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Arenare L, Porta C, Barberio D, Terzolo S, Zagonel V, Pisconti S, Del Mastro L, Pinto C, Bilancia D, Cinieri S, Rizzo M, Migliaccio G, Montesarchio V, Del Campo L, De Lorenzo F, Iannelli E, Traclò F, Gitto L, Vaccaro MC, Frontini L, Giannarelli D, Bryce J, Piccirillo MC, Jommi C, Efficace F, Riva S, Di Maio M, Gallo C, Perrone F. Confirmatory validation analysis of the PROFFIT questionnaire to assess financial toxicity in cancer patients. ESMO Open 2023; 8:102192. [PMID: 38052104 PMCID: PMC10774953 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2023.102192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Patient Reported Outcome for Fighting FInancial Toxicity (PROFFIT) questionnaire was developed to measure financial toxicity (FT) and identify its determinants. The aim of the present study was to confirm its validity in a prospective cohort of patients receiving anticancer treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS From March 2021 to July 2022, 221 patients were enrolled at 10 Italian centres. Selected items of the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire represented the anchors, specifically, question 28 (Q-28) on financial difficulties, and questions 29-30 measuring global health status/quality of life (HR-QOL). The study had 80% power to detect a 0.20 correlation coefficient (r) between anchors and PROFFIT-score (items 1-7, range 0-100, 100 indicating maximum FT) with bilateral alpha 0.05 and 80% power. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. FT determinants (items 8-16) were described. RESULTS Median age of patients was 65 years, 116 (52.5%) were females, 96 (43.4%) had low education level. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed goodness of fit of the PROFFIT-score. Significant partial correlation of PROFFIT-score was found with Q-28 (r = 0.51) and HR-QOL (r = -0.23). Mean (SD) PROFFIT-score at baseline was 36.5 (24.9); it was statistically significantly higher for patients living in South Italy, those with lower education level, those who were freelancer/unemployed at diagnosis and those who reported significant economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mean (SD) scores of determinants ranged from 17.6 (27.1) for item 14 (support from medical staff) to 49.0 (36.3) for item 10 (expenses for medicines or supplements). PROFFIT-score significantly increased with worsening response to determinants. CONCLUSIONS External validation of PROFFIT-score in an independent sample of patients was successful. The instrument is now being used in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Arenare
- Clinical Trial Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - C Porta
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi 'A. Moro', Bari, Italy; Polyclinic Consortium University Hospital, Bari, Italy
| | - D Barberio
- Departmental Structure of Clinical Psycho-oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - S Terzolo
- Department of Oncology, Università di Torino, AO Ordine Mauriziano, Torino, Italy
| | - V Zagonel
- Oncology Unit 1, Istituto Oncologico Veneto, IOV, IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - S Pisconti
- Oncology Unit, Ospedale S. G. Moscati, Statte TA, Italy
| | - L Del Mastro
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DIMI), Università di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - C Pinto
- Medical Oncology, AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - D Bilancia
- Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera San Carlo, Potenza, Italy
| | - S Cinieri
- Medical Oncologiy, Ospedale Perrino, Brindisi, Italy
| | - M Rizzo
- Polyclinic Consortium University Hospital, Bari, Italy
| | - G Migliaccio
- Departmental Structure of Clinical Psycho-oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - V Montesarchio
- Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera Specialistica dei Colli, Napoli, Italy
| | - L Del Campo
- Federazione Italiana delle Associazioni di Volontariato in Oncologia (FAVO), Rome, Italy
| | - F De Lorenzo
- Federazione Italiana delle Associazioni di Volontariato in Oncologia (FAVO), Rome, Italy; European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), Brussels, Italy
| | - E Iannelli
- Federazione Italiana delle Associazioni di Volontariato in Oncologia (FAVO), Rome, Italy; Associazione Italiana Malati di Cancro (AIMAC), Roma, Italy
| | - F Traclò
- Associazione Italiana Malati di Cancro (AIMAC), Roma, Italy
| | - L Gitto
- Department of Economy, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - M C Vaccaro
- Welfare and Health Department, Centro Studi Investimenti Sociali (CENSIS), Roma, Italy
| | - L Frontini
- Federation of Italian Cooperative Oncology Groups (FICOG), Milano, Italy
| | - D Giannarelli
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, GSTeP, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - J Bryce
- Ascension St. John Clinical Research Institute, Tulsa, USA
| | - M C Piccirillo
- Clinical Trial Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | - C Jommi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - F Efficace
- Gruppo Italiano per le Malattie Ematologiche dell'Adulto (GIMEMA) Health Outcomes Research Unit, Roma, Italy
| | - S Riva
- St Mary's University, Twickenham, London, UK
| | - M Di Maio
- Department of Oncology, Università di Torino, AO Ordine Mauriziano, Torino, Italy
| | - C Gallo
- Professor Emeritus Medical Statistics, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Napoli, Italy
| | - F Perrone
- Clinical Trial Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Napoli, Italy.
