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Græsholt C, Brembu T, Volpe C, Bartosova Z, Serif M, Winge P, Nymark M. Zeaxanthin epoxidase 3 Knockout Mutants of the Model Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Enable Commercial Production of the Bioactive Carotenoid Diatoxanthin. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:185. [PMID: 38667802 PMCID: PMC11051370 DOI: 10.3390/md22040185] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Carotenoids are pigments that have a range of functions in human health. The carotenoid diatoxanthin is suggested to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventive properties. Diatoxanthin is only produced by a few groups of microalgae, where it functions in photoprotection. Its large-scale production in microalgae is currently not feasible. In fact, rapid conversion into the inactive pigment diadinoxanthin is triggered when cells are removed from a high-intensity light source, which is the case during large-scale harvesting of microalgae biomass. Zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) 2 and/or ZEP3 have been suggested to be responsible for the back-conversion of high-light accumulated diatoxanthin to diadinoxanthin in low-light in diatoms. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, we knocked out the ZEP2 and ZEP3 genes in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to investigate their role in the diadinoxanthin-diatoxanthin cycle and determine if one of the mutant strains could function as a diatoxanthin production line. Light-shift experiments proved that ZEP3 encodes the enzyme converting diatoxanthin to diadinoxanthin in low light. Loss of ZEP3 caused the high-light-accumulated diatoxanthin to be stable for several hours after the cultures had been returned to low light, suggesting that zep3 mutant strains could be suitable as commercial production lines of diatoxanthin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilie Græsholt
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway (T.B.); (Z.B.); (M.S.); (P.W.)
| | - Tore Brembu
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway (T.B.); (Z.B.); (M.S.); (P.W.)
| | - Charlotte Volpe
- Department of Fisheries and New Biomarine Industry, SINTEF Ocean, 7010 Trondheim, Norway;
| | - Zdenka Bartosova
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway (T.B.); (Z.B.); (M.S.); (P.W.)
| | - Manuel Serif
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway (T.B.); (Z.B.); (M.S.); (P.W.)
| | - Per Winge
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway (T.B.); (Z.B.); (M.S.); (P.W.)
| | - Marianne Nymark
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway (T.B.); (Z.B.); (M.S.); (P.W.)
- Department of Fisheries and New Biomarine Industry, SINTEF Ocean, 7010 Trondheim, Norway;
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Cutolo EA, Caferri R, Campitiello R, Cutolo M. The Clinical Promise of Microalgae in Rheumatoid Arthritis: From Natural Compounds to Recombinant Therapeutics. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:630. [PMID: 38132951 PMCID: PMC10745133 DOI: 10.3390/md21120630] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an invalidating chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation and progressive bone damage. Dietary intervention is an important component in the treatment of RA to mitigate oxidative stress, a major pathogenic driver of the disease. Alongside traditional sources of antioxidants, microalgae-a diverse group of photosynthetic prokaryotes and eukaryotes-are emerging as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory food supplements. Several species accumulate therapeutic metabolites-mainly lipids and pigments-which interfere in the pro-inflammatory pathways involved in RA and other chronic inflammatory conditions. The advancement of the clinical uses of microalgae requires the continuous exploration of phytoplankton biodiversity and chemodiversity, followed by the domestication of wild strains into reliable producers of said metabolites. In addition, the tractability of microalgal genomes offers unprecedented possibilities to establish photosynthetic microbes as light-driven biofactories of heterologous immunotherapeutics. Here, we review the evidence-based anti-inflammatory mechanisms of microalgal metabolites and provide a detailed coverage of the genetic engineering strategies to enhance the yields of endogenous compounds and to develop innovative bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Andrea Cutolo
- Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Roberto Caferri
- Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Rosanna Campitiello
- Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (R.C.)
| | - Maurizio Cutolo
- Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (R.C.)
