Université de Fribourg

Modulation of calretinin expression in human mesothelioma cells reveals the implication of the fak and wnt signaling pathways in conferring chemoresistance towards cisplatin

Wörthmüller, Janine ; Salicio, Valérie ; Oberson, Anne ; Blum, Walter ; Schwaller, Beat

In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019, vol. 20, no. 21, p. 5391

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive asbestos-linked neoplasm, characterized by dysregulation of signaling pathways. Due to intrinsic or acquired chemoresistance, MM treatment options remain limited. Calretinin is a Ca2+-binding protein expressed during MM tumorigenesis that activates the FAK signaling pathway, promoting invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Constitutive...

Université de Fribourg

SV40-induced expression of calretinin protects mesothelial cells from asbestos cytotoxicity and may be a key factor contributing to mesothelioma pathogenesis

Henzi, Thomas ; Blum, Walter-Vincent ; Pfefferli, Martine ; Kawecki, Tadeusz J. ; Salicio, Valérie ; Schwaller, Beat

In: American Journal of Pathology, 2009, vol. 174, p. 2324-2336

The calcium-binding protein calretinin has emerged as a useful marker for the identification of mesotheliomas of the epithelioid and mixed types, but its putative role in tumor development has not been addressed previously. Although exposure to asbestos fibers is considered the main cause of mesothelioma, undoubtedly, not all mesothelioma patients have a history of asbestos exposure. The question...

Université de Fribourg

Cellular toxicity of TiO₂-based nanofilaments

Magrez, Arnaud ; Horvth, Lenke ; Smajda, Rita ; Salicio, Valérie ; Pasquier, Nathalie ; Forró, László ; Schwaller, Beat

In: ACS Nano, 2009, vol. 3, no. 8, p. 2274–2280

At present, nanofilaments are not exclusively based on carbon atoms but can be produced from many inorganic materials in the form of nanotubes and nanowires. It is essential to systematically assess the acute toxicity of these newly synthesized materials since it cannot be predicted from the known toxicity of the same material in another form. Here, the cellular toxicity of TiO₂-based...