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Fignani D, Pedace E, Licata G, Grieco GE, Aiello E, de Luca C, Marselli L, Marchetti P, Sebastiani G, Dotta F. Angiotensin I-converting enzyme type 2 expression is increased in pancreatic islets of type 2 diabetic donors. Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2023; 39:e3696. [PMID: 37466955 DOI: 10.1002/dmrr.3696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Angiotensin I-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2), a pivotal SARS-CoV-2 receptor, has been shown to be expressed in multiple cells, including human pancreatic beta-cells. A putative bidirectional relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and diabetes has been suggested, confirming the hypothesis that viral infection in beta-cells may lead to new-onset diabetes or worse glycometabolic control in diabetic patients. However, whether ACE2 expression levels are altered in beta-cells of diabetic patients has not yet been investigated. Here, we aimed to elucidate the in situ expression pattern of ACE2 in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) with respect to non-diabetic donors which may account for a higher susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in beta-cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS Angiotensin I-converting enzyme type 2 immunofluorescence analysis using two antibodies alongside insulin staining was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded pancreatic sections obtained from n = 20 T2D and n = 20 non-diabetic (ND) multiorgan donors. Intensity and colocalisation analyses were performed on a total of 1082 pancreatic islets. Macrophage detection was performed using anti-CD68 immunohistochemistry on serial sections from the same donors. RESULTS Using two different antibodies, ACE2 expression was confirmed in beta-cells and in pancreas microvasculature. Angiotensin I-converting enzyme type 2 expression was increased in pancreatic islets of T2D donors in comparison to ND controls alongside with a higher colocalisation rate between ACE2 and insulin using both anti-ACE2 antibodies. CD68+ cells tended to be increased in T2D pancreata, in line with higher ACE2 expression observed in serial sections. CONCLUSIONS Higher ACE2 expression in T2D islets might increase their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection during COVID-19 in T2D patients, thus worsening glycometabolic outcomes and disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, C/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Erika Pedace
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, C/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, C/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Emanuela Grieco
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, C/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Elena Aiello
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, C/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Carmela de Luca
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorella Marselli
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, C/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, C/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
- Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena, Italy
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Brusco N, Sebastiani G, Di Giuseppe G, Licata G, Grieco GE, Fignani D, Nigi L, Formichi C, Aiello E, Auddino S, Quero G, Cefalo CMA, Cinti F, Mari A, Ferraro PM, Pontecorvi A, Alfieri S, Giaccari A, Dotta F, Mezza T. Intra-islet insulin synthesis defects are associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress and loss of beta cell identity in human diabetes. Diabetologia 2023; 66:354-366. [PMID: 36280617 PMCID: PMC9807540 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-022-05814-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and beta cell dedifferentiation both play leading roles in impaired insulin secretion in overt type 2 diabetes. Whether and how these factors are related in the natural history of the disease remains, however, unclear. METHODS In this study, we analysed pancreas biopsies from a cohort of metabolically characterised living donors to identify defects in in situ insulin synthesis and intra-islet expression of ER stress and beta cell phenotype markers. RESULTS We provide evidence that in situ altered insulin processing is closely connected to in vivo worsening of beta cell function. Further, activation of ER stress genes reflects the alteration of insulin processing in situ. Using a combination of 17 different markers, we characterised individual pancreatic islets from normal glucose tolerant, impaired glucose tolerant and type 2 diabetic participants and reconstructed disease progression. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Our study suggests that increased beta cell workload is accompanied by a progressive increase in ER stress with defects in insulin synthesis and loss of beta cell identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Brusco
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Di Giuseppe
- Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppina E Grieco
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Nigi
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Caterina Formichi
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Elena Aiello
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Stefano Auddino
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Quero
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Pancreatic surgery unit, Pancreatic Advanced Research Center (CRMPG), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Chiara M A Cefalo
- Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca Cinti
- Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Mari
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padova, Italy
| | - Pietro M Ferraro
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- U.O.S. Terapia Conservativa della Malattia Renale Cronica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Sergio Alfieri
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Pancreatic surgery unit, Pancreatic Advanced Research Center (CRMPG), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Giaccari
- Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy.
