1
|
Morelli M, Lessi F, Franceschi S, Ferri G, Giacomarra M, Menicagli M, Gambacciani C, Pieri F, Pasqualetti F, Montemurro N, Aretini P, Santonocito OS, Di Stefano AL, Mazzanti CM. Exploring Regorafenib Responsiveness and Uncovering Molecular Mechanisms in Recurrent Glioblastoma Tumors through Longitudinal In Vitro Sampling. Cells 2024; 13:487. [PMID: 38534332 PMCID: PMC10968984 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor, shows limited response to standard therapies like temozolomide (TMZ). Recent findings from the REGOMA trial underscore a significant survival improvement offered by Regorafenib (REGO) in recurrent glioblastoma. Our study aimed to propose a 3D ex vivo drug response precision medicine approach to investigate recurrent glioblastoma sensitivity to REGO and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in tumor resistance or responsiveness to treatment. Three-dimensional glioblastoma organoids (GB-EXPs) obtained from 18 patients' resected recurrent glioblastoma tumors were treated with TMZ and REGO. Drug responses were evaluated using NAD(P)H FLIM, stratifying tumors as responders (Resp) or non-responders (NRs). Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 16 tissue samples, and whole-transcriptome analysis on 13 GB-EXPs treated and untreated. We found 35% (n = 9) and 77% (n = 20) of tumors responded to TMZ and REGO, respectively, with no instances of TMZ-Resp being REGO-NRs. Exome analysis revealed a unique mutational profile in REGO-Resp tumors compared to NR tumors. Transcriptome analysis identified distinct expression patterns in Resp and NR tumors, impacting Rho GTPase and NOTCH signaling, known to be involved in drug response. In conclusion, recurrent glioblastoma tumors were more responsive to REGO compared to TMZ treatment. Importantly, our approach enables a comprehensive longitudinal exploration of the molecular changes induced by treatment, unveiling promising biomarkers indicative of drug response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariangela Morelli
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (S.F.); (M.G.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Francesca Lessi
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (S.F.); (M.G.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Sara Franceschi
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (S.F.); (M.G.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (S.F.); (M.G.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Manuel Giacomarra
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (S.F.); (M.G.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Michele Menicagli
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (S.F.); (M.G.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Carlo Gambacciani
- Neurosurgical Department of Spedali Riuniti di Livorno, 57124 Livorno, Italy (O.S.S.)
| | - Francesco Pieri
- Neurosurgical Department of Spedali Riuniti di Livorno, 57124 Livorno, Italy (O.S.S.)
| | - Francesco Pasqualetti
- Radiotherapy Department, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Montemurro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Paolo Aretini
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (S.F.); (M.G.); (C.M.M.)
| | | | - Anna Luisa Di Stefano
- Neurosurgical Department of Spedali Riuniti di Livorno, 57124 Livorno, Italy (O.S.S.)
| | - Chiara Maria Mazzanti
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (S.F.); (M.G.); (C.M.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Triozzi PM, Brunello L, Novi G, Ferri G, Cardarelli F, Loreti E, Perales M, Perata P. Spatiotemporal oxygen dynamics in young leaves reveal cyclic hypoxia in plants. Mol Plant 2024; 17:377-394. [PMID: 38243593 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.01.006] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Oxygen is essential for plant growth and development. Hypoxia occurs in plants due to limited oxygen availability following adverse environmental conditions as well in hypoxic niches in otherwise normoxic environments. However, the existence and functional integration of spatiotemporal oxygen dynamics with plant development remains unknown. In animal systems dynamic fluctuations in oxygen availability are known as cyclic hypoxia. In this study, we demonstrate that cyclic fluctuations in internal oxygen levels occur in young emerging leaves of Arabidopsis plants. Cyclic hypoxia in plants is based on a mechanism requiring the ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTORS type VII (ERFVII) that are central components of the oxygen-sensing machinery in plants. The ERFVII-dependent mechanism allows precise adjustment of leaf growth in response to carbon status and oxygen availability within plant cells. This study thus establishes a functional connection between internal spatiotemporal oxygen dynamics and developmental processes of plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo M Triozzi
- PlantLab, Center of Plant Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56010 Pisa, Italy; Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)-Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Luca Brunello
- PlantLab, Center of Plant Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56010 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giacomo Novi
- PlantLab, Center of Plant Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56010 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Cardarelli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza S. Silvestro, 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Loreti
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Mariano Perales
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)-Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo UPM, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pierdomenico Perata
- PlantLab, Center of Plant Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56010 Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Digiacomo L, Renzi S, Quagliarini E, Pozzi D, Amenitsch H, Ferri G, Pesce L, De Lorenzi V, Matteoli G, Cardarelli F, Caracciolo G. Investigating the mechanism of action of DNA-loaded PEGylated lipid nanoparticles. Nanomedicine 2023; 53:102697. [PMID: 37507061 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2023.102697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
PEGylated lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are commonly used to deliver bioactive molecules, but the role of PEGylation in DNA-loaded LNP interactions at the cellular and subcellular levels remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action of DNA-loaded PEGylated LNPs using gene reporter technologies, dynamic light scattering (DLS), synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCS). We found that PEG has no significant impact on the size or nanostructure of DNA LNPs but reduces their zeta potential and interaction with anionic cell membranes. PEGylation increases the structural stability of LNPs and results in lower DNA unloading. FCS experiments revealed that PEGylated LNPs are internalized intact inside cells and largely shuttled to lysosomes, while unPEGylated LNPs undergo massive destabilization on the plasma membrane. These findings can inform the design, optimization, and validation of DNA-loaded LNPs for gene delivery and vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Digiacomo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Renzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Quagliarini
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Pesce
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Matteoli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giulio Caracciolo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Quagliarini E, Wang J, Renzi S, Cui L, Digiacomo L, Ferri G, Pesce L, De Lorenzi V, Matteoli G, Amenitsch H, Masuelli L, Bei R, Pozzi D, Amici A, Cardarelli F, Marchini C, Caracciolo G. Mechanistic Insights into the Superior DNA Delivery Efficiency of Multicomponent Lipid Nanoparticles: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2022; 14:56666-56677. [PMID: 36524967 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c20019] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently having an increasing impact on nanomedicines as delivery agents, among others, of RNA molecules (e.g., short interfering RNA for the treatment of hereditary diseases or messenger RNA for the development of COVID-19 vaccines). Despite this, the delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) by LNPs in preclinical studies is still unsatisfactory, mainly due to the lack of systematic structural and functional studies on DNA-loaded LNPs. To tackle this issue, we developed, characterized, and tested a library of 16 multicomponent DNA-loaded LNPs which were prepared by microfluidics and differed in lipid composition, surface functionalization, and manufacturing factors. 8 out of 16 formulations exhibited proper size and zeta potential and passed to the validation step, that is, the simultaneous quantification of transfection efficiency and cell viability in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). The most efficient formulation (LNP15) was then successfully validated both in vitro, in an immortalized adult keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and in an epidermoid cervical cancer cell line (CaSki), and in vivo as a nanocarrier to deliver a cancer vaccine against the benchmark target tyrosine-kinase receptor HER2 in C57BL/6 mice. Finally, by a combination of confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering, we were able to show that the superior efficiency of LNP15 can be linked to its disordered nanostructure consisting of small-size unoriented layers of pDNA sandwiched between closely apposed lipid membranes that undergo massive destabilization upon interaction with cellular lipids. Our results provide new insights into the structure-activity relationship of pDNA-loaded LNPs and pave the way to the clinical translation of this gene delivery technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erica Quagliarini
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Junbiao Wang
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032Camerino, Italy
| | - Serena Renzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Lishan Cui
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032Camerino, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Pesce
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina De Lorenzi
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Matteoli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, 8010Graz, Austria
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Augusto Amici
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032Camerino, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127Pisa, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032Camerino, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Azzarello F, Pesce L, De Lorenzi V, Ferri G, Tesi M, Del Guerra S, Marchetti P, Cardarelli F. Single-cell imaging of α and β cell metabolic response to glucose in living human Langerhans islets. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1232. [PMID: 36371562 PMCID: PMC9653440 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04215-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we use a combination of two-photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) of NAD(P)H free/bound ratio in living HIs with post-fixation, immunofluorescence-based, cell-type identification. FLIM allowed to measure variations in the NAD(P)H free/bound ratio induced by glucose; immunofluorescence data allowed to identify single α and β cells; finally, matching of the two datasets allowed to assign metabolic shifts to cell identity. 312 α and 654 β cells from a cohort of 4 healthy donors, 15 total islets, were measured. Both α and β cells display a wide spectrum of responses, towards either an increase or a decrease in NAD(P)H free/bound ratio. Yet, if single-cell data are averaged according to the respective donor and correlated to donor insulin secretion power, a non-random distribution of metabolic shifts emerges: robust average responses of both α and β cells towards an increase of enzyme-bound NAD(P)H belong to the donor with the lowest insulin-secretion power; by contrast, discordant responses, with α cells shifting towards an increase of free NAD(P)H and β cells towards an increase of enzyme-bound NAD(P)H, correspond to the donor with the highest insulin-secretion power. Overall, data reveal neat anti-correlation of tissue metabolic responses with respect to tissue insulin secretion power. A combination of live imaging and immunofluorescence on donor islet cells uncover an anti-correlation of enzyme-bound NAD(P)H and insulin secretion power.
Collapse
|
6
|
Russo L, Giacomelli C, Fortino M, Marzo T, Ferri G, Calvello M, Viegi A, Magrì A, Pratesi A, Pietropaolo A, Cardarelli F, Martini C, Rizzarelli E, Marchetti L, La Mendola D, Trincavelli ML. Neurotrophic Activity and Its Modulation by Zinc Ion of a Dimeric Peptide Mimicking the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor N-Terminal Region. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3453-3463. [PMID: 36346920 PMCID: PMC9732821 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00463] [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] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin (NT) essential for neuronal development and synaptic plasticity. Dysregulation of BDNF signaling is implicated in different neurological disorders. The direct NT administration as therapeutics has revealed to be challenging. This has prompted the design of peptides mimicking different regions of the BDNF structure. Although loops 2 and 4 have been thoroughly investigated, less is known regarding the BDNF N-terminal region, which is involved in the selective recognition of the TrkB receptor. Herein, a dimeric form of the linear peptide encompassing the 1-12 residues of the BDNF N-terminal (d-bdnf) was synthesized. It demonstrated to act as an agonist promoting specific phosphorylation of TrkB and downstream ERK and AKT effectors. The ability to promote TrkB dimerization was investigated by advanced fluorescence microscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, finding activation modes shared with BDNF. Furthermore, d-bdnf was able to sustain neurite outgrowth and increase the expression of differentiation (NEFM, LAMC1) and polarization markers (MAP2, MAPT) demonstrating its neurotrophic activity. As TrkB activity is affected by zinc ions in the synaptic cleft, we first verified the ability of d-bdnf to coordinate zinc and then the effect of such complexation on its activity. The d-bdnf neurotrophic activity was reduced by zinc complexation, demonstrating the role of the latter in tuning the activity of the new peptido-mimetic. Taken together our data uncover the neurotrophic properties of a novel BDNF mimetic peptide and pave the way for future studies to understand the pharmacological basis of d-bdnf action and develop novel BDNF-based therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lara Russo
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | | | | | - Tiziano Marzo
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio
NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonio Magrì
- Istituto
di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Catania 95126, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università
di Pisa, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | | | | | - Claudia Martini
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Enrico Rizzarelli
- Istituto
di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Catania 95126, Italy,Università
degli Studi di Catania, Catania 95124, Italy
| | - Laura Marchetti
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy,
| | - Diego La Mendola
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Pisa 56127, Italy,
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ferri G, Isopi E, Pecce R, Mattoscio D, Lamolinara A, Iezzi M, Mall M, Romano M, Recchiuti A. 417 Resolvin D1 reduces cystic fibrosis lung disease and inflammation associated with mucus obstruction. J Cyst Fibros 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s1569-1993(22)01107-9] [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: 11/05/2022]
|
8
|
Morelli M, Lessi F, Di Stefano A, Santonocito O, Gambacciani C, Pieri F, Aquila F, Ferri G, Snuderl M, Mulholland P, Ottaviani D, Aretini P, Pasqualetti F, Franceschi S, Mazzanti C. P15.01.A Metabolic-imaging of human glioblastoma explants: a new precision-medicine model to predict treatment response early. Neuro Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac174.291] [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] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Glioblastoma (GB) is the most severe form of brain cancer, with a 12-15 month median survival. Although cell therapies for GB are on the near horizon, surgical resection, temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) remain the primary therapeutic options for GB, and no new small-molecule therapies have been introduced in recent years. This therapeutic standstill is partially because preclinical models of GB do not reflect the complexities of GB cell biology. Furthermore, the aggressive progression of GB makes it critical to identify patient-tailored therapeutic strategies early.
