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Binda A, Rivolta I, Villa C, Chisci E, Beghi M, Cornaggia CM, Giovannoni R, Combi R. A Novel KCNJ2 Mutation Identified in an Autistic Proband Affects the Single Channel Properties of Kir2.1. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:76. [PMID: 29615871 PMCID: PMC5869910 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) have been historically associated to several cardiovascular disorders. In particular, loss-of-function mutations in the Kir2.1 channel have been reported in cases affected by Andersen-Tawil syndrome while gain-of-function mutations in the same channel cause the short QT3 syndrome. Recently, a missense mutation in Kir2.1, as well as mutations in the Kir4.1, were reported to be involved in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) suggesting a role of potassium channels in these diseases and introducing the idea of the existence of K+ channel ASDs. Here, we report the identification in an Italian affected family of a novel missense mutation (p.Phe58Ser) in the KCNJ2 gene detected in heterozygosity in a proband affected by autism and borderline for short QT syndrome type 3. The mutation is located in the N-terminal region of the gene coding for the Kir2.1 channel and in particular in a very conserved domain. In vitro assays demonstrated that this mutation results in an increase of the channel conductance and in its open probability. This gain-of-function of the protein is consistent with the autistic phenotype, which is normally associated to an altered neuronal excitability.
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Lupia M, Angiolini F, Bertalot G, Freddi S, Sachsenmeier KF, Chisci E, Kutryb-Zajac B, Confalonieri S, Smolenski RT, Giovannoni R, Colombo N, Bianchi F, Cavallaro U. CD73 Regulates Stemness and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Ovarian Cancer-Initiating Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:1412-1425. [PMID: 29551673 PMCID: PMC5998305 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-initiating cells (CICs) have been implicated in tumor development and aggressiveness. In ovarian carcinoma (OC), CICs drive tumor formation, dissemination, and recurrence, as well as drug resistance, thus accounting for the high death-to-incidence ratio of this neoplasm. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie such a pathogenic role of ovarian CICs (OCICs) remain elusive. Here, we have capitalized on primary cells either from OC or from its tissues of origin to obtain the transcriptomic profile associated with OCICs. Among the genes differentially expressed in OCICs, we focused on CD73, which encodes the membrane-associated 5′-ectonucleotidase. The genetic inactivation of CD73 in OC cells revealed that this molecule is causally involved in sphere formation and tumor initiation, thus emerging as a driver of OCIC function. Furthermore, functional inhibition of CD73 via either a chemical compound or a neutralizing antibody reduced sphere formation and tumorigenesis, highlighting the druggability of CD73 in the context of OCIC-directed therapies. The biological function of CD73 in OCICs required its enzymatic activity and involved adenosine signaling. Mechanistically, CD73 promotes the expression of stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated genes, implying a regulation of OCIC function at the transcriptional level. CD73, therefore, is involved in OCIC biology and may represent a therapeutic target for innovative treatments aimed at OC eradication. CD73 is enriched in ovarian cancer-initiating cells (OCICs) CD73 orchestrates OCIC stemness and EMT OC initiation and growth require CD73 activity OCIC-associated CD73 is a therapeutic target useful for OC eradication
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Romano G, Santi L, Bianco MR, Giuffrè MR, Pettinato M, Bugarin C, Garanzini C, Savarese L, Leoni S, Cerrito MG, Leone BE, Gaipa G, Grassilli E, Papa M, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R. The TGF-β pathway is activated by 5-fluorouracil treatment in drug resistant colorectal carcinoma cells. Oncotarget 2017; 7:22077-91. [PMID: 26956045 PMCID: PMC5008345 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TGF-β pathway is generally associated with the processes of metastasis, angiogenesis and EMT in cancer. Very little is known, however, about the role of TGF-β in cancer drug resistance. In this work, we show a specific activation of the TGF-β pathway in consequence of chemotherapeutic treatment in in vivo and in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma. 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) was able to stimulate the activation of SMAD3 and the transcription of specific genes such as ACVRL1, FN1 and TGFB1. On the other hand, the specific inhibition of TGF-βRI was able to repress the 5FU-induced genes transcription and to restore the sensitivity of chemoresistant cells to the toxic action of the drug, by decreasing the expression of BCL2L1 and ID1 genes. The role of the TGF-β molecule in the chemoresistant colon carcinoma cells' response to 5FU was further demonstrated by conditioned medium (CM) experiments: CM from 5FU-treated chemoresistant cells was able to protect chemosensitive cells against the toxic action of 5FU. In conclusion, these findings showed the pivotal role of TGF-β pathway in colon cancer mechanisms of drug resistance suggesting new possible approaches in diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer patients.
