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D Piancatelli

Publications and source records attributed to D Piancatelli.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors genes in the Italian Caucasian population.

BACKGROUND: Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are a family of inhibitory and activatory receptors that are expressed by most natural killer (NK) cells. The KIR gene family is polymorphic: genomic diversity is achieved through differences in gene content and allelic polymorphism. The number of KIR loci has been reported to vary among individuals, resulting in different KIR haplotypes. In this study we report the genotypic structure of KIRs in 217 unrelated healthy Italian individuals from 22 immunogenetics laboratories, located in the northern, central and southern regions of Italy. METHODS: Two hundred and seventeen DNA samples were studied by a low resolution PCR-SSP kit designed to identify all KIR genes. RESULTS: All 17 KIR genes were observed in the population with different frequencies than other Caucasian and non-Caucasian populations; framework genes KIR3DL3, KIR3DP1, KIR2DL4 and KIR3DL2 were present in all individuals. Sixty-five different profiles were found in this Italian population study. Haplotype A remains the most prevalent and genotype 1, with a frequency of 28.5%, is the most commonly observed in the Italian population. CONCLUSION: The Italian Caucasian population shows polymorphism of the KIR gene family like other Caucasian and non-Caucasian populations. Although 64 genotypes have been observed, genotype 1 remains the most frequent as already observed in other populations. Such knowledge of the KIR gene distribution in populations is very useful in the study of associations with diseases and in selection of donors for haploidentical bone marrow transplantation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Cytokine levels in amniotic fluid: a marker of preterm labor?

The aim of this study was to determine levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in amniotic fluid at the beginning of the second trimester and to establish whether IL-6 can be used as a marker for premature birth as it would appear to be an important prenatal marker of chorionic inflammation. Thirty-three patients, between 16 and 19 weeks of gestation, who were undergoing amniocentesis to establish the presence or not of fetal genetic pathologies were enrolled into the study. Amniotic fluid (3 ml) was taken from each patient and used to perform enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The results were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test and Pearson and Spearman coefficient. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the levels of IL-6 found: a) up to 450 pg/ml; b) between 450 and 900 pg/ml; c) over 900 pg/ml; These data were then evaluated alongside the date of parturition and the presence of any maternal or fetal pathologies. The results of our analyses, however, were inconclusive: levels of IL-6 were normal in patients presenting pathologies while obstetric pathologies were absent in patients with high levels of IL-6. In conclusion, this data would indicate that a different method or approach is required for the identification of a marker for premature birth.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of a novel HLA-Cw*02 variant, Cw*0208, in a Caucasian individual.

We describe an additional HLA-Cw*02 variant, HLA-Cw*0208, which has been identified in a renal transplant recipient of Caucasian origin (Italy). After performing preliminary serological typing, we analyzed exons 2 and 3 of the HLA-C locus polymorphism by cloning the amplified DNA and using a sequence-based typing method. The new allele differs from Cw*020202 by one nucleotide substitution at nucleotide 61 (G-->A) of exon 2, which translates to a difference of one amino acid at residue 21 (His-->Arg) of the HLA-C heavy chain. We propose that Cw*0208 was generated by a random point mutation in codon 21 from the Cw*020202 allele, or through gene conversion of Cw*020202 with another allele, probably the Cw*1205 and Cw*1602 alleles.

Alleles↗
PubMed2005

Identification of a novel HLA-A*02 allele, A*027401*.

A novel HLA-A*02 allele was detected in a Caucasian patient from central Italy, requiring a hematopoietic cell transplantation. Direct sequencing identified a variation in one nucleotide position, which was confirmed by cloning. The name A*027401 was officially assigned by the WHO Nomenclature Committee in November 2004. A*027401 differs from A*02010101 by a single G to A substitution at nucleotide position 595 in exon 3. The new variant would lead to a nonsynonymous nucleotide change (GGG to AGG) at codon 175, resulting in a basic Arg in the alpha-helix of the alpha2-domain, in place of a non-polar Gly. The presence of an uncommon variation at a highly conserved nucleotide position could have implications in unrelated hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Alleles↗
PubMed2004

Human leukocyte antigen-A, -B, and -Cw polymorphism in a Berber population from North Morocco using sequence-based typing.

