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Sabattini S, Baldassarro VA, Zaccone R, Calzà L, Giardino L, Vascellari M, Lorenzini L, Moretti M, Marconato L. Dysregulated miRNAs in a canine model of haemangiosarcoma metastatic to the brain. Vet Comp Oncol 2024; 22:70-77. [PMID: 38112225 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Haemangiosarcoma is a highly metastatic and lethal cancer of blood vessel-forming cells that commonly spreads to the brain in both humans and dogs. Dysregulations in phosphatase and tensin (PTEN) homologue have been identified in various types of cancers, including haemangiosarcoma. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding single-stranded RNA molecules that play a crucial role in regulating the gene expression. Some miRNAs can function as oncogenes or tumour suppressors, influencing important processes in cancer, such as angiogenesis. This study aimed to investigate whether miRNAs targeting PTEN were disrupted in canine haemangiosarcoma and its corresponding brain metastases (BM). The expression levels of miRNA-10b, miRNA-19b, miRNA-21, miRNA-141 and miRNA-494 were assessed in samples of primary canine cardiac haemangiosarcomas and their matched BM. Furthermore, the miRNA profile of the tumours was compared to samples of adjacent non-cancerous tissue and healthy control tissues. In primary cardiac haemangiosarcoma, miRNA-10b showed a significant increase in expression, while miRNA-494 and miRNA-141 exhibited downregulation. Moreover, the overexpression of miRNA-10b was retained in metastatic brain lesions. Healthy tissues demonstrated significantly different expression patterns compared to cancerous tissues. In particular, the expression of miRNA-10b was nearly undetectable in both control brain tissue and perimetastatic cerebral tissue. These findings can provide a rationale for the development of miRNA-based therapeutic strategies, aimed at selectively treating haemangiosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Sabattini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Zaccone
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marta Vascellari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marzia Moretti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRET Foundation, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Marconato
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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2
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Ferroni L, D'Amora U, Gardin C, Leo S, Dalla Paola L, Tremoli E, Giuliani A, Calzà L, Ronca A, Ambrosio L, Zavan B. Stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles embedded into methacrylated hyaluronic acid wound dressings accelerate wound repair in a pressure model of diabetic ulcer. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:469. [PMID: 38062461 PMCID: PMC10702007 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02202-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past years, the development of innovative smart wound dressings is revolutionizing wound care management and research. Specifically, in the treatment of diabetic foot wounds, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted patches may enable personalized medicine therapies. In the present work, a methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) bioink is employed to manufacture 3D printed patches to deliver small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) obtained from human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-sEVs). The production of sEVs is maximized culturing MSCs in bioreactor. A series of in vitro analyses are carried out to demonstrate the influence of MSC-sEVs on functions of dermal fibroblasts and endothelial cells, which are the primary functional cells in skin repair process. Results demonstrate that both cell populations are able to internalize MSC-sEVs and that the exposure to sEVs stimulates proliferation and migration. In vivo experiments in a well-established diabetic mouse model of pressure ulcer confirm the regenerative properties of MSC-sEVs. The MeHA patch enhances the effectiveness of sEVs by enabling controlled release of MSC-sEVs over 7 days, which improve wound epithelialization, angiogenesis and innervation. The overall findings highlight that MSC-sEVs loading in 3D printed biomaterials represents a powerful technique, which can improve the translational potential of parental stem cell in terms of regulatory and economic impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Ferroni
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care and Research, Cotignola, 48033, Italy.
| | - Ugo D'Amora
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Naples, 80125, Italy
| | - Chiara Gardin
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care and Research, Cotignola, 48033, Italy
| | - Sara Leo
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care and Research, Cotignola, 48033, Italy
| | - Luca Dalla Paola
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care and Research, Cotignola, 48033, Italy
| | - Elena Tremoli
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care and Research, Cotignola, 48033, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giuliani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology and CIRI-SDV, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Alfredo Ronca
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Naples, 80125, Italy
| | - Luigi Ambrosio
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, Naples, 80125, Italy
| | - Barbara Zavan
- Translational Medicine Department, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, 44121, Italy.
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Baldassarro VA, Quadalti C, Runfola M, Manera C, Rapposelli S, Calzà L. Synthetic Thyroid Hormone Receptor-β Agonists Promote Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Differentiation in the Presence of Inflammatory Challenges. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1207. [PMID: 37765015 PMCID: PMC10534456 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091207] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes and their precursors are the cells responsible for developmental myelination and myelin repair during adulthood. Their differentiation and maturation processes are regulated by a complex molecular machinery driven mainly by triiodothyronine (T3), the genomic active form of thyroid hormone, which binds to thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), regulating the expression of target genes. Different molecular tools have been developed to mimic T3 action in an attempt to overcome the myelin repair deficit that underlies various central nervous system pathologies. In this study, we used a well-established in vitro model of neural stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to test the effects of two compounds: the TRβ1 ligand IS25 and its pro-drug TG68. We showed that treatment with TG68 induces OPC differentiation/maturation as well as both the natural ligand and the best-known TRβ1 synthetic ligand, GC-1. We then described that, unlike T3, TG68 can fully overcome the cytokine-mediated oligodendrocyte differentiation block. In conclusion, we showed the ability of a new synthetic compound to stimulate OPC differentiation and overcome inflammation-mediated pathological conditions. Further studies will clarify whether the compound acts as a pro-drug to produce the TRβ1 ligand IS25 or if its action is mediated by secondary mechanisms such as AMPK activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Corinne Quadalti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Massimiliano Runfola
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.R.); (C.M.); (S.R.)
| | - Clementina Manera
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.R.); (C.M.); (S.R.)
| | - Simona Rapposelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (M.R.); (C.M.); (S.R.)
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
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Baldassarro VA, Alastra G, Lorenzini L, Giardino L, Calzà L. Photobiomodulation at Defined Wavelengths Regulates Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Redox Balance in Skin Fibroblasts. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2023; 2023:7638223. [PMID: 37663921 PMCID: PMC10471456 DOI: 10.1155/2023/7638223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Starting from the discovery of phototherapy in the beginning of the last century, photobiomodulation (PBM) has been defined in late 1960s and, since then, widely described in different in vitro models. Robust evidence indicates that the effect of light exposure on the oxidative state of the cells and on mitochondrial dynamics, suggesting a great therapeutic potential. The translational scale-up of PBM, however, has often given contrasting and confusing results, mainly due to light exposure protocols which fail to adequately control or define factors such as emitting device features, emitted light characteristics, exposure time, cell target, and readouts. In this in vitro study, we describe the effects of a strictly controlled light-emitting diode (LED)-based PBM protocol on human fibroblasts, one of the main cells involved in skin care, regeneration, and repair. We used six emitter probes at different wavelengths (440, 525, 645, 660, 780, and 900 nm) with the same irradiance value of 0.1 mW/cm2, evenly distributed over the entire surface of the cell culture well. The PBM was analyzed by three main readouts: (i) mitochondrial potential (MitoTracker Orange staining), (ii) reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (CellROX staining); and (iii) cell death (nuclear morphology). The assay was also implemented by cell-based high-content screening technology, further increasing the reliability of the data. Different exposure protocols were also tested (one, two, or three subsequent 20 s pulsed exposures at 24 hr intervals), and the 645 nm wavelength and single exposure chosen as the most efficient protocol based on the mitochondrial potential readout, further confirmed by mitochondrial fusion quantification. This protocol was then tested for its potential to prevent H2O2-induced oxidative stress, including modulation of the light wave frequency. Finally, we demonstrated that the controlled PBM induced by the LED light exposure generates a preconditioning stimulation of the mitochondrial potential, which protects the cell from oxidative stress damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Alastra
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, Bologna 40126, Italy
- IRET Fundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna) 40064, Italy
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Beltrami D, Barletta-Rodolfi C, Bertini F, Braglia L, Calzà L, Corbo M, Gasparini F, Marti A, Montesi D, Pisano M, Rusconi ML, Sozzi M, Tonon C, Ghidoni E. Normative data for COGITAB: An Italian tablet-based test battery conceived for the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease. Appl Neuropsychol Adult 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37289131 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2023.2219797] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The number of people with dementia is increasing worldwide. Two main approaches have been adopted to identify subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD): the neuropsychological evaluation and the identification of biomarkers of AD. The first method is less invasive and easier to perform. This study assesses the psychometric properties of COGITAB, a novel web application d esigned to be sensitive to the subtle cognitive changes distinctive of the early Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and the preclinical phase of AD. We enrolled 518 healthy controls, classified according to several risk factors and the presence of a family history of dementia. The participants were given COGITAB after a neuropsychological screening. The COGITAB Total Score (TS) was significantly affected by age and years of education. Acquired risk factors and family history of dementia significantly impacted only the COGITAB total execution time (TET), not the TS. This study provides normative data for a newly developed web application. Control subjects with acquired risk factors performed slower, giving an important role to the TET recording. Further studies should examine the ability of this new technology to discriminate between healthy subjects and subjects with initial cognitive decline, even when not detected by standard neuropsychological assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Beltrami
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Disorders and Dyslexia Unit, Neurology, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, AUSL IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Caterina Barletta-Rodolfi
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Disorders and Dyslexia Unit, Neurology, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, AUSL IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Flavio Bertini
- Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Luca Braglia
- Research and Statistics Infrastructure, AUSL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimo Corbo
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa Cura Igea (CCI), Milano, Italy
| | - Federico Gasparini
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Disorders and Dyslexia Unit, Neurology, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, AUSL IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marti
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Disorders and Dyslexia Unit, Neurology, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, AUSL IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Danilo Montesi
- SmartData Research Group, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marta Pisano
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Disorders and Dyslexia Unit, Neurology, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, AUSL IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Rusconi
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Matteo Sozzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Neurology. ASST "A. Manzoni", Lecco, Italy
| | - Cecilia Tonon
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Disorders and Dyslexia Unit, Neurology, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, AUSL IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Enrico Ghidoni
- Clinical Neuropsychology, Cognitive Disorders and Dyslexia Unit, Neurology, Department of Neuro-Motor Diseases, AUSL IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Baldassarro VA, Perut F, Cescatti M, Pinto V, Fazio N, Alastra G, Parziale V, Bassotti A, Fernandez M, Giardino L, Baldini N, Calzà L. Intra-individual variability in the neuroprotective and promyelinating properties of conditioned culture medium obtained from human adipose mesenchymal stromal cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:128. [PMID: 37170115 PMCID: PMC10173531 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03344-1] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Greater knowledge of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapies is driving the research into their secretome, identified as the main element responsible for their therapeutic effects. The aim of this study is to characterize the individual variability of the secretome of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (adMSCs) with regard to potential therapeutical applications in neurology. METHODS adMSCs were isolated from the intact adipose tissue of ten subjects undergoing abdominal plastic surgery or reduction mammoplasty. Two commercial lines were also included. We analyzed the expansion rate, production, and secretion of growth factors of interest for neurological applications (VEGF-A, BDNF, PDGF-AA and AA/BB, HGF, NGF, FGF-21, GDNF, IGF-I, IGF-II, EGF and FGF-2). To correlate these characteristics with the biological effects on the cellular targets, we used individual media conditioned with adMSCs from the various donors on primary cultures of neurons/astrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) exposed to noxious stimuli (oxygen-glucose deprivation, OGD) to evaluate their protective and promyelinating properties, using MSC medium as a control group. RESULTS The MSC secretome showed significant individual variability within the considered population with regard to PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB/BB, VEGF-A and BDNF. None of the MSC-derived supernatants affected neuron viability in normoxia, while substantial protection by high BDNF-containing conditioned MSC medium was observed in neuronal cultures exposed to OGD conditions. In OPC cultures, the MSC-derived supernatants protected cells from OGD-induced cell death, also increasing the differentiation in mature oligodendrocytes. Neuroprotection showed a positive correlation with VEGF-A, BDNF and PDGF-AA concentrations in the culture supernatants, and an inverse correlation with HGF, while OPC differentiation following OGD was positively correlated to PDGF-AA concentration. CONCLUSIONS Despite the limited number of adMSC donors, this study showed significant individual variability in the biological properties of interest for neurological applications for adMSC secretome, an under-researched aspect which may represent an important step in the translation of MSC-derived acellular products to clinical practice. We also showed the potential protection capability of MSC conditioned medium on neuronal and oligodendroglial lineages exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation. These effects are directly correlated to the concentration of specific growth factors, and indicate that the remyelination should be included as a primary target in MSC-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
- Health Science and Technologies, Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Perut
- Biomedical Science and Technologies and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maura Cescatti
- IRET Foundation, Via Tolara Di Sopra 41/E, 40064, Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Pinto
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Nicola Fazio
- Biomedical Science and Technologies and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Alastra
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Parziale
- Biomedical Science and Technologies and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bassotti
- Biomedical Science and Technologies and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mercedes Fernandez
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
- Health Science and Technologies, Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicola Baldini
- Biomedical Science and Technologies and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Di Barbiano 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies, Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Via Tolara Di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Dell'Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
- Pharmacology and Biotecnology Department (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Via San Donato, 15, 40127, Bologna, Italy.