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Chisci E, De Giorgi M, Zanfrini E, Testasecca A, Brambilla E, Cinti A, Farina L, Kutryb-Zajac B, Bugarin C, Villa C, Grassilli E, Combi R, Gaipa G, Cerrito MG, Rivolta I, Smolenski RT, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R. Simultaneous overexpression of human E5NT and ENTPD1 protects porcine endothelial cells against H 2O 2-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in vitro. Free Radic Biol Med 2017; 108:320-333. [PMID: 28389406 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and oxidative stress still limit the survival of cells and organs in xenotransplantation models. Ectonucleotidases play an important role in inflammation and IRI in transplantation settings. We tested the potential protective effects derived by the co-expression of the two main vascular ectonucleotidases, ecto-5'-nucleotidase (E5NT) and ecto nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (ENTPD1), in an in vitro model of H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. We produced a dicistronic plasmid (named pCX-DI-2A) for the co-expression of human E5NT and ENTPD1 by using the F2A technology. pCX-DI-2A-transfected porcine endothelial cells simultaneously overexpressed hE5NT and hENTPD1, which were correctly processed and localized on the plasma membrane. Furthermore, such co-expression system led to the synergistic enzymatic activity of hE5NT and hENTPD1 as shown by the efficient catabolism of pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic extracellular adenine nucleotides along with the enhanced production of the anti-inflammatory molecule adenosine. Interestingly, we found that the hE5NT/hENTPD1 co-expression system conferred protection to cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. pCX-DI-2A-transfected cells showed reduced activation of caspase 3/7 and cytotoxicity than mock-, hE5NT- and hENTPD1-transfected cells. Furthermore, pCX-DI-2A-transfected cells showed decreased H2O2-induced production of ROS as compared to the other control cell lines. The cytoprotective phenotype observed in pCX-DI-2A-transfected cells was associated with higher detoxifying activity of catalase as well as increased activation of the survival signaling molecules Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Our data add new insights to the protective effects of the combination of hE5NT and hENTPD1 against oxidative stress and constitute a proof of concept for testing this new genetic combination in pig-to-non-human primates xenotransplantation models.
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Corrado A, Lepori I, Miglietta S, Batoni S, Vitiello M, Evangelista M, Chisci E, Giovannoni R, Poliseno L, Gemignani F, Landi S. Abstract LB-282: Two different strategies of delivery CRISPR/Cas9 system to gene edit rs4644 SNP in LGALS3 gene. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-lb-282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Galectin-3 is a glycoprotein of 31KDa with a chimeric structure. It is encoded by a single gene, LGALS3, located on chromosome 14. Previous studies showed a relation between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs4644, c.191C>A, p.Pro64His) and the risk of cancer. In literature, some data show different results indicating that SNP could have different roles in base on the tissues. The aim of our study is to create isogenic cell lines that differ only for SNP permitting further studies about the function of SNP in different cancers. The “generation” of the cell lines is performed with a Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-associated Endonuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system. We have used two different strategies to deliver the system. In the first strategy, our aim was the reduction of the problem of efficiency of transfection that could depend on different cell lines. In fact, we have used the lentivirus method to deliver all components of the CRISPR/Cas9 on Nthy-Ori (normal thyroid tissue) and HCT 116 +/+ (colorectal cancer tissue) cells. Two different vectors (pCW-Cas9 and pLXgRNA) are used to build up the inducible CRISPR/Cas9 system and HR410PA-1 vector (transfected by Lipofectamine 3000) is used to knock-in. HR410PA-1 is a particular vector that facilities the homologous recombination (HR) to repair the double strand break. Moreover, to improve HR, we use also Scr7, which is an inhibitor of DNA IV ligase. In the second approach, we have used the double nickase system using two modified Cas9 vectors (SpCas9D10a) that produce only a single strand break. In this way, the problem of off-targets is notably reduced. In this approach, the knock-in is due to or single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) or HR410PA-1 vector. The first results show that some of the transfected cells are edited in a correct way. In the further steps, we will isolate the “positive clones” using the selection cassette in HR410PA-1 vector (GFP protein and/or puromycin) or the single cell dilution assay (1 cell/well) for the transfected cells with ssODNs.
Citation Format: Alda Corrado, Irene Lepori, Simona Miglietta, Simone Batoni, Marianna Vitiello, Monica Evangelista, Elisa Chisci, Roberto Giovannoni, Laura Poliseno, Federica Gemignani, Stefano Landi. Two different strategies of delivery CRISPR/Cas9 system to gene edit rs4644 SNP in LGALS3 gene [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-282. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-282
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Salerno D, Beretta GL, Zanchetta G, Brioschi S, Cristofalo M, Missana N, Nardo L, Cassina V, Tempestini A, Giovannoni R, Cerrito MG, Zaffaroni N, Bellini T, Mantegazza F. Platinum-Based Drugs and DNA Interactions Studied by Single-Molecule and Bulk Measurements. Biophys J 2017; 110:2151-61. [PMID: 27224480 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum-containing molecules are widely used as anticancer drugs. These molecules exert cytotoxic effects by binding to DNA through various mechanisms. The binding between DNA and platinum-based drugs hinders the opening of DNA, and therefore, DNA duplication and transcription are severely hampered. Overall, impeding the above-mentioned important DNA mechanisms results in irreversible DNA damage and the induction of apoptosis. Several molecules, including multinuclear platinum compounds, belong to the family of platinum drugs, and there is a body of research devoted to developing more efficient and less toxic versions of these compounds. In this study, we combined different biophysical methods, including single-molecule assays (magnetic tweezers) and bulk experiments (ultraviolet absorption for thermal denaturation) to analyze the differential stability of double-stranded DNA in complex with either cisplatin or multinuclear platinum agents. Specifically, we analyzed how the binding of BBR3005 and BBR3464, two representative multinuclear platinum-based compounds, to DNA affects its stability as compared with cisplatin binding. Our results suggest that single-molecule approaches can provide insights into the drug-DNA interactions that underlie drug potency and provide information that is complementary to that generated from bulk analysis; thus, single-molecule approaches have the potential to facilitate the selection and design of optimized drug compounds. In particular, relevant differences in DNA stability at the single-molecule level are demonstrated by analyzing nanomechanically induced DNA denaturation. On the basis of the comparison between the single-molecule and bulk analyses, we suggest that transplatinated drugs are able to locally destabilize small portions of the DNA chain, whereas other regions are stabilized.
