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Panella R, Zanderigo F, Morandini F, Federico D, Vicentini E, Andreetta F, Toniolo A, Kauppinen S. Assessment of immunostimulatory responses to the antimiR-22 oligonucleotide compound RES-010 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1125654. [PMID: 37033600 PMCID: PMC10076763 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1125654] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
microRNA-22 (miR-22) is a key regulator of lipid and energy homeostasis and represents a promising therapeutic target for NAFLD and obesity. We have previously identified a locked nucleic acid (LNA)-modified antisense oligonucleotide compound complementary to miR-22, designated as RES-010 that mediated robust inhibition of miR-22 function in cultured cells and in vivo. In this study we investigated the immune potential of RES-010 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We treated fresh human peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from six healthy volunteers with different concentrations of the RES-010 compound and assessed its proinflammatory effects by quantifying IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IFN-α2a, IFN-β, IL-10, and IL-17A in the supernatants collected 24 h of treatment with RES-010. The T-cell activation markers, CD69, HLA-DR, and CD25 were evaluated by flow cytometry after 24 and 144 h of treatment, respectively, whereas cell viability was assessed after 24 h of treatment with RES-010. Our results show that RES-010 compound does not induce any significant immunostimulatory responses in human PBMCs in vitro compared to controls, implying that the proinflammatory potential of RES-010 is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Panella
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Resalis Therapeutics S.r.l., Torino, Italy
- *Correspondence: Riccardo Panella,
| | - Floriana Zanderigo
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Morandini
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, Verona, Italy
| | - Denise Federico
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Vicentini
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, Verona, Italy
| | - Filippo Andreetta
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Sakari Kauppinen
- Center for RNA Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Bergamini G, Perico ME, Di Palma S, Sabatini D, Andreetta F, Defazio R, Felici A, Ferrari L. Mouse pneumonia model by Acinetobacter baumannii multidrug resistant strains: Comparison between intranasal inoculation, intratracheal instillation and oropharyngeal aspiration techniques. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260627. [PMID: 34855837 PMCID: PMC8638993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260627] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious pneumonia induced by multidrug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii strains is among the most common and deadly forms of healthcare acquired infections. Over the years, different strategies have been put in place to increase host susceptibility to MDR A. baumannii, since only a self-limiting pneumonia with no or limited local bacterial replication was frequently obtained in mouse models. Direct instillation into the trachea or intranasal inoculation of the bacterial suspension are the techniques used to induce the infection in most of the preclinical models of pneumonia developed to date. More recently, the oropharyngeal aspiration procedure has been widely described in the literature for a variety of purposes including pathogens administration. Aim of this study was to compare the oropharyngeal aspiration technique to the intranasal inoculation and intratracheal instillation in the ability of inducing a consistent lung infection with two MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates in immunocompromised mice. Moreover, pneumonia obtained by bacteria administration with two out of three techniques, intratracheal and oropharyngeal, was characterised in terms of histopathology of pulmonary lesions, biomarkers of inflammation level and leukocytes cells infiltration extent after mice treatment with either vehicle or the antibiotic tigecycline. The data generated clearly showed that both strains were not able to colonize the lungs when inoculated by intranasal route. By contrast, the bacterial load in lungs of mice intratracheally or oropharyngeally infected significantly increased during 26 hours of monitoring, thus highlighting the ability of these strains to generate the infection when directly instilled into the lower respiratory airways. Furthermore, the intragroup variability of mice was significantly reduced with respect to those intranasally administered. Tigecycline was efficacious in lung bacterial load and cytokines release reduction. Findings were supported by semi-quantitative histopathological evaluation of the pulmonary lesions and by inflammatory biomarkers analysis. To conclude, both intratracheal instillation and oropharyngeal aspiration techniques showed to be suitable methods for inducing a robust and consistent pneumonia infection in mice when difficult MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates were used. Noteworthy, oropharyngeal aspiration not requiring specific technical skills and dedicated equipment, was proven to be a safer, easier and faster technique in comparison to the intratracheal instillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Bergamini
- Translational Microbiology, Antibacterial Discovery, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company DD&D Research Centre, Verona, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Maria Elisa Perico
- In vitro Pharmacology, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company DD&D Research Centre, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Palma
- Pathology, Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, DD&D Research Centre, Verona, Italy
| | - Daniela Sabatini
- In vitro Pharmacology, Microbiology Discovery, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, DD&D Research Centre, Verona, Italy
| | - Filippo Andreetta
- In vitro Pharmacology, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company DD&D Research Centre, Verona, Italy
| | - Rossella Defazio
- Pathology, Preclinical Development, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, DD&D Research Centre, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Felici
- In vitro Pharmacology, Microbiology Discovery, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, DD&D Research Centre, Verona, Italy
| | - Livia Ferrari
- Translational Microbiology, Antibacterial Discovery, Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company DD&D Research Centre, Verona, Italy
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Garibaldi M, Fionda L, Vanoli F, Leonardi L, Bucci E, Morino S, Merlonghi G, Lucchini M, Mirabella M, Andreetta F, Pennisi E, Petrucci A, Antonini G. P.20Expanding the myasthenia-myositis association spectrum: clinical, morphological and immunological data form a large case series. Neuromuscul Disord 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2019.06.049] [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: 10/25/2022]