Material and Methods
We developed a novel in-vitro 3D glioblastoma explants (GB-EXPs) model derived from patients’ resected tumors maintaining cytoarchitecture seen in the tumors. We then performed metabolic-imaging by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) on live GB-EXPs to predict drug response, using TMZ as test drug.
Results
The entire process was successfully completed within 1 week since surgery. A unique drug response sample stratification emerged that was well reflected at the molecular level, highlighting new targets associated with TMZ treatment and identifying a molecular signature associated with survival.
Conclusion
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that FLIM-based metabolic imaging is used on live glioblastoma explants to test anti-neoplastic drugs. FLIM-based readouts of drug response in GB explants could accelerate precision treatment of patients with GB and the identification of new anti-GB drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Morelli
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza , S. Giuliano Terme , Italy
| | - F Lessi
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza , S. Giuliano Terme , Italy
| | | | | | | | - F Pieri
- Spedali Riuniti Livorno , Livorno , Italy
| | - F Aquila
- Spedali Riuniti Livorno , Livorno , Italy
| | - G Ferri
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza , S. Giuliano Terme , Italy
| | - M Snuderl
- LAngone Medical Center NYU , New York, NY , United States
| | | | | | - P Aretini
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza , S. Giuliano Terme , Italy
| | - F Pasqualetti
- Department of Oncology University of Oxford , Oxford , United Kingdom
| | - S Franceschi
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza , S. Giuliano Terme , Italy
| | - C Mazzanti
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza , S. Giuliano Terme , Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Morelli M, Lessi F, Barachini S, Liotti R, Montemurro N, Perrini P, Santonocito OS, Gambacciani C, Snuderl M, Pieri F, Aquila F, Farnesi A, Naccarato AG, Viacava P, Cardarelli F, Ferri G, Mulholland P, Ottaviani D, Paiar F, Liberti G, Pasqualetti F, Menicagli M, Aretini P, Signore G, Franceschi S, Mazzanti CM. Metabolic-imaging of human glioblastoma live tumors: A new precision-medicine approach to predict tumor treatment response early. Front Oncol 2022; 12:969812. [PMID: 36132155 PMCID: PMC9483168 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.969812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GB) is the most severe form of brain cancer, with a 12-15 month median survival. Surgical resection, temozolomide (TMZ) treatment, and radiotherapy remain the primary therapeutic options for GB, and no new therapies have been introduced in recent years. This therapeutic standstill is primarily due to preclinical approaches that do not fully respect the complexity of GB cell biology and fail to test efficiently anti-cancer treatments. Therefore, better treatment screening approaches are needed. In this study, we have developed a novel functional precision medicine approach to test the response to anticancer treatments in organoids derived from the resected tumors of glioblastoma patients. Methods GB organoids were grown for a short period of time to prevent any genetic and morphological evolution and divergence from the tumor of origin. We chose metabolic imaging by NAD(P)H fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to predict early and non-invasively ex-vivo anti-cancer treatment responses of GB organoids. TMZ was used as the benchmark drug to validate the approach. Whole-transcriptome and whole-exome analyses were performed to characterize tumor cases stratification. Results Our functional precision medicine approach was completed within one week after surgery and two groups of TMZ Responder and Non-Responder tumors were identified. FLIM-based metabolic tumor stratification was well reflected at the molecular level, confirming the validity of our approach, highlighting also new target genes associated with TMZ treatment and identifying a new 17-gene molecular signature associated with survival. The number of MGMT gene promoter methylated tumors was higher in the responsive group, as expected, however, some non-methylated tumor cases turned out to be nevertheless responsive to TMZ, suggesting that our procedure could be synergistic with the classical MGMT methylation biomarker. Conclusions For the first time, FLIM-based metabolic imaging was used on live glioblastoma organoids. Unlike other approaches, ex-vivo patient-tailored drug response is performed at an early stage of tumor culturing with no animal involvement and with minimal tampering with the original tumor cytoarchitecture. This functional precision medicine approach can be exploited in a range of clinical and laboratory settings to improve the clinical management of GB patients and implemented on other cancers as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariangela Morelli
- Section of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
- *Correspondence: Chiara Maria Mazzanti, ; Mariangela Morelli,
| | - Francesca Lessi
- Section of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
| | - Serena Barachini
- Section of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Romano Liotti
- Section of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Montemurro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Perrini
- Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Gambacciani
- Neurosurgical Department of Spedali Riuniti di Livorno, Livorno, Italy
| | - Matija Snuderl
- Department of Pathology, New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Francesco Pieri
- Neurosurgical Department of Spedali Riuniti di Livorno, Livorno, Italy
| | - Filippo Aquila
- Neurosurgical Department of Spedali Riuniti di Livorno, Livorno, Italy
| | - Azzurra Farnesi
- Neurosurgical Department of Spedali Riuniti di Livorno, Livorno, Italy
| | - Antonio Giuseppe Naccarato
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Viacava
- Anatomical Pathology Department, Azienda Ospedaliera Toscana Nord-ovest, Livorno, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- National Enterprise for nanoScience and nanoTechnology (NEST), Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- National Enterprise for nanoScience and nanoTechnology (NEST), Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy
- Section of Nanomedicine, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paul Mulholland
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - Diego Ottaviani
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fabiola Paiar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gaetano Liberti
- Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Pasqualetti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Menicagli
- Section of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Aretini
- Section of Bioinformatics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Signore
- Section of Nanomedicine, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Franceschi
- Section of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Maria Mazzanti
- Section of Genomics and Transcriptomics, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
- *Correspondence: Chiara Maria Mazzanti, ; Mariangela Morelli,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cui L, Renzi S, Quagliarini E, Digiacomo L, Amenitsch H, Masuelli L, Bei R, Ferri G, Cardarelli F, Wang J, Amici A, Pozzi D, Marchini C, Caracciolo G. Efficient Delivery of DNA Using Lipid Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081698. [PMID: 36015328 PMCID: PMC9416266 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccination has been extensively studied as a promising strategy for tumor treatment. Despite the efforts, the therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccines has been limited by their intrinsic poor cellular internalization. Electroporation, which is based on the application of a controlled electric field to enhance DNA penetration into cells, has been the method of choice to produce acceptable levels of gene transfer in vivo. However, this method may cause cell damage or rupture, non-specific targeting, and even degradation of pDNA. Skin irritation, muscle contractions, pain, alterations in skin structure, and irreversible cell damage have been frequently reported. To overcome these limitations, in this work, we use a microfluidic platform to generate DNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) which are then characterized by a combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS), synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Despite the clinical successes obtained by LNPs for mRNA and siRNA delivery, little is known about LNPs encapsulating bulkier DNA molecules, the clinical application of which remains challenging. For in vitro screening, LNPs were administered to human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines and ranked for their transfection efficiency (TE) and cytotoxicity. The LNP formulation exhibiting the highest TE and the lowest cytotoxicity was then tested for the delivery of the DNA vaccine pVAX-hECTM targeting the human neoantigen HER2, an oncoprotein overexpressed in several cancer types. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), immunofluorescence assays and fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCS), we proved that pVAX-hECTM-loaded LNPs produce massive expression of the HER2 antigen on the cell membrane of HEK-293 cells. Our results provide new insights into the structure–activity relationship of DNA-loaded LNPs and pave the way for the access of this gene delivery technology to preclinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lishan Cui
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Serena Renzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Erica Quagliarini
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- National Enterprise for NanoScience and NanoTechnology (NEST), Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- National Enterprise for NanoScience and NanoTechnology (NEST), Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Junbiao Wang
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Augusto Amici
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (G.C.)
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- NanoDelivery Lab, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (G.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Giulimondi F, Digiacomo L, Vulpis E, Loconte L, Ferri G, Cardarelli F, Pozzi D, Zingoni A, Caracciolo G. In vitro and ex vivo nano-enabled immunomodulation by the protein corona. Nanoscale 2022; 14:10531-10539. [PMID: 35833584 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr01878k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
New technologies with the capacity to tune immune system activity are highly desired in clinical practice and disease management. Here we demonstrate that nanoparticles with a protein corona enriched with gelsolin (GSN), an abundant plasma protein that acts as a modulator of immune responses, are avidly captured by human monocytic THP-1 cells in vitro and by leukocyte subpopulations derived from healthy donors ex vivo. In human monocytes, GSN modulates the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in an inverse dose-dependent manner. Overall, our results suggest that artificial coronas can be exploited to finely tune the immune response, opening new approaches for the prevention and treatment of diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Giulimondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Vulpis
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Luisa Loconte
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Zingoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tentori P, Signore G, Camposeo A, Carretta A, Ferri G, Pingue P, Luin S, Pozzi D, Gratton E, Beltram F, Caracciolo G, Cardarelli F. Fluorescence lifetime microscopy unveils the supramolecular organization of liposomal Doxorubicin. Nanoscale 2022; 14:8901-8905. [PMID: 35719059 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr00311b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The supramolecular organization of Doxorubicin (DOX) within the standard Doxoves® liposomal formulation (DOX®) is investigated using visible light and phasor approach to fluorescence lifetime imaging (phasor-FLIM). First, the phasor-FLIM signature of DOX® is resolved into the contribution of three co-existing fluorescent species, each with its characteristic mono-exponential lifetime, namely: crystallized DOX (DOXc, 0.2 ns), free DOX (DOXf, 1.0 ns), and DOX bound to the liposomal membrane (DOXb, 4.5 ns). Then, the exact molar fractions of the three species are determined by combining phasor-FLIM with quantitative absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy on DOXc, DOXf, and DOXb pure standards. The final picture on DOX® comprises most of the drug in the crystallized form (∼98%), with the remaining fractions divided between free (∼1.4%) and membrane-bound drug (∼0.7%). Finally, phasor-FLIM in the presence of a DOX dynamic quencher allows us to suggest that DOXf is both encapsulated and non-encapsulated, and that DOXb is present on both liposome-membrane leaflets. We argue that the present experimental protocol can be applied to the investigation of the supramolecular organization of encapsulated luminescent drugs/molecules all the way from the production phase to their state within living matter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Tentori
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy. E-mail:.
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Camposeo
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza S. Silvestro, 12, I-56127, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy. E-mail:.
| | - Pasqualantonio Pingue
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy. E-mail:.
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza S. Silvestro, 12, I-56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Luin
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy. E-mail:.
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Gratton
- Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Fabio Beltram
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy. E-mail:.
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy. E-mail:.
