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Polimeno L, Viggiani MT, Giorgio F, Polimeno L, Fratantonio D, Di Domenico M, Boccellino M, Ballini A, Topi S, Di Leo A, Santacroce L, Barone M. Possible role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in the progression of human colon precancerous lesions. Dig Liver Dis 2022; 54:1716-1720. [PMID: 35210176 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2022.01.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased levels of oxidative stress/cell inflammation contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) onset. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its controlled growth factor erv1-like (Gfer) gene regulate redox-sensitive and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, respectively, which can contribute to promoting cancer development. AIM We evaluated Nrf2 and Gfer RNA expression and Nrf2 protein expression in colon mucosa in order to establish their possible involvement in the early stage of CRC. METHODS Forty subjects were enrolled after a histological evaluation of their colon biopsies. They included 20 subjects with a sporadic colorectal adenoma (SpCA group) and 20 without precancerous lesions (controls). Biopsy samples were processed for gene expression analysis and protein expression, using Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, respectively. RESULTS Nrf2 and Gfer mRNA expression were significantly reduced (p=0.007 and p<0.003, respectively) in SpCA tissues compared to normal mucosa from controls. Furthermore, immunofluorescence analysis confirmed a relevant reduction of Nrf2 in SpCA tissue compared to normal tissue from controls. CONCLUSIONS Our data confirm the hypothesis that Nrf2 and Gfer expression may be involved in the initial hits contributing to the multistep process of colon carcinogenesis. Further larger studies are needed to confirm if Nrf2 and Gfer are potential risk/prognostic factors for cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Polimeno
- Polypheno Academic Spin Off, University of Bari "A. Moro", Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Viggiani
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari "A. Moro", Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Floriana Giorgio
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari "A. Moro", Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Polimeno
- Polypheno Academic Spin Off, University of Bari "A. Moro", Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Deborah Fratantonio
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, Campus Universitario "G. Quagliarello", University of Bari "A. Moro", 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Marina Di Domenico
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Boccellino
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Ballini
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy; School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Skender Topi
- Department of Clinical Disciplines, School of Technical Medical Sciences, University of Elbasan "A. Xhuvani", Rruga Ismail Zyma, 3001 Elbasan, Albania
| | - Alfredo Di Leo
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari "A. Moro", Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Luigi Santacroce
- Polypheno Academic Spin Off, University of Bari "A. Moro", Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; Department of Clinical Disciplines, School of Technical Medical Sciences, University of Elbasan "A. Xhuvani", Rruga Ismail Zyma, 3001 Elbasan, Albania; Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Microbiology and Virology Unit, Policlinico University Hospital of Bari, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Barone
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari "A. Moro", Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
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