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Squillario M, Bonaretti C, La Valle A, Di Marco E, Piccolo G, Minuto N, Patti G, Napoli F, Bassi M, Maghnie M, d'Annunzio G, Biassoni R. Gut-microbiota in children and adolescents with obesity: inferred functional analysis and machine-learning algorithms to classify microorganisms. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11294. [PMID: 37438382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36533-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The fecal microbiome of 55 obese children and adolescents (BMI-SDS 3.2 ± 0.7) and of 25 normal-weight subjects, matched both for age and sex (BMI-SDS - 0.3 ± 1.1) was analysed. Streptococcus, Acidaminococcus, Sutterella, Prevotella, Sutterella wadsworthensis, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Prevotella copri positively correlated with obesity. The inferred pathways strongly associated with obesity concern the biosynthesis pathways of tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and methionine pathways. Furthermore, polyamine biosynthesis virulence factors and pro-inflammatory lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway showed higher abundances in obese samples, while the butanediol biosynthesis showed low abundance in obese subjects. Different taxa strongly linked with obesity have been related to an increased risk of multiple diseases involving metabolic pathways related to inflammation (polyamine and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis). Cholesterol, LDL, and CRP positively correlated with specific clusters of microbial in obese patients. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes-ratio was lower in obese samples than in controls and differently from the literature we state that this ratio could not be a biomarker for obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carola Bonaretti
- Molecular Diagnostics, Analysis Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alberto La Valle
- Pediatric Clinic, Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Eddi Di Marco
- Molecular Diagnostics, Analysis Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Piccolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
- Neuro-Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicola Minuto
- Pediatric Clinic, Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Patti
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinic, Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Flavia Napoli
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinic, Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marta Bassi
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinic, Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mohamad Maghnie
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinic, Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe d'Annunzio
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Clinic, Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Roberto Biassoni
- Molecular Diagnostics, Analysis Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
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Signa S, Brolatti N, Trincianti C, Tortora D, Saffioti C, Di Marco E, Acquila M, Amadori E, Fiorillo C, Ricci E, Striano P, Castagnola E, Vari MS. Pediatric SARS-CoV2–related Diplopia and Mesencephalic Abnormalities. Neurol Clin Pract 2022; 12:e124-e128. [DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000200076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective:Describing a patient with mesencephalic MRI signal abnormality and diplopia possibly associated with SARS-Cov2 infection.Methods:We describe a boy with binocular diplopia and nystagmus. The pattern of serology positivity and the negative direct research of SARS-CoV2 RNA in our patient allowed us to consider the novel coronavirus as the trigger of possible immune-mediated phenomena against central nervous system (CNS).Results:During hospitalization, blood tests performed revealed a recent SARS-CoV2 infection. MRI revealed hyperintensity of the mesencephalic tegmentum and periaqueductal region, consistent with an inflammatory lesion of the midbrain tegmentum. Viral and bacterial molecular screen on cerebrospinal fluid, as well as isoelectrofocusing analysis, anti-MOG, anti aquaporine4 and anti NMDA antibodies were performed and were negative. The patient was treated with steroid and immunoglobulin therapy with complete remission of neurological symptoms.Discussion:This report expands the spectrum of pediatric COVID-19-associated neurologic symptoms and highlights a possible isolated neurological COVID-19-related symptom.Practical Implications:Mild neurological symptoms or signs should raise the suspicion of possible SARS-Cov2 etiology.