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza S. Silvestro, 12, I-56127, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ferri G, Corradini B, Gianfreda D, Ferrari F, Silingardi E. Two caseworks for one gene: successful species identification from compromised bone materials with the 12S rRNA. Int J Legal Med 2022; 136:1255-1260. [PMID: 35333964 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-022-02817-x] [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: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The availability of a reliable molecular assay in species recognition in forensic cases is of paramount importance when visual inspection or morphological methods are not exhaustive, especially from challenging samples. Here, two different caseworks involving bone samples founded during medico-legal outdoor investigations are presented. In order to exclude the human nature of the specimens and to determine the exact species they belong to, we proceeded with the molecular approach trying to generate sequences from the classical mtDNA markers cyt b and COI. However, they both gave critical results. For this reason, a short amplicon of ~ 150 bp of the 12S rRNA gene was used as an alternative.This short fragment was sufficient to identify the biological origin of the bone specimens with a high degree of certainty leading to the exclusion of their human nature. This work highlights the utility of the 12S rRNA and underlines the importance of deepen the choice of alternative shorter markers with respect to the classical ones, in order to achieve species identification even from challenging and degraded material in forensic criminal and wildlife caseworks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Ferri
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Beatrice Corradini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Denise Gianfreda
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Enrico Silingardi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Leoni A, Esposito P, Stornelli V, Saggio G, Ferri G. On the use of field programmable gate arrays in light detection and ranging systems. Rev Sci Instrum 2021; 92:121501. [PMID: 34972455 DOI: 10.1063/5.0049880] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This work aims to provide details on the latest technological developments regarding LiDAR (Light Imaging Detection And Ranging) systems, with particular reference to the techniques, architectures, and methodologies partially or entirely implemented by means of the FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) environment. Currently, LiDAR technology is considered of great interest as it is widely employed in a variety of application fields, such as automotive, seismology, archaeology, metrology, and military. For this reason, the required performances are gradually increasing, which leads to complex and stringent solutions. The growth in LiDAR systems' complexity suggests the use of high-end general-purpose computing units such as central processing units to perform very complex tasks and FPGAs to perform multiple tasks in real-time through the implementation of dedicated computational blocks. The latter, in recent architectures, are therefore used for the execution of specific tasks that require high computational speed and system flexibility. This paper reports some case studies recently applied in the LiDAR field, with the aim of illustrating the role of FPGA technology and its benefits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Leoni
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, and Economics, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - P Esposito
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, and Economics, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - V Stornelli
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, and Economics, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - G Saggio
- Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Roma, Italy
| | - G Ferri
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering, and Economics, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ferri G, Pesce L, Tesi M, Marchetti P, Cardarelli F. β-Cell Pathophysiology: A Review of Advanced Optical Microscopy Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312820. [PMID: 34884624 PMCID: PMC8657725 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
β-cells convert glucose (input) resulting in the controlled release of insulin (output), which in turn has the role to maintain glucose homeostasis. β-cell function is regulated by a complex interplay between the metabolic processing of the input, its transformation into second-messenger signals, and final mobilization of insulin-containing granules towards secretion of the output. Failure at any level in this process marks β-cell dysfunction in diabetes, thus making β-cells obvious potential targets for therapeutic purposes. Addressing quantitatively β-cell (dys)function at the molecular level in living samples requires probing simultaneously the spatial and temporal dimensions at the proper resolution. To this aim, an increasing amount of research efforts are exploiting the potentiality of biophysical techniques. In particular, using excitation light in the visible/infrared range, a number of optical-microscopy-based approaches have been tailored to the study of β-cell-(dys)function at the molecular level, either in label-free mode (i.e., exploiting intrinsic autofluorescence of cells) or by the use of organic/genetically-encoded fluorescent probes. Here, relevant examples from the literature are reviewed and discussed. Based on this, new potential lines of development in the field are drawn.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Ferri
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (L.P.)
| | - Luca Pesce
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (L.P.)
| | - Marta Tesi
- Islet Cell Laboratory, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (P.M.)
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Islet Cell Laboratory, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (P.M.)
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (L.P.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Betti F, Ladera-Carmona MJ, Weits DA, Ferri G, Iacopino S, Novi G, Svezia B, Kunkowska AB, Santaniello A, Piaggesi A, Loreti E, Perata P. Exogenous miRNAs induce post-transcriptional gene silencing in plants. Nat Plants 2021; 7:1379-1388. [PMID: 34650259 PMCID: PMC8516643 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-01005-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [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: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Plants seem to take up exogenous RNA that was artificially designed to target specific genes, followed by activation of the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery. It is, however, not known whether plants use RNAs themselves as signalling molecules in plant-to-plant communication, other than evidence that an exchange of small RNAs occurs between parasitic plants and their hosts. Exogenous RNAs from the environment, if taken up by some living organisms, can indeed induce RNAi. This phenomenon has been observed in nematodes and insects, and host Arabidopsis cells secrete exosome-like extracellular vesicles to deliver plant small RNAs into Botrytis cinerea. Here we show that micro-RNAs (miRNAs) produced by plants act as signalling molecules affecting gene expression in other, nearby plants. Exogenous miRNAs, such as miR156 and miR399, trigger RNAi via a mechanism requiring both AGO1 and RDR6. This emphasizes that the production of secondary small interfering RNAs is required. This evidence highlights the existence of a mechanism in which miRNAs represent signalling molecules that enable communication between plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Betti
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Daan A Weits
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Giacomo Novi
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | - Benedetta Svezia
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alicja B Kunkowska
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Elena Loreti
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Pierdomenico Perata
- PlantLab, Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ferri G, Tesi M, Pesce L, Bugliani M, Grano F, Occhipinti M, Suleiman M, De Luca C, Marselli L, Marchetti P, Cardarelli F. Spatiotemporal Correlation Spectroscopy Reveals a Protective Effect of Peptide-Based GLP-1 Receptor Agonism against Lipotoxicity on Insulin Granule Dynamics in Primary Human β-Cells. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091403. [PMID: 34575477 PMCID: PMC8464798 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are being used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and may have beneficial effects on the pancreatic β-cells. Here, we evaluated the effects of GLP-1R agonism on insulin secretory granule (ISG) dynamics in primary β-cells isolated from human islets exposed to palmitate-induced lipotoxic stress. Islets cells were exposed for 48 h to 0.5 mM palmitate (hereafter, ‘Palm’) with or without the addition of a GLP-1 agonist, namely 10 nM exendin-4 (hereafter, ‘Ex-4’). Dissociated cells were first transfected with syncollin-EGFP in order to fluorescently mark the ISGs. Then, by applying a recently established spatiotemporal correlation spectroscopy technique, the average structural (i.e., size) and dynamic (i.e., the local diffusivity and mode of motion) properties of ISGs are extracted from a calculated imaging-derived Mean Square Displacement (iMSD) trace. Besides defining the structural/dynamic fingerprint of ISGs in human cells for the first time, iMSD analysis allowed to probe fingerprint variations under selected conditions: namely, it was shown that Palm affects ISGs dynamics in response to acute glucose stimulation by abolishing the ISGs mobilization typically imparted by glucose and, concomitantly, by reducing the extent of ISGs active/directed intracellular movement. By contrast, co-treatment with Ex-4 normalizes ISG dynamics, i.e., re-establish ISG mobilization and ability to perform active transport in response to glucose stimulation. These observations were correlated with standard glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), which resulted in being reduced in cells exposed to Palm but preserved in cells concomitantly exposed to 10 nM Ex-4. Our data support the idea that GLP-1R agonism may exert its beneficial effect on human β-cells under metabolic stress by maintaining ISGs’ proper intracellular dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio NEST-Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (L.P.)
| | - Marta Tesi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (M.B.); (F.G.); (M.O.); (M.S.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Luca Pesce
- Laboratorio NEST-Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (L.P.)
| | - Marco Bugliani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (M.B.); (F.G.); (M.O.); (M.S.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Francesca Grano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (M.B.); (F.G.); (M.O.); (M.S.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Margherita Occhipinti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (M.B.); (F.G.); (M.O.); (M.S.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Mara Suleiman
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (M.B.); (F.G.); (M.O.); (M.S.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Carmela De Luca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (M.B.); (F.G.); (M.O.); (M.S.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Lorella Marselli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (M.B.); (F.G.); (M.O.); (M.S.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (M.T.); (M.B.); (F.G.); (M.O.); (M.S.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (P.M.)
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- Laboratorio NEST-Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (L.P.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Sarno S, Cilli E, Serventi P, De Fanti S, Corona A, Fontani F, Traversari M, Ferri G, Fariselli AC, Luiselli D. Insights into Punic genetic signatures in the southern necropolis of Tharros (Sardinia). Ann Hum Biol 2021; 48:247-259. [PMID: 34459340 DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2021.1937699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phoenician and Punic expansions have been protagonists of intense trade networks and settlements in the Mediterranean Sea. AIMS The maternal genetic variability of ancient Punic samples from the Sardinian necropolis of Tharros was analysed, with the aim to explore genetic interactions and signatures of past population events. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The mtDNA HVS-I and coding region SNPs were analysed in 14 Punic samples and 74 modern individuals from Cabras and Belvì (for which the HVS-II region was also analysed). The results were compared with 5,590 modern Euro-Mediterranean sequences and 127 ancient samples. RESULTS While contemporary groups fall within the genetic variability of other modern Sardinians, our Punic samples reveal proximity to present-day North-African and Iberian populations. Furthermore, Cabras and Belvì cluster mainly with pre-Phoenician groups, while samples from Tharros project with other Punic Sardinian individuals. CONCLUSION This study provides the first preliminary insights into the population dynamics of the Punic site of Tharros. While the number of currently available samples does not allow definitive investigation of the connection with indigenous Sardinian groups, our results seem to confirm internal migratory phenomena in the central-western Mediterranean and female participation in the Punic mobility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Sarno
- Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cilli
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Serventi
- Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Sara De Fanti
- Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre "Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate)", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Corona
- Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze del Sistema Nervoso e del Comportamento, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesco Fontani
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Mirko Traversari
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Department of Diagnostic and Clinical Medicine and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Donata Luiselli
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ferri G, Azzarello F, D'Autilia F, Cardarelli F. Probing Structural and Dynamic Properties of Trafficking Subcellular Nanostructures by Spatiotemporal Fluctuation Spectroscopy. J Vis Exp 2021. [PMID: 34459819 DOI: 10.3791/62790] [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] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Imaging-derived mean square displacement (iMSD) is used to address the structural and dynamic properties of subcellular nanostructures, such as vesicles involved in the endo/exocytotic trafficking of solutes and biomolecules. iMSD relies on standard time-lapse imaging, is compatible with any optical setup, and does not need to dwell on single objects to extract trajectories. From each iMSD trace, a unique triplet of average structural and dynamic parameters (i.e., size, local diffusivity, anomalous coefficient) is calculated and combined to build the "iMSD signature" of the nanostructure under study. The potency of this approach is proved here with the exemplary case of macropinosomes. These vesicles evolve in time, changing their average size, number, and dynamic properties passing from early to late stages of intracellular trafficking. As a control, insulin secretory granules (ISGs) are used as a reference for subcellular structures that live in a stationary state in which the average structural and dynamic properties of the whole population of objects are invariant in time. The iMSD analysis highlights these peculiar features quantitatively and paves the way to similar applications at the sub-cellular level, both in the physiological and pathological states.
