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Aziz N, Ruzza C, Falcicchia C, Guarino A, Soukupova M, Asth L, Aleotti V, Bettegazzi B, Simonato M, Zucchini S. Lack of Direct Effects of Neurotrophic Factors in an In Vitro Model of Neuroinflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4160. [PMID: 38673746 PMCID: PMC11049901 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084160] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is associated with several neurological disorders including temporal lobe epilepsy. Seizures themselves can induce neuroinflammation. In an in vivo model of epilepsy, the supplementation of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) using a Herpes-based vector reduced epileptogenesis-associated neuroinflammation. The aim of this study was to test whether the attenuation of the neuroinflammation obtained in vivo with BDNF and FGF-2 was direct or secondary to other effects, for example, the reduction in the severity and frequency of spontaneous recurrent seizures. An in vitro model of neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng/mL) in a mouse primary mixed glial culture was used. The releases of cytokines and NO were analyzed via ELISA and Griess assay, respectively. The effects of LPS and neurotrophic factors on cell viability were determined by performing an MTT assay. BDNF and FGF-2 were tested alone and co-administered. LPS induced a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and NO. BDNF, FGF-2, and their co-administration did not counteract these LPS effects. Our study suggests that the anti-inflammatory effect of BDNF and FGF-2 in vivo in the epilepsy model was indirect and likely due to a reduction in seizure frequency and severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimra Aziz
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.A.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (L.A.); (M.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.A.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (L.A.); (M.S.); (S.Z.)
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Annunziata Guarino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.A.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (L.A.); (M.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.A.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (L.A.); (M.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Laila Asth
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.A.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (L.A.); (M.S.); (S.Z.)
| | - Valentina Aleotti
- Operating Unit Neurological Clinic, University Hospital of Ferrara, via Aldo Moro 8, 44124 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Barbara Bettegazzi
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.A.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (L.A.); (M.S.); (S.Z.)
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (N.A.); (A.G.); (M.S.); (L.A.); (M.S.); (S.Z.)
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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2
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Bettegazzi B, Cattaneo S, Simonato M, Zucchini S, Soukupova M. Viral Vector-Based Gene Therapy for Epilepsy: What Does the Future Hold? Mol Diagn Ther 2024; 28:5-13. [PMID: 38103141 PMCID: PMC10786988 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00687-6] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, many pre-clinical studies have tested gene therapy approaches as possible treatments for epilepsy, following the idea that they may provide an alternative to conventional pharmacological and surgical options. Multiple gene therapy approaches have been developed, including those based on anti-sense oligonucleotides, RNA interference, and viral vectors. In this opinion article, we focus on translational issues related to viral vector-mediated gene therapy for epilepsy. Research has advanced dramatically in addressing issues like viral vector optimization, target identification, strategies of gene expression, editing or regulation, and safety. Some of these pre-clinically validated potential gene therapies are now being tested in clinical trials, in patients with genetic or focal forms of drug-resistant epilepsy. Here, we discuss the ongoing translational research and the advancements that are needed and expected in the near future. We then describe the clinical trials in the pipeline and the further challenges that will need to be addressed at the clinical and economic levels. Our optimistic view is that all these issues and challenges can be overcome, and that gene therapy approaches for epilepsy will soon become a clinical reality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefano Cattaneo
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
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Soukupová M, Guarino A, Asth L, Marino P, Barbieri M, Simonato M, Zucchini S. Sampling Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood from Lateral Tail Vein in Rats during EEG Recordings. J Vis Exp 2023. [PMID: 37677021 DOI: 10.3791/65636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Because the composition of body fluids reflects many physiological and pathological dynamics, biological liquid samples are commonly obtained in many experimental contexts to measure molecules of interest, such as hormones, growth factors, proteins, or small non-coding RNAs. A specific example is the sampling of biological liquids in the research of biomarkers for epilepsy. In these studies, it is desirable to compare the levels of molecules in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in plasma, by withdrawing CSF and plasma in parallel and considering the time distance of the sampling from and to seizures. The combined CSF and plasma sampling, coupled with video-EEG monitoring in epileptic animals, is a promising approach for the validation of putative diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Here, a procedure of combined CSF withdrawal from cisterna magna and blood sampling from the lateral tail vein in epileptic rats that are continuously video-EEG monitored is described. This procedure offers significant advantages over other commonly used techniques. It permits rapid sampling with minimal pain or invasiveness, and reduced time of anesthesia. Additionally, it can be used to obtain CSF and plasma samples in both tethered and telemetry EEG recorded rats, and it may be used repeatedly across multiple days of experiment. By minimizing the stress due to sampling by shortening isoflurane anesthesia, measures are expected to reflect more accurately the true levels of investigated molecules in biofluids. Depending on the availability of an appropriate analytical assay, this technique may be used to measure the levels of multiple, different molecules while performing EEG recording at the same time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Soukupová
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, Universita degli Studi di Ferrara;
| | - Annunziata Guarino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, Universita degli Studi di Ferrara
| | - Laila Asth
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, Universita degli Studi di Ferrara
| | - Pietro Marino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, Universita degli Studi di Ferrara
| | - Mario Barbieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, Universita degli Studi di Ferrara
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, Universita degli Studi di Ferrara
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, Universita degli Studi di Ferrara
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4
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Henshall DC, Arzimanoglou A, Dedeurwaerdere S, Guerrini R, Jozwiak S, Kokaia M, Lerche H, Pitkänen A, Ryvlin P, Simonato M, Sisodiya SM. Shaping the future of European epilepsy research: Final meeting report from EPICLUSTER. Epilepsy Res 2023; 189:107068. [PMID: 36549242 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2022.107068] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Collaboration is essential to the conduct of basic, applied and clinical research and its translation into the technologies and treatments urgently needed to improve the lives of people living with brain diseases and the health professionals who care for them. EPICLUSTER was formed in 2019 by the European Brain Research Area (EBRA) to support the coordination of epilepsy research in Europe. A key objective was to provide a platform to discuss shared research priorities by bringing together scientists and clinicians with multiple stakeholders including patient organisations and industry and the networks and infrastructures that provide healthcare and support research. Additional objectives were to facilitate access and sharing of data and biosamples, working together to ensure epilepsy is a priority for research funding, and embedding a culture of public and patient involvement (PPI) among epilepsy researchers. In this meeting report, we summarise the shared research priorities discussed by the leadership of EPICLUSTER at the recent final meeting. We also briefly review the discussion on patient and industry priorities, guidance on starting PPI for epilepsy researchers, and the sustainability of funding and infrastructures needed to ensure a comprehensive stakeholder-embedded community for epilepsy research.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Henshall
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics and FutureNeuro SFI Centre, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland.
| | - Alexis Arzimanoglou
- Department of Paediatric Clinical Epileptology, Sleep Disorders and Functional Neurology, University Hospital of Lyon-HCL, Coordinator of the ERN EpiCARE, Lyon, France and Epilepsy Research Unit, Children's Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Member of the ERN EpiCARE, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Renzo Guerrini
- Neuroscience Department, Children's Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 24, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Sergiusz Jozwiak
- The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Al. Dzieci Polskich 20, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Merab Kokaia
- Epilepsy Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Sölvegatan 17, BMC A11, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Holger Lerche
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University, Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Asla Pitkänen
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, FIN-70 211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Philippe Ryvlin
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Champ de l'Air Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Sanjay M Sisodiya
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 1PJ, United Kingdom
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5
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Maller T, Perel N, Simonato M, Harari E, Tager S, Fink D, Jacobson E, Glikson M, Dvir D. Large multinational evaluation of time to reintervention in patients undergoing bioprosthetic valve implantation during open heart surgery. Eur Heart J 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac544.2151] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Bioprosthetic valves are increasingly utilized during open heart surgery in favor of mechanical valves. These tissue valves are prone for structural valve degeneration and failure, especially in young patients. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an appealing approach in these patients.
