@article {10419, title = {Genetic profile of patients with early onset inflammatory bowel disease.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {645}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Mar 01}, pages = {18-29}, abstract = {

Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) is a widespread pathological condition with clinical heterogeneity and with different levels of severity. Although IBD usually occurs in young adults, onset in childhood and infancy are described in patients within the 10th and second year of age. By genome-wide association studies and meta-analysis, several genetic loci have been identified associated with an increased risk of developing IBD in Western populations with variants that may alter the normal mucosal immunity in the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical complexity and the heterogeneity of the IBD phenotype probably reflect the presence of genetic heterogeneity where different genes or combinations of them may be involved, together with environmental factors. We hypothesized that patients with early onset IBD could have either more severe genetic variants in genes associated with IBD or multiple variants in different genes. Under the multifactorial diseases is crucial to consider the small contribution of a single variant in all not only to other small variations in the same gene but also in different genes belonging to the same pathway. We performed direct gene sequencing looking for 94 variations in NOD2, ATG16L1, IL23R, IL10R, IL10 and XIAP genes previously shown as correlated with IBD both in multifactorial and in Mendelian models. All variants identified are known in literature as being associated with IBD except for three variants in the genes NOD2, IL10 and IL10RB that even though present in online databases have never been involved in association studies on IBD patients. Moreover, we coupled genetic variants identification with an accurate "in silico" analysis to verify their predictive impact on the protein structure and function. The in-silico prediction of these variants results as benign therefore even if they exhibit a very low frequency in control population being benign, they cannot be considered pathogenic as monogenic disease but fall within the multifactorial range. The variants identified in our study partially reflect the association data described in the literature but there are no significant differences with the onset of disease (VEO vs EO-IBD).

}, keywords = {Age of Onset, Autophagy-Related Proteins, Child, Child, Preschool, Computer Simulation, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Infant, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Interleukin-10, Male, Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Receptors, Interleukin, Receptors, Interleukin-10, Sequence Analysis, DNA, X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein}, issn = {1879-0038}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2017.12.029}, author = {Girardelli, Martina and Basaldella, Federica and Paolera, Sara Della and Vuch, Josef and Tommasini, Alberto and Martelossi, Stefano and Crovella, Sergio and Bianco, Anna Monica} } @article {8300, title = {Iron signature in asbestos-induced malignant pleural mesothelioma: A population-based autopsy study.}, journal = {J Toxicol Environ Health A}, volume = {79}, year = {2016}, month = {2016}, pages = {129-41}, abstract = {

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis. The development of MPM is frequently linked to inhalation of asbestos fibers. A genetic component of susceptibility to this disease is suggested by the observation that some individuals develop MPM following lower doses of asbestos exposure, whereas others exposed to higher quantities do not seem to be affected. This hypothesis is supported also by frequent reports of MPM familial clustering. Despite the widely recognized role of iron (Fe) in cellular asbestos-induced pulmonary toxicity, the role of the related gene polymorphisms in the etiology of MPM has apparently not been evaluated. Eighty-six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 10 Fe-metabolism genes were examined by exploiting formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded postmortem samples from 77 patients who died due to MPM (designated AEM) and compared with 48 who were exposed to asbestos but from died in old age of cause other than asbestos (designated AENM). All subjects showed objective signs of asbestos exposure. Three SNPs, localized in the ferritin heavy polypeptide, transferrin, and hephaestin genes, whose frequencies were distributed differently in AEM and AENM populations, were identified. For ferritin and transferrin the C/C and the G/G genotypes, respectively, representing intronic polymorphisms, were significantly associated with protection against MPM and need to be considered as possible genetic markers of protection. Similarly, the C/C hephaestin SNP, a missense variation of this multicopper ferroxidase encoding gene, may be related, also functionally, with protection against MPM. In conclusion, it is proposed that three Fe metabolism-associated genes, significantly associated with protection against development of MPM, may serve as protective markers for this aggressive tumor.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Asbestos, Autopsy, Case-Control Studies, Female, Ferritins, Gene Frequency, Genetic Markers, Humans, Iron, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Membrane Proteins, Mesothelioma, Middle Aged, Mutation, Missense, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Transferrin, Young Adult}, issn = {1528-7394}, doi = {10.1080/15287394.2015.1123452}, author = {Crovella, Sergio and Bianco, Anna Monica and Vuch, Joseph and Zupin, Luisa and Moura, Ronald Rodrigues and Trevisan, Elisa and Schneider, Manuela and Brollo, Alessandro and Nicastro, Enza Maria and Cosenzi, Alessandro and Zabucchi, Giuliano and Borelli, Violetta} } @article {8315, title = {Putative modifier genes in mevalonate kinase deficiency.}, journal = {Mol Med Rep}, volume = {13}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Apr}, pages = {3181-9}, abstract = {

Mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) is an autosomal recessive auto-inflammatory disease, caused by impairment of the mevalonate pathway. Although the molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated, there is clinical evidence suggesting that other regulatory genes may be involved in determining the phenotype. The identification of novel target genes may explain non-homogeneous genotype-phenotype correlations, and provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that novel regulatory genes predispose or amplify deregulation of the mevalonate pathway in this orphan disease. In the present study, DNA samples were obtained from five patients with MKD, which were then analyzed using whole exome sequencing. A missense variation in the PEX11γ gene was observed in homozygosis in P2, possibly correlating with visual blurring. The UNG rare gene variant was detected in homozygosis in P5, without correlating with a specific clinical phenotype. A number of other variants were found in the five analyzed DNA samples from the MKD patients, however no correlation with the phenotype was established. The results of the presents study suggested that further analysis, using next generation sequencing approaches, is required on a larger sample size of patients with MKD, who share the same MVK mutations and exhibit {\textquoteright}extreme{\textquoteright} clinical phenotypes. As MVK mutations may be associated with MKD, the identification of specific modifier genes may assist in providing an earlier diagnosis.

}, issn = {1791-3004}, doi = {10.3892/mmr.2016.4918}, author = {Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Vozzi, Diego and Girardelli, Martina and Tricarico, Paola Maura and Knowles, Alessandra and Crovella, Sergio and Vuch, Josef and Tommasini, Alberto and Piscianz, Elisa and Bianco, Anna Monica} } @article {8088, title = {The diagnostic challenge of very early-onset enterocolitis in an infant with XIAP deficiency.}, journal = {BMC Pediatr}, volume = {15}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {208}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Aggressive course and resistance to treatments usually characterize very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD). Some VEO-IBD cases are due to monogenic immune defects and can benefit from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a Caucasian male baby who presented in the first months of life macrophage activation syndrome, followed by intractable colitis, recurrent episodes of fever and mild splenomegaly. After several immunological, genetic and clinical investigations, subsequently a therapeutic attempt with colectomy, analysis of VEO-IBD-associated genes, revealed a causative mutation in XIAP. The genetic diagnosis of a primary immune deficiency allowed curing the boy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

CONCLUSION: Our report, together with novel findings from recent literature, should contribute to increase awareness of monogenic immune defects as a cause of VEO-IBD. Comprehensive genetic analysis can allow a prompt diagnosis, resulting in the choice of effective treatments and sparing useless and damaging procedures.