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Biassoni R, Di Marco E, Squillario M, Ugolotti E, Mosconi M, Faticato MG, Mattioli G, Avanzini S, Pini Prato A. Pathways and microbiome modifications related to surgery and enterocolitis in Hirschsprung disease. Pediatr Surg Int 2022; 38:83-98. [PMID: 34677676 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-021-05012-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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital anomaly of the enteric nervous system. Abnormal microbiome composition was reported in HSCR patients. In this study, we addressed and analyzed microbiome modifications with relation tosurgery and HSCR associated enterocolitis (HAEC). METHODS The faecal microbiome of 31 HSCR patients (overall 64 samples) was analyzed. HAEC was diagnosed and classified according to a combination of Pastor's and Elhalabi's criteria. Stool samples were analyzed by 16S sequencing (7 out of 9 polymorphic regions). Compositional and relative abundance profiles, as well as the functional potentials of the microbial community, were analyzed with the marker gene sequencing profiles using PICRUSt. RESULTS The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes showed a severe decrease with slow recovery after surgery. Conversely, Proteobacteria transiently increased their abundance. Noteworthy, a strong linkage has been found between Proteobacteria descendants and HAEC occurrences. The inferred functional analysis indicated that virulence factors and fimbriae or pili might be associated with HAEC. CONCLUSIONS Our study, addressing microbiome dynamics, demonstrated relevant changes after surgical manipulation. Alpha-diversity analyses indicated that surgery deeply affects microbiome composition. Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae seem to play a pivotal role in HAEC occurrences. Several virulence factors, such as fimbriae or pili, might explain the HAEC-predisposing potential of selected microbiomes. These results suggest some innovative therapeutic approaches that deserve to be tested in appropriate clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Biassoni
- IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy. .,Dipartimento Ricerca Traslazionale, Medicina Di Laboratorio, Diagnostica E Servizi, U.O.C. Laboratorio Analisi- U.O.S. Diagnostica Molecolare, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genova, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | - Maria Grazia Faticato
- Umberto Bosio Center for Digestive Diseases, The Children Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio E Biagio E Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Girolamo Mattioli
- Umberto Bosio Center for Digestive Diseases, The Children Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio E Biagio E Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
| | | | - Alessio Pini Prato
- Umberto Bosio Center for Digestive Diseases, The Children Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio E Biagio E Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy
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d’Annunzio G, Biassoni R, Marco ED, Valle AL, Piccolo G, Bonaretti C, Napoli F, Patti G, Minuto N, Maghnie M. Gut Microbiota Assessment in Obese Children and Adolescents by Machine Learning Algorithms. J Endocr Soc 2021. [PMCID: PMC8090164 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvab048.1458] [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: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota has been recently established to play a contributory role in the development and progression of obesity, a multifactorial disease predisposing to several comorbidities. Our aim was to evaluate the gut microbiota composition by machine learning algorithms in 33 Italian obese children and adolescents. Patients were divided in 3 groups: simple obesity (n=10, mean age 11.6 +3.0, median 10.8), metabolic syndrome (n=16, mean age 13.3+3.0, median 13.5) or Prader Willi syndrome (n=7, mean age 8.3+5.3, median 8.7). Inclusion criteria were living in Northern Italy, born singleton birth, personal history negative for acute or chronic gastrointestinal diseases and/or antibiotic or probiotics administration in the previous month. As controls 17 healthy control (mean age 12.0+2.4 median 10.6) were analyzed using the same approach. Statistical analysis for sparse high-throughput sequencing data algorithm (metagenomeSeq) using cumulative sum scaling for data normalization was performed. False discovery rate adjusted p-value using zero-inflated Gaussian fit statistical model (indicated with q). Over all analyses Parasutterella resulted with a q=0.014424, the comparison between obese patients and controls was q=0.021194. In the overall analysis Acidaminococcus intestini showed q=0.039528 while the comparison in pairs of two between metabolic syndrome and controls was q=0.03979. Using the EdgeR algorithm Clostridium bartlettii abundance between Prader Willi patients and controls resulted in q=0.02189. In overall analysis Ruminococcus flavefaciens resulted q=6.1528E-17 (using the DESeq2 algorithm); in pairs analysis Ruminococcus flavefaciens showed significant difference in Prader Willi patients as compared to obese (q=0.013755) and metabolic syndrome ones (q=0.021898). In overall analysis Veillonellaceae showed a FDR q=0.029303. while its richness resulted more than 150 times higher in metabolic syndrome patients than in controls (q=0.039793 evaluated with DESeq2 algorithm). Among Veillonellaceae descendants, the Veillonella rogosae showed, on the contrary, the lowest abundance in metabolic syndrome patients as compared to other groups. In detail, Veillonella rogosae abundances were 13 (FDR q=0.014566), around 20 times (FDR q=0.010646) and >20 (FDR q=0.0025008) less abundant in metabolic syndrome patients than obese, Prader Willi patients and controls, respectively. Significant differences in gut microbiota composition was found among patients with different degrees of obesity and controls. Further, Prader Willi patients showed a peculiar microbiota assessment.
