Biomedical subjects

F Francioso

Publications and source records attributed to F Francioso.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Titanium-cell interaction: analysis of gene expression profiling.

Titanium and its alloys are used worldwide in surgery. Dental implants, screws and plates, prostheses, and surgical instruments are made with titanium-based metals. The favorable characteristics that make this material desirable for implantation are (a) mechanical proprieties and (b) biocompatibility. The latter has been demonstrated by in vivo studies with animal models and clinical trials over a 40-year period. However, the exact effect of titanium on cells is still not well characterized. Expression profiling by DNA microarray is a new molecular technology that allows the analysis of gene expression in a cell system. Several genes whose expression was significantly up- or downregulated in an osteoblast-like cell line (MG-63) on titanium were identified with the use of DNA microarrays containing 19,200 genes. The differentially expressed genes are associated with a broad range of functional activities, including apoptosis, vesicular transport, and structural function. It was also possible to detect some genes whose function is unknown. The data reported are, to the author's knowledge, the first genetic portrait of titanium-cell interaction. They may help to provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of titanium biocompatibility and serve as a model for studying the biocompatibility of other materials.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Genetic portrait of malignant granular cell odontogenic tumour.

Odontogenic tumours are rare neoplasms whose classification is sometime controversial. Among these entities, granular cell odontogenic tumour (GCOT) is extremely rare and usually has a benign clinical behaviour. While the histogenesis of GCOT remains to be clarified, we documented the existence of a malignant counterpart of this neoplasm and proposed the name of malignant GCOT. Expression profiling by cDNA microarrays is a molecular technology that enables a global gene expression analysis. By using cDNA microarrays, we identified in malignant GCOT several genes with significantly differentially regulated genes when compared to non neoplastic tissues. These cancer specific genes include a range of functional activities: (1) transcription, (2) signaling transduction, (3) cell-cycle regulation, (4) apoptosis, (5) differentiation and (6) angiogenesis. In conclusion, we show that cDNA microarrays is a useful approach to investigate the biology of tumours. Moreover, this technology might lead to identification of gene targets for cancer therapy and to molecular classification of odontogenic tumours.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Genetic expression profiling of six odontogenic tumors.

Odontogenic tumors are rare neoplasms arising from the odontogenic apparatus. We aimed to identify molecular characteristics associated with odontogenic tumorigenesis and malignancy. To this end, we investigated the expression level of human genes by using, for the first time in odontogenic tumors, the technique of expression profiling. Gene expression alterations common to all six odontogenic tumors were identified by the use of cDNA microarrays containing 19,000 human cDNAs. Statistical analysis on a subset of 4974 cDNAs present in the biopsies identified 506 distinct genes associated with the tumors (p-value < 0.01). Gene ontology analysis of the cellular processes which were differentially regulated in odontogenic tumors was accomplished by the use of a subset of 1409 annotated genes. Finally, 43 cDNAs differentiated the three malignant odontogenic tumors (ameloblastic carcinoma, clear cell odontogenic tumor, granular cell odontogenic tumor) from the three benign ameloblastoma biopsies (p < 0.01). The identified genes might help us better classify borderline odontogenic tumors.

Ameloblastoma↗

PubMed2001

Linkage analysis of three candidate regions of chromosome 1 in nonsyndromic familial orofacial cleft.

Linkage analysis and mouse model knockout studies indicate that loci/genes mapping in different chromosome 1 regions are good candidates for nonsyndromic orofacial cleft (OFC) malformation. On this basis, three different regions of the chromosome 1 have been analysed, by linkage analysis, in 38 families with nonsyndromic OFC. Positive scores were obtained by pairwise analysis and a non-parametric linkage approach for the 1p36 region, with markers close to the MTHFR locus. Additional results allowed us to exclude the presence of an OFC susceptibility gene in the 1q21 and 1q32-42.3 regions.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1↗