| | - Teresa Mezza
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Digestive Disease Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
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Grieco GE, Besharat ZM, Licata G, Fignani D, Brusco N, Nigi L, Formichi C, Po A, Sabato C, Dardano A, Natali A, Dotta F, Sebastiani G, Ferretti E. Circulating microRNAs as clinically useful biomarkers for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: miRNomics from bench to bedside. Transl Res 2022; 247:137-157. [PMID: 35351622 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D), a chronic metabolic disease, has attained the status of a global epidemic with steadily increasing incidence worldwide. Improved diagnosis, stratification and prognosis of T2D patients and the development of more effective treatments are needed. In this era of personalized medicine, the discovery and evaluation of innovative circulating biomarkers can be an effective tool for better stratification, prognosis and therapeutic selection/management of T2D patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression, have been investigated as potential circulating biomarkers in T2D. Several studies have investigated the expression of circulating miRNAs in T2D patients from various biological fluids, including plasma and serum, and have demonstrated their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as biomarkers of response to therapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge, focusing on circulating miRNAs that have been consistently expressed in at least two independent studies, in order to identify a set of consistent biomarker candidates in T2D. The expression levels of miRNAs, correlation with clinical parameters, functional roles of miRNAs and their potential as biomarkers are reported. A systematic literature search and assessment of studies led to the selection and review of 10 miRNAs (miR-126-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-34a-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-148a-3p, miR-30d-5p and miR-30c-5p). We also present technical challenges and our thoughts on the potential validation of circulating miRNAs and their application as biomarkers in the context of T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Emanuela Grieco
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Giada Licata
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Noemi Brusco
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Nigi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Caterina Formichi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Sabato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Dardano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Natali
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, 53100 Siena, Italy; Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Grieco GE, Brusco N, Fignani D, Nigi L, Formichi C, Licata G, Marselli L, Marchetti P, Salvini L, Tinti L, Po A, Ferretti E, Sebastiani G, Dotta F. Reduced miR-184-3p expression protects pancreatic β-cells from lipotoxic and proinflammatory apoptosis in type 2 diabetes via CRTC1 upregulation. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:340. [PMID: 35906204 PMCID: PMC9338237 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-01142-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The loss of functional β-cell mass in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with molecular events that include β-cell apoptosis, dysfunction and/or dedifferentiation. MicroRNA miR-184-3p has been shown to be involved in several β-cell functions, including insulin secretion, proliferation and survival. However, the downstream targets and upstream regulators of miR-184-3p have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show reduced miR-184-3p levels in human T2D pancreatic islets, whereas its direct target CREB regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) was increased and protects β-cells from lipotoxicity- and inflammation-induced apoptosis. Downregulation of miR-184-3p in β-cells leads to upregulation of CRTC1 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Remarkably, the protective effect of miR-184-3p is dependent on CRTC1, as its silencing in human β-cells abrogates the protective mechanism mediated by inhibition of miR-184-3p. Furthermore, in accordance with miR-184-3p downregulation, we also found that the β-cell-specific transcription factor NKX6.1, DNA-binding sites of which are predicted in the promoter sequence of human and mouse MIR184 gene, is reduced in human pancreatic T2D islets. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and mRNA silencing experiments, we demonstrated that NKX6.1 directly controls both human and murine miR-184 expression. In summary, we provide evidence that the decrease in NKX6.1 expression is accompanied by a significant reduction in miR-184-3p expression and that reduction of miR-184-3p protects β-cells from apoptosis through a CRTC1-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina E Grieco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy
| | - Noemi Brusco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Nigi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy
| | - Caterina Formichi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy
| | - Lorella Marselli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Laura Tinti
- TLS-Toscana Life Sciences Foundation, Siena, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy.