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Biassoni R, Di Marco E, Squillario M, Barla A, Piccolo G, Ugolotti E, Gatti C, Minuto N, Patti G, Maghnie M, d'Annunzio G. Gut Microbiota in T1DM-Onset Pediatric Patients: Machine-Learning Algorithms to Classify Microorganisms as Disease Linked. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:5871462. [PMID: 32692360 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The purpose of this work is to find the gut microbial fingerprinting of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. METHODS The microbiome of 31 children with type 1 diabetes at onset and of 25 healthy children was determined using multiple polymorphic regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA. We performed machine-learning analyses and metagenome functional analysis to identify significant taxa and their metabolic pathways content. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, patients showed a significantly higher relative abundance of the following most important taxa: Bacteroides stercoris, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides intestinalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Gammaproteobacteria and its descendants, Holdemania, and Synergistetes and its descendants. On the contrary, the relative abundance of Bacteroides vulgatus, Deltaproteobacteria and its descendants, Parasutterella and the Lactobacillus, Turicibacter genera were significantly lower in patients with respect to healthy controls. The predicted metabolic pathway more associated with type 1 diabetes patients concerns "carbon metabolism," sugar and iron metabolisms in particular. Among the clinical variables considered, standardized body mass index, anti-insulin autoantibodies, glycemia, hemoglobin A1c, Tanner stage, and age at onset emerged as most significant positively or negatively correlated with specific clusters of taxa. CONCLUSIONS The relative abundance and supervised analyses confirmed the importance of B stercoris in type 1 diabetes patients at onset and showed a relevant role of Synergistetes and its descendants in patients with respect to healthy controls. In general the robustness and coherence of the showed results underline the relevance of studying the microbioma using multiple polymorphic regions, different types of analysis, and different approaches within each analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Biassoni
- Molecular Diagnostics, Analysis Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Eddi Di Marco
- Molecular Diagnostics, Analysis Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Gianluca Piccolo
- Pediatric Clinic Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ugolotti
- Molecular Diagnostics, Analysis Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gatti
- Molecular Diagnostics, Analysis Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicola Minuto
- Pediatric Clinic Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Patti
- Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University Of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mohamad Maghnie
- Pediatric Clinic Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University Of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe d'Annunzio
- Pediatric Clinic Regional Center for Pediatric Diabetes, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
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Malnati MS, Biswas P, Ugolotti E, Di Marco E, Sironi F, Parolini F, Garbarino L, Mazzocco M, Zipeto D, Biassoni R. A fast and reliable method for detecting SNP rs67384697 (Hsa-miR-148a binding site) by a single run of allele-specific real-time PCR. HLA 2020; 96:312-322. [PMID: 32530084 DOI: 10.1111/tan.13971] [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: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Surface expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class I molecules is critical for modulating T/natural killer lymphocytes' effector functions. Among HLA molecules, HLA-C, the most recently evolved form of class I antigens, is subjected to both transcriptional and multiple post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms affecting its cell surface expression. Among the latter a region placed in the 3' untranslated region of HLA-C transcript contains the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs67384697 "G-ins/del" that has been found to be strictly associated with surface levels of HLA-C allomorphs because of the effect on the binding site of a microRNA (Hsa-miR-148a). Higher expression of HLA-C has been proved to influence HIV-1 infection via a better control of viremia and a slower disease progression. More importantly, the analysis of SNP rs67384697 "G-ins/del" combined with the evaluation of the HLA-Bw4/-Bw6 C1/C2 supratype, as well as the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor genetic asset, has proved to be pivotal in defining the status of Elite Controllers in the Caucasian population. Here we describe a new reliable and fast method of allele-specific real-time PCR to monitor the integrity/disruption of the binding site of the microRNA Hsa-miR-148a in a high-throughput format that can be easily applied to studies involving large cohorts of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro S Malnati
- Unit of Human Virology, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Priscilla Biswas
- Unit of Human Virology, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ugolotti
- Translational Research Department, Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostics and Services, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Eddi Di Marco
- Translational Research Department, Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostics and Services, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Sironi
- Unit of Human Virology, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Parolini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lucia Garbarino