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Caria P, Pillai R, Dettori T, Frau DV, Zavattari P, Riva G, Romano G, Pani F, Bentivegna A, Giovannoni R, Pagni F, Sogos V, Vanni R. Thyrospheres from B-CPAP Cell Line with BRAF and TERT Promoter Mutations have Different Functional and Molecular Features than Parental Cells. J Cancer 2017; 8:1629-1639. [PMID: 28775782 PMCID: PMC5535718 DOI: 10.7150/jca.18855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human thyroid cancer derived cell lines are widely used to study the mechanisms involved in thyroid carcinogenesis. However, there is limited availability of non-cross-contaminated cancer cell lines derived from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and the B-CPAP cell line is one of the few such lines. B-CPAP cells have been genetically and cytogenetically well-characterized, but details of their stemness features remain uncertain. Considering that this cell line is extensively used for in vitro studies on thyroid tumorigenesis, we broaden its functional and molecular profiles as well as the tumorigenic capacity. We used functional assays (sphere-forming capacity and efficiency), assessed self-renewal and propagation efficiency and tested in vivo tumorigenicity in Hsd:Athymic Nude-Foxn1nu mice. Expression of markers of stemness, differentiation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were estimated at RNA and protein levels in adherent parental cells and sphere-forming cells. Functional aspects and stemness features were compared with normal thyrocytes. Protein expression of xenograft tumors was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. B-CPAP sphere-forming cells were able to form thyrospheres theoretically indefinitely in an appropriate serum-free medium, reverting to the adherent parental cell phenotype when cultured in differentiation medium. Different expression of ALDH1-A1 and CD44 stemness markers and TTF-1 and CK19 differentiation markers allowed discrimination between isolated sphere-forming cells and adherent parental cells, indicating that sphere-forming cells retained stem-like features. In keeping with these observations, tumorigenicity assays confirmed that, relative to parental adherent cells, thyrospheres had enhanced capacity to initiate xenograft tumors. Thyrospheres from normal cell line retained very low functional capacity, as well as different stemness markers expression compared to tumor thyrospheres. Our findings may constitute a useful background to develop an in vitro model for assessing the origin and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma bearing BRAFV600E and TERT promoter mutations.
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Cerrito MG, Pelizzoni D, De Giorgi M, Digiacomo N, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R, Bidoli P, Cazzaniga ME. Is metronomic vinorelbine (mVRL) able to inhibit both HUVEC and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells? The proof-of-concept VICTOR-0 study. J Clin Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.e14014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
e14014 Background: TNBC represents an important clinical challenge because of poor prognosis. One of the emerging strategy to achieve disease control while reducing toxicity is metronomic chemotherapy (mCHT) which targets the endothelial cells (ECs) and inhibits the tumor growth. mVRL is a promising option in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), resulting in a median PFS of 7.7 months and median OS of 15.9. To better explain the effect of mVRL we studied the effects of metronomic doses of VRL in in vitro models and compared them with standard doses of the same drug. Methods: Cell viability and cytotoxicity assays were performed on TNBC cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). Cell lines were exposed to different concentration (0,01nM-1mM) of VRL for 4 and 96 h. To simulate the metronomic dosing schedule, we replaced the drug-enriched medium every 24h, while to simulate the conventional administration protocol (sCHT) cells were exposed to VRL for 4h, then the medium was changed and replaced with fresh medium without drug every 24 h. The IC50was calculated by non-linear regression fit of the mean values of data obtained in triplicate experiments. Results: A significant anti-proliferative activity was observed on both HUVEC and MDA cells treated with VRL in mCHT as compared to sCHT protocol (see Table). These lower drug concentrations did not have remarkable effects on cell death. Conversely, the higher dose utilized in sCHT produced important cell death in MDA as well as in HUVEC, even if in vivo, the higher dose of drug inducing the largest apoptosis of cancer cells also affectd healthy proliferating cells causing toxicity. Our findings suggest that mCHT inhibited the proliferation of both endothelial and tumour cells and can block cancer progression with minor side effects. Conclusions: This study provides the proof-of-concept that metronomic doses of VRL, but not the standard ones, are able to inhibit, at the same concentration, both the ECs and the TNBC cells. The clinical trial TEMPO-BREAST, which compares metronomic vs standard VRL, is ongoing in MBC pts. [Table: see text]
