Assoc Prof Peter Korosec and his group leading the National Quality Assessment Scheme of IgE antibody measurements (IgEQAS) within the frame of Slovenian National External Quality Assessment Scheme (SNEQAS) and through P3-0360 programme. The quality control include 16 Slovenian laboratories, which are involved in the measurement of specific and total IgE antibodies. The quality assessment scheme is carried out 4 times per year with three allergens and total IgE in each cycle.
D.01 Chairing over/coordinating (international and national) projects
The project leader, doc. dr. Peter Korošec was a PhD mentor to Renato Eržen, M.D., PhD. Venom immunotherapy is the only effective prophylaxis for life- threatening reactions in patients allergic to Hymenoptera venoms. There is no in vitro test to predict the induction of long term tolerance in patients treated with venom immunotherapy. The only available clinically relevant method for evaluating the induction of tolerance after specific immunotherapy is the sting challenge test. The aim of this study was to investigate whether immunotherapy- induced changes in basophil responsiveness reflect a state of protection and the induction of tolerance.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 266030336Project team members developed and implemented the diagnostic method for measurement of basophil specific allergen sensitivity by flow cytometry. The method is used for prediction of systemic side effects of venom immunotherapy, for monitoring of the efficiency of venom immunotherapy and for testing in drug and some food allergies. The method is widely internationally recognized. COBISS ID 29842393, (28743129, 29193177, 27966169, 27154393, 26253785, 25699033, 23940057, 26355417, 28263641)
F.21 Development of new health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 28263641The project leader, doc. dr. Peter Korošec was a PhD mentor abroad in Croatia. The PhD was successfully finished in July 2011. Specific immunotherapy with house dust mite extracts is the effective method of allergy treatment, but its mechanisms are not completely understood. To confirm its efficacy, patients often need to be exposed to the allergen. The aims of this PhD thesis was to explore the changes in the basal expression of several regulatory genes, the mechanism of IgG4 blocking effect, and potentially dangerous new sensitizations to tropomyosin during therapy, and to evaluate the basophil passive sensitization test as a tool for prediction of clinical reactivity. The efficacy of the treatment of 56 patients was confirmed using standard follow-up methods (skin tests, total and specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies, nasal and conjunctival challenges, symptom scores). Expression of FOXP3, T-BET, GATA-3, FcεRI, Syk, PI3K, and SHIP genes was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and compared between 39 successfully treated and 20 non-treated patients, and 25 healthy subjects. Specific immunotherapy changes the basal expression of regulatory genes, which may be used for its efficacy follow-up. It does not induce new tropomyosin sensitizations. The basophil passive sensitization test is a valid tool for prediction of clinical reactivity.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 28692953Angiogenesis is a critical event in the development, progression, and spread of various human cancers, including lung cancer. Molecular mechanisms that underlie the complex regulation of angiogenic processes are poorly understood. However, an increasing body of evidence indicates miRNAs as important regulators of tumor angiogenesis. Forceps biopsies were collected from tumor tissue, surrounding tissue, and non-tumor tissue from 50 NSCLC patients. Lung tissue samples from individuals with no clinical evidence of a cancerous disease served as controls. Immunohistochemical staining for Factor VIII was used to evaluate microvessel density (MVD). TaqMan® primer-probe sets were used in quantitative real-time RT-PCR reactions to determine expression levels of let-7b, miR-126, miR-9, and miR-19a. We demonstrated significantly higher MVD and decreased expression levels of let-7b and miR-126 in tumor tissue and surrounding tissue in comparison to corresponding non-tumor tissue or lung tissue from the control group. In addition, no differences in MVD and expression levels of both miRNAs between tumor tissue and surrounding tissue from NSCLC patients were observed. Low expression of both miRNAs correlated with high MVD and worse progression-free survival and overall survival. These observations strongly suggest similar molecular alternations within tumor tissue and surrounding tissue that comprise a specific microenvironment. Low expression of let-7b and miR-126 seems to have a possible anti-angiogenic role in lung tumor tissue and significantly correlates with worse survival outcomes for lung cancer patients. Moreover, the regulation of let-7b and miR-126 expression could have therapeutic potential because it could reduce tumor angiogenesis and therefore suppress tumor growth in lung cancer patients.
D.10 Educational activities
COBISS.SI-ID: 267984128