- Monetecatone Rehabilitation Institute (MRI), Via Montecatone, 37, 40026, Imola, Bologna, Italy.
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Moretti M, Caraffi R, Lorenzini L, Ottonelli I, Sannia M, Alastra G, Baldassarro VA, Giuliani A, Duskey JT, Cescatti M, Ruozi B, Aloe L, Vandelli MA, Giardino L, Tosi G, Calzà L. "Combo" Multi-Target Pharmacological Therapy and New Formulations to Reduce Inflammation and Improve Endogenous Remyelination in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091331. [PMID: 37174731 PMCID: PMC10177268 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091331] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by a cascade of events that lead to sensory and motor disabilities. To date, this condition is irreversible, and no cure exists. To improve myelin repair and limit secondary degeneration, we developed a multitherapy based on nanomedicines (NMeds) loaded with the promyelinating agent triiodothyronine (T3), used in combination with systemic ibuprofen and mouse nerve growth factor (mNGF). Poly-L-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) NMeds were optimized and loaded with T3 to promote sustained release. In vitro experiments confirmed the efficacy of T3-NMeds to differentiate oligodendrocyte precursor cells. In vivo rat experiments were performed in contusion SCI to explore the NMed biodistribution and efficacy of combo drugs at short- and long-term post-lesion. A strong anti-inflammatory effect was observed in the short term with a reduction of type M1 microglia and glutamate levels, but with a subsequent increase of TREM2. In the long term, an improvement of myelination in NG2-IR, an increase in MBP content, and a reduction of the demyelination area were observed. These data demonstrated that NMeds can successfully be used to obtain more controlled local drug delivery and that this multiple treatment could be effective in improving the outcome of SCIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Moretti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Riccardo Caraffi
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Ilaria Ottonelli
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Alastra
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
- Health Science and Technologies, Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giuliani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Jason Thomas Duskey
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Ruozi
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Luigi Aloe
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Angela Vandelli
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tosi
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I., Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies, Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
- Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, 40026 Imola, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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8
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De Marco A, Baldassarro VA, Calzà L, Giardino L, Dondi F, Ferrari MG, Bignami G, Parma L, Bonaldo A. Prolonged heat waves reduce the condition index and alter the molecular parameters in the pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Fish Shellfish Immunol 2023; 133:108518. [PMID: 36610607 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The entire shellfish farming sector is negatively affected by heat waves. Predictive models show that while heat waves are not predicted to exceed 28 °C in the northern Adriatic Sea over the coming decades, their duration will increase to periods of up to 30 days. Knowledge regarding the effects of heat waves on bivalves at physiological and molecular level is still limited. This study attempted to simulate what will happen in the future in Pacific oysters exposed to prolonged heat waves, assessing morphometric and physiological indices, and investigating the expression level of a number of genes, including the chaperone heat shock proteins HSP70, HSP72 and HSP90, and the factor P53. A state of stress in the heat wave-exposed animals was found, with loss of body weight and energy resources: despite showing a higher clearance rate, these animals were unable to absorb the nutrients required to maintain homeostasis, as well as demonstrating an alteration in hemolymphatic AST activity, total calcium and magnesium concentration. mRNA levels of all examined genes increased in response to thermal stress, with long-term overexpression, activating cell stress defense mechanisms and modulating the cycle cell. The results of this study indicate that heat waves affect oyster welfare, with consequences for the productivity of the sector due to the lack of salable products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonina De Marco
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Dondi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Bignami
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Parma
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessio Bonaldo
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
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9
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Baldassarro VA, Cescatti M, Rocco ML, Aloe L, Lorenzini L, Giardino L, Calzà L. Nerve growth factor promotes differentiation and protects the oligodendrocyte precursor cells from in vitro hypoxia/ischemia. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1111170. [PMID: 36875668 PMCID: PMC9978228 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1111170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a pleiotropic molecule acting on different cell types in physiological and pathological conditions. However, the effect of NGF on the survival, differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocytes (OLs), the cells responsible for myelin formation, turnover, and repair in the central nervous system (CNS), is still poorly understood and heavily debated. Methods Here we used mixed neural stem cell (NSC)-derived OPC/astrocyte cultures to clarify the role of NGF throughout the entire process of OL differentiation and investigate its putative role in OPC protection under pathological conditions. Results We first showed that the gene expression of all the neurotrophin receptors (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, and p75NTR ) dynamically changes during the differentiation. However, only TrkA and p75NTR expression depends on T3-differentiation induction, as Ngf gene expression induction and protein secretion in the culture medium. Moreover, in the mixed culture, astrocytes are the main producer of NGF protein, and OPCs express both TrkA and p75NTR . NGF treatment increases the percentage of mature OLs, while NGF blocking by neutralizing antibody and TRKA antagonist impairs OPC differentiation. Moreover, both NGF exposure and astrocyte-conditioned medium protect OPCs exposed to oxygenglucose deprivation (OGD) from cell death and NGF induces an increase of AKT/pAKT levels in OPCs nuclei by TRKA activation. Discussion This study demonstrated that NGF is implicated in OPC differentiation, maturation, and protection in the presence of metabolic challenges, also suggesting implications for the treatment of demyelinating lesions and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Bologna, Italy
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10
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Baldassarro VA, Giraldi V, Giuliani A, Moretti M, Pagnotta G, Flagelli A, Clavenzani P, Lorenzini L, Giardino L, Focarete ML, Giacomini D, Calzà L. Poly(l-lactic acid) Scaffold Releasing an α 4β 1 Integrin Agonist Promotes Nonfibrotic Skin Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2022; 6:296-308. [PMID: 36542733 PMCID: PMC9937562 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00890] [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: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Skin wound healing is a highly complex process that continues to represent a major medical problem, due to chronic nonhealing wounds in several classes of patients and to possible fibrotic complications, which compromise the function of the dermis. Integrins are transmembrane receptors that play key roles in this process and that offer a recognized druggable target. Our group recently synthesized GM18, a specific agonist for α4β1, an integrin that plays a role in skin immunity and in the migration of neutrophils, also regulating the differentiated state of fibroblasts. GM18 can be combined with poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers to provide a controlled release of this agonist, resulting in a medication particularly suitable for skin wounds. In this study, we first optimized a GM18-PLLA nanofiber combination with a 7-day sustained release for use as skin wound medication. When tested in an experimental pressure ulcer in diabetic mice, a model for chronic nonhealing wounds, both soluble and GM18-PLLA formulations accelerated wound healing, as well as regulated extracellular matrix synthesis toward a nonfibrotic molecular signature. In vitro experiments using the adhesion test showed fibroblasts to be a principal GM18 cellular target, which we then used as an in vitro model to explore possible mechanisms of GM18 action. Our results suggest that the observed antifibrotic behavior of GM18 may exert a dual action on fibroblasts at the α4β1 binding site and that GM18 may prevent profibrotic EDA-fibronectin-α4β1 binding and activate outside-in signaling of the ERK1/2 pathways, a critical component of the wound healing process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Department
of Veterinary Medical Science, University
of Bologna, 50 Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy,Interdepartmental
Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 41/E Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Giraldi
- Interdepartmental
Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 41/E Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giuliani
- Department
of Veterinary Medical Science, University
of Bologna, 50 Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marzia Moretti
- Department
of Veterinary Medical Science, University
of Bologna, 50 Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Pagnotta
- Department
of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” and INSTM UdR of Bologna, University of Bologna, 2 via Selmi, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Flagelli
- Interdepartmental
Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 41/E Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Clavenzani
- Department
of Veterinary Medical Science, University
of Bologna, 50 Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department
of Veterinary Medical Science, University
of Bologna, 50 Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy,Interdepartmental
Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 41/E Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department
of Veterinary Medical Science, University
of Bologna, 50 Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy,Interdepartmental
Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 41/E Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy,IRET
Foundation, 41/E Via
Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Focarete
- Interdepartmental
Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 41/E Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy,Department
of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” and INSTM UdR of Bologna, University of Bologna, 2 via Selmi, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Daria Giacomini
- Interdepartmental
Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 41/E Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy,Department
of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” and INSTM UdR of Bologna, University of Bologna, 2 via Selmi, 40126 Bologna, Italy,
| | - Laura Calzà
- Interdepartmental
Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, 41/E Via Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy,IRET
Foundation, 41/E Via
Tolara di Sopra, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy,Department
of Pharmacy and BioTechnology, University
of Bologna, 15 Via San
Donato, 40127 Bologna, Italy,
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11
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Bianco F, Lattanzio G, Lorenzini L, Mazzoni M, Clavenzani P, Calzà L, Giardino L, Sternini C, Costanzini A, Bonora E, De Giorgio R. Enteric Neuromyopathies: Highlights on Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121849. [PMID: 36551277 PMCID: PMC9776039 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121849] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe gut motility disorders are characterized by the ineffective propulsion of intestinal contents. As a result, the patients develop disabling/distressful symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting along with altered bowel habits up to radiologically demonstrable intestinal sub-obstructive episodes. Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a typical clinical phenotype of severe gut dysmotility. This syndrome occurs due to changes altering the morpho-functional integrity of the intrinsic (enteric) innervation and extrinsic nerve supply (hence neuropathy), the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) (mesenchymopathy), and smooth muscle cells (myopathy). In the last years, several genes have been identified in different subsets of CIPO patients. The focus of this review is to cover the most recent update on enteric dysmotility related to CIPO, highlighting (a) forms with predominant underlying neuropathy, (b) forms with predominant myopathy, and (c) mitochondrial disorders with a clear gut dysfunction as part of their clinical phenotype. We will provide a thorough description of the genes that have been proven through recent evidence to cause neuro-(ICC)-myopathies leading to abnormal gut contractility patterns in CIPO. The discovery of susceptibility genes for this severe condition may pave the way for developing target therapies for enteric neuro-(ICC)-myopathies underlying CIPO and other forms of gut dysmotility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Bianco
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Lattanzio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mazzoni
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - Paolo Clavenzani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- IRET Foundation, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy
- IRET Foundation, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - Catia Sternini
- UCLA/DDRC, Division of Digestive Diseases, Departments Medicine and Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90001, USA
| | - Anna Costanzini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elena Bonora
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.B.); (R.D.G.); Tel.: +39-051-2094761 (E.B.); +39-0532-236631 (R.D.G.)
| | - Roberto De Giorgio
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.B.); (R.D.G.); Tel.: +39-051-2094761 (E.B.); +39-0532-236631 (R.D.G.)