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Ženka J, Caisová V, Uher O, Nedbalová P, Kvardová K, Masáková K, Krejčová G, Paďouková L, Jochmanová I, Wolf KI, Chmelař J, Kopecký J, Loumagne L, Mestadier J, D’agostino S, Rohaut A, Ruffin Y, Croize V, Lemaître O, Sidhu SS, Althammer S, Steele K, Rebelatto M, Tan T, Wiestler T, Spitzmueller A, Korn R, Schmidt G, Higgs B, Li X, Shi L, Jin X, Ranade K, Koeck S, Amann A, Gamerith G, Zwierzina M, Lorenz E, Zwierzina H, Kern J, Riva M, Baert T, Coosemans A, Giovannoni R, Radaelli E, Gsell W, Himmelreich U, Van Ranst M, Xing F, Qian W, Dong C, Xu X, Guo S, Shi Q, Quandt D, Seliger B, Plett C, Amberger DC, Rabe A, Deen D, Stankova Z, Hirn A, Vokac Y, Werner J, Krämer D, Rank A, Schmid C, Schmetzer H, Guerin M, Weiss JM, Regnier F, Renault G, Vimeux L, Peranzoni E, Feuillet V, Thoreau M, Guilbert T, Trautmann A, Bercovici N, Amberger DC, Doraneh-Gard F, Boeck CL, Plett C, Gunsilius C, Kugler C, Werner J, Schmohl J, Kraemer D, Ismann B, Rank A, Schmid C, Schmetzer HM, Markota A, Ochs C, May P, Gottschlich A, Gosálvez JS, Karches C, Wenk D, Endres S, Kobold S, Hilmenyuk T, Klar R, Jaschinski F, Gamerith G, Augustin F, Lorenz E, Manzl C, Hoflehner E, Moser P, Zelger B, Köck S, Amann A, Kern J, Schäfer G, Öfner D, Maier H, Zwierzina H, Sopper S, Prado-Garcia H, Romero-Garcia S, Sandoval-Martínez R, Puerto-Aquino A, Lopez-Gonzalez J, Rumbo-Nava U, Klar R, Hilmenyuk T, Jaschinski F, Coosemans A, Baert T, Van Hoylandt A, Busschaert P, Vergote I, Baert T, Van Hoylandt A, Busschaert P, Vergote I, Coosemans A, Laengle J, Pilatova K, Budinska E, Bencsikova B, Sefr R, Nenutil R, Brychtova V, Fedorova L, Hanakova B, Zdrazilova-Dubska L, Allen C, Ku YC, Tom W, Sun Y, Pankov A, Looney T, Hyland F, Au-Young J, Mongan A, Becker A, Tan JBL, Chen A, Lawson K, Lindsey E, Powers JP, Walters M, Schindler U, Young S, Jaen JC, Yin S, Chen Y, Gullo I, Gonçalves G, Pinto ML, Athelogou M, Almeida G, Huss R, Oliveira C, Carneiro F, Merz C, Sykora J, Hermann K, Hussong R, Richards DM, Fricke H, Hill O, Gieffers C, Pinho MP, Barbuto JAM, McArdle SE, Foulds G, Vadakekolathu JN, Abdel-Fatah TMA, Johnson C, Hood S, Moseley P, Rees RC, Chan SYT, Pockley AG, Rutella S, Geppert C, Hartmann A, Kumar KS, Gokilavani M, Wang S, Merz C, Richards DM, Sykora J, Redondo-Müller M, Heinonen K, Marschall V, Thiemann M, Fricke H, Gieffers C, Hill O, Zhang L, Mao B, Jin Y, Zhai G, Li Z, Wang Z, Qian W, An X, Qiao M, Zhang J, Shi Q, Weber J, Kluger H, Halaban R, Sznol M, Roder H, Roder J, Grigorieva J, Asmellash S, Oliveira C, Meyer K, Steingrimsson A, Blackmon S, Sullivan R, Boeck CL, Amberger DC, Doraneh-Gard F, Sutanto W, Guenther T, Schmohl J, Schuster F, Salih H, Babor F, Borkhardt A, Schmetzer H, Kim Y, Oh I, Park C, Ahn S, Na K, Song S, Choi Y, Fedorova L, Poprach A, Lakomy R, Selingerova I, Demlova R, Pilatova K, Kozakova S, Valik D, Petrakova K, Vyzula R, Zdrazilova-Dubska L, Aguilar-Cazares D, Galicia-Velasco M, Camacho-Mendoza C, Islas-Vazquez L, Chavez-Dominguez R, Gonzalez-Gonzalez C, Prado-Garcia H, Lopez-Gonzalez JS, Yang S, Moynihan KD, Noh M, Bekdemir A, Stellacci F, Irvine DJ, Volz B, Kapp K, Oswald D, Wittig B, Schmidt M, Chavez-Dominguez R, Aguilar-Cazares D, Prado-Garcia H, Islas-Vazquez L, Lopez-Gonzalez JS, Kleef R, Bohdjalian A, McKee D, Moss RW, Saeed M, Zalba S, Debets R, ten Hagen TLM, Javed S, Becher J, Koch-Nolte F, Haag F, Gordon EM, Sankhala KK, Stumpf N, Tseng W, Chawla SP, Suárez NG, Báez GB, Rodríguez MC, Pérez AG, García LC, Fernández DH, Pous JR, Ramírez BS, Jacoberger-Foissac C, Saliba H, Seguin C, Brion A, Frisch B, Fournel S, Heurtault B, Otterhaug T, Håkerud M, Nedberg A, Edwards V, Selbo P, Høgset A, Jaitly T, Dörrie J, Schaft N, Gross S, Schuler-Thurner B, Gupta S, Taher L, Schuler G, Vera J, Rataj F, Kraus F, Grassmann S, Chaloupka M, Lesch S, Heise C, Endres S, Kobold S, Cadilha BML, Dorman K, Heise C, Rataj F, Endres S, Kobold S. Abstracts from the 4th ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Conference. J Immunother Cancer 2017. [PMCID: PMC5374589 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-017-0219-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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Cilibrasi C, Riva G, Romano G, Cadamuro M, Bazzoni R, Butta V, Paoletta L, Dalprà L, Strazzabosco M, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R, Bentivegna A. Resveratrol Impairs Glioma Stem Cells Proliferation and Motility by Modulating the Wnt Signaling Pathway. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169854. [PMID: 28081224 PMCID: PMC5231344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a grade IV astrocytoma and the most common form of malignant brain tumor in adults. GBM remains one of the most fatal and least successfully treated solid tumors: current therapies provide a median survival of 12–15 months after diagnosis, due to the high recurrence rate. Glioma Stem Cells (GSCs) are believed to be the real driving force of tumor initiation, progression and relapse. Therefore, better therapeutic strategies GSCs-targeted are needed. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in fruits and vegetables displaying pleiotropic health benefits. Many studies have highlighted its chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic activities in a wide range of solid tumors. In this work, we analyzed the effects of Resveratrol exposure on cell viability, proliferation and motility in seven GSC lines isolated from GBM patients. For the first time in our knowledge, we investigated Resveratrol impact on Wnt signaling pathway in GSCs, evaluating the expression of seven Wnt signaling pathway-related genes and the protein levels of c-Myc and β-catenin. Finally, we analyzed Twist1 and Snail1 protein levels, two pivotal activators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. Results showed that although response to Resveratrol exposure was highly heterogeneous among GSC lines, generally it was able to inhibit cell proliferation, increase cell mortality, and strongly decrease cell motility, modulating the Wnt signaling pathway and the EMT activators. Treatment with Resveratrol may represent a new interesting therapeutic approach, in order to affect GSCs proliferation and motility, even if further investigations are needed to deeply understand the GSCs heterogeneous response.
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Ianzano L, Bonomo S, Cialdella A, Pisano F, Cerrito M, Carola M, McLean C, Romano G, Giovannoni R, Agostini M, Nitti D, Voest E, Helin K, Lavitrano M, Grassilli E. p65BTK targeting restores the apoptotic response to chemotherapy of p53-null drug-resistant colon cancer cells. Eur J Cancer 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(16)33016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Grassilli E, Pisano F, Cialdella A, Bonomo S, Missaglia C, Cerrito MG, Masiero L, Ianzano L, Giordano F, Cicirelli V, Narloch R, D'Amato F, Noli B, Ferri GL, Leone BE, Stanta G, Bonin S, Helin K, Giovannoni R, Lavitrano M. A novel oncogenic BTK isoform is overexpressed in colon cancers and required for RAS-mediated transformation. Oncogene 2016; 35:4368-78. [PMID: 26804170 PMCID: PMC4994017 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is essential for B-cell proliferation/differentiation and it is generally believed that its expression and function are limited to bone marrow-derived cells. Here, we report the identification and characterization of p65BTK, a novel isoform abundantly expressed in colon carcinoma cell lines and tumour tissue samples. p65BTK protein is expressed, through heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK)-dependent and internal ribosome entry site-driven translation, from a transcript containing an alternative first exon in the 5'-untranslated region, and is post-transcriptionally regulated, via hnRNPK, by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. p65BTK is endowed with strong transforming activity that depends on active signal-regulated protein kinases-1/2 (ERK1/2) and its inhibition abolishes RAS transforming activity. Accordingly, p65BTK overexpression in colon cancer tissues correlates with ERK1/2 activation. Moreover, p65BTK inhibition affects growth and survival of colon cancer cells. Our data reveal that BTK, via p65BTK expression, is a novel and powerful oncogene acting downstream of the RAS/MAPK pathway and suggest that its targeting may be a promising therapeutic approach.
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Conconi D, Redaelli S, Bovo G, Leone BE, Filippi E, Ambrosiani L, Cerrito MG, Grassilli E, Giovannoni R, Dalprà L, Lavitrano M. Unexpected frequency of genomic alterations in histologically normal colonic tissue from colon cancer patients. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:13831-13842. [PMID: 27481518 PMCID: PMC5097093 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5181-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As shown by genomic studies, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, where copy number alterations (CNAs) may greatly vary among different patients. To explore whether CNAs may be present also in histologically normal tissues from patients affected by CRC, we performed CGH + SNP Microarray on 15 paired tumoral and normal samples. Here, we report for the first time the occurrence of CNAs as a common feature of the histologically normal tissue from CRC patients, particularly CNAs affecting different oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes, including some not previously reported in CRC and others known as being involved in tumor progression. Moreover, from the comparison of normal vs paired tumoral tissue, we were able to identify three groups: samples with an increased number of CNAs in tumoral vs normal tissue, samples with a similar number of CNAs in both tissues, and samples with a decrease of CNAs in tumoral vs normal tissue, which may be likely due to a selection of the cell population within the tumor. In conclusion, our approach allowed us to uncover for the first time an unexpected frequency of genetic alteration in normal tissue, suggesting that tumorigenic genetic lesions are already present in histologically normal colonic tissue and that the use in array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) studies of normal samples as reference for the paired tumors can lead to misrepresented genomic data, which may be incomplete or limited, especially if used for the research of target molecules for personalized therapy and for the possible correlation with clinical outcome.
