| 1. |
- Ferrucci, Veronica, et al.
(författare)
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Metastatic group 3 medulloblastoma is driven by PRUNE1 targeting NME1–TGF-β–OTX2–SNAIL via PTEN inhibitio
- 2018
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Ingår i: Brain. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0006-8950 .- 1460-2156. ; 141:5, s. 1300-1319
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Genetic modifications during development of paediatric groups 3 and 4 medulloblastoma are responsible for their highly metastatic properties and poor patient survival rates. PRUNE1 is highly expressed in metastatic medulloblastoma group 3, which is characterized by TGF-β signalling activation, c-MYC amplification, and OTX2 expression. We describe the process of activation of the PRUNE1 signalling pathway that includes its binding to NME1, TGF-β activation, OTX2 upregulation, SNAIL (SNAI1) upregulation, and PTEN inhibition. The newly identified small molecule pyrimido-pyrimidine derivative AA7.1 enhances PRUNE1 degradation, inhibits this activation network, and augments PTEN expression. Both AA7.1 and a competitive permeable peptide that impairs PRUNE1/NME1 complex formation, impair tumour growth and metastatic dissemination in orthotopic xenograft models with a metastatic medulloblastoma group 3 cell line (D425-Med cells). Using whole exome sequencing technology in metastatic medulloblastoma primary tumour cells, we also define 23 common ‘non-synonymous homozygous’ deleterious gene variants as part of the protein molecular network of relevance for metastatic processes. This PRUNE1/TGF-β/OTX2/PTEN axis, together with the medulloblastoma-driver mutations, is of relevance for future rational and targeted therapies for metastatic medulloblastoma group 3.
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| 2. |
- Cocozza, Sirio, et al.
(författare)
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Default mode network modifications in Fabry disease : A resting-state fMRI study with structural correlations
- 2018
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Ingår i: Human Brain Mapping. - : WILEY. - 1065-9471 .- 1097-0193. ; 39:4, s. 1755-1764
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of Default Mode Network (DMN) modifications in Fabry Disease (FD), and their possible correlations with structural alterations and neuropsychological scores. Thirty-two FD patients with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of classical FD (12 males, mean age 43.3 +/- 12.2) were enrolled, along with 35 healthy controls (HC) of comparable age and sex (14 males, mean age 42.1 +/- 14.5). Resting-State fMRI data were analyzed using a seed-based approach, with six different seeds sampling the main hubs of the DMN. Structural modifications were assessed by means of Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analyses. Between-group differences and correlations with neuropsychological variables were probed voxelwise over the whole brain. Possible correlations between FC modifications and global measures of microstructural alteration were also tested in FD patients with a partial correlation analysis. In the FD group, clusters of increased functional connectivity involving both supratentorial and infratentorial regions emerged, partially correlated to the widespread white matter (WM) damage found in these patients. No gray matter volume differences were found at VBM between the two groups. The connectivity between right inferior frontal gyrus and precuneus was significantly correlated with the Corsi block-tapping test results (p = .0001). Widespread DMN changes are present in FD patients that correlate with WM alterations and cognitive performance. Our results confirm the current view of a cerebral involvement in FD patients not simply associated to major cerebrovascular events, but also related to significant and diffuse microstructural and functional changes.
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