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Andreetta F, Carboni L, Grafton G, Jeggo R, Whyment AD, van den Top M, Hoyer D, Spanswick D, Barnes NM. Hippocampal 5-HT7 receptors signal phosphorylation of the GluA1 subunit to facilitate AMPA receptor mediated-neurotransmission in vitro and in vivo. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 173:1438-51. [PMID: 26773257 PMCID: PMC4831309 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The 5-HT7 receptor is a GPCR that is the target of a broad range of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs. Various studies have demonstrated an ability of the 5-HT7 receptor to modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission and cognitive processes although the potential impact upon AMPA receptors has not been investigated directly. The purposes of the present study were to investigate a direct modulation of the GluA1 AMPA receptor subunit and determine how this might influence AMPA receptor function. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The influence of pharmacological manipulation of the 5-HT7 receptor system upon phosphorylation of GluA1 subunits was assessed by Western blotting of fractionated proteins from hippocampal neurones in culture (or proteins resident at the neurone surface) and the functional impact assessed by electrophysiological recordings in rat hippocampus in vitro and in vivo. KEY RESULTS 5-HT7 receptor activation increased cAMP and relative pCREB levels in cultures of rat hippocampal neurones along with an increase in phosphorylation (Ser845) of the GluA1 AMPA receptor subunit evident in whole neurone extracts and within the neurone surface compartment. Electrophysiological recordings in rat hippocampus demonstrated a 5-HT7 receptor-mediated increase in AMPA receptor-mediated neurotransmission in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The 5-HT7 receptor-mediated phosphorylation of the GluA1 AMPA receptor provides a molecular mechanism consistent with the 5-HT7 receptor-mediated increase in AMPA receptor-mediated neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Andreetta
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
- Neurosciences CEDD, GlaxoSmithKline Medicine Research Centre, Verona, Italy
| | - Lucia Carboni
- Neurosciences CEDD, GlaxoSmithKline Medicine Research Centre, Verona, Italy
| | - Gillian Grafton
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Hoyer
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Nicholas M Barnes
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
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Stergiou C, Lazaridis K, Zouvelou V, Tzartos J, Mantegazza R, Antozzi C, Andreetta F, Evoli A, Deymeer F, Saruhan-Direskeneli G, Durmus H, Brenner T, Vaknin A, Berrih-Aknin S, Behin A, Sharshar T, De Baets M, Losen M, Martinez-Martinez P, Kleopa KA, Zamba-Papanicolaou E, Kyriakides T, Kostera-Pruszczyk A, Szczudlik P, Szyluk B, Lavrnic D, Basta I, Peric S, Tallaksen C, Maniaol A, Gilhus NE, Casasnovas Pons C, Pitha J, Jakubíkova M, Hanisch F, Bogomolovas J, Labeit D, Labeit S, Tzartos SJ. Titin antibodies in "seronegative" myasthenia gravis--A new role for an old antigen. J Neuroimmunol 2016; 292:108-15. [PMID: 26943968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2016.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [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: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by antibodies targeting the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscles. Triple-seronegative MG (tSN-MG, without detectable AChR, MuSK and LRP4 antibodies), which accounts for ~10% of MG patients, presents a serious gap in MG diagnosis and complicates differential diagnosis of similar disorders. Several AChR antibody positive patients (AChR-MG) also have antibodies against titin, usually detected by ELISA. We have developed a very sensitive radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) for titin antibodies, by which many previously negative samples were found positive, including several from tSN-MG patients. The validity of the RIPA results was confirmed by western blots. Using this RIPA we screened 667 MG sera from 13 countries; as expected, AChR-MG patients had the highest frequency of titin antibodies (40.9%), while MuSK-MG and LRP4-MG patients were positive in 14.6% and 16.4% respectively. Most importantly, 13.4% (50/372) of the tSN-MG patients were also titin antibody positive. None of the 121 healthy controls or the 90 myopathy patients, and only 3.6% (7/193) of other neurological disease patients were positive. We thus propose that the present titin antibody RIPA is a useful tool for serological MG diagnosis of tSN patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Stergiou
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece; Tzartos NeuroDiagnostics, Athens, Greece
| | | | - V Zouvelou
- Neurology Department, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - J Tzartos
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece; Tzartos NeuroDiagnostics, Athens, Greece
| | - R Mantegazza
- Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Milano, Italy
| | - C Antozzi
- Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Milano, Italy
| | - F Andreetta
- Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Milano, Italy
| | - A Evoli
- Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - F Deymeer
- Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - H Durmus
- Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - T Brenner
- Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - A Vaknin
- Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - A Behin
- UPMC and INSERM, Paris, France
| | - T Sharshar
- Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France
| | - M De Baets
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - M Losen
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - P Martinez-Martinez
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - K A Kleopa
- The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - T Kyriakides
- The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - P Szczudlik
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - B Szyluk
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - D Lavrnic
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - I Basta
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - S Peric
- Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - C Tallaksen
- Norway Department of Neurology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, Olso University, Norway
| | - A Maniaol
- Norway Department of Neurology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - N E Gilhus
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway
| | | | - J Pitha
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience Center, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - M Jakubíkova
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience Center, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - F Hanisch
- Universitätsklinikum Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - J Bogomolovas
- Faculty of Clinical Medicine Manheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - D Labeit
- Faculty of Clinical Medicine Manheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Myomedix GmbH, 69151 Neckargemuend, Germany
| | - S Labeit
- Faculty of Clinical Medicine Manheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - S J Tzartos
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece; Tzartos NeuroDiagnostics, Athens, Greece.