}, issn = {1471-2431}, doi = {10.1186/s12887-015-0522-5}, author = {Girardelli, Martina and Arrigo, Serena and Barabino, Arrigo and Loganes, Claudia and Morreale, Giuseppe and Crovella, Sergio and Tommasini, Alberto and Bianco, Anna Monica} } @article {8074, title = {Fever tree revisited: From malaria to autoinflammatory diseases.}, journal = {World J Clin Pediatr}, volume = {4}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Nov 8}, pages = {106-12}, abstract = {

Over the centuries the idea of recurrent fevers has mainly been associated with malaria, but many other fevers, such as typhoid and diphtheria were cause for concern. It is only in recent times, with the more severe forms of fever from infectious origin becoming less frequent or a cause for worry that we started noticing recurrent fevers without any clear infectious cause, being described as having a pathogenesis of autoinflammatory nature. The use of molecular examinations in many cases can allow a diagnosis where the cause is monogenic. In other cases, however the pathogenesis is likely to be multifactorial and the diagnostic-therapeutic approach is strictly clinical. The old fever tree paradigm developed to describe fevers caused by malaria has been revisited here to describe today{\textquoteright}s periodic fevers from the periodic fever adenitis pharyngitis aphthae syndrome to the more rare autoinflammatory diseases. This model may allow us to place cases that are yet to be identified which are likely to be of multifactorial origin.

}, issn = {2219-2808}, doi = {10.5409/wjcp.v4.i4.106}, author = {Pastore, Serena and Vuch, Josef and Bianco, Anna Monica and Taddio, Andrea and Tommasini, Alberto} } @article {8083, title = {Genetics of inflammatory bowel disease from multifactorial to monogenic forms.}, journal = {World J Gastroenterol}, volume = {21}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Nov 21}, pages = {12296-310}, abstract = {

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic multifactorial disorders. According to a recent study, the number of IBD association loci is increased to 201, of which 37 and 27 loci contribute specifically to the development of Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease and ulcerative colitis respectively. Some IBD associated genes are involved in innate immunity, in the autophagy and in the inflammatory response such as NOD2, ATG16L1 and IL23R, while other are implicated in immune mediated disease (STAT3) and in susceptibility to mycobacterium infection (IL12B). In case of early onset of IBD (VEO-IBD) within the 6(th) year of age, the disease may be caused by mutations in genes responsible for severe monogenic disorders such as the primary immunodeficiency diseases. In this review we discuss how these monogenic disorders through different immune mechanisms can similarly be responsible of VEO-IBD phenotype. Moreover we would highlight how the identification of pathogenic genes by Next Generation Sequencing technologies can allow to obtain a rapid diagnosis and to apply specific therapies.

}, issn = {2219-2840}, doi = {10.3748/wjg.v21.i43.12296}, author = {Bianco, Anna Monica and Girardelli, Martina and Tommasini, Alberto} } @article {8028, title = {Two-gene mutation in a single patient: Biochemical and functional analysis for a correct interpretation of exome results.}, journal = {Mol Med Rep}, volume = {12}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Oct}, pages = {6128-32}, abstract = {

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has generated a large amount of sequence data with the requirement of frequent critical revisions of reported mutations. This innovative tool has proved to be effective in detecting pathogenic mutations; however, it requires a certain degree of experience to identify incidental findings. In the present study, whole exome sequencing analysis was performed for the molecular diagnosis and correct genotype/phenotype correlation between parents and a patient presenting with an atypical phenotype. In addition, mevalonic acid quantification and frequency analysis of detected variants in public databases and X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) studies on the patient{\textquoteright}s mother were performed. V377I as well as the S135L mutations were identified on the mevalonate kinase deficiency gene and the levels of mevalonic acid in the patient were 5,496 {\textmu}g/ml. A D59G variation, reported in ESP6500 in two healthy individuals, was found on the Martin Probst syndrome gene (RAB40AL). Based on XCI studies on the patient{\textquoteright}s mother, it is likely that RAB40AL escapes XCI, while still remaining balanced. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that the Martin Probst syndrome is an X-linked condition, which is probably not caused by RAB40AL mutations. Although NGS is a powerful tool to identify pathogenic mutations, the analysis of genetic data requires expert critical revision of all detected variants.