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy.,Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena, Italy
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5
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Shaba E, Vantaggiato L, Governini L, Haxhiu A, Sebastiani G, Fignani D, Grieco GE, Bergantini L, Bini L, Landi C. Multi-Omics Integrative Approach of Extracellular Vesicles: A Future Challenging Milestone. Proteomes 2022; 10:proteomes10020012. [PMID: 35645370 PMCID: PMC9149947 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes10020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the era of multi-omic sciences, dogma on singular cause-effect in physio-pathological processes is overcome and system biology approaches have been providing new perspectives to see through. In this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are offering a new level of complexity, given their role in cellular communication and their activity as mediators of specific signals to target cells or tissues. Indeed, their heterogeneity in terms of content, function, origin and potentiality contribute to the cross-interaction of almost every molecular process occurring in a complex system. Such features make EVs proper biological systems being, therefore, optimal targets of omic sciences. Currently, most studies focus on dissecting EVs content in order to either characterize it or to explore its role in various pathogenic processes at transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, lipidomic and genomic levels. Despite valuable results being provided by individual omic studies, the categorization of EVs biological data might represent a limit to be overcome. For this reason, a multi-omic integrative approach might contribute to explore EVs function, their tissue-specific origin and their potentiality. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art of EVs omic studies, addressing recent research on the integration of EVs multi-level biological data and challenging developments in EVs origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enxhi Shaba
- Functional Proteomics Lab, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.V.); (L.B.); (C.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Lorenza Vantaggiato
- Functional Proteomics Lab, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.V.); (L.B.); (C.L.)
| | - Laura Governini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (A.H.)
| | - Alesandro Haxhiu
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.G.); (A.H.)
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.S.); (D.F.); (G.E.G.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.S.); (D.F.); (G.E.G.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Emanuela Grieco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.S.); (D.F.); (G.E.G.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Bergantini
- Respiratory Diseases and Lung Transplant Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Luca Bini
- Functional Proteomics Lab, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.V.); (L.B.); (C.L.)
| | - Claudia Landi
- Functional Proteomics Lab, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.V.); (L.B.); (C.L.)
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6
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Nigi L, Brusco N, Grieco GE, Fignani D, Licata G, Formichi C, Aiello E, Marselli L, Marchetti P, Krogvold L, Jorgensen KD, Sebastiani G, Dotta F. Increased Expression of Viral Sensor MDA5 in Pancreatic Islets and in Hormone-Negative Endocrine Cells in Recent Onset Type 1 Diabetic Donors. Front Immunol 2022; 13:833141. [PMID: 35359976 PMCID: PMC8963204 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.833141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between genetic and environmental factors determines the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Some viruses are capable of infecting and damaging pancreatic β-cells, whose antiviral response could be modulated by specific viral RNA receptors and sensors such as melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 (MDA5), encoded by the IFIH1 gene. MDA5 has been shown to be involved in pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory outcomes, thus determining the response of pancreatic islets to viral infections. Although the function of MDA5 has been previously well explored, a detailed immunohistochemical characterization of MDA5 in pancreatic tissues of nondiabetic and T1D donors is still missing. In the present study, we used multiplex immunofluorescence imaging analysis to characterize MDA5 expression and distribution in pancreatic tissues obtained from 22 organ donors (10 nondiabetic autoantibody-negative, 2 nondiabetic autoantibody-positive, 8 recent-onset, and 2 long-standing T1D). In nondiabetic control donors, MDA5 was expressed both in α- and β-cells. The colocalization rate imaging analysis showed that MDA5 was preferentially expressed in α-cells. In T1D donors, we observed an increased colocalization rate of MDA5-glucagon with respect to MDA5-insulin in comparison to nondiabetic controls; such increase was more pronounced in recent-onset with respect to long-standing T1D donors. Of note, an increased colocalization rate of MDA5-glucagon was found in insulin-deficient-islets (IDIs) with respect to insulin-containing-islets (ICIs). Strikingly, we detected the presence of MDA5-positive/hormone-negative endocrine islet-like clusters in T1D donors, presumably due to dedifferentiation or neogenesis phenomena. These clusters were identified exclusively in donors with recent disease onset and not in autoantibody-positive nondiabetic donors or donors with long-standing T1D. In conclusion, we showed that MDA5 is preferentially expressed in α-cells, and its expression is increased in recent-onset T1D donors. Finally, we observed that MDA5 may also characterize the phenotype of dedifferentiated or newly forming islet cells, thus opening to novel roles for MDA5 in pancreatic endocrine cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Nigi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