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12
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Baldassarro VA, Stanzani A, Giardino L, Calzà L, Lorenzini L. Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration: roles for the white matter. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:2376-2380. [PMID: 35535874 PMCID: PMC9120696 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.335834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient strategies for neuroprotection and repair are still an unmet medical need for neurodegenerative diseases and lesions of the central nervous system. Over the last few decades, a great deal of attention has been focused on white matter as a potential therapeutic target, mainly due to the discovery of the oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the adult central nervous system, a cell type able to fully repair myelin damage, and to the development of advanced imaging techniques to visualize and measure white matter lesions. The combination of these two events has greatly increased the body of research into white matter alterations in central nervous system lesions and neurodegenerative diseases and has identified the oligodendrocyte precursor cell as a putative target for white matter lesion repair, thus indirectly contributing to neuroprotection. This review aims to discuss the potential of white matter as a therapeutic target for neuroprotection in lesions and diseases of the central nervous system. Pivot conditions are discussed, specifically multiple sclerosis as a white matter disease; spinal cord injury, the acute lesion of a central nervous system component where white matter prevails over the gray matter, and Alzheimer's disease, where the white matter was considered an ancillary component until recently. We first describe oligodendrocyte precursor cell biology and developmental myelination, and its regulation by thyroid hormones, then briefly describe white matter imaging techniques, which are providing information on white matter involvement in central nervous system lesions and degenerative diseases. Finally, we discuss pathological mechanisms which interfere with myelin repair in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agnese Stanzani
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna; Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna; Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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13
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Ferroni L, Gardin C, D'Amora U, Calzà L, Ronca A, Tremoli E, Ambrosio L, Zavan B. Exosomes of mesenchymal stem cells delivered from methacrylated hyaluronic acid patch improve the regenerative properties of endothelial and dermal cells. Biomater Adv 2022; 139:213000. [PMID: 35891601 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Wound care management urgently needs the development of innovative smart wound dressings. The complexity of the wound often requires the use of personalized medication and the advent of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting fits strongly with this need. In this view, in the present work a methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) bioink was tested for the fabrication of advanced smart patches as a delivery system of exosomes derived from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC-EXOs) suitable for wound healing purposes. MeHA patches were realized by 3D bioprinting technique and they were loaded with hMSC-EXOs. The 3D printed MeHA patches revealed improved mechanical performance, appropriate swelling ratio, extended degradation time, and suitable biocompatibility. Furthermore, MeHA patches loaded with hMSC-EXOs improved the proliferation, migration, angiogenic ability, and expression of specific markers related to wound healing process in human fibroblasts and human endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Ferroni
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, Cotignola, 48033 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Chiara Gardin
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, Cotignola, 48033 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Ugo D'Amora
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alfredo Ronca
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - Elena Tremoli
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, Cotignola, 48033 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Luigi Ambrosio
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Barbara Zavan
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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14
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Bertini F, Allevi D, Lutero G, Calzà L, Montesi D. An automatic Alzheimer’s disease classifier based on spontaneous spoken English. COMPUT SPEECH LANG 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.csl.2021.101298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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15
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Bianco F, Lattanzio G, Lorenzini L, Diquigiovanni C, Mazzoni M, Clavenzani P, Calzà L, Giardino L, Sternini C, Bonora E, De Giorgio R. Novel understanding on genetic mechanisms of enteric neuropathies leading to severe gut dysmotility. Eur J Histochem 2021; 65. [PMID: 34818877 PMCID: PMC8636838 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2021.3289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the third division of the autonomic nervous system and the largest collection of neurons outside the central nervous system (CNS). The ENS has been referred to as “the brain-in-thegut” or “the second brain of the human body” because of its highly integrated neural circuits controlling a vast repertoire of gut functions, including absorption/secretion, splanchnic blood vessels, some immunological aspects, intestinal epithelial barrier, and gastrointestinal (GI) motility. The latter function is the result of the ENS fine-tuning over smooth musculature, along with the contribution of other key cells, such as enteric glia (astrocyte-like cells supporting and contributing to neuronal activity), interstitial cells of Cajal (the pacemaker cells of the GI tract involved in neuromuscular transmission), and enteroendocrine cells (releasing bioactive substances, which affect gut physiology). Any noxa insult perturbing the ENS complexity may determine a neuropathy with variable degree of neuro-muscular dysfunction. In this review we aim to cover the most recent update on genetic mechanisms leading to enteric neuropathies ranging from Hirschsprung’s disease (characterized by lack of any enteric neurons in the gut wall) up to more generalized form of dysmotility such as chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) with a significant reduction of enteric neurons. In this line, we will discuss the role of the RAD21 mutation, which we have demonstrated in a family whose affected members exhibited severe GI dysmotility. Other genes contributing to gut motility abnormalities will also be presented. In conclusion, the knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in enteric neuropathy may unveil strategies to better manage patients with neurogenic gut dysmotility and pave the way to targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Bianco
- Department of Veterinary Sciences; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Catia Sternini
- UCLA/DDRC, Division of Digestive Diseases, Departments Medicine and Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles CA.
| | - Elena Bonora
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna.
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16
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Flagelli A, Candini O, Frabetti S, Dominici M, Giardino L, Calzà L, Baldassarro VA. A Novel Three-Dimensional Culture Device Favors a Myelinating Morphology of Neural Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocytes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:759982. [PMID: 34660610 PMCID: PMC8517262 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.759982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The complexity of the central nervous system (CNS) requires researchers to consider all the variables linked to the interaction between the different cell inhabitants. On this basis, any in vitro study of the physiological and pathological processes regarding the CNS should consider the balance between the standardization of the assay and the complexity of the cellular system which mimics the in vivo microenvironment. One of the main structural and functional components of the CNS is the oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC), responsible for developmental myelination and myelin turnover and repair during adulthood following differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes. In the present brief research report, we describe a 3D culture tool (VITVO) based on an inert and biocompatible synthetic polymer material scaffold, functionalized with laminin coating, and tested as a new culture microenvironment for neural stem/precursor cell (NSPC) differentiation compared to standard 2D cultures. NSPCs spontaneously differentiate in the three neural lineages (neurons, astrocytes and OPCs), identified by specific markers, along the fibers in the 3D structure. Analysis of the mRNA levels for lineage differentiation markers reveals a higher expression compared to those seeded on a 2D surface, suggesting an acceleration of the differentiation process. We then focused on the oligodendroglial lineage, showing that in VITVO, mature oligodendrocytes exhibit a myelinating morphology, proven by 3D image elaboration, linked to a higher expression of mature oligodendrocyte markers. This preliminary study on an innovative 3D culture system is the first robust step in producing new microenvironment-based strategies to investigate in vitro OPC and oligodendrocyte biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Flagelli
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimo Dominici
- Rigenerand Srl, Modena, Italy.,Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University-Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and BioTechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Italy
| | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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17
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De Santis I, Lorenzini L, Moretti M, Martella E, Lucarelli E, Calzà L, Bevilacqua A. Co-Density Distribution Maps for Advanced Molecule Colocalization and Co-Distribution Analysis. Sensors (Basel) 2021; 21:6385. [PMID: 34640704 PMCID: PMC8513075 DOI: 10.3390/s21196385] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Cellular and subcellular spatial colocalization of structures and molecules in biological specimens is an important indicator of their co-compartmentalization and interaction. Presently, colocalization in biomedical images is addressed with visual inspection and quantified by co-occurrence and correlation coefficients. However, such measures alone cannot capture the complexity of the interactions, which does not limit itself to signal intensity. On top of the previously developed density distribution maps (DDMs), here, we present a method for advancing current colocalization analysis by introducing co-density distribution maps (cDDMs), which, uniquely, provide information about molecules absolute and relative position and local abundance. We exemplify the benefits of our method by developing cDDMs-integrated pipelines for the analysis of molecules pairs co-distribution in three different real-case image datasets. First, cDDMs are shown to be indicators of colocalization and degree, able to increase the reliability of correlation coefficients currently used to detect the presence of colocalization. In addition, they provide a simultaneously visual and quantitative support, which opens for new investigation paths and biomedical considerations. Finally, thanks to the coDDMaker software we developed, cDDMs become an enabling tool for the quasi real time monitoring of experiments and a potential improvement for a large number of biomedical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria De Santis
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, I-40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Interdepartmental Center Alma Mater Research Institute on Global Challenges and Climate Change (Alma Climate), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, I-40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy;
| | - Marzia Moretti
- Iret Foundation, I-40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy; (M.M.); (L.C.)
| | - Elisa Martella
- Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), National Research Council (CNR), I-40129 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Enrico Lucarelli
- Regenerative Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, I-40136 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Laura Calzà
- Iret Foundation, I-40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy; (M.M.); (L.C.)
