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Lo Conte M, Lucchino V, Scalise S, Zannino C, Valente D, Rossignoli G, Murfuni MS, Cicconetti C, Scaramuzzino L, Matassa DS, Procopio A, Martello G, Cuda G, Parrotta EI. Unraveling the impact of ZZZ3 on the mTOR/ribosome pathway in human embryonic stem cells homeostasis. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:729-743. [PMID: 38701777 PMCID: PMC11103890 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.04.002] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are defined as stem cells with self-renewing and differentiation capabilities. These unique properties are tightly regulated and controlled by complex genetic and molecular mechanisms, whose understanding is essential for both basic and translational research. A large number of studies have mostly focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms governing pluripotency and differentiation of ESCs, while the regulation of proliferation has received comparably less attention. Here, we investigate the role of ZZZ3 (zinc finger ZZ-type containing 3) in human ESCs homeostasis. We found that knockdown of ZZZ3 negatively impacts ribosome biogenesis, translation, and mTOR signaling, leading to a significant reduction in cell proliferation. This process occurs without affecting pluripotency, suggesting that ZZZ3-depleted ESCs enter a "dormant-like" state and that proliferation and pluripotency can be uncoupled also in human ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Lo Conte
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valeria Lucchino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefania Scalise
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Clara Zannino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Desirèe Valente
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giada Rossignoli
- Department of Biology (DiBio), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Stella Murfuni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Chiara Cicconetti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy; Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), 10060 Candiolo Torino, Italy
| | - Luana Scaramuzzino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Danilo Swann Matassa
- Department of Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Procopio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Cuda
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
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Scalise S, Zannino C, Lucchino V, Lo Conte M, Abbonante V, Benedetto GL, Scalise M, Gambardella A, Parrotta EI, Cuda G. Ascorbic acid mitigates the impact of oxidative stress in a human model of febrile seizure and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5941. [PMID: 38467734 PMCID: PMC10928078 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56680-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Prolonged febrile seizures (FS) in children are linked to the development of temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). The association between these two pathologies may be ascribed to the long-term effects that FS exert on neural stem cells, negatively affecting the generation of new neurons. Among the insults associated with FS, oxidative stress is noteworthy. Here, we investigated the consequences of exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells (iNSCs) model of a patient affected by FS and MTLE. In our study, we compare the findings from the MTLE patient with those derived from iNSCs of a sibling exhibiting a milder phenotype defined only by FS, as well as a healthy individual. In response to H2O2 treatment, iNSCs derived from MTLE patients demonstrated an elevated production of reactive oxygen species and increased apoptosis, despite the higher expression levels of antioxidant genes and proteins compared to other cell lines analysed. Among the potential causative mechanisms of enhanced vulnerability of MTLE patient iNSCs to oxidative stress, we found that these cells express low levels of the heat shock protein HSPB1 and of the autophagy adaptor SQSTM1/p62. Pre-treatment of diseased iNSCs with the antioxidant molecule ascorbic acid restored HSBP1 and p62 expression and simultaneously reduced the levels of ROS and apoptosis. Our findings suggest the potential for rescuing the impaired oxidative stress response in diseased iNSCs through antioxidant treatment, offering a promising mechanism to prevent FS degeneration in MTLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Scalise
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Clara Zannino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valeria Lucchino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Michela Lo Conte
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Vittorio Abbonante
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giorgia Lucia Benedetto
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Mariangela Scalise
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonio Gambardella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Elvira Immacolata Parrotta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Cuda
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
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Mehlferber MM, Kuyumcu-Martinez M, Miller CL, Sheynkman GM. Transcription factors and splice factors - interconnected regulators of stem cell differentiation. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2023; 9:31-41. [PMID: 38939410 PMCID: PMC11210451 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-023-00227-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of review The underlying molecular mechanisms that direct stem cell differentiation into fully functional, mature cells remain an area of ongoing investigation. Cell state is the product of the combinatorial effect of individual factors operating within a coordinated regulatory network. Here, we discuss the contribution of both gene regulatory and splicing regulatory networks in defining stem cell fate during differentiation and the critical role of protein isoforms in this process. Recent findings We review recent experimental and computational approaches that characterize gene regulatory networks, splice regulatory networks, and the resulting transcriptome and proteome they mediate during differentiation. Such approaches include long-read RNA sequencing, which has demonstrated high-resolution profiling of mRNA isoforms, and Cas13-based CRISPR, which could make possible high-throughput isoform screening. Collectively, these developments enable systems-level profiling of factors contributing to cell state. Summary Overall, gene and splice regulatory networks are important in defining cell state. The emerging high-throughput systems-level approaches will characterize the gene regulatory network components necessary in driving stem cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison M Mehlferber