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Bezzini D, Vaccaro MC, Bandiera P, Messmer Uccelli M, Battaglia MA. Young multiple sclerosis in Italy: attitude towards present life and expectations for the future. Eur J Public Health 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is usually diagnosed between 20 and 40 years, affecting the most productive and active period of life.
Aim
To analyse the health perception of young people with MS and to compare the present results with a previous one.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017. A validate and anonymous questionnaire was administered to 613 Italian young, aged 18-40, affected by MS (women 78.5%).
Results
Analyzing the declared health status, most of young MS defined good health status (76% good or excellent health) with differences between age class (82% at 25-29 years vs 71% at 35-40) and with a reverse trend with the increasing of disability (92% in subject with no disability vs 34% in ones with a medium or severe disability). The comparison against 2004 data highlights an improvement in the health conditions perceived, also for ones with a serious disability. Regarding the time elapsed from diagnosis, the trend was not linear, since respondents with a diagnosis <1 year indicated a worst health condition than those with a diagnosis from 5 to 10 years. Significant percentage of them paid attention to positive attitudes in health promotion: 71% practiced physical activity, 70% controlled smoke and alcohol consumption, 38% was on a special diet.
Conclusions
Diagnosis and disability constitute a decisive factor in the assessment of the state of health, but the perception goes to stabilize with time, even if the conditions tend to worsen. In this regard, the worst declared conditions in patients with a recent diagnosis seem to be influenced by psychological factors. So, the moment of diagnosis need a better management. Only 30% got adult vaccination (vs 61% in young Italians) due to lack of information on vaccine safety in MS patients. The improvement of perceived health in young with MS is another proof of the progress of MS treatments, which appears transversal to all the conditions of disability.
Key messages
The perception of health is strongly related to disability and to time elapsed from diagnosis. In the last 15 years the progress of MS management improved well-being of all MS young patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Bezzini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | | | - M A Battaglia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Cuccaro C, Bezzini D, Vaccaro MC, Coletta V, Messina G, Battaglia MA. The Italian well-being: a race against time. Eur J Public Health 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Well-being is the result of many factors such as health, happiness, expectations, values. Italy has been one of European countries that in recent years has suffered most combination of economic, political and social stress, with consequences on well-being. The aims of study are i) to examine health and happiness perceptions of young adults ii) to compare actual results with a previous survey conducted in 2004.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between Jan-Dec 2017. A validated questionnaire was administered from the Italian Centre for Social Investment (CENSIS) to 1,003 young Italians, aged 18-40. The anonymous questionnaire investigated emotional aspects, health status, social life and socioeconomic status. The statistical analysis (chi-square p < 0.05) was carried out to evaluate the association between the items of the questionnaire and variables such as age, sex, education level, income, work status, Marital Status (MS), Self-Confidence (SC), social-life.
Results
The sample resulted quite happy (2017 vs 2004:56.1% vs 63.7%), the happiness increasing with the socio-economic level and appearing to be related to work status, MS, SC and income (p < 0.05). Good or excellent health were reported by 89.8% (2004:86.1%) with a decrease in older age, and significant differences for all studied variables (excluded MS). Although the majority declared to be satisfied with their social life (2017 vs 2004:73.4% vs 85.7%) and economic status (2017 vs 2004:49.8% vs 70.7%), the future still seems uncertain, with respondents unabled to make predictions about work (2017 vs 2004:49.9% vs 19.8%) or when having children (2017 vs 2004:44.6% vs 61.2%).