- Department of Pharmacy and BioTechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, I-40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bevilacqua
- Advanced Research Center on Electronic Systems (ARCES) for Information and Communication Technologies “E. De Castro”, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, I-40125 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering (DISI), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, I-40136 Bologna, Italy
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18
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Alastra G, Aloe L, Baldassarro VA, Calzà L, Cescatti M, Duskey JT, Focarete ML, Giacomini D, Giardino L, Giraldi V, Lorenzini L, Moretti M, Parmeggiani I, Sannia M, Tosi G. Nerve Growth Factor Biodelivery: A Limiting Step in Moving Toward Extensive Clinical Application? Front Neurosci 2021; 15:695592. [PMID: 34335170 PMCID: PMC8319677 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.695592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) was the first-discovered member of the neurotrophin family, a class of bioactive molecules which exerts powerful biological effects on the CNS and other peripheral tissues, not only during development, but also during adulthood. While these molecules have long been regarded as potential drugs to combat acute and chronic neurodegenerative processes, as evidenced by the extensive data on their neuroprotective properties, their clinical application has been hindered by their unexpected side effects, as well as by difficulties in defining appropriate dosing and administration strategies. This paper reviews aspects related to the endogenous production of NGF in healthy and pathological conditions, along with conventional and biomaterial-assisted delivery strategies, in an attempt to clarify the impediments to the clinical application of this powerful molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Alastra
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- IRET Foundation, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Jason Thomas Duskey
- Nanotech Laboratory, TeFarTI Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Focarete
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Daria Giacomini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- IRET Foundation, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Giraldi
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Irene Parmeggiani
- Nanotech Laboratory, TeFarTI Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Michele Sannia
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tosi
- Nanotech Laboratory, TeFarTI Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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19
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Baldassarro VA, Flagelli A, Sannia M, Calzà L. Nuclear receptors and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Vitam Horm 2021; 116:389-407. [PMID: 33752826 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2021.02.002] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes are the cells responsible for myelin formation during development and in adulthood, both for normal myelin turnover and myelin repair. These highly specialized cells derive from the oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), through a complex differentiation process involving genetic and epigenetic regulation mechanisms, which switch the phenotype from a migratory and replicative precursor to a mature post-mitotic cell. The process is regulated by a plethora of molecules, involving neurotransmitters, growth factors, hormones and other small molecules, and is mainly driven by nuclear receptors (NRs). NRs are transcription factors with heterogeneous ligand-dependent and independent actions which differ for the cell target, the responsive gene and the formation of NR homo- or heterodimers. This chapter highlights the role of NRs in regulating OPC differentiation, also in view of drug discovery strategies aimed at targeting pathological conditions which interfere with both developmental myelination and remyelination in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Flagelli
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Sannia
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Bologna, Italy; IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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20
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Bighinati A, Khalajzeyqami Z, Baldassarro VA, Lorenzini L, Cescatti M, Moretti M, Giardino L, Calzà L. Time-Course Changes of Extracellular Matrix Encoding Genes Expression Level in the Spinal Cord Following Contusion Injury-A Data-Driven Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041744. [PMID: 33572341 PMCID: PMC7916102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041744] [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] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The involvement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in lesion evolution and functional outcome is well recognized in spinal cord injury. Most attention has been dedicated to the “core” area of the lesion and scar formation, while only scattered reports consider ECM modification based on the temporal evolution and the segments adjacent to the lesion. In this study, we investigated the expression profile of 100 genes encoding for ECM proteins at 1, 8 and 45 days post-injury, in the spinal cord segments rostral and caudal to the lesion and in the scar segment, in a rat model. During both the active lesion phases and the lesion stabilization, we observed an asymmetric gene expression induced by the injury, with a higher regulation in the rostral segment of genes involved in ECM remodeling, adhesion and cell migration. Using bioinformatic approaches, the metalloproteases inhibitor Timp1 and the hyaluronan receptor Cd44 emerged as the hub genes at all post-lesion times. Results from the bioinformatic gene expression analysis were then confirmed at protein level by tissue analysis and by cell culture using primary astrocytes. These results indicated that ECM regulation also takes place outside of the lesion area in spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bighinati
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (A.B.); (L.L.); (L.G.)
| | - Zahra Khalajzeyqami
- Fondazione IRET, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (Z.K.); (M.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (A.B.); (L.L.); (L.G.)
| | - Maura Cescatti
- Fondazione IRET, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (Z.K.); (M.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Marzia Moretti
- Fondazione IRET, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (Z.K.); (M.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (A.B.); (L.L.); (L.G.)
- Fondazione IRET, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy; (Z.K.); (M.C.); (M.M.)
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Laura Calzà
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy;
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, 40026 Imola (BO), Italy
- Correspondence:
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna; Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna; IRET Foundation, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna; Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Bologna, Italy
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22
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Fernández M, Pannella M, Baldassarro VA, Flagelli A, Alastra G, Giardino L, Calzà L. Thyroid Hormone Signaling in Embryonic Stem Cells: Crosstalk with the Retinoic Acid Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8945. [PMID: 33255695 PMCID: PMC7728128 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238945] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
While the role of thyroid hormones (THs) during fetal and postnatal life is well-established, their role at preimplantation and during blastocyst development remains unclear. In this study, we used an embryonic stem cell line isolated from rat (RESC) to study the effects of THs and retinoic acid (RA) on early embryonic development during the pre-implantation stage. The results showed that THs play an important role in the differentiation/maturation processes of cells obtained from embryoid bodies (EB), with thyroid hormone nuclear receptors (TR) (TRα and TRβ), metabolic enzymes (deiodinases 1, 2, 3) and membrane transporters (Monocarboxylate transporters -MCT- 8 and 10) being expressed throughout in vitro differentiation until the Embryoid body (EB) stage. Moreover, thyroid hormone receptor antagonist TR (1-850) impaired RA-induced neuroectodermal lineage specification. This effect was significantly higher when cells were treated with retinoic acid (RA) to induce neuroectodermal lineage, studied through the gene and protein expression of nestin, an undifferentiated progenitor marker from the neuroectoderm lineage, as established by nestin mRNA and protein regulation. These results demonstrate the contribution of the two nuclear receptors, TR and RA, to the process of neuroectoderm maturation of the in vitro model embryonic stem cells obtained from rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy; (M.F.); (L.G.)
| | - Micaela Pannella
- Fondazione IRET, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy;
| | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy; (V.A.B.); (A.F.); (G.A.)
| | - Alessandra Flagelli
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy; (V.A.B.); (A.F.); (G.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Alastra
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy; (V.A.B.); (A.F.); (G.A.)
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy; (M.F.); (L.G.)
- Fondazione IRET, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy;
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy; (M.F.); (L.G.)
- Fondazione IRET, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy;
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 41/E, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy; (V.A.B.); (A.F.); (G.A.)
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23
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Giuliani A, Lorenzini L, Baldassarro VA, Pannella M, Cescatti M, Fernandez M, Alastra G, Flagelli A, Villetti G, Imbimbo BP, Giardino L, Calzà L. Effects of Topical Application of CHF6467, a Mutated Form of Human Nerve Growth Factor, on Skin Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2020; 375:317-331. [PMID: 32948647 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.120.000110] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the protein responsible for the development and maintenance of sensory skin innervation. Given the role of appropriate innervation in skin healing, NGF has been indicated as a possible prohealing treatment in pathologic conditions characterized by nerve-ending loss, such as chronic ulcers in diabetes; however, its use as a therapeutic agent is limited by its hyperalgesic effect. We tested the effect of topical application of the nonalgogenic NGF derivative hNGFP61S/R100E in two models of skin ulcer induced in dbdb diabetic mice, investigating healing time, skin histology, reinnervation, and angiogenesis using morphologic and molecular approaches. We showed that the topical administration of CHF6467, a recombinant human NGF in which an amino acid substitution (R100E) abolished the hyperalgesic effect usually associated with NGF, accelerated skin repair in experimental wounds (full-excision and pressure-ulcer) induced in diabetic mice (dbdb). CHF6467-induced acceleration of wound healing was accompanied by increased re-epithelization, reinnervation, and revascularization as assessed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and image analysis. Bioinformatic analysis of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in the wound tissues showed that protein kinase B-mammalian target of rapamycin was the most regulated pathway. In spite of the transdermal absorption leading to measurable, dose-dependent increases in CHF6467 plasma levels, no systemic thermal or local mechanical hyperalgesia was observed in treated mice. When tested in vitro in human cell lines, CHF6467 stimulated keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation and tube formation by endothelial cells. Collectively, these results support a possible use of CHF6467 as a prohealing agent in skin lesions in diabetes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Topical application of CHF6467 accelerates reinnervation, neoangiogenesis, and wound healing in diabetic mice in both full-thickness skin-excision and pressure-ulcer models through the protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and does not induce hyperalgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Giuliani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - L Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - V A Baldassarro
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - M Pannella
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - M Cescatti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - M Fernandez
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - G Alastra
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - A Flagelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - G Villetti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - B P Imbimbo
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - L Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
| | - L Calzà
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy (A.G., L.L., M.F., L.G.); Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Life Sciences and Technologies University of Bologna, Italy (L.L., V.A.B., G.A., A.F, L.G., L.C.); Department of of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy (L.C.); Fondazione IRET, Ozzano Emilia, Italy (M.P., M.C.); Chiesi Farmaceutici, Parma, Italy (G.V., B.P.I.)