Purpose
To describe independent correlates for early need for reintervention.
Method
We used a large multicenter registry of patients (>45 years of age) with failed bioprosthetic surgical valves undergoing TAVI valve-in-valve (VinV) in either aortic or the mitral positions. Early reintervention was (<5 years between open-heart surgery and VinV). Multi-variable properties that were included: patient gender, age at open-heart surgery, valve size, baseline renal failure, position of valve implantation, and bioprosthetic valve label size.
Results
A total of 3,324 patients were included in the study (age at the time of open heart surgery 68.9+7.9 years). Median time to TAVI was 9 years (IQR 6–13 years). A total of 632 (19%) patients experienced early valve degeneration with median time to TAVI of only 3 years [IQR 1–5]. Patients with early degeneration were older than those without early degeneration (mean age at surgery was 72.8±9 years vs. 68.9±8 years; p<0.001). in addition, significant linear relation between older patient age and early valve degeneration (p for trend <0.001). Re-intervention in the mitral position was more common in the group of patients with early degeneration (24.4% vs 18.2% without early degeneration; p<0.001) Patient age and mitral valve position were independently associated with increased rate of early degeneration (OR 1.09 [1.08–1.11], p<0.001; OR 1.62 [1.31–2.01]; p<0.001 respectively).
Conclusions
In this large multicenter analysis of patients undergoing TAVR for failed bioprosthetic valves we identified old patient age and mitral valve (vs. aortic) as independent correlates for early intervention. A discrepancy with known association of young age and rapid bioprosthetic valve degeneration is to be determined.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: None.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Maller
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel
| | - N Perel
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel
| | - M Simonato
- Yale New Haven Hospital , New Haven , United States of America
| | - E Harari
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel
| | - S Tager
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel
| | - D Fink
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel
| | - E Jacobson
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel
| | - M Glikson
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel
| | - D Dvir
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel
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6
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Cox Z, Zalawadiya S, Simonato M, Redfors B, Zhou Z, Kotinkaduwa L, Zile M, Udelson J, Lim DS, Grayburn PA, Mack MJ, Abraham WT, Stone GW, Lindenfeld J. Maximally tolerated guideline-directed medical therapy and barriers to optimization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: the COAPT trial. Eur Heart J 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac544.975] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The COAPT trial of MitraClip therapy employed a central screening eligibility committee (CSEC) of heart failure (HF) experts to ensure the use of maximally tolerated guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and systematically document intolerances in all potential patients prior to approval for randomization.
Purpose
To describe the percentage of GDMT classes, doses tolerated, predictors of intolerance, and specific intolerances limiting GDMT among patients approved for randomization by the CSEC.
Methods
We analyzed baseline use, dose, and intolerances of i) angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) or angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI); ii) beta-blockers (BB); and iii) mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) in the CSEC-approved COAPT population with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; LVEF ≤40%). We analyzed variables associated with GDMT tolerance.
Results
In COAPT, 464 patients had HFrEF and complete screening medication information. Any dose of all 3, 2 or 1 GDMT classes were tolerated in 39%, 39% and 20% of patients respectively; only 2% of patients (n=9) could not tolerate any GDMT (Figure 1). BB were prescribed in the most (93%) patients followed by ACEI/ARB/ARNI (69%) and MRA (55%). Intolerances limiting each GDMT class differed, but hypotension and kidney dysfunction were most common (Figure 2). No patients tolerated goal doses of all 3 GDMT classes. For BB, only 32% tolerated ≥50% of the goal dose; while for ACEI/ARB/ARNI, no patients achieved goal doses, and only 1% tolerated ≥50% of the goal dose. For MRA, 86% of patients tolerated 25mg/day or less. Patients intolerant of BB were less likely to tolerate an ACEI/ARB/ARNI (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.20–0.76; p=0.004) but not a MRA (p=0.21) compared with patients tolerating a low dose BB. Patients intolerant of MRA were less likely to tolerate ACEI/ARB/ARNI therapy (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.25–0.57; p<0.0001) but not a BB (p=0.31) compared with patients tolerating MRA. Patients tolerating low dose ACEI/ARB/ARNI had a higher baseline mean eGFR (52±21 versus 40±21 ml/min/m2; p<0.0001) compared with patients intolerant of ACEI/ARB/ARNI. Likewise, patients tolerating MRA had a higher baseline mean eGFR (52±21 versus 42±21 ml/min/m2; p<0.0001) compared with patients intolerant of MRA.