Collapse
|
20
|
Ferri G, Fiume G, Pozzi D, Caracciolo G, Cardarelli F. Probing the role of nuclear-envelope invaginations in the nuclear-entry route of lipofected DNA by multi-channel 3D confocal microscopy. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 205:111881. [PMID: 34062346 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear breakdown was found to be the dominant route for DNA entry into the nucleus in actively dividing cells. The possibility that alternative routes contribute to DNA entry into the nucleus, however, cannot be ruled out. Here we address the process of lipofection by monitoring the localization of fluorescently-labelled DNA plasmids at the single-cell level by confocal imaging in living interphase cells. As test formulation we choose the cationic 3β-[N-(N,N-dimethylaminoethane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol (DC-Chol) and the zwitterionic helper lipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) with plasmidic DNA pre-condensed by means of protamine. By exploiting the spectral shift of the fluorescent dye FM4-64 (N-(3-triethylammoniumpropyl)-4-(p-diethylaminophenylhexatrienyl)-pyridinium 2Br) we monitor the position of the nuclear envelope (NE), while concomitantly imaging the whole nucleus (by Hoechst) and the DNA (by Cy3 fluorophore) in a multi-channel 3D confocal imaging experiment. Reported results show that DNA clusters are typically associated with the NE membrane in the form of tubular invaginations spanning the nuclear environment, but not completely trapped within the NE invaginations, i.e. the DNA may use these NE regions as entry-points towards the nucleus. These observations pave the way to investigating the molecular details of the postulated processes for a better exploitation of gene-delivery vectors, particularly for applications in non-dividing cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Giuseppe Fiume
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy; Ares Genetics GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy; NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza S. Silvestro, 12, I-56127, Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Sarno S, Boscolo Agostini R, De Fanti S, Ferri G, Ghirotto S, Modenini G, Pettener D, Boattini A. Y-chromosome variability and genetic history of Commons from Northern Italy. Am J Phys Anthropol 2021; 175:665-679. [PMID: 33969895 PMCID: PMC8360088 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Genetic drift and admixture are driving forces in human evolution, but their concerted impact to population evolution in historical times and at a micro‐geographic scale is poorly assessed. In this study we test a demographic model encompassing both admixture and drift to the case of social‐cultural isolates such as the so‐called “Commons.” Materials and methods Commons are peculiar institutions of medieval origins whose key feature is the tight relationship between population and territory, mediated by the collective property of shared resources. Here, we analyze the Y‐chromosomal genetic structure of four Commons (for a total of 366 samples) from the Central and Eastern Padana plain in Northern Italy. Results Our results reveal that all these groups exhibit patterns of significant diversity reduction, peripheral/outlier position within the Italian/European genetic space and high frequency of Common‐specific haplogroups. By explicitly testing different drift‐admixture models, we show that a drift‐only model is more probable for Central Padana Commons, while additional admixture (~20%) from external population around the same time of their foundation cannot be excluded for the Eastern ones. Discussion Building on these results, we suggest central Middle Ages as the most probable age of foundation for three of the considered Commons, the remaining one pointing to late antiquity. We conclude that an admixture‐drift model is particularly useful for interpreting the genetic structure and recent demographic history of small‐scale populations in which social‐cultural features play a significant role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Sarno
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Sara De Fanti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Department of Diagnostic and Clinical Medicine and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Silvia Ghirotto
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgia Modenini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Pettener
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessio Boattini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Urbani C, Mattiello A, Ferri G, Raggi F, Russo D, Marconcini G, Cappellani D, Manetti L, Marcocci C, Cardarelli F, Bogazzi F. PCB153 reduces apoptosis in primary cultures of murine pituitary cells through the activation of NF-κB mediated by PI3K/Akt. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 520:111090. [PMID: 33242503 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.111090] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent pollutants involved in human tumorigenesis. PCB153 is a ubiquitous non-dioxin-like PCB with proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects. To explore the impact of PCB153 in the survival of pituitary cells, we exposed murine pituitary primary cells to PCB153 10 μM for 24 h. Apoptosis was assessed by RT-qPCR, Western-blot, immunoprecipitation, caspase activity, and immunofluorescence. We found that PCB153 decreased pituitary apoptosis through both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. PCB153 reduced the level of the pro-apoptotic protein p38-MAPK. Otherwise, PCB153 activated PI3K/Akt and Erk1/2 pathways and enhanced the expression and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Cotreatments with specific inhibitors revealed that only PI3K/Akt changed the caspase-3 expression and NF-κB activation induced by PCB153. Also, PCB153 decreased the expression of the pro-apoptotic and pro-senescent cyclins p53 and p21. In summary, exposure to PCB153 leads to a downregulation of apoptosis in the pituitary driven by a PI3K/Akt-mediated activation of NF-κB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Urbani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mattiello
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Raggi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Dania Russo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Marconcini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Cappellani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Manetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Marcocci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- NEST Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fausto Bogazzi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi, 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Bivona U, Villalobos D, De Luca M, Zilli F, Ferri G, Lucatello S, Iannetti M, Cellupica L, Mungiello F, Lo Sterzo P, Marchegiani V, Puccitti A, Lombardi G, Moretti G, Donvito T, Penza F, Formisano R. Psychological status and role of caregivers in the neuro-rehabilitation of patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Brain Inj 2020; 34:1714-1722. [PMID: 33190555 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1812002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationships between (a) the psychological status of the caregiver, (b) the specific features of caregiving as perceived by the cognitive therapist in neuro-rehabilitation, (c) the caregivers' subjective approach to neuro-rehabilitation, and (d) the functional outcome of the patient. METHODS Twenty-four patients with severe acquired brain injury and their 24 caregivers participated in this observational study. Caregivers underwent a psychological assessment examining emotional distress, burden and family strain; their subjective approach to neuro-rehabilitation has been evaluated by two specific answers. The patients' cognitive therapists responded to an ad-hoc questionnaire, namely the "Caregiving Impact on Neuro-Rehabilitation Scale" (CINRS), evaluating the features (i.e., amount and quality) of caregiving. Finally, the functional outcome of the patient was assessed through standardized scales of disability and cognitive functioning. RESULTS The caregivers' psychological well-being was associated to the features of caregiving, to the subjective approach to neuro-rehabilitation, and to the functional recovery of their loved ones. A better caregivers' approach to neuro-rehabilitation was also associated to an overall positive impact of caregiving in neuro-rehabilitation and to a better functional outcome of the patients. CONCLUSIONS We posited a virtuous circle involving caregivers within the neuro-rehabilitation process, according to which the caregivers' psychological well-being could be strictly associated to a better level of caregiving and to a better functional outcome of the patients that, in turn, could positively influence the caregivers' psychological well-being. Although preliminary, these results suggest a specific psycho-educational intervention, aimed at improving the caregivers' psychological well-being and at facilitating their caring of the loved one.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- U Bivona
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - D Villalobos
- Laboratory of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience. Center for Biomedical Technology (Technical University of Madrid and Complutense University of Madrid), Madrid, Spain
| | - M De Luca
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - F Zilli
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - G Ferri
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - S Lucatello
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - M Iannetti
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - L Cellupica
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - F Mungiello
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - P Lo Sterzo
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - V Marchegiani
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - A Puccitti
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - G Lombardi
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - G Moretti
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - T Donvito
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - F Penza
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - R Formisano
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Ferri G, Tesi M, Massarelli F, Marselli L, Marchetti P, Cardarelli F. Metabolic response of Insulinoma 1E cells to glucose stimulation studied by fluorescence lifetime imaging. FASEB Bioadv 2020; 2:409-418. [PMID: 32676581 PMCID: PMC7354695 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2020-00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A cascade of highly regulated biochemical processes connects glucose stimulation to insulin secretion in specialized cells of mammalian pancreas, the β-cells. Given the importance of this process for systemic glucose homeostasis, noninvasive and fast strategies capable to monitor the response to glucose in living cells are highly desirable. Here, we use the phasor-based approach to Fluorescence Lifetime IMaging (FLIM) microscopy to quantify the ratio between protein-bound and free Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) species in their reduced form (NAD(P)H), and the Insulinoma cell line INS-1E as a β-like cellular model. Phasor-FLIM analysis shows that the bound/free ratio of NAD(P)H species increases upon pulsed glucose stimulation. Such response is impaired by 48-hours preincubation of cells under hyperglycemic conditions. Phasor-FLIM concomitantly monitors the appearance of long-lifetime species (LLS) as characteristic products of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Tesi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineIslet Cell LaboratoryUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | | | - Lorella Marselli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineIslet Cell LaboratoryUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineIslet Cell LaboratoryUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Moliterni A, Altamura D, Lassandro R, Olieric V, Ferri G, Cardarelli F, Camposeo A, Pisignano D, Anthony JE, Giannini C. Synthesis, crystal structure, polymorphism and microscopic luminescence properties of anthracene derivative compounds. Acta Crystallogr B Struct Sci Cryst Eng Mater 2020; 76:427-435. [PMID: 32831261 DOI: 10.1107/s2052520620004424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anthracene derivative compounds are currently investigated because of their unique physical properties (e.g. bright luminescence and emission tunability), which make them ideal candidates for advanced optoelectronic devices. Intermolecular interactions are the basis of the tunability of the optical and electronic properties of these compounds, whose prediction and exploitation benefit from knowledge of the crystal structure and the packing architecture. Polymorphism can occur due to the weak intermolecular interactions, requiring detailed structural analysis to clarify the origin of observed material property modifications. Here, two silylethyne-substituted anthracene compounds are characterized by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction, identifying a new polymorph in the process. Additionally, laser confocal microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy confirm the results obtained by the X-ray diffraction characterization, i.e. shifting the substituents towards the external benzene rings of the anthracene unit favours π-π interactions, impacting on both the morphology and the microscopic optical properties of the crystals. The compounds with more isolated anthracene units feature shorter lifetime and emission spectra, more similar to those of isolated molecules. The crystallographic study, supported by the optical investigation, sheds light on the influence of non-covalent interactions on the crystal packing and luminescence properties of anthracene derivatives, providing a further step towards their efficient use as building blocks in active components of light sources and photonic networks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moliterni
- Istituto di Cristallografia, CNR, Via Amendola, 122/O, Bari, 70126, Italy
| | - Davide Altamura
- Istituto di Cristallografia, CNR, Via Amendola, 122/O, Bari, 70126, Italy
| | - Rocco Lassandro
- Istituto di Cristallografia, CNR, Via Amendola, 122/O, Bari, 70126, Italy
| | - Vincent Olieric
- Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungstrasse 111, Villigen-PSI, 5232, Switzerland
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, I-56127, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Camposeo
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze, CNR, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, I-56127, Italy
| | - Dario Pisignano
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze, CNR, Piazza San Silvestro 12, Pisa, I-56127, Italy
| | - John E Anthony
- Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Research Park Drive, Lexington, KY 2582, USA
| | - Cinzia Giannini
- Istituto di Cristallografia, CNR, Via Amendola, 122/O, Bari, 70126, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Toffanin T, Nifosì F, Follador H, Passamani A, Zonta F, Ferri G, Scanarini M, Amistà P, Pigato G, Scaroni C, Mantero F, Carollo C, Perini G. Volumetric MRI analysis of hippocampal subregions in Cushing's disease: A model for glucocorticoid neural modulation. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 26:64-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2010] [Revised: 09/14/2010] [Accepted: 09/18/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractSeveral preclinical studies have demonstrated neuronal effects of glucocorticoids on the hippocampus (HC), a limbic structure with anterior–posterior anatomical and functional segmentation. We propose a volumetric magnetic resonance imaging analysis of hippocampus head (HH), body (HB) and tail (HT) using Cushing's disease (CD) as model, to investigate whether there is a differential sensitivity to glucocorticoid neuronal damage in these segments. We found a significant difference in the HH bilaterally after 12 months from trans-sphenoidal surgical selective resection of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary micro-adenomas. This pre–post surgery difference could contribute to better understand the pathopysiology of CD as an in vivo model for stress-related hypercortisolemic neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
|
27
|
Quagliarini E, Di Santo R, Palchetti S, Ferri G, Cardarelli F, Pozzi D, Caracciolo G. Effect of Protein Corona on The Transfection Efficiency of Lipid-Coated Graphene Oxide-Based Cell Transfection Reagents. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E113. [PMID: 32019150 PMCID: PMC7076454 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coating graphene oxide nanoflakes with cationic lipids leads to highly homogeneous nanoparticles (GOCL NPs) with optimised physicochemical properties for gene delivery applications. In view of in vivo applications, here we use dynamic light scattering, micro-electrophoresis and one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to explore the bionano interactions between GOCL/DNA complexes (hereafter referred to as "grapholipoplexes") and human plasma. When exposed to increasing protein concentrations, grapholipoplexes get covered by a protein corona that evolves with protein concentration, leading to biocoronated complexes with modified physicochemical properties. Here, we show that the formation of a protein corona dramatically changes the interactions of grapholipoplexes with four cancer cell lines: two breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB and MCF-7 cells), a malignant glioma cell line (U-87 MG) and an epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (CACO-2). Luciferase assay clearly indicates a monotonous reduction of the transfection efficiency of biocoronated grapholipoplexes as a function of protein concentration. Finally, we report evidence that a protein corona formed at high protein concentrations (as those present in in vivo studies) promotes a higher capture of biocoronated grapholipoplexes within degradative intracellular compartments (e.g., lysosomes), with respect to their pristine counterparts. On the other hand, coronas formed at low protein concentrations (human plasma = 2.5%) lead to high transfection efficiency with no appreciable cytotoxicity. We conclude with a critical assessment of relevant perspectives for the development of novel biocoronated gene delivery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erica Quagliarini
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Riccardo Di Santo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.D.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Sara Palchetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.D.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (F.C.)