Class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism was examined in a Berber population from North Morocco, named Metalsa (ME). All data were obtained at high-resolution level, using sequence-based typing. The most frequent alleles were: HLA-A*0201 and A*0101; HLA-B*44 (B*4403 and B*4402); B*0801 and the B*50 allele group (B*5001 and B*5002); HLA-Cw*0602; and Cw*07 group (Cw*070101, Cw*070102, Cw*0702, Cw*0704, and Cw*0706), and Cw*040101. The novel HLA-B*570302 allele was identified. It differs at position 486 and position 855 from B*570301, resulting in synonymous Thr and Val. The analysis also evidenced some alleles common in Africans (A*3402, A*6802, A*7401, B*1503, B*4102, B*4202, B*7801, B*5802, Cw*1701, and Cw*1703) and some uncommon alleles (A*3004, B*2702, B*2703, B*5001,02, B*3503, and Cw*0706). The predominant HLA-A-Cw-B-DRB1-extended haplotypes in ME population were A*0101-Cw*0501-B*4402-DRB1*0402, A*240201-Cw*0701-B*0801-DRB1*030101, A*2301-Cw*040101-B*4403-DRB1*040501, A*0201-Cw*040101-B*4403-DRB1*1302, and A*3002-Cw*0602-B*5002-DRB1*0406. This study demonstrates a strong relatedness of ME to other Moroccan and North African populations, some characteristics of sub-Saharan Africans and evidenced the influence of various immigrations during centuries. Nevertheless, this study highlights some unique genetic traits of the ME population compared to other ethnic groups within Morocco, which could be of great interest for clinical aims, transplantation, and diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Identification of the novel allele B*4427 and a confirmatory sequence (B*44022).

This report presents a novel allele, HLA-B*4427, which was identified in a bone marrow donor of Caucasian origin, and a confirmatory sequence (B*44022). Sequence analysis revealed the new allele differs from B*44021 by a single nucleotide exchange at position 668 (C-->T), which is located in exon 4. At the protein level, it is the only B*44 variant to produce an Ala in place of a Val at codon 199. Its structure suggests that it may have originated from a point mutation in B*44021 or by gene conversion with a variety of HLA-B alleles. Cloning and sequencing of the allele B*44022 revealed a sequence identical to B*44021 and B*44 exon 4, with the codon GTC (Val) in position 199.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Interleukin 1-beta modulates the effects of hypoxia in neuronal culture.

In order to study the role of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in homeostasis, hypoxia and recovery of neuronal cells, we studied the expression and release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nerve growth factor (NGF), in relation to the presence or absence of this cytokine in culture medium. Moreover, we evaluated cell mortality in the same conditions. For this aim, we used untreated and IL-1beta pre-immunoneutralized hippocampal neuronal cultures exposed to mild hypoxic stress and left to reoxygenate. Semiquantitative reverse-transciptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determined gene expression and protein levels. Mild hypoxic stress provokes a decrease in both the expression and release of TNF-alpha and NGF. IL-1beta neutralization results in an inversion of this pattern since treated hypoxic cultures exhibited an increase of both expression and release of NGF. In pretreated hypoxic cells the increased expression of TNF-alpha was not followed by a rise in release. Reoxygenation reversed the observed effects in both cultures and the levels of cytokine expression and release were approaching control values. Our data show that in physiological conditions IL-1beta may have a neuroprotective action through positive modulation of NGF. Contrary to that, in presence of insult, IL-1beta may have an opposite role, since neutralization provoked an increase of expression and release of NGF. In addition, we demonstrated that neuronal cells are biochemically capable, not only of maintaining and recovering the homeostasis, but also of activating the appropriate response to insult. IL-1beta may have a pivotal role in this mechanism through the modulation of NGF and to a lesser degree of TNF-alpha.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Sequence analysis of a new HLA-DR11 allele in a Caucasian Italian family: DRB1*11272.