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6
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Barbic F, Antozzi C, Dipaola F, Andreetta F, Bulgheroni M, Brunetta E, Dalla Vecchia L, Mantegazza R, Furlan R. Long-lasting clinical and autonomic effects of plasma ganglionic acetylcholine antibodies removal and immunosuppressive therapy in a patient with autoimmune Pure Autonomic Failure. Auton Neurosci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2015.07.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Portaro S, Parisi D, Polizzi A, Ruggieri M, Andreetta F, Bernasconi P, Toscano A, Rodolico C. Long-term follow-up in infantile-onset lambert-eaton myasthenic syndrome. J Child Neurol 2014; 29:NP58-61. [PMID: 24114606 DOI: 10.1177/0883073813499970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a neuromuscular junction disorder characterized by proximal limb muscle weakness, fatigability, decreased deep-tendon reflexes, and autonomic symptoms. There are 2 forms of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: one most frequently associated with small-cell lung cancer (P-Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome) and the other that is a pure autoimmune form (NP-Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome). Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a very rare disorder in children younger than age 12 years. Herein, we report a 25-year-old man with NP-Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, which onset was at the age of 10 years. To date, this is the most long-term follow-up of NP-Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in childhood. In our patient, the only symptomatic treatment with 3,4-diaminopyridine phosphate has been sufficient to guarantee him a good quality of life. Our data remind physicians to keep in mind the diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in children with a proximal myopathic pattern and they confirm the specificity of compound muscle action potential incremental pattern after brief maximal effort in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Portaro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Italy Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Italy IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo," Messina, Italy
| | - D Parisi
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Italy
| | - A Polizzi
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Catania, Italy
| | - M Ruggieri
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - F Andreetta
- Department of Neurosciences, "C. Besta" Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - P Bernasconi
- Department of Neurosciences, "C. Besta" Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - A Toscano
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Italy
| | - C Rodolico
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Italy
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Zisimopoulou P, Evangelakou P, Tzartos J, Lazaridis K, Zouvelou V, Mantegazza R, Antozzi C, Andreetta F, Evoli A, Deymeer F, Saruhan-Direskeneli G, Durmus H, Brenner T, Vaknin A, Berrih-Aknin S, Frenkian Cuvelier M, Stojkovic T, DeBaets M, Losen M, Martinez-Martinez P, Kleopa KA, Zamba-Papanicolaou E, Kyriakides T, Kostera-Pruszczyk A, Szczudlik P, Szyluk B, Lavrnic D, Basta I, Peric S, Tallaksen C, Maniaol A, Tzartos SJ. A comprehensive analysis of the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of anti-LRP4 in myasthenia gravis. J Autoimmun 2013; 52:139-45. [PMID: 24373505 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2013.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [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: 06/29/2013] [Accepted: 12/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Double-seronegative myasthenia gravis (dSN-MG, without detectable AChR and MuSK antibodies) presents a serious gap in MG diagnosis and understanding. Recently, autoantibodies against the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) have been identified in several dSN-MG sera, but with dramatic frequency variation (∼2-50%). We have developed a cell based assay (CBA) based on human LRP4 expressing HEK293 cells, for the reliable and efficient detection of LRP4 antibodies. We have screened about 800 MG patient sera from 10 countries for LRP4 antibodies. The overall frequency of LRP4-MG in the dSN-MG group (635 patients) was 18.7% but with variations among different populations (range 7-32.7%). Interestingly, we also identified double positive sera: 8/107 anti-AChR positive and 10/67 anti-MuSK positive sera also had detectable LRP4 antibodies, predominantly originating from only two of the participating groups. No LRP4 antibodies were identified in sera from 56 healthy controls tested, while 4/110 from patients with other neuroimmune diseases were positive. The clinical data, when available, for the LRP4-MG patients were then studied. At disease onset symptoms were mild (81% had MGFA grade I or II), with some identified thymic changes (32% hyperplasia, none with thymoma). On the other hand, double positive patients (AChR/LRP4-MG and MuSK/LRP4-MG) had more severe symptoms at onset compared with any single positive MG subgroup. Contrary to MuSK-MG, 27% of ocular dSN-MG patients were LRP4 antibody positive. Similarly, contrary to MuSK antibodies, which are predominantly of the IgG4 subtype, LRP4 antibodies were predominantly of the IgG1 and IgG2 subtypes. The prevalence was higher in women than in men (female/male ratio 2.5/1), with an average disease onset at ages 33.4 for females and 41.9 for males. Overall, the response of LRP4-MG patients to treatment was similar to published responses of AChR-MG rather than to MuSK-MG patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - P Evangelakou
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece; University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - J Tzartos
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | | | - V Zouvelou
- Neurology Department, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - R Mantegazza
- Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Milano, Italy
| | - C Antozzi
- Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Milano, Italy
| | - F Andreetta
- Neurological Institute "C. Besta", Milano, Italy
| | - A Evoli
- Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - F Deymeer
- Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - H Durmus
- Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - T Brenner
- Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - A Vaknin
- Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | | | | | - M DeBaets
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - M Losen
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - P Martinez-Martinez
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - K A Kleopa
- The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - T Kyriakides
- The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - P Szczudlik
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - B Szyluk
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - D Lavrnic
- Serbia, Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia
| | - I Basta
- Serbia, Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia
| | - S Peric
- Serbia, Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia
| | - C Tallaksen
- Norway Department of Neurology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - A Maniaol
- Norway Department of Neurology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - S J Tzartos
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece; University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
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9
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Andreetta F, Barnes NM, Wren PB, Carboni L. p38 MAP kinase activation does not stimulate serotonin transport in rat brain: Implications for sickness behaviour mechanisms. Life Sci 2013; 93:30-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2013.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Sava A, Formaggio E, Carignani C, Andreetta F, Bettini E, Griffante C. NMDA-induced ERK signalling is mediated by NR2B subunit in rat cortical neurons and switches from positive to negative depending on stage of development. Neuropharmacology 2011; 62:925-32. [PMID: 22001284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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] [Received: 10/21/2010] [Revised: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 09/25/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
It is known that NMDA receptor stimulation can activate or inhibit the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling cascade, a key pathway involved in neuronal plasticity and survival. However, the specific subtype(s) of NMDA receptor that exert bi-directional regulation of ERK signalling is under debate. Here we show that in young neurons (7-9 days in vitro, DIV), NMDA activated ERK signalling. In mature neurons (14-16 DIV), NMDA-evoked, in coincidence with a concentration-dependent increase in intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)), an increase in ERK phosphorylation at low concentrations (1-30 μM) while an inhibition at high concentrations (30 μM-250 μM). In more mature neurons (21-23 DIV) NMDA inhibited ERK signalling. Both activation and inhibition of ERK signalling were fully reversed by the selective NR2B receptor antagonists Ro 25-6981 and ifenprodil. Thus, the NR2B subunit can be both negatively or positively coupled to ERK signalling in rat cortical neurons, depending on their stage of development. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sava
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neurosciences Centre of Excellence in Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, 37135 Verona, Italy.