Conclusion
In a contemporary trial in which HF specialists ensured GDMT optimization, many patients had medical intolerances prohibiting use of one or more GDMT classes, and few patients tolerated target doses. These findings indicate medical intolerances are the primary cause of low GDMT prescription rates in patients with moderate to severe HFrEF. Yet, use of GDMT in this very ill population was much better than “real world” registries of HFrEF suggesting that mandating careful CSEC review prior to study enrollment is important for clinical trials having the objective of randomizing a maximally treated patient cohort.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Cox
- Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy , Nashville , United States of America
| | - S Zalawadiya
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , United States of America
| | - M Simonato
- Cardiovascular Research Foundation , New York , United States of America
| | - B Redfors
- Cardiovascular Research Foundation , New York , United States of America
| | - Z Zhou
- Cardiovascular Research Foundation , New York , United States of America
| | - L Kotinkaduwa
- Cardiovascular Research Foundation , New York , United States of America
| | - M Zile
- Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veteran's Affairs Medical Center , Charleston , United States of America
| | - J Udelson
- Tufts Medical Center, Inc. , Boston , United States of America
| | - D S Lim
- University of Virginia , Charlottesville , United States of America
| | - P A Grayburn
- Baylor University Medical Center , Dallas , United States of America
| | - M J Mack
- Baylor Scott and White The Heart Hospital , Plano , United States of America
| | - W T Abraham
- The Ohio State University , Columbus , United States of America
| | - G W Stone
- The Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute , New York , United States of America
| | - J Lindenfeld
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center , Nashville , United States of America
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Guarino A, Bettegazzi B, Aziz N, Barbieri M, Bochicchio D, Crippa L, Marino P, Sguizzato M, Soukupova M, Zucchini S, Simonato M. Low-dose 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Administration After Status Epilepticus Prevents Epilepsy Development. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1951-1965. [PMID: 36180719 PMCID: PMC9723075 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01299-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy often manifests months or even years after an initial epileptogenic insult (e.g., stroke, trauma, status epilepticus) and, therefore, may be preventable. However, no such preventive treatment is currently available. Aim of this study was to test an antioxidant agent, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), that is well tolerated and effective in preclinical models of many neurological disorders, as an anti-epileptogenic drug. However, 7,8-DHF also acts as a TrkB receptor agonist and, based on the literature, this effect may imply an anti- or a pro-epileptogenic effect. We found that low- (5 mg/kg), but not high-dose 7,8-DHF (10 mg/kg) can exert strong anti-epileptogenic effects in the lithium-pilocarpine model (i.e., highly significant reduction in the frequency of spontaneous seizures and in the time to first seizure after status epilepticus). The mechanism of these different dose-related effects remains to be elucidated. Nonetheless, considering its excellent safety profile and antioxidant properties, as well as its putative effects on TrkB receptors, 7,8-DHF represents an interesting template for the development of effective and well-tolerated anti-epileptogenic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annunziata Guarino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Barbara Bettegazzi
- University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Nimra Aziz
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mario Barbieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Daniela Bochicchio
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lucia Crippa
- University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Marino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maddalena Sguizzato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
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Henshall DC, Guerrini R, Jozwiak S, Kokaia M, Pitkanen A, Sisodiya S, Simonato M, Cross JH, Ryvlin P, Brodie MJ, Trinka E, Sofia F. Meeting report: EpiXchange II brings together European epilepsy research projects to discuss latest advances. Epilepsy Res 2021; 178:106811. [PMID: 34814066 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106811] [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] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Children's Hospital A. Meyer-University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - J Helen Cross
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Philippe Ryvlin
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Eugen Trinka
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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9
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Lovisari F, Simonato M. Gene networks and microRNAs: Promises and challenges for treating epilepsies and their comorbidities. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 121:106488. [PMID: 31494060 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Neurobiology research has used an essentially reductionist approach for many years, dissecting out the brain in more simple elements. Recent technical advances, like systems biology, have made now possible to embrace a more holistic vision and try to tackle the complexity of the system. In this short review, we describe how these approaches, in particular analyses or gene networks and of microRNAs, may be useful for epilepsy research. We will describe and discuss recent studies that illustrate how these research approaches can lead to the identification of therapeutic targets and pharmacological strategies to prevent or treat some forms of epilepsy. We aim to show that studying epilepsy and its comorbidities within a complex system framework is a promising integration to the traditional reductionist approaches, and that it will become more and more important in the future for developing new therapies. This article is part of the Special Issue "NEWroscience 2018."
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Lovisari
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy; School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
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10
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Birolini G, Verlengia G, Talpo F, Maniezzi C, Zentilin L, Giacca M, Conforti P, Cordiglieri C, Caccia C, Leoni V, Taroni F, Biella G, Simonato M, Cattaneo E, Valenza M. SREBP2 gene therapy targeting striatal astrocytes ameliorates Huntington's disease phenotypes. Brain 2021; 144:3175-3190. [PMID: 33974044 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain cholesterol is produced mainly by astrocytes and is important for neuronal function. Its biosynthesis is severely reduced in mouse models of Huntington's disease. One possible mechanism is a diminished nuclear translocation of the transcription factor sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and, consequently, reduced activation of SREBP-controlled genes in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. Here we evaluated the efficacy of a gene therapy based on the unilateral intra-striatal injection of a recombinant adeno-associated virus 2/5 (AAV2/5) targeting astrocytes specifically and carrying the transcriptionally active N-terminal fragment of human SREBP2. Robust hSREBP2 expression in striatal glial cells in R6/2 Huntington's disease mice activated the transcription of cholesterol biosynthesis pathway genes, restored synaptic transmission, reversed Drd2 transcript levels decline, cleared mutant Huntingtin aggregates and attenuated behavioral deficits. We conclude that glial SREBP2 participates in Huntington's disease brain pathogenesis in vivo and that AAV-based delivery of SREBP2 to astrocytes counteracts key features of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Birolini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi″, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132, Milan, Italy.,Department of BioMedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesca Talpo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudia Maniezzi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorena Zentilin
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Mauro Giacca
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, 34149, Trieste, Italy.,School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Paola Conforti
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi″, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Cordiglieri
- Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi″, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Caccia
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics. Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20131 Milan, Italy
| | - Valerio Leoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy.,Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Hospital of Desio, ASST Monza, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Franco Taroni
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics. Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20131 Milan, Italy
| | - Gerardo Biella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132, Milan, Italy.,Department of BioMedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi″, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Valenza
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi″, 20122, Milan, Italy
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11
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Soukupová M, Zucchini S, Trempat P, Ingusci S, Perrier-Biollay C, Barbieri M, Cattaneo S, Bettegazzi B, Falzoni S, Berthommé H, Simonato M. Improvement of HSV-1 based amplicon vectors for a safe and long-lasting gene therapy in non-replicating cells. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 21:399-412. [PMID: 33869657 PMCID: PMC8044385 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A key factor for developing gene therapy strategies for neurological disorders is the availability of suitable vectors. Currently, the most advanced are adeno-associated vectors that, while being safe and ensuring long-lasting transgene expression, have a very limited cargo capacity. In contrast, herpes simplex virus-based amplicon vectors can host huge amounts of foreign DNA, but concerns exist about their safety and ability to express transgenes long-term. We aimed at modulating and prolonging amplicon-induced transgene expression kinetics in vivo using different promoters and preventing transgene silencing. To pursue the latter, we deleted bacterial DNA sequences derived from vector construction and shielded the transgene cassette using AT-rich and insulator-like sequences (SAm technology). We employed luciferase and GFP as reporter genes. To determine transgene expression kinetics, we injected vectors in the hippocampus of mice that were longitudinally scanned for bioluminescence for 6 months. To evaluate safety, we analyzed multiple markers of damage and performed patch clamp electrophysiology experiments. All vectors proved safe, and we managed to modulate the duration of transgene expression, up to obtaining a stable, long-lasting expression using the SAm technology. Therefore, these amplicon vectors represent a flexible, efficient, and safe tool for gene delivery in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Soukupová