This communication describes a new DRB1*11 allele identified in a familial group of Caucasian individuals from central Italy. The new sequence has been officially named DRB1*11272 by the World Health Organization (WHO) Nomenclature Committee (February 2000). It encodes an HLA antigen serologically recognized as DR11. The sequence variation of this new allele was localized to codon 77 of exon 2. It differs at position 230 from DRB1*11011 allele (A replacing C), and at position 231 from DRB1*1127 (C replacing T). At the amino acid level, the DRB1*11272 mutation is silent with respect to the DRB*1127 phenotype, coding for a synonymous asparagine.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

Local expression of cytokines in human colorectal carcinoma: evidence of specific interleukin-6 gene expression.

The expression of cytokine mRNAs in tumor tissue, normal mucosa, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was studied in 12 patients with colorectal cancer undergoing surgical resection, to characterize local immune conditions. mRNA transcripts for interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-2-R(p55), IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10 were detected using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. IL-6 mRNA was expressed in tumor tissue in 83% of the cases but only in one case in normal mucosa (p < 0.001); serum levels of IL-6 did not show any correlation with IL-6 mRNA; IL-1 beta transcripts were present in all tumor tissue samples; no IL-4 expression was detected; IL-2 mRNA was only present in two tumors; IL-2R(p55) mRNA was found in 58% of tumors but not in normal mucosae (p = 0.005). The expression of IL-10 suggests that it does not play a central role in colorectal cancer immunosuppression, and cytokine expression in PBMCs indicates a different and independent activation. This study suggests a pattern of expression of inflammatory cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, probably produced by infiltrating immune cells. The absence of the specific immune-activating cytokines, IL-2 and IL-4, could indicate an impairment of the anticancer immune response; IL-2R results confirm the dysregulation of the IL-2/IL-2R activation pathway. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the role of cytokines and especially IL-6 at the tumor site and hence their importance in developing an effective immunotherapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Progression mechanisms in colon cancer: soluble interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor, IL-2 plus anti-CD3 proliferative response and tumour stage correlations.

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels have been found to be elevated in several clinical conditions, including disseminated solid neoplasms, whereas they are generally within the normal range in patients with locally limited neoplastic disease. The aim of the present study was to examine this in our colon cancer patients, and to assess if this situation can affect the in vitro activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), examining the proliferative response to IL-2 and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, the IL-2 serum levels and the PBMC phenotype. The results show that sIL-2R levels were significantly correlated with the stage of the disease, showing an increase from stage I to stage IV; moreover, it is worth noting that the proliferative response to IL-2 plus anti-CD3 is significantly higher than to IL-2 alone in stage IV, without significant alteration in the numerical presence of T and natural killer cells. So it seems that in the peripheral blood of patients, connected with the disease progression, are present cellular populations showing a different response to activation, and that T cells acquire a better response condition than NK. Thus, since the T cellular population includes the tumour-specific cytotoxic precursor cells, this should be helpful for its tumour regressive activity, but it is conceivable that this population cannot perform its functions, owing to a deficiency in responsiveness of the specific ThCD4+ subpopulation.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

RT-PCR analysis of immune-modulating factors in PBMCs from patients with cancer: reduced IL-2 and increased IL-2-receptor (p55) expression characterize gastroenteric neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: To determine the potential contribution of cytokines associated with lymphocyte activation to the pathogenesis of immune impairment in gastroenteric cancer, we examined the expression of cytokine mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor-draining lymph nodes (LNs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, mRNA transcripts for interleukin (IL)-4, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-1 beta, IFN gamma, IL-10 and IL-2-receptor(IL-2R)(p55) were detected in PBMCs from 16 patients with gastroenteric cancer, undergoing surgical resection, and from 13 healthy donors. RESULTS: Patients expressed a different pattern of cytokines. Significantly increased IL-2R(p55) and reduced IL-2 mRNA expression were found in patients (p = 0.034, p = 0.043). IL-10 expression was significantly correlated to IL-2R(p55) expression in both groups (p = 0.011, p = 0.009). In LNs, the results reflected those from PBMCs of the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: Gastroenteric cancer showed a suppressive pattern of cytokine expression, suggesting an impairment of T cell activation that can be evidenced from the specific pattern of PBMC cytokine expression.

Aged↗