Mariangela De Zorzi

Publications (6)10.8 Total impact

• Article: A novel CDH1 germline missense mutation in a sporadic gastric cancer patient in north-east of Italy.

  Marica Garziera, Valli De Re, Silvano Geremia, Raquel Seruca, Joana Figueiredo, Soraia Melo, Joana Simões-Correia, Laura Caggiari, Mariangela De Zorzi, Vincenzo Canzonieri, Renato Cannizzaro, Giuseppe Toffoli
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  ABSTRACT: It is well documented that germline mutations in the E-cadherin (CDH1) gene are linked to hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). Despite the known molecular genetic causes, most gastric cancers are sporadic and poorly investigated for susceptibility genes. We report the finding of a novel germline missense mutation in exon 6, c. 820 G > A (p.G274S) in one sporadic gastric cancer patient. This new variant does not affect cryptic splicing of CDH1 as demonstrated by molecular assay. Immunohistochemical analysis shows a mixed pattern of E-cadherin staining (membranous and cytoplasmic) in the intestinal component, while in the diffuse counterpart, the membranous staining was prevalent and a reduced membranous expression of ß-catenin was observed. In vitro assays suggest that the mutant G274S does not affect the E-cadherin protein function, its expression pattern or subcellular localization. This new variant is present in EC2 extracellular domain of the protein (p.G120S in mature protein). The molecular modelling shows that this point mutation is not dramatic for local structure. However, p.S120 is located on the surface of the protein close to the functional calcium sites and in the region of interaction with EC1 domain of another E-cadherin molecule involved in the formation of the intercellular junction. Moreover, p.S120 residue could be involved in posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation or glycosylation, with possible effects on stability and integrity of adhesive properties of E-cadherin. In conclusion, the pathogenicity of this mutation is unlikely; nevertheless, it is possible that the mutation hampers the interaction with other proteins, and consequent signalling pathways, contributing to tumour development.
  Clinical and Experimental Medicine 04/2012; · 1.58 Impact Factor
• Article: Molecular Signature in HCV-Positive Lymphomas.

  Valli De Re, Laura Caggiari, Marica Garziera, Mariangela De Zorzi, Ombretta Repetto
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  ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive, single-stranded RNA virus, which has been associated to different subtypes of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Cumulative evidence suggests an HCV-related antigen driven process in the B-NHL development. The underlying molecular signature associated to HCV-related B-NHL has to date remained obscure. In this review, we discuss the recent developments in this field with a special mention to different sets of genes whose expression is associated with BCR coupled to Blys signaling which in turn was found to be linked to B-cell maturation stages and NF-κb transcription factor. Even if recent progress on HCV-B-NHL signature has been made, the precise relationship between HCV and lymphoma development and phenotype signature remain to be clarified.
  Clinical and Developmental Immunology 01/2012; 2012:623465. · 1.84 Impact Factor
• Article: KIR/HLA combination associated with the risk of complications in celiac disease.

  Laura Caggiari, Giuseppe Toffoli, Valli De Re, Nicoletta Orzes, Michele Spina, Mariangela De Zorzi, Stefania Maiero, Renato Cannizzaro, Vincenzo Canzonieri
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  ABSTRACT: The pathogenesis of celiac disease (CD) is associated with polymorphisms in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes; however, compelling evidence suggests that additional non-HLA genes are associated with CD and related complications. The present study investigated whether killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)/HLA gene combinations are associated with CD and its clinical complications in the population of northeast Italy. The study included 61 adults affected by CD: 48 patients were at first diagnosis and 13 patients had CD-related complications (8 with refractory CD and 5 with cancer). Controls were 69 blood donors genotyped for KIR and HLA. Several statistically significant differences emerged between CD patients and blood donors. The results herein presented show that susceptibility to CD with refractory disease or cancer is associated with various genotypes including the 2DS2/2DL2+C1, 2DS3, 3DL1, and 2DL5B genes. In addition, the absence of the Bw4 ligand may be a predisposing factor for cancer. These results suggest that a KIR haplotype and HLA ligands may be involved in the susceptibility to important clinical CD complications such as tumors or refractoriness as a result of a gluten-free diet.
  The International journal of biological markers 10/2011; 26(4):221-8. · 1.48 Impact Factor
• Article: KIR molecules: recent patents of interest for the diagnosis and treatment of several autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation, and B-cell malignancies.