Conclusions
Quality of life of Italians is still satisfactory, with a good degree of happiness and health, despite a clear decrease compared to 2004. The survey highlights that young people continue to perceive the future as uncertain, mainly due to job instability, with difficulty planning their lives.
Key messages
In ten years the Italian well-being has been reduced, despite the perceived level of happiness and health still being positive. The lack of job opportunities, the awareness of employment instability are the main causes of the lack of confidence in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Cuccaro
- Post Graduate School of Public Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - D Bezzini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | - G Messina
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - M A Battaglia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Vaccaro MC, Alfieri M, Malafronte N, De Tommasi N, Leone A. Correction to: Increasing the synthesis of bioactive abietane diterpenes in Salvia sclarea hairy roots by elicited transcriptional reprogramming. Plant Cell Rep 2018; 37:1597. [PMID: 30097677 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-018-2330-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Unfortunately, the second author name was wrongly published in the original publication. The correct author name should read as follows.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Vaccaro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - M Alfieri
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - N Malafronte
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - N De Tommasi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - A Leone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy.
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Vaccaro MC, Mariaevelina A, Malafronte N, De Tommasi N, Leone A. Erratum to: Increasing the synthesis of bioactive abietane diterpenes in Salvia sclarea hairy roots by elicited transcriptional reprogramming. Plant Cell Rep 2017; 36:387. [PMID: 28025661 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-016-2087-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M C Vaccaro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - A Mariaevelina
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - N Malafronte
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - N De Tommasi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - A Leone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy.
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Vaccaro MC, Alfieri M, Malafronte N, De Tommasi N, Leone A. Increasing the synthesis of bioactive abietane diterpenes in Salvia sclarea hairy roots by elicited transcriptional reprogramming. Plant Cell Rep 2017; 36:375-386. [PMID: 27853836 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-016-2076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional activation of genes belonging to the plastidial MEP-derived isoprenoid pathway by elicitation with methyl jasmonate and coronatine enhanced the content of bioactive abietane diterpenes in Salvia sclarea hairy roots. We have shown that aethiopinone, an abietane diterpene synthesized in Salvia sclarea roots is cytotoxic and induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells. To develop a production platform for this compound and other abietane diterpenes, hairy root technology was combined with the elicitation of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or the phytotoxin coronatine (Cor). Both MeJA and Cor induced a significant accumulation of aethiopinone, but prolonged exposure to MeJA irremediably caused inhibition of hairy root growth, which was unaffected by Cor treatment. Considering together the fold increase in aethiopinone content and the final hairy root biomass, the best combination was a Cor treatment for 28 days, which allowed to obtain up to 105.34 ± 2.30 mg L-1 of this compound to be obtained, corresponding to a 24-fold increase above the basal content in untreated hairy roots. MeJA or Cor elicitation also enhanced the synthesis of other bioactive abietane-quinone diterpenes. The elicitor-dependent steering effect was due to a coordinated transcriptional activation of several biosynthetic genes belonging to the plastidial MEP-derived isoprenoid pathway. High correlations between aethiopinone content and MeJA or Cor-elicited level of gene transcripts were found for DXS2 (r 2 = 0.99), DXR (r 2 = 0.99), and GGPPS (r 2 = 0.98), encoding enzymes acting upstream of GGPP, the common precursor of diterpenes and other plastidial-derived terpenes, as well as CPPS (r 2 = 0.99), encoding the enzyme involved in the first cyclization steps leading to copalyl-diphosphate, the precursor of abietane-like diterpenes. These results point to these genes as possible targets of metabolic engineering approaches to establish a more efficient production platform for such promising anti-proliferative plant-derived compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Vaccaro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - M Alfieri
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - N Malafronte
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - N De Tommasi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy
| | - A Leone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 134D, 80084, Fisciano, Italy.