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24
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Bighinati A, Focarete ML, Gualandi C, Pannella M, Giuliani A, Beggiato S, Ferraro L, Lorenzini L, Giardino L, Calzà L. Improved Functional Recovery in Rat Spinal Cord Injury Induced by a Drug Combination Administered with an Implantable Polymeric Delivery System. J Neurotrauma 2020; 37:1708-1719. [PMID: 32212901 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an incurable condition, in which a cascade of cellular and molecular events triggered by inflammation and excitotoxicity impairs endogenous regeneration, namely remyelination and axonal outgrowth. We designed a treatment solution based on an implantable biomaterial (electrospun poly (l-lactic acid) [PLLA]) loaded with ibuprofen and triiodothyronine (T3) to counteract inflammation, thus improving endogenous regeneration. In vivo efficacy was tested by implanting the drug-loaded PLLA in the rat model of T8 contusion SCI. We observed the expected recovery of locomotion beginning on day 7. In PLLA-implanted rats (i.e., controls), the recovery stabilized at 21 days post-lesion (DPL), after which no further improvement was observed. On the contrary, in PLLA + ibuprofen (Ibu) + T3 (PLLA-Ibu-T3) rats a further recovery and a significant treatment effect were observed, also confirmed by the gait analysis on 49 DPL. Glutamate release at 24 h and 8 DPL was reduced in PLLA-Ibu-T3- compared to PLLA-implanted rats, such as the estimated lesion volume at 60 DPL. The myelin- and 200-neurofilament-positive area fraction was higher in PLLA-Ibu-T3-implanted rats, where the percentage of astrocytes was significantly reduced. The implant of a PLLA electrospun scaffold loaded with Ibu and T3 significantly improves the endogenous regeneration, leading to an improvement of functional locomotion outcome in the SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bighinati
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Focarete
- Health Sciences and Technologies (HST) CIRI-SDV, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician" and National Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Gualandi
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician" and National Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Giuliani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sarah Beggiato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Medicinal and Health Products, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Luca Ferraro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Medicinal and Health Products, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Iret Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Emilia, Italy
| | - Luca Lorenzini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Health Sciences and Technologies (HST) CIRI-SDV, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Iret Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Emilia, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Sciences and Technologies (HST) CIRI-SDV, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Iret Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Emilia, Italy.,Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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25
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Giuliani A, Sivilia S, Baldassarro VA, Gusciglio M, Lorenzini L, Sannia M, Calzà L, Giardino L. Age-Related Changes of the Neurovascular Unit in the Cerebral Cortex of Alzheimer Disease Mouse Models: A Neuroanatomical and Molecular Study. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2019; 78:101-112. [PMID: 30629191 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nly125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe age-related histological structure and molecular changes of the neurovascular unit (NVU) in the cerebral cortex of Tg2576 and age-matched wild-type (WT) mice. Major results can be summarized as follows: (i) β-amyloid (6E10)-immunoreactivity progressively increases in neurons and astrocytes of Tg2576 mice, reaching the highest concentration at 5 months and then decreasing as soon as extracellular plaque deposition begins; (ii) the synaptic puncta density of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in Tg2576 mice is unbalanced versus WT at all investigated ages, with a decrease in synaptophysin and VGLUT1; density of VGAT contacts is higher in 27-month-old Tg2576 versus WT mice; (iii) capillary density is higher in 5-month-old Tg2576 versus WT mice, then decreases to a lower density at 27 months, when the capillary-astrocyte interface is lower; and (iv) mRNA expression of genes involved in microvessel dynamics indicates age- and genotype-dependent changes in the expression levels of hypoxia-related genes, i.e. the highest level is in 5-month-old animals and there is impaired regulation in Tg2576. We conclude that at 5 months, when learning and memory impairment is already present in the absence of extracellular amyloid plaque deposition, Tg2576 mice display alterations in the structure and molecular regulation of the NVU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Giuliani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.,Pharmacy and Biotechnology Department (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Luca Lorenzini
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Sannia
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Pharmacy and Biotechnology Department (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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26
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Lovecchio J, Pannella M, Giardino L, Calzà L, Giordano E. A dynamic culture platform enhances the efficiency of the 3D HUVEC-based tube formation assay. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 117:789-797. [PMID: 31736057 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based in vitro biological models traditionally use monolayer cell cultures grown over plastic surfaces bathing in static media. Higher fidelity to a natural biological tissue is expected to result from growing the cells in a three-dimensional (3D) matrix. However, due to the decreased rate of diffusion inherent to increased distances within a tridimensional space, proper fluidic conditions are needed in this setting to better approximate a physiological environment. To this aim, we here propose a prototypal dynamic cell culture platform for the automatic medium replacement, via periodic perfusion flow, in a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) culture seeded in a Geltrex™ matrix. A state-of-the-art angiogenesis assay performed in these dynamic conditions showed sizable effects with respect to conventional static control cultures, with significantly enhanced pro-(dual antiplatelet therapy [DAPT]) and anti-(EDTA) angiogenic compound activity. In particular, dynamic culture conditions (a) enhance the 3D-organization of HUVECs into microtubule structure; (b) accelerate and improve endothelial tube formation by HUVECs in the presence of DAPT; (c) are able to completely revert the blocking effects of EDTA. These evidence emphasize the need of setting proper fluidic conditions for a better approximation of a physiological environment as an appropriate evolution of current cell culture paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Lovecchio
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Engineering "Silvio Cavalcanti"-Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi" (DEI), University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Micaela Pannella
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emanuele Giordano
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Engineering "Silvio Cavalcanti"-Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi" (DEI), University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy.,Advanced Research Center on Electronic Systems "Ercole De Castro", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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27
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Gostynska N, Pannella M, Rocco ML, Giardino L, Aloe L, Calzà L. The pleiotropic molecule NGF regulates the in vitro properties of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells: implications for wound healing. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2019; 318:C360-C371. [PMID: 31774700 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00180.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is recognized as a pleiotropic molecule, exerting a variety of biological effects on different cell types and pathophysiological conditions, and its role in tissue wound healing has been recently highlighted. However, the preferential cellular target of NGF is still elusive in the complex cellular and molecular cross talk that accompanies wound healing. Thus, to explore possible NGF cellular targets in skin wound healing, we investigated the in vitro NGF responsiveness of keratinocytes (cell line HEKa), fibroblasts (cell line BJ), and endothelial cells (cell line HUVEC), also in the presence of adverse microenvironmental conditions, e.g., hyperglycemia. The main results are summarized as follows: 1) NGF stimulates keratinocyte proliferation and HUVEC proliferation and angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner although it has no effect on fibroblast proliferation; 2) NGF stimulates keratinocyte but not fibroblast migration in the wound healing assay; and 3) NGF completely reverts the proliferation impairment of keratinocytes and the angiogenesis impairment of HUVECs induced by high d-glucose concentration in the culture medium. These results contribute to better understanding possible targets for the therapeutic use of NGF in skin repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Gostynska
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - M Pannella
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - M L Rocco
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - L Giardino
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.,Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - L Aloe
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
| | - L Calzà
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy
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28
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Baldassarro VA, Marchesini A, Giardino L, Calzà L. Differential effects of glucose deprivation on the survival of fetal versus adult neural stem cells-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Glia 2019; 68:898-917. [PMID: 31755592 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Impaired myelination is a key feature in neonatal hypoxia/ischemia (HI), the most common perinatal/neonatal cause of death and permanent disabilities, which is triggered by the establishment of an inflammatory and hypoxic environment during the most critical period of myelin development. This process is dependent on oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and their capability to differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes. In this study, we investigated the vulnerability of fetal and adult OPCs derived from neural stem cells (NSCs) to inflammatory and HI insults. The resulting OPCs/astrocytes cultures were exposed to cytokines to mimic inflammation, or to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to mimic an HI condition. The differentiation of both fetal and adult OPCs is completely abolished following exposure to inflammatory cytokines, while only fetal-derived OPCs degenerate when exposed to OGD. We then investigated possible mechanisms involved in OGD-mediated toxicity: (a) T3-mediated maturation induction; (b) glutamate excitotoxicity; (c) glucose metabolism. We found that while no substantial differences were observed in T3 intracellular content regulation and glutamate-mediated toxicity, glucose deprivation lead to selective OPC cell death and impaired differentiation in fetal cultures only. These results indicate that the biological response of OPCs to inflammation and demyelination is different in fetal and adult cells, and that the glucose metabolism perturbation in fetal central nervous system (CNS) may significantly contribute to neonatal pathologies. An understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism will contribute greatly to differentiating myelination enhancing and neuroprotective therapies for neonatal and adult CNS white matter lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch, France
| | | | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.,Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
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29
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Borjini N, Sivilia S, Giuliani A, Fernandez M, Giardino L, Facchinetti F, Calzà L. Potential biomarkers for neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration at short and long term after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic insult in rat. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:194. [PMID: 31660990 PMCID: PMC6819609 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1595-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy causes life-long morbidity and premature mortality in term neonates. Therapies in addition to whole-body cooling are under development to treat the neonate at risk for HI encephalopathy, but are not a quickly measured serum inflammatory or neuronal biomarkers to rapidly and accurately identify brain injury in order to follow the efficacy of therapies. METHODS In order to identify potential biomarkers for early inflammatory and neurodegenerative events after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia, both male and female Wistar rat pups at postnatal day 7 (P7) were used and had their right carotid artery permanently doubly occluded and exposed to 8% oxygen for 90 min. Sensory and cognitive parameters were assessed by open field, rotarod, CatWalk, and Morris water maze (MWM) test. Plasma and CSF biomarkers were investigated on the acute (24 h and 72 h) and chronic phase (4 weeks). Brains were assessed for gene expression analysis by quantitative RT-PCR Array. RESULTS We found a delay of neurological reflex maturation in HI rats. We observed anxiolytic-like baseline behavior in males more than females following HI injury. HI rats held on the rotarod for a shorter time comparing to sham. HI injury impaired spatial learning ability on MWM test. The CatWalk assessment demonstrated a long-term deficit in gait parameters related to the hind paw. Proinflammatory biomarkers such as IL-6 in plasma and CCL2 and TNF-α in CSF showed an upregulation at 24 h after HI while other cytokines, such as IL-17A and CCL5, were upregulated after 72 h in CSF. At 24 h post-injury, we observed an increase of Edn1, Hif1-α, and Mmp9 mRNA levels in the ipsilateral vs the contralateral hemisphere of HI rats. An upregulation of genes involved with clotting and hematopoietic processes was observed 72 h post-injury. CONCLUSIONS Our work showed that, in the immature brain, the HI injury induced an early increased production of several proinflammatory mediators detectable in plasma and CSF, followed by tissue damage in the hypoxic hemisphere and short-term as well as long-lasting neurobehavioral deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozha Borjini
- Corporate Pre-clinical R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Largo Belloli 11/A, 43122, Parma, Italy. .,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy. .,IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.