}, issn = {1791-3004}, doi = {10.3892/mmr.2015.4215}, author = {Bianco, Anna Monica and Faletra, Flavio and Vozzi, Diego and Girardelli, Martina and Knowles, Alessandra and Tommasini, Alberto and Zauli, Giorgio and Marcuzzi, Annalisa} } @article {3627, title = {Curcumin and inflammatory bowel disease: potential and limits of innovative treatments.}, journal = {Molecules}, volume = {19}, year = {2014}, month = {2014}, pages = {21127-53}, abstract = {

Curcumin belongs to the family of natural compounds collectively called curcuminoids and it possesses remarkable beneficial anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective properties. Moreover it is commonly assumed that curcumin has also been suggested as a remedy for digestive diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a chronic immune disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract and that can be divided in two major subgroups: Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), depending mainly on the intestine tract affected by the inflammatory events. The chronic and intermittent nature of IBD imposes, where applicable, long-term treatments conducted in most of the cases combining different types of drugs. In more severe cases and where there has been no good response to the drugs, a surgery therapy is carried out. Currently, IBD-pharmacological treatments are generally not curative and often present serious side effects; for this reason, being known the relationship between nutrition and IBD, it is worthy of interesting the study and the development of new dietary strategy. The curcumin principal mechanism is the suppression of IBD inflammatory compounds (NF-κB) modulating immune response. This review summarizes literature data of curcumin as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant in IBD, trying to understand the different effects in CD e UC.

}, keywords = {Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical, Clinical Trials as Topic, Curcumin, Humans, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Molecular Targeted Therapy, Nanotechnology, Treatment Outcome}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules191221127}, author = {Vecchi Brumatti, Liza and Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Tricarico, Paola Maura and Zanin, Valentina and Girardelli, Martina and Bianco, Anna Monica} } @article {3610, title = {F402L variant in NLRP12 in subjects with undiagnosed periodic fevers and in healthy controls.}, journal = {Clin Exp Rheumatol}, volume = {32}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Nov-Dec}, pages = {993-4}, keywords = {Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes, Female, Humans, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Male, Mutation}, issn = {0392-856X}, author = {De Pieri, Carlo and Vuch, Josef and Athanasakis, Emmanouil and Severini, Giovanni Maria and Crovella, Sergio and Bianco, Anna Monica and Tommasini, Alberto} } @article {3505, title = {Mevalonate kinase deficiency and IBD: shared genetic background.}, journal = {Gut}, volume = {63}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Aug}, pages = {1367-8}, keywords = {Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases}, issn = {1468-3288}, doi = {10.1136/gutjnl-2013-306555}, author = {Bianco, Anna Monica and Girardelli, Martina and Vozzi, Diego and Crovella, Sergio and Kleiner, Giulio and Marcuzzi, Annalisa} } @article {3502, title = {Novel missense mutation in the NOD2 gene in a patient with early onset ulcerative colitis: causal or chance association?}, journal = {Int J Mol Sci}, volume = {15}, year = {2014}, month = {2014}, pages = {3834-41}, abstract = {

Deregulated immune response to gut microflora in genetically predisposed individuals is typical for inflammatory bowel diseases. It is reasonable to assume that genetic association with the disease will be more pronounced in subjects with early onset than adult onset. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing-2 gene, commonly involved in multifactorial risk of Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease, and interleukin 10 receptor genes, associated with rare forms of early onset inflammatory bowel diseases, were sequenced in an early onset patient. We identified a novel variant in the NOD2 gene (c.2857A > G p.K953E) and two already described missense variants in the IL10RA gene (S159G and G351R). The new NOD2 missense variant was examined in silico with two online bioinformatics tools to predict the potentially deleterious effects of the mutation. Although cumulative effect of these variations in the early onset of the disease can be only hypothesized, we demonstrated that family information and in silico studies can be used to predict association with the disease.

