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Tomescu LC, Cosma AA, Fenesan MP, Melnic E, Petrovici V, Sarb S, Chis M, Sas I, Ribatti D, Cimpean AM, Dorobantu FR. Combining RNAscope, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Digital Image Analysis to Assess Podoplanin (PDPN) Protein and PDPN_mRNA Expression on Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Normal Human Placenta Tissues. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:5161-5177. [PMID: 38920982 PMCID: PMC11202497 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The expression and function of podoplanin (PDPN) in the normal human placenta has been debated in placental evaluation. This study emphasizes the importance of a multimodal approach of PDPN expression in normal human placentas. A complete examination is performed using immunohistochemistry, RNAscope and automated Digital Image examination (DIA) interpretation. QuPath DIA-based analysis automatically generated the stromal and histological scores of PDPN expression for immunohistochemistry and RNAscope stains. The umbilical cord's isolated fibroblasts and luminal structures expressed PDPN protein and PDPN_mRNA. RNAscope detected PDPN_mRNA upregulation in syncytial placental knots trophoblastic cells, but immunohistochemistry did not certify this at the protein level. The study found a significant correlation between the IHC and RNAscope H-Score (p = 0.033) and Allred Score (p = 0.05). A successful multimodal strategy for PDPN assessment in human placentas confirmed PDPN expression heterogeneity in the full-term human normal placenta and umbilical cord at the protein and mRNA level. In placental syncytial knots trophoblastic cells, PDPN showed mRNA overexpression, suggesting a potential role in placenta maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa Cristina Tomescu
- Doctoral School in Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.C.T.); (A.A.C.); (M.P.F.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Andrei Alexandru Cosma
- Doctoral School in Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.C.T.); (A.A.C.); (M.P.F.)
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- OncoHelp Hospital, 300239 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Mihaela Pasca Fenesan
- Doctoral School in Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (L.C.T.); (A.A.C.); (M.P.F.)
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- OncoHelp Hospital, 300239 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Eugen Melnic
- Department of Pathology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2004 Chisinau, Moldova; (E.M.); (V.P.)
| | - Vergil Petrovici
- Department of Pathology, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2004 Chisinau, Moldova; (E.M.); (V.P.)
| | - Simona Sarb
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Monica Chis
- Department ME2/Rheumatology, Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Balneology, Faculty of Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of TârguMureş (UMPhST), 540088 Targu Mures, Romania;
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Emergency County Hospital of Târgu Mureş, 540088 Targu Mures, Romania
| | - Ioan Sas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Medical School, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Anca Maria Cimpean
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Center of Expertise for Rare Vascular Disease in Children, Emergency Hospital for Children Louis Turcanu, 300011 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Florica Ramona Dorobantu
- Department of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania;
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Scola L, Bongiorno MR, Forte GI, Aiello A, Accardi G, Scrimali C, Spina R, Lio D, Candore G. TGF-β/VEGF-A Genetic Variants Interplay in Genetic Susceptibility to Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071235. [PMID: 35886018 PMCID: PMC9317818 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Differential genetically determined expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β pathway and of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) might modulate the molecular “milieu” involved in the etio-pathogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). We have evaluated the frequency of some functionally relevant SNPs of TGF-β and VEGF-A genes in 70 NMSC patients and 161 healthy controls, typed for TGF-β1 rs1800471, TGF-β2 rs900, TGF-βR1 rs334348 and rs334349, TGF-βR2 rs4522809 and VEGF-A rs3025039 SNPs. TGF-βR2 rs1800629G allele and related genotypes were found to be associated with a possible protective role against NMSC, whereas VEGF-A rs3025039T was associated with an increased risk. To evaluate the effect of genotype combinations on NMSC susceptibility, we determined the frequencies of 31 pseudo-haplotypes due to non-random linkage among alleles of loci not lying on the same chromosome. Two pseudo-haplotypes that imply a minor allele of TGF-βR2 or minor allele of VEGF-A SNPs combined with major alleles of the other SNPs were, respectively, associated with a protective effect, and susceptibility to NMSC. In addition, a pseudo-haplotype involving minor alleles of TGF-β2 rs900, TGF-βR1 rs334348 and rs4522809 SNPs might be a susceptibility marker for NMSC. In conclusion, our data suggest that a complex interplay among the genetic polymorphisms of TGF-β, TGF-β receptors and VEGF-A genes might influence the net effect of genetic background of the patients on NMSC development. This might be relevant in the risk evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of NMSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Scola
- Clinical Pathology, Department of Bio-Medicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90135 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Maria Rita Bongiorno
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Giusi Irma Forte
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), 90015 Cefalù, Italy;
| | - Anna Aiello
- General Pathology, Department of Bio-Medicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90135 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (G.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Giulia Accardi
- General Pathology, Department of Bio-Medicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90135 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (G.A.); (G.C.)
| | - Chiara Scrimali
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Rossella Spina
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Domenico Lio
- Interdepartmental Research Center “Migrate”, University of Palermo, 90135 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Giuseppina Candore
- General Pathology, Department of Bio-Medicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90135 Palermo, Italy; (A.A.); (G.A.); (G.C.)
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