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Capriglione T, De Iorio S, Gay F, Capaldo A, Vaccaro MC, Morescalchi MA, Laforgia V. Genotoxic effects of the fungicide thiophanate-methyl on Podarcis sicula assessed by micronucleus test, comet assay and chromosome analysis. Ecotoxicology 2011; 20:885-891. [PMID: 21461776 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-011-0655-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2011] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The increasing use of pesticides in modern agriculture has raised the need to evaluate their potential threat to animal and human health. In the present study, the genotoxic effects of environmentally relevant exposure to the fungicide thiophanate-methyl (TM) were assessed in the lizard Podarcis sicula (Reptilia, Lacertidae) using micronucleus test, chromosome aberration analysis and single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. The number of micronuclei increased significantly with exposure time in lizard specimens exposed to 1.5% TM for 30-40 days. In situ hybridization with the specific HindIII centromeric satellite was positive in 18.7% of the micronuclei observed, suggesting an aneugenic effect of TM during mitosis. DNA damage, evaluated by the comet assay, documented a significant gain in comet length in relation to exposure time that was paralleled by a reduction in head size. Finally, cytogenetic analysis showed a significant increase in chromosome aberrations in exposed animals compared with controls. Our data suggest that long-term TM exposure induces a genomic damage that is positively correlated to exposure time. If such genotoxic effects arise so clearly in an ectothermal vertebrate, such as P. sicula, prolonged exposure TM must be considered as a cytogenetic hazard.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Capriglione
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134, Naples, Italy.
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Campanella C, Caputo M, Vaccaro MC, De Marco N, Tretola L, Romano M, Prisco M, Camardella L, Flagiello A, Carotenuto R, Limatola E, Polzonetti-Magni A, Infante V. Lipovitellin constitutes the protein backbone of glycoproteins involved in sperm-egg interaction in the amphibian Discoglossus pictus. Mol Reprod Dev 2011; 78:161-71. [PMID: 21308852 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.21282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2010] [Accepted: 12/23/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Our knowledge of the molecules that interact with sperm at the egg membrane is restricted to a short list. In the eggs of Discoglossus pictus, fusion with sperm is limited to a differentiated structure, the dimple, offering several advantages for detecting molecules involved in fertilization. Previous studies have identified fucosylated glycoproteins of 200, 260, and 270 kDa located at the surface of the dimple that are able to bind sperm in vitro. Here, we show that dimple glycoproteins and a protein represented by a 120-kDa band released following gel-into-gel SDS-PAGE of both glycoproteins share the same N-terminal amino acid sequence, which itself is similar to the N-termini of Xenopus liver-synthesized vitellogenin (VTG) and the lipovitellin 1. MALDI/MS mass spectrometry indicated that the 120-kDa band is part of both gps 200 and 270/260. A 117-kDa major protein of the egg lysate exhibits the same MALDI/MS spectrum, and LC-MSMS indicates that this is a lipovitellin 1 (DpLIV) that coincides with the 120-kDa band and is responsible for the formation of the 200-270-kDa dimers. Therefore, lipovitellin 1 constitutes the protein backbone of the dimple glycoconjugates. In vitro assays using polystyrene beads coated with DpLIV or with its dimers indicate that significant sperm binding occurs only with DpLIV dimers. In amphibians, VTG is taken up by the oocyte, where it releases lipovitellins destined to form yolk. In Discoglossus, our data suggest that yolk proteins are also synthesized by the oocyte. The dimple forms in the ovulated oocyte following the exocytosis of vesicles that likely expose DpLIVs at their membrane. Indeed, in whole mounts of immunostained eggs, anti-vitellogenin antibodies label only the surface of the dimple.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Campanella
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Naples Federico II, MSA, Naples, Italy.