- Histocompatibility Laboratory, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Donato Zipeto
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Roberto Biassoni
- Translational Research Department, Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostics and Services, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
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Bonanni A, Calatroni M, D'Alessandro M, Signa S, Bertelli E, Cioni M, Di Marco E, Biassoni R, Caridi G, Ingrasciotta G, Bertelli R, Di Donato A, Bruschi M, Canepa A, Piaggio G, Ravani P, Ghiggeri GM. Adverse events linked with the use of chimeric and humanized anti-CD20 antibodies in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2018; 84:1238-1249. [PMID: 29436729 PMCID: PMC5980330 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.13548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Anti-CD20 antibodies are increasingly being used to treat idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children. While they may allow steroid and calcineurin inhibitor withdrawal, repeated infusions of anti-CD20 antibodies are often required to maintain remission. Data on their potential toxicity in INS are needed, to consider repeated infusions. METHODS We investigated the side effects associated with the use of rituximab (a chimeric antibody; 130 patients) and ofatumumab (a humanized antibody; 37 patients) in children with INS (steroid-dependent and steroid/calcineurin inhibitor-dependent disease) treated at a national referral centre over a 9-year period (400 treatments; follow-up 1-9 years). RESULTS Infusion reactions were mainly absent in children with steroid-dependent disease. Rash, dyspnoea, fever, cough and itchy throat (5% and 18% following rituximab and ofatumumab infusion, respectively) were resolved by using premedication with salbutamol. Other short-term reactions (up to 3 months), including arthritis (2%) and lung injury (1%), were more common with rituximab. Infections were observed 3-9 months following infusion, were similarly common in the two groups and resolved with targeted therapies [antibiotic, fluconazole, immunoglobulins (Igs), etc.]. The number of circulating CD19/20 cells fell to 0 at month 1 and were reconstituted at month 3; circulating IgG antibodies remained within the normal range for 1 year. Tetanus and hepatitis B virus immunization was not modified by either treatment; Epstein-Barr virus and John Cunningham virus activation markers were occasionally observed. CONCLUSION Overall, the toxicity of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies was limited to post-infusion side effects in children with more complex disease. The relatively safe profile of anti-CD20 antibodies supports their use as steroid-sparing agents in children with INS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bonanni
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, TransplantationIRCCS Giannina GasliniVia Gerolamo Gaslini 5Genoa16148Italy
- Laboratory of Molecular NephrologyIRCCS Giannina GasliniGenoaItaly
| | - Marta Calatroni
- Dialysis and Transplantation Policlinico IRCCS Fondazione San Matteo and University of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Matteo D'Alessandro
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, TransplantationIRCCS Giannina GasliniVia Gerolamo Gaslini 5Genoa16148Italy
| | - Sara Signa
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, TransplantationIRCCS Giannina GasliniVia Gerolamo Gaslini 5Genoa16148Italy
| | - Enrica Bertelli
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, TransplantationIRCCS Giannina GasliniVia Gerolamo Gaslini 5Genoa16148Italy
| | - Michela Cioni
- Laboratory of Molecular NephrologyIRCCS Giannina GasliniGenoaItaly
| | - Eddi Di Marco
- Department of Translational MedicineIstituto Giannina GasliniLargo G. Gaslini 5Genoa16147Italy
| | - Roberto Biassoni
- Department of Translational MedicineIstituto Giannina GasliniLargo G. Gaslini 5Genoa16147Italy
| | - Gianluca Caridi
- Laboratory of Molecular NephrologyIRCCS Giannina GasliniGenoaItaly
| | - Giulia Ingrasciotta
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, TransplantationIRCCS Giannina GasliniVia Gerolamo Gaslini 5Genoa16148Italy
- Specialization School in PediatricsUniversity of BresciaItaly
| | - Roberta Bertelli
- Laboratory of Molecular NephrologyIRCCS Giannina GasliniGenoaItaly
| | | | - Maurizio Bruschi
- Laboratory of Molecular NephrologyIRCCS Giannina GasliniGenoaItaly
| | - Alberto Canepa
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, TransplantationIRCCS Giannina GasliniVia Gerolamo Gaslini 5Genoa16148Italy
| | - Giorgio Piaggio
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, TransplantationIRCCS Giannina GasliniVia Gerolamo Gaslini 5Genoa16148Italy
| | - Pietro Ravani
- Division of NephrologyUniversity of Calgary1403‐29th Street NWCalgaryABT2N 2T9Canada
| | - Gian Marco Ghiggeri
- Division of Nephrology, Dialysis, TransplantationIRCCS Giannina GasliniVia Gerolamo Gaslini 5Genoa16148Italy
- Laboratory of Molecular NephrologyIRCCS Giannina GasliniGenoaItaly
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Malnati MS, Ugolotti E, Monti MC, Battista DD, Vanni I, Bordo D, Sironi F, Larghero P, Marco ED, Biswas P, Poli G, Vicenzi E, Riva A, Tarkowski M, Tambussi G, Nozza S, Tripodi G, Marras F, Maria AD, Pistorio A, Biassoni R. Activating Killer Immunoglobulin Receptors and HLA-C: a successful combination providing HIV-1 control. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42470. [PMID: 28211903 PMCID: PMC5304173 DOI: 10.1038/srep42470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies demonstrated a relevant role of polymorphisms located within the HLA-B and -C loci and the Killer Immunoglobulin Receptors (KIRs) 3DL1 and 3DS1 in controlling HIV-1 replication. KIRs are regulatory receptors expressed at the surface of NK and CD8+ T-cells that specifically bind HLA-A and -B alleles belonging to the Bw4 supratype and all the -C alleles expressing the C1 or C2 supratype. We here disclose a novel signature associated with the Elite Controller but not with the long-term nonprogressor status concerning 2DS activating KIRs and HLA-C2 alleles insensitive to miRNA148a regulation. Overall, our findings support a crucial role of NK cells in the control of HIV-1 viremia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro S. Malnati