| | - Sandra Sivilia
- IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giuliani
- IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.,Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Mercedes Fernandez
- IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.,Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.,Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Facchinetti
- Corporate Pre-clinical R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Largo Belloli 11/A, 43122, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, I-40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41, 40064, Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
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30
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Fernández M, Baldassarro VA, Capirossi R, Montevecchi R, Bonavita J, Cescatti M, Giovannini T, Giovannini G, Uneddu M, Giovanni G, Giardino L, Calzà L. Possible Strategies to Optimize a Biomarker Discovery Approach to Correlate with Neurological Outcome in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study. J Neurotrauma 2019; 37:431-440. [PMID: 31215324 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers for spinal cord injured (SCI) patients is a severe obstacle in development and testing of new therapies, and it also impairs appropriate rehabilitation care. The sparse available data on the biochemical composition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during the acute and/or chronic phase of the lesion provide, up until now, inconsistent results. In this pilot study, we then explored the possibility of combining a multi-parametric and bioinformatic analysis of CSF for its biological properties tested on different cells types, suitable for investigating inflammation and re-myelination. The patient enrollment was based on stringent inclusion criteria; that is, cervical and thoracic SCI trauma, CSF collection within 24 h of trauma, type of surgical approach for spine stabilization, and absence of steroid therapy before CSF collection. Eleven SCI patients and four healthy controls were included, and in three patients, CSF was also collected at 3 months after lesion. We identified 19 proteins among the 60 investigated cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and structural biomarkers, which are transiently regulated 24 h after SCI. A bioinformatic analysis indicated that interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 are in the core of the interconnected net of activated proteins. Cell-based experiments indicate that CSF from SCI patients stimulates astroglia derivation from neural precursor cells, and an inverse correlation between IL-8 CSF level and oligodendrocyte precursor cells generated from neural stem cells was also observed. Results from this pilot study suggest that using a combined bioanalytic and biological approach to analyze SCI CSF at different times after injury could be a useful approach for identifying reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers in SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences-DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Department of Health Sciences and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research-CIRI-SDV, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-Fabit, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Capirossi
- Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute SpA, Imola, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Montevecchi
- Bologna Local Health Authority - Intensive Care Unit, EMS and Trauma Centre, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jacopo Bonavita
- Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute SpA, Imola, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Mariella Uneddu
- Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute SpA, Imola, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gordini Giovanni
- Bologna Local Health Authority - Intensive Care Unit, EMS and Trauma Centre, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences-DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research-CIRI-SDV, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Health Sciences and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research-CIRI-SDV, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-Fabit, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
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Bernardini C, Bertocchi M, Zannoni A, Salaroli R, Tubon I, Dothel G, Fernandez M, Bacci ML, Calzà L, Forni M. Constitutive and LPS-stimulated secretome of porcine Vascular Wall-Mesenchymal Stem Cells exerts effects on in vitro endothelial angiogenesis. BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:123. [PMID: 31029157 PMCID: PMC6487069 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-1873-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MSCs secretome is under investigation as an alternative to whole-cell-based therapies, since it is enriched of bioactive molecules: growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. Taking into account the translational value of the pig model, the leading aim of the present paper was to characterize the secretome of porcine Vascular Wall–Mesenchymal Stem Cells (pVW-MSCs) and its change in presence of LPS stimulation. Moreover, considering the importance of angiogenesis in regenerative mechanisms, we analysed the effect of pVW-MSCs secretome on in vitro angiogenesis. Results Our results demonstrated that conditioned medium from unstimulated pVW-MSCs contained high levels of IL-8, GM-CSF, IFN-γ and other immunomodulatory proteins: IL-6 IL-18 IL-4 IL-2 IL-10. LPS modulates pVW-MSCs gene expression and secretome composition, in particular a significant increase of IL-6 and IL-8 was observed; conversely, the amount of GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-18 showed a significant transient decrease with the LPS stimulation. Conditioned medium from unstimulated pVW-MSCs induced in vitro endothelial angiogenesis, which is more evident when the conditioned medium was from LPS stimulated pVW-MSCs. Conclusions The lines of evidence here presented shed a light on possible future application of secretome derived by pVW-MSCs on research studies in translational regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bernardini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Martina Bertocchi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Augusta Zannoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Salaroli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Irvin Tubon
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.,Escuela de Enfermeria, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Regional Autónoma de Los Andes UNIANDES, Ambato, EC180150, Ecuador
| | - Giovanni Dothel
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences - DIMEC, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mercedes Fernandez
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Bacci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology - FaBiT, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Monica Forni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences DIMEVET, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
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Baldassarro VA, Krężel W, Fernández M, Schuhbaur B, Giardino L, Calzà L. The role of nuclear receptors in the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells derived from fetal and adult neural stem cells. Stem Cell Res 2019; 37:101443. [PMID: 31022610 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) differentiation from multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) into mature oligodendrocytes is driven by thyroid hormone and mediated by thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). We show that several nuclear receptors display strong changes in expression levels between fetal and adult NSCs, with an overexpression of TRβ and a lower expression of RXRγ in adult. Such changes may determine the reduced capacity of adult OPCs to differentiate as supported by reduced yield of maturation and compromised mRNA expression of key genes. RXRγ may be the determinant of these differences, on the evidence of reduced number of mature oligodendrocytes and increased number of proliferating OPCs in RXRγ-/- cultures. Such data also points to RXRγ as an important regulator of the cell cycle exit, as proved by the dysregulation of T3-induced cell cycle exit-related genes. Our data highlight the biological differences between fetal and adult OPCs and demonstrate the essential role of RXRγ in the T3-mediated OPCs maturation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy; Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France; Inserm, U1258 Illkirch, France; CNRS, UMR, 7104 Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
| | - Wojciech Krężel
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France; Inserm, U1258 Illkirch, France; CNRS, UMR, 7104 Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | | | - Brigitte Schuhbaur
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France; Inserm, U1258 Illkirch, France; CNRS, UMR, 7104 Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy; IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
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33
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Tziraki-Segal C, De Luca V, Santana S, Romano R, Tramontano G, Scattola P, Celata C, Gelmi G, Ponce Márquez S, Lopez-Samaniego L, Zavagli V, Halkoaho A, Grimes C, Tomás MT, Fernandes B, Calzà L, Speranza P, Coppola L, Jager-Wittenaar H, O'Caoimh R, Pietilä AM, Carriazo AM, Apostolo J, Iaccarino G, Liotta G, Tramontano D, Molloy W, Triassi M, Viggiani V, Illario M. Creating a Culture of Health in Planning and Implementing Innovative Strategies Addressing Non-communicable Chronic Diseases. Front Sociol 2019; 4:9. [PMID: 33869336 PMCID: PMC8022497 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2019.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing demographic changes are challenging health systems worldwide especially in relation to increasing longevity and the resultant rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To meet these challenges, a paradigm shift to a more proactive approach to health promotion, and maintenance is needed. This new paradigm focuses on creating and implementing an ecological model of Culture of Health. The conceptualization of the Culture of Health is defined as one where good health and well-being flourish across geographic, demographic, and social sectors; fostering healthy equitable communities where citizens have the opportunity to make choices and be co-producers of healthy lifestyles. Based on Antonovsky's Salutogenesis model which asserts that the experience of health moves along a continuum across the lifespan, we will identify the key drivers for achieving a Culture of Health. These include mindset/expectations, sense of community, and civic engagement. The present article discusses these drivers and identifies areas where policy and research actions are needed to advance positive change on population health and well-being. We highlight empirical evidence of drivers within the EU guided by the activities within the thematic Action Groups of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Aging (EIP on AHA), focusing on Lifespan Health Promotion and Prevention of Age-Related Frailty and Disease (A3 Action Group). We will specifically focus on the effect of Culture on Health, highlighting cross-cutting drivers across domains such as innovations at the individual and community level, and in synergies with business, policy, and research entities. We will present examples of drivers for creating a Culture of Health, the barriers, the remaining gaps, and areas of future research to achieve an inclusive and sustainable asset-based community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chariklia Tziraki-Segal
- Israel Gerontological Data Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- MELABEV- Community Clubs for Elders, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Vincenzo De Luca
- Research and Development Unit, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Silvina Santana
- Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, Institute of Electronics and Informatics Engineering of Aveiro, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rosa Romano
- Research and Development Unit, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tramontano
- Research and Development Unit, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Scattola
- Health Protection Agency of the Metropolitan City of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Corrado Celata
- Health Promotion, Screening and Prevention Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Giusi Gelmi
- Health Protection Agency of the Metropolitan City of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Ponce Márquez
- International Research Projects Office (IRPO), Universidad de Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Luz Lopez-Samaniego
- Progress and Health Foundation, Regional Ministry of Health of Andalucía, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Arja Halkoaho
- School of Health Care and Social Services Education and R&D, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, Finland
| | - Corrina Grimes
- Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Teresa Tomás
- Health and Technology Research Center, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Beatriz Fernandes
- Health and Technology Research Center, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Speranza
- General Affairs Unit, Federico II University Hospital, Naples, Italy
| | - Liliana Coppola
- Health Promotion, Screening and Prevention Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Harriët Jager-Wittenaar
- Research Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Rónán O'Caoimh
- Department of Medicine, Clinical Sciences Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Anna-Maija Pietilä
- Department of Nursing Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Joao Apostolo
- The Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing, Nursing School of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Guido Iaccarino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Liotta
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Tramontano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - William Molloy
- Clinical Gerontology and Rehabilitation Centre, Gerontology and Rehabilitation School of Medicine, University College of Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Maria Triassi
- Department of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Maddalena Illario
- Health Innovation Division, General Directorate for Health, Naples, Italy
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Beltrami D, Gagliardi G, Rossini Favretti R, Ghidoni E, Tamburini F, Calzà L. Speech Analysis by Natural Language Processing Techniques: A Possible Tool for Very Early Detection of Cognitive Decline? Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:369. [PMID: 30483116 PMCID: PMC6243042 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [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: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The discovery of early, non-invasive biomarkers for the identification of “preclinical” or “pre-symptomatic” Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is a key issue in the field, especially for research purposes, the design of preventive clinical trials, and drafting population-based health care policies. Complex behaviors are natural candidates for this. In particular, recent studies have suggested that speech alterations might be one of the earliest signs of cognitive decline, frequently noticeable years before other cognitive deficits become apparent. Traditional neuropsychological language tests provide ambiguous results in this context. In contrast, the analysis of spoken language productions by Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques can pinpoint language modifications in potential patients. This interdisciplinary study aimed at using NLP to identify early linguistic signs of cognitive decline in a population of elderly individuals. Methods: We enrolled 96 participants (age range 50–75): 48 healthy controls (CG) and 48 cognitively impaired participants: 16 participants with single domain amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), 16 with multiple domain MCI (mdMCI) and 16 with early Dementia (eD). Each subject underwent a brief neuropsychological screening composed by MMSE, MoCA, GPCog, CDT, and verbal fluency (phonemic and semantic). The spontaneous speech during three tasks (describing a complex picture, a typical working day and recalling a last remembered dream) was then recorded, transcribed and annotated at various linguistic levels. A multidimensional parameter computation was performed by a quantitative analysis of spoken texts, computing rhythmic, acoustic, lexical, morpho-syntactic, and syntactic features. Results: Neuropsychological tests showed significant differences between controls and mdMCI, and between controls and eD participants; GPCog, MoCA, PF, and SF also discriminated between controls and aMCI. In the linguistic experiments, a number of features regarding lexical, acoustic and syntactic aspects were significant in differentiating between mdMCI, eD, and CG (non-parametric statistical analysis). Some features, mainly in the acoustic domain also discriminated between CG and aMCI. Conclusions: Linguistic features of spontaneous speech transcribed and analyzed by NLP techniques show significant differences between controls and pathological states (not only eD but also MCI) and seems to be a promising approach for the identification of preclinical stages of dementia. Long duration follow-up studies are needed to confirm this assumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Beltrami
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Gloria Gagliardi
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Classical Philology and Italian Studies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rema Rossini Favretti
- Department of Classical Philology and Italian Studies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Ghidoni
- Clinical Neuropsychology Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Fabio Tamburini
- Department of Classical Philology and Italian Studies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Giuliani A, Balducci AG, Zironi E, Colombo G, Bortolotti F, Lorenzini L, Galligioni V, Pagliuca G, Scagliarini A, Calzà L, Sonvico F. In vivo nose-to-brain delivery of the hydrophilic antiviral ribavirin by microparticle agglomerates. Drug Deliv 2018; 25:376-387. [PMID: 29382237 PMCID: PMC6058489 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2018.1428242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nasal administration has been proposed as a potential approach for the delivery of drugs to the central nervous system. Ribavirin (RBV), an antiviral drug potentially useful to treat viral infections both in humans and animals, has been previously demonstrated to attain several brain compartments after nasal administration. Here, a powder formulation in the form of agglomerates comprising micronized RBV and spray-dried microparticles containing excipients with potential absorption enhancing properties, i.e. mannitol, chitosan, and α-cyclodextrin, was developed for nasal insufflation. The agglomerates were characterized for particle size, agglomeration yield, and ex vivo RBV permeation across rabbit nasal mucosa as well as delivery from an animal dry powder insufflator device. Interestingly, permeation enhancers such as chitosan and mannitol showed a lower amount of RBV permeating across the excised nasal tissue, whereas α-cyclodextrin proved to outperform the other formulations and to match the highly soluble micronized RBV powder taken as a reference. In vivo nasal administration to rats of the agglomerates containing α-cyclodextrin showed an overall higher accumulation of RBV in all the brain compartments analyzed as compared with the micronized RBV administered as such without excipient microparticles. Hence, powder agglomerates are a valuable approach to obtain a nasal formulation potentially attaining nose-to-brain delivery of drugs with minimal processing of the APIs and improvement of the technological and biopharmaceutical properties of micronized API and excipients, as they combine optimal flow properties for handling and dosing, suitable particle size for nasal deposition, high surface area for drug dissolution, and penetration enhancing properties from excipients such as cyclodextrins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Giuliani
- a Department of Veterinary Medical Science , Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna , Ozzano , Italy
| | - Anna Giulia Balducci
- b Department of Food and Drug , University of Parma , Parma , Italy.,c Interdepartmental Center for Health Products - Biopharmanet TEC, University of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - Elisa Zironi
- a Department of Veterinary Medical Science , Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna , Ozzano , Italy
| | - Gaia Colombo
- d Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bortolotti
- d Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy
| | | | - Viola Galligioni
- a Department of Veterinary Medical Science , Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna , Ozzano , Italy
| | - Giampiero Pagliuca
- a Department of Veterinary Medical Science , Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna , Ozzano , Italy
| | - Alessandra Scagliarini
- a Department of Veterinary Medical Science , Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna , Ozzano , Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- e IRET Foundation , Ozzano , (BO) , Italy.,f Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology , Ozzano , Italy
| | - Fabio Sonvico
- b Department of Food and Drug , University of Parma , Parma , Italy.,c Interdepartmental Center for Health Products - Biopharmanet TEC, University of Parma , Parma , Italy
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Calzà L, Baldassarro VA, Fernandez M, Giuliani A, Lorenzini L, Giardino L. Thyroid Hormone and the White Matter of the Central Nervous System: From Development to Repair. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2018; 106:253-281. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2017.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Baldassarro VA, Marchesini A, Facchinetti F, Villetti G, Calzà L, Giardino L. Cell death in pure-neuronal and neuron-astrocyte mixed primary culture subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation: The contribution of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases and caspases. Microchem J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Baldassarro VA, Marchesini A, Giardino L, Calzà L. PARP activity and inhibition in fetal and adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells: Effect on cell survival and differentiation. Stem Cell Res 2017; 22:54-60. [PMID: 28600955 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2017.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family members are ubiquitously expressed and play a key role in cellular processes, including DNA repair and cell death/survival balance. Accordingly, PARP inhibition is an emerging pharmacological strategy for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Consistent evidences support the critical involvement of PARP family members in cell differentiation and phenotype maturation. In this study we used an oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) enriched system derived from fetal and adult brain to investigate the role of PARP in OPCs proliferation, survival, and differentiation. The PARP inhibitors PJ34, TIQ-A and Olaparib were used as pharmacological tools. The main results of the study are: (i) PARP mRNA expression and PARP activity are much higher in fetal than in adult-derived OPCs; (ii) the culture treatment with PARP inhibitors is cytotoxic for OPCs derived from fetal, but not from adult, brain; (iii) PARP inhibition reduces cell number, according to the inhibitory potency of the compounds; (iv) PARP inhibition effect on fetal OPCs is a slow process; (v) PARP inhibition impairs OPCs maturation into myelinating OL in fetal, but not in adult cultures, according to the inhibitory potency of the compounds. These results have implications for PARP-inhibition therapies for diseases and lesions of the central nervous system, in particular for neonatal hypoxic/ischemic encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito A Baldassarro
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy; IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.