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Bettini E, Sava A, Griffante C, Carignani C, Buson A, Capelli AM, Negri M, Andreetta F, Senar-Sancho SA, Guiral L, Cardullo F. Identification and characterization of novel NMDA receptor antagonists selective for NR2A- over NR2B-containing receptors. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010; 335:636-44. [PMID: 20810618 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.110.172544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
NR1/NR2A is a subtype of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), which are glutamate and glycine-gated Ca(2+)-permeable channels highly expressed in the central nervous system. A high-throughput screening (HTS) campaign using human osteosarcoma (U-2 OS) cells transiently transduced with NR1/NR2A NMDAR subunits, tested in a specifically designed fluorometric imaging plate reader (FLIPR)/Ca(2+) assay, identified sulfonamide derivative series, exemplified by 3-chloro-4-fluoro-N-[(4-{[2-(phenylcarbonyl)hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)methyl]benzenesulfonamide (compound 1) and thiodiazole derivative N-(cyclohexylmethyl)-2-({5-[(phenylmethyl)amino]-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl}thio)acetamide (compound 13) as novel NR1/NR2A receptor antagonists. Compounds 1 and 13 displayed submicromolar and micromolar potency at NR1/NR2A receptor, respectively, although they did not show activity at NR2B-containing receptor up to 50 μM concentration. Addition of 1 mM glycine, but not 1 mM l-glutamate, was able to surmount compound 1 and 13 inhibitory effects in FLIPR NR1/NR2A assay. However, compounds 1 and 13 displaced a glutamate site antagonist [(3)H]d,l-(E)-2-amino-4-propyl-5-phosphono-3-pentenoic acid ([(3)H]CGP 39653) to a greater extent than the glycine site antagonist [(3)H]3-[(E)-2-carboxy-2-phenylethenyl]-4,6-dichloro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid ([(3)H]MDL 105,519), in rat brain cortex binding assay. Results of FLIPR cell-based, electrophysiological, and biochemical binding assays suggest that compounds 1 and 13 are the prototypes of novel classes of NMDAR ligands, which to the best of our knowledge are the first selective antagonists at NR1/NR2A over NR1/NR2B receptor, and might constitute useful tools able to elucidate the relative role of the NR2A subunit in physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezio Bettini
- Screening and Compound Profiling, GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre, Verona, Italy.
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12
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Kalinichev M, Bradford A, Bison S, Lucas A, Sartori I, Garbati N, Andreetta F, Bate S, Austin NE, Jones DNC, Read KD, Alvaro G, Large CH. Potentiation of the anticonvulsant efficacy of sodium channel inhibitors by an NK1-receptor antagonist in the rat. Epilepsia 2010; 51:1543-51. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02482.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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13
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Rolland J, Burdi R, Cozzoli A, Giannuzzi V, Liantonio A, Cippone V, Mangieri D, Camerino G, Nicchia G, Frigeri A, Andreetta F, Confalonieri P, Nico B, De Luca A. G.P.6.08 Comparison of the effects of chronic treatments with drugs targeting different disease-related pathways in dystrophic mdx mice. Neuromuscul Disord 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2007.06.143] [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: 10/22/2022]
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Abstract
1 In this study, [(3)H]GR205171 (3(S)-(2-methoxy-5-(5-trifluoromethyltetrazol-1-yl)-phenylmethylamino)-2(S)-phenylpiperidine), a potent and selective NK1 receptor antagonist, was characterised in autoradiographic studies in gerbil brain and in binding experiments on homogenates from gerbil and human brain cortex and striatum. 2 In autoradiographic studies in gerbil brain, highest levels of [(3)H]GR205171 binding sites were observed in caudate putamen, nucleus accumbens, medial and cortical nuclei of the amygdala and intermediate levels were detected in the hypothalamus, basolateral amygdala, septum, and cortex. 3 Saturation experiments in homogenates of brain striatum from gerbil showed that [(3)H]GR205171 binds to a single receptor population with a pK(d) value of 10.8+/-0.2 and a B(max) value of 607+/-40 fmol mg(-1). A lower number of NK1 receptor sites was found in cortex, where a B(max) of 94+/-6 fmol mg(-1) protein was obtained. Saturation experiments performed on homogenates from brain striatum of two human subjects and brain cortex of three human subjects showed that [(3)H]GR205171 binds with pK(d) values not different from gerbil and B(max) values ranging from 318+/-51 to 432+/-27 fmol mg(-1) protein in striatum and from 59+/-1 to 74+/-21 fmol mg(-1) protein in cortex. The natural ligand [(3)H]Substance P (SP) bound with sub-nanomolar affinity to 15 and 6% sites compared to [(3)H]GR205171 in gerbil and human striatum, respectively. 4 In competition binding experiments, GR205171 and the NK1 receptor antagonists aprepitant (MK-869), L-733,060 and NKP-608 bound with similar pK(i) values in gerbil and human striatum, irrespective of the use of [(3)H]GR205171 or [(3)H]SP as radioligand. The following rank order was found in terms of pK(i) values: GR205171>aprepitant> or =L-733,060>NKP-608. In homologous displacement experiments in gerbil and human striatum, SP showed nanomolar affinity, whereas in [(3)H]GR205171 competition experiments SP bound with pIC(50) values in the micromolar range and Hill slopes significantly lower than one. 5 It is concluded that the similarities of [(3)H]GR205171 binding characteristics and pharmacology between gerbil and human in cortex and striatum support the use of gerbil in preclinical models to study the effects of NK1 receptor antagonists in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Griffante