- Unit of Human Virology, Division of Immunology, transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Maria Cristina Monti
- Department of Public Health Unit of biostatistics and clinical epidemiology University of Pavia, Pavia Italy
| | - Davide De Battista
- Unit of Human Virology, Division of Immunology, transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesca Sironi
- Unit of Human Virology, Division of Immunology, transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Priscilla Biswas
- Unit of Human Virology, Division of Immunology, transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Poli
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, School of Medicine, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Vicenzi
- Unit of Viral Pathogens and Biosafety, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Agostino Riva
- Department of Clinical Sciences Chair of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine University of Milan,“L. Sacco” Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Maciej Tarkowski
- Department of Clinical Sciences Chair of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine University of Milan,“L. Sacco” Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tambussi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Nozza
- Department of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Andrea De Maria
- IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Science, DISSAL and Center for excellence in Biomedical Research CEBR University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Raso A, Biassoni R, Mascelli S, Nozza P, Ugolotti E, Di Marco E, De Marco P, Merello E, Cama A, Pavanello M, Capra V. Moyamoya vasculopathy shows a genetic mutational gradient decreasing from East to West. J Neurosurg Sci 2016; 64:165-172. [PMID: 27787485 DOI: 10.23736/s0390-5616.16.03900-x] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic, occlusive cerebrovascular disease characterized by bilateral steno-occlusive changes at the terminal portion of the internal carotid arteries and an abnormal vascular network at the base of the brain determining stroke in children. Patients with a similar vasculopathy and associated conditions are affected by the moyamoya syndrome (MMS). Most of the studies focused on MMD were carried out on East-Asian population. Ring Finger 213 (RNF213) has been identified as the strongest susceptibility gene for MMD in East-Asian people. Overall, 74.5% of the East-Asian patients carry the founder variant p.Arg4810Lys of RNF213 never reported in Caucasians. A different genetic landscape among the diverse ethnic populations seems to exist. METHODS We sequenced the coding sequence region of RNF213, TGFB1 and PDGFRB in 21 ethnically homogeneous Italian children with moyamoya; comprehensive sequencing data are available from parents of eight of them. The analyses were carried out by NGS on Thermo-fisher PGM platform. We also performed a comprehensive review of the literature about the variations of these three genes in Caucasian patients. RESULTS Several new variants of RNF213 gene were detected, in particular, two new pathogenic mutations on RNF213 (p.Trp4677Leu and p.Cys4017Ser) were identified in one MMS case and in one MMD case, respectively. Moreover, in a MMS case a new probably causing disease mutation p.Pro1063Thr of PDGFRB was detected. CONCLUSIONS The genetic susceptibility of Asian moyamoya vasculopathy seems to differ from the Caucasian disease. No additional differences seem to exist between MMD and MMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Raso
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy -
| | | | | | - Paolo Nozza
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Eddi Di Marco
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Merello
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Armando Cama
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Pavanello
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Capra
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
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10
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Abstract
Polymerase chain reaction is a useful technique in microbial diagnostics to detect and quantify DNA or RNA of low abundance. Bacterial and viral nucleic acid can be amplified by PCR upon clinical sample extraction using specific primers for classical qualitative PCR and primers and probes for real-time PCR. Here we describe the Scorpion-probe real-time PCR-based assay that offers thermodynamic advantages due to its kinetic reaction and provides faster performances compared to a classical double-labeled probe-based assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddi Di Marco
- Department of Translational Medicine, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Largo G. Gaslini 5, Genova, 16147, Italy,
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11
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Benzi F, Vanni I, Cassina G, Ugolotti E, Di Marco E, Cirillo C, Cristina E, Morreale G, Melioli G, Malnati M, Biassoni R. Detection of ganciclovir resistance mutations by pyrosequencing in HCMV-infected pediatric patients. J Clin Virol 2012; 54:48-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2012.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2011] [Revised: 11/10/2011] [Accepted: 01/09/2012] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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12