| | - Daniela Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.D.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy; (R.D.S.); (S.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Zanoletti E, Mazzoni A, Martini A, Abbritti RV, Albertini R, Alexandre E, Baro V, Bartolini S, Bernardeschi D, Bivona R, Bonali M, Borghesi I, Borsetto D, Bovo R, Breun M, Calbucci F, Carlson ML, Caruso A, Cayé-Thomasen P, Cazzador D, Champagne PO, Colangeli R, Conte G, D'Avella D, Danesi G, Deantonio L, Denaro L, Di Berardino F, Draghi R, Ebner FH, Favaretto N, Ferri G, Fioravanti A, Froelich S, Giannuzzi A, Girasoli L, Grossardt BR, Guidi M, Hagen R, Hanakita S, Hardy DG, Iglesias VC, Jefferies S, Jia H, Kalamarides M, Kanaan IN, Krengli M, Landi A, Lauda L, Lepera D, Lieber S, Lloyd SLK, Lovato A, Maccarrone F, Macfarlane R, Magnan J, Magnoni L, Marchioni D, Marinelli JP, Marioni G, Mastronardi V, Matthies C, Moffat DA, Munari S, Nardone M, Pareschi R, Pavone C, Piccirillo E, Piras G, Presutti L, Restivo G, Reznitsky M, Roca E, Russo A, Sanna M, Sartori L, Scheich M, Shehata-Dieler W, Soloperto D, Sorrentino F, Sterkers O, Taibah A, Tatagiba M, Tealdo G, Vlad D, Wu H, Zanetti D. Surgery of the lateral skull base: a 50-year endeavour. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 39:S1-S146. [PMID: 31130732 PMCID: PMC6540636 DOI: 10.14639/0392-100x-suppl.1-39-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Disregarding the widely used division of skull base into anterior and lateral, since the skull base should be conceived as a single anatomic structure, it was to our convenience to group all those approaches that run from the antero-lateral, pure lateral and postero-lateral side of the skull base as “Surgery of the lateral skull base”. “50 years of endeavour” points to the great effort which has been made over the last decades, when more and more difficult surgeries were performed by reducing morbidity. The principle of lateral skull base surgery, “remove skull base bone to approach the base itself and the adjacent sites of the endo-esocranium”, was then combined with function preservation and with tailoring surgery to the pathology. The concept that histology dictates the extent of resection, balancing the intrinsic morbidity of each approach was the object of the first section of the present report. The main surgical approaches were described in the second section and were conceived not as a step-by-step description of technique, but as the highlighthening of the surgical principles. The third section was centered on open issues related to the tumor and its treatment. The topic of vestibular schwannoma was investigated with the current debate on observation, hearing preservation surgery, hearing rehabilitation, radiotherapy and the recent efforts to detect biological markers able to predict tumor growth. Jugular foramen paragangliomas were treated in the frame of radical or partial surgery, radiotherapy, partial “tailored” surgery and observation. Surgery on meningioma was debated from the point of view of the neurosurgeon and of the otologist. Endolymphatic sac tumors and malignant tumors of the external auditory canal were also treated, as well as chordomas, chondrosarcomas and petrous bone cholesteatomas. Finally, the fourth section focused on free-choice topics which were assigned to aknowledged experts. The aim of this work was attempting to report the state of the art of the lateral skull base surgery after 50 years of hard work and, above all, to raise questions on those issues which still need an answer, as to allow progress in knowledge through sharing of various experiences. At the end of the reading, if more doubts remain rather than certainties, the aim of this work will probably be achieved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Zanoletti
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - A Mazzoni
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - A Martini
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - R V Abbritti
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisière Hospital, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | | | - E Alexandre
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - V Baro
- Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience DNS, University of Padova Medical School, Padova, Italy
| | - S Bartolini
- Neurosurgery, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - D Bernardeschi
- AP-HP, Groupe Hôspital-Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Neuro-Sensory Surgical Department and NF2 Rare Disease Centre, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - R Bivona
- ENT and Skull-Base Surgery Department, Department of Neurosciences, Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - M Bonali
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy
| | - I Borghesi
- Neurosurgery, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola (RA), Italy
| | - D Borsetto
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - R Bovo
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - M Breun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Julius Maximilians University Hospital Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
| | - F Calbucci
- Neurosurgery, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola (RA), Italy
| | - M L Carlson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - A Caruso
- Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - P Cayé-Thomasen
- The Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and Audiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - D Cazzador
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience DNS, Section of Human Anatomy, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - P-O Champagne
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisière Hospital, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - R Colangeli
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - G Conte
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - D D'Avella
- Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience DNS, University of Padova Medical School, Padova, Italy
| | - G Danesi
- ENT and Skull-Base Surgery Department, Department of Neurosciences, Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - L Deantonio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy.,Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - L Denaro
- Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience DNS, University of Padova Medical School, Padova, Italy
| | - F Di Berardino
- Unit of Audiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano, Italy.,Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - R Draghi
- Neurosurgery, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola (RA), Italy
| | - F H Ebner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany
| | - N Favaretto
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - G Ferri
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy
| | | | - S Froelich
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisière Hospital, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | | | - L Girasoli
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - B R Grossardt
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - M Guidi
- Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - R Hagen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, "Julius-Maximilians" University Hospital of Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
| | - S Hanakita
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisière Hospital, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - D G Hardy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cambridge University Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - V C Iglesias
- ENT and Skull-Base Surgery Department, Department of Neurosciences, Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - S Jefferies
- Oncology Department, Cambridge University Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - H Jia
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninh People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiatong University School of Medicine, China
| | - M Kalamarides
- AP-HP, Groupe Hôspital-Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Neuro-Sensory Surgical Department and NF2 Rare Disease Centre, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - I N Kanaan
- Department of Neurosciences, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Alfaisal University, College of Medicine, Riyadh, KSA
| | - M Krengli
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy.,Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - A Landi
- Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience DNS, University of Padova Medical School, Padova, Italy
| | - L Lauda
- Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - D Lepera
- ENT & Skull-Base Department, Ospedale Nuovo di Legnano, Legnano (MI), Italy
| | - S Lieber
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany
| | - S L K Lloyd
- Department of Neuro-Otology and Skull-Base Surgery Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK
| | - A Lovato
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Audiology Unit, Padova University, Treviso, Italy
| | - F Maccarrone
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy
| | - R Macfarlane
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cambridge University Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - J Magnan
- University Aix-Marseille, France
| | - L Magnoni
- Unit of Audiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano, Italy.,Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - D Marchioni
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, University Hospital of Verona, Italy
| | | | - G Marioni
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | | | - C Matthies
- Department of Neurosurgery, Julius Maximilians University Hospital Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
| | - D A Moffat
- Department of Neuro-otology and Skull Base Surgery, Cambridge University Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Munari
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - M Nardone
- ENT Department, Treviglio (BG), Italy
| | - R Pareschi
- ENT & Skull-Base Department, Ospedale Nuovo di Legnano, Legnano (MI), Italy
| | - C Pavone
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | | | - G Piras
- Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - L Presutti
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, University Hospital of Modena, Italy
| | - G Restivo
- ENT and Skull-Base Surgery Department, Department of Neurosciences, Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - M Reznitsky
- The Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and Audiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - E Roca
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisière Hospital, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - A Russo
- Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - M Sanna
- Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - L Sartori
- Academic Neurosurgery, Department of Neuroscience DNS, University of Padova Medical School, Padova, Italy
| | - M Scheich
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, "Julius-Maximilians" University Hospital of Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
| | - W Shehata-Dieler
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, "Julius-Maximilians" University Hospital of Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
| | - D Soloperto
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, University Hospital of Verona, Italy
| | - F Sorrentino
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - O Sterkers
- AP-HP, Groupe Hôspital-Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, Neuro-Sensory Surgical Department and NF2 Rare Disease Centre, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - A Taibah
- Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - M Tatagiba
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Germany
| | - G Tealdo
- Department of Neuroscience DNS, Otolaryngology Section, Padova University, Padova, Italy
| | - D Vlad
- Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza-Rome, Italy
| | - H Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninh People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiatong University School of Medicine, China
| | - D Zanetti
- Unit of Audiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano, Italy.,Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Gramegna M, Ferri G, Bavagnoli L, Incandela M, Rigamonti D, Ballarini M, Spinelli L. Quantitative detection of human herpes virus 1 & 2 using the real time PCR STAT-NAT HSV1 & 2 assays. Clin Chim Acta 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2019.03.1187] [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]
|
30
|
Formisano R, Contrada M, Aloisi M, Ferri G, Schiattone S, Iosa M, Buzzi M. Nociception Coma Scale with personalized painful stimulation versus standard stimulus in non-communicative patients with disorders of consciousness. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2019; 30:1893-1904. [DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2019.1614464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - M. Aloisi
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - G. Ferri
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - M. Iosa
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - M.G. Buzzi
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Cilli E, Sarno S, Gnecchi Ruscone GA, Serventi P, De Fanti S, Delaini P, Ognibene P, Basello GP, Ravegnini G, Angelini S, Ferri G, Gentilini D, Di Blasio AM, Pelotti S, Pettener D, Sazzini M, Panaino A, Luiselli D, Gruppioni G. The genetic legacy of the Yaghnobis: A witness of an ancient Eurasian ancestry in the historically reshuffled central Asian gene pool. Am J Phys Anthropol 2019; 168:717-728. [PMID: 30693949 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Yaghnobis are an ethno-linguistic minority historically settled along the Yaghnob River in the Upper-Zarafshan Valley in Tajikistan. They speak a language of Old Sogdian origin, which is the only present-day witness of the Lingua Franca used along the Silk Road in Late Antiquity. The aim of this study was to reconstruct the genetic history of this community in order to shed light on its isolation and genetic ancestry within the Euro-Asiatic context. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 100 DNA samples were collected in the Yaghnob and Matcha Valleys during several expeditions and their mitochondrial, Y-chromosome and autosomal genome-wide variation were compared with that from a large set of modern and ancient Euro-Asiatic samples. RESULTS Findings from uniparental markers highlighted the long-term isolation of the Yaghnobis. Mitochondrial DNA ancestry traced an ancient link with Middle Eastern populations, whereas Y-chromosome legacy showed more tight relationships with Central Asians. Admixture, outgroup-f3, and D-statistics computed on autosomal variation corroborated Y-chromosome evidence, pointing respectively to low Anatolian Neolithic and high Steppe ancestry proportions in Yaghnobis, and to their closer affinity with Tajiks than to Iranians. DISCUSSION Although the Yaghnobis do not show evident signs of recent admixture, they could be considered a modern proxy for the source of gene flow for many Central Asian and Middle Eastern groups. Accordingly, they seem to retain a peculiar genomic ancestry probably ascribable to an ancient gene pool originally wide spread across a vast area and subsequently reshuffled by distinct demographic events occurred in Middle East and Central Asia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Cilli