- Psychiatry Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline Group, Medicines Research Centre, 37135 Verona, Italy.
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15
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Pierno S, Nico B, Burdi R, Liantonio A, Didonna MP, Cippone V, Fraysse B, Rolland JF, Mangieri D, Andreetta F, Ferro P, Camerino C, Zallone A, Confalonieri P, De Luca A. Role of tumour necrosis factor alpha, but not of cyclo-oxygenase-2-derived eicosanoids, on functional and morphological indices of dystrophic progression in mdx mice: a pharmacological approach. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2007; 33:344-59. [PMID: 17493014 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.2007.00798.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The role of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha or cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) eicosanoids in dystrophinopathies has been evaluated by chronically treating (4-8 weeks) adult dystrophic mdx mice with the anti-TNF-alpha etanercept (0.5 mg/kg) or the COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg). Throughout the treatment period the mdx mice underwent a protocol of exercise on treadmill in order to worsen the pathology progression; gastrocnemious muscles from exercised mdx mice showed an intense staining for TNF-alpha by immunohistochemistry. In vivo, etanercept, but not meloxicam, contrasted the exercise-induced forelimb force drop. Electrophysiological recordings ex vivo, showed that etanercept counteracted the decrease in chloride channel function (gCl), a functional index of myofibre damage, in both diaphragm and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle, meloxicam being effective only in EDL muscle. None of the drugs ameliorated calcium homeostasis detected by electrophysiology and/or spectrofluorimetry. Etanercept, more than meloxicam, effectively reduced plasma creatine kinase (CK). Etanercept-treated muscles showed a reduction of connective tissue area and of pro-fibrotic cytokine TGF-beta1 vs. untreated ones; however, the histological profile was weakly ameliorated. In order to better evaluate the impact of etanercept treatment on histology, a 4-week treatment was performed on 2-week-old mdx mice, so to match the first spontaneous degeneration cycle. The histology profile of gastrocnemious was significantly improved with a reduction of degenerating area; however, CK levels were only slightly lower. The present results support a key role of TNF-alpha, but not of COX-2 products, in different phases of dystrophic progression. Anti-TNF-alpha drugs may be useful in combined therapies for Duchenne patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pierno
- Unit of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacobiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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16
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Antozzi C, Frassoni C, Vincent A, Regondi MC, Andreetta F, Bernasconi P, Ciano C, Chang T, Cornelio F, Spreafico R, Mantegazza R. Sequential antibodies to potassium channels and glutamic acid decarboxylase in neuromyotonia. Neurology 2006; 64:1290-3. [PMID: 15824370 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000156945.39471.2c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A patient with thymoma-associated neuromyotonia and voltage-gated potassium channel (Kv1.2 and Kv1.6) antibodies by immunoprecipitation and rat brain immunolabeling was treated successfully with immunoadsorption and cyclophosphamide. Curiously, glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies, absent at onset, appeared later. Stiff-person syndrome was absent, but fast blink reflex recovery suggested enhanced brainstem excitability. The range of antibodies produced in thymoma-associated neuromyotonia is richer, and the timing of antibody appearance more complex, than previously suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Antozzi
- Neurology Department IV, Immunology and Muscular Pathology Unit, National Neurologic Institute Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
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17
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Cerletti M, Negri T, Cozzi F, Colpo R, Andreetta F, Croci D, Davies KE, Cornelio F, Pozza O, Karpati G, Gilbert R, Mora M. Dystrophic phenotype of canine X-linked muscular dystrophy is mitigated by adenovirus-mediated utrophin gene transfer. Gene Ther 2003; 10:750-7. [PMID: 12704413 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Utrophin is highly homologous and structurally similar to dystrophin, and in gene delivery experiments in mdx mice was able to functionally replace dystrophin. We performed mini-utrophin gene transfer in Golden Retriever dogs with canine muscular dystrophy (CXMD). Unlike the mouse model, the clinicopathological phenotype of CXMD is similar to that of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We injected an adenoviral vector expressing a synthetic utrophin into tibialis anterior muscles of newborn dogs affected with CXMD and examined transgene expression by RNA and protein analysis at 10, 30 and 60 days postinjection in cyclosporin-treated and -untreated animals. Immunosuppression by cyclosporin was required to mitigate the immune response to viral and transgene antigens. RT-PCR analysis showed the presence of the exogenous transcript in the muscle of cyclosporin-treated and -untreated animals. The transgenic utrophin was efficiently expressed at the extrajunctional membrane in immunosuppressed dogs and this expression was stable for at least 60 days. We found reduced fibrosis and increased expression of dystrophin-associated proteins (DAPs) in association with muscle areas expressing the utrophin minigene, indicating that mini-utrophin can functionally compensate for lack of dystrophin in injected muscles. For this reason, utrophin transfer to dystrophin-deficient muscle appears as a promising therapeutic approach to DMD.