}, keywords = {Age of Onset, Amino Acid Sequence, Base Sequence, Child, Colitis, Ulcerative, Crohn Disease, DNA Mutational Analysis, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genotype, Humans, Interleukin-10 Receptor alpha Subunit, Interleukin-10 Receptor beta Subunit, Molecular Sequence Data, Mutation, Missense, Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk Factors, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid}, issn = {1422-0067}, doi = {10.3390/ijms15033834}, author = {Girardelli, Martina and Vuch, Josef and Tommasini, Alberto and Crovella, Sergio and Bianco, Anna Monica} } @article {1961, title = {Family history in early-onset inflammatory bowel disease.}, journal = {J Gastroenterol}, volume = {48}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Jan}, pages = {144}, keywords = {Colitis, Ulcerative, Crohn Disease, Female, Humans, Male}, issn = {1435-5922}, doi = {10.1007/s00535-012-0654-4}, author = {Bianco, Anna Monica and Zanin, Valentina and Monasta, Lorenzo and Martelossi, Stefano and Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1904, title = {Clarification of the pleiotropic effects of statins on mevalonate pathway and the feedback regulation of isoprenoids requires more comprehensive investigation.}, journal = {Cell Biochem Funct}, volume = {30}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Mar}, pages = {176}, keywords = {Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Enzyme Inhibitors, Humans, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Liver Neoplasms, Simvastatin, Terpenes}, issn = {1099-0844}, doi = {10.1002/cbf.2798}, author = {Bianco, Anna Monica and Zanin, Valentina and Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1864, title = {A common genetic background could explain early-onset Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease.}, journal = {Med Hypotheses}, volume = {78}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Apr}, pages = {520-2}, abstract = {

Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease (CD) is a multifactorial disease, in which environmental, microbial and genetic factors play important roles. CD is characterized by a chronic granulomatous inflammation by necrotic scarring with aspects of full-thickness wall. In spite of affecting mainly young adults, sometimes, CD can be present in the first year of life (early onset Crohn disease, EOCD) showing an unpredictable course and being often more severe than at older ages. In this paper we propose the hypothesis that EOCD patients should be analyzed using a Mendelian approach with family studies aimed to identify new loci directly involved in the early onset Crohn{\textquoteright}s disease. So we will leave the classic association study approach used until now for the identification of genes responsible for susceptibility to CD and propose linkage family analysis as alternative and powerful tool for the identification of new genetic variants associated with familiar cases of EOCD.

}, keywords = {Crohn Disease, Genetic Linkage, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Models, Biological}, issn = {1532-2777}, doi = {10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.023}, author = {Bianco, Anna Monica and Zanin, Valentina and Girardelli, Martina and Magnolato, Andrea and Martelossi, Stefano and Martellossi, Stefano and Tommasini, Alberto and Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1898, title = {DEFB1 gene 5{\textquoteright} untranslated region (UTR) polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel diseases.}, journal = {Clinics (Sao Paulo)}, volume = {67}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, pages = {395-8}, keywords = {5{\textquoteright} Untranslated Regions, Adult, Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides, beta-Defensins, Case-Control Studies, Colitis, Ulcerative, Crohn Disease, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Haplotypes, Humans, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Male, Polymorphism, Genetic, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1980-5322}, author = {Zanin, Valentina and Segat, Ludovica and Bianco, Anna Monica and Padovan, Lara and Tavares, Nathalia de Alencar Cunha and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1955, title = {The effect of clodronate on a mevalonate kinase deficiency cellular model.}, journal = {Inflamm Res}, volume = {61}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Dec}, pages = {1363-7}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: A potential anti-inflammatory effect of clodronate--an aminobisphosphonate--was described to antagonize the pro-inflammatory effects of the block in the mevalonate pathway, the main feature of a rare auto-inflammatory disease called mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD).

OBJECTIVE: In this study we evaluated the potential anti-inflammatory effect of clodronate in MKD--a still orphan drug pediatric disease.

METHODS: We studied some biological parameters, nitric oxide production using Griess reagents and programmed cell death by flow cytometry, as common inflammatory parameters in MKD, in the presence of different doses of clodronate (1, 10 and 100 μM).