- Laboratories of Physical Anthropology and Ancient DNA, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Stefania Sarno
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Alberto Gnecchi Ruscone
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Serventi
- Laboratories of Physical Anthropology and Ancient DNA, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.,Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sara De Fanti
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Delaini
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Paolo Ognibene
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Gian Pietro Basello
- Department of Asian, African and Mediterranean Studies, University of Naples "L'Orientale", Naples, Italy
| | - Gloria Ravegnini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sabrina Angelini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Department of Diagnostic and Clinical Medicine and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Davide Gentilini
- Centre for Biomedical Research and Technologies, Italian Auxologic Institute, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Di Blasio
- Centre for Biomedical Research and Technologies, Italian Auxologic Institute, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Susi Pelotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Pettener
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Sazzini
- Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Centre for Genome Biology, Department of Biological Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Panaino
- Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Donata Luiselli
- Laboratories of Physical Anthropology and Ancient DNA, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gruppioni
- Laboratories of Physical Anthropology and Ancient DNA, Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Ferri G, Digiacomo L, D'Autilia F, Durso W, Caracciolo G, Cardarelli F. Time-lapse confocal imaging datasets to assess structural and dynamic properties of subcellular nanostructures. Sci Data 2018; 5:180191. [PMID: 30226484 PMCID: PMC6142892 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2018.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Time-lapse optical microscopy datasets from living cells can potentially afford an enormous amount of quantitative information on the relevant structural and dynamic properties of sub-cellular organelles/structures, provided that both the spatial and temporal dimensions are properly sampled during the experiment. Here we provide exemplary live-cell, time-lapse confocal imaging datasets corresponding to three sub-cellular structures of the endo-lysosomal pathway, i.e. early endosomes, late endosomes and lysosomes, along with detailed guidelines to produce analogous experiments. Validation of the datasets is conducted by means of established analytical tools to extract the structural and dynamic properties at the sub-cellular scale, such as Single Particle Tracking (SPT) and imaging derived Mean Square Displacement (iMSD) analyses. In our aim, the present work would help other researchers in the field to reuse the provided datasets for their own scopes, and to combine their creative approaches/analyses to similar acquisitions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Ferri
- NEST-Scuola Normale Superiore, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR (CNR-NANO), 56127 Pisa, Italy.,Nanoscopy, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Digiacomo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca D'Autilia
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - William Durso
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Caracciolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, "La Sapienza" University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- NEST-Scuola Normale Superiore, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR (CNR-NANO), 56127 Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ferri G, Bugliani M, Marchetti P, Cardarelli F. Probing the light scattering properties of insulin secretory granules in single live cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 503:2710-2714. [PMID: 30119894 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Light scattering was recently demonstrated to serve as an intrinsic indicator for pancreatic islet cell mass and secretion. The insulin secretory granule (ISG), in particular, was proposed to be a reasonable candidate as the main intracellular source of scattered light due to the densely-packed insulin semi-crystal in the granule lumen. This scenario, if confirmed, would in principle open new perspectives for label-free single-granule imaging, tracking, and analysis. Contrary to such expectations, here we demonstrate that ISGs are not a primary source of scattering in primary human β-cells, as well as in immortalized β-like cells, quantitatively not superior to other intracellular organelles/structures, such as lysosomes and internal membranes. This result is achieved through multi-channel imaging of scattered light along with fluorescence arising from selectively-labelled ISGs. Co-localization and spatiotemporal cross-correlation analysis is performed on these signals, and compared among different cell lines. Obtained results suggest a careful re-thinking of the possibility to exploit intrinsic optical properties originating from ISGs for single-granule imaging purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Ferri
- NEST - Scuola Normale Superiore, Istituto Nanoscienze - CNR (CNR NANO), Pisa, Italy; Nanoscopy, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Genova, 16163 Italy
| | - Marco Bugliani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Islet Cell Laboratory, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Cardarelli
- NEST - Scuola Normale Superiore, Istituto Nanoscienze - CNR (CNR NANO), Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Serventi P, Panicucci C, Bodega R, De Fanti S, Sarno S, Fondevila Alvarez M, Brisighelli F, Trombetta B, Anagnostou P, Ferri G, Vazzana A, Delpino C, Gruppioni G, Luiselli D, Cilli E. Iron Age Italic population genetics: the Piceni from Novilara (8th-7th century BC). Ann Hum Biol 2018; 45:34-43. [PMID: 29216758 DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2017.1414876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Archaeological data provide evidence that Italy, during the Iron Age, witnessed the appearance of the first communities with well defined cultural identities. To date, only a few studies report genetic data about these populations and, in particular, the Piceni have never been analysed. AIMS To provide new data about mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variability of an Iron Age Italic population, to understand the contribution of the Piceni in shaping the modern Italian gene pool and to ascertain the kinship between some individuals buried in the same grave within the Novilara necropolis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In a first set of 10 individuals from Novilara, we performed deep sequencing of the HVS-I region of the mtDNA, combined with the genotyping of 22 SNPs in the coding region and the analysis of several autosomal markers. RESULTS The results show a low nucleotide diversity for the inhabitants of Novilara and highlight a genetic affinity of this ancient population with the current inhabitants of central Italy. No family relationship was observed between the individuals analysed here. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a preliminary characterisation of the mtDNA variability of the Piceni of Novilara, as well as a kinship assessment of two peculiar burials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Serventi
- a Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences , University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy.,b Department of Cultural Heritage , University of Bologna , Ravenna , Italy
| | - Chiara Panicucci
- b Department of Cultural Heritage , University of Bologna , Ravenna , Italy
| | - Roberta Bodega
- a Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences , University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy
| | - Sara De Fanti
- a Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences , University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy
| | - Stefania Sarno
- a Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences , University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy
| | - Manuel Fondevila Alvarez
- c Instituto de Ciencias Forenses 'Luis Concheiro' , University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela , Galicia , Spain
| | - Francesca Brisighelli
- d Sezione di Medicina Legale-Istituto di Sanità Pubblica , Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Roma , Italy
| | - Beniamino Trombetta
- e Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Charles Darwin' , Sapienza University , Rome , Italy
| | - Paolo Anagnostou
- f Department of Environmental Biology , University of Rome 'La Sapienza' , Rome , Italy.,g ISItA, Istituto Italiano di Antropologia , Rome , Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- h Department of Diagnostic and Clinical Medicine and Public Health , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia , Modena , Italy
| | - Antonino Vazzana
- b Department of Cultural Heritage , University of Bologna , Ravenna , Italy
| | - Chiara Delpino
- i Superintendence of Archaeological Heritage of Marche Region , Ancona , Italy
| | - Giorgio Gruppioni
- b Department of Cultural Heritage , University of Bologna , Ravenna , Italy
| | - Donata Luiselli
- a Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences , University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cilli
- b Department of Cultural Heritage , University of Bologna , Ravenna , Italy
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Robino C, Ralf A, Pasino S, De Marchi MR, Ballantyne KN, Barbaro A, Bini C, Carnevali E, Casarino L, Di Gaetano C, Fabbri M, Ferri G, Giardina E, Gonzalez A, Matullo G, Nutini AL, Onofri, Piccinini A, Piglionica M, Ponzano E, Previderè C, Resta N, Scarnicci F, Seidita G, Sorçaburu-Cigliero S, Turrina S, Verzeletti A, Kayser M. WITHDRAWN: Corrigendum to 'Development of an Italian RM Y-STR haplotype database: results of the 2013 GEFI collaborative exercise' [Forensic. Sci. Int. Genet. 15 (2015) 56-63]. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2018:S1872-4973(18)30195-9. [PMID: 29627344 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Robino
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Italy.
| | - A Ralf
- Department of Forensic Molecular Biology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Pasino
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Italy
| | - M R De Marchi
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Italy
| | - K N Ballantyne
- Office of the Chief Forensic Scientist, Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, Macleod, Australia
| | - A Barbaro
- Department of Forensic Genetics, Studio Indagini Mediche e Forensi (SIMEF), Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - C Bini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - E Carnevali
- Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Perugia, Italy
| | - L Casarino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Legale, del Lavoro, Psicologia Medica e Criminologia, Università di Genova, Italy
| | - C Di Gaetano
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy; HuGeF, Human Genetics Foundation, Turin, Italy
| | - M Fabbri
- Department of Public Health, UOL of Legal Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - G Ferri
- SC Medicina Legale, Università di Modena, Italy
| | - E Giardina
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy
| | - A Gonzalez
- ANDROS Day Surgery Clinic, Forensic Genetics Unit, Palermo, Italy
| | - G Matullo
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy; HuGeF, Human Genetics Foundation, Turin, Italy
| | - A L Nutini
- SOD Genetics Diagnostics, Forensic Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Onofri
- Section of Legal Medicine, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - A Piccinini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - M Piglionica
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, Italy
| | - E Ponzano
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Italy
| | - C Previderè
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - N Resta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Medical Genetics Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Italy
| | - F Scarnicci
- Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - G Seidita
- Department of Biopathology, Medical and Forensic Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Italy
| | | | - S Turrina
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Medicina di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Verona, Italy
| | - A Verzeletti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - M Kayser
- Department of Forensic Molecular Biology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Formisano R, Aloisi M, Ferri G, Schiattone S, Contrada M. The Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended-Revised (GOSE-R) to include minimally conscious state in the vegetative state category. J Neurol Sci 2018; 388:22. [PMID: 29627024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.02.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R Formisano
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
| | - M Aloisi
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - G Ferri
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - S Schiattone
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - M Contrada
- Post-Coma Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Robino C, Ralf A, Pasino S, De Marchi MR, Ballantyne KN, Barbaro A, Bini C, Carnevali E, Casarino L, Di Gaetano C, Fabbri M, Ferri G, Giardina E, Gonzalez A, Matullo G, Nutini AL, Onofri V, Piccinini A, Piglionica M, Ponzano E, Previderè C, Resta N, Scarnicci F, Seidita G, Sorçaburu-Cigliero S, Turrina S, Verzeletti A, Kayser M. Corrigendum to "Development of an Italian RM Y-STR haplotype database: Results of the 2013 GEFI collaborative exercise" [Forensic. Sci. Int. Genet. 15 (2015) 56-63]. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2018; 34:e23-e24. [PMID: 29428588 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Robino
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Italy.
