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Bonaccorsi di Patti MC, Angiulli E, Casini A, Vaccaro R, Cioni C, Toni M. Synuclein Analysis in Adult Xenopus laevis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116058. [PMID: 35682736 PMCID: PMC9181771 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116058] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The α-, β- and γ-synucleins are small soluble proteins expressed in the nervous system of mammals and evolutionary conserved in vertebrates. After being discovered in the cartilaginous fish Torpedo californica, synucleins have been sequenced in all vertebrates, showing differences in the number of genes and splicing isoforms in different taxa. Although α-, β- and γ-synucleins share high homology in the N-terminal sequence, suggesting their evolution from a common ancestor, the three isoforms also differ in molecular characteristics, expression levels and tissue distribution. Moreover, their functions have yet to be fully understood. Great scientific interest on synucleins mainly derives from the involvement of α-synuclein in human neurodegenerative diseases, collectively named synucleinopathies, which involve the accumulation of amyloidogenic α-synuclein inclusions in neurons and glia cells. Studies on synucleinopathies can take advantage of the development of new vertebrate models other than mammals. Moreover, synuclein expression in non-mammalian vertebrates contribute to clarify the physiological role of these proteins in the evolutionary perspective. In this paper, gene expression levels of α-, β- and γ-synucleins have been analysed in the main organs of adult Xenopus laevis by qRT-PCR. Moreover, recombinant α-, β- and γ-synucleins were produced to test the specificity of commercial antibodies against α-synuclein used in Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Finally, the secondary structure of Xenopus synucleins was evaluated by circular dichroism analysis. Results indicate Xenopus as a good model for studying synucleinopathies, and provide a useful background for future studies on synuclein functions and their evolution in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisa Angiulli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Arianna Casini
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (R.V.)
| | - Rosa Vaccaro
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (R.V.)
| | - Carla Cioni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Mattia Toni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.A.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence: (M.C.B.d.P.); (M.T.)
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Maffioli E, Angiulli E, Nonnis S, Grassi Scalvini F, Negri A, Tedeschi G, Arisi I, Frabetti F, D’Aniello S, Alleva E, Cioni C, Toni M. Brain Proteome and Behavioural Analysis in Wild Type, BDNF +/- and BDNF -/- Adult Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Exposed to Two Different Temperatures. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105606. [PMID: 35628418 PMCID: PMC9146406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105606] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental evidence suggests that environmental stress conditions can alter the expression of BDNF and that the expression of this neurotrophin influences behavioural responses in mammalian models. It has been recently demonstrated that exposure to 34 °C for 21 days alters the brain proteome and behaviour in zebrafish. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of BDNF in the nervous system of adult zebrafish under control and heat treatment conditions. For this purpose, zebrafish from three different genotypes (wild type, heterozygous BDNF+/- and knock out BDNF-/-) were kept for 21 days at 26 °C or 34 °C and then euthanized for brain molecular analyses or subjected to behavioural tests (Y-maze test, novel tank test, light and dark test, social preference test, mirror biting test) for assessing behavioural aspects such as boldness, anxiety, social preference, aggressive behaviour, interest for the novel environment and exploration. qRT-PCR analysis showed the reduction of gene expression of BDNF and its receptors after heat treatment in wild type zebrafish. Moreover, proteomic analysis and behavioural tests showed genotype- and temperature-dependent effects on brain proteome and behavioural responding. Overall, the absent expression of BDNF in KO alters (1) the brain proteome by reducing the expression of proteins involved in synapse functioning and neurotransmitter-mediated transduction; (2) the behaviour, which can be interpreted as bolder and less anxious and (3) the cellular and behavioural response to thermal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Maffioli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.); (G.T.)
| | - Elisa Angiulli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Via Alfonso Borelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Simona Nonnis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.); (G.T.)
- CRC I-WE (Coordinating Research Centre: Innovation for Well-Being and Environment), University of Milan, 20134 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Grassi Scalvini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.); (G.T.)
| | - Armando Negri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.); (G.T.)
| | - Gabriella Tedeschi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.); (G.T.)
