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Amato R, Dal Monte M, Cervia D, Catalani E, Cammalleri M, Casini G. Neural degeneration mechanisms in diabetic retinopathy: The role of apoptosis and autophagy. Acta Ophthalmol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2017.0f064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Amato
- Department of Biology; University of Pisa; Viterbo Italy
| | - M. Dal Monte
- Department of Biology; University of Pisa; Viterbo Italy
| | - D. Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological-Agro-Food and Forest Systems; Università degli Studi della Tuscia; Viterbo Italy
| | - E. Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological-Agro-Food and Forest Systems; Università degli Studi della Tuscia; Viterbo Italy
| | - M. Cammalleri
- Department of Biology; University of Pisa; Viterbo Italy
| | - G. Casini
- Department of Biology; University of Pisa; Viterbo Italy
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Picchietti S, Bernini C, Stocchi V, Taddei AR, Meschini R, Fausto AM, Rocco L, Buonocore F, Cervia D, Scapigliati G. Engineered nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TIO 2): Uptake and biological effects in a sea bass cell line. Fish Shellfish Immunol 2017; 63:53-67. [PMID: 28159697 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid development of nanotechnology there has been a corresponding increase in the application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) in various consumer and industrial products, consequently their potential health hazards and environmental effects are considered an aspect of great concern. In the present study, in order to assess the impact of TiO2-NPs in the marine environment, the biological effects of TiO2-NPs on a sea bass cell line (DLEC) were investigated. Cells were exposed for 24 h to different concentrations of TiO2-NPs (1, 8, 40, 200 and 1000 μg/ml) or co-exposed with CdCl2 (Cd). The effects of UV light irradiation were also investigated in cells treated with TiO2-NPs and/or Cd. The internalization of TiO2-NPs and the morphological cell modifications induced by the treatments were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, this latter coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) for particle element detection. In addition, the effects of controlled exposures were studied evaluating the cytotoxicity, the DNA damage and the expression of inflammatory genes. Our study indicates that TiO2-NPs were localized on the cell surface mainly as agglomerates revealed by EDS analysis and that they were uptaken by the cells inducing morphological changes. Photoactivation of TiO2-NPs and/or co-exposure with Cd affects ATP levels and it contributes to induce acute cellular toxicity in DLEC cells dependent on Ti concentration. The inflammatory potential and the DNA damage, this latter displayed through a caspase-3 independent apoptotic process, were also demonstrated. Overall our data suggest that the interaction of TiO2-NPs with marine water contaminants, such as cadmium, and the UV irradiation, may be an additional threat to marine organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Picchietti
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - C Bernini
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - V Stocchi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - A R Taddei
- Section of Electron Microscopy, Great Equipment Center, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - R Meschini
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - A M Fausto
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - L Rocco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical, Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.
| | - F Buonocore
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - D Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - G Scapigliati
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
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Bizzozero L, Cazzato D, Cervia D, Assi E, Simbari F, Pagni F, De Palma C, Monno A, Verdelli C, Querini PR, Russo V, Clementi E, Perrotta C. Acid sphingomyelinase determines melanoma progression and metastatic behaviour via the microphtalmia-associated transcription factor signalling pathway. Cell Death Differ 2013; 21:507-20. [PMID: 24317198 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2013.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a rapidly growing and highly metastatic cancer with high mortality rates, for which a resolutive treatment is lacking. Identification of novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers of tumour stage is thus of particular relevance. We report here on a novel biomarker and possible candidate therapeutic target, the sphingolipid metabolising enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase). A-SMase expression correlates inversely with tumour stage in human melanoma biopsies. Studies in a mouse model of melanoma and on cell lines derived from mouse and human melanomas demonstrated that A-SMase levels of expression actually determine the malignant phenotype of melanoma cells in terms of pigmentation, tumour progression, invasiveness and metastatic ability. The action of A-SMase is mediated by the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, the subsequent proteasomal degradation of the Microphtalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) and inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2, Bcl-2 and c-Met, downstream targets of Mitf involved in tumour cell proliferation, survival and metastatisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Bizzozero
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - D Cazzato
- 1] Scientific Institute IRCCS E Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy [2] Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - D Cervia
- 1] Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy [2] Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - E Assi
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - F Simbari
- Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Pagni
- Department of Pathology, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - C De Palma
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Monno
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Division of Molecular Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - C Verdelli
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - P R Querini
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Division of Molecular Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - V Russo
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Division of Molecular Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - E Clementi
- 1] Scientific Institute IRCCS E Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy [2] Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - C Perrotta
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Cervia D, Casini G. The Neuropeptide Systems and their Potential Role in the Treatment of Mammalian Retinal Ischemia: A Developing Story. Curr Neuropharmacol 2013; 11:95-101. [PMID: 23814541 PMCID: PMC3580795 DOI: 10.2174/157015913804999423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2012] [Revised: 07/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The multiplicity of peptidergic receptors and of the transduction pathways they activate offers the possibility of important advances in the development of specific drugs for clinical treatment of central nervous system disorders. Among them, retinal ischemia is a common clinical entity and, due to relatively ineffective treatment, remains a common cause of visual impairment and blindness. Ischemia is a primary cause of neuronal death, and it can be considered as a sort of final common pathway in retinal diseases leading to irreversible morphological damage and vision loss. Neuropeptides and their receptors are widely expressed in mammalian retinas, where they exert multifaceted functions both during development and in the mature animal. In particular, in recent years somatostatin and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide have been reported to be highly protective