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Carlini V, Noonan DM, Abdalalem E, Goletti D, Sansone C, Calabrone L, Albini A. The multifaceted nature of IL-10: regulation, role in immunological homeostasis and its relevance to cancer, COVID-19 and post-COVID conditions. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1161067. [PMID: 37359549 PMCID: PMC10287165 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1161067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has a fundamental role in modulating inflammation and in maintaining cell homeostasis. It primarily acts as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, protecting the body from an uncontrolled immune response, mostly through the Jak1/Tyk2 and STAT3 signaling pathway. On the other hand, IL-10 can also have immunostimulating functions under certain conditions. Given the pivotal role of IL-10 in immune modulation, this cytokine could have relevant implications in pathologies characterized by hyperinflammatory state, such as cancer, or infectious diseases as in the case of COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 syndrome. Recent evidence proposed IL-10 as a predictor of severity and mortality for patients with acute or post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this context, IL-10 can act as an endogenous danger signal, released by tissues undergoing damage in an attempt to protect the organism from harmful hyperinflammation. Pharmacological strategies aimed to potentiate or restore IL-10 immunomodulatory action may represent novel promising avenues to counteract cytokine storm arising from hyperinflammation and effectively mitigate severe complications. Natural bioactive compounds, derived from terrestrial or marine photosynthetic organisms and able to increase IL-10 expression, could represent a useful prevention strategy to curb inflammation through IL-10 elevation and will be discussed here. However, the multifaceted nature of IL-10 has to be taken into account in the attempts to modulate its levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Carlini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Douglas M. Noonan
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Eslam Abdalalem
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Delia Goletti
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Clementina Sansone
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Istituto Nazionale di Biologia, Ecologia e Biotecnologie Marine, Napoli, Italy
| | - Luana Calabrone
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Albini
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) European Institute of Oncology IEO-, Milan, Italy
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Calabrone L, Carlini V, Noonan DM, Festa M, Ferrario C, Morelli D, Macis D, Fontana A, Pistelli L, Brunet C, Sansone C, Albini A. Skeletonema marinoi Extracts and Associated Carotenoid Fucoxanthin Downregulate Pro-Angiogenic Mediators on Prostate Cancer and Endothelial Cells. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071053. [PMID: 37048126 PMCID: PMC10093511 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The exploration of natural preventive molecules for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical use has recently increased. In this scenario, marine microorganisms represent an underestimated source of bioactive products endowed with beneficial effects on health that include anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, differentiating, anti-tumor, and anti-angiogenic activities. Here, we tested the potential chemopreventive and anti-angiogenic activities of an extract from the marine coastal diatom Skeletonema marinoi Sarno and Zingone (Sm) on prostate cancer (PCa) and endothelial cells. We also tested one of the main carotenoids of the diatom, the xanthophyll pigment fucoxanthin (Fuco). Fuco from the literature is a potential candidate compound involved in chemopreventive activities. Sm extract and Fuco were able to inhibit PCa cell growth and hinder vascular network formation of endothelial cells. The reduced number of cells was partially due to growth inhibition and apoptosis. We studied the molecular targets by qPCR and membrane antibody arrays. Angiogenesis and inflammation molecules were modulated. In particular, Fuco downregulated the expression of Angiopoietin 2, CXCL5, TGFβ, IL6, STAT3, MMP1, TIMP1 and TIMP2 in both prostate and endothelial cells. Our study confirmed microalgae-derived drugs as potentially relevant sources of novel nutraceuticals, providing candidates for potential dietary or dietary supplement intervention in cancer prevention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Calabrone
- IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (A.A.)
| | | | - Douglas M. Noonan
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Debora Macis
- IRCCS Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IEO, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Fontana
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Italian National Research Council (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Biology, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, 80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luigi Pistelli
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Adriana Albini
- IRCCS Istituto Europeo di Oncologia IEO, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (A.A.)
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Lauritano C, Montuori E, De Falco G, Carrella S. In Silico Methodologies to Improve Antioxidants' Characterization from Marine Organisms. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:710. [PMID: 36978958 PMCID: PMC10045275 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine organisms have been reported to be valuable sources of bioactive molecules that have found applications in different industrial fields. From organism sampling to the identification and bioactivity characterization of a specific compound, different steps are necessary, which are time- and cost-consuming. Thanks to the advent of the -omic era, numerous genome, metagenome, transcriptome, metatranscriptome, proteome and microbiome data have been reported and deposited in public databases. These advancements have been fundamental for the development of in silico strategies for basic and applied research. In silico studies represent a convenient and efficient approach to the bioactivity prediction of known and newly identified marine molecules, reducing the time and costs of "wet-lab" experiments. This review focuses on in silico approaches applied to bioactive molecule discoveries from marine organisms. When available, validation studies reporting a bioactivity assay to confirm the presence of an antioxidant molecule or enzyme are reported, as well. Overall, this review suggests that in silico approaches can offer a valuable alternative to most expensive approaches and proposes them as a little explored field in which to invest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lauritano
- Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy
| | - Eleonora Montuori
- Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriele De Falco
- Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy
| | - Sabrina Carrella
- Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy
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Sansone C, Pistelli L, Calabrone L, Del Mondo A, Fontana A, Festa M, Noonan DM, Albini A, Brunet C. The Carotenoid Diatoxanthin Modulates Inflammatory and Angiogenesis Pathways In Vitro in Prostate Cancer Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020359. [PMID: 36829917 PMCID: PMC9952135 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Xanthophylls, a group of carotenoids, have attracted attention as human health benefit compounds thanks to their functionality and bioavailability. The great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities of diatoxanthin (Dt), a photoprotective xanthophyll synthetized by diatoms, were recently documented. This study investigates the capacity of Dt to intercept prostate cancer progression in vitro on different human cell lines, exploring its role against cancer proliferation and angiogenesis. Our results highlighted the chemopreventive role of Dt already at low concentration (44.1 pM) and suggest that the Dt-induced cancer cell death occurred through oxidative stress mechanisms. This hypothesis was supported by variations on the expression of key genes and proteins. Oxidative stress cell deaths (e.g., ferroptosis) are recently described types of cell death that are closely related to the pathophysiological processes of many diseases, such as tumors. Nonetheless, the interest of Dt was further strengthened by its ability to inhibit angiogenesis. The results are discussed considering the actual progress and requirements in cancer therapy, notably for prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clementina Sansone
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sede Molosiglio Marina Acton, 80133 Napoli, Italy
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Luigi Pistelli
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sede Molosiglio Marina Acton, 80133 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luana Calabrone
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Del Mondo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sede Molosiglio Marina Acton, 80133 Napoli, Italy
| | - Angelo Fontana
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Italian National Research Council (CNR), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Marco Festa
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
| | - Douglas M. Noonan
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Albini
- IRCSS European Institute of Oncology (IEO), 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Christophe Brunet
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sede Molosiglio Marina Acton, 80133 Napoli, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.S.); (C.B.)
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