Ovarian carcinomas (OCs) are poorly immunogenic and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have offered a modest benefit. In this study, high CD3 T-cells and CD163 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) densities identify a subgroup of immune infiltrated high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) with better outcomes and superior response to platinum-based therapies. On the contrary, in most clear cell carcinomas (CCCs) showing poor prognosis and refractory to platinum, a high TAM density is associated with low T cell frequency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLangerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder characterized by tissue accumulation of CD1aCD207 LCH cells. In LCH, somatic mutations of the gene have been detected in tissue LCH cells, bone marrow CD34 hematopoietic stem cells, circulating CD14 monocytes, and BDCA1 myeloid dendritic cells (DC). Targeting in clonal Langerhans cells (LC) and their precursors is a potential treatment option for patients whose tumors have the mutation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Urothelial bladder cancers (UBCs) are distinct in two main molecular subtypes, namely basal and luminal type. Subtypes are also diverse in term of immune contexture, providing a rationale for patient selection to immunotherapy.
Methods: By digital microscopy analysis of a muscle-invasive BC (MIBC) cohort, we explored the density and clinical significance of CD66b tumor-associated-neutrophils (TAN) and CD3 T cells.
Urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) are classified into luminal and basal subtypes showing distinct molecular features and clinical behaviour. Recent in silico data have proposed the activation on the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) as relevant transcription factor in UBC. To answer this question, we have combined the retrospective analysis of clinical samples, functional assays on cell lines, interrogation of public UBC datasets and a murine model of basal-type UBC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeutrophils are known to perform a series of effector functions that are crucial for the innate and adaptive responses, including the synthesis and secretion of a variety of cytokines. In light of the controversial data in the literature, the main objective of this study was to more in-depth reevaluate the capacity of human neutrophils to express and produce cytokines of the IL-17 family . By reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR, protein measurement commercial ELISA, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF), flow cytometry, immunoblotting, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and ChIP-seq experiments, we found that highly pure (>99.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn regenerative medicine, platelet by-products containing factors physiologically involved in wound healing, have been successfully used in the form of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the topical therapy of various clinical conditions since it produces an improvement in tissue repair as well as analgesic effects. Measurement of endocannabinoids and related compounds in PRP revealed the presence of a significant amount of anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, palmitoylethanolamide, and oleoylethanolamide. Investigation of the activity of PRP on the keratinocyte cell line NCTC2544 in physiological and inflammatory conditions showed that, under inflammatory conditions, PRP induced in a statistically significant manner the production of these compounds by the cells suggesting that PRP might induce the production of these analgesic mediators particularly in the physiologically inflamed wounded tissue.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPalmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous cannabinoid-like compound in the central nervous system, which can modulate several functions in different pathological states, such as inflammation and pain response. We have here investigated the effect of PEA (5-10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) on mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia 3 and 7 days following peripheral injection of formalin. Formalin induced a significant decrease of thermal and mechanical threshold in the injected and contralateral paw.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFN-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA), an endogenous fatty acid ethanolamide, plays a key role in the regulation of the inflammatory response and pain through, among others, activation of nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-α). Endogenous cannabinoids play a protective role in several central nervous system (CNS) disorders, particularly those associated with neuronal hyperexcitability. We investigated the effects of PEA and the role of PPAR-α in absence epilepsy using the WAG/Rij rat model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study was undertaken in order to investigate the effect of chronic treatment with 5′-chloro-5′-deoxy-(±)-ENBA, a potent and highly selective agonist of human adenosine A(1) receptor, on thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in a mouse model of neuropathic pain, the Spared Nerve Injury (SNI) of the sciatic nerve. Chronic systemic administration of 5′-chloro-5′-deoxy-(±)-ENBA (0.5 mg/kg, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Salvinorin A (SA), the main active component of Salvia Divinorum, is a non-nitrogenous kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist. It has been shown to reduce acute pain and to exert potent antinflammatory effects. This study assesses the effects and the mode of action of SA on formalin-induced persistent pain in mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To investigate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung, and to examine the protein expression and genomic status of p16 and their correlation.
Materials And Methods: Fifty cases of surgically removed primary lung SCC were analyzed. HPV detection was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of L1 region and E6/E7 region of high-risk viral genotype.