RESULTS: In our cellular model and in monocytes from patients with MKD, clodronate induced an increase in programed cell death and nitric oxide production in comparison with non-treated cells.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that clodronate does not have an anti-inflammatory effect as previously reported but that it increases the epiphenomena of this pediatric disease.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Alendronate, Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Apoptosis, Cell Line, Cells, Cultured, Child, Clodronic Acid, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Lipopolysaccharides, Male, Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency, Mice, Models, Biological, Monocytes, Nitric Oxide, Young Adult}, issn = {1420-908X}, doi = {10.1007/s00011-012-0537-4}, author = {Zanin, Valentina and Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Piscianz, Elisa and Vuch, Josef and Bianco, Anna Monica and Monasta, Lorenzo and Decorti, Giuliana and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1844, title = {Inflammation profile of four early onset Crohn patients.}, journal = {Gene}, volume = {493}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Feb 10}, pages = {282-5}, abstract = {

Crohn disease (CD) is a multifactorial disorder affecting mainly young adults. Sometimes, however, it can present in the first year of life (Early onset Crohn disease (EOCD)) showing an unpredictable course and can often be more severe than at older ages. Some cases have been associated to an underlying primary immunodeficiency such as IL10R deficiency. We studied the functional response to IL-10 and the genotype of IL-10 receptor in four patients with early onset crohn-like colitis. We found an IL10R variant, which may be associated with a decreased response to the cytokine in one patient. Further studies to determine its pathogenic effect should be performed. In addition IL-10 mediated inhibition of LPS-induced TNFα expression was measured in patient{\textquoteright}s monocytes.

}, keywords = {Crohn Disease, Cytokines, Humans, Inflammation, Monocytes, Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein, Polymorphism, Genetic, Receptors, Interleukin-10, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha}, issn = {1879-0038}, doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2011.11.043}, author = {Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Girardelli, Martina and Bianco, Anna Monica and Martelossi, Stefano and Magnolato, Andrea and Tommasini, Alberto and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1943, title = {Lovastatin-induced apoptosis is modulated by geranylgeraniol in a neuroblastoma cell line.}, journal = {Int J Dev Neurosci}, volume = {30}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Oct}, pages = {451-6}, abstract = {

Mevalonic aciduria (MA), the most severe form of mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD), is still an orphan drug disease and the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying neuronal dysfunction is still poorly understood. In our study we have investigated the apoptotic mechanism mediated by the exposure of the cultured neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, to lovastatin in absence or in presence of the isoprenoid, geranylgeraniol, with the aim of unraveling the pathogenesis of MA. Lovastatin, blocks the mevalonate pathway inhibiting the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CR), an enzyme of the mevalonate pathway upstream the mevalonate kinase enzyme, reproducing biochemical features similar to those found in MKD. We demonstrate that apoptosis in neuronal lovastatin treated-cells is induced by the mitochondrial pathway, with caspase-9 as the initiator and caspase-3 as the effector caspase. The presence of geranylgeraniol modulates both the caspase-9 and caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent way, confirming that this isoprenoid enters the mevalonate pathway, is metabolized and finally is able to by-pass the statin biochemical block reconstituting the mevalonate pathway. According to our findings, it should not be the time course adopted that modulates the apoptotic response but rather the isoprenoid itself. Being aware that our results have been obtained using a biochemical model of MKD, and not cells from patients with the disease, we believe our findings increase the knowledge of MA pathogenesis, and may possibly contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

