Background/Aims: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with endothelial dysfunction in uremic patients, possibly by the impairment in the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). In 89 hemodialysis patients, we investigated the factors associated with the number of circulating EPCs (CD34+/CD133+/KDR+ and CD34+/CD133–/KDR+ cells), the presence of VDR and the determinants of VDR expression on EPCs, in particular in calcitriol therapy. Methods: EPC counts, percentages of VDR-positive EPCs and VDR expression were assessed by flow cytometry. Cells isolated from a subgroup of patients were cultured to analyze colony-forming units, specific markers expression and a capillary-like structure formation. Results/Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the presence of VDR on EPCs. In our dialysis patients, the parameters studied on both CD34+/CD133+/KDR+ and CD34+/CD133–/KDR+ cells, in particular VDR expression, seem to be influenced by uremia-related factors, including anemia, inflammation, diabetes, 25(OH)D serum levels and calcitriol therapy.

Background: Despite the benefits of physical activity on cardiovascular risk in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), the long-term effects of exercise have been poorly investigated. This is a three-year observational study comparing graft function and cardiovascular risk factors in active KTRs (AKTRs) vs. sedentary KTRs (SKTRs). Methods: KTRs with stable renal function were assigned to active or sedentary group in relation to the level of daily physical activity based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations (150 minutes/week, respectively). Complete blood count, renal function indices, lipid profile, blood pressure and anthropometric measures were collected yearly for an observation period of three years. The comparisons between the two groups were performed by repeated measures analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs), with age as a covariate. Results: Fifty-four subjects were included in the study. Thirty of them were identified as AKTRs (M/F 26/4, aged 45 ± 12 years) and 24 as SKTRs (M/F 18/6, aged 51 ± 14 years). Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups except body mass index (BMI) that was significantly higher in SKTRs (p = 0.043). Furthermore, over the three-year observation period, BMI decreased in AKTRs and increased in SKTRs (p = 0.006). Graft function was stable in AKTRs, while it showed a decline over time in SKTRs, as indicated by the rise in serum creatinine levels (p = 0.006) and lower eGFR (p = 0.050). Proteinuria, glucose and uric acid levels displayed a decrease in AKTRs and an increase in SKTRs during the three-year period (p = 0.015, p = 0.004 and p = 0.013, respectively). Finally, concerning lipid profiles, AKTRs had a significant reduction over time of triglycerides levels, which conversely showed a clinically relevant increase in SKTRs (p = 0.014). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that regular weekly exercise training may counteract the increased cardiovascular risks and also prevent graft function decline in KTRs.

When chronic renal failure becomes advanced, the serum or tissue levels and/or the functions of most hormones are altered because of several interplaying mechanisms involving synthesis, transport, accumulation of inhibitors, abnormality of target organ responsiveness, and impaired renal clearance. As regular dialysis treatment is performed, most of these uremic hormone abnormalities are not reversed, and some of them may even get worse. The main endocrine derangements can be grouped as sexual hormone dysfunction, thyroid abnormalities, growth retardation, hormone-related disorders of metabolism, derangements of pressor substances, gastrointestinal peptide abnormalities, renal osteodystrophy, and anemia. The endocrine abnormalities play a major role as for the clinical and metabolic rehabilitation of dialysis patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the expression of human trophoblast cell-surface marker (Trop-2) and the potential of hRS7, a humanized monoclonal anti-Trop-2 antibody, as a novel therapeutic strategy against Uterine Serous Papillary Carcinoma (USPC), a biologically aggressive and chemotherapy resistant variant of endometrial cancer. Methods: Trop-2 expression was evaluated by real time-PCR and flow cytometry in six primary uterine serous papillary carcinoma cell lines recently characterized in our laboratory. Sensitivity to hRS7 antibody-dependent-cellular-cytotoxicity (ADCC) was tested in standard 5-hrs ⁵¹Cr release-assays against primary USPC cell lines expressing different levels of Trop-2. Finally, to investigate the effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) on hRS7-mediated ADCC, 5-hrs ⁵¹Cr assays were also conducted in the presence of low doses of IL-2 (i.e., 50-100 IU/ml). Results: Trop-2 mRNA transcript was significantly overexpressed in 3 out of 6 USPC primary cell lines when compared to normal human endometrial-cells (NEC) [p=0.005]. Consistent with RT-PCR data, high surface expression of Trop-2 was detected by flow cytometry in Trop-2 overexpressing cell lines [i.e., percentage of positive cells = 100% in all 3 positive cell lines, median (minimum-maximum) MFI (mean fluorescence intensity) of 184.2 (62.5-276.2)]. Importantly, while these USPC cell lines were found highly resistant to natural killer dependent cytotoxicity in the absence of the hRS7 antibody (range of killing 1.1% to 12.4%), they showed high sensitivity to hRS7-mediated ADCC in vitro (range of killing 28.2% to 64.4%) (P< 0.001). Incubation with IL-2 in addition to hRS7 further increased the cytotoxic activity against USPC cell lines overexpressing Trop-2 (p= 0.01). Conclusion: Primary USPC cell lines may overexpress Trop-2 at mRNA and protein level and are highly sensitive to hRS7-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. hRS7 may represent a novel, potentially highly effective therapeutic strategy in patients harbouring advanced, recurrent or metastatic USPC refractory to standard treatment modalities. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 699.