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Giovannoni R, Villanueva A. Circulating tumor cells and cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatology 2016; 63:23-5. [PMID: 26358526 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Grassilli E, Pisano F, Cialdella A, Bonomo S, Missaglia C, Cerrito MG, Masiero L, Ianzano L, Narloch R, D'Amato F, Noli B, Ferri GL, Leone BE, Stanta G, Bonin S, Helin K, Giovannoni R, Lavitrano M. Abstract B121: A novel oncogenic BTK isoform is overexpressed in colon cancers and required for RAS-mediated transformation. Mol Cancer Ther 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-15-b121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
It is known that Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is essential for B-cell proliferation/differentiation and it is generally believed that its expression and function are limited to bone marrow-derived cells. Here, we report the identification and characterization of p65BTK, a novel oncogenic isoform expressed in colon carcinomas.
Standard procedures were used for cloning the full length p65BTK-encoding mRNA and raise anti-p65BTK specific polyclonal antibodies. Quantitative PCR, western blot, RNA immunoprecipitation, silencing experiments and fluorescence assay upon transfection with bi-cistronic vectors were used to demonstrate post-transcriptional regulation of p65BTK expression. Immunohystochemistry was employed to study p65BTK expression in colon cancer patients specimens. Soft agar assay and foci assay were carried out to assess p65BTK oncogenic properties. Cell growth, cell viability and colony assays were performed to study the effects of p65BTK inhibition (by a specific kinase inhibitor) on colon cancer cells biology.
We found that p65BTK differs from the already known 77 kDa isoform for the lack of the N-terminal PH domain and is translated - through an IRES-dependent mechanism -from a transcript containing an alternative first exon in the 5'UTR. Moreover, p65BTK mRNA translation requires phosho-hnRNPK binding to its cognate sites (located in the alternative first exon) and is post-transcriptionally regulated, via hnRNPK, by the MAPK pathway. We demonstrate that p65BTK is endowed with strong transforming activity that depends on active ERK1/2 and its inhibition abolishes RAS transforming activity. Accordingly, p65BTK overexpression in colon cancer tissues correlates with ERK1/2 activation. Finally we show that p65BTK inhibition affects growth and survival of colon cancer cells.
In conclusion, our data reveal that BTK, via p65BTK expression, is a novel and powerful oncogene acting downstream of the RAS/MAPK pathway and suggest that its targeting may be a promising therapeutic approach.
Citation Format: Emanuela Grassilli, Fabio Pisano, Annamaria Cialdella, Sara Bonomo, Carola Missaglia, Maria Grazia Cerrito, Laura Masiero, Leonarda Ianzano, Robert Narloch, Filomena D'Amato, Barbara Noli, Gian Luca Ferri, Biagio E. Leone, Giorgio Stanta, Serena Bonin, Kristian Helin, Roberto Giovannoni, Marialuisa Lavitrano. A novel oncogenic BTK isoform is overexpressed in colon cancers and required for RAS-mediated transformation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B121.
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Cinti A, De Giorgi M, Chisci E, Arena C, Galimberti G, Farina L, Bugarin C, Rivolta I, Gaipa G, Smolenski RT, Cerrito MG, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R. Simultaneous Overexpression of Functional Human HO-1, E5NT and ENTPD1 Protects Murine Fibroblasts against TNF-α-Induced Injury In Vitro. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141933. [PMID: 26513260 PMCID: PMC4626094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Several biomedical applications, such as xenotransplantation, require multiple genes simultaneously expressed in eukaryotic cells. Advances in genetic engineering technologies have led to the development of efficient polycistronic vectors based on the use of the 2A self-processing oligopeptide. The aim of this work was to evaluate the protective effects of the simultaneous expression of a novel combination of anti-inflammatory human genes, ENTPD1, E5NT and HO-1, in eukaryotic cells. We produced an F2A system-based multicistronic construct to express three human proteins in NIH3T3 cells exposed to an inflammatory stimulus represented by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine which plays an important role during inflammation, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis and in the inflammatory response during ischemia/reperfusion injury in several organ transplantation settings. The protective effects against TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity and cell death, mediated by HO-1, ENTPD1 and E5NT genes were better observed in cells expressing the combination of genes as compared to cells expressing each single gene and the effect was further improved by administrating enzymatic substrates of the human genes to the cells. Moreover, a gene expression analyses demonstrated that the expression of the three genes has a role in modulating key regulators of TNF-α signalling pathway, namely Nemo and Tnfaip3, that promoted pro-survival phenotype in TNF-α injured cells. These results could provide new insights in the research of protective mechanisms in transplantation settings.
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Agostini M, Zangrando A, Pastrello C, D'Angelo E, Romano G, Giovannoni R, Giordan M, Maretto I, Bedin C, Zanon C, Digito M, Esposito G, Mescoli C, Lavitrano M, Rizzolio F, Jurisica I, Giordano A, Pucciarelli S, Nitti D. A functional biological network centered on XRCC3: a new possible marker of chemoradiotherapy resistance in rectal cancer patients. Cancer Biol Ther 2015; 16:1160-71. [PMID: 26023803 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2015.1046652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Preoperative chemoradiotherapy is widely used to improve local control of disease, sphincter preservation and to improve survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Patients enrolled in the present study underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy, followed by surgical excision. Response to chemoradiotherapy was evaluated according to Mandard's Tumor Regression Grade (TRG). TRG 3, 4 and 5 were considered as partial or no response while TRG 1 and 2 as complete response. From pretherapeutic biopsies of 84 locally advanced rectal carcinomas available for the analysis, only 42 of them showed 70% cancer cellularity at least. By determining gene expression profiles, responders and non-responders showed significantly different expression levels for 19 genes (P < 0.001). We fitted a logistic model selected with a stepwise procedure optimizing the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and then validated by means of leave one out cross validation (LOOCV, accuracy = 95%). Four genes were retained in the achieved model: ZNF160, XRCC3, HFM1 and ASXL2. Real time PCR confirmed that XRCC3 is overexpressed in responders group and HFM1 and ASXL2 showed a positive trend. In vitro test on colon cancer resistant/susceptible to chemoradioterapy cells, finally prove that XRCC3 deregulation is extensively involved in the chemoresistance mechanisms. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) analysis involving the predictive classifier revealed a network of 45 interacting nodes (proteins) with TRAF6 gene playing a keystone role in the network. The present study confirmed the possibility that gene expression profiling combined with integrative computational biology is useful to predict complete responses to preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with advanced rectal cancer.