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Vanni I, Ugolotti E, Raso A, Di Marco E, Melioli G, Biassoni R. Development and validation of a multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Mollicutes impurities in human cells, cultured under good manufacturing practice conditions, and following European Pharmacopoeia requirements and the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. Cytotherapy 2012; 14:752-66. [PMID: 22458958 DOI: 10.3109/14653249.2012.671517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS The clinical applications of in vitro manipulated cultured cells and their precursors are often made use of in therapeutic trials. However, tissue cultures can be easily contaminated by the ubiquitous Mollicutes micro-organisms, which can cause various and severe alterations in cellular function. Thus methods able to detect and trace Mollicutes impurities contaminating cell cultures are required before starting any attempt to grow cells under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions. METHODS We developed a multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay specific for the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions, for the Tuf and P1 cytoadhesin genes, able to detect contaminant Mollicutes species in a single tube reaction. The system was validated by analyzing different cell lines and the positive samples were confirmed by 16S and P1 cytoadhesin gene dideoxy sequencing. RESULTS Our multiplex qPCR detection system was able to reach a sensitivity, specificity and robustness comparable with the culture and the indicator cell culture method, as required by the European Pharmacopoeia guidelines. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a multiplex qPCR method, validated following International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, as a qualitative limit test for impurities, assessing the validation characteristics of limit of detection and specificity. It also follows the European Pharmacopoeia guidelines and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Vanni
- Molecular Medicine, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
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13
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Ugolotti E, Bandettini R, Marchese A, Gualco L, Vanni I, Borzi L, Di Marco E, Castagnola E, Melioli G, Biassoni R. Molecular characterization of hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in pediatric outbreaks using variable tandem repeat analysis with spa and ClfB typing. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2011; 69:213-7. [PMID: 21251569 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2010.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2010] [Revised: 07/29/2010] [Accepted: 08/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
To analyze 67 clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from pediatric hospital infections, we used multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat DNA sequence-based techniques, targeting the protein A polymorphic X region and the clumping factor B complete R domain. We define a "clfB similarity score" and then compare the double loci analysis of closely related MRSA isolates with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). We found an endemic clone (MLST-ST8, spa-t008, SCCmecIV, ClfB lineage 1) able to originate 3 possible outbreaks and a second clone (MLST-ST152, spa-t355, SCCmecV, ClfB lineage 4) responsible for limited cases of MRSA infections, indicating that the combination of spa and clfB-lineage typing is useful to trace MRSA pediatric outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Ugolotti
- Molecular Medicine, Deparment of Experimental Medicine Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Largo G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genoa, Italy
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14
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Gatto F, Cassina G, Broccolo F, Morreale G, Lanino E, Di Marco E, Vardas E, Bernasconi D, Buttò S, Principi N, Esposito S, Scarlatti G, Lusso P, Malnati MS. A multiplex calibrated real-time PCR assay for quantitation of DNA of EBV-1 and 2. J Virol Methods 2011; 178:98-105. [PMID: 21903135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Revised: 08/18/2011] [Accepted: 08/22/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Accurate and highly sensitive tests for the diagnosis of active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection are essential for the clinical management of individuals infected with EBV. A calibrated quantitative real-time PCR assay for the measurement of EBV DNA of both EBV-1 and 2 subtypes was developed, combining the detection of the EBV DNA and a synthetic DNA calibrator in a multiplex PCR format. The assay displays a wide dynamic range and a high degree of accuracy even in the presence of 1μg of human genomic DNA. This assay measures with the same efficiency EBV DNA from strains prevalent in different geographic areas. The clinical sensitivity and specificity of the system were evaluated by testing 181 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) and plasma specimens obtained from 21 patients subjected to bone marrow transplantation, 70 HIV-seropositive subjects and 23 healthy controls. Patients affected by EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoprolipherative disorders had the highest frequency of EBV detection and the highest viral load. Persons infected with HIV had higher levels of EBV DNA load in PBMCs and a higher frequency of EBV plasma viremia compared to healthy controls. In conclusion, this new assay provides a reliable high-throughput method for the quantitation of EBV DNA in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gatto
- Unit of Human Virology and Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
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15
