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Bongiorni S, Catalani E, Arisi I, Lazzarini F, Del Quondam S, Brunetti K, Cervia D, Prantera G. Pathological Defects in a Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease and Beneficial Effects of the Natural Product Lisosan G. Biomolecules 2024; 14:855. [PMID: 39062569 PMCID: PMC11274821 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains are histologically marked by the presence of intracellular and extracellular amyloid deposits, which characterize the onset of the disease pathogenesis. Increasing evidence suggests that certain nutrients exert a direct or indirect effect on amyloid β (Aβ)-peptide production and accumulation and, consequently, on AD pathogenesis. We exploited the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster model of AD to evaluate in vivo the beneficial properties of Lisosan G, a fermented powder obtained from organic whole grains, on the intracellular Aβ-42 peptide accumulation and related pathological phenotypes of AD. Our data showed that the Lisosan G-enriched diet attenuates the production of neurotoxic Aβ peptides in fly brains and reduces neuronal apoptosis. Notably, Lisosan G exerted anti-oxidant effects, lowering brain levels of reactive oxygen species and enhancing mitochondrial activity. These aspects paralleled the increase in autophagy turnover and the inhibition of nucleolar stress. Our results give support to the use of the Drosophila model not only to investigate the molecular genetic bases of neurodegenerative disease but also to rapidly and reliably test the efficiency of potential therapeutic agents and diet regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Bongiorni
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.B.); (F.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (S.D.Q.); (K.B.)
| | - Ivan Arisi
- Bioinformatics Facility, European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) “Rita Levi-Montalcini”, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Lazzarini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.B.); (F.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Simona Del Quondam
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (S.D.Q.); (K.B.)
| | - Kashi Brunetti
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (S.D.Q.); (K.B.)
| | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (S.D.Q.); (K.B.)
| | - Giorgio Prantera
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.B.); (F.L.); (G.P.)
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Araya X, Okumu M, Durán G, Gómez A, Gutiérrez JM, León G. Assessment of the Artemia salina toxicity assay as a substitute of the mouse lethality assay in the determination of venom-induced toxicity and preclinical efficacy of antivenom. Toxicon X 2024; 22:100195. [PMID: 38606385 PMCID: PMC11004356 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2024.100195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Mice are routinely used in snake venom research but are costly and subject to pain and suffering. The crustacean Artemia salina could be an alternative to mice, but data to support its adoption in snake venom research is limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of A. salina as a surrogate of mice in assessing the toxicity of venoms and the preclinical efficacy of antivenoms. The toxicity of venoms from 22 snakes of medical importance in sub-Saharan Africa was evaluated in mice (intraperitoneally; i.p. and intravenously; i.v.) and in A. salina. Subsequently, the capacity of a commercial antivenom to neutralize the toxicity of these venoms in mice and A. salina was investigated. There was a positive correlation between the i.v. median lethal doses (LD50s) and the i.p. LD50s in mice (r = 0.804; p < 0.0001), a moderate correlation between the i.v. LD50s in mice and the median lethal concentrations (LC50s) in A. salina (r = 0.606; p = 0.003), and a moderate correlation between the i.p. LD50s in mice and the LC50s in A. salina (r = 0.426; p = 0.048). Moreover, there was a strong correlation between the i.p. median effective doses (ED50s) and the i.v. ED50s in mice (r = 0.941, p < 0.0001), between the i.p. ED50s in mice and the ED50s in A. salina (r = 0.818, p < 0.0001), and between the i.v. ED50s in mice and the ED50s in A. salina (r = 0.972, p < 0.0001). These findings present A. salina as a promising candidate for reducing reliance on mice in snake venom research. Future investigations should build upon these findings, addressing potential limitations and expanding the scope of A. salina in venom research and antivenom development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Araya
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mitchel Okumu
- Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gina Durán
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Aarón Gómez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Guillermo León
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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Goyeneche AA, Lasiste JME, Abdouh M, Bustamante P, Burnier JV, Burnier MN. Delineating three-dimensional behavior of uveal melanoma cells under anchorage independent or dependent conditions. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:180. [PMID: 38783299 PMCID: PMC11118898 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03350-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although rare, uveal melanoma (UM) is a life-threatening malignancy. Understanding its biology is necessary to improve disease outcome. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro culture methods have emerged as tools that incorporate physical and spatial cues that better mimic tumor biology and in turn deliver more predictive preclinical data. Herein, we comprehensively characterize UM cells under different 3D culture settings as a suitable model to study tumor cell behavior and therapeutic intervention. METHODS Six UM cell lines were tested in two-dimensional (2D) and 3D-culture conditions. For 3D cultures, we used anchorage-dependent (AD) methods where cells were embedded or seeded on top of basement membrane extracts and anchorage-free (AF) methods where cells were seeded on agarose pre-coated plates, ultra-low attachment plates, and on hanging drops, with or without methylcellulose. Cultures were analyzed for multicellular tumor structures (MCTs) development by phase contrast and confocal imaging, and cell wellbeing was assessed based on viability, membrane integrity, vitality, apoptotic features, and DNA synthesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production was evaluated under hypoxic conditions for cell function analysis. RESULTS UM cells cultured following anchorage-free methods developed MCTs shaped as spheres. Regardless of their sizes and degree of compaction, these spheres displayed an outer ring of viable and proliferating cells, and a core with less proliferating and apoptotic cells. In contrast, UM cells maintained under anchorage-dependent conditions established several