  Valli De Re, Laura Caggiari, Mariangela De Zorzi, Giuseppe Toffoli
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  ABSTRACT: There has been rapidly increasing interest in innate immunity in recent years. Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that constitute a major component of the innate immune system. NK cells are mainly modulated through different receptors and cytokines. The killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) represent the largest category of NK cell receptors. KIR function is mainly regulated by binding both classical MHC I (human leukocyte antigen, HLA A, B and C) and also non-classical MHC. Some KIRs are specific to certain HLA subtypes. Questions about how the NK cells sense self-antigen, infection, and altered cells, and how a protective immune response can be induced are being answered at the molecular level. Research has revealed the central role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well as B-cell malignancies, with the emergence of recent developments for KIR characterization, disease monitoring, and treatment. In this paper, we report three recent patents focused on KIR applications: the first one is targeted at the determination of the complex KIR haplotypes by using next generation sequencing; the second patent represents a practical approach for genotyping and treatment of the main KIR-related autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases; and the last patent describes the possible contributions of KIR to promising combination immunotherapies.
  Recent patents on DNA & gene sequences. 06/2011; 5(3):169-74.
• Source

  Available from: PubMed Central

  Article: Antibody V(h) repertoire differences between resolving and chronically evolving hepatitis C virus infections.

  Vito Racanelli, Claudia Brunetti, Valli De Re, Laura Caggiari, Mariangela De Zorzi, Patrizia Leone, Federico Perosa, Angelo Vacca, Franco Dammacco
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  ABSTRACT: Despite the production of neutralizing antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), many patients fail to clear the virus and instead develop chronic infection and long-term complications. To understand how HCV infection perturbs the antibody repertoire and to identify molecular features of antibody genes associated with either viral clearance or chronic infection, we sequenced the V(D)J region of naïve and memory B cells of 6 persons who spontaneously resolved an HCV infection (SR), 9 patients with a newly diagnosed chronically evolving infection (CE), and 7 healthy donors. In both naïve and memory B cells, the frequency of use of particular antibody gene subfamilies and segments varied among the three clinical groups, especially between SR and CE. Compared to CE, SR antibody genes used fewer VH, D and JH gene segments in naïve B cells and fewer VH segments in memory B cells. SR and CE groups significantly differed in the frequency of use of 7 gene segments in naïve B cell clones and 3 gene segments in memory clones. The nucleotide mutation rates were similar among groups, but the pattern of replacement and silent mutations in memory B cell clones indicated greater antigen selection in SR than CE. Greater clonal evolution of SR than CE memory B cells was revealed by analysis of phylogenetic trees and CDR3 lengths. Pauciclonality of the peripheral memory B cell population is a distinguishing feature of persons who spontaneously resolved an HCV infection. This finding, previously considered characteristic only of patients with HCV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders, suggests that the B cell clones potentially involved in clearance of the virus may also be those susceptible to abnormal expansion.
  PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(9):e25606. · 4.09 Impact Factor
• Article: HCV inhibits antigen processing and presentation and induces oxidative stress response in gastric mucosa

  Valli De Re Dr, Maria Paola Simula, Renato Cannizzaro, Domenico Sansonno, Vincenzo Canzonieri, Annunziata Gloghini, Antonino Carbone, Alfonso Colombatti, Maria Dolores Marin, Mariangela De Zorzi, Giuseppe Toffoli
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  ABSTRACT: Productive hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection appears to be primarily confined to the liver. However, a wide variety of extrahepatic disease manifestations are associated with the infection and HCV RNA has been frequently detected in gastric mucosa. The present study aims to determine molecular alterations present in vivo in the stomach where HCV expression does not induce a carcinoma but a lymphoma, thus extending the knowledge of alterations in intracellular pathways consequent to HCV infection. We compared, by 2-D DIGE, the gastric protein expression profile from six HCV positive and six HCV negative samples lacking neoplastic or dysplastic conditions. In HCV positive tissue we observed a down regulation of proteins involved in MHC maturation and assembly, antigen processing and presentation and ER stress, in addition to an up regulation of proteins involved in cellular oxidative stress responses. Ubiquinol-cytochrome-C-reductase (UQCRFS1), part of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex-III, was identified as the most up regulated protein. Data were confirmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrate a HCV negative influence on the different pathways that determine antigen processing and presentation via MHC-I and the cellular attempts to counteract HCV induced oxidative stress. Both these processes facilitate immune escape and cell survival and probably contribute to HCV chronicization.
  PROTEOMICS - CLINICAL APPLICATIONS 07/2008; 2(9):1290 - 1299. · 1.81 Impact Factor