1
|
Giunta S, Giordani C, De Luca M, Olivieri F. Long-COVID-19 autonomic dysfunction: An integrated view in the framework of inflammaging. Mech Ageing Dev 2024; 218:111915. [PMID: 38354789 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2024.111915] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The recently identified syndrome known as Long COVID (LC) is characterized by a constellation of debilitating conditions that impair both physical and cognitive functions, thus reducing the quality of life and increasing the risk of developing the most common age-related diseases. These conditions are linked to the presence of symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, in association with low cortisol levels, suggestive of reduced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, and with increased pro-inflammatory condition. Alterations of dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter levels were also recently observed in LC. Interestingly, at least some of the proposed mechanisms of LC development overlap with mechanisms of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) imbalance, previously detailed in the framework of the aging process. ANS imbalance is characterized by a proinflammatory sympathetic overdrive, and a concomitant decreased anti-inflammatory vagal parasympathetic activity, associated with reduced anti-inflammatory effects of the HPA axis and cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP). These neuro-immune-endocrine system imbalanced activities fuel the vicious circle of chronic inflammation, i.e. inflammaging. Here, we refine our original hypothesis that ANS dysfunction fuels inflammaging and propose that biomarkers of ANS imbalance could also be considered biomarkers of inflammaging, recognized as the main risk factor for developing age-related diseases and the sequelae of viral infections, i.e. LC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Giunta
- Casa di Cura Prof. Nobili (Gruppo Garofalo (GHC) Castiglione dei Pepoli -Bologna), Italy
| | - Chiara Giordani
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy; Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lucatello S, De Angelis S, Di Lorenzo C, Iosa M, Magnotti L, Di Paolo M, De Luca M, Buzzi MG, Tramontano M. FunctionaL Assessment Scale of Hemianopia (FLASH): A New Multidisciplinary Tool to Assess Hemianopia in Patients with Severe Acquired Brain Injury. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2883. [PMID: 37958027 PMCID: PMC10647452 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11212883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acquired brain injury (sABI) encompasses a range of neurological impairments. Visual dysfunction, particularly homonymous visual field defects (HVFDs) and homonymous hemianopia (HH), commonly afflicts sABI survivors, affecting their cognitive and motor rehabilitation. This study presents the FunctionaL Assessment Scale of Hemianopia (FLASH), developed to analyze the most common postural behaviors exhibited by sABI patients with hemianopia during activities of daily living. A comparison to traditional static automated perimetry for diagnosing visual field deficits (VFDs) to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the FLASH was used. Additionally, this study also aimed to assess its reliability. METHODS Fifty-six patients (25 F, 31 M, mean age 60.59 ± 14.53) with strokes in the sub-acute phase (<6 months from the onset) were assessed with both FLASH and a Humphrey Field Analyzer. RESULTS After removing two items found to be less reliable than others, FLASH showed high sensitivity (81%) and specificity (77%) when compared to static automated perimetry. Inter-rater reliability was also high, with an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.954, as well as the internal consistency computed by Cronbach's alpha, equal to 0.874. CONCLUSION FLASH could offer a valuable and cost-effective screening tool for VFD in sABI patients during neurorehabilitation, with potential implications for healthcare cost reduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Lucatello
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy; (S.L.); (S.D.A.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.L.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Sara De Angelis
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy; (S.L.); (S.D.A.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.L.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Concetta Di Lorenzo
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy; (S.L.); (S.D.A.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.L.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Marco Iosa
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy; (S.L.); (S.D.A.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.L.); (M.G.B.)
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Magnotti
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy; (S.L.); (S.D.A.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.L.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Marta Di Paolo
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy; (S.L.); (S.D.A.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.L.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Maria De Luca
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy; (S.L.); (S.D.A.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.L.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Maria Gabriella Buzzi
- Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, 00179 Rome, Italy; (S.L.); (S.D.A.); (C.D.L.); (L.M.); (M.D.L.); (M.G.B.)
| | - Marco Tramontano
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Pelagio Palagi 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Crocco P, Vecchie D, Gopalkrishna S, Dato S, Passarino G, Young ME, Nagareddy PR, Rose G, De Luca M. Correction: Syndecan-4 as a genetic determinant of the metabolic syndrome. Diabetol Metab Syndr 2023; 15:166. [PMID: 37537661 PMCID: PMC10399039 DOI: 10.1186/s13098-023-01140-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paolina Crocco
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| | - Denise Vecchie
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Sreejit Gopalkrishna
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Serena Dato
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| | - Martin E Young
- Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Prabhakara R Nagareddy
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Giuseppina Rose
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy.
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Crocco P, Vecchie D, Gopalkrishna S, Dato S, Passarino G, Young ME, Nagareddy PR, Rose G, De Luca M. Syndecan-4 as a genetic determinant of the metabolic syndrome. Diabetol Metab Syndr 2023; 15:156. [PMID: 37461091 PMCID: PMC10351106 DOI: 10.1186/s13098-023-01132-8] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Syndecan-4 (SDC4) is a member of the heparan sulfate proteoglycan family of cell-surface receptors. We and others previously reported that variation in the SDC4 gene was associated with several components of the metabolic syndrome, including intra-abdominal fat, fasting glucose and triglyceride levels, and hypertension, in human cohorts. Additionally, we demonstrated that high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese female mice with a Sdc4 genetic deletion had higher visceral adiposity and a worse metabolic profile than control mice. Here, we aimed to first investigate whether the mouse Sdc4 null mutation impacts metabolic phenotypes in a sex- and diet-dependent manner. We then tested whether SDC4 polymorphisms are related to the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in humans. METHODS For the mouse experiment, Sdc4-deficient (Sdc4-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice were treated with 14-weeks of low-fat diet (LFD). Body composition, energy balance, and selected metabolic phenotypes were assessed. For the human genetic study, we used logistic regression models to test 11 SDC4 SNPs for association with the MetS and its components in a cohort of 274 (113 with MetS) elderly subjects from southern Italy. RESULTS Following the dietary intervention in mice, we observed that the effects of the Sdc4 null mutation on several phenotypes were different from those previously reported in the mice kept on an HFD. Nonetheless, LFD-fed female Sdc4-/- mice, but not males, displayed higher levels of triglycerides and lower insulin sensitivity at fasting than WT mice, as seen earlier in the HFD conditions. In the parallel human study, we found that carriers of SDC4 rs2228384 allele C and rs2072785 allele T had reduced risk of MetS. The opposite was true for carriers of the SDC4 rs1981429 allele G. Additionally, the SNPs were found related to fasting triglyceride levels and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, a reliable indicator of insulin resistance, with sex-stratified analysis detecting the association of rs1981429 with these phenotypes only in females. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our results suggest that SDC4 is an evolutionary conserved genetic determinant of MetS and that its genetic variation is associated with fasting triglyceride levels in a female-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolina Crocco
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| | - Denise Vecchie
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Sreejit Gopalkrishna
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Serena Dato
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| | - Martin E Young
- Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Prabhakara R Nagareddy
- Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Giuseppina Rose
- Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy.
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
De Luca M, Baroncini M, Matano A, Di Lorenzo C, Magnotti L, Lucatello S, Mulas M, Pollarini V, Ciurli MP, Nardo D. Sensitivity and Specificity of the Brentano Illusion Test in the Detection of Visual Hemi-Field Deficits in Patients with Unilateral Spatial Neglect. Brain Sci 2023; 13:937. [PMID: 37371415 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke survivors with right-brain damage (RBD) often present with attentional deficits such as left unilateral spatial neglect. Some patients also present with contralesional visual hemi-field deficits. A late detection of visual hemi-field deficits (VHFD) contributes to hampering neurorehabilitation and functional outcome of patients with neglect. The Brentano Illusion Test (BRIT) may be used for an early detection of VHFD during the neuropsychological assessment. In the present study, we determined the sensitivity and specificity of the BRIT for screening VHFD in patients with neglect. Sixty-four consecutive RBD patients were examined. Forty-five presented with neglect. Of these, 23 presented with VHFD (hemianopia or quadrantanopia) as detected by the Humphrey automated static visual field testing (reference standard). Consecutive patients also included 19 participants without neglect, who did not have any VHFD. The sensitivity and specificity of the BRIT for neglect patients were 78.3% (95% CI: 61.4-95.1) and 90.9 (95% CI: 78.9-100.0), respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 89.6% (95% CI: 76.4-100.0); negative predictive value (NPV) 80.7% (95% CI: 65.2-96.2). No false positives in the group without neglect were identified. We conclude that the BRIT is an effective tool for clinical neuropsychologists to screen for possible VHFD in neglect patients during the neuropsychological assessment, allowing the refinement of the clinical picture in the neuropsychological report. An early detection of VHFD also allows referring the patient to standard diagnostics for a formal visual field examination, right from the first neuropsychological assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Martina Mulas
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Virginia Pollarini
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Davide Nardo
- Department of Education, University of Roma Tre, 00185 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
De Luca M, Tuberoso CIG, Pons R, García MT, Morán MDC, Martelli G, Vassallo A, Caddeo C. Ceratonia siliqua L. Pod Extract: From Phytochemical Characterization to Liposomal Formulation and Evaluation of Behaviour in Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1209. [PMID: 37371939 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12061209] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The formulation of plant extracts in phospholipid vesicles is a promising strategy to exploit their biological properties while solving problems related to poor solubility in water, high instability, and low skin permeation and retention time. In this study, Ceratonia siliqua ripe pods were used for the preparation of a hydro-ethanolic extract, which showed antioxidant properties owing to the presence of biologically active compounds identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (e.g., hydroxybenzoic acid and flavonoid derivatives). To improve the applicability of the extract in therapy, a topical formulation based on liposomes was explored. The vesicles were characterized by small size (around 100 nm), negative charge (-13 mV), and high entrapment efficiency (>90%). Furthermore, they displayed both spherical and elongated shapes, with oligolamellar structure. Their biocompatibility was demonstrated in cells, including erythrocytes and representative skin cell lines. The antioxidant activity of the extract was proved by the scavenging of free radicals, the reduction of ferric ions, and the protection of skin cells from oxidative damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- KAMABIO Srl, Via Al Boschetto 4/B, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, S.P. Monserrato-Sestu km 0.700, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Ramon Pons
- Department of Surfactants and Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), c/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Teresa García
- Department of Surfactants and Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), c/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Del Carmen Morán
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Physiology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology-IN2UB, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Martelli
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Vassallo
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff TNcKILLERS Srl, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Carla Caddeo
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, S.P. Monserrato-Sestu km 0.700, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zeri F, Tavazzi S, Punzi M, Miglio F, Evans BJW, De Luca M. New Italian version of the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test: Materials for repeated-measure designs in optometry and neuropsychological research. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2023. [PMID: 36999924 DOI: 10.1111/opo.13134] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop a series of equivalent passages of text in Italian, according to the principles of the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test (WRRT), suitable for both clinical examination and scientific research when equivalent stimuli are needed to compare performance in repeated-measure designs. METHOD Fifteen high-frequency Italian words (matched for grammatical class and length to the English WRRT) were used to generate 15 different 10-line meaningless passages, according to the design principles of the English WRRT. Thirty-two healthy Italian-speaking higher education students read the passages aloud according to a fixed randomisation schedule. Performance was recorded digitally to measure reading speed and accuracy offline. Equivalence between the passages and the practice and fatigue effects for both reading speed and accuracy were examined as well as test-retest reliability. RESULTS No significant difference in reading speed and accuracy was found between the passages. There was a significant practice effect on reading speed but not accuracy, with the first presented passage read significantly slower than the others. There was no evidence of a fatigue effect. Reading speed, the reference metric for the WRRT, showed good test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS The passages of the Italian version of the WRRT were equivalent to each other. The practice effect suggests that familiarisation with the test (i.e., reading at least one matrix of words) should be carried out before consecutive/repeated reading of different passages for experimental or clinical purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Zeri