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Muge Kuyumcu-Martinez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Fontaine Medical Office Building 1, 415 Ray C. Hunt Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22903
| | - Clint L Miller
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Multistory Building, West Complex, 1335 Lee St, Charlottesville, VA 22908, PO Box 800717, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908
| | - Gloria M Sheynkman
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Center for Public Health Genomics, UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, 1340 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903
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Lucchino V, Scaramuzzino L, Scalise S, Lo Conte M, Zannino C, Benedetto GL, Aguglia U, Ferlazzo E, Cuda G, Parrotta EI. Insights into the Genetic Profile of Two Siblings Affected by Unverricht-Lundborg Disease Using Patient-Derived hiPSCs. Cells 2022; 11:3491. [PMID: 36359887 PMCID: PMC9655992 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD), also known as progressive myoclonic epilepsy 1 (EPM1), is a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a complex symptomatology that includes action- and stimulus-sensitive myoclonus and tonic-clonic seizures. The main cause of the onset and development of ULD is a repeat expansion of a dodecamer sequence localized in the promoter region of the gene encoding cystatin B (CSTB), an inhibitor of lysosomal proteases. Although this is the predominant mutation found in most patients, the physio-pathological mechanisms underlying the disease complexity remain largely unknown. In this work, we used patient-specific iPSCs and their neuronal derivatives to gain insight into the molecular and genetic machinery responsible for the disease in two Italian siblings affected by different phenotypes of ULD. Specifically, fragment length analysis on amplified CSTB promoters found homozygous status for dodecamer expansion in both patients and showed that the number of dodecamer repeats is the same in both. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay showed that the CSTB promoter activity was similarly reduced in both lines compared to the control. This information allowed us to draw important conclusions: (1) the phenotypic differences of the patients do not seem to be strictly dependent on the genetic mutation around the CSTB gene, and (2) that some other molecular mechanisms, not yet clearly identified, might be taken into account. In line with the inhibitory role of cystatin B on cathepsins, molecular investigations performed on iPSCs-derived neurons showed an increased expression of lysosomal cathepsins (B, D, and L) and a reduced expression of CSTB protein. Intriguingly, the increase in cathepsin expression does not appear to be correlated with the residual amount of CSTB, suggesting that other mechanisms, in addition to the regulation of cathepsins, could be involved in the pathological complexity of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Lucchino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Luana Scaramuzzino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefania Scalise
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Michela Lo Conte
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Clara Zannino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giorgia Lucia Benedetto
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Umberto Aguglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Edoardo Ferlazzo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cuda
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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Scalise S, Zannino C, Lucchino V, Lo Conte M, Scaramuzzino L, Cifelli P, D’Andrea T, Martinello K, Fucile S, Palma E, Gambardella A, Ruffolo G, Cuda G, Parrotta EI. Human iPSC Modeling of Genetic Febrile Seizure Reveals Aberrant Molecular and Physiological Features Underlying an Impaired Neuronal Activity. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051075. [PMID: 35625812 PMCID: PMC9138645 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in SCN1A gene, encoding the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) NaV1.1, are widely recognized as a leading cause of genetic febrile seizures (FS), due to the decrease in the Na+ current density, mainly affecting the inhibitory neuronal transmission. Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived neurons (idNs) from a patient belonging to a genetically well-characterized Italian family, carrying the c.434T > C mutation in SCN1A gene (hereafter SCN1AM145T). A side-by-side comparison of diseased and healthy idNs revealed an overall maturation delay of SCN1AM145T cells. Membranes isolated from both diseased and control idNs were injected into Xenopus oocytes and both GABA and AMPA currents were successfully recorded. Patch-clamp measurements on idNs revealed depolarized action potential for SCN1AM145T, suggesting a reduced excitability. Expression analyses of VGSCs and chloride co-transporters NKCC1 and KCC2 showed a cellular “dysmaturity” of mutated idNs, strengthened by the high expression of SCN3A, a more fetal-like VGSC isoform, and a high NKCC1/KCC2 ratio, in mutated cells. Overall, we provide strong evidence for an intrinsic cellular immaturity, underscoring the role of mutant NaV1.1 in the development of FS. Furthermore, our data are strengthening previous findings obtained using transfected cells and recordings on human slices, demonstrating that diseased idNs represent a powerful tool for personalized therapy and ex vivo drug screening for human epileptic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Scalise
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.S.); (C.Z.); (V.L.); (M.L.C.); (L.S.)
| | - Clara Zannino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.S.); (C.Z.); (V.L.); (M.L.C.); (L.S.)
| | - Valeria Lucchino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.S.); (C.Z.); (V.L.); (M.L.C.); (L.S.)
| | - Michela Lo Conte
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.S.); (C.Z.); (V.L.); (M.L.C.); (L.S.)
| | - Luana Scaramuzzino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.S.); (C.Z.); (V.L.); (M.L.C.); (L.S.)
| | - Pierangelo Cifelli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of Aquila, 67100 Aquila, Italy;
| | - Tiziano D’Andrea
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome, Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.D.); (S.F.); (E.P.)
| | | | - Sergio Fucile
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome, Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.D.); (S.F.); (E.P.)
- IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy;
| | - Eleonora Palma
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome, Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.D.); (S.F.); (E.P.)
| | - Antonio Gambardella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.G.); (E.I.P.)
| | - Gabriele Ruffolo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome, Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.D.); (S.F.); (E.P.)
- IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Via della Pisana, 00163 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (G.C.)
| | - Giovanni Cuda
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.S.); (C.Z.); (V.L.); (M.L.C.); (L.S.)
- Correspondence: (G.R.); (G.C.)
| | - Elvira Immacolata Parrotta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.G.); (E.I.P.)
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Scaramuzzino L, Lucchino V, Scalise S, Lo Conte M, Zannino C, Sacco A, Biamonte F, Parrotta EI, Costanzo FS, Cuda G. Uncovering the Metabolic and Stress Responses of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to FTH1 Gene Silencing. Cells 2021; 10:2431. [PMID: 34572080 PMCID: PMC8469604 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent cells with indefinite self-renewal ability and differentiation properties. To function properly and maintain genomic stability, ESCs need to be endowed with an efficient repair system as well as effective redox homeostasis. In this study, we investigated different aspects involved in ESCs' response to iron accumulation following stable knockdown of the ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) gene, which encodes for a major iron storage protein with ferroxidase activity. Experimental findings highlight unexpected and, to a certain extent, paradoxical results. If on one hand FTH1 silencing does not correlate with increased ROS production nor with changes in the redox status, strengthening the concept that hESCs are extremely resistant and, to a certain extent, even refractory to intracellular iron imbalance, on the other, the differentiation potential of hESCs seems to be affected and apoptosis is observed. Interestingly, we found that FTH1 silencing is accompanied by a significant activation of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived-2)-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which crosstalk in driving hESCs antioxidant cascade events. These findings shed new light on how hESCs perform under oxidative stress, dissecting the molecular mechanisms through which Nrf2, in combination with PPP, counteracts oxidative injury triggered by FTH1 knockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Scaramuzzino
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Valeria Lucchino
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Stefania Scalise
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Michela Lo Conte
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Clara Zannino
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Alessandro Sacco
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Flavia Biamonte
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
- Center of Interdepartmental Services (CIS), “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Saverio Costanzo
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
- Center of Interdepartmental Services (CIS), “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cuda
- Research Centre for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (L.S.); (V.L.); (S.S.); (M.L.C.); (C.Z.); (A.S.); (F.B.); (F.S.C.); (G.C.)
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Deciphering the Role of Wnt and Rho Signaling Pathway in iPSC-Derived ARVC Cardiomyocytes by In Silico Mathematical Modeling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042004. [PMID: 33670616 PMCID: PMC7923182 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited cardiac muscle disease linked to genetic deficiency in components of the desmosomes. The disease is characterized by progressive fibro-fatty replacement of the right ventricle, which acts as a substrate for arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The molecular mechanisms underpinning ARVC are largely unknown. Here we propose a mathematical model for investigating the molecular dynamics underlying heart remodeling and the loss of cardiac myocytes identity during ARVC. Our methodology is based on three computational models: firstly, in the context of the Wnt pathway, we examined two different competition mechanisms between β-catenin and Plakoglobin (PG) and their role in the expression of adipogenic program. Secondly, we investigated the role of RhoA-ROCK pathway in ARVC pathogenesis, and thirdly we analyzed the interplay between Wnt and RhoA-ROCK pathways in the context of the ARVC phenotype. We conclude with the following remark: both Wnt/β-catenin and RhoA-ROCK pathways must be inactive for a significant increase of PPARγ expression, suggesting that a crosstalk mechanism might be responsible for mediating ARVC pathogenesis.
