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M Miele

Publications and source records attributed to M Miele.

63 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Phorbol diester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) up-regulates the expression of estrogen receptors in human THP-1 leukemia cells.

In the present work, we have inspected expression of estrogen receptors (ER) and their regulation by the phorbol diester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in a leukemic cell line, the THP-1 cells, using multiple experimental approaches. Firstly, ligand binding assay (LBA) revealed that control (unstimulated) THP-1 cells express type I (high affinity, limited capacity) ER in the nuclear fraction only, whilst treatment of cells with TPA resulted in the appearance of type I ER in the soluble fraction as well, with the 50 ng/ml dose and the 48 h incubation time being the most effective experimental condition. A concomitant increase of type II ER was also seen in both soluble and nuclear cell fractions. Unstimulated THP-1 cells were found to be ER negative by immunocytochemistry; conversely, cells exposed to 50 ng/ml TPA for 48 h stained positively for ER, with the majority of cells having a strong nuclear staining. Scrutiny of ER mRNA expression using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed the presence of a wild type ER transcript in both control and TPA-treated THP-1 cells, though levels of ER mRNA were found to be comparatively higher in the latter. This combined evidence would imply that the TPA-induced differentiation of THP-1 cells is accompanied by the rise of high affinity (type I) ER, suggesting that estrogens may play a role in the regulation of macrophage activity during the inflammatory and/or the immune response.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unsymmetrical methylene derivatives of indoles as antiproliferative agents.

Indole-3-carbinol is a natural product which has been shown to reduce the incidence of spontaneous and carcinogen-induced mammary tumours in animals. Eighteen unsymmetrical methylene derivatives of indoles were prepared by reaction of Mannich bases of 7-hydroxycoumarins with substituted indoles in acetic or propionic anhydride. The synthesised molecules were tested in vitro against the MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines by MTT and cell count assays. Results from 16 tested compounds showed that 60% of them exerted some effects against the MDA-MB-231 compared to about 30% towards the MCF7. Among all, the 3-(7'-acetoxy-4-methylcoumarin-8'-yl)methyl-2-methylindole resulted the most effective in both cell lines, compared to indole-3-carbinol. In conclusion, these preliminary results report that some of these compounds might be promising potential antiproliferative agents.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methyleugenol and eugenol variation in Ocimum basilicum cv. Genovese gigante grown in greenhouse and in vitro.

The variation of the two main aromatic compounds in Ocimum basilicum cv Genovese Gigante grown in greenhouse and "in vitro" was analyzed. The content of methyleugenol and eugenol was correlated to the plants' height rather than to the plants' age and the growth site. Particularly, methyleugenol was prevalent in plants up to 6.5 cm, as plants grew it was replaced by eugenol that was dominant in taller plants. Analysis of basil 20 cm in height showed that methyleugenol is prevalently localized in the low part while eugenol is prevalent in the upper part of the plant. Moreover, a chronic and acute toxicity of methyleugenol was evidentiated in an assay using chicken embryos.

Eugenol↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Micronucleus analysis in peripheral blood lymphocytes from melanoma patients treated with dacarbazine.

BACKGROUND: Dacarbazine is an antitumor drug used with considerable success in the chemotherapy of a number of human neoplasias, particularly advanced disseminated melanoma. Dacarbazine is mutagenic in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, but no effect in vivo have been evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with metastatic melanoma undergoing dacarbazine chemotherapy every 21 days for a total of 7 cycles, were analyzed for the presence of micronuclei with the CREST antikinetochore antibody technique. Cytogenetic analysis on blood samples collected just before and 2 hours after the therapy was carried out at 48, 72 and 96 hours following lymphocyte stimulation. RESULTS: A significant increase in micronucleus frequency was found at both 72 and 96 hours after therapy. For the only two patients analyzed after more than one cycle, a decrease in micronuclei was observed after the third and the fourth therapy. Moreover, the CREST antibody technique showed that the frequency of micronuclei containing whole chromosomes (CREST+) was significantly higher after therapy at 72 and 96 hours. As the frequency of micronuclei containing acentric chromosome fragments (CREST-) was not significantly increased after therapy, either at 72 or 96 hours after lymphocyte stimulation, we suppose that DTIC mainly acted as an aneugenic agent. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of a significant micronucleus increase at 48 hours could suggest that this culture time is too short for providing cultures with a sufficient large number of diving cells. In conclusion, our results have shown that dacarbazine induced chromosome loss in lymphocytes from patients treated with this drug.

Adult↗