- *Correspondence: Laura Nigi,
| | - Noemi Brusco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppina E. Grieco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Caterina Formichi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Elena Aiello
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Lorella Marselli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lars Krogvold
- Paediatric Department, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Knut Dahl Jorgensen
- Paediatric Department, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
- Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena, Italy
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7
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Faucher P, Beuvon F, Fignani D, Sebastiani G, Afonso G, Zhou Z, Dousset B, Boitard C, Dotta F, Mallone R, Larger E. Immunoregulated insulitis and slow-progressing type 1 diabetes after duodenopancreatectomy. Diabetologia 2021; 64:2731-2740. [PMID: 34522983 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-021-05563-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS We report the case of a woman who underwent a partial pancreatectomy for a serous cystadenoma when aged 56 years. She had been diagnosed with diabetes 6 years before and had Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Despite positive anti-GAD autoantibodies (GADA) and previous surgery, she was transiently weaned off long-acting insulin. Blood glucose levels remained well controlled with low-dose long-acting insulin. Insulin needs eventually increased 8 years after surgery, in conjunction with anti-zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) seroconversion and decreasing residual C-peptide. We hypothesised that the surgical pancreas specimens and blood autoimmune T cell responses may provide correlates of this indolent clinical course. METHODS Beta and alpha cell area and insulitis were quantified on pancreas head tissue sections obtained at surgery. Blood T cell responses against beta cell antigens were analysed by enzyme-linked immunospot. RESULTS Pancreas sections displayed reduced beta cell and normal alpha cell area (0.27% and 0.85% of section area, respectively). High-grade insulitis was observed, mostly in insulin-containing islets, with a peri-insulitis pattern enriched in T cells positive for regulatory forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3). In vitro challenge with beta cell antigens of circulating T cells collected 4 and 9 years after surgery revealed dominant and persistent IL-10 responses; IFN-γ responses increasing at 9 years, after anti-ZnT8 seroconversion, was observed. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Despite persistent GADA and the histopathological finding of insulitis and decreased beta cell area 6 years after diabetes diagnosis, glycaemic control was maintained with low-dose insulin up to 8 years after surgery. Regulated T cell responses towards beta cell antigens and FOXP3-positive peri-insulitis suggest spontaneous long-term regulation of islet autoimmunity after substantial beta cell loss, and eventual autoimmune progression upon anti-ZnT8 seroconversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Faucher
- Institut Cochin, CNRS, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Cochin Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Beuvon
- Service d'Anatomie Pathologique Publique, Cochin Hospital, Assistance Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Diabetes Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Diabetes Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Georgia Afonso
- Institut Cochin, CNRS, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Zhicheng Zhou
- Institut Cochin, CNRS, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Dousset
- Service de Chirurgie Digestive Publique, Cochin Hospital, Assistance Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Christian Boitard
- Institut Cochin, CNRS, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Cochin Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, Diabetes Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Roberto Mallone
- Institut Cochin, CNRS, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Cochin Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Etienne Larger
- Institut Cochin, CNRS, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
- Service de Diabétologie et Immunologie Clinique, Cochin Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Paris Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France.