| | - A Ralf
- Department of Forensic Molecular Biology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Pasino
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Italy
| | - M R De Marchi
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Italy
| | - K N Ballantyne
- Office of the Chief Forensic Scientist, Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, Macleod, Australia
| | - A Barbaro
- Department of Forensic Genetics, Studio Indagini Mediche e Forensi (SIMEF), Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - C Bini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - E Carnevali
- Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Legal Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Perugia, Italy
| | - L Casarino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Legale, del Lavoro, Psicologia Medica e Criminologia, Università di Genova, Italy
| | - C Di Gaetano
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy; HuGeF, Human Genetics Foundation, Turin, Italy
| | - M Fabbri
- Department of Public Health, UOL of Legal Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - G Ferri
- SC Medicina Legale, Università di Modena, Italy
| | - E Giardina
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy
| | - A Gonzalez
- ANDROS Day Surgery Clinic, Forensic Genetics Unit, Palermo, Italy
| | - G Matullo
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy; HuGeF, Human Genetics Foundation, Turin, Italy
| | - A L Nutini
- SOD Genetics Diagnostics, Forensic Genetics, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - V Onofri
- Section of Legal Medicine, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - A Piccinini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - M Piglionica
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, Italy
| | - E Ponzano
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Italy
| | - C Previderè
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - N Resta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Medical Genetics Unit, "Aldo Moro" University of Bari, Italy
| | - F Scarnicci
- Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - G Seidita
- Department of Biopathology, Medical and Forensic Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Italy
| | | | - S Turrina
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Medicina di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Verona, Italy
| | - A Verzeletti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - M Kayser
- Department of Forensic Molecular Biology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Ferri G, Storti B, Bizzarri R. Nucleocytoplasmic transport in cells with progerin-induced defective nuclear lamina. Biophys Chem 2017; 229:77-83. [PMID: 28712764 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent data indicate that nuclear lamina (NL) plays a relevant role in many fundamental cellular functions. The peculiar role of NL in cells is dramatically demonstrated by the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), an inherited laminopathy that causes premature, rapid aging shortly after birth. In HGPS, a mutant form of Lamin A (progeria) leads to a dysmorphic NL structure, but how this perturbation is transduced into cellular changes is still largely unknown. Owing to the close structural relationship between NL and the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC), in this work we test whether HGPS affects passive and active nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of cargoes by means of an established model based of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Our findings clearly demonstrate that dysmorphic NL is decoupled from the dynamic characteristics of passive and active transport towards and from the nucleus, as well as from the binding affinity of transport protein mediators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Ferri
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy; Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @ NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Barbara Storti
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ranieri Bizzarri
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Di Corcia T, Sanchez Mellado C, Davila Francia TJ, Ferri G, Sarno S, Luiselli D, Rickards O. East of the Andes: The genetic profile of the Peruvian Amazon populations. Am J Phys Anthropol 2017; 163:328-338. [PMID: 28343372 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Assuming that the differences between the Andes and the Amazon rainforest at environmental and historical levels have influenced the distribution patterns of genes, languages, and cultures, the maternal and paternal genetic reconstruction of the Peruvian Amazon populations was used to test the relationships within and between these two extreme environments. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed four Peruvian Amazon communities (Ashaninka, Huambisa, Cashibo, and Shipibo) for both Y chromosome (17 STRs and 8 SNPs) and mtDNA data (control region sequences, two diagnostic sites of the coding region, and one INDEL), and we studied their variability against the rest of South America. RESULTS We detected a high degree of genetic diversity in the Peruvian Amazon people, both for mtDNA than for Y chromosome, excepting for Cashibo people, who seem to have had no exchanges with their neighbors, in contrast with the others communities. The genetic structure follows the divide between the Andes and the Amazon, but we found a certain degree of gene flow between these two environments, as particularly emerged with the Y chromosome descent cluster's (DCs) analysis. DISCUSSION The Peruvian Amazon is home to an array of populations with differential rates of genetic exchanges with their neighbors and with the Andean people, depending on their peculiar demographic histories. We highlighted some successful Y chromosome lineages expansions originated in Peru during the pre-Columbian history which involved both Andeans and Amazon Arawak people, showing that at least a part of the Amazon rainforest did not remain isolated from those exchanges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Di Corcia
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata,", Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1, Roma, 00173, Italy
| | - C Sanchez Mellado
- Faculty of Intercultural Education and Humanity, National Intercultural University of Amazon, Yarinacocha, Coronel Portillo, Ucayali, 25000, Peru
| | - T J Davila Francia
- Faculty of Intercultural Education and Humanity, National Intercultural University of Amazon, Yarinacocha, Coronel Portillo, Ucayali, 25000, Peru
| | - G Ferri
- Department of Diagnostic and Clinical Medicine and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, 41124, Italy
| | - S Sarno
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - D Luiselli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - O Rickards
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata,", Via della Ricerca Scientifica n. 1, Roma, 00173, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Ferri G, Nucara L, Biver T, Battisti A, Signore G, Bizzarri R. Organization of Inner Cellular Components as Reported by a Viscosity-Sensitive Fluorescent Bodipy Probe Suitable for Phasor Approach to Flim. Biophys J 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2015.11.911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
|
41
|
Ferri G, Nucara L, Biver T, Battisti A, Signore G, Bizzarri R. Organization of inner cellular components as reported by a viscosity-sensitive fluorescent Bodipy probe suitable for phasor approach to FLIM. Biophys Chem 2016; 208:17-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2015.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
42
|
Tofanelli S, Brisighelli F, Anagnostou P, Busby GBJ, Ferri G, Thomas MG, Taglioli L, Rudan I, Zemunik T, Hayward C, Bolnick D, Romano V, Cali F, Luiselli D, Shepherd GB, Tusa S, Facella A, Capelli C. The Greeks in the West: genetic signatures of the Hellenic colonisation in southern Italy and Sicily. Eur J Hum Genet 2015; 24:429-36. [PMID: 26173964 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2015.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Greek colonisation of South Italy and Sicily (Magna Graecia) was a defining event in European cultural history, although the demographic processes and genetic impacts involved have not been systematically investigated. Here, we combine high-resolution surveys of the variability at the uni-parentally inherited Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA in selected samples of putative source and recipient populations with forward-in-time simulations of alternative demographic models to detect signatures of that impact. Using a subset of haplotypes chosen to represent historical sources, we recover a clear signature of Greek ancestry in East Sicily compatible with the settlement from Euboea during the Archaic Period (eighth to fifth century BCE). We inferred moderate sex-bias in the numbers of individuals involved in the colonisation: a few thousand breeding men and a few hundred breeding women were the estimated number of migrants. Last, we demonstrate that studies aimed at quantifying Hellenic genetic flow by the proportion of specific lineages surviving in present-day populations may be misleading.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesca Brisighelli
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Sezione di Medicina Legale-Istituto di Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia
| | - Paolo Anagnostou
- Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Università "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy.,Istituto Italiano di Antropologia, Roma, Italy
| | - George B J Busby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Dipartimento ad Attività Integrata di Laboratori, Anatomia Patologica, Medicina Legale, U.O. Struttura Complessa di Medicina Legale, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Mark G Thomas
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Luca Taglioli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Igor Rudan
- Centre for Population Health Sciences, The University of Edinburgh Medical School, Scotland, UK
| | - Tatijana Zemunik
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Split, School of Medicine, Split, Croatia
| | - Caroline Hayward
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM), University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Deborah Bolnick
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM), University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Valentino Romano
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Laboratorio di Genetica Molecolare, I.R.C.C.S. Associazione Oasi Maria SS., Troina, Italy
| | - Francesco Cali
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Donata Luiselli
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gillian B Shepherd
- A.D. Trendall Research Centre for Ancient Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Antonino Facella
- Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Sarno S, Tofanelli S, De Fanti S, Quagliariello A, Bortolini E, Ferri G, Anagnostou P, Brisighelli F, Capelli C, Tagarelli G, Sineo L, Luiselli D, Boattini A, Pettener D. Shared language, diverging genetic histories: high-resolution analysis of Y-chromosome variability in Calabrian and Sicilian Arbereshe. Eur J Hum Genet 2015; 24:600-6. [PMID: 26130483 PMCID: PMC4929864 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2015.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between genetic and linguistic diversification in human populations has been often explored to interpret some specific issues in human history. The Albanian-speaking minorities of Sicily and Southern Italy (Arbereshe) constitute an important portion of the ethnolinguistic variability of Italy. Their linguistic isolation from neighboring Italian populations and their documented migration history, make such minorities particularly effective for investigating the interplay between cultural, geographic and historical factors. Nevertheless, the extent of Arbereshe genetic relationships with the Balkan homeland and the Italian recipient populations has been only partially investigated. In the present study we address the genetic history of Arbereshe people by combining highly resolved analyses of Y-chromosome lineages and extensive computer simulations. A large set of slow- and fast-evolving molecular markers was typed in different Arbereshe communities from Sicily and Southern Italy (Calabria), as well as in both the putative Balkan source and Italian sink populations. Our results revealed that the considered Arbereshe groups, despite speaking closely related languages and sharing common cultural features, actually experienced diverging genetic histories. The estimated proportions of genetic admixture confirm the tight relationship of Calabrian Arbereshe with modern Albanian populations, in accordance with linguistic hypotheses. On the other hand, population stratification and/or an increased permeability of linguistic and geographic barriers may be hypothesized for Sicilian groups, to account for their partial similarity with Greek populations and their higher levels of local admixture. These processes ultimately resulted in the differential acquisition or preservation of specific paternal lineages by the present-day Arbereshe communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Sarno
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| | | | - Sara De Fanti
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| | - Andrea Quagliariello
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| | - Eugenio Bortolini
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italia
| | - Paolo Anagnostou
- Dipartimento Biologia Ambientale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Italia.,Istituto Italiano di Antropologia, Roma, Italia
| | - Francesca Brisighelli
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Sezione di medicina Legale-Istituto di Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia
| | | | | | - Luca Sineo
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italia
| | - Donata Luiselli
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| | - Alessio Boattini
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| | - Davide Pettener
- Laboratorio di Antropologia Molecolare, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Giorelli M, Renda F, Calisti M, Arienti A, Ferri G, Laschi C. Learning the inverse kinetics of an octopus-like manipulator in three-dimensional space. Bioinspir Biomim 2015; 10:035006. [PMID: 25970238 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/10/3/035006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This work addresses the inverse kinematics problem of a bioinspired octopus-like manipulator moving in three-dimensional space. The bioinspired manipulator has a conical soft structure that confers the ability of twirling around objects as a real octopus arm does. Despite the simple design, the soft conical shape manipulator driven by cables is described by nonlinear differential equations, which are difficult to solve analytically. Since exact solutions of the equations are not available, the Jacobian matrix cannot be calculated analytically and the classical iterative methods cannot be used. To overcome the intrinsic problems of methods based on the Jacobian matrix, this paper proposes a neural network learning the inverse kinematics of a soft octopus-like manipulator driven by cables. After the learning phase, a feed-forward neural network is able to represent the relation between manipulator tip positions and forces applied to the cables. Experimental results show that a desired tip position can be achieved in a short time, since heavy computations are avoided, with a degree of accuracy of 8% relative average error with respect to the total arm length.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Giorelli