}, keywords = {Analysis of Variance, Apoptosis, Caspases, Cell Line, Tumor, Diterpenes, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Interactions, Humans, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Lovastatin, Neuroblastoma, Time Factors}, issn = {1873-474X}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2012.06.002}, author = {Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Zanin, Valentina and Piscianz, Elisa and Tricarico, Paola Maura and Vuch, Josef and Girardelli, Martina and Monasta, Lorenzo and Bianco, Anna Monica and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1914, title = {Serum amyloid A and cholesterol: a pivotal role on inflammation.}, journal = {Amyloid}, volume = {19}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Sep}, pages = {163-4; author reply 165-6}, keywords = {Animals, Humans, Serum Amyloid A Protein}, issn = {1744-2818}, doi = {10.3109/13506129.2012.689266}, author = {Tricarico, Paola Maura and Marcuzzi, Annalisa and Zanin, Valentina and Kleiner, Giulio and Bianco, Anna Monica and Crovella, Sergio} } @article {1698, title = {Expression and association data strongly support JARID2 involvement in nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate.}, journal = {Hum Mutat}, volume = {31}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Jul}, pages = {794-800}, abstract = {

Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) affects approximately 1 in 1,000 births. Genetic studies have provided evidence for the role of several genes and candidate loci in clefting; however, conflicting results have frequently been obtained and much have to be done to unravel the complex genetics of CL/P. In the present investigation we have focused on the candidate region in 6p23, a region that have been found linked to CL/P in several investigations, in the attempt to find out the susceptibility gene provisionally named OFC1. Gene expression experiments in mice embryo of positional candidate genes revealed that JARID2 was highly and specifically expressed in epithelial cells in merging palatal shelves. A family-based linkage disequilibrium study confirmed the pivotal role of JARID2 in orofacial development and strongly supports a role for this gene in CL/P etiology (multiallelic haplotype test P=6 x 10(-5)). Understanding the molecular role of JARID2 within facial development may offer additional information to further unravel the complex genetics of CL/P.

}, keywords = {Animals, Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, DNA Mutational Analysis, Family Health, Female, Gene Expression, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Haplotypes, Humans, In Situ Hybridization, Linkage Disequilibrium, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mutation, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Palate, Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Pregnancy, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction}, issn = {1098-1004}, doi = {10.1002/humu.21266}, author = {Scapoli, Luca and Martinelli, Marcella and Pezzetti, Furio and Palmieri, Annalisa and Girardi, Ambra and Savoia, Anna and Bianco, Anna Monica and Carinci, Francesco} } @article {1712, title = {A G to C transversion at the last nucleotide of exon 25 of the MYH9 gene results in a missense mutation rather than in a splicing defect.}, journal = {Eur J Med Genet}, volume = {53}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Sep-Oct}, pages = {256-60}, abstract = {

MYH9-related disease (MYH9-RD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in MYH9, the gene encoding the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA. Patients present with congenital macrothrombocytopenia and inclusion bodies in neutrophils and might develop sensorineural deafness, presenile cataract, and/or progressive nephropathy leading to end-stage renal failure. In two families with macrothrombocytopenia we identified a novel c.3485G~>~C mutation in the last nucleotide of exon 25. Bioinformatic tools for splice site prediction and minigene functional test predicted splicing anomalies of exon 25. However, analysis of RNA purified from patient{\textquoteright}s peripheral blood did not allowed us to detect any anomalies, suggesting that RNA processing is correct at least in this tissue. Therefore, we concluded that c.3485G~>~C leads to a novel missense mutation (p.Arg1162Thr) of myosin-9, which resulted to be slightly degraded in patient platelets. A precise definition of the effect of mutations is fundamental to improve our knowledge into the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for the disease.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Blood Platelets, Computational Biology, Exons, Female, Humans, Inclusion Bodies, Kidney Failure, Chronic, Molecular Motor Proteins, Mutation, Missense, Myosin Heavy Chains, Neutrophils, Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA, Nucleotides, RNA Splicing, Thrombocytopenia}, issn = {1878-0849}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejmg.2010.06.010}, author = {Vettore, Silvia and De Rocco, Daniela and Gerber, Bernhard and Scandellari, Raffaella and Bianco, Anna Monica and Balduini, Carlo L and Pecci, Alessandro and Fabris, Fabrizio and Savoia, Anna} }