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Banov L, Garanata C, Dufour C, Garaventa A, Di Marco E, Caviglia I, Moroni C, Castagnola E. Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in granulocytopenic children with cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009; 53:240-2. [PMID: 19514066 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.22075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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16
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De Maria A, Ugolotti E, Rutjens E, Mazza S, Radic L, Faravelli A, Koopman G, Di Marco E, Costa P, Ensoli B, Cafaro A, Mingari MC, Moretta L, Heeney J, Biassoni R. NKp44 expression, phylogenesis and function in non-human primate NK cells. Int Immunol 2009; 21:245-55. [PMID: 19147838 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxn144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular and functional characterization of the natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) NKp44 in species other than Homo sapiens has been elusive, so far. Here, we provide complete phenotypic, molecular and functional characterization for NKp44 triggering receptor on Pan troglodytes NK cells, the closest human relative, and the analysis of NKp44-genomic locus and transcription in Macaca fascicularis. Similar to H. sapiens, NKp44 expression is detectable on chimpanzee NK cells only upon activation. However, basal NKp44 transcription is 5-fold higher in chimpanzees with lower differential increases upon cell activation compared with humans. Upon activation, an overall 12-fold lower NKp44 gene expression is observed in P. troglodytes compared with H. sapiens NK cells with only a slight reduction in NKp44 surface expression. Functional analysis of 'in vitro' activated purified NK cells confirms the NKp44 triggering potential compared with other major NCRs. These findings suggest the presence of a post-transcriptional regulation that evolved differently in H. sapiens. Analysis of cynomolgus NKp44-genomic sequence and transcription pattern showed very low levels of transcription with occurrence of out-of-frame transcripts and no surface expression. The present comparative analysis suggests that NKp44-genomic organization appears during macaque speciation, with considerable evolution of its transcriptional and post-transcriptional tuning. Thus, NKp44 may represent an NCR being only recently emerged during speciation, acquiring functional relevance only in non-human primates closest to H. sapiens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea De Maria
- Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica, Genova, Italy
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17
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Defilippi A, Silvestri M, Tacchella A, Giacchino R, Melioli G, Di Marco E, Cirillo C, Di Pietro P, Rossi GA. Epidemiology and clinical features of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children. Respir Med 2008; 102:1762-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2008.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2008] [Revised: 06/27/2008] [Accepted: 06/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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18
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Di Marco E, Cangemi G, Filippetti M, Melioli G, Biassoni R. Development and clinical validation of a real-time PCR using a uni-molecular Scorpion-based probe for the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in clinical isolates. New Microbiol 2007; 30:415-421. [PMID: 18080677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) is a frequent cause of Community Acquired Pneumoniae (CAP). The etiological role of Mp is usually suspected using serological assays, but the detection of specific anti-Mp antibodies becomes possible only 1-2 weeks after the primary infection. On the contrary, direct diagnosis using real-time PCR allows an efficient detection of Mp DNA in all the phases of the infection and particularly during early serum negative periods. In this study, we developed a novel Scorpion-probe real-time PCR-based assay. The probe's uni-molecular structure offers thermodynamic advantages owing to its kinetic reaction, providing faster performances compared to a TaqMan-based assay, but maintaining the same sensitivity and specificity. The Scorpion-based assay was employed on 388 clinical samples and compared with conventional qualitative PCR and serological tests. It was found more sensitive because it also allowed the detection of Mp in specimens found negative using classic qualitative PCR, but displaying seropositivity or a later seroconversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddi Di Marco
- Laboratorio Centrale di Analisi, IRCCS G. Gaslini, Genova, Italy
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19
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Pagano A, Tonachini L, Monticone M, Tortelli F, Castelnuovo M, Randazzo N, Tavella S, Di Marco E, Cancedda R, Castagnola P. Proliferative arrest and activation of apoptosis related genes in Rolly Protein-silenced cells. Gene 2006; 382:79-87. [PMID: 16945490 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2006.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2006] [Revised: 05/19/2006] [Accepted: 06/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Here we describe a novel small polypeptide expressed in chick embryo and mouse adult tissues referred to as Rolly Protein (Rolp), expressed at the highest levels in tibial cartilage and lung respectively. Investigating its putative role in cartilage differentiation we found that its expression is restricted to proliferative stages consistently with a decreased proliferation rate observed in Rolp-silenced cells. Additional functional studies demonstrate that inhibition of Rolp expression causes a transcription modulation of genes involved in apoptosis. The results here provided strongly suggest an active role of Rolp in the control of cell proliferation and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Pagano
- Dipartimento di Oncologia Biologia e Genetica, Università di Genova, Italy.
