@article {10847, title = {Serum Stem Cell Growth Factor Beta for the Prediction of Therapy Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.}, journal = {Biomed Res Int}, volume = {2018}, year = {2018}, month = {2018}, pages = {6435482}, abstract = {

Introduction: Chronic inflammatory response is one of major contributors in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Inflammatory molecules, such as cytokines and growth factors in the circulation, can be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of the patients. The stem cell growth factor beta (SCGF), a newly found protein, is a secreted sulfated glycoprotein and it functions as a growth factor for primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. The level of SCGF had been reported to be elevated in several cancer types. However, there is very few or even no information on this protein in the study of HCC, even more in clinical studies.

Methods: A multiplex immunoassay panel of 48 cytokines and growth factors were utilized to screen 68 sera from 29 HCC patients at pretreatment (T0), 1 month (T1), and 6 months (T6) after treatment by either radiofrequency ablation (RF) or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Treatment response was evaluated according to mRECIST criteria.

Results: Immunoassay screening showed that the levels of IL-17, CTACK, TNF, IL-2R, IL-8, and SCGF were different in Complete Responders (CR) and Nonresponders (NR) groups. At T0 and T1, the SCGF level was significantly the highest in NR (23.8 and 40.7 ng/mL, respectively), followed by early recurrence (25.4 and 25.0 ng/mL), and CR (6.7 and 5.3 ng/mL), independently from HCV, stages, and treatment type. Low basal SCGF level was associated with longer disease-free survival compared to high SCGF.

Conclusion: In this study, for the first time, we demonstrate that the high level of serum SCGF at pre- and posttreatment is associated with HCC nonresponsiveness.

}, keywords = {Aged, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Chemoembolization, Therapeutic, Female, Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors, Humans, Liver Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local, Retrospective Studies, Stem Cells, Treatment Outcome}, issn = {2314-6141}, doi = {10.1155/2018/6435482}, author = {Sukowati, Caecilia H C and Patti, Riccardo and Pascut, Devis and Ladju, Rusdina B and Tarchi, Paola and Zanotta, Nunzia and Comar, Manola and Tiribelli, Claudio and Croc{\`e}, Lory S} } @article {10571, title = {SV40 Infection of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells From Wharton{\textquoteright}s Jelly Drives the Production of Inflammatory and Tumoral Mediators.}, journal = {J Cell Physiol}, volume = {232}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Nov}, pages = {3060-3066}, abstract = {

The Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from umbilical cord Wharton{\textquoteright}s jelly (WJSCs) are a source of cells with high potentiality for the treatment of human immunological disorders. Footprints of the oncogenic viruses Simian Virus 40 (SV40) and JC Virus (JCPyV) have been recently detected in human WJSCs specimens. The aim of this study is to evaluate if WJSCs can be efficiently infected by these Polyomaviruses and if they can potentially exert tumoral activity. Cell culture experiments indicated that WJSCs could sustain both SV40 and JCPyV infections. A transient and lytic replication was observed for JCPyV, while SV40 persistently infected WJSCs over a long period of time, releasing a viral progeny at low titer without evident cytopathic effect (CPE). Considering the association between SV40 and human tumors and the reported ability of the oncogenic viruses to drive the host innate immune response to cell transformation, the expression profile of a large panel of immune mediators was evaluated in supernatants by the Bioplex platform. RANTES, IL-3, MIG, and IL-12p40, involved in chronic inflammation, cells differentiation, and transformation, were constantly measured at high concentration comparing to control. These findings represent a new aspect of SV40 biological activity in the humans, highlighting its interaction with specific host cellular pathways. In view of these results, it seems to be increasingly urgent to consider Polyomaviruses in the management of WJSCs for their safely use as promising therapeutic source. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 3060-3066, 2017. {\textcopyright} 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

}, keywords = {Cell Line, Transformed, Cell Separation, Cell Transformation, Viral, Chemokine CCL5, Chemokine CXCL9, Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral, DNA, Viral, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Humans, Inflammation Mediators, Interleukin-12 Subunit p40, Interleukin-3, JC Virus, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Simian virus 40, Time Factors, Up-Regulation, Viral Load, Virus Replication, Wharton Jelly}, issn = {1097-4652}, doi = {10.1002/jcp.25723}, author = {Cason, Carolina and Campisciano, Giuseppina and Zanotta, Nunzia and Valencic, Erica and Delbue, Serena and Bella, Ramona and Comar, Manola} } @article {1607, title = {Secondary lymphoid tissue as an important site for WU polyomavirus infection in immunocompetent children.}, journal = {J Med Virol}, volume = {83}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Aug}, pages = {1446-50}, abstract = {

The polyomaviruses KI and WU (KIPyV and WUPyV) have been identified in respiratory specimens from children with acute respiratory infections, which suggests the respiratory tract as a possible site of infection. However, the persistence of infection in the lymphoid system is unknown. Fresh samples (n = 211) of tonsils, adenoids, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 83 immunocompetent children (mean age 4.8 years) were tested for amplification of the KIPyV VP1 and WUPyV VP2 genes. The known BK and JC polyomaviruses and the lymphotropic human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 were also investigated by quantitative real-time PCR and direct sequencing. In addition, 98 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from children (mean age 6.2 years) affected by seasonal influenza-like illness were tested. Of the lymphoid tissues, 34.9\% were positive for WUPyV, 4.8\% for BK virus, and 33.8\% for HHV-6. KIPyV and JC virus were not detected in these specimens. None of the polyomaviruses were detected in PBMCs. Among the nasopharyngeal samples, the prevalence of WUPyV was 27.5\%, although 70\% of the positive samples were co-infected with at least one of the following respiratory viruses: influenza virus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high sequence homology (99\%) between lymphoid- and nasopharynx-derived WUPyV strains. These results suggest that the tonsils and adenoids of immunocompetent children are a reservoir for WUPyV infection; probably due to the respiratory route of transmission. In addition, the prevalence of WUPyV was high among the children, and the virus was identified more frequently in older children than during the first years of life.

}, keywords = {Adenoids, Child, Child, Preschool, DNA, Viral, Female, Humans, Infant, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Male, Nasopharynx, Palatine Tonsil, Phylogeny, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polyomavirus, Polyomavirus Infections, Prevalence, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Sequence Homology}, issn = {1096-9071}, doi = {10.1002/jmv.22124}, author = {Comar, Manola and Zanotta, Nunzia and Rossi, Tatiana and Pelos, Giorgio and D{\textquoteright}Agaro, Pierlanfranco} }