- CRC I-WE (Coordinating Research Centre: Innovation for Well-Being and Environment), University of Milan, 20134 Milan, Italy
| | - Ivan Arisi
- Bioinformatics Facility, European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) “Rita Levi-Montalcini”, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Frabetti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Salvatore D’Aniello
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Enrico Alleva
- Center for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Carla Cioni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Via Alfonso Borelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Mattia Toni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Via Alfonso Borelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.A.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Fasano G, Godoy RS, Angiulli E, Consalvo A, Franco C, Mancini M, Santucci D, Alleva E, Ciavardelli D, Toni M, Biffali E, Ekker M, Canzoniero LMT, Sordino P. Effects of low-dose methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl-derived manganese on the development of diencephalic dopaminergic neurons in zebrafish. Environ Pollut 2021; 287:117151. [PMID: 34020261 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fuel additive methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is counted as an organic manganese (Mn)-derived compound. The toxic effects of Mn (alone and complexed) on dopaminergic (DA) neurotransmission have been investigated in both cellular and animal models. However, the impact of environmentally relevant Mn exposure on DA neurodevelopment is rather poorly understood. In the present study, the MMT dose of 100 μM (about 5 mg Mn/L) caused up-regulation of DA-related genes in association with cell body swelling and increase in the number of DA neurons of the ventral diencephalon subpopulation DC2. Furthermore, our analysis identified significant brain Mn bioaccumulation and enhancement of total dopamine levels in association with locomotor hyperactivity. Although DA levels were restored at adulthood, we observed a deficit in the acquisition and consolidation of memory. Collectively, these findings suggest that developmental exposure to low-level MMT-derived Mn is responsible for the selective alteration of diencephalic DA neurons and with long-lasting effects on fish explorative behaviour in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fasano
- Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via Francesco de Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy; Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Rafael Soares Godoy
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A7, Canada
| | - Elisa Angiulli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ''Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Via Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Ada Consalvo
- Centro Scienze Dell'Invecchiamento e Medicina Traslazionale - CeSI-MeT, Via Polacchi 11, 66100, Chieti, Italy; Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Cristina Franco
- Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Via Francesco de Sanctis, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - Maria Mancini
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY, 10016, USA; NYU Marlene and Paolo Fresco Institute for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, New York University School of Medicine, 222 East 41st Street, New York, NY, 10017, USA
| | - Daniela Santucci
- Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e La Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Alleva
- Centro di Riferimento per le Scienze Comportamentali e La Salute Mentale, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Ciavardelli
- Centro Scienze Dell'Invecchiamento e Medicina Traslazionale - CeSI-MeT, Via Polacchi 11, 66100, Chieti, Italy; School of Human and Social Science, "Kore" University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100, Enna, Italy
| | - Mattia Toni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ''Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Via Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Elio Biffali
- Department of Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Marc Ekker
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Marie-Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A7, Canada
| | | | - Paolo Sordino
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Naples, Italy.
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Nonnis S, Angiulli E, Maffioli E, Frabetti F, Negri A, Cioni C, Alleva E, Romeo V, Tedeschi G, Toni M. Acute environmental temperature variation affects brain protein expression, anxiety and explorative behaviour in adult zebrafish. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2521. [PMID: 33510219 PMCID: PMC7843641 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81804-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of 4-d acute thermal treatments at 18 °C, 26 °C (control) and 34 °C on the nervous system of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) using a multidisciplinary approach based on behavioural tests and brain proteomic analysis. The behavioural variations induced by thermal treatment were investigated using five different tests, the novel tank diving, light and dark preference, social preference, mirror biting, and Y-Maze tests, which are standard paradigms specifically tailored for zebrafish to assess their anxiety-like behaviour, boldness, social preference, aggressiveness, and explorative behaviour, respectively. Proteomic data revealed that several proteins involved in energy metabolism, messenger RNA translation, protein synthesis, folding and degradation, cytoskeleton organisation and synaptic vesiculation are regulated differently at extreme temperatures. The results showed that anxiety-like behaviours increase in zebrafish at 18 °C compared to those at 26 °C or 34 °C, whereas anxiety-related protein signalling pathways are downregulated. Moreover, treatments at both 18 °C and 34 °C affect the exploratory behaviour that appears not to be modulated by past experiences, suggesting the impairment of fish cognitive abilities. This study is the continuation of our previous work on the effect of 21-d chronic treatment at the same constant temperature level and will enable the comparison of acute and chronic treatment effects on the nervous system function in adult zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Nonnis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy.,CRC "Innovation for Well-Beeing and Environment" (I-WE), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - E Angiulli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ''Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Via Alfonso Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - E Maffioli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy. .,CIMAINA, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.
