Ferritin Heavy Chain Binds Peroxiredoxin 6 and Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration.

The H Ferritin subunit (FTH1), as well as regulating the homeostasis of intracellular iron, is involved in complex pathways that might promote or inhibit carcinogenesis. This function may be mediated by its ability to interact with different molecules. To gain insight into the FTH1 interacting molecules, we analyzed its interactome in HEK293T cells.

ZNF224 is a mediator of TGF-β pro-oncogenic function in melanoma.

The zinc finger protein ZNF224 plays a dual role in cancer, operating as both tumour suppressor and oncogenic factor depending on cellular and molecular partners. In this research we investigated the role of ZNF224 in melanoma, a highly invasive and metastatic cancer, and provided evidence for the involvement of ZNF224 in the TGF-β signalling as a mediator of the TGF-β pro-oncogenic function. Our results showed that ZNF224, whose expression increased in melanoma cell lines after TGF-β stimulation, potentiated the activation induced by TGF-β on its target genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

FTH1 Pseudogenes in Cancer and Cell Metabolism.

Ferritin, the principal intracellular iron-storage protein localized in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria, plays a major role in iron metabolism. The encoding ferritin genes are members of a multigene family that includes some pseudogenes. Even though pseudogenes have been initially considered as relics of ancient genes or junk DNA devoid of function, their role in controlling gene expression in normal and transformed cells has recently been re-evaluated.

FtH-Mediated ROS Dysregulation Promotes CXCL12/CXCR4 Axis Activation and EMT-Like Trans-Differentiation in Erythroleukemia K562 Cells.

The cell-microenvironment communication is essential for homing of hematopoietic stem cells in stromal niches. Recent evidences support the involvement of epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) process in hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis as well as in leukemia cells invasiveness and migration capability. Here, we demonstrate that the alteration of iron homeostasis and the consequent increase of redox metabolism, mediated by the stable knock down of ferritin heavy chain (FtH), enhances the expression of CXCR4 in K562 erythroleukemia cells, thus promoting CXCL12-mediated motility.

Advanced Loss Eventuality Assessment and Technical Estimates: An Integrated Approach for Management of Healthcare-Associated Infections.

Background: Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) represent a crucial issue in health and patient safety management due to the persistent nature, economic impact and possible preventability of the phenomenon. Compensation claims for damages resulting from HAI could provide insights that can improve the understanding of suboptimal steps in the therapeutic process, enable an estimate of costs related to infectious complications, and guide the development of planning tools for implementation of the quality of care.

Objective: This paper analyzes all the HAI claims received at the Umberto I General Hospital of Rome across a five-year period with the aim of outlining a methodological approach to the litigation management and of characterizing the economic impact of infections on health facilities resources.