Browsing by Author "Richter, J."
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- Angiogenesis in Schistosoma haematobium-associated urinary bladder cancerPublication . Dematei, A.; Fernandes, R.; Soares, R.; Alves, H.; Richter, J.; Botelho, M.C.Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic flatworm that infects more than 100 million people, mostly in the developing world, is the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis, and is associated with a high incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder. During infection, eggs are deposited in the bladder causing an intense inflammatory reaction. Angiogenesis is defined as the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones and is recognized as a key event in cell proliferation and carcinogenesis and spread of malignant lesions. A growing amount of evidence points to angiogenesis playing a key role in schistosomiasis-associated bladder cancer. Thus, identifying biomarkers of this process plays an important role in the study of cancer. Here, we review recent findings on the role of angiogenesis in bladder cancer and the growth factors that induce and assist in their development, particularly SCC of the bladder associated to urogenital schistosomiasis.
- Anti-cancer potential of Fasciola hepatica extractsPublication . Ferreira, S.; Fernandes, R.; Alves, H.; Richter, J.; Botelho, M.C.Fascioliasis is a food borne disease caused by infection with a liver fluke termed Fasciola (F.) hepatica. Fascioliasis, as a neglected tropical disease, commonly affects poor people from developing countries. It has been estimated that at least 2.6 million people are infected with fascioliasis worldwide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, two other liver flukes Opistorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis) have been recognized as definitive causes of cancer (IARC, 2012). On the other hand even long-lasting and/ or repeated F. hepatica infections have not been associated with cancer, so far. There are any known causative associations between this parasite and cholangiocarcinoma or liver cancer.
- Could Estradiol be used as a biomarker of infection in Schistosoma haematobium infected patients?Publication . Botelho, M.C; Cardoso, R.; Bordalo, A.; Alves, H.; Richter, J.Urogenital schistosomiasis is a chronic infection caused by the human blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium. Schistosomiasis haematobia is a known risk factor for cancer leading to squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCC). This is a neglected tropical disease endemic in many countries of Africa and the Middle East. Schistosome eggs produce catechol-estrogens. These estrogenic molecules are metabolized to active quinones that cause alterations in DNA (leading in other contexts to breast or thyroid cancer). Our group has shown that schistosome egg associated catechol estrogens induce tumor-like phenotypes in urothelial cells, originated from parasite estrogen-host cell chromosomal DNA adducts and mutations. Also we have demonstrated that these molecules are detected as Estradiol in sera of infected patients.
- CYP2D6 and IL-6 C-174G variants in schistosomiasis haematobiaPublication . Cardoso, R.; Alves, H.; Bordalo, A.; Richter, J.; Botelho, M.C.Aim: Study polymorphic variants in CYP2D6 and the C-174G promoter polymorphism of the IL-6 gene on S. haematobium infected patients from and endemic area of Guinea Bissau. Background: - Schistosome egg associated catechol estrogens induce tumor-like phenotypes in urothelial cells and might cause schistosomiasis associated infertility (Botelho et al, Trends in Parasitol, 2015); - The cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes are involved in estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism and generation of DNA damaging procarcinogens (Blackburn et al, Cancer Causes and Control, 2015); - Very high or very low levels of IL-6 are associated with estrogen metabolism imbalance.
- Epidemiology and pathology of bovine schistosomiasis in MozambiquePublication . Botelho, M.C.; Ferreira, M.L.; Oliveira, P.; Alves, H.; Richter, J.AIM: To study the epidemiology and pathology of bovine schistosomiasis in Mozambique. BACKGROUND: - Bovine schistosomiasis is of great importance in Africa. It is caused by Schistosoma bovis; - In bovines the symptoms are similar to humans, mainly intestinal, hepato-splenic, vesical and genital; - It has been shown to be endemic through all Africa and in some Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Iraque and Israel); - Hybrids of S. haematobium and S. bovis are known to infect humans.