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- COMiB Research Centre in Optics and Optometry, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Silvia Tavazzi
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- COMiB Research Centre in Optics and Optometry, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Punzi
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Miglio
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- COMiB Research Centre in Optics and Optometry, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dell'Olmo E, Pane K, Schibeci M, Cesaro A, De Luca M, Ismail S, Gaglione R, Arciello A. Host defense peptides identified in human apolipoprotein B as natural food bio‐preservatives: Evaluation of their biosafety and digestibility. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
|
9
|
De Luca M, Tuberoso CIG, Pons R, García MT, Morán MDC, Ferino G, Vassallo A, Martelli G, Caddeo C. Phenolic Fingerprint, Bioactivity and Nanoformulation of Prunus spinosa L. Fruit Extract for Skin Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041063. [PMID: 37111548 PMCID: PMC10144133 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041063] [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] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The nanoformulation of plant extracts in phospholipid vesicles is a promising strategy to exploit the biological properties of natural bioactive substances and overcome drawbacks such as poor aqueous solubility, chemical instability, low skin permeation and retention time, which strongly limit their topical application. In this study, Prunus spinosa berries were used for the preparation of a hydro-ethanolic extract, which showed antioxidant and antibacterial properties owing to the presence of phenolic compounds. Two types of phospholipid vesicles were developed to improve the applicability as topical formulations. Liposomes and Penetration Enhancer-containing Vesicles were characterized for mean diameter, polydispersity, surface charge, shape, lamellarity, and entrapment efficiency. Additionally, their safety was assayed with different cell models, including erythrocytes and representative skin cell lines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- KAMABIO Srl, Via Al Boschetto 4/B, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, SS 554–bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ramon Pons
- Department of Surfactants and Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), c/Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Teresa García
- Department of Surfactants and Nanobiotechnology, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), c/Jordi Girona, 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María del Carmen Morán
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Physiology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII 27–31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology-IN2UB, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal, 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giulio Ferino
- CeSAR, University of Cagliari, SS 554–Bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonio Vassallo
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff TNcKILLERS s.r.l., Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Martelli
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Carla Caddeo
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, SS 554–bivio per Sestu, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hagedorn E, Bunnell D, Henschel B, Smith DL, Dickinson S, Brown AW, De Luca M, Turner AN, Chtarbanova S. RNA virus-mediated changes in organismal oxygen consumption rate in young and old Drosophila melanogaster males. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:1748-1767. [PMID: 36947702 PMCID: PMC10085608 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Aging is accompanied by increased susceptibility to infections including with viral pathogens resulting in higher morbidity and mortality among the elderly. Significant changes in host metabolism can take place following virus infection. Efficient immune responses are energetically costly, and viruses divert host molecular resources to promote their own replication. Virus-induced metabolic reprogramming could impact infection outcomes, however, how this is affected by aging and impacts organismal survival remains poorly understood. RNA virus infection of Drosophila melanogaster with Flock House virus (FHV) is an effective model to study antiviral responses with age, where older flies die faster than younger flies due to impaired disease tolerance. Using this aged host-virus model, we conducted longitudinal, single-fly respirometry studies to determine if metabolism impacts infection outcomes. Analysis using linear mixed models on Oxygen Consumption Rate (OCR) following the first 72-hours post-infection showed that FHV modulates respiration, but age has no significant effect on OCR. However, the longitudinal assessment revealed that OCR in young flies progressively and significantly decreases, while OCR in aged flies remains constant throughout the three days of the experiment. Furthermore, we found that the OCR signature at 24-hours varied in response to both experimental treatment and survival status. FHV-injected flies that died prior to 48- or 72-hours measurements had a lower OCR compared to survivors at 48-hours. Our findings suggest the host's metabolic profile could influence the outcome of viral infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eli Hagedorn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA
- Present Address: Indiana University School of Medicine-Indianapolis, Medical Scientist Training Program, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Dean Bunnell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA
| | - Beate Henschel
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Biostatistics Consulting Center, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Daniel L Smith
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Stephanie Dickinson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Biostatistics Consulting Center, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Andrew W Brown
- Department of Applied Health Sciences, Indiana University, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Present Address: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Ashley N Turner
- Department of Biology, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL 36265, USA
| | - Stanislava Chtarbanova
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA
- Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA
- Alabama Life Research Institute, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abdelbaki A, Ascanelli C, Okoye CN, Akman HB, Janson G, Min M, Marcozzi C, Hagting A, Grant R, De Luca M, Asteriti IA, Guarguaglini G, Paiardini A, Lindon C. Revisiting degron motifs in human AURKA required for its targeting by APC/C FZR1. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:6/2/e202201372. [PMID: 36450448 PMCID: PMC9713472 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201372] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitotic kinase Aurora A (AURKA) diverges from other kinases in its multiple active conformations that may explain its interphase roles and the limited efficacy of drugs targeting the kinase pocket. Regulation of AURKA activity by the cell is critically dependent on destruction mediated by the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/CFZR1) during mitotic exit and G1 phase and requires an atypical N-terminal degron in AURKA called the "A-box" in addition to a reported canonical D-box degron in the C-terminus. Here, we find that the reported C-terminal D-box of AURKA does not act as a degron and instead mediates essential structural features of the protein. In living cells, the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region of AURKA containing the A-box is sufficient to confer FZR1-dependent mitotic degradation. Both in silico and in cellulo assays predict the QRVL short linear interacting motif of the A-box to be a phospho-regulated D-box. We propose that degradation of full-length AURKA also depends on an intact C-terminal domain because of critical conformational parameters permissive for both activity and mitotic degradation of AURKA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Abdelbaki
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Cynthia N Okoye
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - H Begum Akman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Giacomo Janson
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mingwei Min
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chiara Marcozzi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anja Hagting
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rhys Grant
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Italia Anna Asteriti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council of Italy, c/o Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Guarguaglini
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council of Italy, c/o Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Catherine Lindon
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Romano R, De Luca M, Del Fiore VS, Pecoraro M, Lattante S, Sabatelli M, La Bella V, Bucci C. Allele-specific silencing as therapy for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by the p.G376D TARDBP mutation. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac315. [PMID: 36751500 PMCID: PMC9897181 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac315] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. There is no treatment for this disease that affects the ability to move, eat, speak and finally breathe, causing death. In an Italian family, a heterozygous pathogenic missense variant has been previously discovered in Exon 6 of the gene TARDBP encoding the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 protein. Here, we developed a potential therapeutic tool based on allele-specific small interfering RNAs for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with the heterozygous missense mutation c.1127G>A. We designed a small interfering RNA that was able to diminish specifically the expression of the exogenous Green Fluorescent Protein (TAR DNA-binding protein 43G376D mutant protein) in HEK-293T cells but not that of the Green Fluorescent Protein (TAR DNA-binding protein 43 wild-type). Similarly, this small interfering RNA silenced the mutated allele in fibroblasts derived from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but did not silence the wild-type gene in control fibroblasts. In addition, we established that silencing the mutated allele was able to strongly reduce the pathological cellular phenotypes induced by TAR DNA-binding protein 43G376D expression, such as the presence of cytoplasmic aggregates. Thus, we have identified a small interfering RNA that could be used to silence specifically the mutated allele to try a targeted therapy for patients carrying the p.G376D TAR DNA-binding protein 43 mutation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Romano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni n.165, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni n.165, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Victoria Stefania Del Fiore
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni n.165, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Martina Pecoraro
- ALS Clinical Research Center, P Giaccone University Hospital and Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, via Gaetano La Loggia n° 1, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Serena Lattante
- Section of Genomic Medicine, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy,Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Laboratory and Infectious Disease Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Adult NEMO Clinical Center, Unit of Neurology, Department of Aging, Neurological, Orthopedic and Head-Neck Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy,Section of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo La Bella
- ALS Clinical Research Center, P Giaccone University Hospital and Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, via Gaetano La Loggia n° 1, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Cecilia Bucci
- Correspondence to: Cecilia Bucci Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA) Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni n.165 73100 Lecce, Italy E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
De Bartolo D, De Luca M, Antonucci G, Schuster S, Morone G, Paolucci S, Iosa M. The golden ratio as an ecological affordance leading to aesthetic attractiveness. Psych J 2022; 11:729-740. [PMID: 34951139 PMCID: PMC9787369 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The golden ratio (GR) is an irrational number (close to 1.618) that repeatedly occurs in nature as well as in masterpieces of art. The GR has been considered a proportion perfectly representing beauty since ancient times, and it was investigated in several scientific fields, but with conflicting results. This study aims at investigating if this proportion is associated with a judgment of beauty independently of the type of the stimulus, and the factors that may affect this aesthetic preference. In Experiment 1, an online psychophysical questionnaire was administered to 256 volunteers asked to choose among three possible proportions between the parts of the same stimulus (GR, 1.5, and 1.8). In Experiment 2, we recorded eye movements in 15 participants who had to express an aesthetic judgment on the same stimuli of Experiment 1. The results revealed a slight overall preference for GR (53%, p < .001), with higher preferences for stimuli representing humans, anthropomorphic sculptures, and paintings, regardless of the cultural level. In Experiment 2, a shorter dwell time was significantly associated with a better aesthetic judgment (p = .005), suggesting the possibility that GR could be associated with easier visual processing, and it could be hence considered as a visual affordance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela De Bartolo
- Santa Lucia FoundationRomeItaly,Department of PsychologySapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | | | - Gabriella Antonucci
- Santa Lucia FoundationRomeItaly,Department of PsychologySapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Stefan Schuster
- Department of BioinformaticsFriedrich Schiller University JenaJenaGermany
| | | | | | - Marco Iosa
- Santa Lucia FoundationRomeItaly,Department of PsychologySapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
De Luca M, Bryan DR, Hunter GR. Serum syndecan-4 correlates with blood pressure and cardiovascular parameters but not proinflammatory markers in healthy older women. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:2541-2545. [PMID: 35932401 PMCID: PMC10122834 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02210-z] [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: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aging is accompanied by a low-grade proinflammatory status that plays a role in age-related vascular alterations. Syndecan-4 (SDC4) is a key component of the endothelial glycocalyx, and its extracellular domain can be shed by matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). In vitro studies demonstrated that MMP-9-mediated shedding of SDC4 is induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) in human endothelial cells. However, the relationship between circulating shed SDC4, systemic inflammation, and age-related vascular alterations remains unknown. Here, we used linear regression models to examine the associations of serum SDC4 levels with cardiovascular hemodynamic phenotypes, serum MMP-9, and serum TNF-α and inteleukin-6 in healthy older women (n = 74). Serum SDC4 was not associated with proinflammatory cytokines or arterial elasticity. Nevertheless, we found significant correlations of SDC4 with MMP-9, heart rate, left ventricular ejection time, systemic vascular resistance, and blood pressure. Our preliminary evidence suggests that systemic inflammation might not induce SDC4 shedding in healthy aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-3360, USA.