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8
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Formichi C, Nigi L, Grieco GE, Maccora C, Fignani D, Brusco N, Licata G, Sebastiani G, Dotta F. Non-Coding RNAs: Novel Players in Insulin Resistance and Related Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7716. [PMID: 34299336 PMCID: PMC8306942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The rising prevalence of metabolic diseases related to insulin resistance (IR) have stressed the urgent need of accurate and applicable tools for early diagnosis and treatment. In the last decade, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have gained growing interest because of their potential role in IR modulation. NcRNAs are variable-length transcripts which are not translated into proteins but are involved in gene expression regulation. Thanks to their stability and easy detection in biological fluids, ncRNAs have been investigated as promising diagnostic and therapeutic markers in metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here we review the emerging role of ncRNAs in the development of IR and related diseases such as obesity, T2D and NAFLD, and summarize current evidence concerning their potential clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Formichi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.E.G.); (D.F.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Nigi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.E.G.); (D.F.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Emanuela Grieco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.E.G.); (D.F.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Carla Maccora
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Food Science and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.E.G.); (D.F.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Noemi Brusco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.E.G.); (D.F.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.E.G.); (D.F.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.E.G.); (D.F.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.E.G.); (D.F.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), 53100 Siena, Italy
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9
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Grieco GE, Sebastiani G, Fignani D, Brusco N, Nigi L, Formichi C, Licata G, Bruttini M, D'Aurizio R, Mathieu C, Gysemans C, Dotta F. Protocol to analyze circulating small non-coding RNAs by high-throughput RNA sequencing from human plasma samples. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100606. [PMID: 34189472 PMCID: PMC8219884 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification and validation of circulating small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) as biomarkers for disease diagnosis, staging, and response to novel therapies is still a compelling challenge. Pre-analytical variables, such as storage temperature or blood hemolysis, and different analytical approaches affect sncRNA stability, detection, and expression, resulting in discrepancies among studies. Here, we report a systematic standardized protocol to reproducibly analyze circulating sncRNAs, employing high-throughput sncRNA sequencing and qRT-PCR validation, from 200 μL of human plasma samples. For details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ventriglia et al. (2020), Sebastiani et al. (2017), and Dotta et al. (2018).
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina E Grieco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena 53100, Italy.,UOC Diabetologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Noemi Brusco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Laura Nigi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Caterina Formichi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Marco Bruttini
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Romina D'Aurizio
- Institute of Informatics and Telematics, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Chantal Mathieu
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Conny Gysemans
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena 53100, Italy.,Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena 53100, Italy
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10
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Grieco GE, Fignani D, Formichi C, Nigi L, Licata G, Maccora C, Brusco N, Sebastiani G, Dotta F. Extracellular Vesicles in Immune System Regulation and Type 1 Diabetes: Cell-to-Cell Communication Mediators, Disease Biomarkers, and Promising Therapeutic Tools. Front Immunol 2021; 12:682948. [PMID: 34177928 PMCID: PMC8219977 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.682948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [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: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are generated by cells of origin through complex molecular mechanisms and released into extracellular environment. Hence, the presence of EVs has been described in multiple biological fluids and in most cases their molecular cargo, which includes non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), messenger RNAs (mRNA), and proteins, has been reported to modulate distinct biological processes. EVs release and their molecular cargo have been demonstrated to be altered in multiple diseases, including autoimmune diseases. Notably, numerous evidence showed a relevant crosstalk between immune system and interacting cells through specific EVs release. The crosstalk between insulin-producing pancreatic β cells and immune system through EVs bidirectional trafficking has yet started to be deciphered, thus uncovering an intricate communication network underlying type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis. EVs can also be found in blood plasma or serum. Indeed, the assessment of circulating EVs cargo has been shown as a promising advance in the detection of reliable biomarkers of disease progression. Of note, multiple studies showed several specific cargo alterations of EVs collected from plasma/serum of subjects affected by autoimmune diseases, including T1D subjects. In this review, we discuss the recent literature reporting evidence of EVs role in autoimmune diseases, specifically focusing on the bidirectional crosstalk between pancreatic β cells and immune system in T1D and highlight the relevant promising role of circulating EVs as disease biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Emanuela Grieco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Caterina Formichi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy.,UOC Diabetologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Nigi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy.,UOC Diabetologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Carla Maccora