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Key Words
- CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen
- CRT, Chemoradiotherapy
- DSB, Double-strand breaks
- Gy, Gray
- HT, High throughput
- PPI, Protein-protein interaction
- RC, Rectal cancer
- RIN, RNA integrity number
- SNP, Single nucleotide polymorphism
- SSB, Single-strand breaks
- XRCC3
- biological network
- integrated approach
- mRNA, mRNA
- microarray
- pCRT, Preoperative chemoradiotherapy
- preoperative chemoradiotherapy
- rectal cancer
- siRNA, Small interfering RNA
- treatment response
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De Giorgi M, Cinti A, Pelikant-Malecka I, Chisci E, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R, Smolenski RT. Co-expression of functional human Heme Oxygenase 1, Ecto-5′-Nucleotidase and ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 by “self-cleaving” 2A peptide system. Plasmid 2015; 79:22-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Bugiardini E, Rivolta I, Binda A, Soriano Caminero A, Cirillo F, Cinti A, Giovannoni R, Botta A, Cardani R, Wicklund M, Meola G. SCN4A mutation as modifying factor of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 phenotype. Neuromuscul Disord 2015; 25:301-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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De Giorgi M, Pelikant-Malecka I, Sielicka A, Slominska EM, Giovannoni R, Cinti A, Cerrito MG, Lavitrano M, Smolenski RT. Functional analysis of expression of human ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 and/or ecto-5'-nucleotidase in pig endothelial cells. NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2015; 33:313-8. [PMID: 24940685 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2014.896466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adenine nucleosides and nucleotides are important signaling molecules involved in control of key mechanisms of xenotransplant rejection. Extracellular pathway that converts ATP and ADP to AMP, and AMP to adenosine mainly mediated by ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1, (ENTPD1 or CD39) and ecto-5'-nucleotidase (E5NT or CD73) respectively, is considered as important target for xenograft protection. To clarify feasibility of combined expression of human ENTPD1 and E5NT and to study its functional effect we transfected pig endothelial cell line (PIEC) with both genes together. To do this we have produced a dicistronic construct bearing F2A sequence in frame between human E5NT and human ENTPD1 coding sequences. PIEC cells were mock-transfected as transfection control or transfected with plasmids encoding human ENTPD1 or human E5NT. PIEC cells were exposed to 50 μM ATP or 50 μM ADP or 50 μM AMP. Conversion of extracellular substrates into products (ATP/ADP/AMP/adenosine) was measured by HPLC in the media collected at specific time intervals. Following addition of AMP, production of adenosine in the medium of E5NT/ENTPD1- and E5NT- transfected cells increased to 14.2±1.1 and 24.5±3.4 μM respectively while it remained below 1 μM in controls and in ENTPD1-transfected cells. A marked increase of adenosine formation from ADP or ATP was observed only in E5NT/ENTPD1-transfected cells (11.7±0.1 and 5.7±2.2 μM respectively) but not in any other condition studied. This study indicates feasibility and functionality of combined expression of human E5NT and ENTPD1 in pig endothelial cells using F2A sequence bearing construct.
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Grassilli E, Ianzano L, Bonomo S, Missaglia C, Cerrito MG, Giovannoni R, Masiero L, Lavitrano M. GSK3A is redundant with GSK3B in modulating drug resistance and chemotherapy-induced necroptosis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100947. [PMID: 24984063 PMCID: PMC4077702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 alpha (GSK3A) and beta (GSK3B) isoforms are encoded by distinct genes, are 98% identical within their kinase domain and perform similar functions in several settings; however, they are not completely redundant and, depending on the cell type and differentiative status, they also play unique roles. We recently identified a role for GSK3B in drug resistance by demonstrating that its inhibition enables necroptosis in response to chemotherapy in p53-null drug-resistant colon carcinoma cells. We report here that, similarly to GSK3B, also GSK3A silencing/inhibition does not affect cell proliferation or cell cycle but only abolishes growth after treatment with DNA-damaging chemotherapy. In particular, blocking GSK3A impairs DNA repair upon exposure to DNA-damaging drugs. As a consequence, p53-null cells overcome their inability to undergo apoptosis and mount a necroptotic response, characterized by absence of caspase activation and RIP1-independent, PARP-dependent AIF nuclear re-localization. We therefore conclude that GSK3A is redundant with GSK3B in regulating drug-resistance and chemotherapy-induced necroptosis and suggest that inhibition of only one isoform, or rather partial inhibition of overall cellular GSK3 activity, is enough to re-sensitize drug-resistant cells to chemotherapy.
