44 results match your criteria: "University of Maryland at Baltimore-Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET)[Affiliation]"

MiRNAs in Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers in Plasma of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Biology (Basel)

September 2024

Section of Human Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

Article Synopsis
  • The incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is increasing, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and reliable biomarkers that can be easily detected through standardized methods.
  • The study measured levels of specific miRNAs in extracellular vesicles (EVs) from blood plasma of PTC patients and found higher levels compared to benign goiter controls, with levels decreasing post-thyroidectomy.
  • The findings suggest that these miRNAs in EVs could serve as promising biomarkers for PTC, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional biopsy methods through liquid biopsy.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease characterized by self-immune tolerance breakdown and the production of autoantibodies, causing the deposition of immune complexes and triggering inflammation and immune-mediated damage. SLE pathogenesis involves genetic predisposition and a combination of environmental factors. Clinical manifestations are variable, making an early diagnosis challenging.

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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignancy of bad prognosis, and advances in early detection and treatment are needed. GBM is heterogenous, with varieties differing in malignancy within a tumor of a patient and between patients. Means are needed to distinguish these GMB forms, so that specific strategies can be deployed for patient management.

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The putative pathogenic roles and therapeutic potential of the chaperone system (CS) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are reviewed to provide a bibliographic and conceptual platform for launching research on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of CS components. Various studies suggest that dysfunction of the CS contributes to the pathogenesis of ALS and MS, and here, we identify some of the implicated CS members. The physiology and pathophysiology of the CS members can be properly understood if they are studied or experimentally or clinically manipulated for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, bearing in mind that they belong to a physiological system with multiple interacting and dynamic components, widespread throughout the body, intra- and extracellularly.

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The subject matter of this chapter is defined by the title of its two previous editions, "Immunohistochemistry of human Hsp60 in health and disease: From autoimmunity to cancer," the latest of which appeared in 2018. Since then, considerable advances have been made in the fields of autoimmunity and cancer and some of them are closely linked to progress in the understanding of the chaperone system (CS). This is a physiological system composed of molecular chaperones, co-chaperones, chaperone cofactors, and chaperone interactors and receptors.

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Genetic chaperonopathies are rare but, because of misdiagnosis, there are probably more cases than those that are recorded in the literature and databases. This occurs because practitioners are generally unaware of the existence and/or the symptoms and signs of chaperonopathies. It is necessary to educate the medical community about these diseases and, with research, to unveil their mechanisms.

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Hurthle cell (HC), anaplastic (AC), and medullary (MC) carcinomas are low frequency thyroid tumors that pose several challenges for physicians and pathologists due to the scarcity of cases, information, and histopathological images, especially in the many areas around the world in which sophisticated molecular and genetic diagnostic facilities are unavailable. It is, therefore, cogent to provide tools for microscopists to achieve accurate diagnosis, such as histopathological images with reliable biomarkers, which can help them to reach a differential diagnosis. We are investigating whether components of the chaperone system (CS), such as the molecular chaperones, can be considered dependable biomarkers, whose levels and distribution inside and outside cells in the tumor tissue could present a distinctive histopathological pattern for each tumor type.

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The chaperone system in cancer therapies: Hsp90.

J Mol Histol

April 2023

Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 127, Palermo, PA, 90129, Italy.

The chaperone system (CS) of an organism is composed of molecular chaperones, chaperone co-factors, co-chaperones, and chaperone receptors and interactors. It is present throughout the body but with distinctive features for each cell and tissue type. Previous studies pertaining to the CS of the salivary glands have determined the quantitative and distribution patterns for several members, the chaperones, in normal and diseased glands, focusing on tumors.

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Molecular Pathways Implicated in Radioresistance of Glioblastoma Multiforme: What Is the Role of Extracellular Vesicles?

Int J Mol Sci

March 2023

Section of Human Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a primary brain tumor that is very aggressive, resistant to treatment, and characterized by a high degree of anaplasia and proliferation. Routine treatment includes ablative surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, GMB rapidly relapses and develops radioresistance.

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Mutations in genes encoding molecular chaperones, for instance the genes encoding the subunits of the chaperonin CCT (chaperonin containing TCP-1, also known as TRiC), are associated with rare neurodegenerative disorders. Using a classical molecular dynamics approach, we investigated the occurrence of conformational changes and differences in physicochemical properties of the CCT5 mutations His147Arg and Leu224Val associated with a sensory and a motor distal neuropathy, respectively. The apical domain of both variants was substantially but differently affected by the mutations, although these were in other domains.

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The Chaperone System in Salivary Glands: Hsp90 Prospects for Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Tumors.

Int J Mol Sci

August 2022

Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy.

Salivary gland tumors represent a serious medical problem and new tools for differential diagnosis and patient monitoring are needed. Here, we present data and discuss the potential of molecular chaperones as biomarkers and therapeutic targets, focusing on Hsp10 and Hsp90. The salivary glands are key physiological elements but, unfortunately, the information and the means available for the management of their pathologies, including cancer, are scarce.