| | - David Ronald Bryan
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-3360, USA
| | - Gary Richard Hunter
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294-3360, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
De Luca M, Bandiera V, D'Aviero E, Onofri B, Mungiello F, Ferri G, Iannetti M, Lucatello S, Formisano R, Bivona U. Neurorehabilitation of severe acquired brain injury in the time of COVID-19: impact of the absence of caregivers. Ann Ist Super Sanita 2022; 58:236-243. [PMID: 36511194 DOI: 10.4415/ann_22_04_03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the COVID-19 pandemic, several restrictions were imposed to limit the circulation of the infection within communities. Hospitals denied access to the family and friends of inpatients, and thus to caregivers. This observational study evaluated the impact of the physical absence of caregivers during the lockdown period due to the COVID-19 emergency on the rehabilitation of inpatients with severe acquired brain injury (sABI). METHODS The functional outcome at discharge was measured in 25 inpatients with sABI through the Disability Rating Scale (DRS), Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), and Levels of Cognitive Functioning scale (LCF) after neuropsychological rehabilitation in an Adult Inpatient Neurorehabilitation Unit for Patients with sABI. Fourteen patients were directly assisted by their informal caregivers physically present in the neurorehabilitation ward. Eleven patients were indirectly supported via remote connection because during the lockdown period (from March to July 2020) caregivers could not be admitted to the rehabilitation hospital. The Caregiving Impact on Neuro-Rehabilitation Scale (CINRS) was also used to evaluate both the change since the admission and the impact of the caregiver from the perspective of the cognitive therapist. Demographic characteristics, time since injury, injury severity (duration of impaired consciousness measured by the time to follow commands), level of functioning at the beginning of the rehabilitation, and duration of the rehabilitation treatment were comparable between the groups. RESULTS Both groups improved after the treatment; however, the improvement was consistently greater in the group directly assisted by the caregivers. The results showed that although the caregivers ensured their virtual presence at distance, their physical absence played a role in hindering the functional outcome of the patients. CONCLUSIONS The role of the caregiver of patients with sABI is underlined in being not only a person handing out generic aid, cares, and affection, but also an integral part of the rehabilitation process.
Collapse
|
16
|
Bivona U, Ferri G, De Luca M, Lucatello S, Aloisi M, Contrada M, Ciurli P, Bandiera V, Lo Sterzo P, Lombardi G, Formisano R, Costa A. Self-Awareness Multilevel Assessment Scale (SAMAS): psychometric analysis of inter-rater reliability. Ann Ist Super Sanita 2022; 58:177-182. [PMID: 36128966 DOI: 10.4415/ann_22_03_06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acquired brain injury (sABI) frequently causes impairment in self-awareness (ISA), leading to reduced patients' compliance to treatment, worse functional outcome, and high caregiver distress. Self-awareness (SA) is a multilevel and complex function that, as such, requires a specific and effective assessment. To date, many tools are available to evaluate the declarative, but not emergent and anticipatory levels of awareness, therefore the Self-Awareness Multilevel Assessment Scale (SAMAS) was recently proposed. The new tool proved to be useful to assess SA at different levels across all domains of functioning (motor, cognitive, psycho-behavioural, etc.) because it measures not only the declarative SA, but also emergent and anticipatory levels of SA, thus overcoming some important limits of other current assessment methods. AIM This study evaluated the inter-rater reliability (IRR) of the SAMAS. METHODS Four professionals blind to each other evaluated 12 patients with sABI. Each patient was rated by two professionals. RESULTS Inter-rater reliability was moderate-to-excellent, adding evidence in support of the use of SAMAS to specifically diagnose ISA after sABI. CONCLUSIONS The SAMAS can help to better address neurorehabilitation, as it allows assessing ISA as early as possible, at all possible levels of awareness and functional domains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alberto Costa
- IRCCS FondazioneSanta Lucia, Rome, Italy - Università Telematica Niccolò Cusano, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gaglione R, Pane K, De Luca M, Franzese M, Arciello A, Trama F, Brancorsini S, Salvatore M, Illiano E, Costantini E. Novel Antimicrobial Strategies to Prevent Biofilm Infections in Catheters after Radical Cystectomy: A Pilot Study. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12060802. [PMID: 35743833 PMCID: PMC9225455 DOI: 10.3390/life12060802] [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: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Catheter-associated infections in bladder cancer patients, following radical cystectomy or ureterocutaneostomy, are very frequent, and the development of antibiotic resistance poses great challenges for treating biofilm-based infections. Here, we characterized bacterial communities from catheters of patients who had undergone radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We evaluated the efficacy of conventional antibiotics, alone or combined with the human ApoB-derived antimicrobial peptide r(P)ApoBLAla, to treat ureteral catheter-colonizing bacterial communities on clinically isolated bacteria. Microbial communities adhering to indwelling catheters were collected during the patients’ regular catheter change schedules (28 days) and extracted within 48 h. Living bacteria were characterized using selective media and biochemical assays. Biofilm growth and novel antimicrobial strategies were analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Statistical analyses confirmed the relevance of the biofilm reduction induced by conventional antibiotics (fosfomycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and tetracycline) and a well-characterized human antimicrobial peptide r(P)ApoBLAla (1:20 ratio, respectively). Catheters showed polymicrobial communities, with Enterobactericiae and Proteus isolates predominating. In all samples, we recorded a meaningful reduction in biofilms, in both biomass and thickness, upon treatment with the antimicrobial peptide r(P)ApoBLAla in combination with low concentrations of conventional antibiotics. The results suggest that combinations of conventional antibiotics and human antimicrobial peptides might synergistically counteract biofilm growth on ureteral catheters, suggesting novel avenues for preventing catheter-associated infections in patients who have undergone radical cystectomy and ureterocutaneostomy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Gaglione
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (M.D.L.); (A.A.)
- Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Pane
- IRCCS Synlab SDN, Via E. Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (M.D.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Monica Franzese
- IRCCS Synlab SDN, Via E. Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Angela Arciello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (M.D.L.); (A.A.)
- Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Trama
- Andrological and Urogynecological Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy; (F.T.); (E.I.); (E.C.)
| | - Stefano Brancorsini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Marco Salvatore
- IRCCS Synlab SDN, Via E. Gianturco 113, 80143 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Ester Illiano
- Andrological and Urogynecological Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy; (F.T.); (E.I.); (E.C.)
| | - Elisabetta Costantini
- Andrological and Urogynecological Clinic, Santa Maria Terni Hospital, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy; (F.T.); (E.I.); (E.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chandra A, Prasad S, Alemanno F, De Luca M, Rizzo R, Romano R, Gigli G, Bucci C, Barra A, del Mercato LL. Fully Automated Computational Approach for Precisely Measuring Organelle Acidification with Optical pH Sensors. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2022; 14:18133-18149. [PMID: 35404562 PMCID: PMC9052195 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c00389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
pH balance and regulation within organelles are fundamental to cell homeostasis and proliferation. The ability to track pH in cells becomes significantly important to understand these processes in detail. Fluorescent sensors based on micro- and nanoparticles have been applied to measure intracellular pH; however, an accurate methodology to precisely monitor acidification kinetics of organelles in living cells has not been established, limiting the scope of this class of sensors. Here, silica-based fluorescent microparticles were utilized to probe the pH of intracellular organelles in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In addition to the robust, ratiometric, trackable, and bioinert pH sensors, we developed a novel dimensionality reduction algorithm to automatically track and screen massive internalization events of pH sensors. We found that the mean acidification time is comparable among the two cell lines (ΔTMCF-7 = 16.3 min; ΔTMDA-MB-231 = 19.5 min); however, MCF-7 cells showed a much broader heterogeneity in comparison to MDA-MB-231 cells. The use of pH sensors and ratiometric imaging of living cells in combination with a novel computational approach allow analysis of thousands of events in a computationally inexpensive and faster way than the standard routes. The reported methodology can potentially be used to monitor pH as well as several other parameters associated with endocytosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anil Chandra
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Saumya Prasad
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Francesco Alemanno
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Matematica e Fisica, Università
del Salento, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Dipartimento
di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBa), Università del Salento, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Riccardo Rizzo
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Roberta Romano
- Dipartimento
di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBa), Università del Salento, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Matematica e Fisica, Università
del Salento, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Cecilia Bucci
- Dipartimento
di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBa), Università del Salento, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Adriano Barra
- Dipartimento
di Matematica e Fisica, Università
del Salento, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Lecce, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| | - Loretta L. del Mercato
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), Campus Ecotekne, Via Monteroni, Lecce 73100, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Moll K, De Luca M, Landerl K, Banfi C, Zoccolotti P. Editorial: Interpreting the Comorbidity of Learning Disorders. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:811101. [PMID: 34955796 PMCID: PMC8696180 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.811101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Moll
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria De Luca
- Developmental Dyslexia Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Karin Landerl
- Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.,School of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chiara Banfi
- Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Pierluigi Zoccolotti
- Developmental Dyslexia Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Pappalardo I, Santarsiero A, De Luca M, Acquavia MA, Todisco S, Caddeo C, Bianco G, Infantino V, Martelli G, Vassallo A. Exploiting the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of White Capsicum Extract by the Nanoformulation in Phospholipid Vesicles. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10111683. [PMID: 34829554 PMCID: PMC8614711 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10111683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The peppers of the Capsicum species are exploited in many fields, as flavoring agents in food industry, or as decorative and therapeutic plants. Peppers show a diversified phytochemical content responsible for different biological activities. Synergic activity exerted by high levels of antioxidant compounds is responsible for their important anti-inflammatory property. A methanolic extract was obtained from a new pepper genotype and tested for anti-inflammatory activity. The extract was incorporated into phospholipid vesicles to increase the bioavailability of its bioactive components. Two types of phospholipid vesicles were produced, conventional liposomes and Penetration Enhancer containing Vesicles (PEVs). They were tested in human monoblastic leukemia U937 cell line, showing no cytotoxic effect. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured to value the in vitro efficacy of the vesicles in regulating inflammatory responses. Liposomal incorporation significantly reduced ROS levels in extract-treated LPS-activated cells. Furthermore, LC-MS/MS analyses demonstrated that liposomes facilitated the transport of the extract components across the cell membrane and their accumulation into the cytoplasm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Pappalardo
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
- ALMACABIO Srl, C/so Italia 27, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Anna Santarsiero
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
- KAMABIO Srl, Via Al Boschetto 4/B, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Maria Assunta Acquavia
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
- Thema Informatik Srl, Via Ressel 2/F, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Simona Todisco
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
| | - Carla Caddeo
- Department of Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Sezione di Scienze del Farmaco, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0706-758-462
| | - Giuliana Bianco
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
| | - Vittoria Infantino
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
| | - Giuseppe Martelli
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
| | - Antonio Vassallo
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (I.P.); (A.S.); (M.D.L.); (M.A.A.); (S.T.); (G.B.); (V.I.); (G.M.); (A.V.)