| | - F Frabetti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - A Negri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy.,CIMAINA, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - C Cioni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ''Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Via Alfonso Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - E Alleva
- Center for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, IstitutoSuperiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - V Romeo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - G Tedeschi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy.,CRC "Innovation for Well-Beeing and Environment" (I-WE), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.,CIMAINA, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - M Toni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ''Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Via Alfonso Borelli 50, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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Angiulli E, Pagliara V, Cioni C, Frabetti F, Pizzetti F, Alleva E, Toni M. Increase in environmental temperature affects exploratory behaviour, anxiety and social preference in Danio rerio. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5385. [PMID: 32214187 PMCID: PMC7096496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62331-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of a temperature increase on the behaviour of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) maintained for 21 days at 34 °C (treatment) and 26 °C (control). The temperatures chosen are within the vital range of zebrafish and correspond to temperatures that this species encounters in the natural environment. Previous results showed that the same treatment affects the brain proteome and the behaviour of adult zebrafish by producing alterations in the proteins involved in neurotransmitter release and synaptic function and impairing fish exploratory behaviour. In this study, we have investigated the performance of treated and control zebrafish during environmental exploration by using four behavioural tests (novel tank diving, light and dark preference, social preference and mirror biting) that are paradigms for assessing the state of anxiety, boldness, social preference and aggressive behaviour, respectively. The results showed that heat treatment reduces anxiety and increases the boldness of zebrafish, which spent more time in potentially dangerous areas of the tank such as the top and the uncovered bright area and at a distance from the social group, thus decreasing protection for the zebrafish. These data suggest that the increase in ambient temperature may compromise zebrafish survival rate in the natural environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Angiulli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - V Pagliara
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - C Cioni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - F Frabetti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - F Pizzetti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - E Alleva
- Center for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M Toni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
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Toni M, Angiulli E, Miccoli G, Cioni C, Alleva E, Frabetti F, Pizzetti F, Grassi Scalvini F, Nonnis S, Negri A, Tedeschi G, Maffioli E. Environmental temperature variation affects brain protein expression and cognitive abilities in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio): A proteomic and behavioural study. J Proteomics 2019; 204:103396. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Toni M, Massimino ML, De Mario A, Angiulli E, Spisni E. Metal Dyshomeostasis and Their Pathological Role in Prion and Prion-Like Diseases: The Basis for a Nutritional Approach. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:3. [PMID: 28154522 PMCID: PMC5243831 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Metal ions are key elements in organisms' life acting like cofactors of many enzymes but they can also be potentially dangerous for the cell participating in redox reactions that lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Any factor inducing or limiting a metal dyshomeostasis, ROS production and cell injury may contribute to the onset of neurodegenerative diseases or play a neuroprotective action. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), also known as prion diseases, are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting the central nervous system (CNS) of human and other mammalian species. The causative agent of TSEs is believed to be the scrapie prion protein PrPSc, the β sheet-rich pathogenic isoform produced by the conformational conversion of the α-helix-rich physiological isoform PrPC. The peculiarity of PrPSc is its ability to self-propagate in exponential fashion in cells and its tendency to precipitate in insoluble and protease-resistance amyloid aggregates leading to neuronal cell death. The expression “prion-like diseases” refers to a group of neurodegenerative diseases that share some neuropathological features with prion diseases such as the involvement of proteins (α-synuclein, amyloid β, and tau) able to precipitate producing amyloid deposits following conformational change. High social impact diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's belong to prion-like diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that the exposure to environmental metals is a risk factor for the development of prion and prion-like diseases and that metal ions can directly bind to prion and prion-like proteins affecting the amount of amyloid aggregates. The diet, source of metal ions but also of natural antioxidant and chelating agents such as polyphenols, is an aspect to take into account in addressing the issue of neurodegeneration. Epidemiological data suggest that the Mediterranean diet, based on the abundant consumption of fresh vegetables and on low intake of meat, could play a preventive or delaying role in prion and prion-like neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, metal role in the onset of prion and prion-like diseases is dealt with from a nutritional, cellular, and molecular point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Toni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University Rome, Italy
| | - Maria L Massimino
- National Research Council (CNR), Neuroscience Institute c/o Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova Padova, Italy
| | - Agnese De Mario
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova Padova, Italy
| | - Elisa Angiulli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Spisni
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna Bologna, Italy
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