- Research Centre on Sea Technologies and Marine Robotics, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Riccardi LN, Carano F, Bini C, Ceccardi S, Ferri G, Pelotti S. CYP2B6 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms in an Italian population sample and relationship with nicotine dependence. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2014; 19:103-7. [PMID: 25489907 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2014.0239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The extensively polymorphic CYP2B6 gene metabolizes endogenous and exogenous compounds, among which are nicotine and bupropion, although its contribution to the systemic metabolism of nicotine still remains controversial. In the present study, the distribution of the CYP2B6 variant and genotype frequencies were analyzed in a sample of 202 Italian individuals who were also invited to answer the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND), in an effort to assess the involvement of CYP2B6 polymorphisms in nicotine dependence. Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms of CYP2B6 were tested and seven different variants were identified showing frequencies similar to the European population. The reduced activity of the CYP2B6*6 variant was significantly (p=0.025) distributed among the nicotine-dependent individuals compared to non-nicotine dependents. Also, the CYP2B6*1/*6 genotype achieved statistical significance (p=0.016) within the nicotine-dependent individuals. The high occurrence of CYP2B6*6 carriers among nicotine-dependent individuals may suggest a possible involvement in nicotine dependence, with a potential impact on smoking cessation treatments tailored to the individual smoker's genotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Natalia Riccardi
- 1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Ferri G, Corradini B, Ferrari F, Santunione AL, Palazzoli F, Alu' M. Forensic botany II, DNA barcode for land plants: Which markers after the international agreement? Forensic Sci Int Genet 2014; 15:131-6. [PMID: 25457632 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2014.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The ambitious idea of using a short piece of DNA for large-scale species identification (DNA barcoding) is already a powerful tool for scientists and the application of this standard technique seems promising in a range of fields including forensic genetics. While DNA barcoding enjoyed a remarkable success for animal identification through cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) analysis, the attempts to identify a single barcode for plants remained a vain hope for a longtime. From the beginning, the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) showed a lack of agreement on a core plant barcode, reflecting the diversity of viewpoints. Different research groups advocated various markers with divergent set of criteria until the recent publication by the CBOL-Plant Working Group. After a four-year effort, in 2009 the International Team concluded to agree on standard markers promoting a multilocus solution (rbcL and matK), with 70-75% of discrimination to the species level. In 2009 our group firstly proposed the broad application of DNA barcoding principles as a tool for identification of trace botanical evidence through the analysis of two chloroplast loci (trnH-psbA and trnL-trnF) in plant species belonging to local flora. Difficulties and drawbacks that were encountered included a poor coverage of species in specific databases and the lack of authenticated reference sequences for the selected markers. Successful preliminary results were obtained providing an approach to progressively identify unknown plant specimens to a given taxonomic rank, usable by any non-specialist botanist or in case of a shortage of taxonomic expertise. Now we considered mandatory to update and to compare our previous findings with the new selected plastid markers (matK+rbcL), taking into account forensic requirements. Features of all the four loci (the two previously analyzed trnH-psbA+trnL-trnF and matK+rbcL) were compared singly and in multilocus solutions to assess the most suitable combination for forensic botany. Based on obtained results, we recommend the adoption of a two-locus combination with rbcL+trnH-psbA plastid markers, which currently best satisfies forensic needs for botanical species identification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Ferri
- Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanità Pubblica, Struttura Complessa di Medicina Legale, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| | - B Corradini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanità Pubblica, Struttura Complessa di Medicina Legale, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - F Ferrari
- Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanità Pubblica, Struttura Complessa di Medicina Legale, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - A L Santunione
- Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanità Pubblica, Struttura Complessa di Medicina Legale, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - F Palazzoli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanità Pubblica, Struttura Complessa di Medicina Legale, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - M Alu'
- Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanità Pubblica, Struttura Complessa di Medicina Legale, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Barbieri C, Heggarty P, Yang Yao D, Ferri G, De Fanti S, Sarno S, Ciani G, Boattini A, Luiselli D, Pettener D. Between Andes and Amazon: the genetic profile of the Arawak-speaking Yanesha. Am J Phys Anthropol 2014; 155:600-9. [PMID: 25229359 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The Yanesha are a Peruvian population who inhabit an environment transitional between the Andes and Amazonia. They present cultural traits characteristic of both regions, including in the language they speak: Yanesha belongs to the Arawak language family (which very likely originated in the Amazon/Orinoco lowlands), but has been strongly influenced by Quechua, the most widespread language family of the Andes. Given their location and cultural make-up, the Yanesha make for an ideal case study for investigating language and population dynamics across the Andes-Amazonia divide. In this study, we analyze data from high and mid-altitude Yanesha villages, both Y chromosome (17 STRs and 16 SNPs diagnostic for assigning haplogroups) and mtDNA data (control region sequences and 3 SNPs and one INDEL diagnostic for assigning haplogroups). We uncover sex-biased genetic trends that probably arose in different stages: first, a male-biased gene flow from Andean regions, genetically consistent with highland Quechua-speakers and probably dating back to Inca expansion; and second, traces of European contact consistent with Y chromosome lineages from Italy and Tyrol, in line with historically documented migrations. Most research in the history, archaeology and linguistics of South America has long been characterized by perceptions of a sharp divide between the Andes and Amazonia; our results serve as a clear case-study confirming demographic flows across that 'divide'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Barbieri
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Marks SJ, Montinaro F, Levy H, Brisighelli F, Ferri G, Bertoncini S, Batini C, Busby GBJ, Arthur C, Mitchell P, Stewart BA, Oosthuizen O, Oosthuizen E, D'Amato ME, Davison S, Pascali V, Capelli C. Static and moving frontiers: the genetic landscape of Southern African Bantu-speaking populations. Mol Biol Evol 2014; 32:29-43. [PMID: 25223418 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msu263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A consensus on Bantu-speaking populations being genetically similar has emerged in the last few years, but the demographic scenarios associated with their dispersal are still a matter of debate. The frontier model proposed by archeologists postulates different degrees of interaction among incoming agropastoralist and resident foraging groups in the presence of "static" and "moving" frontiers. By combining mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome data collected from several southern African populations, we show that Bantu-speaking populations from regions characterized by a moving frontier developing after a long-term static frontier have larger hunter-gatherer contributions than groups from areas where a static frontier was not followed by further spatial expansion. Differences in the female and male components suggest that the process of assimilation of the long-term resident groups into agropastoralist societies was gender biased. Our results show that the diffusion of Bantu languages and culture in Southern Africa was a process more complex than previously described and suggest that the admixture dynamics between farmers and foragers played an important role in shaping the current patterns of genetic diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Marks
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Montinaro
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Hila Levy
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Dipartimento ad Attività Integrata di Laboratori, Anatomia Patologica, Medicina Legale, U.O. Struttura Complessa di Medicina Legale, Azienda Ospedaliero, Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Batini
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - George B J Busby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Arthur
- School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Mitchell
- School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | | | | | - Maria Eugenia D'Amato
- Biotechnology Department, Forensic DNA Laboratory, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Sean Davison
- Biotechnology Department, Forensic DNA Laboratory, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | | | - Cristian Capelli
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Bonfanti L, Monne I, Tamba M, Santucci U, Massi P, Patregnani T, Loli Piccolomini L, Natalini S, Ferri G, Cattoli G, Marangon S. Highly pathogenic H7N7 avian influenza in Italy. Vet Rec 2014; 174:382. [PMID: 24659030 DOI: 10.1136/vr.102202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L Bonfanti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, Legnaro, Padua 35020, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Capocasa M, Anagnostou P, Bachis V, Battaggia C, Bertoncini S, Biondi G, Boattini A, Boschi I, Brisighelli F, Caló CM, Carta M, Coia V, Corrias L, Crivellaro F, De Fanti S, Dominici V, Ferri G, Francalacci P, Franceschi ZA, Luiselli D, Morelli L, Paoli G, Rickards O, Robledo R, Sanna D, Sanna E, Sarno S, Sineo L, Taglioli L, Tagarelli G, Tofanelli S, Vona G, Pettener D, Destro Bisol G. Linguistic, geographic and genetic isolation: a collaborative study of Italian populations. J Anthropol Sci 2014; 92:201-31. [PMID: 24607994 DOI: 10.4436/jass.92001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The animal and plant biodiversity of the Italian territory is known to be one of the richest in the Mediterranean basin and Europe as a whole, but does the genetic diversity of extant human populations show a comparable pattern? According to a number of studies, the genetic structure of Italian populations retains the signatures of complex peopling processes which took place from the Paleolithic to modern era. Although the observed patterns highlight a remarkable degree of genetic heterogeneity, they do not, however, take into account an important source of variation. In fact, Italy is home to numerous ethnolinguistic minorities which have yet to be studied systematically. Due to their difference in geographical origin and demographic history, such groups not only signal the cultural and social diversity of our country, but they are also potential contributors to its bio-anthropological heterogeneity. To fill this gap, research groups from four Italian Universities (Bologna, Cagliari, Pisa and Roma Sapienza) started a collaborative study in 2007, which was funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research and received partial support by the Istituto Italiano di Antropologia. In this paper, we present an account of the results obtained in the course of this initiative. Four case-studies relative to linguistic minorities from the Eastern Alps, Sardinia, Apennines and Southern Italy are first described and discussed, focusing on their micro-evolutionary and anthropological implications. Thereafter, we present the results of a systematic analysis of the relations between linguistic, geographic and genetic isolation. Integrating the data obtained in the course of the long-term study with literature and unpublished results on Italian populations, we show that a combination of linguistic and geographic factors is probably responsible for the presence of the most robust signatures of genetic isolation. Finally, we evaluate the magnitude of the diversity of Italian populations in the European context. The human genetic diversity of our country was found to be greater than observed throughout the continent at short (0-200 km) and intermediate (700-800km) distances, and accounted for most of the highest values of genetic distances observed at all geographic ranges. Interestingly, an important contribution to this pattern comes from the "linguistic islands"( e.g. German speaking groups of Sappada and Luserna from the Eastern Italian Alps), further proof of the importance of considering social and cultural factors when studying human genetic variation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Capocasa
- Istituto Italiano di Antropologia, Roma, Italy; Sapienza Universitá di Roma, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Roma, Italy,
| | - Paolo Anagnostou
- Sapienza Universitá di Roma, Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Roma, Italy; Istituto Italiano di Antropologia, Roma, Italy
| | - Valeria Bachis
- Universitá di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Cinzia Battaggia
- Universitá di Roma, Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Gianfranco Biondi
- Universitá dell'Aquila, Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alessio Boattini
- Universitá di Bologna, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Bologna, Italy
| | - Ilaria Boschi
- Universitá Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca Brisighelli
- Sapienza Universitá di Roma, Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Roma, Italy; Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Carla Maria Caló
- Universitá di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marilisa Carta
- Universitá di Bologna, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Coia
- Universitá di Trento, Dipartimento di Filosofia, Storia e Beni Culturali, Trento, Italy; Accademia Europea di Bolzano, Istituto per le Mummie e l'Iceman, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Laura Corrias
- Universitá di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Federica Crivellaro
- Sezione di Antropologia, Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico "Luigi Pigorini", Roma, Italy
| | - Sara De Fanti
- Universitá di Bologna, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Dominici
- Sapienza Universitá di Roma, Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Roma, Italy; Istituto Italiano di Antropologia, Roma, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Ferri
- Universitá di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Medicina Diagnostica, Clinica e di Sanitá Pubblica, Modena, Italy
| | - Paolo Francalacci
- Universitá di Sassari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Natura e del Territorio, Sassari, Italy
| | - Zelda Alice Franceschi
- Universitá di Bologna, Dipartimento di Discipline Storiche, Antropologiche e Geografiche, Bologna, Italy
| | - Donata Luiselli
- Universitá di Bologna, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Morelli
- Universitá di Sassari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Natura e del Territorio, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giorgio Paoli
- Universitá di Pisa, Dipartimento di Biologia, Pisa, Italy
| | - Olga Rickards
- Universitá degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Centro di Antropologia Molecolare per lo studio del DNA Antico, Dipartimento di Biologia, Roma, Italy
| | - Renato Robledo
- Universitá di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Daria Sanna
- Universitá di Sassari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Natura e del Territorio, Sassari, Italy
| | - Emanuele Sanna
- Universitá di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stefania Sarno
- Universitá di Bologna, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Sineo
- Universitá di Palermo, Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale e Biodiversitá , Palermo, Italy
| | - Luca Taglioli
- Universitá di Pisa, Dipartimento di Biologia, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Vona
- Universitá di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Davide Pettener
- Universitá di Bologna, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Bologna, Italy,
| | - Giovanni Destro Bisol
- Sapienza Universitá di Roma, Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Roma, Italy; Istituto Italiano di Antropologia, Roma, Italy,
| |
Collapse
|