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Felice Femiano

Publications and source records attributed to Felice Femiano.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Serum from pemphigus vulgaris reduces desmoglein 3 half-life and perturbs its de novo assembly to desmosomal sites in cultured keratinocytes.

Defects of cell-cell adhesion underlie disruption of epithelial integrity observed in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune disease characterized by severe mucosal erosions and skin blisters. Pathogenic PV autoantibodies found in patients' sera target desmoglein 3 (Dsg3), a major component of the desmosome, but how does this phenomenon affect Dsg-dependent adhesion and lead to acantholysis still remains controversial. Here, we show that PV serum determines a reduction of Dsg3 half-life in HaCaT keratinocytes, although the total amount of Dsg3 remains unchanged. Immunofluorescence studies suggest that PV IgG exert their effect prevalently by binding non-desmosomal Dsg3 without causing its massive internalization. Furthermore, PV IgG targeting desmosome-assembled Dsg3 do not induce depletion of Dsg3 from the adhesion sites. Conversely, incorporation of PV IgG-Dsg3 complexes into new forming desmosomes appears perturbed. With our study, the basic biochemical changes of Dsg3 in an in vitro model of PV have been defined.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed2006

How does acantholysis occur in pemphigus vulgaris: a critical review.

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris is a life-threatening autoimmune blistering disease targeting skin and mucous membranes, characterized by disruption of keratinocytes' adhesion termed acantholysis. Today multiple classes of targets are considered to play a role in the genesis of the acantholysis; of these, the classical pemphigus antigens, desmosomal cadherins (desmoglein 1 and 3) are the best characterized and considered as the most important. Additional antigens include the novel epithelial acetylcholine receptors (alpha9 and pemphaxin). Thus, acantholysis in pemphigus seems to result from a cooperative action of antibodies to different keratinocyte self-antigens, but the mechanisms by which epithelial cleft occurs are not yet clearly understood. In fact, the binding of the autoantibodies to these targets generates a plethora of biological effects due, on one hand, to their direct interference with adhesive function and, on the other, to more complex events involving intracellular pathways that modify proteases activity or calcium metabolism, leading to loss of cell-cell adhesion.

Acantholysis↗
PubMed2005

Functions of the cytokines in relation oral lichen planus-hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic common mucocutaneous inflammatory disorder of uncertain aetiology. An association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and LP has been recognised, particularly in Italy, Spain and Japan. The pathogenesis of such an association is unclear, but it may be due to cell-mediated cytotoxicity to an epitope shared by HCV and damaged keratinocytes. Recent studies using in situ hybridization suggest that HCV may replicate in the oral mucosa. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine the oral epithelium of patients with oral LP for evidence of HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to examine the relationship to cytokines including interferon (INF-gamma), interleukins (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 , and IL-10), tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor (TGFbeta-1). PATIENTS/METHODS: We selected 100 Italian patients, and divided them into 4 groups. Group A consisted of 25 HCV+ve patients with erosive oral LP. Group B was a control group constituted by 25 healthy HCV -ve subjects with no LP. Group C consisted of 25 HCV-ve patients with oral reticular LP and Group D was made of 25 HCV-ve patients with oral erosive LP. The patients of group A (test group) were submitted to oral biopsy with 2 samples of epithelium, lesional and non-lesional, and a 10 ml peripheral blood sample was taken. The patients of group B (negative control), C and D (comparison groups) were submitted to oral epithelial biopsy and a 10 ml peripheral blood sample was collected. PCR was used to search for HCV-RNA in biopsy material. Cytokines INF-gamma ,IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 , IL-10 and TNF-alpha and TGFbeta-1 were assayed in serum. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: PCR did not detect the viral genome in oral epithelium of the patients with oral LP and HCV+ve (group A), but there was an increase in levels of TNF-alpha and a reduction of IL-1, INF-gamma and IL-8 compared to patients who had oral reticular LP but HCV-ve and to patients who had oral erosive LP but HCV-ve, and compared to negative controls. The results indicate that patients of group A showed a reduction of pro-inflammatory but an increase in immunomodulant cytokines. The results suggest the possibility that HCV exerts an indirect effect, mediated possibly by the induction of cytokines and lymphokines.

Cytokines↗
PubMed2005

DNA cytometry of oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: DNA cytometry is a technique that allows densitometric analysis of nuclear DNA of cells and in this way the evaluation of DNA ploidy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was the evaluation of DNA ploidy in oral leukoplakia and oral lichen planus and correlation with histological dysplasia. METHODS: We analyzed oral incisional biopsies from a group of 40 patients with oral leukoplakias (20 homogeneous and 20 non-homogeneous) and 45 patients with oral lichen planus (25 erosive, 20 reticular), by DNA cytomorphometry, after conventional histological examination of sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Eight of 20 non-homogeneous leukoplakias showed aneuploidy; (3 showed mild aneuploidy) and only 2 specimens of erosive lichen planus showed moderate aneuploidy, while all 20 cases of reticular lichen planus were diploid. There was not concordance between DNA ploidy and the degree of histological assessed dysplasia.

