title: Identification of thymosins β4 and β 10 in paediatric craniopharyngioma cystic fluid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma is the third most recurrent paediatric brain tumour. Although histologically benign, it behaves aggressively as a malignant tumour due to invasion of the hypothalamus and visual pathways. Surgery is still the first and almost the only mode of treatment, although serious damage can occur as a consequence of tumour localization. The proteomic characterization of the intracystic tumoural fluid could contribute to the comprehension of the tumorigenesis processes and to the development of therapeutic targets to reduce cyst volume, allowing less invasive surgery and/or delay of the radical resection of the tumour mass and the collateral serious effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intracystic fluid was analysed by a LC-ESI-IT-MS top-down platform after acidification, deproteinization and chloroform liquid/liquid extraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thymosin β4 and β10 peptides were for the first time identified in the intracystic fluid of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma by low- and high-resolution MS analysis coupled with LC. The two peptides showed the same distribution trend in the analysed samples. Thymosin β4 and β10 were present in 77 % of the analysed samples. These peptides were not found in the cerebrospinal fluid available for two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of β-thymosins in the intracystic fluid of the tumour confirmed the secretion of these proteins in the extracellular environment. Due to their G-actin-sequestering activity and antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties, these peptides could be strictly involved in both tumour progression and cyst development and growth.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, Rome, Italy. claudia.desiderio@icrm.cnr.it
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desiderio
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Diana Valeria
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.forename: Concezio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Rocco
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldarelli
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tamburrini
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iavarone
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagnola
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Messana
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cabras
authors.forename: Gavino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D013947:Thymosin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D013947:Thymosin