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Grossini E, De Marchi F, Venkatesan S, Mele A, Ferrante D, Mazzini L. Effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: Evaluation on Plasma Markers and Members of the Neurovascular Unit. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1887. [PMID: 37891966 PMCID: PMC10604350 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress, the alteration of mitochondrial function, and the neurovascular unit (NVU), play a role in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. We aimed to demonstrate the changes in the plasma redox system and nitric oxide (NO) in 32 new ALS-diagnosed patients in treatment with Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) compared to healthy controls. We also evaluated the effects of plasma on human umbilical cord-derived endothelial vascular cells (HUVEC) and astrocytes. The analyses were performed at the baseline (T0), after three months (T1), and after six months (T2). In ALS patients at T0/T1, the plasma markers of lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and 4-hydroxy nonenal (4-HNE) were higher, whereas the antioxidants, glutathione (GSH) and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were lower than in healthy controls. At T2, plasma TBARS and 4-HNE decreased, whereas plasma GSH and the GPx activity increased in ALS patients. As regards NO, the plasma levels were firmly lower at T0-T2 than those of healthy controls. Cell viability, and mitochondrial membrane potential in HUVEC/astrocytes treated with the plasma of ALS patients at T0-T2 were reduced, while the oxidant release increased. Those results, which confirmed the fundamental role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and of the NVU in ALS pathogenesis, can have a double meaning, acting as disease markers at baseline and potential markers of drug effects in clinical practice and during clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Grossini
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (E.G.); (S.V.)
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Sakthipriyan Venkatesan
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (E.G.); (S.V.)
| | - Angelica Mele
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Daniela Ferrante
- Statistic Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
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Grossini E, Smirne C, Venkatesan S, Tonello S, D'Onghia D, Minisini R, Cantaluppi V, Sainaghi PP, Comi C, Tanzi A, Bussolati B, Pirisi M. Plasma Pattern of Extracellular Vesicles Isolated from Hepatitis C Virus Patients and Their Effects on Human Vascular Endothelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10197. [PMID: 37373343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as pathogenic factors for the onset of HCV-related endothelial dysfunction. Sixty-five patients with various stages of HCV-related chronic liver disease were enrolled in this case series. Plasma EVs were characterized and used to stimulate human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC), which were examined for cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release. The results showed that EVs from HCV patients were mainly of endothelial and lymphocyte origin. Moreover, EVs were able to reduce cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential of HUVEC, while increasing ROS release. Those harmful effects were reduced by the pretreatment of HUVEC with the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)/AMP-activated protein kinase and protein kinase B blockers. In conclusion, in HCV patients, we could highlight a circulating pattern of EVs capable of inducing damage to the endothelium. These data represent a novel possible pathogenic mechanism underlying the reported increase of CVD occurrence in HCV infection and could be of clinical relevance also in relation to the widespread use of antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Grossini
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Carlo Smirne
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Maggiore della Carità Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Sakthipriyan Venkatesan
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Stelvio Tonello
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Maggiore della Carità Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Davide D'Onghia
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Maggiore della Carità Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Rosalba Minisini
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Maggiore della Carità Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cantaluppi
- Nephrology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Sainaghi
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- CAAD-Center for Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, and IRCAD-Interdisciplinary Research Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Cristoforo Comi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Sant'Andrea Hospital, 13100 Vercelli, Italy
| | - Adele Tanzi
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Benedetta Bussolati
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Mario Pirisi
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Maggiore della Carità Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
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