morphological adaptations. Some remained isolated and rounded, formed multi-size irregular aggregates, or adopted a 2D-like flat appearance. These cells invariably conserved their metabolic activity and conserved melanocytic markers (i.e., expression of Melan A/Mart-1 and HMB45). Notably, under hypoxia, cells maintained under 3D conditions secrete more VEGF compared to cells cultured under 2D conditions. CONCLUSIONS Under an anchorage-free environment, UM cells form sphere-like MCTs that acquire attributes reminiscent of abnormal vascularized solid tumors. UM cells behavior in anchorage-dependent manner exposed diverse cells populations in response to cues from an enriched extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) environment, highlighting the plasticity of UM cells. This study provides a 3D cell culture platform that is more predictive of the biology of UM. The integration of such platforms to explore mechanisms of ECM-mediated tumor resistance, metastatic abilities, and to test novel therapeutics (i.e., anti-angiogenics and immunomodulators) would benefit UM care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia A Goyeneche
- The MUHC-McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Jade M E Lasiste
- The MUHC-McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mohamed Abdouh
- The MUHC-McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Prisca Bustamante
- The MUHC-McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Julia V Burnier
- The MUHC-McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Miguel N Burnier
- The MUHC-McGill University Ocular Pathology & Translational Research Laboratory, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Catalani E, Brunetti K, Del Quondam S, Bongiorni S, Picchietti S, Fausto AM, Lupidi G, Marcantoni E, Perrotta C, Achille G, Buonanno F, Ortenzi C, Cervia D. Exposure to the Natural Compound Climacostol Induces Cell Damage and Oxidative Stress in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster. TOXICS 2024; 12:102. [PMID: 38393197 PMCID: PMC10891975 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12020102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
The ciliate Climacostomum virens produces the metabolite climacostol that displays antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity on human and rodent tumor cells. Given its potential as a backbone in pharmacological studies, we used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to evaluate how the xenobiotic climacostol affects biological systems in vivo at the organismal level. Food administration with climacostol demonstrated its harmful role during larvae developmental stages but not pupation. The midgut of eclosed larvae showed apoptosis and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus demonstrating gastrointestinal toxicity. Climacostol did not affect enteroendocrine cell proliferation, suggesting moderate damage that does not initiate the repairing program. The fact that climacostol increased brain ROS and inhibited the proliferation of neural cells revealed a systemic (neurotoxic) role of this harmful substance. In this line, we found lower expression of relevant antioxidant enzymes in the larvae and impaired mitochondrial activity. Adult offsprings presented no major alterations in survival and mobility, as well the absence of abnormal phenotypes. However, mitochondrial activity and oviposition behavior was somewhat affected, indicating the chronic toxicity of climacostol, which continues moderately until adult stages. These results revealed for the first time the detrimental role of ingested climacostol in a non-target multicellular organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (K.B.); (S.D.Q.); (S.P.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Kashi Brunetti
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (K.B.); (S.D.Q.); (S.P.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Simona Del Quondam
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (K.B.); (S.D.Q.); (S.P.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Silvia Bongiorni
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;
| | - Simona Picchietti
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (K.B.); (S.D.Q.); (S.P.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Anna Maria Fausto
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (K.B.); (S.D.Q.); (S.P.); (A.M.F.)
| | - Gabriele Lupidi
- School of Science and Technology, Section of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.L.); (E.M.)
| | - Enrico Marcantoni
- School of Science and Technology, Section of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (G.L.); (E.M.)
| | - Cristiana Perrotta
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy;
| | - Gabriele Achille
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of Education, Cultural Heritage, and Tourism (ECHT), Università degli Studi di Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy; (G.A.); (F.B.); (C.O.)
| | - Federico Buonanno
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of Education, Cultural Heritage, and Tourism (ECHT), Università degli Studi di Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy; (G.A.); (F.B.); (C.O.)
| | - Claudio Ortenzi
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of Education, Cultural Heritage, and Tourism (ECHT), Università degli Studi di Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy; (G.A.); (F.B.); (C.O.)
| | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (K.B.); (S.D.Q.); (S.P.); (A.M.F.)
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Gendron D, Bubak G. Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Materials as Xenobiotics in Living Systems: Is There a Consensus on Their Safety? J Xenobiot 2023; 13:740-760. [PMID: 38132708 PMCID: PMC10744618 DOI: 10.3390/jox13040047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes and graphene are two types of nanomaterials that have unique properties and potential applications in various fields, including biomedicine, energy storage, and gas sensing. However, there is still a debate about the safety of these materials, and there is yet to be a complete consensus on their potential risks to human health and the environment. While some studies have provided recommendations for occupational exposure limits, more research is needed to fully understand the potential risks of these materials to human health and the environment. In this review, we will try to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of using carbon nanotubes and graphene as well as composites containing them in the context of their biocompatibility and toxicity to living systems. In addition, we overview current policy guidelines and technical regulations regarding the safety of carbon-based nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gendron
- Kemitek, Cégep de Thetford, 835 Rue Mooney, Thetford Mines, QC G6G 0A5, Canada
| | - Grzegorz Bubak
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland;
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