Aneuploidy↗
PubMed2005

Pemphigus mimicking aphthous stomatitis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this report is to highlight the case that pemphigus vulgaris (PV) may mimic aphthous stomatitis. Pemphigus classically causes persistent oral ulceration. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report five patients from southern Europe, who presented with recurrent oral ulceration mimicking aphthous stomatitis, but who proved by histology, immunostaining and antibodies against epithelial intercellular substance to have PV. CONCLUSION: It is advisable to assay antibodies against desmoglein 3 in patients who appear to suffer recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) with atypical ulceration for location and in adulthood.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Oral erosive/ulcerative lichen planus: preliminary findings in an open trial of sulodexide compared with cyclosporine (ciclosporin) therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the heparinoid sulodexide systemically, compared with topical cyclosporine (ciclosporin), on chronic oral erosive/ulcerative lichen planus. STUDY DESIGN: An open nonrandomized trial was conducted in two groups of 10 Italian patients with lichen planus, with subjective assessment of pain and assessment of ulceration amelioration by nonblinded clinicians. RESULTS: Comparable pain relief and amelioration of erosions/ulcers were seen in patients on sulodexide and in those on ciclosporin, but with faster healing in those on sulodexide. CONCLUSIONS: Sulodexide appears to be as effective, and perhaps more effective, than topical ciclosporin in the therapy of oral lichen planus, and is less expensive, but full double-blind placebo-controlled studies are required.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis unresponsive to topical corticosteroids: a study of the comparative therapeutic effects of systemic prednisone and systemic sulodexide.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral condition, the etiology of which remains largely unclear. Numerous therapeutic protocols have been tried. Apart from immunomodulators, no therapy is unequivocally effective, and many systemic therapies have potential adverse effects. OBJECTIVE: To compare, in patients with frequent RAS unresponsive to conventional therapies, the therapeutic effectiveness of systemic prednisone with that of systemic sulodexide, a low-molecular-weight heparin with immunosuppressive activity but few adverse effects. METHODS: The study involved a group of 30 patients suffering from frequent minor RAS over >or= 4 months unresponsive to topical corticosteroids. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three study groups: blind therapy with systemic sulodexide or systemic prednisone and control (no treatment). The outcomes were assessed blind on the basis of the days to recovery from pain and days to recovery from ulceration (epithelialization) during the first month of therapy; the number of aphthae appearing during the second month of therapy; and the number of aphthae appearing in the 2 months after the end of the 2-month treatment cycle. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of systemic sulodexide was almost comparable with that of systemic prednisone in patients with frequent RAS, without significant adverse effects.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2003

Linear IgA dermatosis induced by a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

A 68-year-old female patient treated with benazepril for arterial hypertension developed oral and cutaneous blistering. Biopsy of the oral and cutaneous lesions showed neutrophilic microabscesses in the mesenchymal papillae, with epitheliomesenchymal separation. Direct immunofluorescence revealed linear immunoglobulin deposits at the epithelial basement membrane zone, consisting predominantly of IgA. The histologic results supported the clinical diagnosis of drug-induced linear IgA disease. The substitution of benazepril with a beta blocker resulted in complete resolution of all mucocutaneous lesions.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Sweet's syndrome: recurrent oral ulceration, pyrexia, thrombophlebitis, and cutaneous lesions.

We report a case of Sweet's syndrome with recurrent oral ulceration, pyrexia, skin lesions, and migratory thrombophlebitis, with no detectable systemic cause, during a 2-year follow-up. Biopsy examination both of oral lesions and the skin eruption showed a characteristic dense, perivascular, neutrophilic infiltrate in the lamina propria. Laboratory investigations confirmed an inflammatory syndrome with an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, but no underlying cause was found. Sweet's syndrome is a rare immunologically mediated condition that belongs to the group of neutrophilic dermatoses that must be differentiated particularly from Behcet's disease. It is characterized by red-brown plaques and nodules that are frequently painful and occur primarily on the head, neck, and upper extremities. Often the patients also have neutrophilia and fever and may have oral ulceration. In approximately 10% of patients with Sweet's syndrome, there is an associated malignancy--most commonly acute myelogenous leukemia--but some cases, as here, are unassociated with detectable malignant or other disease, although the syndrome may precede the onset of definable systemic disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Burning Mouth Syndrome: open trial of psychotherapy alone, medication with alpha-lipoic acid (thioctic acid), and combination therapy.

OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN: This open study of 192 otherwise healthy persons with burning mouth syndrome, examined the efficacy on control of symptoms of psychotherapy alone with two hour sessions weekly for two months; alpha lipoic acid (ALA, tioctic acid; Tiobec) 600 mg/day alone for two months; or combination therapy of psychoanalysis and 600 mg/day ALA for two months. Controls received placebo alone. RESULTS: Most benefit was obtained with combination therapy. Combination therapy of psychoanalysis and alpha lipoic acid (ALA, tioctic acid; Tiobec. 600 mg/day) for two months gave most benefit and significantly more than psychoanalysis alone for two 1 hour sessions weekly for two months (p<0.0005), or ALA 600 mg/day alone for two months (p<0.0005). CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that alpha lipoic acid may complement psychotherapy and can be an acceptable alternative to psychoactive agents, but trials to compare the two approaches are now warranted.

Adult↗