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MESH Headings
- Adenoviridae/genetics
- Animals
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- Cyclosporine/therapeutic use
- Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics
- Dog Diseases/immunology
- Dog Diseases/pathology
- Dog Diseases/therapy
- Dogs
- Dystrophin/metabolism
- Female
- Fibrosis
- Gene Expression
- Genetic Therapy/methods
- Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Immunohistochemistry/methods
- Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use
- Male
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Models, Animal
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/immunology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/therapy
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/immunology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/therapy
- Transduction, Genetic/methods
- Transgenes
- Utrophin
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cerletti
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico 'C. Besta' Milano, Italy
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18
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Pareyson D, Allegri I, Ciano C, Scaioli V, Andreetta F, Morbin M, Lauria G, Sghirlanzoni A. RESPONSE TO IVIg TREATMENT IN CANOMAD. J Peripher Nerv Syst 2002. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1529-8027.2002.7011_37.x] [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: 11/20/2022]
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19
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Baggi F, Andreetta F, Caspani E, Milani M, Longhi R, Mantegazza R, Cornelio F, Antozzi C. Oral administration of an immunodominant T-cell epitope downregulates Th1/Th2 cytokines and prevents experimental myasthenia gravis. J Clin Invest 1999; 104:1287-95. [PMID: 10545527 PMCID: PMC409818 DOI: 10.1172/jci7121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/1999] [Accepted: 09/22/1999] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The mucosal administration of the native antigen or peptide fragments corresponding to immunodominant regions is effective in preventing or treating several T cell-dependent models of autoimmune disease. No data are yet available on oral tolerance with immunodominant T-cell peptides in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG), an animal model of B cell-dependent disease. We report that oral administration of the T-cell epitope alpha146-162 of the Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (TAChR) alpha-subunit suppressed T-cell responses to AChR and ameliorated the disease in C57Bl/6 (B6) mice. Protection from EAMG was associated with reduced serum Ab's to mouse AChR and reduced AChR loss in muscle. The effect of Talpha146-162 feeding was specific; treatment with a control peptide did not affect EAMG manifestations. The protective effect induced by peptide Talpha146-162 was mediated by reduced production of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-10 by TAChR-reactive cells, suggesting T-cell anergy. TGF-beta-secreting Th3 cells did not seem to be involved in tolerance induction. We therefore demonstrate that feeding a single immunodominant epitope can prevent an Ab-mediated experimental model of autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Baggi
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, National Neurological Institute "C. Besta," 20133 Milan, Italy
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20
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Baggi F, Antozzi C, Andreetta F, Confalonieri P, Ciusani E, Begovich AB, Erlich HA, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. Identification of a novel HLA class II association with DQB1*0502 in an Italian myasthenic population. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1998; 841:355-9. [PMID: 9668258 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb10946.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Baggi
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, National Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy
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21
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Baggi F, Andreetta F, Antozzi C, Simoncini O, Confalonieri P, Labeit S, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. Anti-titin and antiryanodine receptor antibodies in myasthenia gravis patients with thymoma. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1998; 841:538-41. [PMID: 9668290 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb10978.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Baggi
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, National Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy
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22
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Antozzi C, Baggi F, Andreetta F, Simoncini O, Longhi R, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. Oral administration of an immunodominant TAChR epitope modulates antigen-specific T cell responses in mice. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1998; 841:568-71. [PMID: 9668297 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb10985.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Antozzi
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, National Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy
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23
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Bernasconi P, Confalonieri P, Andreetta F, Baggi F, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. The expression of co-stimulatory and accessory molecules on cultured human muscle cells is not dependent on stimulus by pro-inflammatory cytokines: relevance for the pathogenesis of inflammatory myopathy. J Neuroimmunol 1998; 85:52-8. [PMID: 9626997 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(97)00254-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Specific activation of naive T cells requires TCR engagement plus interaction of CD28 on T cells with co-stimulatory B7-1/B7-2 on APCs. Since muscle cells may be directly involved in activating muscle-infiltrating T lymphocytes in polymyositis and inclusion body myositis, we analyzed B7 expression on myoblasts before and after treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines. We found no expression of B7-1/B7-2, either constitutively or after stimulus with cytokines. Furthermore, myoblasts failed to stimulate alloreactive peripheral blood lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte reactions. Lack of B7 expression was confirmed by immunostaining of polymyositis patients' muscle: only T and the few B lymphocytes present in inflammation areas expressed B7-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Bernasconi
- Divisione Malattie Neuromuscolari, Instituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
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24