- Spinoff TNcKILLERS s.r.l., Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Gaglione R, Smaldone G, Cesaro A, Rumolo M, De Luca M, Di Girolamo R, Petraccone L, Del Vecchio P, Oliva R, Notomista E, Pedone E, Arciello A. Impact of a Single Point Mutation on the Antimicrobial and Fibrillogenic Properties of Cryptides from Human Apolipoprotein B. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070631. [PMID: 34209895 PMCID: PMC8308739 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Host defense peptides (HDPs) are gaining increasing interest, since they are endowed with multiple activities, are often effective on multidrug resistant bacteria and do not generally lead to the development of resistance phenotypes. Cryptic HDPs have been recently identified in human apolipoprotein B and found to be endowed with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with anti-biofilm, wound healing and immunomodulatory properties, and with the ability to synergistically act in combination with conventional antibiotics, while being not toxic for eukaryotic cells. Here, a multidisciplinary approach was used, including time killing curves, differential scanning calorimetry, circular dichroism, ThT binding assays, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The effects of a single point mutation (Pro → Ala in position 7) on the biological properties of ApoB-derived peptide r(P)ApoBLPro have been evaluated. Although the two versions of the peptide share similar antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties, only r(P)ApoBLAla peptide was found to exert bactericidal effects. Interestingly, antimicrobial activity of both peptide versions appears to be dependent from their interaction with specific components of bacterial surfaces, such as LPS or LTA, which induce peptides to form β-sheet-rich amyloid-like structures. Altogether, obtained data indicate a correlation between ApoB-derived peptides self-assembling state and their antibacterial activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Gaglione
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (A.C.); (M.R.); (M.D.L.); (R.D.G.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
- Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Angela Cesaro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (A.C.); (M.R.); (M.D.L.); (R.D.G.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Mariano Rumolo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (A.C.); (M.R.); (M.D.L.); (R.D.G.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (A.C.); (M.R.); (M.D.L.); (R.D.G.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Rocco Di Girolamo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (A.C.); (M.R.); (M.D.L.); (R.D.G.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (A.C.); (M.R.); (M.D.L.); (R.D.G.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (A.C.); (M.R.); (M.D.L.); (R.D.G.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Physical Chemistry I—Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany;
| | - Eugenio Notomista
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy;
| | - Emilia Pedone
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, 80134 Naples, Italy;
- Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides (CIRPeB), University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Arciello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (R.G.); (A.C.); (M.R.); (M.D.L.); (R.D.G.); (L.P.); (P.D.V.)
- Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-679147
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Radice RP, Fiorentino R, De Luca M, Limongi AR, Viviano E, Bermano G, Martelli G. An innovative protocol to select the best growth phase for astaxanthin biosynthesis in H. pluvialis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 31:e00655. [PMID: 34258244 PMCID: PMC8253952 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2021.e00655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
H. pluvialis non-motile cells produce more astaxanthin. H. pluvialis cells could be separated, based on their size, by an electric field. H. pluvialis non-motile cells are bigger than motile cells, and it's possible to recovery non-motile cells using this innovative protocol.
H. pluvialis is a green unicellular microalgae and it is the first producer of natural astaxanthin in the world if subjected to stress conditions such as high light, high salinity and nutrient starvation. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant used in many fields, such as aquaculture, pharmaceutical, food supplements and cosmetic. To obtain a large amount of astaxanthin, researcher focused on the optimisation of H. pluvialis growth. H. pluvialis has four different size growth stage (macrozooids, microzooids, palmelloid and “red non-motile astaxanthin accumulated encysted”), and astaxanthin production occur in the last phase. Recent studies shown that non-motile cells can produce more astaxanthin than motile cells if subjected to light stress. For these reasons, the aim of this study is to find a new and innovative methodology to select and recovery H. pluvialis in his last growth phase thanks to an electrophoretic run, and optimize, in this way, astaxanthin production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Paola Radice
- University of Basilicata, Viale dell'AteneoLucano, 1 85100 Potenza (Pz), Italy.,Bioinnova s.r.l.s, via Ponte Nove Luci 9, 85100 Potenza (Pz), Italy.,Department of science, University of Basilicata, via dell'ateneo lucano 10
| | - Rocco Fiorentino
- University of Basilicata, Viale dell'AteneoLucano, 1 85100 Potenza (Pz), Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- University of Basilicata, Viale dell'AteneoLucano, 1 85100 Potenza (Pz), Italy.,ALMACABIO Srl, C/so Italia 27, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Antonina Rita Limongi
- University of Basilicata, Viale dell'AteneoLucano, 1 85100 Potenza (Pz), Italy.,Bioinnova s.r.l.s, via Ponte Nove Luci 9, 85100 Potenza (Pz), Italy
| | - Emanuele Viviano
- University of Basilicata, Viale dell'AteneoLucano, 1 85100 Potenza (Pz), Italy.,Thema Informatik s.r.l., Via Ressel 2/F, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Bermano
- Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen United Kingdom
| | - Giuseppe Martelli
- University of Basilicata, Viale dell'AteneoLucano, 1 85100 Potenza (Pz), Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Thomas J, Smith H, Smith CA, Coward L, Gorman G, De Luca M, Jumbo-Lucioni P. The Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Lisinopril Mitigates Memory and Motor Deficits in a Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Pathophysiology 2021; 28:307-319. [PMID: 35366264 PMCID: PMC8830455 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology28020020] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) has been reported to reduce symptoms of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Yet, the protective role of ACEis against AD symptoms is still controversial. Here, we aimed at determining whether oral treatment with the ACEi lisinopril has beneficial effects on cognitive and physical functions in a Drosophila melanogaster model of AD that overexpresses the human amyloid precursor protein and the human β-site APP-cleaving enzyme in neurons. We found a significant impairment in learning and memory as well as in climbing ability in young AD flies compared to control flies. After evaluation of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism, we also found that AD flies displayed a >30-fold increase in the levels of the neurotoxic 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) in their heads. Furthermore, compared to control flies, AD flies had significantly higher levels of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) hydrogen peroxide in their muscle-enriched thoraces. Lisinopril significantly improved deficits in learning and memory and climbing ability in AD flies. The positive impact of lisinopril on physical function might be, in part, explained by a significant reduction in ROS levels in the thoraces of the lisinopril-fed AD flies. However, lisinopril did not affect the levels of 3-HK. In conclusion, our findings provide novel and relevant insights into the therapeutic potential of ACEis in a preclinical AD model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jimiece Thomas
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (J.T.); (H.S.); (C.A.S.)
| | - Haddon Smith
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (J.T.); (H.S.); (C.A.S.)
| | - C. Aaron Smith
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (J.T.); (H.S.); (C.A.S.)
| | - Lori Coward
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (L.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Gregory Gorman
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (L.C.); (G.G.)