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pascal Trempat
- Bioviron, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Selene Ingusci
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Mario Barbieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Cattaneo
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Bettegazzi
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Simonetta Falzoni
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Hervé Berthommé
- Bioviron, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy
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12
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Lo AC, Rajan N, Gastaldo D, Telley L, Hilal ML, Buzzi A, Simonato M, Achsel T, Bagni C. Absence of RNA-binding protein FXR2P prevents prolonged phase of kainate-induced seizures. EMBO Rep 2021; 22:e51404. [PMID: 33779029 PMCID: PMC8024897 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202051404] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Status epilepticus (SE) is a condition in which seizures are not self-terminating and thereby pose a serious threat to the patient's life. The molecular mechanisms underlying SE are likely heterogeneous and not well understood. Here, we reveal a role for the RNA-binding protein Fragile X-Related Protein 2 (FXR2P) in SE. Fxr2 KO mice display reduced sensitivity specifically to kainic acid-induced SE. Immunoprecipitation of FXR2P coupled to next-generation sequencing of associated mRNAs shows that FXR2P targets are enriched in genes that encode glutamatergic post-synaptic components. Of note, the FXR2P target transcriptome has a significant overlap with epilepsy and SE risk genes. In addition, Fxr2 KO mice fail to show sustained ERK1/2 phosphorylation induced by KA and present reduced burst activity in the hippocampus. Taken together, our findings show that the absence of FXR2P decreases the expression of glutamatergic proteins, and this decrease might prevent self-sustained seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian C Lo
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicholas Rajan
- Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Denise Gastaldo
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ludovic Telley
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Muna L Hilal
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Buzzi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Tilmann Achsel
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Bagni
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
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13
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Lovisari F, Roncon P, Soukoupova M, Paolone G, Labasque M, Ingusci S, Falcicchia C, Marino P, Johnson M, Rossetti T, Petretto E, Leclercq K, Kaminski RM, Moyon B, Webster Z, Simonato M, Zucchini S. Implication of sestrin3 in epilepsy and its comorbidities. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcaa130. [PMID: 33758823 PMCID: PMC7966953 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa130] [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: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder affecting about 1% of the population worldwide. Epilepsy may arise as a result of acquired brain injury, or as a consequence of genetic predisposition. To date, genome-wide association studies and exome sequencing approaches have provided limited insights into the mechanisms of acquired brain injury. We have previously reported a pro-epileptic gene network, which is conserved across species, encoding inflammatory processes and positively regulated by sestrin3 (SESN3). In this study, we investigated the phenotype of SESN3 knock-out rats in terms of susceptibility to seizures and observed a significant delay in status epilepticus onset in SESN3 knock-out compared to control rats. This finding confirms previous in vitro and in vivo evidence indicating that SESN3 may favour occurrence and/or severity of seizures. We also analysed the phenotype of SESN3 knock-out rats for common comorbidities of epilepsy, i.e., anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment. SESN3 knock-out rats proved less anxious compared to control rats in a selection of behavioural tests. Taken together, the present results suggest that SESN3 may regulate mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Lovisari
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paolo Roncon
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Soukoupova
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giovanna Paolone
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marilyne Labasque
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Selene Ingusci
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Falcicchia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pietro Marino
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | | | | | - Enrico Petretto
- Programme in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMC), Imperial College London, UK
| | - Karine Leclercq
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | | | - Ben Moyon
- Es Cell and Transgenics, Medical Research Council, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Zoe Webster
- Es Cell and Transgenics, Medical Research Council, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Italy
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14
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Cattaneo S, Verlengia G, Marino P, Simonato M, Bettegazzi B. NPY and Gene Therapy for Epilepsy: How, When,... and Y. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 13:608001. [PMID: 33551745 PMCID: PMC7862707 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.608001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a neuropeptide abundantly expressed in the mammalian central and peripheral nervous system. NPY is a pleiotropic molecule, which influences cell proliferation, cardiovascular and metabolic function, pain and neuronal excitability. In the central nervous system, NPY acts as a neuromodulator, affecting pathways that range from cellular (excitability, neurogenesis) to circuit level (food intake, stress response, pain perception). NPY has a broad repertoire of receptor subtypes, each activating specific signaling pathways in different tissues and cellular sub-regions. In the context of epilepsy, NPY is thought to act as an endogenous anticonvulsant that performs its action through Y2 and Y5 receptors. In fact, its overexpression in the brain with the aid of viral vectors can suppress seizures in animal models of epilepsy. Therefore, NPY-based gene therapy may represent a novel approach for the treatment of epilepsy patients, particularly for pharmaco-resistant and genetic forms of the disease. Nonetheless, considering all the aforementioned aspects of NPY signaling, the study of possible NPY applications as a therapeutic molecule is not devoid of critical aspects. The present review will summarize data related to NPY biology, focusing on its anti-epileptic effects, with a critical appraisal of key elements that could be exploited to improve the already existing NPY-based gene therapy approaches for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cattaneo
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pietro Marino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Barbara Bettegazzi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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15
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Bignoto T, Le Bihan D, Barretto R, Ramos A, Moreira D, Simonato M, Siqueira D, Pinto I, Santos T, Sousa A, Abizaid A. Predictive Role of Selvester QRS Score in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. Eur Heart J 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.1883] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Few data exist regarding the late clinical impact of the Selvester score prediction of myocardial fibrosis after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study evaluated the predictive power of the Selvester score on survival in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing TAVR.
Methods and results
Patients with severe AS who had preoperative electrocardiograms were included. Clinical follow-up was obtained retrospectively. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints were cardiovascular death and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Two hundred twenty-eight patients were included (mean age, 81.5±7.4 years; women, 58.3%). Deceased patients had a higher mean score (4.6±3.2 vs. 1.4±1.3; p<0.001). At a mean follow-up of 36.2±21.2 months, the Selvester score was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48–1.84; p<0.001), cardiovascular death (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.38–1.74; p<0.001), and MACE (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.30–1.68; p<0.001). After 5 years, the mortality risk was incrementally related to the Selvester score. The involvement of the inferior wall of the left ventricle was a lower mortality risk (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.98; p=0.046). For a Selvester score of 3, the area under the curve showed 0.92, 0.94, and 0.86 (p<0.001), respectively, for 1, 2, and 3 years.
Conclusions
Elevated Selvester scores increase the risk of poor outcomes in patients with AS undergoing TAVR. The involvement of the anterior or lateral wall presents worse prognosis.
Kaplain Meier and ROC Curve
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding source: None
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bignoto
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - D Le Bihan
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Echocardiography, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - R.B.M Barretto
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Echocardiography, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A.I.O Ramos
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - D.A.R Moreira
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - M Simonato
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - D.A.A Siqueira
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Intervention, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - I.M.F Pinto
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Intervention, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - T.S.G Santos
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Intervention, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A.G.M.R Sousa
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Intervention, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A Abizaid
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Intervention, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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16
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Bignoto T, Le Bihan D, Souza A, Oliveira N, Nascimento B, Sousa P, Santos M, Simonato M, Barretto R, Ramos A, Siqueira D, Sousa A, Abizaid A. Long-term analysis of pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Eur Heart J 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.1882] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly utilized in treatment of aortic stenosis (AS). AS is commonly associated to pulmonary hypertension (PH) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR). We aimed to evaluate the long-term post-TAVR course of PH and TR.
Methods
Patients undergoing TAVR were screened for 24-month echocardiographic data on PH and TR. All echocardiograms were performed by a single team. Patients were divided in groups according to TR and PH (pulmonary systolic pressure ≥ or <45 mmHg) grading at 24 months with follow-up of up to 96 months. Standardized clinical outcomes and survival were compared.
