Heart transplantation is undergoing a continuous development, with rates of success increasing substantially due to advances in immunosuppressive therapy and surgical techniques. The most worrying complication occurring after cardiac transplantation is graft rejection, a phenomenon that is much affected by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), with the role of these proteases in the cardiac remodeling process being well established in the literature. A detailed investigation of the association between MMPs and cardiac rejection is necessary for the future development of more targeted therapies in transplanted patients, and to discover prognostic serum and immunohistochemical markers that will lead to more organized therapeutic management in these patients. The aim of this review is therefore to highlight the main MMPs relevant to cardiovascular pathology, with particular emphasis on those involved in complications related to heart transplantation, including cardiac graft rejection.

Liposarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of malignant mesenchymal neoplasms, with diverse histological subtypes and molecular alterations. This study aimed to investigate the gene expression profiles of SOX9, GATA3, and GATA4 in liposarcoma subtypes and to assess their associations with clinicopathological parameters. Forty-two formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liposarcoma samples were analyzed. Total RNA was extracted, reverse-transcribed, and quantified by qRT-PCR using GAPDH as an endogenous control. Relative quantification (RQ) values were categorized, and statistical analyses included Fisher’s exact test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards modeling. SOX9 expression significantly varied among histological subtypes (p = 0.017), with ALT/WDLS cases showing a predominance of high-level expression (RQ > 50 in 12/15 cases), in contrast to myxoid subtypes clustering mainly in the 10–50 RQ range. GATA4 overexpression correlated with smaller tumor size (<100 mm) (p = 0.049), being more frequent in 15/20 small tumors compared to 10/22 larger ones. GATA3 and GATA4 demonstrated the strongest inter-gene correlation (r = 0.68, p < 0.05), suggesting possible functional interplay. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed no statistically significant survival differences for individual gene expression, but a high combined GATA3–GATA4 signature was associated with a favorable trend. These findings indicate that SOX9, GATA3, and GATA4 are broadly upregulated in liposarcomas, with subtype- and size-dependent expression patterns. The strong association between GATA3 and GATA4 expression supports their potential synergistic role in tumor biology. Integration of these molecular markers into diagnostic and prognostic workflows may enhance subtype characterization and inform targeted therapeutic strategies. Further studies in larger cohorts are warranted to validate these biomarkers and explore their mechanistic interplay in liposarcoma pathogenesis.

Liposarcomas, the most common subtype of soft tissue sarcomas, show variable biological behavior and therapeutic response. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte marker CD8 have been implicated in tumor immune evasion and prognosis in various malignancies, while Maspin, a tumor suppressor, has shown a negative prognostic impact in sarcomas. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological significance of PD-L1, CD8, and Maspin expression in liposarcomas. A retrospective analysis of 42 liposarcoma cases diagnosed between 2016 and 2023 was conducted. Immunohistochemical staining for PD-L1 (using DAKO 22C3 and 28-8 clones), CD8, and Maspin was performed. PD-L1 expression was assessed using the tumor proportion score (TPS) and tumor cell score (TC). CD8 expression was evaluated using an H-score, and Maspin positivity was assessed based on subcellular localization. Correlations with clinicopathological parameters were statistically analyzed using chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests. Most liposarcomas exhibited low PD-L1 expression ( 10%), and cytoplasmic Maspin positivity. Statistically significant associations were found between high PD-L1 expression and high CD8 infiltration (p = 0.007 for 22C3; p = 0.0331 for 28-8) and between PD-L1 positivity and Maspin expression (p = 0.003 for 22C3; p = 0.0113 for 28-8). CD8 infiltration was generally low across cases, and PD-L1 expression in inflammatory cells was noted predominantly in tumors with higher PD-L1 TPS/TC scores. High PD-L1 expression in liposarcomas is associated with poor tumor differentiation, increased CD8 infiltration, and Maspin positivity, suggesting an immune-evasive phenotype. Despite low overall expression rates, PD-L1 could serve as a prognostic biomarker and a potential target for immunotherapeutic strategies in liposarcomas. Further studies are necessary to standardize PD-L1 assessment and explore effective immunotherapy approaches for these tumors.