum. In tissue skin samples, the expressions of interleukin (IL)-1β and its receptors I and II were significantly higher in PASH (P = 0.

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The hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome (HIDS), so-called mevalonate kinase deficiency, is caused by recessive mutations in the gene encoding mevalonate kinase enzyme. HIDS is characterized by recurrent fever attacks of 3-7 days that begin in infancy and recur every 4-6 weeks. The febrile period is accompanied by lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, aphthous ulcers, and varying degree of skin involvement.

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Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare tumor, partially explained by mutations in the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene. The nonsynonymous RET polymorphism G691S has been reported as associated with MTC, but findings are discordant. We sought to clarify the role of G691S in MTCs through in silico analysis, genetic association in our patients and a meta-analysis with extensive literature revision.

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The clinical triad of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), acne and suppurative hidradenitis (PASH) has recently been described as a new disease entity within the spectrum of autoinflammatory syndromes, which are an emerging group of inflammatory diseases distinct from autoimmune, allergic and infectious disorders. PASH syndrome is similar to PAPA (pyogenic arthritis, acne and PG), but it differs in lacking the associated arthritis and on a genetic basis. PAPA syndrome is caused by mutations in a gene involved in the regulation of innate immune responses, the PSTPIP1, while no mutations have been detected to date in patients with PASH syndrome.

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Objective: To evaluate the actual impact of MEFV mutations on clinical manifestations associated with fever attacks in Caucasian children with periodic fever.

Methods: 113 children carrying MEFV mutations (44 with mutations in two alleles, 69 heterozygous) and 205 children negative for mutations in genes associated with periodic fevers were analysed. The following groups of patients were considered: patients carrying two high penetrance mutations (M694V, M694I, M680I); one high, one low penetrance mutation; two low penetrance mutations; one high penetrance mutation; one low penetrance mutation; genetically negative patients.

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Objective: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) is an autosomal-dominant multisystemic autoinflammatory condition. Patients display different mutations of the TNF receptor superfamily 1A gene (TNFRSF1A), coding for a nearly ubiquitous TNF receptor (TNFR1). No TNFRSF1A mutation has been identified in a proportion of patients with TRAPS-like phenotype.

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A 51-year-old Chinese man presented with gaze-evoked nystagmus, impaired smooth pursuit and vestibular ocular reflex cancellation, and saccadic dysmetria, along with a family history suggestive of late-onset autosomal dominant parkinsonism. MRI revealed abnormalities of the medulla and cervical spinal cord typical of adult-onset Alexander disease, and genetic testing showed homozygosity for the p.D295N polymorphic allele in the gene encoding the glial fibrillary acidic protein.

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The Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) gene encodes a cytoskeletal protein belonging to the intermediate filament family whose expression is considered as a marker of astrocytes differentiation. GFAP expression, shown to be upregulated as a consequence of brain gliosis, depends on hormones, growth factors, cytokine, and transcription factors and, among these latters, activator protein 1 (AP-1) has been demonstrated to play a crucial role. In this study, we have focused on a 2.

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