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Vaccaro MC, Gigliotti S, Graziani F, Carotenuto R, De Angelis C, Tussellino M, Campanella C. A transient asymmetric distribution of XNOA 36 mRNA and the associated spectrin network bisects Xenopus laevis stage I oocytes along the future A/V axis. Eur J Cell Biol 2010; 89:525-36. [PMID: 20226562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2009.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2009] [Revised: 12/09/2009] [Accepted: 12/09/2009] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In Xenopus oogenesis, the mechanisms governing the localisation of molecules crucial for primary axis determination have been uncovered in recent years. In stage I oocytes, the mitochondrial cloud (MC) entraps RNAs implicated in germ line specification and other RNAs, such as Xwnt-11 and Xlsirts, that are later delivered to the vegetal pole. Microfilaments and microtubules gradually develop in the cytoplasm, sustaining organelles as well as the MC. At stage III, other mRNAs migrate to the vegetal hemisphere through a microtubule-dependent mechanism. We report here the isolation of a cDNA encoding XNOA 36, a highly conserved protein, whose function is to date not fully understood. The XNOA 36 transcript is abundantly accumulated in stage I oocytes where it decorates a filamentous network. At the end of stage I the transcript gradually segregates in a sector of the oocyte surrounding the MC and opposite the ovarian hylum. Here, XNOA 36 mRNA distributes in a gradient-like pattern extending from a peripheral network towards the interior of the oocyte. This distribution is similar to that of alpha-spectrin mRNA. Both mRNAs are segregated in one half of the 250 microm oocytes, with the MC located between the XNOA 36/alpha-spectrin mRNA-labelled and unlabelled regions. XNOA 36 mRNA localisation was uncoupled from that of alpha-spectrin mRNA by cytochalasin B or ice-nocodazole treatments, suggesting that the two transcripts rely on different mechanisms for their localisation. However, immunolocalisation experiments coupled with in situ hybridisation revealed that the XNOA 36 transcript co-localises with the protein spectrin. This observation, together with the finding that XNOA 36 mRNA co-precipitates with spectrin, indicates that these two molecules interact physically. In conclusion, our data suggest that XNOA 36 mRNA is localized and/or anchored in the oocyte through a cytoskeletal network containing spectrin. The putative implications of this finding are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Vaccaro
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
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Carotenuto R, De Marco N, Biffo S, Wilding M, Vaccaro MC, Marchisio PC, Capriglione T, Russo GL, Campanella C. Phosphorylation of p27BBP/eIF6 and its association with the cytoskeleton are developmentally regulated in Xenopus oogenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2005; 62:1641-52. [PMID: 15990955 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-005-5153-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
p27BBP/eIF6 is an evolutionarily conserved regulator of ribosomal function. It is necessary for 60S biogenesis and impedes improper joining of 40S and 60S subunits, regulated by protein kinase C or Efl1p. No data on p27BBP/eIF6 during early development of Metazoa are available. We studied the distribution, post-translational changes and association with the cytoskeleton of p27BBP/ eIF6 during Xenopus oogenesis and early development. Results indicate that p27BBP/eIF6 is present throughout oogenesis, partly associated with 60S subunits, partly free and with little cytoskeleton bound. During prophase I, p27BBP/eIF6 is detected as a single band of 27-kDa. Upon maturation induced by progesterone or protein kinase C, a serine-phosphorylated 29 kDa isoform appears and is kept throughout development to the neurula stage. Confocal microscopy showed that the distribution of p27BBP/eIF6 and its association with the cytoskeleton varies according to oogenesis stages. Briefly, in stage 6 oocytes, p27BBP/eIF6 has a limited dot-like distribution, and does not co-localize with cytokeratin, whereas upon maturation it spreads throughout the cytoplasm. After fertilization, a large fraction coalesces around cytomembranes and a cytochalasin B-sensitive co-localization with cytokeratin occurs. RNAse removes p27BBP/eIF6 from the cytokeratin fibres. Developmental data suggest a role of p27BBP/eIF6 in controlling ribosomal availability or regulating cross-talk between ribosomes and the cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Carotenuto