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Grassilli E, Narloch R, Federzoni E, Ianzano L, Pisano F, Giovannoni R, Romano G, Masiero L, Leone BE, Bonin S, Donada M, Stanta G, Helin K, Lavitrano M. Inhibition of GSK3B bypass drug resistance of p53-null colon carcinomas by enabling necroptosis in response to chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:3820-31. [PMID: 23729362 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-3289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Evasion from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis due to p53 loss strongly contributes to drug resistance. Identification of specific targets for the treatment of drug-resistant p53-null tumors would therefore increase the effectiveness of cancer therapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN By using a kinase-directed short hairpin RNA library and HCT116p53KO drug-resistant colon carcinoma cells, glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3B) was identified as a target whose silencing bypasses drug resistance due to loss of p53. p53-null colon cancer cell lines with different sets of mutations were used to validate the role of GSK3B in sustaining resistance and to characterize cell death mechanisms triggered by chemotherapy when GSK3B is silenced. In vivo xenograft studies were conducted to confirm resensitization of drug-resistant cells to chemotherapy upon GSK3 inhibition. Colon cancer samples from a cohort of 50 chemotherapy-treated stage II patients were analyzed for active GSK3B expression. RESULTS Downregulation of GSK3B in various drug-resistant p53-null colon cancer cell lines abolished cell viability and colony growth after drug addition without affecting cell proliferation or cell cycle in untreated cells. Cell death of 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-treated p53-null GSK3B-silenced colon carcinoma cells occurred via PARP1-dependent and AIF-mediated but RIP1-independent necroptosis. In vivo studies showed that drug-resistant xenograft tumor mass was significantly reduced only when 5FU was given after GSK3B inhibition. Tissue microarray analysis of colon carcinoma samples from 5FU-treated patients revealed that GSK3B is significantly more activated in drug-resistant versus responsive patients. CONCLUSIONS Targeting GSK3B, in combination with chemotherapy, may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant tumors.
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Abstract
The transgenic technologies represent potent biotechnological tools that allow the generation of genetically modified animals useful for basic research and for biomedical, veterinary, and agricultural applications. Among transgenic techniques, we describe here the sperm-mediated gene transfer methods that is gene transfer based on the spontaneous ability of sperm cells to bind and internalize exogenous DNA and to carry it to oocyte during fertilization, producing genetically modified animals with high efficiency.
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Tempestini A, Cassina V, Brogioli D, Ziano R, Erba S, Giovannoni R, Cerrito MG, Salerno D, Mantegazza F. Magnetic tweezers measurements of the nanomechanical stability of DNA against denaturation at various conditions of pH and ionic strength. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 41:2009-19. [PMID: 23248010 PMCID: PMC3561983 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks1206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The opening of DNA double strands is extremely relevant to several biological functions, such as replication and transcription or binding of specific proteins. Such opening phenomenon is particularly sensitive to the aqueous solvent conditions in which the DNA molecule is dispersed, as it can be observed by considering the classical dependence of DNA melting temperature on pH and salt concentration. In the present work, we report a single-molecule study of the stability of DNA against denaturation when subjected to changes in solvent. We investigated the appearance of DNA instability under specific external applied force and imposed twist values, which was revealed by an increase in the temporal fluctuations in the DNA extension. These fluctuations occur in the presence of a continuous interval of equilibrium states, ranging from a plectonemic state to a state characterized by denaturation bubbles. In particular, we observe the fluctuations only around a characteristic force value. Moreover, this characteristic force is demonstrated to be notably sensitive to variations in the pH and ionic strength. Finally, an extension of a theoretical model of plectoneme formation is used to estimate the average denaturation energy, which is found to be linearly correlated to the melting temperature of the DNA double strands.
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Musumeci R, Rausa M, Giovannoni R, Cialdella A, Bramati S, Sibra B, Giltri G, Viganò F, Cocuzza CE. Prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated in a teaching hospital of northern Italy. Microb Drug Resist 2011; 18:33-41. [PMID: 21711147 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2010.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants in uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from inpatients and outpatients in a teaching hospital of northern Italy. The presence of qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr, and qepA was evaluated in 76 and 72 nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli, isolated in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Positivity for the aac(6')-Ib-cr gene was demonstrated in 3 of 76 (3.9%) and 8 of 72 (11%) isolates, respectively; no other PMQR determinant was found. All aac(6')-Ib-cr-positive strains also showed two point mutations in the gyrA and parC genes. Most aac(6')-Ib-cr-positive isolates demonstrated the contemporary presence of bla(CTX-M-15), bla(OXA-1/30), and bla(TEM-1) genes and 4/11 harbored a class 1 integron with a dfrA17-aadA5 gene cassette arrangement. Interestingly, all aac(6')-Ib-cr-positive isolates belonged to B2 phylogenetic group, O25b antigen type, multi locus sequence type 131, and to a cluster of approximately 70% similarity level by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). These findings suggest the circulation of the previously described intercontinentally spreading E. coli O25:H4-ST131 clone in our geographical area since 2004. Hybridization studies of the PFGE profiles showed the aac(6')-Ib-cr gene to be associated with different molecular weight bands (40-350 kb) and interestingly aac(6')-Ib-cr chromosomal integration was demonstrated in one strain by I-Ceu I method. This represents the first report to investigate the presence and diffusion of PMQR determinants in northern Italy and to describe aac(6')-Ib-cr chromosomal integration in E. coli.
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