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Parrotta EI, Lucchino V, Scaramuzzino L, Scalise S, Cuda G. Modeling Cardiac Disease Mechanisms Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes: Progress, Promises and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4354. [PMID: 32575374 PMCID: PMC7352327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a class of disorders affecting the heart or blood vessels. Despite progress in clinical research and therapy, CVDs still represent the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The hallmarks of cardiac diseases include heart dysfunction and cardiomyocyte death, inflammation, fibrosis, scar tissue, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and abnormal ventricular remodeling. The loss of cardiomyocytes is an irreversible process that leads to fibrosis and scar formation, which, in turn, induce heart failure with progressive and dramatic consequences. Both genetic and environmental factors pathologically contribute to the development of CVDs, but the precise causes that trigger cardiac diseases and their progression are still largely unknown. The lack of reliable human model systems for such diseases has hampered the unraveling of the underlying molecular mechanisms and cellular processes involved in heart diseases at their initial stage and during their progression. Over the past decade, significant scientific advances in the field of stem cell biology have literally revolutionized the study of human disease in vitro. Remarkably, the possibility to generate disease-relevant cell types from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has developed into an unprecedented and powerful opportunity to achieve the long-standing ambition to investigate human diseases at a cellular level, uncovering their molecular mechanisms, and finally to translate bench discoveries into potential new therapeutic strategies. This review provides an update on previous and current research in the field of iPSC-driven cardiovascular disease modeling, with the aim of underlining the potential of stem-cell biology-based approaches in the elucidation of the pathophysiology of these life-threatening diseases.
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Wang G, Farzaneh M. Mini Review; Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Oocytes. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 15:301-307. [DOI: 10.2174/1574888x15666200116100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is one of the main diseases causing female infertility
that occurs in about 1% of women between 30-40 years of age. There are few effective methods for
the treatment of women with POI. In the past few years, stem cell-based therapy as one of the most
highly investigated new therapies has emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of POI. Human
pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into any type of cell.
Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) as a type of pluripotent stem cells are the most powerful candidate
for the treatment of POI. Human-induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) are derived from
adult somatic cells by the treatment with exogenous defined factors to create an embryonic-like pluripotent
state. Both hiPSCs and hESCs can proliferate and give rise to ectodermal, mesodermal, endodermal,
and germ cell lineages. After ovarian stimulation, the number of available oocytes is limited
and the yield of total oocytes with high quality is low. Therefore, a robust and reproducible in-vitro
culture system that supports the differentiation of human oocytes from PSCs is necessary. Very few
studies have focused on the derivation of oocyte-like cells from hiPSCs and the details of hPSCs differentiation
into oocytes have not been fully investigated. Therefore, in this review, we focus on the
differentiation potential of hPSCs into human oocyte-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaifang Wang
- Department of Life Sciences, Luliang University Lvliang, 033000, China
| | - Maryam Farzaneh
- Physiology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Parrotta EI, Scalise S, Scaramuzzino L, Cuda G. Stem Cells: The Game Changers of Human Cardiac Disease Modelling and Regenerative Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5760. [PMID: 31744081 PMCID: PMC6888119 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis and mechanisms underlying cardiac diseases is mandatory for the development of new and effective therapeutic strategies. The lack of appropriate in vitro cell models that faithfully mirror the human disease phenotypes has hampered the understanding of molecular insights responsible of heart injury and disease development. Over the past decade, important scientific advances have revolutionized the field of stem cell biology through the remarkable discovery of reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These advances allowed to achieve the long-standing ambition of modelling human disease in a dish and, more interestingly, paved the way for unprecedented opportunities to translate bench discoveries into new therapies and to come closer to a real and effective stem cell-based medicine. The possibility to generate patient-specific iPSCs, together with the new advances in stem cell differentiation procedures and the availability of novel gene editing approaches and tissue engineering, has proven to be a powerful combination for the generation of phenotypically complex, pluripotent stem cell-based cellular disease models with potential use for early diagnosis, drug screening, and personalized therapy. This review will focus on recent progress and future outcome of iPSCs technology toward a customized medicine and new therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Immacolata Parrotta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Loc., Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy; (S.S.); (L.S.); (G.C.)
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Parrotta EI, Scalise S, Taverna D, De Angelis MT, Sarro G, Gaspari M, Santamaria G, Cuda G. Comprehensive proteogenomic analysis of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 23:5440-5453. [PMID: 31237115 PMCID: PMC6653499 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the concepts of somatic cell reprogramming and human‐induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) generation have undergone several analyses to validate the usefulness of these cells in research and clinic, it remains still controversial whether the hiPSCs are equivalent to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), pointing to the need of further characterization for a more comprehensive understanding of pluripotency. Most of the experimental evidence comes from the transcriptome analysis, while a little is available on protein data, and even less is known about the post‐translational modifications. Here, we report a combined strategy of mass spectrometry and gene expression profiling for proteogenomic analysis of reprogrammed and embryonic stem cells. The data obtained through this integrated, multi‐“omics” approach indicate that a small, but still significant, number of distinct pathways is enriched in reprogrammed versus embryonic stem cells, supporting the view that pluripotency is an extremely complex, multifaceted phenomenon, with peculiarities that are characteristic of each cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Immacolata Parrotta
- Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefania Scalise
- Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Domenico Taverna
- Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa De Angelis
- Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Sarro
- Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Marco Gaspari
- Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Gianluca Santamaria
- Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cuda
- Research Center for Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
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