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20
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Di Marco E, Sessarego N, Zerega B, Cancedda R, Cancedda FD. Inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by ExFABP gene targeting. J Cell Physiol 2003; 196:464-73. [PMID: 12891703 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.10310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Ex-FABP, an extracellular fatty acid binding lipocalin, is physiologically expressed by differentiating chicken chondrocytes and myoblasts. Its expression is enhanced after cell treatment with inflammatory stimuli and repressed by anti-inflammatory agents, behaving as an acute phase protein. Chicken liver fragments in culture show enhanced protein expression after bacterial endotoxin treatment. To investigate the biological role of Ex-FABP, we stably transfected proliferating chondrocytes with an expression vector carrying antisense oriented Ex-FABP cDNA. We observed a dramatic loss of cell viability and a strong inhibition of cell proliferation and differentiation. When chondrocytes were transfected with the antisense oriented Ex-FABP cDNA we observed that Ex-FABP down-modulation increased apoptotic cell number. Myoblasts transfected with the same expression vector showed extensive cell death and impaired myotube formation. We suggest that Ex-FABP acts as a constitutive survival protein and that its expression and activation are fundamental to protect chondrocytes from cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddi Di Marco
- Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Centro Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genova, Italy.
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21
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Tonachini L, Monticone M, Di Marco E, Zerega B, Cancedda R, Castagnola P. Chondrocyte protein with a poly-proline region is a novel protein expressed by chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo. Biochim Biophys Acta 2002; 1577:421-9. [PMID: 12359332 DOI: 10.1016/s0167-4781(02)00444-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chondrogenic differentiation is a multistep process entailing the sequential activation and inhibition of the expression of a number of genes. To identify genes preferentially expressed at the hypertrophic stage rather than early differentiation stages of chicken chondrocyte differentiation, a subtracted cDNA library was generated. Here we describe the characterization of a cDNA isolated from this library and that of the encoded protein referred to as Chondrocyte Protein with a Poly-proline Region (CHPPR). The cDNA coding for CHPPR hybridizes with a 3.0-kb mRNA expressed at extremely low levels in dedifferentiated chondrocytes, cultured in adherent conditions, at low levels in differentiating chondrocytes and at very high levels in hypertrophic chondrocytes in suspension culture. The Parathyroid Hormone peptide [PTH (1-34)] enhances accumulation of CHPPR mRNA in cultured chondrocytes. This 3.0-kb mRNA is also detectable in several chick embryo tissues but at a lower extent when compared to that present in cartilage and in hypertrophic chondrocytes. The CHPPR cDNA has a complete open reading frame coding for a polypeptide with a calculated mass of 35.6 kDa containing a proline-rich region with a PPLP motif (single-letter amino acid code). We demonstrate by Western blot analysis that two CHPPR isoforms are detected in the cell lysates from cultured chondrocytes when they are not in the culture medium; furthermore, we find that the CHPPR gene is expressed in vivo by chick embryo chondrocytes at higher levels in the prehypertrophic and hypertrophic zones.
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22
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Segat D, Comai R, Di Marco E, Strangio A, Cancedda R, Franzi AT, Tacchetti C. Integrins alpha(6A)beta 1 and alpha(6B)beta 1 promote different stages of chondrogenic cell differentiation. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:31612-22. [PMID: 12077132 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m203471200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The differentiation of chondrocytes and of several other cell types is associated with a switch from the alpha(6B) to the alpha(6A) isoform of the laminin alpha(6)beta(1) integrin receptor. To define whether this event plays a functional role in cell differentiation, we used an in vitro model system that allows chick chondrogenic cells to remain undifferentiated when cultured in monolayer and to differentiate into chondrocytes when grown in suspension culture. We report that: (i) upon over-expression of the human alpha(6B), adherent chondrogenic cells differentiate to stage I chondrocytes (i.e. increased type II collagen, reduced type I collagen, fibronectin, alpha(5)beta(1) and growth rate, loss of fibroblast morphology); (ii) the expression of type II collagen requires the activation of p38 MAP kinase; (iii) the over-expression of alpha(6A) induces an incomplete differentiation to stage I chondrocytes, whereas no differentiation was observed in alpha(5) and mock-transfected control cells; (iv) a prevalence of the alpha(6A) subunit is necessary to stabilize the differentiated phenotype when cells are transferred to suspension culture. Altogether, these results indicate a functional role for the alpha(6B) to alpha(6A) switch in chondrocyte differentiation; the former promotes chondrocyte differentiation, and the latter is necessary in stabilizing the differentiated phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Segat
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Universita' di Genova, Italy
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