against retinal cell death caused by ischemia, while data on opioid peptides, angiotensin II, and other peptides have also been published. This review provides a rationale for harnessing the peptidergic receptors as a potential target against retinal neuronal damages which occur during ischemic retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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Cervia D, Perrotta C, Moscheni C, De Palma C, Clementi E. Nitric oxide and sphingolipids control apoptosis and autophagy with a significant impact on Alzheimer's disease. J BIOL REG HOMEOS AG 2013; 27:11-22. [PMID: 24813312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant regulation of signalling pathways promoting and regulating apoptosis and autophagy contributes to the development of most human neurodegenerative diseases characterised by progressive dysfunction and death of neuronal and glial cells. Both in central and peripheral nervous systems cell death is either apoptotic or autophagic, depending on the cellular setting and the initial pathogenic cue. While some mixed phenotypes have been reported, apoptosis and autophagy tend to develop into mutually exclusive ways to such an extent that they inhibit each other. The sphingolipid ceramide is a key intracellular signalling molecule involved in many cellular processes leading to either survival or death; in most of these processes also the short-lived gaseous messenger nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role. The crosstalk between these two messengers and their downstream mediators has been thus extensively investigated and we now have a deep understanding of it and of its multiple feedback controls. What we provide here are details on how NO- and sphingolipid-dependent signalling and their crosstalk impact on degenerative brain diseases, in particular Alzheimers disease; we also describe how the ability of these molecules to regulate autophagy and apoptosis plays a significant role in determining the pathogenic evolution of these diseases. The evidence reported in this review suggests that targeting the NO and sphingolipid-dependent signalling pathways is worth exploiting in therapeutic perspective. In order to pursue these strategies, however, we still need to understand conclusively how the crosstalk between the NO and ceramide/sphingolipid pathways balances towards beneficial vs. toxic effects. In view of the nature of the signalling pathways involved and their multiple roles, the type of crosstalk involved is complex and intermingled with other signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems (DIBAF), Universita' della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - C Perrotta
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council-Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Universita' di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - C Moscheni
- Morphology Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Universita' di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - C De Palma
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council-Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Universita di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - E Clementi
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council-Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Universita di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Cervia D, Casini G. The Neuropeptide Systems and their Potential Role in the Treatment of Mammalian Retinal Ischemia: A Developing Story. Curr Neuropharmacol 2013. [DOI: 10.2174/1570159x11311010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Cervia D, Martini D, Garcia-Gil M, Di Giuseppe G, Guella G, Dini F, Bagnoli P. Cytotoxic effects and apoptotic signalling mechanisms of the sesquiterpenoid euplotin C, a secondary metabolite of the marine ciliate Euplotes crassus, in tumour cells. Apoptosis 2006; 11:829-43. [PMID: 16534550 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-006-5700-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Most antitumour agents with cytotoxic properties induce apoptosis. The lipophilic compound euplotin C, isolated from the ciliate Euplotes crassus, is toxic to a number of different opportunistic or pathogenic microorganisms, although its mechanism of action is currently unknown. We report here that euplotin C is a powerful cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic agent in mouse AtT-20 and rat PC12 tumour-derived cell lines. In addition, we provide evidence that euplotin C treatment results in rapid activation of ryanodine receptors, depletion of Ca2+ stores in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, activation of caspase-12, and activation of caspase-3, leading to apoptosis. Intracellular Ca2+ overload is an early event which induces apoptosis and is parallelled by ER stress and the release of cytochrome c, whereas caspase-12 may be activated by euplotin C at a later stage in the apoptosis pathway. These events, either independently or concomitantly, lead to the activation of the caspase-3 and its downstream effectors, triggering the cell to undergo apoptosis. These results demonstrate that euplotin C may be considered for the design of cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Cervia
- Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica G. Moruzzi, via S. Zeno, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
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Cervia D, Zizzari P, Pavan B, Schuepbach E, Langenegger D, Hoyer D, Biondi C, Epelbaum J, Bagnoli P. Biological activity of somatostatin receptors in GC rat tumour somatotrophs: evidence with sst1-sst5 receptor-selective nonpeptidyl agonists. Neuropharmacology 2003; 44:672-85. [PMID: 12668053 DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3908(03)00031-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The physiological actions of somatostatin-14 (SRIF: somatotrophin release inhibitory factor) receptor subtypes (sst(1)-sst(5)), which are endogenously expressed in growth cells (GC cells), have not yet been elucidated, although there is evidence that sst(2) receptors are negatively coupled to cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and adenosine 3,5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation. In addition, both sst(1) and sst(2) receptors are negatively coupled to growth hormone (GH) secretion in GC cells. Here we report on studies concerning the expression, the pharmacology and the functional role of native SRIF receptors in GC cells with the use of five nonpeptidyl agonists, highly selective for each of the SRIF receptors. Radioligand binding studies show that sst(2) and sst(5) receptors are present at different relative densities, while the presence of sst(3) and sst(4) receptors appears to be negligible. The absence of sst(1) receptor binding was unexpected in view of sst(1) receptor functional effects on GH secretion. This suggests very efficient receptor-effector coupling of a low-density population of sst(1) receptors. Functionally, only sst(2) receptors are coupled to the inhibition of [Ca(2+)](i) and cAMP accumulation and the selective activation of sst(5) receptors facilitates the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity through G(i/o) proteins. This effect was not observed when sst(2) and sst(5) receptors were simultaneously activated, suggesting that there is a functional interaction between sst(2) and sst(5) receptors. In addition, sst(1), sst(2) and sst(5) receptor activation inhibits GH release, further indicating that SRIF can modulate GH secretion in GC cells through mechanisms both dependent and independent on [Ca(2+)](i) and cAMP-dependent pathways. The present data suggest SRIF-mediated functional effects in GC cells to be very diverse and provides compelling arguments to propose that multiple native SRIF receptors expressed in the same cells are not simply redundant, but contribute to marked signalling diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Cervia
- Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Biochimica G. Moruzzi, Università di Pisa, Italy.
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