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39
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Baldassarro VA, Marchesini A, Giardino L, Calzà L. Vulnerability of primary neurons derived from Tg2576 Alzheimer mice to oxygen and glucose deprivation: role of intraneuronal amyloid-β accumulation and astrocytes. Dis Model Mech 2017; 10:671-678. [PMID: 28237964 PMCID: PMC5451168 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.028001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Microvascular dysfunction is considered an integral part of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis, but the possible relationship between amyloid pathology, microvascular dysfunction and cell death is still unclear. In order to investigate the influence of intraneuronal amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation on vulnerability to hypoxia, we isolated primary cortical neurons from Tg2576 (carrying the amyloid precursor protein APPSwe mutation) and wild-type fetal mice. We first demonstrated that neurons isolated from Tg2576 newborn mice show an increase in VEGFa mRNA expression and a decrease in the expression of the two VEGF receptors, Flt1 and Kdr, compared with wild-type cells. Moreover, APPSwe primary neurons displayed higher spontaneous and glutamate-induced cell death. We then deprived the cultures of oxygen and glucose (OGD) as an in vitro model of hypoxia. After OGD, APPSwe neurons display higher levels of cell death in terms of percentage of pyknotic/fragmented nuclei and mitochondrial depolarization, accompanied by an increase in the intraneuronal Aβ content. To explore the influence of intraneuronal Aβ peptide accumulation, we used the γ-secretase inhibitor LY450139, which showed that the reduction of the intracellular amyloid fully protects APPSwe neurons from OGD-induced degeneration. Conditioned medium from OGD-exposed APPSwe or wild-type astrocytes protected APPswe neurons but not wild-type neurons, during OGD. In conclusion, the presence of the mutated human APP gene, leading to the intracellular accumulation of APP and Aβ fragments, worsens OGD toxicity. Protection of APPSwe neurons can be obtained either using a γ-secretase inhibitor or astrocyte conditioned medium. Summary:In vitro systems derived from AD mice can be used to investigate the vulnerability of AD neurons to different neurotoxic challenges, including oxygen glucose deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Science and Technologies (ICIR - HST), University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Luciana Giardino
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Science and Technologies (ICIR - HST), University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Medical Veterinary Sciences (DIMEVET), University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy.,Fondazione IRET, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Health Science and Technologies (ICIR - HST), University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy .,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.,Fondazione IRET, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
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Lorenzini L, Giuliani A, Sivilia S, Baldassarro VA, Fernandez M, Margotti ML, Giardino L, Fontani V, Rinaldi S, Calzà L. Erratum: Erratum: REAC technology modifies pathological neuroinflammation and motor behaviour in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37483. [PMID: 27857200 PMCID: PMC5114522 DOI: 10.1038/srep37483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
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Borjini N, Fernández M, Giardino L, Calzà L. Cytokine and chemokine alterations in tissue, CSF, and plasma in early presymptomatic phase of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), in a rat model of multiple sclerosis. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:291. [PMID: 27846891 PMCID: PMC5111339 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0757-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used experimental animal model for human multiple sclerosis (MS) that has been used so far to study the acute and remission-relapsing phases of the disease. Despite the vast literature on neuroinflammation onset and progression in EAE, important questions are still open regarding in particular the early asymptomatic phase between immunization and clinical onset. METHODS In this study, we performed a time-course investigation of neuroinflammation and demyelination biomarkers in the spinal cord (SC), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and blood in EAE induced in dark agouti (DA) female rats compared to the controls and adjuvant-injected rats, using high-throughput technologies for gene expression and protein assays and focusing on the time-course between immunization, clinical onset (1, 5, 8 days post-immunization (DPI)), and progression (11 and 18 DPI). The expression profile of 84 genes related to T cell activation/signaling, adaptive immunity, cytokine/chemokine inflammation, demyelination, and cellular stress were analyzed in the tissue; 24 cytokines were measured in the CSF and plasma. RESULTS The macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF1) was the first up-regulated protein as far as 1 DPI, not only in blood but also in CSF and SC. A treatment with GW2580, a selective CSF1R inhibitor, slowed the disease progression, significantly reduced the severity, and prevented the relapse phase. Moreover, both pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-5, IL-10, VEGF) were up-regulated starting from 8 DPI. Myelin genes were down-regulated starting from 8 DPI, especially MAL, MBP, and PMP22 while an opposite expression profile was observed for inflammation-related genes, such as CXCL11 and CXCL10. CONCLUSIONS This early cytokine and chemokine regulation indicates that novel biomarkers and therapeutic options could be explored in the asymptomatic phase of EAE. Overall, our findings provide clear evidence that CSF1R signaling regulates inflammation in EAE, supporting therapeutic targeting of CSF1R in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozha Borjini
- Research and Development, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Via Palermo 26/A, Parma, 43100 Italy
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, Ozzano Emilia I 40064 Italy
- IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, Ozzano Emilia 40064 Italy
| | - Mercedes Fernández
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, Ozzano Emilia 40064 Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, Ozzano Emilia I 40064 Italy
- IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, Ozzano Emilia 40064 Italy
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano Emilia, BO 40064 Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, Ozzano Emilia I 40064 Italy
- IRET Foundation, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, Ozzano Emilia 40064 Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 41/E, Bologna, Ozzano Emilia 40064 Italy
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Lorenzini L, Giuliani A, Sivilia S, Baldassarro VA, Fernandez M, Lotti Margotti M, Giardino L, Fontani V, Rinaldi S, Calzà L. REAC technology modifies pathological neuroinflammation and motor behaviour in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35719. [PMID: 27775040 PMCID: PMC5075930 DOI: 10.1038/srep35719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for new therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer disease (AD) is a major goal in medicine and society, also due to the impressive economic and social costs of this disease. In this scenario, biotechnologies play an important role. Here, it is demonstrated that the Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC), an innovative technology platform for neuro- and bio-modulation, used according to the neuro-regenerative protocol (RGN-N), significantly increases astroglial reaction around the amyloid plaques in an AD mouse model, as evaluated by GFAP-immunoreactivity, and reduces microglia-associated neuroinflammation markers, as evaluated by Iba1-immunoreactivity and mRNA expression level of inflammatory cytokines TREM. IL1beta, iNOS and MRC1 were not affected neither by the genotype or by REAC RGN-N treatment. Also observed was an increase in locomotion in treated animals. The study was performed in 24-month-old male Tg2576 mice and age-matching wild-type animals, tested for Y-maze, contextual fear conditioning and locomotion immediately after the end of a specific REAC treatment administered for 15 hours/day for 15 days. These results demonstrated that REAC RGN-N treatment modifies pathological neuroinflammation, and mitigates part of the complex motor behaviour alterations observed in very old Tg2576 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra Sivilia
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR). University of Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Mercedes Fernandez
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR). University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Lotti Margotti
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence, Italy.,Research Department, Rinaldi Fontani Foundation, Florence, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.,Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Italy.,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR). University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Vania Fontani
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence, Italy.,Research Department, Rinaldi Fontani Foundation, Florence, Italy
| | - Salvatore Rinaldi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence, Italy.,Research Department, Rinaldi Fontani Foundation, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.,Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR). University of Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy
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Baldassarro VA, Dolci LS, Mangano C, Giardino L, Gualandi C, Focarete ML, Calzà L. In Vitro Testing of Biomaterials for Neural Repair: Focus on Cellular Systems and High-Content Analysis. Biores Open Access 2016; 5:201-11. [PMID: 27588220 PMCID: PMC4991583 DOI: 10.1089/biores.2016.0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomimetic materials are designed to stimulate specific cellular responses at the molecular level. To improve the soundness of in vitro testing of the biological impact of new materials, appropriate cell systems and technologies must be standardized also taking regulatory issues into consideration. In this study, the biological and molecular effects of different scaffolds on three neural systems, that is, the neural cell line SH-SY5Y, primary cortical neurons, and neural stem cells, were compared. The effect of poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds having different surface geometry (conventional two-dimensional seeding flat surface, random or aligned fibers as semi3D structure) and chemical functionalization (laminin or ECM extract) were studied. The endpoints were defined for efficacy (i.e., neural differentiation and neurite elongation) and for safety (i.e., cell death/survival) using high-content analysis. It is demonstrated that (i) the definition of the biological properties of biomaterials is profoundly influenced by the test system used; (ii) the definition of the in vitro safety profile of biomaterials for neural repair is also influenced by the test system; (iii) cell-based high-content screening may well be successfully used to characterize both the efficacy and safety of novel biomaterials, thus speeding up and improving the soundness of this critical step in material science having medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luisa Stella Dolci
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Mangano
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Gualandi
- Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician" and National Consortium of Materials, Science, and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Focarete
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician" and National Consortium of Materials, Science, and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Fernández M, Baldassarro VA, Sivilia S, Giardino L, Calzà L. Inflammation severely alters thyroid hormone signaling in the central nervous system during experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in rat: Direct impact on OPCs differentiation failure. Glia 2016; 64:1573-89. [PMID: 27404574 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into myelinating oligodendrocytes is severely impaired by inflammatory cytokines and this could lead to remyelination failure in inflammatory/demyelinating diseases. Due to the role of thyroid hormone in the maturation of OPCs and developmental myelination, in this study we investigated (i) the possible occurrence of dysregulation of thyroid hormone signaling in the CNS tissue during experimental neuroinflammation; (ii) the possible impact of inflammatory cytokines on thyroid hormone signaling and OPCs differentiation in vitro. The disease model is the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in female Dark-Agouti rats, whereas in vitro experiments were carried out in OPCs derived from neural stem cells. The main results are the following: (i) a strong upregulation of cytokine mRNA expression level was found in the spinal cord during experimental allergic encephalomyelitis; (ii) thyroid hormone signaling in the spinal cord (thyroid hormone receptors; deiodinase; thyroid hormone membrane transporter) is substantially downregulated, due to the upregulation of the thyroid hormone inactivating enzyme deiodinase 3 and the downregulation of thyroid hormone receptors, as investigated at mRNA expression level; (iii) when exposed to inflammatory cytokines, deiodinase 3 is upregulated in OPCs as well, and OPCs differentiation is blocked; (iv) deiodinase 3 inhibition by iopanoic acid recovers OPCs differentiation in the presence on inflammatory cytokines. These data suggest that cellular hypothyroidism occurs during experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, possibly impacting on thyroid hormone-dependent cellular processes, including maturation of OPCs into myelinating oligodendrocytes. GLIA 2016;64:1573-1589.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Fernández