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Breast cancer (BC) is a major public health problem, with key pieces of information needed for developing preventive and curative measures still missing. For example, the participation of the chaperone system (CS) in carcinogenesis and anti-cancer responses is poorly understood, although it can be predicted to be a crucial factor in these mechanisms. The chief components of the CS are the molecular chaperones, and here we discuss four of them, Hsp27, Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90, focusing on their pro-carcinogenic roles in BC and potential for developing anti-BC therapies.

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Recognition of diseases associated with mutations of the chaperone system genes, e.g., chaperonopathies, is on the rise.

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Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Novel treatments are needed to counteract the molecular mechanisms of GBM growth and drug resistance. The chaperone system (CS) members are typically cytoprotective but some, termed Hsp, can become pathogenic and participate in carcinogenesis, along with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and we investigated them in GBM biopsies and derived cell lines.

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Molecular Chaperones and miRNAs in Epilepsy: Pathogenic Implications and Therapeutic Prospects.

Int J Mol Sci

August 2021

Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

Article Synopsis
  • * MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and the chaperone system (CS) are being studied as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets due to their roles in seizure regulation and neuronal survival.
  • * The findings in this review aim to identify specific molecular targets related to miRNAs and CS components, which could enhance understanding of epilepsy mechanisms and lead to better seizure prediction and treatment strategies.
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Tumors of the submandibular salivary gland (SMG) are uncommon but sufficiently frequent for the physician to consider them in routine examinations and for the pathologist to be prepared to differentiate them from other tissue abnormalities. However, scarcity of specimens makes training difficult, a situation compounded by the lack of accepted universal diagnostic guidelines. Furthermore, there is little information on the chaperone system (CS) of the gland, despite the increasing evidence of its participation in carcinogenesis as a biomarker for diagnosis and patient follow up, and in the mechanisms by which the tumor cells thrive.

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Chaperonins in cancer: Expression, function, and migration in extracellular vesicles.

Semin Cancer Biol

November 2022

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore-Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), Baltimore, MD 21202, USA. Electronic address:

The chaperonins CCT and Hsp60 are molecular chaperones, members of the chaperone system (CS). Chaperones are cytoprotective but if abnormal in quantity or quality they may cause diseases, the chaperonopathies. Here, recent advances in the understanding of CCT and Hsp60 in cancerology are briefly discussed, focusing on breast and brain cancers.

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SARS-CoV-2 in patients with cancer: possible role of mimicry of human molecules by viral proteins and the resulting anti-cancer immunity.

Cell Stress Chaperones

July 2021

Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, 90141, Palermo, Italy.

A few reports suggest that molecular mimicry can have a role in determining the more severe and deadly forms of COVID-19, inducing endothelial damage, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and multiorgan failure. Heat shock proteins/molecular chaperones can be involved in these molecular mimicry phenomena. However, tumor cells can display on their surface heat shock proteins/molecular chaperones that are mimicked by SARS-CoV-2 molecules (including the Spike protein), similarly to what happens in other bacterial or viral infections.

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Molecular Chaperones and Thyroid Cancer.

Int J Mol Sci

April 2021

Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Institute of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

Thyroid cancers are the most common of the endocrine system malignancies and progress must be made in the areas of differential diagnosis and treatment to improve patient management. Advances in the understanding of carcinogenic mechanisms have occurred in various fronts, including studies of the chaperone system (CS). Components of the CS are found to be quantitatively increased or decreased, and some correlations have been established between the quantitative changes and tumor type, prognosis, and response to treatment.

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The COVID-19 pandemic made imperative the search for means to end it, which requires a knowledge of the mechanisms underpinning the multiplication and spread of its cause, the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Many viruses use members of the hosts' chaperoning system to infect the target cells, replicate, and spread, and here we present illustrative examples. Unfortunately, the role of chaperones in the SARS-CoV-2 cycle is still poorly understood.

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A Novel CCT5 Missense Variant Associated with Early Onset Motor Neuropathy.

Int J Mol Sci

October 2020

Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

Diseases associated with acquired or genetic defects in members of the chaperoning system (CS) are increasingly found and have been collectively termed chaperonopathies. Illustrative instances of genetic chaperonopathies involve the genes for chaperonins of Groups I (e.g.

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Two chaperonopathies have been linked to mutations in the human (; ) gene, but other existing variants might cause diseases, even if there is no comprehensive information about this possibility. To fill this vacuum, which might be at the basis of misdiagnoses or simply ignorance of chaperonopathies in patients who would benefit by proper identification of their ailments, we searched the sequenced human genomes available in public databases to determine the range of missense mutations in the single gene. A total of 224 missense mutations were identified, including those already characterized.

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Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) are lipid chaperones assisting in the trafficking of long-chain fatty acids with functions in various cell compartments, including oxidation, signaling, gene-transcription regulation, and storage. The various known FABP isoforms display distinctive tissue distribution, but some are active in more than one tissue. Quantitative and/or qualitative changes of FABPs are associated with pathological conditions.

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