Results
156 and 151 patients were selected for PH and TR follow-up, respectively. Mean follow-up was 42.23±17.53 months and 42.60±17.67 months for PH and TR groups. Maximum follow-up was 96 months. PH was reduced post-TAVR (32.7% pre-TAVR vs. 20.5% post-TAVR, p<0.001), but no significant difference in TR was found (11.9% pre-TAVR vs. 10.6% post-TAVR). Increased left atrial (LA) diameter (p=0.002) was associated to maintenance PH. Moreover, increased LA diameter (p=0.015) and increased EuroSCORE II (p=0.041) were correlated to new onset PH. On a multivariable Cox regression model, new onset PH (HR 6.17, 95% CI 1.71–22.29, p=0.005), diastolic dysfunction type II or III (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.06–1.11, p=0.036) and LA diameter (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.21, p=0.02) were independent predictors of long-term mortality.
Conclusions
TAVR was able to reduce the severity of PH, but not TR, in this cohort. Additionally, long-term survival was affected by PH, diastolic dysfunction and LA sizing.
Kaplan-Meier survival curve
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding source: None
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bignoto
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - D Le Bihan
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Echocardiography, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A.C Souza
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - N Oliveira
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - B.M.O Nascimento
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - P.C.C Sousa
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - M.F.M Santos
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - M Simonato
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - R.B.M Barretto
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Echocardiography, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A.I.O Ramos
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Valvopathy, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - D.A.A Siqueira
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Intervention, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A.G.M.R Sousa
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Intervention, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A Abizaid
- Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, Intervention, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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17
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Vezzani B, Carinci M, Patergnani S, Pasquin MP, Guarino A, Aziz N, Pinton P, Simonato M, Giorgi C. The Dichotomous Role of Inflammation in the CNS: A Mitochondrial Point of View. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1437. [PMID: 33066071 PMCID: PMC7600410 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate immune response is one of our primary defenses against pathogens infection, although, if dysregulated, it represents the leading cause of chronic tissue inflammation. This dualism is even more present in the central nervous system, where neuroinflammation is both important for the activation of reparatory mechanisms and, at the same time, leads to the release of detrimental factors that induce neurons loss. Key players in modulating the neuroinflammatory response are mitochondria. Indeed, they are responsible for a variety of cell mechanisms that control tissue homeostasis, such as autophagy, apoptosis, energy production, and also inflammation. Accordingly, it is widely recognized that mitochondria exert a pivotal role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, as well as in acute brain damage, such in ischemic stroke and epileptic seizures. In this review, we will describe the role of mitochondria molecular signaling in regulating neuroinflammation in central nervous system (CNS) diseases, by focusing on pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) signaling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitophagy, giving a hint on the possible therapeutic approaches targeting mitochondrial pathways involved in inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Vezzani
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.V.); (M.C.); (S.P.); (M.P.P.); (P.P.)
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
| | - Marianna Carinci
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.V.); (M.C.); (S.P.); (M.P.P.); (P.P.)
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
| | - Simone Patergnani
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.V.); (M.C.); (S.P.); (M.P.P.); (P.P.)
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
| | - Matteo P. Pasquin
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.V.); (M.C.); (S.P.); (M.P.P.); (P.P.)
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
| | - Annunziata Guarino
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
- Department of BioMedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nimra Aziz
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
- Department of BioMedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paolo Pinton
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.V.); (M.C.); (S.P.); (M.P.P.); (P.P.)
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola (RA), Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
- Department of BioMedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Carlotta Giorgi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (B.V.); (M.C.); (S.P.); (M.P.P.); (P.P.)
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.G.); (N.A.); (M.S.)
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18
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Bianco F, Ricci F, Catozzi C, Murgia X, Schlun M, Bucholski A, Hetzer U, Bonelli S, Lombardini M, Pasini E, Nutini M, Pertile M, Minocchieri S, Simonato M, Rosa B, Pieraccini G, Moneti G, Lorenzini L, Catinella S, Villetti G, Civelli M, Pioselli B, Cogo P, Carnielli V, Dani C, Salomone F. From bench to bedside: in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a neonate-focused nebulized surfactant delivery strategy. Respir Res 2019; 20:134. [PMID: 31266508 PMCID: PMC6604359 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-019-1096-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [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: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Non-invasive delivery of nebulized surfactant has been a neonatology long-pursued goal. Nevertheless, the clinical efficacy of nebulized surfactant remains inconclusive, in part, due to the great technical challenges of depositing nebulized drugs in the lungs of preterm infants. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of delivering nebulized surfactant (poractant alfa) in vitro and in vivo with an adapted, neonate-tailored aerosol delivery strategy. Methods Particle size distribution of undiluted poractant alfa aerosols generated by a customized eFlow-Neos nebulizer system was determined by laser diffraction. The theoretical nebulized surfactant lung dose was estimated in vitro in a clinical setting replica including a neonatal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) circuit, a cast of the upper airways of a preterm neonate, and a breath simulator programmed with the tidal breathing pattern of an infant with mild respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). A dose-response study with nebulized surfactant covering the 100–600 mg/kg nominal dose-range was conducted in RDS-modelling, lung-lavaged spontaneously-breathing rabbits managed with nasal CPAP. The effects of nebulized poractant alfa on arterial gas exchange and lung mechanics were assessed. Exogenous alveolar disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) in the lungs was measured as a proxy of surfactant deposition efficacy. Results Laser diffraction studies demonstrated suitable aerosol characteristics for inhalation (mass median diameter, MMD = 3 μm). The mean surfactant lung dose determined in vitro was 13.7% ± 4.0 of the 200 mg/kg nominal dose. Nebulized surfactant delivered to spontaneously-breathing rabbits during nasal CPAP significantly improved arterial oxygenation compared to animals receiving CPAP only. Particularly, the groups of animals treated with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of nebulized poractant alfa achieved an equivalent pulmonary response in terms of oxygenation and lung mechanics as the group of animals treated with instilled surfactant (200 mg/kg). Conclusions The customized eFlow-Neos vibrating-membrane nebulizer system efficiently generated respirable aerosols of undiluted poractant alfa. Nebulized surfactant delivered at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg elicited a pulmonary response equivalent to that observed after treatment with an intratracheal surfactant bolus of 200 mg/kg. This bench-characterized nebulized surfactant delivery strategy is now under evaluation in Phase II clinical trial (EUDRACT No.:2016–004547-36). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12931-019-1096-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Bianco
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - F Ricci
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - C Catozzi
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - X Murgia
- Scientific Consultancy, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - M Schlun
- PARI Pharma GmbH, Starnberg, Germany
| | | | - U Hetzer
- PARI Pharma GmbH, Starnberg, Germany
| | - S Bonelli
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - M Lombardini
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - E Pasini
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - M Nutini
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - M Pertile
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - S Minocchieri
- Division of Neonatology, Cantonal Hospital Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - M Simonato
- Pediatric Research Institute "Città della Speranza", Padova, Italy
| | - B Rosa
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - G Pieraccini
- Mass Spectrometry Center (CISM), Polo Biomedico, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - G Moneti
- Mass Spectrometry Center (CISM), Polo Biomedico, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - L Lorenzini
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - S Catinella
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - G Villetti
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - M Civelli
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - B Pioselli
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
| | - P Cogo
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - V Carnielli
- Polytechnic University of Marche and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy
| | - C Dani
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence School of Medicine, Careggi University Hospital of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85, Florence, Italy.
| | - F Salomone
- Department of Preclinical Pharmacology, R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A, Parma, Italy
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19
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Abstract
Neurological disorders affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are still incompletely understood. Many of these disorders lack a cure and are seeking more specific and effective treatments. In fact, in spite of advancements in knowledge of the CNS function, the treatment of neurological disorders with modern medical and surgical approaches remains difficult for many reasons, such as the complexity of the CNS, the limited regenerative capacity of the tissue, and the difficulty in conveying conventional drugs to the organ due to the blood-brain barrier. Gene therapy, allowing the delivery of genetic materials that encodes potential therapeutic molecules, represents an attractive option. Gene therapy can result in a stable or inducible expression of transgene(s), and can allow a nearly specific expression in target cells. In this review, we will discuss the most commonly used tools for the delivery of genetic material in the CNS, including viral and non-viral vectors; their main applications; their advantages and disadvantages. We will discuss mechanisms of genetic regulation through cell-specific and inducible promoters, which allow to express gene products only in specific cells and to control their transcriptional activation. In addition, we will describe the applications to CNS diseases of post-transcriptional regulation systems (RNA interference); of systems allowing spatial or temporal control of expression [optogenetics and Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs)]; and of gene editing technologies (CRISPR/Cas9, Zinc finger proteins). Particular attention will be reserved to viral vectors derived from herpes simplex type 1, a potential tool for the delivery and expression of multiple transgene cassettes simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Ingusci
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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20
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Pitkänen A, Henshall DC, Cross JH, Guerrini R, Jozwiak S, Kokaia M, Simonato M, Sisodiya S, Mifsud J. Advancing research toward faster diagnosis, better treatment, and end of stigma in epilepsy. Epilepsia 2019; 60:1281-1292. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.16091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - David C. Henshall
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dublin Ireland
- FutureNeuro Research Centre, RCSI Dublin Ireland
| | - J. Helen Cross
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health London UK
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Children's Hospital A. Meyer‐University of Florence Florence Italy
| | - Sergiusz Jozwiak
- Warsaw Medical University Warsaw Poland
- The Children's Memorial Health Institute Warsaw Poland
| | | | - Michele Simonato
- University of Ferrara and University Vita‐Salute San Raffaele Milan Italy
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21
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Martinez-Sañudo I, Mazzon L, Simonato M, Avtzis D, Pujade-Villar J, Faccoli M. Tracking the origin and dispersal of the Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) in Europe with molecular markers. Bull Entomol Res 2019; 109:300-308. [PMID: 30269692 DOI: 10.1017/s000748531800069x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Asian chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, is an invasive pest causing significant damage to chestnut trees (Castanea spp., Fagaceae). Originating from China, it has recently invaded a wide range of regions in Europe and North America. Understanding the population genetic structure of important invasive pests is very useful for improving the knowledge concerning routes of expansion and colonizing capacity. Despite its economic importance, limited attention has been given to D. kuriphilus origin and spread, or to its genetic structure. In this study, D. kuriphilus populations sampled in eight European countries were screened using both mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1; COI) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer 2; ITS2) sequences, and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The molecular markers COI and ITS2 highlighted the presence of a single haplotype in all the studied populations. The recorded mitochondrial haplotype was identical to one of the most widespread haplotypes occurring in the native area (China). AFLP results indicated that D. kuriphilus individuals belong to two genetically distinct clusters without any further geographic clustering. These results suggest that D. kuriphilus populations in Europe could be the result of a single introduction of a Chinese founder population characterized by two genetically distinct lineages that subsequently spread rapidly across Europe. However, the possibility that populations originated from multiple introductions of the same Chinese mitochondrial haplotype cannot be excluded. The reported results provide useful information concerning this invasive species, potentially facilitating integrated pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Martinez-Sañudo
- Department of Agronomy,Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova,Italy
| | - L Mazzon
- Department of Agronomy,Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova,Italy
| | - M Simonato
- Department of Agronomy,Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova,Italy
| | - D Avtzis
- Forest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter,Thessaloniki,Greece
| | - J Pujade-Villar
- Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia,Universitat de Barcelona,Spain
| | - M Faccoli
- Department of Agronomy,Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova,Italy
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22
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Mahoney JM, Mills JD, Muhlebner A, Noebels J, Potschka H, Simonato M, Kobow K. 2017 WONOEP appraisal: Studying epilepsy as a network disease using systems biology approaches. Epilepsia 2019; 60:1045-1053. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.15216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John M. Mahoney
- Department of Neurological Sciences Department of Computer Science University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Burlington Vermont
| | - James D. Mills
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology Amsterdam University Medical CenterUniversity of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Angelika Muhlebner
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology Amsterdam University Medical CenterUniversity of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey Noebels
- Department of Neurology Baylor College of Medicine Houston Texas
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Munich Germany
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences University of Ferrara and School of Medicine University Vita‐Salute San Raffaele Milan Italy
| | - Katja Kobow
- Department of Neuropathology Universitätsklinikum ErlangenFriedrich‐Alexander University Erlangen‐Nürnberg Erlangen Germany
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23
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Diamante G, Peressini D, Simonato M, Anese M. Effect of continuous cooking on cooking water properties and pasta quality. J Sci Food Agric 2019; 99:3017-3023. [PMID: 30488640 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Diamante
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- The Research Hub by Electrolux Professional, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Donatella Peressini
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Monica Anese
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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24
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Abstract
Gene therapy has recently advanced to the level of standard of care for several
diseases. However, its application to neurological disorders is still in the
experimental phase. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in the field
that provide optimism on the possibility to have first-in-human studies for gene
therapy of some forms of epilepsy in the not so distant future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Ingusci
- 1 Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Cattaneo
- 2 School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- 1 Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,2 School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- 1 Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,3 Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for the Technologies for Advanced Therapies, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- 1 Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,2 School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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25
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Nanobashvili A, Melin E, Emerich D, Tornøe J, Simonato M, Wahlberg L, Kokaia M. Unilateral ex vivo gene therapy by GDNF in epileptic rats. Gene Ther 2018; 26:65-74. [PMID: 30464254 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-018-0050-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of epilepsy in adults. This neurological disorder is characterized by focal seizures originating in the temporal lobe, often with secondary generalization. A variety of pharmacological treatments exist for patients suffering from focal seizures, but systemically administered drugs offer only symptomatic relief and frequently cause unwanted side effects. Moreover, available drugs are ineffective in one third of the epilepsy patients. Thus, developing more targeted and effective treatment strategies for focal seizures, originating from, e.g., the temporal lobe, is highly warranted. In order to deliver potential anti-epileptic agents directly into the seizure focus we used encapsulated cell biodelivery (ECB), a specific type of ex vivo gene therapy. Specifically, we asked whether unilateral delivery of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), exclusively into the epileptic focus, would suppress already established spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) in rats. Our results show that GDNF delivered by ECB devices unilaterally into the seizure focus in the hippocampus effectively decreases the number of SRS in epileptic rats. Thus, our study demonstrates that focal unilateral delivery of neurotrophic factors, such as GDNF, using ex vivo gene therapy based on ECB devices could be an effective anti-epileptic strategy providing a bases for the development of a novel, alternative, treatment for focal epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Esbjörn Melin
- Epilepsy Centre, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Merab Kokaia
- Epilepsy Centre, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
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26
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Soukupová M, Falcicchia C, Lovisari F, Ingusci S, Barbieri M, Zucchini S, Simonato M. Microdialysis of Excitatory Amino Acids During EEG Recordings in Freely Moving Rats. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 30474642 DOI: 10.3791/58455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Microdialysis is a well-established neuroscience technique that correlates the changes of neurologically active substances diffusing into the brain interstitial space with the behavior and/or with the specific outcome of a pathology (e.g., seizures for epilepsy). When studying epilepsy, the microdialysis technique is often combined with short-term or even long-term video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring to assess spontaneous seizure frequency, severity, progression and clustering. The combined microdialysis-EEG is based on the use of several methods and instruments. Here, we performed in vivo microdialysis and continuous video-EEG recording to monitor glutamate and aspartate outflow over time, in different phases of the natural history of epilepsy in a rat model. This combined approach allows the pairing of changes in the neurotransmitter release with specific stages of the disease development and progression. The amino acid concentration in the dialysate was determined by liquid chromatography. Here, we describe the methods and outline the principal precautionary measures one should take during in vivo microdialysis-EEG, with particular attention to the stereotaxic surgery, basal and high potassium stimulation during microdialysis, depth electrode EEG recording and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of aspartate and glutamate in the dialysate. This approach may be adapted to test a variety of drug or disease induced changes of the physiological concentrations of aspartate and glutamate in the brain. Depending on the availability of an appropriate analytical assay, it may be further used to test different soluble molecules when employing EEG recording at the same time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Soukupová
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience;
| | - Chiara Falcicchia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience
| | - Francesca Lovisari
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience
| | - Selene Ingusci
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience
| | - Mario Barbieri
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience
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27
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Enright N, Simonato M, Henshall DC. Discovery and validation of blood microRNAs as molecular biomarkers of epilepsy: Ways to close current knowledge gaps. Epilepsia Open 2018; 3:427-436. [PMID: 30525113 PMCID: PMC6276772 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a major unmet need for biomarkers of epilepsy. Biofluids such as blood offer a potential source of molecular biomarkers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) fulfill several key requirements for a blood‐based molecular biomarker being enriched in the brain and dysregulated in epileptic brain tissue, and manipulation of miRNAs can have seizure‐suppressive and disease‐modifying effects in preclinical models. Biofluid miRNAs also possess qualities that are favorable for translation, including stability and easy and cheap assay techniques. Herein we review findings from both clinical and animal models. Studies have featured a mix of unbiased profiling and hypothesis‐driven efforts. Blood levels of several brain‐enriched miRNAs are altered in patients with epilepsy and in patients with drug‐resistant compared to drug‐responsive seizures, with encouraging receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, both in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Both focal and generalized epilepsies are associated with altered blood miRNA profiles, and associations with clinical parameters including seizure burden have been reported. Results remain preliminary, however. There is a need for continued discovery and validation efforts that include multicenter studies and attention to study design, sample collection methodology, and quality control. Studies focused on epileptogenesis as well as associations with covariables such as sex, etiology, and timing of sampling remain limited. We identify 10 knowledge gaps and propose experiments to close these. If adequately addressed, biofluid miRNAs may be an important future source of diagnostic biomarkers that could also support forthcoming trials of antiepileptogenesis or disease‐modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelle Enright
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Dublin Ireland.,FutureNeuro Research Centre RCSI Dublin Ireland.,Temple St. Children's University Hospital Dublin Ireland
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy.,School of Medicine University Vita-Salute San Raffaele Milan Italy
| | - David C Henshall
- Department of Physiology & Medical Physics Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Dublin Ireland.,FutureNeuro Research Centre RCSI Dublin Ireland
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28
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences; University of Ferrara; Ferrara Italy
- Division of Neuroscience; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele; Milan Italy
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29
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Abstract
Formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded (FFPE) human brain tissues are very often stored in formalin for long time. Formalin fixation reduces immunostaining, and the DNA/RNA extraction from FFPE brain tissue becomes suboptimal. At present, there are different protocols of fixation and several procedures and kits to extract DNA/RNA from paraffin embedding tissue, but a gold standard protocol remains distant. In this study, we analyzed four types of fixation systems and compared histo and immuno-staining. Based on our results, we propose a modified method of combined fixation in formalin and formic acid for the autoptic adult brain to obtain easy, fast, safe and efficient immunolabelling of long-stored FFPE tissue. In particular, we have achieved an improved preservation of cellular morphology and obtained success in postmortem immunostaining for NeuN. This nuclear antigen is an important marker for mapping neurons, for example, to evaluate the histopathology of temporal lobe epilepsy or to draw the topography of cardiorespiratory brainstem nuclei in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, NeuN staining is frequently faint or lost in postmortem human brain tissues. In addition, we attained Fluoro Jade C staining, a marker of neurodegeneration, and immunofluorescent staining for stem cell antigens in the postnatal human brain, utilizing custom fit fixation procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Paradiso
- University of Milan, "Lino Rossi" Research Center for the study and prevention of unexpected perinatal death and SIDS Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences; Cardiovascular Pathology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua Medical School, Padua; Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara.