- Dipartimento di Biologia Strutturale e Funzionale, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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Infante V, Caputo M, Riccio S, De Filippis A, Carotenuto R, Vaccaro MC, Campanella C. Vitelline envelope gps 63 and 75 specifically bind sperm in ?in vitro? assays indiscoglossus pictus. Mol Reprod Dev 2004; 68:213-22. [PMID: 15095343 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In Xenopus, conflicting data related to sperm-vitelline envelope (VE) binding suggest that further experiments should be performed to study the role of VE glycoproteins in sperm binding. In this article, we studied the VE of Discoglossus pictus, where gp63, the product of the Dp ZP2 gene, has high molecular identity to Xenopus gp69/64 and to mouse ZP2 and only A23187-treated sperm bind to VE. Sperm bind to VE all over the egg, yet a sperm tuft was found only in the animal half of the egg, where the dimple, the site of fertilization, is located and an intense immunostain was detected in VE by an antiserum directed against gp69/64. The same antiserum inhibited sperm binding to VE. Sperm binding to beads coated with gp63, gp40, or gp75 was in the range of 62-70% for gp63-beads, 67-75% for 75 beads, and about 20% for BSA beads and gp40-coated beads. Soluble purified gp63 and gp75 competitively inhibited binding of sperm to gp63-coated beads. Similarly, the same glycoproteins inhibited sperm binding to gp75-coated beads. SDS-polyacrylamide gels (PAGE) of FE and comparison of VE and FE peptide maps showed that gp63 undergoes a minor shift to about 62 kDa in FE. In sperm binding assays with beads coated with FEs gp62, there was no binding. Following fertilization, in the region of the dimple, an F-layer is formed as well as an alteration of the VE structure. Lectin blots of the FE showed that the FE and in particular gp62 acquires a stronger affinity to Maackia amurensis agglutinin (MAA) with respect to VEs gp63. These results indicate that gps 63 and 75 are the sperm binding glycoproteins of D. pictus VE, where major post-fertilization changes occur as in other anuran species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Infante
- Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva e Comparata, Universita' di Napoli Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy
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Abstract
At the time of sperm-egg fusion in Discoglossus pictus, a large amount of electron-dense material of an unknown nature is liberated from the sperm. In the present work we studied this material in D. pictus sperm, using an assay utilising strips of autoradiographic film as a gelatin substrate for proteolytic enzymes. Upon treatment with A23187, D. pictus sperm produced a large halo on the gelatin substrate, indicating the presence of enzymes released by the sperm at the time of the acrosome reaction. In contrast, Xenopus laevis sperm did not produce halos upon treatment with A23187. The use of protease inhibitors such as TLCK, leupeptin, chymostatin, SBTI and EACA strongly suggests that the D. pictus whole acrosome contains trypsin and chymotrypsin activity while an SBTI-sensitive activity is absent in a small portion of the acrosome, possibly the anteriormost region. Furthermore, the material released at the acrosome reaction also contains an EACA-inhibited activity, indicating the presence of plasminogen activator. We conclude that D. pictus sperm release proteolytic enzyme(s) that may act at the egg surface at the time of gamete fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Infante
- University of Naples Federico II and Centre for Reproductive Biology, Italy
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Vaccaro MC, Santo MG, Caputo M, Just M, Tian JD, Gong H, Lennarz WJ, Campanella C. Primary structure and developmental expression of Dp ZP2, a vitelline envelope glycoprotein homolog of mouse ZP2, in Discoglossus pictus, one of the oldest living Anuran species. Mol Reprod Dev 2001; 59:133-43. [PMID: 11389548 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.1016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A glycoprotein of the Xenopus vitelline envelope, gp 69/64, which mediates sperm binding, is closely related to the components of ZPA family, such as the mouse zona pellucida ZP2. To test the generality of these findings, we studied Discoglossus pictus, a species evolutionary distant from Xenopus and identified as a protein of 63 kDa in the vitelline envelope. Preliminary studies suggest that this protein may bind sperm at fertilization. We found that the 63-kDa protein is glycosylated and contains both N- and O-linked chains. We have cloned the cDNA encoding the Discoglossus protein of 63 kDa (Dp ZP2) by screening a Discoglossus cDNA library using Xenopus gp 69/64 cDNA as a probe. Analysis of the deduced sequence of Discoglossus protein revealed 48% identity with Xenopus gp 69/64 and 37-40% identity with mouse ZP2. The sequence conservation included a ZP domain, a potential furin cleavage site and a putative transmembrane domain. The N-terminus region of Dp ZP2 was 40% identical to the corresponding region of Xenopus gp 69/64 which has been shown to be essential for sperm binding to the VE. Although, as of yet, there is no evidence for sperm binding at the Dp ZP2 N-terminus, it is interesting that in this region three potential O-glycosylation sites are conserved in both species, in contrast to N-glycosylation sites. It was found that the Dp ZP2 mRNA is expressed in stage 1 oocytes and in the follicle cells surrounding the oocyte. Similarly, in Xenopus oocytes, the gp 69/64m RNA, was found in the oocytes, as well as in the somatic cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 59:133-143, 2001.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Vaccaro
- Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva e Comparata, Napoli, Italy
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Caputo M, Infante V, Talevi R, Vaccaro MC, Carotenuto R, Campanella C. Following passage through the oviduct, the coelomic envelope of Discoglossus pictus (amphibia) acquires fertilizability upon reorganization, conversion of gp 42 to gp 40, extensive glycosylation, and formation of a specific layer. Mol Reprod Dev 2001; 58:318-29. [PMID: 11170273 DOI: 10.1002/1098-2795(200103)58:3<318::aid-mrd10>3.0.co;2-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the morphological and biochemical changes in Discoglossus pictus coelomic oocyte envelope (CE) following passage through the oviduct. As in other anurans, in this species, the transformation of the envelope into vitelline envelope (VE) leads to the acquisition of fertilizability and involves the cleavage of a glycoprotein. In addition, several features, typical of Discoglossus pictus, were observed. A new layer, VE-D, forms underneath the VE region facing the site of sperm entrance, the dimple. In the VE, arrowhead-like bundles of fibrils are perpendicularly oriented toward the dimple. Ultrastructural observations and staining with UEA-I suggested that VE-D might have a role in supporting sperm penetration into the dimple by orienting VE bundles and exposing sugar residues such as fucose. In 'in vitro' tests, VE binding of sperm occurs only if sperm are exposed to A23187, in agreement with previous data (Campanella et al., 1997: Mol Reprod Dev 47:323-333). Sperm binding occurs all over the VE. Accordingly, extracts of the VE covering the animal or the vegetal hemisphere have the same affinity to lectins (DBA, DSA, GNA, MAA, SBA, SNA, UEA-I, WGA). The CE contains six main glycoproteins. Peptide mapping indicated that during CE transformation into VE, gp 42 shifts to an apparent M(r) of 40 and gp 61 is converted to an apparent M(r) of 63 kDa. Lectin blot analyses showed extensive changes in cross-reactivity of most glycoproteins during the CE-->VE transition. The fact that DBA and UEA-I stain gp 63 rather than gp 61 and that this change is related only to gp 63, suggested that O-glycosylation and terminal fucose might be acquired by gp 63 in preparation of fertilization. Gp 63 has recently been cloned (Vaccaro et al., submitted) and shown to exhibit high homology to Xenopus gp 69/64, a VE sperm ligand (Tian et al., 1997a: J. Cell Biol. 136: 1099-1108; Tian et al., 1997b: Dev Biol 187:143-153), and to ZP2 of mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Caputo
- Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva e Comparata, Universita' di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
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Abstract
Xenopus oocyte organization largely depends upon the cytoskeleton distribution, which is dynamically regulated during oogenesis. An actin-based cytoskeleton is present in the cortex starting from stage 1. At stages 4-6, a complex and polarized cytoskeleton network forms in the cytoplasm. In this paper, we studied the distribution of spectrin, a molecule that has binding sites for several cytoskeletal proteins and is responsible for the determination of regionalized membrane territories. The localization of alpha-spectrin mRNA was analyzed during Xenopus oogenesis by in situ hybridization on both whole mount and sections, utilizing a cDNA probe encoding a portion of Xenopus alpha-spectrin. Furthermore, an antibody against mammalian alpha-spectrin was used to localize the protein. Our results showed a stage-dependent mRNA localization and suggested that spectrin may participate in the formation of specific domains in oocytes at stages 1 and 2 and 4-6. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 55:229-239, 2000.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Carotenuto
- Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva e Comparata, Universitá di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
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Vaccaro MC. Non-ossifying fibroma. Md State Med J 1979; 28:113-4. [PMID: 502599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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