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Andreetta F, Baggi F, Antozzi C, Torchiana E, Bernasconi P, Simoncini O, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. Acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit isoforms are differentially expressed in thymuses from myasthenic patients. Am J Pathol 1997; 150:341-8. [PMID: 9006349 PMCID: PMC1858538] [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: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A central role of the thymus in autosensitization to the acetylcholine receptor has been proposed to explain the immunopathogenetic processes in myasthenia gravis (MG). Two isoforms of the alpha-subunit of the acetylcholine receptor are known; they differ by a 25-amino-acid insertion coded by the P3A exon. We investigated the expression of the P3A exon by RNA polymerase chain reaction in fetal and adult human myoblasts and TE671 cells; both isoforms were expressed. Muscle biopsies from patients with MG, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and polymyositis were also studied and it was again found that both isoforms were expressed, indicating that the P3A exon is not associated with autoimmune, degenerative, and inflammatory muscle diseases. When P3A expression was studied in thymus samples from normal subjects and from thymectomized MG patients, the P3A+ subunit was absent in 75% of patients with involuted thymus and in all patients with thymomas but was present in normal thymuses and in patients with hyperplasia. Differential expression of the alpha-subunit isoforms of the acetylcholine receptor within the thymus may play a role in the immune pathogenesis of MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Andreetta
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, National Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy
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25
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Abstract
A patient with a severe progressive neuromuscular disorder resembling spinal muscular atrophy is reported. The initial muscle biopsy was consistent with a denervating process. DNA analysis did not reveal deletions in exons 7 and 8 of the survival motor neuron gene. Histology, histochemistry, and biochemistry of a second muscle biopsy suggested mitochondrial myopathy accompanying the denervating features. Immunohistochemistry using anti-DNA antibodies revealed only nuclear staining in skeletal muscle, suggesting mitochondrial DNA depletion. In patients with clinical features of spinal muscular atrophy and no deletions in the survival motor neuron gene, mitochondrial DNA depletion should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Pons
- Department of Pediatrics, Colleen Giblin Laboratories for Pediatric Neurology Research, New York, USA
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26
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Andreetta F, Bernasconi P, Torchiana E, Baggi F, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. T-cell infiltration in polymyositis is characterized by coexpression of cytotoxic and T-cell-activating cytokine transcripts. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1995; 756:418-20. [PMID: 7645862 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1995.tb44550.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- F Andreetta
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, National Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy
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27
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Bernasconi P, Torchiana E, Baggi F, Andreetta F, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. T-cell receptor-CDR3 sequences of polymyositis muscle-infiltrating T-lymphocytes indicate a conventional antigen as target. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1995; 756:414-7. [PMID: 7645861 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1995.tb44549.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P Bernasconi
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, National Neurological Institute C. Besta, Milan, Italy
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28
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Andreetta F, Baggi F, Mantegazza R, Cornelio F. Study on the expression of the two isoforms of the AChR α subunit in the muscle of myasthenia gravis patients. Neuromuscul Disord 1994. [DOI: 10.1016/0960-8966(94)90183-x] [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: 11/16/2022]
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29
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Zuffi M, Antozzi C, Confalonieri P, Bernasconi P, Baggi F, Andreetta F, Tagger A, Ribero ML, Fasola M, Azzario F, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. Prevalence and genotypes of hepatitis C virus in an Italian myastenia gravis population. Neuromuscul Disord 1994. [DOI: 10.1016/0960-8966(94)90112-0] [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: 10/27/2022]
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30
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Baggi F, Ciusani E, Andreetta F, Rossi S, Antozzi C, Confalonieri P, Zuffi M, Nespolo A, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. HLA-DRB1 allele association in an Italian myasthenia gravis population. Neuromuscul Disord 1994. [DOI: 10.1016/0960-8966(94)90098-1] [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: 11/24/2022]
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31
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Mantegazza R, Andreetta F, Bernasconi P, Baggi F, Oksenberg JR, Simoncini O, Mora M, Cornelio F, Steinman L. Analysis of T cell receptor repertoire of muscle-infiltrating T lymphocytes in polymyositis. Restricted V alpha/beta rearrangements may indicate antigen-driven selection. J Clin Invest 1993; 91:2880-6. [PMID: 8514895 PMCID: PMC443358 DOI: 10.1172/jci116533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [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: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymyositis is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by mononuclear cell infiltration of muscle tissue. Myocytotoxic T lymphocytes have been recognized in the infiltrates, but the muscle antigen, target of the immune attack, has not been identified. Molecular characterization of the variable regions of T cell receptors (TCRs) on the infiltrating lymphocytes can be expected to provide insights into the pathogenic process. The V alpha/beta TCR repertoire was investigated by RNA-PCR in muscle biopsies from 15 polymyositis patients and 16 controls (6 Duchenne muscular dystrophy and 10 with no inflammatory or dystrophic myopathy). A variety of rearranged variable TCR genes was found in polymyositis, V alpha 1, V alpha 5, V beta 1, and V beta 15 being the most common (present in 60-100% of patients). In Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients TCR V alpha or beta rearrangements were found although no restriction was observed; no rearrangements were found in muscles from the other controls. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of the J beta 2.1 region in 90% of the V beta 15 clones studied, no random N additions in the diversity region, and a common motif within the CDR3 region. These results suggest that selection of muscle-infiltrating T lymphocytes is antigen driven in polymyositis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Mantegazza