Plastic changes in the amygdala and limbic cortex networks have been widely shown in chronic pain. We have here investigated the role of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) pre-infra-limbic (PL-IL) divisions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) neuron connections after carrageenan-induced inflammatory pain in the rat. Intra-plantar injection of carrageenan decreased either spontaneous or mechanically/electrically evoked activity of PL cortex pyramidal neurons which responded with excitation in a way prevented by CPCOOEt, a selective mGluR1 antagonist, though not by MPEP, a selective mGluR5 antagonist.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very angiogenic and malignant cancer. Conventional chemotherapy is poorly effective because of the abnormal structural organization of HCC-infiltrating vessels. In previous work, we demonstrated that HCC angiogenesis is driven by transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-β1)/CD105 axis, stimulating liver-derived microvascular endothelial cells (Ld-MECs) migration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFN-Palmitoyl-vanillamide (palvanil) is a non-pungent capsaicinoid, found in low amounts in Capsicum and shown to rapidly desensitize transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) channels to the action of capsaicin and to exert analgesic effects after local administration. We have investigated here if systemic administration of palvanil to mice causes two typical adverse events of TRPV1 agonists, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study of proto-oncogene Her-2/neu using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in routinely paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed tissue has become commonplace over the past decade and mandatory among invasive breast cancer expressing a score 2+ by immunohistochemical analysis of c-erbB2 protein. The patient's eligibility for treatment with the biological drug trastuzumab/herceptin is based on the evidence of a Her-2/neu proto-oncogene amplification (ratio Her-2/neu/CEP-17>2.2).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt was suggested that endocannabinoids are metabolized by cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in the spinal cord of rats with kaolin/λ-carrageenan-induced knee inflammation, and that this mechanism contributes to the analgesic effects of COX-2 inhibitors in this experimental model. We report the development of a specific method for the identification of endocannabinoid COX-2 metabolites, its application to measure the levels of these compounds in tissues, and the finding of prostamide F(2α) (PMF(2α)) in mice with knee inflammation. Whereas the levels of spinal endocannabinoids were not significantly altered by kaolin/λ-carrageenan-induced knee inflammation, those of the COX-2 metabolite of AEA, PMF(2α), were strongly elevated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring neuropathic pain, caspases are activated in the limbic cortex. We investigated the role of TRPV1 channels and glial caspases in the mouse prelimbic and infralimbic (PL-IL) cortex after spared nerve injury (SNI). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, western blots, and immunfluorescence showed overexpression of several caspases in the PL-IL cortex 7 days postinjury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate the expression of prostaglandin EP1 receptor within the ventrolateral periaqueductal grey (VL PAG). The role of VL PAG EP1 receptor in controlling thermonociception and rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) activity in healthy and neuropathic rats was also examined. EP1 receptor was indeed found to be expressed within the VL PAG and co-localized with vesicular GABA transporter.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe expressions of p16, Ki-67, and L1 proteins and human papillomavirus DNA were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (HPV/PCR) and catalyzed signal-amplified colorimetric DNA in situ hybridization (CSAC/ISH) as potential molecular markers for the diagnosis and transforming potential of low cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1). Ki-67 and p16 protein expression increased linearly from control cases to more dysplastic cases (CIN1, CIN2, and CIN3), peaking in squamous cell carcinoma cases (P<0.05).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Neuropathic pain is a chronic disease resulting from dysfunction within the "pain matrix". The basolateral amygdala (BLA) can modulate cortical functions and interactions between this structure and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are important for integrating emotionally salient information. In this study, we have investigated the involvement of the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and the catabolic enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in the morphofunctional changes occurring in the pre-limbic/infra-limbic (PL/IL) cortex in neuropathic rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Human papillomavirus DNA (HPV DNA) and p16 and p53 protein expressions were investigated for their role in transforming dysplasia into squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity in a non-smoker and non-drinker patient group.
Materials And Methods: A total of 56 oral biopsies from non-smoker and non-drinker patients were analyzed. The specimens were grouped into three categories: group 1 included 31 cases of hyperplastic mucosa and mild dysplasia, group 2 included 14 cases of moderate and severe dysplasia, while group 3 comprised 11 cases of invasive squamous cell carcinomas.
Background And Purpose: Two non-psychoactive cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabichromene (CBC), are known to modulate in vitro the activity of proteins involved in nociceptive mechanisms, including transient receptor potential (TRP) channels of vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) and of ankyrin type-1 (TRPA1), the equilibrative nucleoside transporter and proteins facilitating endocannabinoid inactivation. Here we have tested these two cannabinoids on the activity of the descending pathway of antinociception.
Experimental Approach: Electrical activity of ON and OFF neurons of the rostral ventromedial medulla in anaesthetized rats was recorded extracellularly and tail flick latencies to thermal stimuli were measured.
Objectives: Paracetamol is converted to an active metabolite AM404 via fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether a FAAH inhibitor URB597 antagonizes paracetamol analgesic activity (and to asses by this way the role of FAAH in analgesic activity of paracetamol).
Methods: The interaction between a FAAH inhibitor URB597 and paracetamol was investigated in the writhing test in mice using an isobolographic analysis.
We have studied the involvement of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) glycine site and the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor (GlyR) in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (VL-PAG) on nociceptive behavior (tail flick) and pain-related changes on neuronal activity in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Glycine or D-serine increased the tail-flick latency, reduced OFF-cell pause, and delayed its onset and increased the time between the onset of the OFF-cell pause and the tail withdrawal. Conversely, they decreased the ongoing activity of the ON cell, the tail-flick-induced ON-cell firing, whereas they delayed the onset of increased tail-flick-induced ON-cell firing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF