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Chiloiro S, Capoluongo ED, Costanza F, Minucci A, Giampietro A, Infante A, Milardi D, Ricciardi Tenore C, De Bonis M, Gaudino S, Rindi G, Olivi A, De Marinis L, Pontecorvi A, Doglietto F, Bianchi A. The Pathogenic RET Val804Met Variant in Acromegaly: A New Clinical Phenotype? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1895. [PMID: 38339173 PMCID: PMC10856706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031895] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Several genetic investigations were conducted to identify germline and somatic mutations in somatotropinomas, a subtype of pituitary tumors. To our knowledge, we report the first acromegaly patient carrying a RET pathogenic variant: c.2410G>A (rs79658334), p.Val804Met. Alongside the fact that the patient's father and daughter carried the same variant, we investigated the clinical significance of this variant in the context of somatotropinomas and other endocrine tumors, reviewing the RET mutations' oncogenic mechanisms. The aim was to search for new targets to precisely manage and treat acromegaly. Our case describes a new phenotype associated with the RET pathogenic variant, represented by aggressive acromegaly, and suggests consideration for RET mutation screening if NGS for well-established PitNET-associated gene mutations renders negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Chiloiro
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (A.G.); (D.M.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Ettore Domenico Capoluongo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University, 80138 Naples, Italy;
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Genomics, Ospedale per l’Emergenza Cannizzaro, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Flavia Costanza
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (A.G.); (D.M.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Minucci
- Unit of Molecular Diagnostics and Genomics, Department of Laboratory Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (M.D.B.)
| | - Antonella Giampietro
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (A.G.); (D.M.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Amato Infante
- Department of Imaging, Radiation Therapy and Hematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.I.); (S.G.)
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (A.G.); (D.M.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Ricciardi Tenore
- Unit of Molecular Diagnostics and Genomics, Department of Laboratory Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (M.D.B.)
| | - Maria De Bonis
- Unit of Molecular Diagnostics and Genomics, Department of Laboratory Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.M.); (M.D.B.)
| | - Simona Gaudino
- Department of Imaging, Radiation Therapy and Hematology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.I.); (S.G.)
| | - Guido Rindi
- Section of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Unit of Head and Neck, Thoracic and Endocrine Pathology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma European Neuro-Endocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) Center of Excellence, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Olivi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.O.); (F.D.)
| | - Laura De Marinis
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (A.G.); (D.M.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (A.G.); (D.M.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Doglietto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.O.); (F.D.)
| | - Antonio Bianchi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.C.); (A.G.); (D.M.); (L.D.M.); (A.P.); (A.B.)
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Mancini F, Di Nicuolo F, Teveroni E, Vergani E, Bianchetti G, Bruno C, Grande G, Iavarone F, Maulucci G, De Spirito M, Urbani A, Pontecorvi A, Milardi D. Combined evaluation of prolactin-induced peptide (PIP) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) as new sperm biomarkers of FSH treatment efficacy in normogonadotropic idiopathic infertile men. J Endocrinol Invest 2024; 47:455-468. [PMID: 37480475 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-023-02161-w] [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: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Nearly, 40% of the causes of male infertility remain idiopathic. The only suggested treatment in idiopathic oligo- and/or asthenozoospermia in normogonadotropic patients is the FSH. In the current clinical practice, efficacy is exclusively assessable through semen analysis after 3 months of treatment. No molecular markers of treatment efficacy are appliable in clinical practice. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the combination of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 and prolactin inducible peptide (PIP) as potential markers of idiopathic infertility and FSH treatment efficacy. METHODS Western blot and confocal microscopy were performed to analyze the modulation of PIP and ERK1/2 in idiopathic infertile patients (IIP) sperm cells. Taking advantage of mass spectrometry analysis, we identified these proteins unequivocally in sperm cells. RESULTS We demonstrated a significant decrease of both PIP protein and of ERK1/2 levels in spermatozoa obtained from IIP in comparison to healthy fertile patients (HFP). Conversely, we reported a significant increase of these markers comparing infertile patients before and after 3 months of FSH treatment. Importantly, this correlated with an increase in total number of sperm and sperm motility after FSH treatment. Finally, we identified of PIP and ERK2 proteins in sperm samples by proteomic analysis. CONCLUSIONS The combined evaluation of ERK1/2 and PIP proteins might represent a useful molecular marker to tailor FSH treatment in the management of male normogonadotropic idiopathic infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Mancini
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - F Di Nicuolo
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - E Teveroni
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - E Vergani
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - G Bianchetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - C Bruno
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - G Grande
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - F Iavarone
- Department of Laboratory and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - G Maulucci
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - M De Spirito
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - A Urbani
- Department of Laboratory and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - A Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - D Milardi
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Teveroni E, Di Nicuolo F, Vergani E, Oliva A, Vodola EP, Bianchetti G, Maulucci G, De Spirito M, Cenci T, Pierconti F, Gulino G, Iavarone F, Urbani A, Milardi D, Pontecorvi A, Mancini F. SPTBN1 Mediates the Cytoplasmic Constraint of PTTG1, Impairing Its Oncogenic Activity in Human Seminoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16891. [PMID: 38069214 PMCID: PMC10707054 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316891] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Seminoma is the most common testicular cancer. Pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) is a securin showing oncogenic activity in several tumors. We previously demonstrated that nuclear PTTG1 promotes seminoma tumor invasion through its transcriptional activity on matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and E-cadherin (CDH1). We wondered if specific interactors could affect its subcellular distribution. To this aim, we investigated the PTTG1 interactome in seminoma cell lines showing different PTTG1 nuclear levels correlated with invasive properties. A proteomic approach upon PTTG1 immunoprecipitation uncovered new specific securin interactors. Western blot, confocal microscopy, cytoplasmic/nuclear fractionation, sphere-forming assay, and Atlas database interrogation were performed to validate the proteomic results and to investigate the interplay between PTTG1 and newly uncovered partners. We observed that spectrin beta-chain (SPTBN1) and PTTG1 were cofactors, with SPTBN1 anchoring the securin in the cytoplasm. SPTBN1 downregulation determined PTTG1 nuclear translocation, promoting its invasive capability. Moreover, a PTTG1 deletion mutant lacking SPTBN1 binding was strongly localized in the nucleus. The Atlas database revealed that seminomas that contained higher nuclear PTTG1 levels showed significantly lower SPTBN1 levels in comparison to non-seminomas. In human seminoma specimens, we found a strong PTTG1/SPTBN1 colocalization that decreases in areas with nuclear PTTG1 distribution. Overall, these results suggest that SPTBN1, along with PTTG1, is a potential prognostic factor useful in the clinical management of seminoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Teveroni
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.T.); (F.D.N.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Fiorella Di Nicuolo
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.T.); (F.D.N.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Edoardo Vergani
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.V.); (A.O.); (E.P.V.)
| | - Alessandro Oliva
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.V.); (A.O.); (E.P.V.)
| | - Emanuele Pierpaolo Vodola
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.V.); (A.O.); (E.P.V.)
| | - Giada Bianchetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (G.M.); (M.D.S.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maulucci
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (G.M.); (M.D.S.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Spirito
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (G.M.); (M.D.S.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Tonia Cenci
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (T.C.); (F.P.)
| | - Francesco Pierconti
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (T.C.); (F.P.)
| | - Gaetano Gulino
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Federica Iavarone
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Vito, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.I.); (A.U.)
- Clinical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Operations (UOC), Agostino Gemelli Foundation University Hospital IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Vito, 00168 Rome, Italy; (F.I.); (A.U.)
- Clinical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Operations (UOC), Agostino Gemelli Foundation University Hospital IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.T.); (F.D.N.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.V.); (A.O.); (E.P.V.)
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.T.); (F.D.N.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.V.); (A.O.); (E.P.V.)
| | - Francesca Mancini
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (E.T.); (F.D.N.); (A.P.); (F.M.)
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Busnelli A, Garolla A, Di Credico E, D'Ippolito S, Merola AM, Milardi D, Pontecorvi A, Scambia G, Di Simone N. Sperm DNA fragmentation and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss: Results from a multicenter case-control study. Andrology 2023; 11:1673-1681. [PMID: 36693210 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sperm DNA fragmentation was hypothesized to have a role in the pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss. Unfortunately, the quality of already published evidence is low. OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between sperm DNA fragmentation and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss by limiting, as much as possible, the interference of confounding factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective multicenter case-control study conducted in two Italian University Hospitals (i.e., Policlinico Gemelli, Rome and Humanitas S. Pio X, Milan) from July 2020 to March 2022. Cases were men belonging to couples affected by first trimester idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss, defined as the previous loss of two or more pregnancies. Two control groups were selected: (i) men belonging to couples with proven fertility (i.e., at least two previous full-term pregnancies) (control group A); (ii) men belonging to couples with proven infertility (i.e., the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse) (control group B). The sperm DNA fragmentation index was measured by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. RESULTS We included 74 cases, 37 men with proven fertility (control group A) and 100 men belonging to infertile couples (control group B). The median sperm DNA fragmentation index was significantly lower in control group A (17%, interquartile range: 14.3%-20.6%) compared to both case group (24.5%, interquartile range: 17%-32%; p < 0.0001) and control group B (24%, interquartile range: 18.9%-30%; p = 0.001). The rate of subjects with sperm DNA fragmentation index greater than 30% was significantly higher in both case groups (28%, 95% confidence interval [18%-40%]) and control group B (26%, 95% confidence interval [18%, 36%]) compared to control group A (0%, 95% confidence interval [0%-10%]) (p < 0.001). Multivariate regression models yielded a significant association between sperm DNA fragmentation index and recurrent pregnancy loss (adjusted odds ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval [1.04-1.23], p = 0.006), but failed to show an association between sperm DNA fragmentation index and infertility (adjusted odds ratio 1.13, 95% CI [1-1.29], p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Men within couples affected by recurrent pregnancy loss or infertility had a significantly higher rate of sperm DNA fragmentation compared to fertile controls. However, after adjusting for covariates, sperm DNA fragmentation index was associated only with recurrent pregnancy loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Busnelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Garolla
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine & Centre for Male Gamete Cryopreservation, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Di Credico
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia D'Ippolito
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Merola
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI," Catholic University, Rome, Italy
- Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI," Catholic University, Rome, Italy
- Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scambia
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Di Simone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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Tralongo P, Bruno C, Policardo F, Vegni F, Feraco A, Carlino A, Ferraro G, Milardi D, Navarra E, Pontecorvi A, Lombardi CP, Raffaelli M, Larocca LM, Pantanowitz L, Rossi ED. Diagnostic role of FNA cytology in the evaluation of cervical lymph nodes in thyroid cancers: Combined evaluation of thyroglobulin in eluate from FNA cytology. Cancer Cytopathol 2023; 131:693-700. [PMID: 37519189 DOI: 10.1002/cncy.22745] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presurgical evaluation of cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) in the management of thyroid malignant lesions is crucial for the extent of surgery or detection of metastases. In these last decades, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been shown to have a central role in the detection of nodal thyroid metastases. It is adopted for the possibility of confirming suspected metastases either in the presurgical phase or in the follow-up of patients after thyroidectomy. However, FNAC from CLNs can be challenging, especially in cystic lesions. In this regard, the combination of FNAC with thyroglobulin measurement in the eluate from FNAC (Tg-FNAC) seems to increase the sensitivity of FNAC in the detection of CLN metastases. The role of FNAC and Tg-FNAC was investigated in this series. METHODS One hundred fifty-three prospective cytological samples of CLNs were studied along with surgical follow-up in the period between 2020 and 2022. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was performed on liquid-based cytology-stored material. RESULTS One hundred fifty-nine enlarged CLNs included 19 central lymph nodes and 140 CLNs. Forty-two thyroidal CLN metastases and 117 reactive lymph nodes were found. Thirty-one CLN dissections were performed in patients with a previous diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma (mostly papillary thyroid carcinoma [PTC]), whereas 128 CLNs with a concomitant suspicious and/or malignant thyroid nodule were found. There was one false-positive case among all the malignant histologically confirmed cases, and two of 117 reactive CLNs (1.7%) had a diagnosis of metastatic PTC. Markedly high Tg-FNAC was found in all metastatic CLNs, including 11 cystic metastatic CLNs detected by Tg-FNAC with a negative FNAC. ICC (including Tg, CK-19, and LCA) recognized nine cases with low Tg-FNAC and scant suspicious thyrocytes. Tg-FNAC plus FNAC diagnosed 94.2% of malignancies. CONCLUSIONS FNAC represents a valid method for the evaluation of CLNs, especially combined with ICC. Tg-FNAC is an additional method with a useful role in FNAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Tralongo
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Bruno
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Policardo
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Vegni
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Feraco
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Carlino
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Ferraro
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Navarra
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Celestino Pio Lombardi
- Division of Endocrine-Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Raffaelli
- Division of Endocrine-Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Maria Larocca
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Liron Pantanowitz
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Esther Diana Rossi
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Grande G, Graziani A, De Toni L, Garolla A, Milardi D, Ferlin A. Acquired Male Hypogonadism in the Post-Genomic Era-A Narrative Review. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1854. [PMID: 37763258 PMCID: PMC10532903 DOI: 10.3390/life13091854] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although precision medicine took its first steps from genomic medicine, it has gone far beyond genomics, considering the full complexity of cellular physiology. Therefore, the present time can be considered as the "post-genomic era". In detail, proteomics captures the overall protein profile of an analyzed sample, whilst metabolomics has the purpose of studying the molecular aspects of a known medical condition through the measurement of metabolites with low molecular weight in biological specimens. In this review, the role of post-genomic platforms, namely proteomics and metabolomics, is evaluated with a specific interest in their application for the identification of novel biomarkers in male hypogonadism and in the identification of new perspectives of knowledge on the pathophysiological function of testosterone. Post-genomic platforms, including MS-based proteomics and metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-HRMS, have been applied to find solutions to clinical questions related to the diagnosis and treatment of male hypogonadism. In detail, seminal proteomics helped us in identifying novel non-invasive markers of androgen activity to be translated into clinical practice, sperm proteomics revealed the role of testosterone in spermatogenesis, while serum metabolomics helped identify the different metabolic pathways associated with testosterone deficiency and replacement treatment, both in patients with insulin sensitivity and patients with insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (A.G.); (L.D.T.); (A.G.); (A.F.)
| | - Andrea Graziani
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (A.G.); (L.D.T.); (A.G.); (A.F.)
| | - Luca De Toni
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (A.G.); (L.D.T.); (A.G.); (A.F.)
| | - Andrea Garolla
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (A.G.); (L.D.T.); (A.G.); (A.F.)
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” Scientific Hospitalization and Treatment Institute (IRCCS), 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alberto Ferlin
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy; (A.G.); (L.D.T.); (A.G.); (A.F.)
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7
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Grande G, De Toni L, Garolla A, Milardi D, Ferlin A. Plasma metabolomics in male primary and functional hypogonadism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1165741. [PMID: 37334300 PMCID: PMC10273261 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1165741] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolomics proposes to unveil the molecular machinery involved in each specific disease by the comprehensive analysis of low-molecular-weight metabolites in a biological sample. This narrative mini-review analyzes previous studies applying ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based metabolomics to highlight different metabolic pathways involved in male hypogonadism and testosterone replacement therapy, both in the case of insulin-sensitive patients with primary hypogonadism and in the case of insulin-resistant patients with functional hypogonadism. In functional hypogonadism, metabolomics revealed that different biochemical pathways are affected. In detail, glycolysis is the most important biochemical process involved in these patients. Glucose metabolism is fueled by amino acid degradation, and gluconeogenesis is widely stimulated. Some important pathways, including glycerol, are compromised. Furthermore, mitochondrial electron transport is influenced, namely, by a decrease in ATP production. On the contrary, beta-oxidation of short- and medium-chain fatty acids does not represent an energy source in hypogonadal patients. Both lactate and acetyl-CoA are converted into ketone bodies, which increased immensely. However, carnosine and β-alanine are greatly reduced. These metabolic changes are associated with increased fatigue and mental confusion. After testosterone replacement therapy, a complete restoration is achieved for only a part of the metabolites. It is of note that only in patients with functional hypogonadism treated with testosterone are ketone bodies produced at high levels, so the symptoms sometimes reported by these patients after the beginning of the therapy (difficulty in concentrating, depressed mood, brain fog, and memory impairment) might represent a specific "keto flu-like" syndrome, related to the metabolic ketonic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Luca De Toni
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Garolla
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” Scientific Hospitalization and Treatment Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ferlin
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Chiloiro S, Giampietro A, Gagliardi I, Bondanelli M, Epifani V, Milardi D, Ambrosio MR, Zatelli MC, Pontecorvi A, De Marinis L, Bianchi A. Systemic comorbidities of acromegaly in real-life experience: which difference among young and elderly patients? Endocrine 2023; 80:142-151. [PMID: 36447087 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-022-03261-y] [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: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acromegaly is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease, if not promptly managed, for the systemic complications due to the GH/IGF-I hypersecretion. According to the increased population life span, the number of older acromegaly patients is growing. We aim to investigate clinical features of elderly acromegaly (elderly-ACRO) and to identify the risk factors for the occurrence of comorbidities in elderly-ACRO. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective and multi-center study was performed on acromegaly patients. Acromegaly comorbidities were compared among elderly-ACRO (>65 years), young acromegaly patients (young-ACRO if ≤65 years) and a control group of age and gender-matched subjects. RESULT Fifty of the 189 enrolled patients were elderly-ACRO (26.5%). Cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological/psychiatric and joint/articular disorders, nodular thyroid disease, sleep apnoea syndrome and skeletal fragility occurred more frequently in elderly-ACRO as compared to controls. Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, nodular thyroid disease occurred significantly more frequently in elderly-ACRO as compared to young-ACRO and controls. On the other hand, neurological/psychiatric, joint/articular disorders and bone fragility occur with a similar frequency among elderly and young-ACRO. We found that elderly-ACRO had an increased risk for the occurrence of systemic arterial hypertension (p < 0.001, OR: 5.4 95%IC:2.6-10.9), left ventricular hypertrophy (p = 0.01, OR: 3 95%IC: 1.5-5.8) and metabolic disorders (p = 0.006, OR: 4.1 95%IC: 2-8.3). CONCLUSION Our results may suggest that some acromegaly comorbidities may be predominantly due to acromegaly "per-se" rather than to aging. On the contrary, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders seem to be due to aging as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Chiloiro
- Pituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Giampietro
- Pituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Gagliardi
- Section of Endocrinology, Geriatrics & Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64/B, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marta Bondanelli
- Section of Endocrinology, Geriatrics & Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64/B, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valeria Epifani
- Pituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Pituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Ambrosio
- Section of Endocrinology, Geriatrics & Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64/B, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Zatelli
- Section of Endocrinology, Geriatrics & Internal Medicine, Dept of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64/B, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Pituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura De Marinis
- Pituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonio Bianchi
- Pituitary Unit, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Teveroni E, Di Nicuolo F, Vergani E, Bruno C, Maulucci G, Bianchetti G, Astorri AL, Grande G, Gervasoni J, Santucci L, De Spirito M, Urbani A, Pontecorvi A, Mancini F, Milardi D. Short-Chain Fatty Acids Modulate Sperm Migration through Olfactory Receptor 51E2 Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112726. [PMID: 36361515 PMCID: PMC9658011 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112726] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The non-orthotopic expression of olfactory receptors (ORs) includes the male reproductive system, and in particular spermatozoa; their active ligands could be essential to sperm chemotaxis and chemical sperm-oocyte communication. OR51E2 expression has been previously reported on sperm cells' surface. It has been demonstrated in different cellular models that olfactory receptor 51E2 (OR51E2) binds volatile short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as specific ligands. In the present research, we make use of Western blot, confocal microscopy colocalization analysis, and the calcium-release assay to demonstrate the activation of sperm cells through OR51E2 upon SCFAs stimulus. Moreover, we perform a novel modified swim-up assay to study the involvement of OR51E2/SCFAs in sperm migration. Taking advantage of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA system), we determine the kinematics parameters of sperm cells migrating towards SCFAs-enriched medium, revealing that these ligands are able to promote a more linear sperm-cell orientation. Finally, we obtain SCFAs by mass spectrometry in cervico-vaginal mucus and show for the first time that a direct incubation between cervical mucus and sperm cells could promote their activation. This study can shed light on the possible function of chemosensory receptors in successful reproduction activity, laying the foundation for the development of new strategies for the treatment of infertile individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Teveroni
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, ISI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Di Nicuolo
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, ISI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Edoardo Vergani
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Bruno
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maulucci
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Bianchetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Astorri
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, ISI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Jacopo Gervasoni
- Department of Laboratory and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Lavinia Santucci
- Metabolomics Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSteP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Spirito
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Biophysics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Department of Laboratory and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, ISI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: or
| | - Francesca Mancini
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, ISI, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
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10
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Grande G, Pompa G, Astorri AL, Pontecorvi A, Milardi D. Association of Probiotic Treatment With Antibiotics in Male Accessory Gland Infections. Am J Mens Health 2022; 16:15579883221119064. [PMID: 36255039 PMCID: PMC9583205 DOI: 10.1177/15579883221119064] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Male accessory gland infection (MAGI) represents a frequent disease, commonly treated with antibiotics alone. However, in approximately 40% to 50% of patients, persistent infection is detected. Intestinal dysbiosis is involved in the pathogenesis of prostatitis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic treatment in association with a specific probiotic supplementation. A total of 104 infertile patients, with microbiological analysis on semen and/or prostatic secretions positive for Gram-negative bacteria, have been enrolled. All patients received antibiotic treatment with fluoroquinolones. In total, 84 patients received a commercial association of Enterococcus faecium and Saccharomyces boulardii during antibiotic treatment, followed by treatment with Lactobacilli. After the treatment, a complete microbiological analysis was repeated. Polymicrobial infections have been observed in 11% of patients, while infections due to a single germ were reported in 89% of the patients. After the treatment was performed, a complete eradication with negative semen culture and microbiological analysis on prostatic secretion was observed in 64 of 84 patients (76.2%), while only 10 of 20 patients receiving antibiotics alone (50%; p < .05) reported negative microbiological analysis. Persistent infections have been observed only in patients with infections due to Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli. This study represents the first approach demonstrating the efficacy of a specific probiotic treatment in reducing the rate of persistent infections in patients with MAGI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute
“Paul VI,” Rome, Italy,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.
Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Unit of Andrology and Reproductive
Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,Giuseppe Grande, Unit of Andrology and
Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gustavo
Modena 9, 35128 Padova, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina Pompa
- International Scientific Institute
“Paul VI,” Rome, Italy,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.
Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Laura Astorri
- International Scientific Institute
“Paul VI,” Rome, Italy,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.
Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute
“Paul VI,” Rome, Italy,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.
Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute
“Paul VI,” Rome, Italy,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.
Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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11
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Zolla L, Grande G, Milardi D. Plasma Metabonomics in Insulin-Resistant Hypogonadic Patients Induced by Testosterone Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147754. [PMID: 35887101 PMCID: PMC9324383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147754] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypogonadic subjects with insulin resistance (IR) showed different metabonomic profiles compared to normo-insulinemic subjects (IS). Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may have a different impact on the metabolisms of those with the presence or absence of insulin resistance. We evaluated the changes in the metabolism of IR hypogonadic patients before and after 60 days of TRT. The metabonomic plasma profiles from 20 IR hypogonadal patients were recorded using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Plasma metabolites, before and after 60 days of TRT, were compared. In hypogonadic patients, carnosine, which is important for improving performance during exercise, increased. Conversely, proline and lysine—amino acids involved in the synthesis of collagen—reduced. Triglycerides decreased and fatty acids (FFAs) increased in the blood as a consequence of reduced FFA β-oxidation. Glycolysis slightly improved, while the Krebs cycle was not activated. Gluconeogenesis (which is the main energy source for hypogonadal IR before TRT) stopped after treatment. As a consequence, lactate and acetyl CoA increased significantly. Both lactate and acetyl CoA were metabolized into ketone bodies which increased greatly, also due to leucine/isoleucine degradation. Ketone bodies were derived predominantly from acetyl CoA because the reaction of acetyl CoA into ketone bodies is catalyzed by mtHMGCoA synthase. This enzyme is inhibited by insulin, which is absent in IR patients but overexpressed following testosterone administration. Ketosis is an alternative route for energy supply and provides the same metabolic effects as insulin but at the metabolic or primitive control level, which bypasses the complex signaling pathway of insulin. After treatment, the hypogonadic patients showed clinical symptoms related to ketonuria. They presented similarly to those following a ketogenic diet, the so-called ‘keto flu’. This must be taken into account before the administration of TRT to hypogonadic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lello Zolla
- University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0761-357100
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy;
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- International Scientific Institute, “Paul VI”-Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
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12
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Grande G, Barrachina F, Soler-Ventura A, Jodar M, Mancini F, Marana R, Chiloiro S, Pontecorvi A, Oliva R, Milardi D. The Role of Testosterone in Spermatogenesis: Lessons From Proteome Profiling of Human Spermatozoa in Testosterone Deficiency. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:852661. [PMID: 35663320 PMCID: PMC9161277 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.852661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone is essential to maintain qualitative spermatogenesis. Nonetheless, no studies have been yet performed in humans to analyze the testosterone-mediated expression of sperm proteins and their importance in reproduction. Thus, this study aimed to identify sperm protein alterations in male hypogonadism using proteomic profiling. We have performed a comparative proteomic analysis comparing sperm from fertile controls (a pool of 5 normogonadic normozoospermic fertile men) versus sperm from patients with secondary hypogonadism (a pool of 5 oligozoospermic hypogonadic patients due to isolated LH deficiency). Sperm protein composition was analyzed, after peptide labelling with Isobaric Tags, via liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on an LTQ Velos-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. LC-MS/MS data were analyzed using Proteome Discoverer. Criteria used to accept protein identification included a false discovery rate (FDR) of 1% and at least 1 peptide match per protein. Up to 986 proteins were identified and, of those, 43 proteins were differentially expressed: 32 proteins were under-expressed and 11 were over-expressed in the pool of hypogonadic patients compared to the controls. Bioinformatic analyses were performed using UniProt Knowledgebase, and the Gene Ontology Consortium database based on PANTHER. Notably, 13 of these 43 differentially expressed proteins have been previously reported to be related to sperm function and spermatogenesis. Western blot analyses for A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 3 (AKAP3) and the Prolactin Inducible Protein (PIP) were used to confirm the proteomics data. In summary, a high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach was used for the first time to describe alterations of the sperm proteome in secondary male hypogonadism. Some of the differential sperm proteins described in this study, which include Prosaposin, SMOC-1, SERPINA5, SPANXB1, GSG1, ELSPBP1, fibronectin, 5-oxoprolinase, AKAP3, AKAP4, HYDIN, ROPN1B, ß-Microseminoprotein and Protein S100-A8, could represent new targets for the design of infertility treatments due to androgen deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- Research Group on Human Fertility, International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” Scientific Hospitalization and Treatment Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Ferran Barrachina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ada Soler-Ventura
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Jodar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesca Mancini
- Research Group on Human Fertility, International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Marana
- Research Group on Human Fertility, International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Chiloiro
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Research Group on Human Fertility, International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” Scientific Hospitalization and Treatment Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Rafael Oliva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Research Group on Human Fertility, International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” Scientific Hospitalization and Treatment Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
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13
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Chiloiro S, Capoluongo ED, Angelini F, Mariotti F, Grande G, Stigliano E, Vincenzoni F, Bianchi A, Giampietro A, Milardi D, Tartaglione T, Urbani A, Pontecorvi A, De Marinis L, Di Zenzo G. Autoantibody reactivity profile of primary autoimmune hypophysitis patients: preliminary results. Endocrine 2022; 76:224-227. [PMID: 34797510 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-021-02937-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Chiloiro
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
- Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy.
| | - Ettore Domenico Capoluongo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Università Federico II-CEINGE, Advanced Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
| | - Flavia Angelini
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", ISI, Fondazione Policlinico 'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, 00100, Rome, Italy
| | - Egidio Stigliano
- Department di Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Bianchi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonella Giampietro
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Tommaso Tartaglione
- Department of Radiological and Haematological Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, IDI-IRCCS, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Roma, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Laboratoristiche ed Infettivologiche, UOC Chimica, Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare Clinica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Laura De Marinis
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
- Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
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Chiloiro S, Bianchi A, Giampietro A, Milardi D, De Marinis L, Pontecorvi A. The changing clinical spectrum of endocrine adverse events in cancer immunotherapy. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2022; 33:87-104. [PMID: 34895977 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of several malignancies, improving patient survival and quality of life. Endocrinopathies have emerged as a clinically significant group of immune-related adverse events (IRAEs). Although the mechanism of ICI toxicities has not been clarified, inhibition of immune checkpoints reduces immune tolerance to autoantigens, resulting in the development of autoimmunity disorders. We report current evidence regarding endocrine IRAEs that may have diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Management should be focused on a multidisciplinary approach to reach a prompt diagnosis and an appropriate and safe treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Chiloiro
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Roma, Italy.
| | - Antonio Bianchi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Roma, Italy
| | - Antonella Giampietro
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Roma, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Roma, Italy
| | - Laura De Marinis
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Roma, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Endocrinology and Diabetology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Roma, Italy
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15
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Smargiassi A, Soldati G, Torri E, Mento F, Milardi D, Del Giacomo P, De Matteis G, Burzo ML, Larici AR, Pompili M, Demi L, Inchingolo R. Lung Ultrasound for COVID-19 Patchy Pneumonia: Extended or Limited Evaluations? J Ultrasound Med 2021; 40:521-528. [PMID: 32815618 DOI: 10.1002/jum.15428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The 2019 novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is causing cases of severe pneumonia. Lung ultrasound (LUS) could be a useful tool for physicians detecting a bilateral heterogeneous patchy distribution of pathologic findings in a symptomatic suggestive context. The aim of this study was to focus on the implications of limiting LUS examinations to specific regions of the chest. METHODS Patients were evaluated with a standard sequence of LUS scans in 14 anatomic areas. A scoring system of LUS findings was reported, ranging from 0 to 3 (worst score, 3). The scores reported on anterior, lateral, and posterior landmarks were analyzed separately and compared with each other and with the global findings. RESULTS Thirty-eight patients were enrolled. A higher prevalence of score 0 was observed in the anterior region (44.08%). On the contrary, 21.05% of posterior regions and 13.62% of lateral regions were evaluated as score 3, whereas only 5.92% of anterior regions were classified as score 3. Findings from chest computed tomography performed in 16 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 correlated with and matched the distribution of findings from LUS. CONCLUSIONS To assess the quantity and severity of lung disease, a comprehensive LUS examination is recommended. Omitting areas of the chest misses involved lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Smargiassi
- Pulmonary Medicine Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Gino Soldati
- Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound Unit, Valle del Serchio General Hospital, Lucca, Italy
| | | | - Federico Mento
- Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science, Ultrasound Laboratory Trento, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Del Giacomo
- Unità Operativa Complessa Malattie Infettive, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Matteis
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Livia Burzo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Larici
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Oncological Radiotherapy, and Hematology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
- University Department of Radiological and Hematological Sciences, Section of Radiology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Libertario Demi
- Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science, Ultrasound Laboratory Trento, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Riccardo Inchingolo
- Pulmonary Medicine Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
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16
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Grande G, Milardi D, Baroni S, Urbani A, Pontecorvi A. Why Do We Need New Markers for Male Hypogonadism and How Seminal Proteomics Might Solve the Problem? Protein Pept Lett 2021; 27:1186-1191. [PMID: 32370701 DOI: 10.2174/0929866527666200505214021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Male hypogonadism is "a clinical syndrome that results from failure of the testis to produce physiological concentrations of testosterone and/or a normal number of spermatozoa due to pathology at one or more levels of the hypothalamic- pituitary-testicular axis". The diagnostic protocol of male hypogonadism includes accurate medical history, physical exam, as well as hormone assays and instrumental evaluation. Basal hormonal evaluation of serum testosterone, LH, and FSH is important in the evaluation of diseases of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis. Total testosterone levels < 8 nmol/l profoundly suggest the diagnosis of hypogonadism. An inadequate androgen status is moreover possible if the total testosterone levels are 8-12 nmol/L. In this "grey zone" the diagnosis of hypogonadism is debated and the appropriateness for treating these patients with testosterone should be fostered by symptoms, although often non-specific. Up to now, no markers of androgen tissue action can be used in clinical practice. The identification of markers of androgens action might be useful in supporting diagnosis, Testosterone Replacement Treatment (TRT) and clinical follow-up. The aim of this review is to analyze the main findings of recent studies in the field of discovering putative diagnostic markers of male hypogonadism in seminal plasma by proteomic techniques. The identified proteins might represent a "molecular androtest" useful as a seminal fingerprint of male hypogonadism, for the diagnosis of patients with moderate grades of testosterone reduction and in the follow-up of testosterone replacement treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy,Area Endocrino-Metabolica e Dermo-Reumatologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy,Area Endocrino-Metabolica e Dermo-Reumatologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Baroni
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy,UOC of Clinical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy,UOC of Clinical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, IRCCS-Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Roma, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy,Area Endocrino-Metabolica e Dermo-Reumatologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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17
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Garolla A, De Giorgi U, Milardi D. Corrigendum: Editorial: Testicular Cancer: New Insights on the Origin, Genetics, Treatment, Fertility, General Health, Quality of Life and Sexual Function. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:712499. [PMID: 34177817 PMCID: PMC8223058 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.712499] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00041.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Garolla
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Andrea Garolla,
| | - Ugo De Giorgi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Policlinic Gemelli, Rome, Italy
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18
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Maiorano BA, Schinzari G, Chiloiro S, Visconti F, Milardi D, Bianchi A. Proteomics of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Systematic Review. Protein Pept Lett 2020; 27:1276-1287. [DOI: 10.2174/0929866527666200504122116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are rare tumors having usually an indolent
behavior, but sometimes with unpredictable aggressiveness. PanNETs are more often
non-functioning (NF), unable to produce functioning hormones, while 10-30% present as functioning
(F) - PanNETs, such as insulinomas , gastrinomas , and other rare tumors. Diagnostic
and prognostic markers, but also new therapeutic targets, are still lacking. Proteomics techniques
represent therefore promising approaches for the future management of PanNETs. We conducted a
systematic review to summarize the state of the art of proteomics in PanNETs. A total of 9 studies
were included, focusing both on NF- and F-PanNETs. Indeed, proteomics is useful for the diagnosis,
the prognosis and the detection of therapeutic targets. However, further studies are required. It
is also warranted to standardize the analysis methods and the collection techniques, in order
to validate proteins with a relevance in the personalized approach to PanNETs management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigida Anna Maiorano
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, ENETS Center of Excellence, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, ENETS Center of Excellence, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Chiloiro
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, ENETS Center of Excellence, Rome, Italy
| | - Felicia Visconti
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Bianchi
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, ENETS Center of Excellence, Rome, Italy
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19
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Tisano A, Alito A, Milardi D, Fazio R, Virelli L, Zanella C, Ruggeri C, Filardi V, Bruschetta D. Statistical investigation about spinal clinical asymmetry in a school population. J Orthop 2020; 22:336-340. [PMID: 32904173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jor.2020.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinal disorders and obesity are increasing and are an important cause for concern among healthcare and educational bodies. There is a wide variability in the literature of clinical positivity for scoliosis in the examination of the spine. Aim Our study aims to investigate a relationship between scoliosis hump in schoolchildren and obesity, evaluating different kind of variables. Methods The sample was comprised by 478 schoolchildren from Italy, with a mean age of 12.6 years (SD: 1.861). They were classified by using ATR test, body mass index (BMI), the Edinburgh Inventory, the deep flexion test. Results Results of ATR test evidence 26 subjects (5,4%) positive for ATR ≥ 7; 102 subjects (21,3%) positive for ATR ≥ 6; and finally 191 subjects (40,0%) positive for ATR ≥ 5. There were 191 (40%) subjects with scoliosis; obesity was present in 62 (13%) cases and, after the regression, associations were found between scoliotic posture and gender, presence of obesity, and flexibility. Conclusions Our study confirms a relationship between obesity and scoliosis, which increases with the age. Female subjects have higher risks to develop humps and spinal disorders. It is advisable to use a combination of several parameters to achieve a more sensitive evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tisano
- Dep of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - A Alito
- U.O.C. Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Policlinico G. Martino, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - D Milardi
- Dep. of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - R Fazio
- Rehabilitation Center E. Spalenza, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Via Camillo Golgi 1, 25038, Rovato (BS), Italy
| | - L Virelli
- Section of Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery, Humanitas Research Hospital, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano (MI), Italy
| | - C Zanella
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin, Corso A.M. Dogliotti, 14, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - C Ruggeri
- Dep of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - V Filardi
- D.A. Research and Internationalization, University of Messina, V. C. Del Mare 41, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - D Bruschetta
- Dep. of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
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20
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Tundo GR, Sbardella D, Santoro AM, Coletta A, Oddone F, Grasso G, Milardi D, Lacal PM, Marini S, Purrello R, Graziani G, Coletta M. The proteasome as a druggable target with multiple therapeutic potentialities: Cutting and non-cutting edges. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 213:107579. [PMID: 32442437 PMCID: PMC7236745 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) is an adaptable and finely tuned system that sustains proteostasis network under a large variety of physiopathological conditions. Its dysregulation is often associated with the onset and progression of human diseases; hence, UPS modulation has emerged as a promising new avenue for the development of treatments of several relevant pathologies, such as cancer and neurodegeneration. The clinical interest in proteasome inhibition has considerably increased after the FDA approval in 2003 of bortezomib for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, which is now used in the front-line setting. Thereafter, two other proteasome inhibitors (carfilzomib and ixazomib), designed to overcome resistance to bortezomib, have been approved for treatment-experienced patients, and a variety of novel inhibitors are currently under preclinical and clinical investigation not only for haematological malignancies but also for solid tumours. However, since UPS collapse leads to toxic misfolded proteins accumulation, proteasome is attracting even more interest as a target for the care of neurodegenerative diseases, which are sustained by UPS impairment. Thus, conceptually, proteasome activation represents an innovative and largely unexplored target for drug development. According to a multidisciplinary approach, spanning from chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology to pharmacology, this review will summarize the most recent available literature regarding different aspects of proteasome biology, focusing on structure, function and regulation of proteasome in physiological and pathological processes, mostly cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, connecting biochemical features and clinical studies of proteasome targeting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- G R Tundo
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - A M Santoro
- CNR, Institute of Crystallography, Catania, Italy
| | - A Coletta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - F Oddone
- IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Rome, Italy
| | - G Grasso
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - D Milardi
- CNR, Institute of Crystallography, Catania, Italy
| | - P M Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - S Marini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - R Purrello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - G Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | - M Coletta
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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21
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Gulino G, Milardi D, Grande G, Martini M, Cenci T, Mancini F, Bianchi A, Pontecorvi A, Pierconti F, Bassi P. Protein expression of PTTG-1, OCT-4, and KLF-4 in testis seminoma. EUR UROL SUPPL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/s2666-1683(20)34098-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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22
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Grande G, Iva A, Barrachina F, Bellucci C, Cinzia L, Jodar M, Chiara AM, Mancini F, Vincenzoni F, Pontecorvi A, Calafiore R, Oliva R, Luca G, Mancuso F, Milardi D. SAT-035 In Vitro Effect of Different Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Preparations on Sertoli Cells. J Endocr Soc 2020. [PMCID: PMC7209545 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaa046.635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is the main regulator of spermatogenesis and plays a key role in the development and function of the reproductive system. To assess the effects of different FSH preparations in combination with testosterone on porcine pre-pubertal Sertoli cells, we performed Real Time PCR analysis of AMH, inhibin B and FSH-r, Western blotting analysis of AKT-posphoAKT, ERK1/2-posphoERK1/2, ELISA assay for AMH and inhibin B and a high-throughput proteomic analysis.We observed that all three preparations induced a reduction of AMH in terms of mRNA and secreted protein and, an increase of inhibin B in terms of mRNA in all the formulations while, only α-follitropin induced an increase of inhibin B secreted in the culture medium. Proteomic analysis permitted us to identify 46 secreted proteins.Of those, the SPARC protein was down-regulated after the treatment with testosterone associated with α-follitropin, β-follitropin and urofollitropin (vs group stimulated with T alone). 11 proteins were up-regulated by the different FSH preparations. In detail, Hemoglobin subunit beta, TPA and TPI have been observed to be up-regulated by stimulation with testosterone in addition with α-follitropin or with β-follitropin and or with urofollitropin. All preparations induced an increase in the secreted inhibin beta A chain, but in the medium after stimulation with urofollitropin we observed an higher increase in the levels of this protein. β-follitropin, associated with testosterone, specifically induces an up-regulation of 8 specific secreted proteins.Our study, showing that the three FSH preparations were associated with different effects, could offer the opportunity to shed light inside applications to personalized reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”; Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Arato Iva
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Ferran Barrachina
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Catia Bellucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lilli Cinzia
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Meritxell Jodar
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry Institute, Catholic University of Rome, School of Medicine; Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico ‘A. Gemelli’ IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”; Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Calafiore
- Department of Medicine, University of Perugia; Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, University of Perugia and Saint Mary Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Rafael Oliva
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giovanni Luca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia; Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, University of Perugia and Saint Mary Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancuso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”; Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Gangemi CMA, Alaimo S, Pulvirenti A, García-Viñuales S, Milardi D, Falanga AP, Fragalà ME, Oliviero G, Piccialli G, Borbone N, Ferro A, D'Urso A, Croce CM, Purrello R. Endogenous and artificial miRNAs explore a rich variety of conformations: a potential relationship between secondary structure and biological functionality. Sci Rep 2020; 10:453. [PMID: 31949213 PMCID: PMC6965629 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57289-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mature microRNAs are short non-coding RNA sequences which upon incorporation into the RISC ribonucleoprotein complex, play a crucial role in regulation of gene expression. However, miRNAs can exist within the cell also as free molecules fulfilling their biological activity. Therefore, it is emerging that in addition to sequence even the structure adopted by mature miRNAs might play an important role to reach the target. Indeed, we analysed by several spectroscopic techniques the secondary structures of two artificial miRNAs selected by computational tool (miR-Synth) as best candidates to silence c-MET and EGFR genes and of two endogenous miRNAs (miR-15a and miR-15b) having the same seed region, but different biological activity. Our results demonstrate that both endogenous and artificial miRNAs can arrange in several 3D-structures which affect their activity and selectivity toward the targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M A Gangemi
- Department of Chemical Science, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - S Alaimo
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Italy c/o Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - A Pulvirenti
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Italy c/o Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | | | - D Milardi
- Istituto di Cristallografia CNR, Via P. Gaifami 9, 95126, Catania, Italy
| | - A P Falanga
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - M E Fragalà
- Department of Chemical Science, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - G Oliviero
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - G Piccialli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - N Borbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - A Ferro
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Italy c/o Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy.
| | - A D'Urso
- Department of Chemical Science, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy.
| | - C M Croce
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - R Purrello
- Department of Chemical Science, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy.
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Arato I, Grande G, Barrachina F, Bellucci C, Lilli C, Jodar M, Aglietti MC, Mancini F, Vincenzoni F, Pontecorvi A, Calafiore R, Oliva R, Luca G, Mancuso F, Milardi D. " In vitro" Effect of Different Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Preparations on Sertoli Cells: Toward a Personalized Treatment for Male Infertility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:401. [PMID: 32625170 PMCID: PMC7314925 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a major regulator of spermatogenesis, has a crucial function in the development and function of the testis and it is extensively given as a fertility treatment to stimulate spermatogenesis. We analyzed the effects of different FSH preparations (α-follitropin, β-follitropin, and urofollitropin) in combination with testosterone on porcine pre-pubertal Sertoli cells. To study the effect of the different FSH treatments in the Sertoli cell function we performed Real Time PCR analysis of AMH, inhibin B, and FSH-r, an ELISA assay for AMH and inhibin B, and a high-throughput comparative proteomic analysis. We verified that all three preparations induced a reduction of AMH in terms of mRNA and secreted proteins, and an increase of inhibin B in terms of mRNA in all the FSH formulations, while solely α-follitropin produced an increase of secreted inhibin B in the culture medium. Comparative proteomic analysis of the three FSH preparations identified 46 proteins, 11 up-regulated and 2 down-regulated. Surprisingly, the combination of testosterone with β-follitropin specifically induced an up-regulation of eight specific secreted proteins. Our study, showing that the three different FSH preparations induce different effects, could offer the opportunity to shed light inside new applications to a personalized reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Arato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- Research Unit on Human Reproduction, International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli”, Rome, Italy
| | - Ferran Barrachina
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Catia Bellucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Lilli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Meritxell Jodar
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Francesca Mancini
- Research Unit on Human Reproduction, International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry Institute, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Research Unit on Human Reproduction, International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli”, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Calafiore
- Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, University of Perugia and Saint Mary Hospital, Terni, Italy
| | - Rafael Oliva
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giovanni Luca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, University of Perugia and Saint Mary Hospital, Terni, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giovanni Luca
| | - Francesca Mancuso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Research Unit on Human Reproduction, International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli”, Rome, Italy
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25
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Garolla A, De Giorgi U, Milardi D. Editorial: Testicular Cancer: New Insights on the Origin, Genetics, Treatment, Fertility, General Health, Quality of Life and Sexual Function. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:41. [PMID: 32117067 PMCID: PMC7020906 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Garolla
- Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Andrea Garolla
| | - Ugo De Giorgi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Unit of Endocrinology, University Policlinic Gemelli, Rome, Italy
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26
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Arato I, Milardi D, Giovagnoli S, Grande G, Bellucci C, Lilli C, Bartoli S, Corneli S, Mazzone P, Calvitti M, Baroni T, Calafiore R, Mancuso F, Luca G. In "Vitro" Lps-Stimulated Sertoli Cells Pre-Loaded With Microparticles: Intracellular Activation Pathways. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:611932. [PMID: 33488524 PMCID: PMC7817811 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.611932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sertoli cells (SC) are immune privileged cells with the capacity of modulating the immune response by expressing several immune-regulatory factors. SC have the capacity to respond to external stimuli through innate phagocytic and antibacterial activities. This evidence evoked a potential role of SC as drug carriers and therapeutic agents. Such stimuli drive SC towards a still unknown evolution, the clinical relevance of which as yet remains undisclosed. This study sought to investigate the effects of external stimuli in the form of polymeric microparticles (MP) and bacteria derived endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), in order to identify the pathways potentially involved in cell phenotype modifications. Compared to single stimulation, when combined, MP and LPS provoked a significant increase in the gene expression of IDO, PD-L1, FAS-L, TLR-3, TLR-4, MHC-II, ICAM-1, TFGβ1, BDF123, BDF129, BDF3 and pEP2C. Western Blotting analysis demonstrated up-regulation of the ERK 1-2 and NF-kB p65 phosphorylation ratios. Our study, showing the exponential increase of these mediators upon combined MP and LPS stimulation, suggests a "switch" of SC function from typical cells of the blood-testicular barrier to nonprofessional tolerogenic antigen-presenting cells. Further studies should target the clinical and technological implications of such stimuli-induced SC transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Arato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli”, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Giovagnoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- 2nd Department of Medicine, “Ca’ Foncello” Regional Hospital, ULSS2 Marca Trevigiana, Treviso, Italy
| | - Catia Bellucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Lilli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sara Bartoli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sara Corneli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", Perugia, Italy
| | - Piera Mazzone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "Togo Rosati", Perugia, Italy
| | - Mario Calvitti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Tiziano Baroni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Riccardo Calafiore
- Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, Saint Mary Hospital, Terni, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancuso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Francesca Mancuso,
| | - Giovanni Luca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, Saint Mary Hospital, Terni, Italy
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Grande G, Vincenzoni F, Mancini F, Barrachina F, Giampietro A, Castagnola M, Urbani A, Oliva R, Milardi D, Pontecorvi A. Quantitative Analysis of the Seminal Plasma Proteome in Secondary Hypogonadism. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E2128. [PMID: 31816910 PMCID: PMC6947469 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8122128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the grey zone of testosterone levels between 8 and 12 nmol/L, the usefulness of therapy is controversial; as such, markers of tissue action of androgens may be helpful in adjusting clinical decisions. To better understand the effect of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis on male accessory secretion, we performed a proteomic quantitative analysis of seminal plasma in patients with secondary hypogonadism, before and after testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Ten male patients with postsurgical hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism were enrolled in this study, and five of these patients were evaluated after testosterone treatment. Ten men with proven fertility were selected as a control group. An aliquot of seminal plasma from each individual was subjected to an in-solution digestion protocol and analyzed using an Ultimate 3000 RSLC-nano HPLC apparatus coupled to a LTQ Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer. The label-free quantitative analysis was performed via Precursor Ions Area Detector Node. Eleven proteins were identified as decreased in hypogonadic patients versus controls, which are primarily included in hydrolase activity and protein binding activity. The comparison of the proteome before and after TRT comes about within the discovery of six increased proteins. This is the primary application of quantitative proteomics pointed to uncover a cluster of proteins reflecting an impairment not only of spermatogenesis but of the epididymal and prostate epithelial cell secretory function in male hypogonadism. The identified proteins might represent putative clinical markers valuable within the follow-up of patients with distinctive grades of male hypogonadism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, 100168 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (F.M.); (A.P.)
- Divisione di Endocrinologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 100168 Rome, Italy; (F.V.); (A.U.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze di laboratorio e infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancini
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, 100168 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (F.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Ferran Barrachina
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain (R.O.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonella Giampietro
- Divisione di Endocrinologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Laboratorio di Proteomica e Metabolomica, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 100168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 100168 Rome, Italy; (F.V.); (A.U.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze di laboratorio e infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Rafael Oliva
- Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain (R.O.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, 100168 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (F.M.); (A.P.)
- Divisione di Endocrinologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, 100168 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (F.M.); (A.P.)
- Divisione di Endocrinologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
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28
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Grande G, Barrachina F, Soler-Ventura A, Jodar M, Mancini F, Marana R, Bianchi A, Pontecorvi A, Oliva R, Milardi D. SUN-229 The Role of Testosterone in Spermatogenesis: Lessons from Proteome Profiling of Human Spermatozoa in Testosterone Deficiency. J Endocr Soc 2019. [PMCID: PMC6552873 DOI: 10.1210/js.2019-sun-229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Testosterone is required during spermatogenesis to mantain the blood-testis barrier and for meiosis, Sertoli-spermatid adhesion and sperm release. Aim of the study was to better understand the effect of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis on sperm protein composition and function.12 male patients with low testosterone and LH levels were consecutively enrolled for this study. Five normogonadic men were enrolled as control group in the protocol. If spermatozoa were detectable in seminal samples, the the ejaculates were washed and the sperm cells were selected using 50% PercollTM. The recovered sperm cells were then suspended in PBS and subjected to a residual leukocyte depletion using CD45 Dynabeads® magnetic cell sorting. The absence of leukocytes was further confirmed both by microscopic observation after staining and by performing a RT-PCR for CD45. Protein solubilization was independently performed on each sperm sample. A comparative proteomic analysis was performed comparing two pools: controls vs hypogonadic patients. The TMTduplexTM Isobaric Mass Tagging Kit was used for the peptide labeling. MS/MS analysis was performed using a LTQ Orbitrap Velos. Data were processed using Proteome Discoverer 1.4.1.14 software, using very stringent filtering criteria. Proteins identified by SEQUEST were analyzed using the PANTHER classification system. Proteomic results have been confirmed by Western Blot. The following primary antibody were used: anti-Lactoferrin polyclonal antibody and anti-PIP polyclonal antibodyWe included in our study 5 oligozoospermic hypogonadic patients with a sperm count >10 x 106/ml and without leukocyte contamination. 42 proteins were under-expressed in the pool of hypogonadic patients; 12 of these 42 increased proteins have been previously reported to be related with spermatogenesis, sperm motility, sperm-oocyte interaction and acrosomal reaction. The distribution of proteins for molecular function revealed that the protein pattern impaired by low blood testosterone is involved in protein binding and hydrolase. Twelve proteins have been over-expressed in the pool of hypogonadic patients, including markers of defective spermatogenesis. Western-blot analysis confirmed proteomic data. This is the first application of high resolution mass spectrometry -based proteomics aimed to reveal an array of proteins in spermatozoa reflecting an impairment of spermatogenesis and sperm function in male secundary hypogonadism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ferran Barrachina
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, , Spain
| | - Ada Soler-Ventura
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, , Spain
| | - Meritxell Jodar
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, , Spain
| | | | | | - Antonio Bianchi
- ENDO, Fondazione Policlinico "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, , Italy
| | | | - Rafael Oliva
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, , Spain
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico, Rome, , Italy
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Bellia F, Lanza V, García-Viñuales S, Ahmed IMM, Pietropaolo A, Iacobucci C, Malgieri G, D'Abrosca G, Fattorusso R, Nicoletti VG, Sbardella D, Tundo GR, Coletta M, Pirone L, Pedone E, Calcagno D, Grasso G, Milardi D. Ubiquitin binds the amyloid β peptide and interferes with its clearance pathways. Chem Sci 2019; 10:2732-2742. [PMID: 30996991 PMCID: PMC6419943 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc03394c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Several lines of evidence point to a compromised proteostasis associated with a reduction of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) activity in patients affected by Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and suggest that the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is an important player in the game. Inspired also by many reports, underlining the presence of ubiquitin (Ub) in the amyloid plaques of AD brains, here we set out to test whether Ub may bind the Aβ peptide and have any effect on its clearance pathways. By using an integrated array of MALDI-TOF/UPLC-HRMS, fluorescence, NMR, SPR, Microscale Thermophoresis (MST) and molecular dynamics studies, we consistently demonstrated that Aβ40 binds Ub with a 1 : 1 stoichiometry and K d in the high micromolar range. In particular, we show that the N-terminal domain of the Aβ peptide (through residues D1, E3 and R5) interacts with the C-terminal tail of Ub (involving residues K63 and E64), inducing the central region of Aβ (14HQKLVFFAEDVGSNK28) to adopt a mixed α-helix/β-turn structure. ELISA assays, carried out in neuroblastoma cell lysates, suggest that Aβ competitively binds Ub also in the presence of the entire pool of cytosolic Ub binding proteins. Ub-bound Aβ has a lower tendency to aggregate into amyloid-like fibrils and is more slowly degraded by the Insulin Degrading Enzyme (IDE). Finally, we observe that the water soluble fragment Aβ1-16 significantly inhibits Ub chain growth reactions. These results evidence how the non-covalent interaction between Aβ peptides and Ub may have relevant effects on the regulation of the upstream events of the UPS and pave the way to future in vivo studies addressing the role played by Aβ peptide in the malfunction of proteome maintenance occurring in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Bellia
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini , Via P. Gaifami 18 , 95126 Catania , Italy .
| | - V Lanza
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini , Via P. Gaifami 18 , 95126 Catania , Italy .
| | - S García-Viñuales
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini , Via P. Gaifami 18 , 95126 Catania , Italy .
| | - I M M Ahmed
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini , Via P. Gaifami 18 , 95126 Catania , Italy .
| | - A Pietropaolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute , Università degli Studi Magna Graecia di Catanzaro , Viale Europa , 88100 , Catanzaro , Italy
| | - C Iacobucci
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Bioanalytics , Institute of Pharmacy , Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg , 06120 Halle/Saale , Germany
| | - G Malgieri
- Department of Environmental , Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies , University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" , Via Vivaldi 43 , 81100 Caserta , Italy
| | - G D'Abrosca
- Department of Environmental , Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies , University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" , Via Vivaldi 43 , 81100 Caserta , Italy
| | - R Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental , Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies , University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" , Via Vivaldi 43 , 81100 Caserta , Italy
| | - V G Nicoletti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologiche (BIOMETEC) , sez. Biochimica medica , Università di Catania , Via Santa Sofia 97 , 95124 Catania , Italy
| | - D Sbardella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale , Università di Roma Tor Vergata , Via Montpellier 1 , 00133 , Roma , Italy
| | - G R Tundo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale , Università di Roma Tor Vergata , Via Montpellier 1 , 00133 , Roma , Italy
| | - M Coletta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Medicina Traslazionale , Università di Roma Tor Vergata , Via Montpellier 1 , 00133 , Roma , Italy
| | - L Pirone
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini , Via Mezzocannone, 16 , Naples I-80134 , Italy
| | - E Pedone
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini , Via Mezzocannone, 16 , Naples I-80134 , Italy
| | - D Calcagno
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche , Università di Catania , V.le Andrea Doria 6 , 95125 Catania , Italy .
| | - G Grasso
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche , Università di Catania , V.le Andrea Doria 6 , 95125 Catania , Italy .
| | - D Milardi
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini , Via P. Gaifami 18 , 95126 Catania , Italy .
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Grande G, Milardi D, Martini M, Cenci T, Gulino G, Mancini F, Bianchi A, Pontecorvi A, Pierconti F. Protein Expression of PTTG-1, OCT-4, and KLF-4 in Seminoma: A Pilot Study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:619. [PMID: 31572301 PMCID: PMC6749154 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Seminomas are the most frequent kind of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), accounting for 50% of tumor diagnosis in young men, whereas non-seminomas account for 40% and mixed forms for 10% of cases. It is currently supposed that TGCTs evolve from a pre-invasive stage of carcinoma in situ (CIS). Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) is essential for self-renewal of stem cells. It is considered as a major regulator of cell pluripotency. Prior studies have shown that seminoma expresses OCT4. Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) has moreover associated with embryonic stem cell maintenance. Finally, we previously demonstrated the expression of PTTG1 in CIS and seminomas. In this pilot study, we compared the combined expression of PTTG1 with KLF4 and OCT4 in seminoma, in order to validate our hypotesis that PTTG1 marks a specific population of stem cells in neoplastic tissue, strictly related with tumor. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded testicular tissues by 5 patients who underwent an orchidectomy for seminoma have been collected and immunofluorescence analysis was performed using antibody rabbit monoclonal PTTG-1 and mouse monoclonal OCT4 or mouse monoclonal KLF4 antibody. In seminoma we observed that tumor cells strongly express OCT-4 in all seminomas and in the intratubular areas of seminoma. Expression of KLF-4 was observed in many tumor cells. PTTG1 marks some specific OCT4- and KLF4-positive tumor cells, mainly localized at the periphery of the neoplasm. In the intertubular infiltration areas nests of cells expressing both OCT4/KLF4 and PTTG1 have been observed. This is the first identification of a cell population in seminoma characterized for being OCT4, KLF4, and PTTG1 positive cells in seminoma, associated with cancer invasiveness. Further investigation is needed to elucidate if a functional abrogation of PTTG1 might be used in order to offer new therapeutic approaches in the clinical workout of seminoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Domenico Milardi
| | - Maurizio Martini
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tonia Cenci
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano Gulino
- Department of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Bianchi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Pierconti
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Milardi D, Grande G, Vincenzoni F, Pierconti F, Pontecorvi A. Proteomics for the Identification of Biomarkers in Testicular Cancer-Review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:462. [PMID: 31354629 PMCID: PMC6639829 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A large number of biomarkers have been proposed for the diagnosis of testicular cancer, representing putative molecular targets for anticancer treatments. However, no conclusive data have been provided. Proteomics represents a research field recently developed. It evaluates the large-scale analysis of the full protein components of a single cell, of a specific tissue, or of biological fluids. In the last decades, proteomics has been applied in clinical fields, thanks to modern technology and new bioinformatic tools, to identify novel molecular markers of diseases. The aim of this review is to argue the findings of recent studies in the discoveries of putative prognostic and diagnostic markers of testis cancer by proteomic techniques. We present here a panel of proteins identified by proteomics which might be used after validation for early detection and the prognostic evaluation of testicular tumors. In addition, the molecular mechanisms revealed by these proteomic studies might also guide the development of novel treatments in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giuseppe Grande
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry Institute, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Pierconti
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Chiloiro S, Capoluongo ED, Schinzari G, Concolino P, Rossi E, Martini M, Cocomazzi A, Grande G, Milardi D, Maiorano BA, Giampietro A, Rindi G, Pontecorvi A, De Marinis L, Bianchi A. First Case of Mature Teratoma and Yolk Sac Testis Tumor Associated to Inherited MEN-1 Syndrome. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:365. [PMID: 31249555 PMCID: PMC6582702 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominantly inherited endocrine tumor syndrome characterized by the development of cancer in various endocrine organs, particularly in the pituitary, parathyroid and pancreas. Moreover, in some cases, also non-endocrine tumors can be diagnosed, developing atypical phenotypes. Case report: We report herein the clinical history of a patient affected by MEN-1 syndrome who developed atypical features for this disease. The patient's clinical history started in August 2015 when he was referred, at the age of 23 years, to the Emergency Department of our Hospital for the occurrence of progressive asthenia, weakness, tremors and syncope. The biochemical test documented hyper-calcemia and severe hypoglycemia. The patient was referred to our Neuroendocrine Tumor and Pituitary Unit and he was diagnosed with pancreatic insulinoma, hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism, and a prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma. The MEN-1 syndrome was suspected and genetic tests for mutation of menin resulted positive for the pathogenic variant c1548dupG. In January 2016, the patient was diagnosed with intratubular germ cell neoplasia, consisting of a mature teratoma and yolk sac tumor and he underwent a right orchiectomy. Conclusion: This is the first case report showing the clear association of MEN-1 syndrome with yolk sac tumors and teratomas, as in our case, the c1548dupG represents a pathogenic variant rather than a SNP. This case suggests the opportunity of an accurate evaluation of the testis particularly in young MEN-1 affected patients and that a prompt screening for neoplastic disease should involve all the endocrine glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Chiloiro
- UOC di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ettore Domenico Capoluongo
- UOC di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Schinzari
- OUC di Oncologia Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Concolino
- Area di Diagnostica di Laboratorio Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ernesto Rossi
- OUC di Oncologia Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Martini
- OUC di Anatomia Patologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cocomazzi
- OUC di Anatomia Patologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- UOC di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- UOC di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Brigida Anna Maiorano
- OUC di Oncologia Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Giampietro
- UOC di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Guido Rindi
- OUC di Anatomia Patologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- UOC di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura De Marinis
- UOC di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Laura De Marinis
| | - Antonio Bianchi
- UOC di Endocrinologia e Diabetologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, ENETS Center of Excellence, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Pierconti F, Martini M, Grande G, Larocca LM, Sacco E, Pugliese D, Gulino G, Bassi PF, Milardi D, Pontecorvi A. Germ Cell Neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) in Testis-Sparing Surgery (TSS) for Small Testicular Masses (STMs). Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:512. [PMID: 31440206 PMCID: PMC6692875 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The testis-sparing surgery (TSS) is surgical technique accepted for small testicular masses (STMs). Frozen section examination (FSE) is an essential assessment at the time of TSS. The aim of this study is to measure the maximum distance of the foci of ITGCN from STMs. Methods: In our hospital between June 2010 and October 2017 a total of 68 patients with STM underwent a TSS. All the testis specimens were totally embedded and processed via the whole-mount method and a diagnosis of germ cell tumor with GCNIS were made. The distance between STMs and GCNIS were calculated by two pathologists directly on the slides considering for the third dimension the number of the paraffin blocks in which the foci of GCNIS were found. Results: The STMs were classic seminoma in 62 out 68 cases, embryonal carcinoma in 4 cases, while in 2 case a diagnose of mixed germ cell tumor were made. The size of the STMs was between 0.5 and 2 cm and the foci of GCNIS were observed in seminiferous tubules very closed to SMTs or as skip lesions in the surrounding testicular parenchyma, dispersed in normal testis. In 48 out of 68 cases (70.5%) foci of GCNIS were at the distance from SMTS of 1.5 cm or below and in 60 out of 68 cases (88%) at the distance of 2 cm or below The distance of GCNIS from the STMs was not related to the histological subtype of the germ cell tumor, while there is a linear correlation between size of the STMs and the distance of foci of GCNIS (p = 0.0105; r = 0.9167). Conclusion: Our data showed that foci of ITGCN were not observed beyond 2.5 cm from the STM. In particular we demonstrated that exist a linear correlation between size of STMs and distance of the foci of GCNIS from STMs (p = 0.0105; r = 0.9167). In conclusion mapping the tissue around the tumor not randomly but in targeted areas could reduce the false negative biopsies of the testis with GCNIS, increasing the radicality of the TSS procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Pierconti
- Institute of Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Francesco Pierconti
| | - Maurizio Martini
- Institute of Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- Division of Endocrinology, Istituto Scientifico Internazionale “Paolo VI”, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi M. Larocca
- Institute of Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilio Sacco
- Institute of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Pugliese
- Institute of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano Gulino
- Institute of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Pier F. Bassi
- Institute of Urology, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Istituto Scientifico Internazionale “Paolo VI”, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Division of Endocrinology, Istituto Scientifico Internazionale “Paolo VI”, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Mancuso F, Calvitti M, Milardi D, Grande G, Falabella G, Arato I, Giovagnoli S, Vincenzoni F, Mancini F, Nastruzzi C, Bodo M, Baroni T, Castagnola M, Marana R, Pontecorvi A, Calafiore R, Luca G. Testosterone and FSH modulate Sertoli cell extracellular secretion: Proteomic analysis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 476:1-7. [PMID: 29704537 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a highly complicated biological process that occurs in the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules. It is regulated by a complex network of endocrine and paracrine factors and by juxtacrine testicular cross-talk. Sertoli cells (SC) play a key role in spermatogenesis due to their production of trophic, differentiation and immune-modulating factors, but many of the molecular pathways of SC action remain controversial and unclear. Over the last two decades, research has focused on extracellular vesicles as an important mechanism of intercellular communication. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in SC and the modulation of their content in SC after FSH and testosterone stimulation. Highly purified porcine pre-pubertal Sertoli cells were isolated according to previously established methods. After 48 h of culture with FSH or FSH + testosterone stimulation, we identified sertolian EVs containing specific mRNAs. Proteomic analysis of EVs content identified 29 proteins under non-stimulatory conditions, most of which were related to receptor binding activity. FSH stimulation induced increases in inhibin-alpha, inhibin-beta, plakoglobin, haptoglobin, D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase and sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase in sertolian EVs. Testosterone stimulation enhanced the abundance of inhibin-alpha, inhibin-beta, tissue-type plasminogen activator, epidermal growth factor-like protein 8, elongating factor 1-gamma and D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase. These results are likely to help determine the unknown molecular secretion of Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mancuso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy.
| | - Mario Calvitti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy.
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Rome, 00168, Italy; Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico "A. Gemelli", 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Rome, 00168, Italy.
| | - Giulia Falabella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy.
| | - Iva Arato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy.
| | - Stefano Giovagnoli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy.
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Claudio Nastruzzi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy.
| | - Maria Bodo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy.
| | - Tiziano Baroni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy.
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Marana
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Rome, 00168, Italy.
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Rome, 00168, Italy; Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico "A. Gemelli", 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Calafiore
- Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, University of Perugia and Saint Mary Hospital, Terni, 05100, Italy; Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Luca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, 06100, Italy; Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, University of Perugia and Saint Mary Hospital, Terni, 05100, Italy.
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Grande G, Vincenzoni F, Mancini F, Baroni S, Luca G, Calafiore R, Marana R, Castagnola M, Pontecorvi A, Milardi D. Semen Proteomics Reveals the Impact of Enterococcus faecalis on male Fertility. Protein Pept Lett 2018; 25:472-477. [PMID: 29651938 DOI: 10.2174/0929866525666180412161818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious etiologies contribute to 15% of male factor infertility. Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is commonly identified in semen culture of infertile men and it is associated with significantly poorer semen quality. OBJECTIVE Aim of this study was to identify new seminal biomarkers for the male tract infection by E. faecalis, using proteomic profiling, in order to understand the effect of E. faecalis on the physiopathology of male reproduction. METHODS We included in the study ten patients seeking medical care for primary infertility with prostate-vesicular-epidydimitis and with microbiological analysis on semen and/or prostatic secretions positive for E. faecalis. Ten fertile men have been enrolled as a control group in the protocol. An aliquot of each seminal plasma was subjected to an in-solution digestion protocol and analyzed using an Ultimate 3000 RSLCnano HPLC apparatus coupled to a LTQ Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer. RESULTS Eight proteins have not been identified in the group of controls and have been observed in a remarkable proportion of patients, mainly involved in immune system activity (CD177, Swiprosin-1 and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase). Arylsulfatase has been identified in the group of controls and was absent in all patients with infection. Three proteins (TIMP-1, WFDC domain protein 2 and Carboxypeptidase E) have been observed significantly different in patients versus controls, mainly related with inflammation. CONCLUSIONS This is the first application of MS-based proteomics aimed to reveal an array of proteins in the seminal plasma and reflecting the effect of the infection by E. faecalis on semen composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancini
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Baroni
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Luca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Marana
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy.,Division of Endocrinology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy.,Division of Endocrinology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Milardi D, Garolla A. Protein and Peptide Markers in Reproduction. Protein Pept Lett 2018; 25:418-419. [PMID: 30019637 DOI: 10.2174/092986652505180703105002] [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: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Milardi
- Interational Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy and Division of Endocrinology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Garolla
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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Grande G, Milardi D, Baroni S, Luca G, Pontecorvi A. Identification of seminal markers of male accessory gland inflammation: From molecules to proteome. Am J Reprod Immunol 2018; 80:e12992. [DOI: 10.1111/aji.12992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”; Rome Italy
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”; Rome Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”; Rome Italy
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”; Rome Italy
| | - Silvia Baroni
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry; Catholic University; Rome Italy
| | - Giovanni Luca
- Department of Experimental Medicine; University of Perugia; Perugia Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases; Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”; Rome Italy
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Milardi D, Grande G, Autilio C, Mancini F, De Marinis L, Marana R, Zuppi C, Urbani A, Pontecorvi A, Baroni S. Seminal suPAR Levels as Marker of Abacterial Male Accessory Gland Inflammation in Hypogonadism. Protein Pept Lett 2018; 25:478-482. [DOI: 10.2174/0929866525666180418121421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Autilio
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancini
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura De Marinis
- Division of Endocrinology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Marana
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Zuppi
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Baroni
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
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Russo M, Calamuneri A, Cacciola A, Bonanno L, Naro A, Dattola V, Sessa E, Buccafusca M, Milardi D, Bramanti P, Calabrò RS, Quartarone A. Neural correlates of fatigue in multiple sclerosis: a combined neurophysiological and neuroimaging approach (R1). Arch Ital Biol 2018; 155:142-151. [PMID: 29220866 DOI: 10.12871/00039829201735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The present study is aimed at further exploring structural and functional correlates of fatigue in Relapsing- Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) patients by using a combined approach by means of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and a Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). The physiopathology of fatigue in MS is still poorly understood, although a variety of pathogenic mechanisms has been proposed. Our working hypothesis is that diffuse microstructural white matter damage may subtend the cortico-subcortical functional disconnection described in patients with MS and fatigue. We enrolled 30 RRMS patients (mean age 39±13; age range 24-63 years) with mild neurological impairment Expanded Disability Status Scale <3.5, divided into two groups on the basis of their fatigue severity scale (FSS) scoring (cutoff ≥ 4). All the patients underwent a neurological evaluation, a brain MRI acquisition (including DTI study) and a neurophysiological assessment by means of TMS in a pre-movement facilitation paradigm. Our data showed a significant mean diffusivity (MD) increase (p=0.036) in left thalamo-frontal reconstructions in the MS patients with fatigue compared to those classified as non-fatigued. Moreover, significant correlations were observed between FSS scale and MD as well as planar coefficient (CP) values extracted from frontal-thalamic connections bilaterally. Instead, the pre-movement facilitation showed a significant difference between the groups with particular regard to the Reaction Time- MEP50ms amplitude (p=0.03). Our work confirms that fatigue is associated with a disruption of brain networks involved in motor preparation processes, depending on several frontal-thalamic pathways. Such findings can have an important role when dealing with fatigue management in MS patients and could be eventually used as prognostic marker of MS course.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - R S Calabrò
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", 98124 Messina, Italy -
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Chiloiro S, Mormando M, Bianchi A, Giampietro A, Milardi D, Bima C, Grande G, Formenti AM, Mazziotti G, Pontecorvi A, Giustina A, De Marinis L. Prevalence of morphometric vertebral fractures in "difficult" patients with acromegaly with different biochemical outcomes after multimodal treatment. Endocrine 2018; 59:449-453. [PMID: 28836162 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-017-1391-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Skeletal fragility with high risk of vertebral fractures is an emerging complication of acromegaly in close relationship with duration of active disease. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of vertebral fractures in males and females with a history of long-standing active acromegaly undergoing treatment with Pegvisomant. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty-eight patients (25 females, 13 males) with acromegaly under Pegvisomant therapy were evaluated for vertebral fractures and bone mineral density at lumbar spine and femoral neck. Gonadal status, serum IGF1 levels and growth hormone receptor genotype were also assessed. RESULTS Vertebral fractures were detected in 12 patients (31.6%). Fractured patients had longer duration of active disease (p = 0.01) with higher frequency of active acromegaly (p = 0.04), received higher dose of Pegvisomant (p = 0.008), and were more frequently hypogonadic (p = 0.02) as compared to patients who did not fracture. Stratifying the patients for gender, vertebral fractures were significantly associated with Pegvisomant dose (p = 0.02) and untreated hypogonadism (p = 0.02) in males and with activity of disease (p = 0.03), serum insulin-like growth factor-I values (p = 0.01) and d3GHR polymorphism (p = 0.005) in females. No significant association was found between vertebral fractures and bone mineral density at either skeletal site. CONCLUSION Vertebral fractures are a frequent complication of long-standing active acromegaly. When patients are treated with Pegvisomant, vertebral fractures may occur in close relationship with active acromegaly and coexistent untreated hypogonadism.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Chiloiro
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - M Mormando
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - A Bianchi
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - A Giampietro
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - D Milardi
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - C Bima
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - G Grande
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - A M Formenti
- Department of Molecolar and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - G Mazziotti
- Department of Medicine, Endocrine and Bone Unit, ASST Carlo Poma, Mantua, Italy
| | - A Pontecorvi
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - A Giustina
- Chair of Endocrinology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - L De Marinis
- Department of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
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Mancuso F, Arato I, Luca G, Bellucci C, Lilli C, Calvitti M, Hansen B, Milardi D, Grande G, Calafiore R. An in vitro prototype of a porcine biomimetic testis-like cell culture system: a novel tool for the study of reassembled Sertoli and Leydig cells. Asian J Androl 2018; 20:160-165. [DOI: 10.4103/aja.ja_47_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Arato I, Luca G, Mancuso F, Bellucci C, Lilli C, Calvitti M, Hansen BC, Milardi D, Grande G, Calafiore R. An in vitro prototype of a porcine biomimetic testis-like cell culture system: a novel tool for the study of reassembled Sertoli and Leydig cells. Asian J Androl 2018; 20. [PMID: 29148520 PMCID: PMC5858101 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_47_17] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
At present, there is no reliable in vitro assembled prepubertal testis-like biomimetic organ culture system designed to assess the functional effects of human gonadotropins on Sertoli and Leydig cells. Spermatogenesis is regulated by endocrine, paracrine, and juxtacrine factors (testicular cross-talk), mainly orchestrated by gonadotropins such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that play a pivotal role by stimulating Leydig and Sertoli cells, respectively. The aim of our study was to set up an in vitro prepubertal porcine bioengineered construct as a new model for experimental studies on reassembled Sertoli and Leydig cells. We have evaluated Sertoli and Leydig cells obtained from 15- to 20-day-old neonatal pig testes in terms of purity and function. Subsequently, purified Sertoli and enriched Leydig cells were subjected to coincubation to obtain an in vitro prepubertal porcine testis-like culture system. We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, and testosterone secretion in the medium, and Real-Time PCR analysis of AMH, inhibin B, FSH-r, aromatase, LHr, and 3β-HSD mRNA expression levels. This in vitro testis-like system was highly responsive to the effects of human gonadotropins and testosterone. AMH mRNA expression and secretion declined, and inhibin-B increased, while FSH-receptor expression was downregulated upon FSH/LH exposure/treatment. Finally, the production of testosterone was increased selectively upon LH treatment. In summary, our proposed model could help to better determine the action of human gonadotropins on Sertoli and Leydig cells. The potential usefulness of the system for shedding light into male infertility-related issues is evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Arato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06100, Italy
| | - Giovanni Luca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06100, Italy,Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, University of Perugia and Saint Mary Hospital, Terni 05100, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancuso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06100, Italy,
Correspondence: Dr. F Mancuso ()
| | - Catia Bellucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06100, Italy
| | - Cinzia Lilli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06100, Italy
| | - Mario Calvitti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06100, Italy
| | - Barbara C Hansen
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, FL, USA
| | - Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Calafiore
- Division of Medical Andrology and Endocrinology of Reproduction, University of Perugia and Saint Mary Hospital, Terni 05100, Italy,Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia 06100, Italy
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Mancini F, Milardi D, Carfagna P, Grande G, Miranda V, De Cicco Nardone A, Ricciardi D, Pontecorvi A, Marana R, De Cicco Nardone F. Low-dose SKA Progesterone and Interleukin-10 modulate the inflammatory pathway in endometriotic cell lines. Int Immunopharmacol 2017; 55:223-230. [PMID: 29272819 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mancini
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; Division of Endocrinology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Piero Carfagna
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandra De Cicco Nardone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Ricciardi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; Division of Endocrinology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Marana
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo De Cicco Nardone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teaching and Research Hospital "Agostino Gemelli" Foundation, Rome, Italy
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D'Urso A, Randazzo R, Rizzo V, Gangemi CMA, Romanucci V, Zarrelli A, Tomaselli G, Milardi D, Borbone N, Purrello R, Piccialli G, Di Fabio G, Oliviero G. Stabilization vs. destabilization of G-quadruplex superstructures: the role of the porphyrin derivative having spermine arms. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017. [PMID: 28650039 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp02816d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The interaction of the porphyrin derivative H2TCPPSpm4, having spermine pendants in the four meso positions, with the G-quadruplex (GQ) structure formed by the DNA aptamer TGGGAG has been investigated by means of UV, electronic circular dichroism and PAGE studies. The results reported here demonstrate that the porphyrin derivative is capable of stabilizing or destabilizing the higher-ordered structures of parallel GQs, depending on the method used to reach their relative stoichiometry (titration vs. single addition). Noteworthily, when two equivalents of H2TCPPSpm4 were mixed directly with one equivalent of the (TGGGAG)4 GQ to reach a 2 : 1 H2TCPPSpm4 : GQ ratio T1/2 higher than 80 °C was also observed confirming the presence of higher-ordered GQ structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D'Urso
- Department of Chemical Science, University of Catania, V.le A Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy.
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Caldarola G, Milardi D, Grande G, Quercia A, Baroni S, Morelli R, Marana R, Pontecorvi A, De Simone C, Peris K. Untreated Psoriasis Impairs Male Fertility: A Case-Control Study. Dermatology 2017; 233:170-174. [DOI: 10.1159/000471849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Grande G, Vincenzoni F, Milardi D, Pompa G, Ricciardi D, Fruscella E, Mancini F, Pontecorvi A, Castagnola M, Marana R. Cervical mucus proteome in endometriosis. Clin Proteomics 2017; 14:7. [PMID: 28174513 PMCID: PMC5290661 DOI: 10.1186/s12014-017-9142-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of functional endometrial glands and stroma outside of the uterine cavity. It affects 7–10% of women of reproductive age and up to 50% of women with infertility. The current gold standard for the diagnosis combines laparoscopic evaluation and biopsy of the visualized lesions. However, laparoscopy requires general anesthesia and developed surgical skills and it has a high procedural cost. In addition, it is associated with the risk, although rare, of potential intraoperative or postoperative complications. To date, several noninvasive biomarkers have been proposed; however, no definite diagnostic biomarker is yet available. The aim of this study was to characterize the CM proteome in patients with endometriosis using high resolution mass spectrometry—based proteomics, implemented by bioinformatic tools for quantitative analysis, in order to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of endometriosis. Methods Cervical mucus samples were collected from patients affected by endometriosis and fertile controls. An aliquot of the soluble acidic fraction of each cervical mucus sample, corresponding to 0.5 mg of total protein, was left to digest with sequencing grade modified porcine trypsin. The peptides were analyzed by LC–MS/MS on a high resolution Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer and data were evaluated using bioinformatic tools. Results We aimed at the first total profiling of the cervical mucus proteome in endometriosis. From the list of identified proteins, we detected a number of differentially expressed proteins, including some functionally significant proteins. Six proteins were quantitatively increased in endometriosis, almost all being involved in the inflammatory pattern. Nine proteins were quantitatively reduced in endometriosis, including some proteins related with local innate immunity (CRISP-3 and Pglyrp1) and protection against oxidative stress (HSPB1). Fifteen proteins were not detected in endometriosis samples including certain proteins involved in antimicrobial activity (SLURP1 and KLK13) and related to seminal plasma liquefaction and male fertility (KLK13). Conclusions This is the first application of high resolution mass spectrometry—based proteomics aimed in detecting an array of proteins in CM to be proposed for the noninvasive diagnosis of endometriosis. This chronic disease presents in CM an inflammatory protein pattern. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12014-017-9142-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pompa
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Ricciardi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Fruscella
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancini
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Division of Endocrinology, Catholic University, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Marana
- International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Milardi D, Luca G, Grande G, Ghezzi M, Caretta N, Brusco G, De Filpo G, Marana R, Pontecorvi A, Calafiore R, Foresta C, Garolla A. Prednisone treatment in infertile patients with oligozoospermia and accessory gland inflammatory alterations. Andrology 2017; 5:268-273. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Milardi
- International Scientific Institute ‘Paul VI’; Catholic University; Rome Italy
| | - G. Luca
- Department of Experimental Medicine; University of Perugia; Perugia Italy
| | - G. Grande
- International Scientific Institute ‘Paul VI’; Catholic University; Rome Italy
| | - M. Ghezzi
- Department of Medicine, Andrology and Reproductive Unit; University of Padova; Padova Italy
| | - N. Caretta
- Department of Medicine, Andrology and Reproductive Unit; University of Padova; Padova Italy
| | - G. Brusco
- Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Reproduction University of Perugia; Perugia Italy
| | - G. De Filpo
- Department of Experimental Medicine; University of Perugia; Perugia Italy
| | - R. Marana
- International Scientific Institute ‘Paul VI’; Catholic University; Rome Italy
| | - A. Pontecorvi
- Division of Endocrinology; Catholic University; Rome Italy
| | - R. Calafiore
- Department of Medicine; University of Perugia; Perugia Italy
| | - C. Foresta
- Department of Medicine, Andrology and Reproductive Unit; University of Padova; Padova Italy
| | - A. Garolla
- Department of Medicine, Andrology and Reproductive Unit; University of Padova; Padova Italy
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Milardi D, Colussi C, Grande G, Vincenzoni F, Pierconti F, Mancini F, Baroni S, Castagnola M, Marana R, Pontecorvi A. Olfactory Receptors in Semen and in the Male Tract: From Proteome to Proteins. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2017; 8:379. [PMID: 29410650 PMCID: PMC5787142 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The estimated number of testicular olfactory receptors (ORs) in mammals range between 20 and 66. Previous data reported the role of hOR17-4 and mOR23 in sperm-oocyte chemiotaxis. Proteomic analysis was performed to understand which are the ORs expressed in seminal plasma. Seminal samples by four fertile men were analyzed by an Ultimate 3000Nano/Micro-HPLC apparatus coupled with an LTQ-Orbitrap XL hybrid mass spectrometer. Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of three identified ORs. The expression of ORs in sperm cells, testis, and epididymis was evaluated by confocal microscopy analysis. In seminal plasma eight different ORs were identified by proteomics and three ORs have been confirmed by western blot. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that OR4S1, OR4C13, and OR1I1 are expressed on the surface of sperm cells. In testicular tissue, OR4S1 and OR1I1 are expressed in spermatocytes and spermatids and OR4C13 is expressed throughout all the tubules. In patients with spermatocyte maturation arrest OR4S1 and OR1I1 expression was reduced and a weak positivity for OR4C13 was detected in the spermatogonia. OR4S1, OR4C13, and OR1I1 had intense and diffuse staining in the epididymis. This study initiated a new methodology for screening OR repertoire in sperms, testis and epididymis. Our results open new insights into OR involvement in sperm maturation and migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Milardi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Colussi
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giuseppe Grande,
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Mancini
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Baroni
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Marana
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
- International Scientific Institute Paul VI, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
The present study addresses the question of evaluating, by combining both experimental and numerical approaches, the stress/strain distribution within a complete model of the entire lower bony chain. With this purpose an experimental model and a complete 3D finite element one were realised. A load of 700 N has been applied at the top of pelvis and the feet were rigidly fixed. Obtained results reveal interesting consequences deriving by taking into account the complete bony chain; it is possible to get information on load sharing between bones, location of high strain concentrations, and bone relative motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Filardi
- CARECI, University of Messina, Via Consolato del mare 41, 98100 Messina, Italy
| | - D Milardi
- I.R.C.C.S. - Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo - Str.da St. 113, C.da Casazza, 113 - 98100 Messina, Italy - Dip. Scienze biomediche, odontoiatriche e delle immagini morfologiche e funzionali, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy
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Mormando M, Chiloiro S, Bianchi A, Giampietro A, Angelini F, Tartaglione L, Nasto L, Milardi D, Formenti AM, Giustina A, De Marinis L. Growth hormone receptor isoforms and fracture risk in adult-onset growth hormone-deficient patients. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2016; 85:717-724. [PMID: 27437620 DOI: 10.1111/cen.13161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Growth hormone deficiency is considered the most important factor determining skeletal fragility in hypopituitary patients. Osteoblasts and chondrocytes express growth hormone (GH) receptor. Two GH receptor isoforms (GHRi) have been identified: they differ for the presence/absence of a protein fragment encoded by exon 3 of GHR gene. Consequently, three genotypes were identified: carriers of both the full-length proteins (flfl-GHR), carriers of one full-length protein and one deleted protein (fld3-GHR) and carriers of both deleted proteins (d3d3-GHR). This polymorphism confers a higher sensitivity to endogenous GH and to recombinant human GH (rhGH); its effect on bone metabolism and skeletal fragility is unknown. The aim of this article was to investigate the role of GHRi in predicting skeletal fragility in adult-onset GHD (AO-GHD) patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the association between the d3-GHR isoform and the prevalence of morphometric vertebral fractures (VFs) in AO-GHD. Ninety-three AO-GHD were enrolled. Forty-nine patients carried flfl-GHRi (52·7%), and 44 patients (47·3%) carried at least one allele of the d3-GHR isoform. Thirty-two VFs were documented. Fifty-seven patients underwent rhGH replacement therapy. RESULTS Median age was significantly higher in fractured patients as compared to nonfractured ones; d3-carrier patients showed a lower VF risk as compared to flfl-GHRi (OR: 0·37, 95% IC: 0·24-0·55, P < 0·0001). This finding was also confirmed in AO-GHD undergoing rhGH replacement therapy. CONCLUSION This study suggests that d3-GHR may protect AO-GHD particularly when treated with rhGH from the risk of VFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mormando
- Pituitary Unit, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, School of Medicine, 'A. Gemelli' University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - S Chiloiro
- Pituitary Unit, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, School of Medicine, 'A. Gemelli' University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - A Bianchi
- Pituitary Unit, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, School of Medicine, 'A. Gemelli' University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - A Giampietro
- Pituitary Unit, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, School of Medicine, 'A. Gemelli' University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - F Angelini
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Genetics, Department of Medicine, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - L Tartaglione
- Pituitary Unit, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, School of Medicine, 'A. Gemelli' University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - L Nasto
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Catholic University, School of Medicine, 'A. Gemelli' University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - D Milardi
- Pituitary Unit, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, School of Medicine, 'A. Gemelli' University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - A M Formenti
- Chair of Endocrinology, Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - A Giustina
- Chair of Endocrinology, Spedali Civili, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - L De Marinis
- Pituitary Unit, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University, School of Medicine, 'A. Gemelli' University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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