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy.,UOC Diabetologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy
| | - Noemi Brusco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy.,UOC Diabetologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy.,Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena, Italy
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11
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Grieco GE, Brusco N, Licata G, Fignani D, Formichi C, Nigi L, Sebastiani G, Dotta F. The Landscape of microRNAs in βCell: Between Phenotype Maintenance and Protection. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020803. [PMID: 33466949 PMCID: PMC7830142 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a group of heterogeneous metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia mainly due to pancreatic β cell death and/or dysfunction, caused by several types of stress such as glucotoxicity, lipotoxicity and inflammation. Different patho-physiological mechanisms driving β cell response to these stresses are tightly regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of negative regulators of gene expression, involved in pathogenic mechanisms occurring in diabetes and in its complications. In this review, we aim to shed light on the most important miRNAs regulating the maintenance and the robustness of β cell identity, as well as on those miRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of the two main forms of diabetes mellitus, i.e., type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, we acknowledge that the understanding of miRNAs-regulated molecular mechanisms is fundamental in order to develop specific and effective strategies based on miRNAs as therapeutic targets, employing innovative molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Emanuela Grieco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Noemi Brusco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Caterina Formichi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Nigi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.)
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), 53100 Siena, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0577-231283
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12
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Fignani D, Licata G, Brusco N, Nigi L, Grieco GE, Marselli L, Overbergh L, Gysemans C, Colli ML, Marchetti P, Mathieu C, Eizirik DL, Sebastiani G, Dotta F. SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Type 2 (ACE2) Is Expressed in Human Pancreatic β-Cells and in the Human Pancreas Microvasculature. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:596898. [PMID: 33281748 PMCID: PMC7691425 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.596898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence demonstrated that the expression of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme type 2 (ACE2) is a necessary step for SARS-CoV-2 infection permissiveness. In light of the recent data highlighting an association between COVID-19 and diabetes, a detailed analysis aimed at evaluating ACE2 expression pattern distribution in human pancreas is still lacking. Here, we took advantage of INNODIA network EUnPOD biobank collection to thoroughly analyze ACE2, both at mRNA and protein level, in multiple human pancreatic tissues and using several methodologies. Using multiple reagents and antibodies, we showed that ACE2 is expressed in human pancreatic islets, where it is preferentially expressed in subsets of insulin producing β-cells. ACE2 is also highly expressed in pancreas microvasculature pericytes and moderately expressed in rare scattered ductal cells. By using different ACE2 antibodies we showed that a recently described short-ACE2 isoform is also prevalently expressed in human β-cells. Finally, using RT-qPCR, RNA-seq and High-Content imaging screening analysis, we demonstrated that pro-inflammatory cytokines, but not palmitate, increase ACE2 expression in the β-cell line EndoC-βH1 and in primary human pancreatic islets. Taken together, our data indicate a potential link between SARS-CoV-2 and diabetes through putative infection of pancreatic microvasculature and/or ductal cells and/or through direct β-cell virus tropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Fignani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Licata
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Noemi Brusco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Nigi
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppina E. Grieco
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Lorella Marselli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lut Overbergh
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology (CEE), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULEUVEN), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Conny Gysemans
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology (CEE), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULEUVEN), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maikel L. Colli
- ULB Center for Diabetes Research, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chantal Mathieu
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology (CEE), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KULEUVEN), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Decio L. Eizirik
- ULB Center for Diabetes Research, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Guido Sebastiani
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Dotta
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, Siena, Italy
- Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena, Italy
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