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, C. Besta National Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
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Tritschler HJ, Andreetta F, Moraes CT, Bonilla E, Arnaudo E, Danon MJ, Glass S, Zelaya BM, Vamos E, Telerman-Toppet N. Mitochondrial myopathy of childhood associated with depletion of mitochondrial DNA. Neurology 1992; 42:209-17. [PMID: 1734306 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.42.1.209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We have studied five children with mitochondrial myopathy manifesting within or soon after the first year of life. Muscle biopsies showed ragged-red fibers and decreased respiratory chain activity. All five patients had a severe decrease (2 to 34% of normal) in the amount of muscle mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The depletion of mtDNA correlated with absence of mtDNA-encoded translation products and with loss of cytochrome c oxidase enzyme activity in individual muscle fibers. This mitochondrial myopathy of childhood illustrates one phenotypic expression of a novel pathogenetic mechanism in mitochondrial diseases, the specific depletion of mtDNA in affected tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Tritschler
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
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Andreetta F, Simoncini O, Baggi F, Crosti F, Cornelio F, Mantegazza R. Human AChR-α subunit production in the baculovirus expression system. J Autoimmun 1991. [DOI: 10.1016/0896-8411(91)90064-j] [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: 10/26/2022]
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Andreetta F, Tritschler HJ, Schon EA, DiMauro S, Bonilla E. Localization of mitochondrial DNA in normal and pathological muscle using immunological probes: a new approach to the study of mitochondrial myopathies. J Neurol Sci 1991; 105:88-92. [PMID: 1665507 DOI: 10.1016/0022-510x(91)90123-o] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We have studied the usefulness of anti-DNA antibodies to detect ragged-red fibers (RRF) in muscle biopsies from patients with mitochondrial myopathies. We have found that these antibodies are excellent probes for the localization of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in RRF, and for the diagnosis of depletion of mtDNA in a newly described group of fatal myopathies of infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Andreetta
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
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Moraes CT, Shanske S, Tritschler HJ, Aprille JR, Andreetta F, Bonilla E, Schon EA, DiMauro S. mtDNA depletion with variable tissue expression: a novel genetic abnormality in mitochondrial diseases. Am J Hum Genet 1991; 48:492-501. [PMID: 1998336 PMCID: PMC1682992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied two related infants with a fatal mitochondrial disease, affecting muscle in one and liver in the other. Quantitative analysis revealed a severe depletion of mtDNA in affected tissues. This genetic abnormality was also observed in muscle of an unrelated infant with myopathy and in muscle and kidney of a fourth child with myopathy and nephropathy. Biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization showed that the depletion of mtDNA in muscle fibers was correlated with a respiratory chain defect and with lack of mitochondrially translated proteins. Although the differential tissue involvement in these infants suggests mtDNA heteroplasmy, sequence analysis of mtDNA replication origins did not reveal any abnormality that could account for the low copy number.
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Tritschler HJ, Bonilla E, Lombes A, Andreetta F, Servidei S, Schneyder B, Miranda AF, Schon EA, Kadenbach B, DiMauro S. Differential diagnosis of fatal and benign cytochrome c oxidase-deficient myopathies of infancy: an immunohistochemical approach. Neurology 1991; 41:300-5. [PMID: 1846953 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.41.2_part_1.300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
To differentiate the 2 major myopathies of infancy due to cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency, we studied muscle biopsies from 4 patients with fatal myopathy and 4 with benign myopathy using biochemical, histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques. Immunohistochemistry with antibodies directed against individual subunits of COX differentiated the 2 phenotypes: the fatal infantile myopathy was characterized by absence of the nuclear DNA (nDNA)-encoded subunit VIIa,b of COX, while in the benign myopathy both VIIa,b and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded subunit II were absent. Early differential diagnosis between fatal and benign COX-deficient myopathies is of critical importance for prognosis and management of these infants, because the benign form is initially life-threatening but ultimately reversible.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Tritschler
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
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Cighetti G, Del Puppo M, Andreetta F, Kienle MG. Xanthine oxidase activity: simultaneous HPLC evaluation of the "D" and "O" forms. Biochem Int 1989; 18:1211-20. [PMID: 2751684] [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: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
A new HPLC method was set up for the simultaneous evaluation of the amount of uric acid and NADH produced by incubation of tissue fractions containing xanthine oxidase, from which the activity of both type "O" (oxidase) and type "D" (dehydrogenase) xanthine oxidase can be calculated. After incubation of the enzyme fraction and ethanol extraction, HPLC analysis is directly carried out. Sensitivity of the method is high enough for the evaluation of xanthine oxidase activity at the lowest reported tissue values. The reliability of the method was tested measuring the enzyme activity in rat heart and kidney extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Cighetti
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Milano
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Lora-Lamia C, Castellani-Ceresa L, Andreetta F, Cotelli F, Brivio M. Localization and distribution of actin in mammalian sperm heads. J Ultrastruct Mol Struct Res 1986; 96:12-21. [PMID: 3316422 DOI: 10.1016/0889-1605(86)90003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Actin was identified in boar and mole spermatozoa by utilizing indirect immunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy, and SDS-PAGE, followed by blot and screening with an anti-actin monoclonal antibody. Actin was detected in two places in the sperm head: the equatorial segment of the acrosome and the postacrosomal region. The protein was present in a nonfilamentous form and was localized under the plasma membrane. A small amount of actin was also detected in the sperm tail. The function of actin in the sperm head is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lora-Lamia
- Department of Biology, University of Milan, Italy
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