- Health Science and Technology Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vito A Baldassarro
- Health Science and Technology Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sandra Sivilia
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technology Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy
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45
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Sivilia S, Mangano C, Beggiato S, Giuliani A, Torricella R, Baldassarro VA, Fernandez M, Lorenzini L, Giardino L, Borelli AC, Ferraro L, Calzà L. CDKL5 knockout leads to altered inhibitory transmission in the cerebellum of adult mice. Genes, Brain and Behavior 2016; 15:491-502. [DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Sivilia
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science; University of Bologna; Bologna
| | - C. Mangano
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science; University of Bologna; Bologna
| | - S. Beggiato
- Department of Medical Sciences; University of Ferrara; Ferrara
| | - A. Giuliani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science; University of Bologna; Bologna
| | - R. Torricella
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR); University of Bologna; Bologna
| | - V. A. Baldassarro
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR); University of Bologna; Bologna
| | - M. Fernandez
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR); University of Bologna; Bologna
| | - L. Lorenzini
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR); University of Bologna; Bologna
| | - L. Giardino
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science; University of Bologna; Bologna
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR); University of Bologna; Bologna
| | - A. C. Borelli
- Department of Medical Sciences; University of Ferrara; Ferrara
| | - L. Ferraro
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology; University of Ferrara; Ferrara
| | - L. Calzà
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science; University of Bologna; Bologna
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR); University of Bologna; Bologna
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology; University of Bologna; Bologna Italy
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Santulli G, Borras C, Bousquet J, Calzà L, Cano A, Illario M, Franceschi C, Liotta G, Maggio M, Molloy WD, Montuori N, O’Caoimh R, Orfila F, Rauter AP, Santoro A, Iaccarino G. Models for preclinical studies in aging-related disorders: One is not for all. Transl Med UniSa 2016; 13:4-12. [PMID: 27042427 PMCID: PMC4811343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical studies are essentially based on animal models of a particular disease. The primary purpose of preclinical efficacy studies is to support generalization of treatment-effect relationships to human subjects. Researchers aim to demonstrate a causal relationship between an investigational agent and a disease-related phenotype in such models. Numerous factors can muddle reliable inferences about such cause-effect relationships, including biased outcome assessment due to experimenter expectations. For instance, responses in a particular inbred mouse might be specific to the strain, limiting generalizability. Selecting well-justified and widely acknowledged model systems represents the best start in designing preclinical studies, especially to overcome any potential bias related to the model itself. This is particularly true in the research that focuses on aging, which carries unique challenges, mainly attributable to the fact that our already long lifespan makes designing experiments that use people as subjects extremely difficult and largely impractical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center; College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, USA;,Corresponding authors: Guido Iaccarino, MD, PhD; ; Gaetano Santulli, MD, PhD;
| | - Consuelo Borras
- Department of Physiology, University of Valencia /INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jean Bousquet
- MACVIA-LR, European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing Reference Site, University Hospital of Montpellier, France;,INSERM, VIMA : Ageing and chronic diseases. Epidemiological and public health approaches, Paris, France,Université Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Sciences and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR) University of Bologna
| | - Antonio Cano
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia/INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maddalena Illario
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, and R&D Unit, Federico II University Hospital
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna;,National Research Council of Italy, CNR, Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF) and Institute of Molecular Genetics, Bologna, Italy;,Dept. of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Liotta
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention “Tor Vergata” University of Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Maggio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma; University Hospital of Parma
| | - William D. Molloy
- Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Nunzia Montuori
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Federico II University, and R&D Unit, Federico II University Hospital
| | - Rónán O’Caoimh
- Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, Ireland;,Health Research Board, Clinical Research Facility Galway, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Francesc Orfila
- Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amelia P. Rauter
- Departamento de Quimica e Bioquímica, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Aurelia Santoro
- Dept. of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Iaccarino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Italy.,Corresponding authors: Guido Iaccarino, MD, PhD; ; Gaetano Santulli, MD, PhD;
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Zaniboni A, Bernardini C, Bertocchi M, Zannoni A, Bianchi F, Avallone G, Mangano C, Sarli G, Calzà L, Bacci ML, Forni M. In vitro differentiation of porcine aortic vascular precursor cells to endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2015; 309:C320-31. [PMID: 26135800 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00049.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [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] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent findings suggest that progenitor and multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are associated with vascular niches. Cells displaying mesenchymal properties and differentiating to whole components of a functional blood vessel, including endothelial and smooth muscle cells, can be defined as vascular stem cells (VSCs). Recently, we isolated a population of porcine aortic vascular precursor cells (pAVPCs), which have MSC- and pericyte-like properties. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether pAVPCs possess VSC-like properties and assess their differentiation potential toward endothelial and smooth muscle lineages. pAVPCs, maintained in a specific pericyte growth medium, were cultured in high-glucose DMEM + 10% FBS (long-term medium, LTM) or in human endothelial serum-free medium + 5% FBS and 50 ng/ml of hVEGF (endothelial differentiation medium, EDM). After 21 days of culture in LTM, pAVPCs showed an elongated fibroblast-like morphology, and they seem to organize in cord-like structures. qPCR analysis of smooth muscle markers [α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), calponin, and smooth muscle myosin (SMM) heavy chain] showed a significant increment of the transcripts, and immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the presence of α-SMA and SMM proteins. After 21 days of culture in EDM, pAVPCs displayed an endothelial cell-like morphology and revealed the upregulation of the expression of endothelial markers (CD31, vascular endothelial-cadherin, von Willebrand factor, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase) showing the CD31-typical pattern. In conclusion, pAVPCs could be defined as a VSC-like population considering that, if they are maintained in a specific pericyte medium, they express MSC markers, and they have, in addition to the classical mesenchymal trilineage differentiation potential, the capacity to differentiate in vitro toward the smooth muscle and the endothelial cell phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Zaniboni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Bernardini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy;
| | - Martina Bertocchi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Augusta Zannoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Bianchi
- Stem Wave Institute for Tissue Healing (SWITH), Gruppo Villa Maria (GVM) Care and Research, Ettore Sansavini Health Science Foundation, Lugo (Ravenna), Italy; National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems at the Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Avallone
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Mangano
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sarli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Health Sciences and Technologies, Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Bacci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Monica Forni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Calzà L, Beltrami D, Gagliardi G, Ghidoni E, Marcello N, Rossini-Favretti R, Tamburini F. Should we screen for cognitive decline and dementia? Maturitas 2015; 82:28-35. [PMID: 26152814 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Due to increased life expectancy, the prevalence of cognitive decline related to neurodegenerative diseases and to non-neurological conditions is increasing in western countries. As with other diseases, the burden might be reduced through personalized interventions delivered at early stages of the disease. Thus, there is an increasing demand, from both social and healthcare systems, for instruments and strategies to recognize cognitive decline, and possibly distinguish the precursor of serious neurodegeneration from "benign senile forgetfulness" or the temporary consequences of illness or trauma. However, this goal faces both technical and ethical issues. In this article we deal with the following: (i) re-definition of cognitive decline and its relationship with frailty definitions, starting from the recent work of international consensus groups for presymptomatic Alzheimer disease recognition; (ii) ethical problems concerning anonymous and personalized cognitive screening and the need for appropriate counselling; (iii) the need for more sensitive and specific tools to detect and distinguish pathological levels of cognitive decline and delineate the contribution of non-pathological decline to accumulated frailty impacts and (iv) the potential of the language domain and spontaneous speech analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Calzà
- Health Sciences and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), University of Bologna, Italy; Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Italy.
| | - Daniela Beltrami
- Health Sciences and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Gloria Gagliardi
- Health Sciences and Technologies - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), University of Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Fabio Tamburini
- Classical Philology and Italian Studies (FICLIT), University of Bologna, Italy
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50
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Giuliani A, Lorenzini L, Alessandri M, Torricella R, Baldassarro VA, Giardino L, Calzà L. In vitro exposure to very low-level laser modifies expression level of extracellular matrix protein RNAs and mitochondria dynamics in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. BMC Complement Altern Med 2015; 15:78. [PMID: 25886934 PMCID: PMC4387590 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0593-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background Low-level lasers working at 633 or 670 nm and emitting extremely low power densities (Ultra Low Level Lasers - ULLL) exert an overall effect of photobiostimulation on cellular metabolism and energy balance. In previous studies, it was demonstrated that ULLL pulsed emission mode regulates neurite elongation in vitro and exerts protective action against oxidative stress. Methods In this study the action of ULLL supplied in both pulsed and continuous mode vs continuous LLL on fibroblast cultures (Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast-MEF) was tested, focusing on mitochondria network and the expression level of mRNA encoding for proteins involved in the cell-matrix adhesion. Results It was shown that ULLL at 670 nm, at extremely low average power output (0.21 mW/ cm2) and dose (4.3 mJ/ cm2), when dispensed in pulsed mode (PW), but not in continuous mode (CW) supplied at both at very low (0.21 mW/cm2) and low levels (500 mW/cm2), modifies mitochondria network dynamics, as well as expression level of mRNA encoding for selective matrix proteins in MEF, e.g. collagen type 1α1 and integrin α5. Conclusions We suggest that pulsatility, but not energy density, is crucial in regulating expression level of collagen I and integrin α5 in fibroblasts by ULLL.
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