- Pharmaceutical, Social, and Administrative Sciences, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Patricia Jumbo-Lucioni
- Pharmaceutical, Social, and Administrative Sciences, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
De Luca M, Mandala M, Rose G. Towards an understanding of the mechanoreciprocity process in adipocytes and its perturbation with aging. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 197:111522. [PMID: 34147549 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Adipose tissue (AT) is a complex organ, with multiple functions that are essential for maintaining metabolic health. A feature of AT is its capability to expand in response to physiological challenges, such as pregnancy and aging, and during chronic states of positive energy balance occurring throughout life. AT grows through adipogenesis and/or an increase in the size of existing adipocytes. One process that is required for healthy AT growth is the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is a necessary step to restore mechanical homeostasis and maintain tissue integrity and functionality. While the relationship between mechanobiology and adipogenesis is now well recognized, less is known about the role of adipocyte mechanosignaling pathways in AT growth. In this review article, we first summarize evidence linking ECM remodelling to AT expansion and how its perturbation is associated to a metabolically unhealthy phenotype. Subsequently, we highlight findings suggesting that molecules involved in the dynamic, bidirectional process (mechanoreciprocity) enabling adipocytes to sense changes in the mechanical properties of the ECM are interconnected to pathways regulating lipid metabolism. Finally, we discuss processes through which aging may influence the ability of adipocytes to appropriately respond to alterations in ECM composition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Maurizio Mandala
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Rose
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Rende, 87036, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
De Luca M, Bryan DR, Hunter GR. Circulating Levels of the Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Syndecan-4 Positively Associate with Blood Pressure in Healthy Premenopausal Women. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030342. [PMID: 33668381 PMCID: PMC7996250 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030342] [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] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Syndecans (SDCs) are transmembrane proteins that are present on most cell types where they play a role in multiple physiological processes, including cell-matrix adhesion and inflammation. Growing evidence suggests that elevated levels of both shed SDC1 and SDC4 are associated with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, but their relationships with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy individuals are unknown. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether serum levels of SDC4 and SDC1 were associated with body composition, hemodynamic parameters, pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations, and urinary noradrenaline and dopamine levels in healthy women (17 African American and 20 European American) between the ages of 20 and 40 years old. Univariate analyses revealed only a significant (p < 0.05) inverse correlation between serum SDC1 and body fat percentage. On the other hand, serum SDC4 was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and urinary levels of noradrenaline and dopamine. Serum SDC4 was also a significant predictor of systolic blood pressure in a multivariate regression model that included fat-free mass and urinary dopamine levels as significant independent variables. The result did not change even adjusting for race. Our findings indicate that SDC4 has an important role in the physiological regulation of blood pressure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-205-934-7033; Fax: +1-205-934-7050
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Zoccolotti P, De Luca M, Marinelli CV, Spinelli D. Testing the Specificity of Predictors of Reading, Spelling and Maths: A New Model of the Association Among Learning Skills Based on Competence, Performance and Acquisition. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:573998. [PMID: 33364927 PMCID: PMC7750359 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.573998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In a previous study (Zoccolotti et al., 2020) we examined reading, spelling, and maths skills in an unselected group of 129 Italian children attending fifth grade by testing various cognitive predictors; results showed a high degree of predictors' selectivity for each of these three behaviors. In the present study, we focused on the specificity of the predictors by performing cross-analyses on the same dataset; i.e., we predicted spelling and maths skills based on reading predictors, reading based on maths predictors and so on. Results indicated that some predictors, such as the Orthographic Decision and the Arithmetic Facts tests, predicted reading, spelling and maths skills in similar ways, while others predicted different behaviors but only for a specific parameter, such as fluency but not accuracy (as in the case of RAN), and still others were specific for a single behavior (e.g., Visual-auditory Pseudo-word Matching test predicted only spelling skills). To interpret these results, we propose a novel model of learning skills separately considering factors in terms of competence, performance and acquisition (automatization). Reading, spelling and calculation skills would depend on the development of discrete and different abstract competences (accounting for the partial dissociations among learning disorders reported in the literature). By contrast, overlap among behaviors would be accounted for by defective acquisition in automatized responses to individual "instances"; this latter skill is item specific but domain independent. Finally, performance factors implied in task's characteristics (such as time pressure) may contribute to the partial association among learning skills. It is proposed that this new model may provide a useful base for interpreting the diffuse presence of comorbidities among learning disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Zoccolotti
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Developmental Dyslexia Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Developmental Dyslexia Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Valeria Marinelli
- Lab of Applied Psychology and Intervention, Department of History, Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Donatella Spinelli
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Foro Italico University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Vassallo A, Santoro V, Pappalardo I, Santarsiero A, Convertini P, De Luca M, Martelli G, Infantino V, Caddeo C. Liposome-Mediated Inhibition of Inflammation by Hydroxycitrate. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2020; 10:nano10102080. [PMID: 33096779 PMCID: PMC7590023 DOI: 10.3390/nano10102080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hydroxycitrate (HCA), a main organic acid component of the fruit rind of Garcinia cambogia, is a natural citrate analog that can inhibit the ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) enzyme with a consequent reduction of inflammatory mediators (i.e., nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)) levels. Therefore, HCA has been proposed as a novel means to prevent, treat, and ameliorate conditions involving inflammation. However, HCA presents a low membrane permeability, and a large quantity is required to have a biological effect. To overcome this problem, HCA was formulated in liposomes in this work, and the enhancement of HCA cell availability along with the reduction in the amount required to downregulate NO, ROS, and PGE2 in macrophages were assessed. The liposomes were small in size (~60 nm), monodispersed, negatively charged (−50 mV), and stable on storage. The in vitro results showed that the liposomal encapsulation increased by approximately 4 times the intracellular accumulation of HCA in macrophages, and reduced by 10 times the amount of HCA required to abolish LPS-induced NO, ROS, and PGE2 increase. This suggests that liposomal HCA can be exploited to target the citrate pathway involved in inflammatory processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Vassallo
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.V.); (I.P.); (A.S.); (P.C.); (M.D.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Valentina Santoro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Salerno, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Pappalardo
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.V.); (I.P.); (A.S.); (P.C.); (M.D.L.); (G.M.)
- KAMABIO Srl, Via Al Boschetto 4/B, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Anna Santarsiero
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.V.); (I.P.); (A.S.); (P.C.); (M.D.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Paolo Convertini
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.V.); (I.P.); (A.S.); (P.C.); (M.D.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.V.); (I.P.); (A.S.); (P.C.); (M.D.L.); (G.M.)
- ALMACABIO Srl, C/so Italia 27, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Martelli
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.V.); (I.P.); (A.S.); (P.C.); (M.D.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Vittoria Infantino
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy; (A.V.); (I.P.); (A.S.); (P.C.); (M.D.L.); (G.M.)
- Correspondence: (V.I.); (C.C.); Tel.: +39-0971-20-6102 (V.I.); +39-070-675-8582 (C.C.)
| | - Carla Caddeo
- Department of Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Sezione di Scienze del Farmaco, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.I.); (C.C.); Tel.: +39-0971-20-6102 (V.I.); +39-070-675-8582 (C.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Marchegiani F, Matacchione G, Ramini D, Marcheselli F, Recchioni R, Casoli T, Mercuri E, Lazzarini M, Giorgetti B, Cameriere V, Paolini S, Paciaroni L, Rossi T, Galeazzi R, Lisa R, Bonfigli AR, Procopio AD, De Luca M, Pelliccioni G, Olivieri F. Diagnostic performance of new and classic CSF biomarkers in age-related dementias. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:2420-2429. [PMID: 31029057 PMCID: PMC6520009 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The identification of diagnostic-prognostic biomarkers of dementia has become a global priority due to the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in aging populations. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers across patients affected by either Alzheimer’s disease (AD), tauopathies other than AD (TP), or vascular dementia (VD), and cognitively normal subjects (CNS). One hundred fifty-three patients were recruited and tested for classical AD CSF biomarkers- Amyloid-ß42 and tau proteins - and novel candidate biomarkers - neurofilament (NF-) light and microRNA (miR) -21, -125b, -146a, and -222. All dementia patients had significantly higher concentrations of NF-light compared to CNS, with the TP group displaying the highest NF-light values. A significant inverse correlation was also observed between NF-light and cognitive impairment. Of the four miRNAs analyzed, miR-222 levels were significantly increased in VD patients compared to both CNS and AD. In addition, while NF-light showed a better diagnostic performance than miR-222 and classical AD biomarkers in differentiating TP and VD from CNS, classical AD biomarkers revealed higher performance in discriminating AD from non-AD disorders. Overall, our results suggest that CSF NF-light and miR-222 are promising biomarkers that may help to diagnose non-AD disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Matacchione
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Deborah Ramini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Rina Recchioni
- Center of Clinical Pathology and Innovative Therapy, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Tiziana Casoli
- Center for Neurobiology of Aging, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Elisa Mercuri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marco Lazzarini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Roberta Galeazzi
- Clinical Laboratory and Molecular Diagnostics, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonio Domenico Procopio
- Center of Clinical Pathology and Innovative Therapy, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | | | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Center of Clinical Pathology and Innovative Therapy, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Zoccolotti P, De Luca M, Marinelli CV, Spinelli D. Predicting individual differences in reading, spelling and maths in a sample of typically developing children: A study in the perspective of comorbidity. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231937. [PMID: 32352985 PMCID: PMC7192483 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231937] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined reading, spelling, and mathematical skills in an unselected group of 129 Italian fifth graders by testing various cognitive predictors for each behaviour. As dependent variables, we measured performance in behaviours with a clear functional value in everyday life, such as reading a text, spelling under dictation and doing mental and written computations. As predictors, we selected cognitive dimensions having an explicit relation with the target behaviour (called proximal predictors), and prepared various tests in order to select which task had the best predictive power on each behaviour. The aim was to develop a model of proximal predictors of reading (speed and accuracy), spelling (accuracy) and maths (speed and accuracy) characterized by efficacy also in comparison to the prediction based on general cognitive factors (i.e., short-term memory, phonemic verbal fluency, visual perceptual speed, and non-verbal intelligence) and parsimony, pinpointing the role of both common and unique predictors as envisaged in the general perspective of co-morbidity. With one exception (reading accuracy), the proximal predictors models (based on communality analyses) explained a sizeable amount of variance, ranging from 27.5% in the case of calculation (accuracy) to 48.7% of reading (fluency). Models based on general cognitive factors also accounted for some variance (ranging from 6.5% in the case of spelling to 19.5% in the case of reading fluency) but this was appreciably less than that explained by models based on the hypothesized proximal predictors. In general, results confirmed the efficacy of proximal models in predicting reading, spelling and maths although they offered only limited support for common predictors across different learning skills; namely, performance in the Orthographic Decision test entered as a predictor of both reading and spelling indicating that a single orthographic lexicon may account for performance in reading and spelling. Possible lines of research to expand on this approach are illustrated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Zoccolotti
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Valeria Marinelli
- Laboratory of Applied Psychology and Intervention, Department of History, Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Donatella Spinelli
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Foro Italico University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Romano R, Rivellini C, De Luca M, Tonlorenzi R, Beli R, Manganelli F, Nolano M, Santoro L, Eskelinen EL, Previtali SC, Bucci C. Alteration of the late endocytic pathway in Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2B disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 78:351-372. [PMID: 32280996 PMCID: PMC7867545 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03510-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The small GTPase RAB7A regulates late stages of the endocytic pathway and plays specific roles in neurons, controlling neurotrophins trafficking and signaling, neurite outgrowth and neuronal migration. Mutations in the RAB7A gene cause the autosomal dominant Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2B (CMT2B) disease, an axonal peripheral neuropathy. As several neurodegenerative diseases are caused by alterations of endocytosis, we investigated whether CMT2B-causing mutations correlate with changes in this process. To this purpose, we studied the endocytic pathway in skin fibroblasts from healthy and CMT2B individuals. We found higher expression of late endocytic proteins in CMT2B cells compared to control cells, as well as higher activity of cathepsins and higher receptor degradation activity. Consistently, we observed an increased number of lysosomes, accompanied by higher lysosomal degradative activity in CMT2B cells. Furthermore, we found increased migration and increased RAC1 and MMP-2 activation in CMT2B compared to control cells. To validate these data, we obtained sensory neurons from patient and control iPS cells, to confirm increased lysosomal protein expression and lysosomal activity in CMT2B-derived neurons. Altogether, these results demonstrate that in CMT2B patient-derived cells, the endocytic degradative pathway is altered, suggesting that higher lysosomal activity contributes to neurodegeneration occurring in CMT2B.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Romano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Cristina Rivellini
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Rossana Tonlorenzi
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Beli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Fiore Manganelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Nolano
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
- Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Institute of Telese Terme, Benevento, Italy
| | - Lucio Santoro
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Eeva-Liisa Eskelinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Stefano C Previtali
- Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Bucci
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mensà E, Guescini M, Giuliani A, Bacalini MG, Ramini D, Corleone G, Ferracin M, Fulgenzi G, Graciotti L, Prattichizzo F, Sorci L, Battistelli M, Monsurrò V, Bonfigli AR, Cardelli M, Recchioni R, Marcheselli F, Latini S, Maggio S, Fanelli M, Amatori S, Storci G, Ceriello A, Stocchi V, De Luca M, Magnani L, Rippo MR, Procopio AD, Sala C, Budimir I, Bassi C, Negrini M, Garagnani P, Franceschi C, Sabbatinelli J, Bonafè M, Olivieri F. Small extracellular vesicles deliver miR-21 and miR-217 as pro-senescence effectors to endothelial cells. J Extracell Vesicles 2020; 9:1725285. [PMID: 32158519 PMCID: PMC7048230 DOI: 10.1080/20013078.2020.1725285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of epigenetics in endothelial cell senescence is a cutting-edge topic in ageing research. However, little is known of the relative contribution to pro-senescence signal propagation provided by microRNAs shuttled by extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from senescent cells. Analysis of microRNA and DNA methylation profiles in non-senescent (control) and senescent (SEN) human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and microRNA profiling of their cognate small EVs (sEVs) and large EVs demonstrated that SEN cells released a significantly greater sEV number than control cells. sEVs were enriched in miR-21-5p and miR-217, which target DNMT1 and SIRT1. Treatment of control cells with SEN sEVs induced a miR-21/miR-217-related impairment of DNMT1-SIRT1 expression, the reduction of proliferation markers, the acquisition of a senescent phenotype and a partial demethylation of the locus encoding for miR-21. MicroRNA profiling of sEVs from plasma of healthy subjects aged 40-100 years showed an inverse U-shaped age-related trend for miR-21-5p, consistent with senescence-associated biomarker profiles. Our findings suggest that miR-21-5p/miR-217 carried by SEN sEVs spread pro-senescence signals, affecting DNA methylation and cell replication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Mensà
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Michele Guescini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Angelica Giuliani
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Deborah Ramini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giacomo Corleone
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gianluca Fulgenzi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Laura Graciotti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Leonardo Sorci
- Department of Materials, Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Michela Battistelli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | | | | | - Maurizio Cardelli
- Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Scientific Technological Area, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Rina Recchioni
- Center of Clinical Pathology and Innovative Therapy, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Latini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Serena Maggio
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Mirco Fanelli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory “Paola”, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Fano, Italy
| | - Stefano Amatori
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory “Paola”, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Fano, Italy
| | - Gianluca Storci
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Vilberto Stocchi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Luca Magnani
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Rita Rippo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonio Domenico Procopio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
- Center of Clinical Pathology and Innovative Therapy, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Claudia Sala
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Iva Budimir
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristian Bassi
- Department of Morphology, Surgery & Experimental Medicine, and Laboratory for the Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Tecnopolo, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Massimo Negrini
- Department of Morphology, Surgery & Experimental Medicine, and Laboratory for the Technologies of Advanced Therapies, Tecnopolo, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paolo Garagnani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Personal Genomics S.r.l., Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Jacopo Sabbatinelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Bonafè
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic, and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
- Center of Clinical Pathology and Innovative Therapy, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
De Luca M, Vecchie’ D, Athmanathan B, Gopalkrishna S, Valcin JA, Swain TM, Sertie R, Wekesa K, Rowe GC, Bailey SM, Nagareddy PR. Genetic Deletion of Syndecan-4 Alters Body Composition, Metabolic Phenotypes, and the Function of Metabolic Tissues in Female Mice Fed A High-Fat Diet. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11112810. [PMID: 31752080 PMCID: PMC6893658 DOI: 10.3390/nu11112810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Syndecans are transmembrane proteoglycans that, like integrins, bind to components of the extracellular matrix. Previously, we showed significant associations of genetic variants in the Syndecan-4 (SDC4) gene with intra-abdominal fat, fasting plasma glucose levels, and insulin sensitivity index in children, and with fasting serum triglyceride levels in healthy elderly subjects. An independent study also reported a correlation between SDC4 and the risk of coronary artery disease in middle-aged patients. Here, we investigated whether deletion of Sdc4 promotes metabolic derangements associated with diet-induced obesity by feeding homozygous male and female Sdc4-deficient (Sdc4-/-) mice and their age-matched wild-type (WT) mice a high-fat diet (HFD). We found that WT and Sdc4-/- mice gained similar weight. However, while no differences were observed in males, HFD-fed female Sdc4-/- mice exhibited a higher percentage of body fat mass than controls and displayed increased levels of plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose, as well as reduced whole-body insulin sensitivity. Additionally, they had an increased adipocyte size and macrophage infiltration in the visceral adipose tissue, and higher triglyceride and fatty acid synthase levels in the liver. Together with our previous human genetic findings, these results provide evidence of an evolutionarily conserved role of SDC4 in adiposity and its complications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (D.V.); (R.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-205-934-7033
| | - Denise Vecchie’
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (D.V.); (R.S.)
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Baskaran Athmanathan
- Department of Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43209, USA; (B.A.); (S.G.); (P.R.N.)
| | - Sreejit Gopalkrishna
- Department of Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43209, USA; (B.A.); (S.G.); (P.R.N.)
| | - Jennifer A. Valcin
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.A.V.); (T.M.S.); (S.M.B.)
| | - Telisha M. Swain
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.A.V.); (T.M.S.); (S.M.B.)
| | - Rogerio Sertie
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (D.V.); (R.S.)
| | - Kennedy Wekesa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA;
| | - Glenn C. Rowe
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
| | - Shannon M. Bailey
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.A.V.); (T.M.S.); (S.M.B.)
| | - Prabhakara R. Nagareddy
- Department of Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43209, USA; (B.A.); (S.G.); (P.R.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Montesanto A, Bonfigli AR, De Luca M, Crocco P, Garagnani P, Marasco E, Pirazzini C, Giuliani C, Romagnoli F, Franceschi C, Passarino G, Testa R, Olivieri F, Rose G. Erythropoietin (EPO) haplotype associated with all-cause mortality in a cohort of Italian patients with Type-2 Diabetes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10395. [PMID: 31316151 PMCID: PMC6637129 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46894-2] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Type-2 Diabetes (T2D), diabetic complications, and their clinical risk factors harbor a substantial genetic component but the genetic factors contributing to overall diabetes mortality remain unknown. Here, we examined the association between genetic variants at 21 T2D-susceptibility loci and all-cause mortality in an elderly cohort of 542 Italian diabetic patients who were followed for an average of 12.08 years. Univariate Cox regression analyses detected age, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), diabetes duration, retinopathy, nephropathy, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and anaemia as predictors of all-cause mortality. When Cox proportional hazards multivariate models adjusted for these factors were run, three erythropoietin (EPO) genetic variants in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with each other (rs1617640-T/G, rs507392-T/C and rs551238-A/C) were significantly (False Discovery Rate < 0.1) associated with mortality. Haplotype multivariate analysis revealed that patients carrying the G-C-C haplotype have an increased probability of survival, while an opposite effect was observed among subjects carrying the T-T-A haplotype. Our findings provide evidence that the EPO gene is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with T2D. Thus, understanding the mechanisms by which the genetic variability of EPO affects the mortality of T2D patients may provide potential targets for therapeutic interventions to improve the survival of these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Montesanto
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy
| | | | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Paolina Crocco
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy
| | - Paolo Garagnani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elena Marasco
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Pirazzini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristina Giuliani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Romagnoli
- Diabetology Unit, IRCCS INRCA, National Institute, Ancona, Italy
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy
| | - Roberto Testa
- Clinical Laboratory and Molecular Diagnostics, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.,Center of Clinical Pathology and Innovative Therapy, National Institute IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Rose
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
De Luca M, Pizzamiglio MR, Di Vita A, Palermo L, Tanzilli A, Dacquino C, Piccardi L. First the nose, last the eyes in congenital prosopagnosia: Look like your father looks. Neuropsychology 2019; 33:855-861. [PMID: 31094554 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To contribute to the limited body of eye movement (EM) studies of children and family members with congenital prosopagnosia (CP), a task requiring a verbal response for the identification of personally familiar faces was used for the 1st time. METHOD EMs were recorded in a father and his son (both diagnosed with CP) and controls (N = 2). In the identification tasks they watched personally familiar faces and distracters and responded by saying the names of the familiar faces or saying "I don't know." Two discrimination tasks were added to distinguish the specificity of the EM pattern for the recognition tasks. In all tasks, faces were presented 1 by 1 until the response onset; thus, the EM pattern was not saturated by overexposure to the stimulus. The 1st fixation position was examined to localize the 1st area of the face attended to. The spatial-temporal fixation pattern was examined to evaluate the attention devoted to specific regions. RESULTS Both family members were inaccurate and slower than controls in the identification but not the discrimination tasks. In all tasks, they made a number of fixations comparable to those of controls but showed longer fixation durations than controls did. In the identification tasks, they showed poor spatial-temporal distribution of fixations on the eyes and rare 1st fixations on the eyes. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with the literature, both family members showed the typical reduced sampling of the eyes. Nevertheless, our protocol based on explicit verbal responses (which included EM only until response onset) showed that they did not increase the spatial sampling overall by making more fixations than controls did. Instead, they showed longer fixation durations across tasks; this was interpreted as a generalized problem with face processing in affording a more robust sampling of information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia)
| | | | | | - Liana Palermo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro
| | - Antonio Tanzilli
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, and Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia)
| | - Claudia Dacquino
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, and Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia)
| | - Laura Piccardi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Science, University of L'Aquila
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Nardo D, De Luca M, Rotondaro F, Spanò B, Bozzali M, Doricchi F, Paolucci S, Macaluso E. Left hemispatial neglect and overt orienting in naturalistic conditions: Role of high-level and stimulus-driven signals. Cortex 2019; 113:329-346. [PMID: 30735844 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Deficits of visuospatial orienting in brain-damaged patients affected by hemispatial neglect have been extensively investigated. Nonetheless, spontaneous spatial orienting in naturalistic conditions is still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role played by top-down and stimulus-driven signals in overt spatial orienting of neglect patients during free-viewing of short videos portraying everyday life situations. In Experiment 1, we assessed orienting when meaningful visual events competed on the left and right side of space, and tested whether sensory salience on the two sides biased orienting. In Experiment 2, we examined whether the spatial alignment of visual and auditory signals modulates orienting. The results of Experiment 1 showed that in neglect patients severe deficits in contralesional orienting were restricted to viewing conditions with bilateral visual events competing for attentional capture. In contrast, orienting towards the contralesional side was largely spared when the videos contained a single event on the left side. In neglect patients the processing of stimulus-driven salience was relatively spared and helped orienting towards the left side when multiple events were present. Experiment 2 showed that sounds spatially aligned with visual events on the left side improved orienting towards the otherwise neglected hemispace. Anatomical scans indicated that neglect patients suffered grey and white matter damages primarily in the ventral frontoparietal cortex. This suggests that the improvement of contralesional orienting associated with visual salience and audiovisual spatial alignment may be due to processing in the relatively intact dorsal frontoparietal areas. Our data show that in naturalistic environments, the presence of multiple meaningful events is a major determinant of spatial orienting deficits in neglect patients, whereas the salience of visual signals and the spatial alignment between auditory and visual signals can counteract spatial orienting deficits. These results open new perspectives to develop novel rehabilitation strategies based on the use of naturalistic stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Nardo
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Maria De Luca
- Neuropsychology Unit, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rotondaro
- Neuropsychology Unit, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Spanò
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Bozzali
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, East Sussex, UK
| | - Fabrizio Doricchi
- Neuropsychology Unit, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Emiliano Macaluso
- Neuroimaging Laboratory, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; ImpAct Team, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Zeri F, Naroo SA, Zoccolotti P, De Luca M. Pattern of reading eye movements during monovision contact lens wear in presbyopes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15574. [PMID: 30349058 PMCID: PMC6197269 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33934-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Monovision can be used as a method to correct presbyopia with contact lenses (CL) but its effect on reading behavior is still poorly understood. In this study eye movements (EM) were recorded in fifteen presbyopic participants, naïve to monovision, whilst they read arrays of words, non-words, and text passages to assess whether monovision affected their reading. Three conditions were compared, using daily disposable CLs: baseline (near correction in both eyes), conventional monovision (distance correction in the dominant eye, near correction in the non-dominant eye), and crossed monovision (the reversal of conventional monovision). Behavioral measures (reading speed and accuracy) and EM parameters (single fixation duration, number of fixations, dwell time per item, percentage of regressions, and percentage of skipped items) were analyzed. When reading passages, no differences in behavioral and EM measures were seen in any comparison of the three conditions. The number of fixations and dwell time significantly increased for both monovision and crossed monovision with respect to baseline only with word and non-word arrays. It appears that monovision did not appreciably alter visual processing when reading meaningful texts but some limited stress of the EM pattern was observed only with arrays of unrelated or meaningless items under monovision, which require the reader to have more in-depth controlled visual processing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Zeri
- Ophthalmic Research Group. School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, United Kingdom. .,University of Milano Bicocca, Department of Materials Science, 20125, Milan, Italy.
| | - Shehzad A Naroo
- Ophthalmic Research Group. School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, United Kingdom
| | - Pierluigi Zoccolotti
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, 00179, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University, Rome, 00176, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, 00179, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Paiano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento; Lecce Italy
| | - Azzurra Margiotta
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento; Lecce Italy
- Present address: Department of Biosciences, Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento; Lecce Italy
| | - Cecilia Bucci
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento; Lecce Italy
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Pontillo M, De Luca M, Pucciarini ML, Vicari S, Armando M. All that glitters is not gold: prevalence and relevance of psychotic-like experiences in clinical sample of children and adolescents aged 8-17 years old. Early Interv Psychiatry 2018; 12:702-707. [PMID: 27578268 DOI: 10.1111/eip.12370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM Recent studies have examined the prevalence of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and their relationship with functioning, psychopathology and distress in adult and mixed young adult and adolescent samples. There is, however, a lack of knowledge about the prevalence and clinical weight of PLEs in clinical child and adolescent (CAD) populations. Available research has primarily been conducted on community populations, and even clinical samples mostly used self-reported questionnaires. These studies also recruited participants 12 years old and older, with a consequent lack of information on children from 8 to 11 years old. We examined the prevalence of PLEs and their relationship with psychiatric diagnosis, functioning, intelligence quotient (IQ), anxiety and depressive symptoms in a clinical sample aged 8-17 years old. METHODS The study was conducted on a clinical sample of 46 CAD with PLEs compared to a clinical sample of 60 CAD without PLEs. The two groups were compared on global, social and role functioning, IQ, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and number of psychiatric diagnoses. RESULTS Global, role and social functioning were significantly lower in the CAD clinical sample with PLEs. These significant differences were maintained when the covariate IQ, number of psychiatric diagnoses or level of anxiety or depression was added. No significant age-related differences in the presence of PLEs were found. CONCLUSION The findings of this study show that PLEs are common in a clinical sample of CAD, even those under 12 years old. The presence of PLEs should therefore be investigated and considered in planning treatment of non-psychotic psychiatric disorders in CAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pontillo
- Child and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Children Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Pucciarini
- Child and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Children Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Children Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Armando
- Child and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Children Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.,Office Médico-Pédagogique Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Guaricci AI, Pontone G, Fusini L, De Luca M, Cafarelli FP, Guglielmo M, Baggiano A, Beltrama V, Muscogiuri G, Mushtaq S, Conte E, Guglielmi G, Andreini D, Brunetti ND, Di Biase M, Bartorelli AL, Pepi M. Additional value of inflammatory biomarkers and carotid artery disease in prediction of significant coronary artery disease as assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018; 18:1049-1056. [PMID: 27742738 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jew173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims To evaluate the relationship between an incremental model including cardiovascular risk factors, carotid disease, and inflammatory biomarkers to predict the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods and results A total of 134 consecutive and asymptomatic intermediate-risk patients (mean age 61 ± 9 years, 52% men) were enrolled. Each subject underwent circulating levels assessment of interleukin (IL)-2r, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and carotid and coronary artery evaluation using carotid ultrasound and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), respectively. Carotid disease was diagnosed in 71 (53%) patients. Obstructive and multi-vessel CAD were found in 50 (37%) and 18 (14%) patients, respectively. Patients in whom CCTA showed multi-vessel CAD had a higher rate of carotid disease (89 vs. 46%, P = 0.001) and increased values of all interleukins when compared with patients without multi-vessel obstructive CAD. The univariate and multivariate analysis showed that male gender, diabetes, carotid disease, and IL-6 were independently associated with obstructive CAD. At receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the multivariate model (including male gender, carotid disease, IL-6 > 5.9 pg/mL, and diabetes) showed the highest area under the curve for prediction of obstructive CAD, multi-vessel CAD, and high-risk plaque defined as mixed and/or remodelled plaque when compared with all other models (P < 0.001). Conclusion Among asymptomatic intermediate-risk patients, the presence of increased IL6 levels in addition to traditional risk factors (male gender with diabetes) and carotid artery disease predicts higher rates of obstructive CAD and it could be of help to identify which subset of asymptomatic patients could be referred to CCTA for screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Igoren Guaricci
- Cardiology Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University Hospital Policlinico of Bari, Bari, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | | | - Laura Fusini
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Francesco Pio Cafarelli
- Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute 'Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza' Hospital, Foggia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Giuseppe Guglielmi
- Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute 'Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza' Hospital, Foggia, Italy
| | - Daniele Andreini
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Di Biase
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio L Bartorelli
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences 'Luigi SACCO', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Pepi
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Zeri F, Naroo S, Zoccolotti P, De Luca M. Does monovision affect eye movement pattern during reading? Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2018.03.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
41
|
Dragone A, Lasaponara S, Pinto M, Rotondaro F, De Luca M, Doricchi F. Expectancy modulates pupil size during endogenous orienting of spatial attention. Cortex 2018; 102:57-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.09.011] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
42
|
De Luca M. The role of the cell-matrix interface in aging and its interaction with the renin-angiotensin system in the aged vasculature. Mech Ageing Dev 2018; 177:66-73. [PMID: 29626500 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an intricate network that provides structural and anchoring support to cells in order to stabilize cell morphology and tissue architecture. The ECM also controls many aspects of the cell's dynamic behavior and fate through its ongoing, bidirectional interaction with cells. These interactions between the cell and components of the surrounding ECM are implicated in several biological processes, including development and adult tissue repair in response to injury, throughout the lifespan of multiple species. The present review gives an overview of the growing evidence that cell-matrix interactions play a pivotal role in the aging process. The focus of the first part of the article is on recent studies using cell-derived decellularized ECM, which strongly suggest that age-related changes in the ECM induce cellular senescence, a well-recognized hallmark of aging. This is followed by a review of findings from genetic studies indicating that changes in genes involved in cell-ECM adhesion and matrix-mediated intracellular signaling cascades affect longevity. Finally, mention is made of novel data proposing an intricate interplay between cell-matrix interactions and the renin-angiotensin system that may have a significant impact on mammalian arterial stiffness with age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Webb 451-1720 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-3360, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Warren JL, Hoxha E, Jumbo-Lucioni P, De Luca M. Reduction of Syndecan Transcript Levels in the Insulin-Producing Cells Affects Glucose Homeostasis in Adult Drosophila melanogaster. DNA Cell Biol 2017; 36:959-965. [PMID: 28945109 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2017.3912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Signaling by direct cell-matrix interactions has been shown to impact the transcription, secretion, and storage of insulin in mammalian β cells. However, more research is still needed in this area. Syndecans are transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans that function independently and in synergy with integrin-mediated signaling to mediate cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix. In this study, we used the model organism Drosophila melanogaster to determine whether knockdown of the Syndecan (Sdc) gene expression specifically in the insulin-producing cells (IPCs) might affect insulin-like peptide (ILP) production and secretion. IPCs of adult flies produce three ILPs (ILP2, ILP3, and ILP5), which have significant homology to mammalian insulin. We report that flies with reduced Sdc expression in the IPCs did not show any difference in the expression of ilp genes compared to controls. However, they had significantly reduced levels of the circulating ILP2 protein, higher circulating carbohydrates, and were less glucose tolerant than control flies. Finally, we found that IPCs-specific Sdc knockdown led to reduced levels of head Glucose transporter1 gene expression, extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation, and reactive oxygen species. Taken together, our findings suggest a cell autonomous role for Sdc in insulin release in D. melanogaster.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L Warren
- 1 Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Eneida Hoxha
- 1 Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.,2 Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria , Rende, Italy
| | - Patricia Jumbo-Lucioni
- 1 Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama.,3 Department of Pharmaceutical, Social and Administrative Sciences, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University , Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Maria De Luca
- 1 Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
De Luca M, Marinelli CV, Spinelli D, Zoccolotti P. Slowing in reading and picture naming: the effects of aging and developmental dyslexia. Exp Brain Res 2017; 235:3093-3109. [PMID: 28744622 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-017-5041-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We examined the slowing in vocal reaction times shown by dyslexic (compared to control) children with that of older (compared to younger) adults using an approach focusing on the detection of global, non-task-specific components. To address this aim, data were analyzed with reference to the difference engine (DEM) and rate and amount (RAM) models. In Experiment 1, typically developing children, children with dyslexia (both attending sixth grade), younger adults and older adults read words and non-words and named pictures. In Experiment 2, word and picture conditions were presented to dyslexic and control children attending eighth grade. In both experiments, dyslexic children were delayed in reading conditions, while they were unimpaired in naming pictures (a finding which indicates spared access to the phonological lexicon). The reading difficulty was well accounted for by a single multiplicative factor while only the residual effect of length (but not frequency and lexicality) was present after controlling for over-additivity using a linear mixed effects model with random slopes on critical variables. Older adults were slower than younger adults across reading and naming conditions. This deficit was well described by a single multiplicative factor. Thus, while slowing of information processing is limited to orthographic stimuli in dyslexic children, it cuts across verbal tasks in older adults. Overall, speed differences in groups such as dyslexic children and older adults can be effectively described with reference to deficits in domains encompassing a variety of experimental conditions rather than deficits in single specific task/conditions. The DEM and RAM prove effective in teasing out global vs. specific components of performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Valeria Marinelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Applied Psychology and Intervention "DREAM", Department of History Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Donatella Spinelli
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Movement Sciences and Health, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Zoccolotti
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy. .,Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78, 00176, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Eveland M, Brokamp GA, Lue CH, Harbison ST, Leips J, De Luca M. Corrigendum to "Knockdown expression of Syndecan in the fat body impacts nutrient metabolism and the organismal response to environmental stresses in Drosophila melanogaster" [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (2016) 103-108]. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 478:1798. [PMID: 27629229 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Eveland
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Brokamp
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Chia-Hua Lue
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susan T Harbison
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeff Leips
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Piccardi L, De Luca M, Nori R, Palermo L, Iachini F, Guariglia C. Navigational Style Influences Eye Movement Pattern during Exploration and Learning of an Environmental Map. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:140. [PMID: 27445735 PMCID: PMC4925711 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During navigation people may adopt three different spatial styles (i.e., Landmark, Route, and Survey). Landmark style (LS) people are able to recall familiar landmarks but cannot combine them with directional information; Route style (RS) people connect landmarks to each other using egocentric information about direction; Survey style (SS) people use a map-like representation of the environment. SS individuals generally navigate better than LS and RS people. Fifty-one college students (20 LS; 17 RS, and 14 SS) took part in the experiment. The spatial cognitive style (SCS) was assessed by means of the SCS test; participants then had to learn a schematic map of a city, and after 5 min had to recall the path depicted on it. During the learning and delayed recall phases, eye-movements were recorded. Our intent was to investigate whether there is a peculiar way to explore an environmental map related to the individual’s spatial style. Results support the presence of differences in the strategy used by the three spatial styles for learning the path and its delayed recall. Specifically, LS individuals produced a greater number of fixations of short duration, while the opposite eye movement pattern characterized SS individuals. Moreover, SS individuals showed a more spread and comprehensive explorative pattern of the map, while LS individuals focused their exploration on the path and related targets. RS individuals showed a pattern of exploration at a level of proficiency between LS and SS individuals. We discuss the clinical and anatomical implications of our data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Piccardi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Science, University of L'AquilaL'Aquila, Italy; Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa LuciaRome, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Nori
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna Bologna, Italy
| | - Liana Palermo
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa LuciaRome, Italy; Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University Magna GraeciaCatanzaro, Italy
| | - Fabiana Iachini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Science, University of L'Aquila L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Cecilia Guariglia
- Neuropsychology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa LuciaRome, Italy; Department of Psychology, "Sapienza" University of RomeRome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Eveland M, Brokamp GA, Lue CH, Harbison ST, Leips J, De Luca M. Knockdown expression of Syndecan in the fat body impacts nutrient metabolism and the organismal response to environmental stresses in Drosophila melanogaster. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 477:103-108. [PMID: 27289019 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.06.027] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecans are transmembrane proteins involved in multiple physiological processes, including cell-matrix adhesion and inflammation. Recent evidence from model systems and humans suggest that syndecans have a role in energy balance and nutrient metabolism regulation. However, much remains to be learned about the mechanisms through which syndecans influence these phenotypes. Previously, we reported that Drosophila melanogaster Syndecan (Sdc) mutants had reduced metabolic activity compared to controls. Here, we knocked down endogenous Sdc expression in the fat body (the functional equivalent of mammalian adipose tissue and liver) to investigate whether the effects on metabolism originate from this tissue. We found that knocking down Sdc in the fat body leads to flies with higher levels of glycogen and fat and that survive longer during starvation, likely due to their extra energy reserves and an increase in gluconeogenesis. However, compared to control flies, they are also more sensitive to environmental stresses (e.g. bacterial infection and cold) and have reduced metabolic activity under normal feeding conditions. Under the same conditions, fat-body Sdc reduction enhances expression of genes involved in glyceroneogenesis and gluconeogenesis and induces a drastic decrease in phosphorylation levels of AKT and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Altogether, these findings strongly suggest that Drosophila fat body Sdc is involved in a mechanism that shifts resources to different physiological functions according to nutritional status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Eveland
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Brokamp
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Chia-Hua Lue
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susan T Harbison
- Laboratory of Systems Genetics, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeff Leips
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Primativo S, Spinelli D, Zoccolotti P, De Luca M, Martelli M. Perceptual and Cognitive Factors Imposing "Speed Limits" on Reading Rate: A Study with the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153786. [PMID: 27088226 PMCID: PMC4835101 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Adults read at high speed, but estimates of their reading rate vary greatly, i.e., from 100 to 1500 words per minute (wpm). This discrepancy is likely due to different recording methods and to the different perceptual and cognitive processes involved in specific test conditions. The present study investigated the origins of these notable differences in RSVP reading rate (RR). In six experiments we investigated the role of many different perceptual and cognitive variables. The presence of a mask caused a steep decline in reading rate, with an estimated masking cost of about 200 wpm. When the decoding process was isolated, RR approached values of 1200 wpm. When the number of stimuli exceeded the short-term memory span, RR decreased to 800 wpm. The semantic context contributed to reading speed only by a factor of 1.4. Finally, eye movements imposed an upper limit on RR (around 300 wpm). Overall, data indicate a speed limit of 300 wpm, which corresponds to the time needed for eye movement execution, i.e., the most time consuming mechanism. Results reconcile differences in reading rates reported by different laboratories and thus provide suggestions for targeting different components of reading rate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Primativo
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (SP); (MM)
| | - Donatella Spinelli
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- University of Rome «Foro Italico», Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Zoccolotti
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marialuisa Martelli
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail: (SP); (MM)
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Sciancalepore AG, Portone A, Moffa M, Persano L, De Luca M, Paiano A, Sallustio F, Schena FP, Bucci C, Pisignano D. Micropatterning control of tubular commitment in human adult renal stem cells. Biomaterials 2016; 94:57-69. [PMID: 27105437 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2016] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The treatment of renal injury by autologous, patient-specific adult stem cells is still an unmet need. Unsolved issues remain the spatial integration of stem cells into damaged areas of the organ, the commitment in the required cell type and the development of improved bioengineered devices. In this respect, biomaterials and architectures have to be specialized to control stem cell differentiation. Here, we perform an extensive study on micropatterned extracellular matrix proteins, which constitute a simple and non-invasive approach to drive the differentiation of adult renal progenitor/stem cells (ARPCs) from human donors. ARPCs are interfaced with fibronectin (FN) micropatterns, in the absence of exogenous chemicals or cellular reprogramming. We obtain the differentiation towards tubular cells of ARPCs cultured in basal medium conditions, the tubular commitment thus being specifically induced by micropatterned substrates. We characterize the stability of the tubular differentiation as well as the induction of a polarized phenotype in micropatterned ARPCs. Thus, the developed cues, driving the functional commitment of ARPCs, offer a route to recreate the microenvironment of the stem cell niche in vitro, that may serve, in perspective, for the development of ARPC-based bioengineered devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna G Sciancalepore
- Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Euromediterranean Center for Nanomaterial Modelling and Technology (ECMT), via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy; Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies @UNILE, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Alberto Portone
- Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Euromediterranean Center for Nanomaterial Modelling and Technology (ECMT), via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy; Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica "Ennio De Giorgi", Università del Salento, via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Moffa
- Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Euromediterranean Center for Nanomaterial Modelling and Technology (ECMT), via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy; Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies @UNILE, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano, Lecce, Italy
| | - Luana Persano
- Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Euromediterranean Center for Nanomaterial Modelling and Technology (ECMT), via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), Università del Salento, via Provinciale Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Aurora Paiano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), Università del Salento, via Provinciale Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Fabio Sallustio
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; Centro Addestramento Ricerca Scientifica in Oncologia (C.A.R.S.O.) Consortium, Strada Prov. le Valenzano-Casamassima, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Francesco P Schena
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; Centro Addestramento Ricerca Scientifica in Oncologia (C.A.R.S.O.) Consortium, Strada Prov. le Valenzano-Casamassima, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - Cecilia Bucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali (DiSTeBA), Università del Salento, via Provinciale Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Dario Pisignano
- Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Euromediterranean Center for Nanomaterial Modelling and Technology (ECMT), via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy; Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies @UNILE, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano, Lecce, Italy; Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica "Ennio De Giorgi", Università del Salento, via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
De Luca M, Crocco P, De Rango F, Passarino G, Rose G. Association of the Laminin, Alpha 5 (LAMA5) rs4925386 with height and longevity in an elderly population from Southern Italy. Mech Ageing Dev 2016; 155:55-9. [PMID: 26968355 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2016.03.003] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Studies in animal models and humans suggest that reduced growth and adult stature are associated with lifespan extension. Moreover, epidemiological studies reported a positive association between adult height and risk of multiple cancers. Yet, it is unclear which factors mediate these relationships. Laminins are major components of the basement membranes and cooperate with growth factors and matrix-dependent receptors in cell proliferation and differentiation. Previously, we reported the association of rs659822-C/T in LAMA5, encoding the laminin-α5 chain, with weight and height in a cohort of healthy 64-107 aged Italian individuals. Notably, two independent meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies found the C-allele of LAMA5 rs4925386-C/T correlated with the risk of colorectal cancer. We tested additional SNPs within the LAMA5 gene for association with anthropometric traits and longevity in our cohort of elderly subjects (N=624). Under an additive model, the rs2427283-C allele (P=0.02) and the rs4925386-T allele (P=0.01) were associated with shorter stature. Age-stratified analyses showed that the rs4925386-T allele was also positively associated with longevity (P=0.001). The association of LAMA5 rs4925386 alleles with both inter-individual differences in height and in longevity suggests that laminins may be among the factors linking stature and cancer susceptibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Paolina Crocco
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Rende 87036, Italy
| | - Francesco De Rango
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Rende 87036, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Passarino
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Rende 87036, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Rose
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, Rende 87036, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|