- Estrogen catechols detection as biomarkers in schistosomiasis induced cancer and infertilityPublication . Botelho, M.C.; Alves, H.; Richter, J.Urogenital schistosomiasis is a chronic infection caused by the human blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium. Schistosomiasis haematobium is a known risk factor for cancer leading to squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCC). This is a neglected tropical disease endemic in many countries of Africa and the Middle East. Schistosome eggs produce catechol-estrogens. These molecules are metabolized to active quinones that cause alterations in DNA (leading in other contexts to breast or thyroid cancer). Our group have shown that schistosome egg associated catechol estrogens induce tumor-like phenotypes in urothelial cells, originated from parasite estrogen-host cell chromosomal DNA adducts and mutations. Here we review recent findings on the role of estrogen-DNA adducts and how their shedding in urine may be prognostic of schistosome infection and/or represent potential biomarkers for urogenital schistosomiasis associated bladder cancer and infertility.
- Estrogen Metabolism-Associated CYP2D6 and IL6-174G/C Polymorphisms in Schistosoma haematobium InfectionPublication . Cardoso, R.; Lacerda, P.C.; Costa, P.P.; Machado, A.; Carvalho, A.; Bordalo, A.; Fernandes, R.; Soares, R.; Richter, J.; Alves, H.; Botelho, M.C.Schistosoma haematobium is a human blood fluke causing a chronic infection called urogenital schistosomiasis. Squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCC) constitutes chronic sequelae of this infection, and S. haematobium infection is accounted as a risk factor for this type of cancer. This infection is considered a neglected tropical disease and is endemic in numerous countries in Africa and the Middle East. Schistosome eggs produce catechol-estrogens. These estrogenic molecules are metabolized to active quinones that induce modifications in DNA. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are a superfamily of mono-oxygenases involved in estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism, the generation of DNA damaging procarcinogens, and the response to anti-estrogen therapies. IL6 Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine expressed in various tissues. This cytokine is largely expressed in the female urogenital tract as well as reproductive organs. Very high or very low levels of IL-6 are associated with estrogen metabolism imbalance. In the present study, we investigated the polymorphic variants in the CYP2D6 gene and the C-174G promoter polymorphism of the IL-6 gene on S. haematobium-infected children patients from Guine Bissau. CYP2D6 inactivated alleles (28.5%) and IL6G-174C (13.3%) variants were frequent in S. haematobium-infected patients when compared to previously studied healthy populations (4.5% and 0.05%, respectively). Here we discuss our recent findings on these polymorphisms and whether they can be predictive markers of schistosome infection and/or represent potential biomarkers for urogenital schistosomiasis associated bladder cancer and infertility.
- Estrogen metabolites for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis associated urinary bladder cancerPublication . Botelho, M.C.; Alves, H.; Richter, J.In a recent issue of Cancer Letters Gouveia and colleagues [1] studied a series of 40 Angolan patients diagnosed with Urogenital Schistosomiasis (UGS). They reported that 45% of them presented UGS-associated Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and/or urothelial cell carcinoma [1]. In addition these authors performed Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and this analysis revealed numerous estrogens like metabolites. These schistosome infection-associated metabolites included Catechol Estrogen Quinones (CEQ) and CEQ-DNA-adducts, two of which had been identified previously in S. haematobium [1-3]. They conclude suggesting that these metabolites can be expected to provide deeper insights into the carcinogenesis UGS-induced bladder cancer, and as biomarkers for diagnosis and/or prognosis of this neglected tropical disease-linked cancer. (...)
- Expression of angiogenic and inflammation markers in murine schistosomiasis mansoniPublication . Dematei, A.; Fernandes, R.; Soares, R.; Alves, H.; Richter, J.; Botelho, M.C.Aim: to study angiogenesis in the livers of mice infected with S. mansoni.
- Open access journals: transparent science or shady business?Publication . Botelho, M.; Richter, J.OA journals consequences for Science/ The scientific community; OA journals advantages/disadvantages for the publisher/reader/author; What can be done?