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30
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Falcicchia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy.,School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy.,School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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31
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Abstract
One third of the epilepsies are refractory to conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and, therefore, identification of new therapies is highly needed. Here, we briefly describe two approaches, direct cell grafting and gene therapy, that may represent alternatives to conventional drugs for the treatment of focal epilepsies. In addition, we discuss more in detail some new tools, cell based-biodelivery systems (encapsulated cell biodelivery (ECB) devices) and new generation gene therapy vectors, which may help in the progress toward clinical translation. The field is advancing rapidly, and there is optimism that cell and/or gene therapy strategies will soon be ready for testing in drug-resistant epileptic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Falcicchia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy.,School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy.,School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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32
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Abstract
So far, research on epilepsy mechanisms has been designed mainly using animal models and tracking down molecular mechanisms underlying seizures in that model. While this approach is clearly valuable, it can be questioned if it is the best possible. One attractive alternative approach may stem from the consideration of epilepsy as a complex disease of a very complex organ, the brain. This short review summarizes data from analyses of the alterations in expression of microRNAs and their target messenger RNAs in a specific brain subregion, the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, in three experimental models of lesional epilepsy. The findings are discussed within the conceptual framework of complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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33
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Paolone G, Falcicchia C, Verlengia G, Barbieri M, Binaschi A, Paliotto F, Paradiso B, Soukupova M, Zucchini S, Simonato M. Personalized Needles for Microinjections in the Rodent Brain. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 29443027 DOI: 10.3791/55751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Microinjections have been used for a long time for the delivery of drugs or toxins within specific brain areas and, more recently, they have been used to deliver gene or cell therapy products. Unfortunately, current microinjection techniques use steel or glass needles that are suboptimal for multiple reasons: in particular, steel needles may cause tissue damage, and glass needles may bend when lowered deeply into the brain, missing the target region. In this article, we describe a protocol to prepare and use quartz needles that combine a number of useful features. These needles do not produce detectable tissue damage and, being very rigid, ensure reliable delivery in the desired brain region even when using deep coordinates. Moreover, it is possible to personalize the design of the needle by making multiple holes of the desired diameter. Multiple holes facilitate the injection of large amounts of solution within a larger area, whereas large holes facilitate the injection of cells. In addition, these quartz needles can be cleaned and re-used, such that the procedure becomes cost-effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Paolone
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara;
| | - Chiara Falcicchia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara
| | - Mario Barbieri
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara
| | - Anna Binaschi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara
| | - Federico Paliotto
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara
| | - Beatrice Paradiso
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara; Laboratory for the Technologies for Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, and National Institute of Neurosciences, University of Ferrara; Laboratory for the Technologies for Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Simonato
- Medical Schools, University of Ferrara and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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Simonato M, Iyengar S, Brooks-Kayal A, Collins S, Depaulis A, Howells DW, Jensen F, Liao J, Macleod MR, Patel M, Potschka H, Walker M, Whittemore V, Sena ES. Identification and characterization of outcome measures reported in animal models of epilepsy: Protocol for a systematic review of the literature-A TASK2 report of the AES/ILAE Translational Task Force of the ILAE. Epilepsia 2017; 58 Suppl 4:68-77. [PMID: 29105071 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Current antiseizure therapy is ineffective in approximately one third of people with epilepsy and is often associated with substantial side effects. In addition, most current therapeutic paradigms offer treatment, but not cure, and no therapies are able to modify the underlying disease, that is, can prevent or halt the process of epileptogenesis or alleviate the cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities. Preclinical research in the field of epilepsy has been extensive, but unfortunately, not all the animal models being used have been validated for their predictive value. The overall goal of TASK2 of the AES/ILAE Translational Task Force is to organize and coordinate systematic reviews on selected topics regarding animal research in epilepsy. Herein we describe our strategy. In the first part of the paper we provide an overview of the usefulness of systematic reviews and meta-analysis for preclinical research and explain the essentials for their conduct. Then we describe in detail the protocol for a first systematic review, which will focus on the identification and characterization of outcome measures reported in animal models of epilepsy. The specific goals of this study are to define systematically the phenotypic characteristics of the most commonly used animal models, and to effectively compare these with the manifestations of human epilepsy. This will provide epilepsy researchers with detailed information on the strengths and weaknesses of epilepsy models, facilitating their refinement and future research. Ultimately, this could lead to a refined use of relevant models for understanding the mechanism(s) of the epilepsies and developing novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Sloka Iyengar
- Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, U.S.A
| | - Amy Brooks-Kayal
- Department of Pediatrics, Neurology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Children's Hospital of Colorado, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A
| | | | - Antoine Depaulis
- Grenoble Institute for Neuroscience-INSERM U1216, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - David W Howells
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Frances Jensen
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Jing Liao
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm R Macleod
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Manisha Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Matthew Walker
- Institute of Neurology, University College of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vicky Whittemore
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Emily S Sena
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Galanopoulou AS, French JA, O'Brien T, Simonato M. Harmonization in preclinical epilepsy research: A joint AES/ILAE translational initiative. Epilepsia 2017; 58 Suppl 4:7-9. [PMID: 29105072 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Among the priority next steps outlined during the first translational epilepsy research workshop in London, United Kingdom (2012), jointly organized by the American Epilepsy Society (AES) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), are the harmonization of research practices used in preclinical studies and the development of infrastructure that facilitates multicenter preclinical studies. The AES/ILAE Translational Task Force of the ILAE has been pursuing initiatives that advance these goals. In this supplement, we present the first reports of the working groups of the Task Force that aim to improve practices of performing rodent video-electroencephalography (vEEG) studies in experimental controls, generate systematic reviews of preclinical research data, and develop preclinical common data elements (CDEs) for epilepsy research in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristea S Galanopoulou
- Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Laboratory of Developmental Epilepsy, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, U.S.A
| | - Jacqueline A French
- New York University Langone Medical Center, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, New York, New York, U.S.A
| | - Terence O'Brien
- Department of Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.,Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
| | - Michele Simonato
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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van Vliet EA, Puhakka N, Mills JD, Srivastava PK, Johnson MR, Roncon P, Das Gupta S, Karttunen J, Simonato M, Lukasiuk K, Gorter JA, Aronica E, Pitkänen A. Standardization procedure for plasma biomarker analysis in rat models of epileptogenesis: Focus on circulating microRNAs. Epilepsia 2017; 58:2013-2024. [PMID: 28960286 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The World Health Organization estimates that globally 2.4 million people are diagnosed with epilepsy each year. In nearly 30% of these cases, epilepsy cannot be properly controlled by antiepileptic drugs. More importantly, treatments to prevent or modify epileptogenesis do not exist. Therefore, novel therapies are urgently needed. In this respect, it is important to identify which patients will develop epilepsy and which individually tailored treatment is needed. However, currently, we have no tools to identify the patients at risk, and diagnosis of epileptogenesis remains as a major unmet medical need, which relates to lack of diagnostic biomarkers for epileptogenesis. As the epileptogenic process in humans is typically slow, the use of animal models is justified to speed up biomarker discovery. We aim to summarize recommendations for molecular biomarker research and propose a standardized procedure for biomarker discovery in rat models of epileptogenesis. The potential of many phylogenetically conserved circulating noncoding small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), as biomarkers has been explored in various brain diseases, including epilepsy. Recent studies show the feasibility of detecting miRNAs in blood in both experimental models and human epilepsy. However, the analysis of circulating miRNAs in rodent models is challenging, which relates both to the lack of standardized sampling protocols and to analysis of miRNAs. We will discuss the issues critical for preclinical plasma biomarker discovery, such as documentation, blood and brain tissue sampling and collection, plasma separation and storage, RNA extraction, quality control, and RNA detection. We propose a protocol for standardization of procedures for discovery of circulating miRNA biomarkers in rat models of epileptogenesis. Ultimately, we hope that the preclinical standardization will facilitate clinical biomarker discovery for epileptogenesis in man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin A van Vliet
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Noora Puhakka
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - James D Mills
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Prashant K Srivastava
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael R Johnson
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Roncon
- Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Shalini Das Gupta
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jenni Karttunen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Michele Simonato
- Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.,University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Lukasiuk
- Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan A Gorter
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Asla Pitkänen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Miyagawa Y, Verlengia G, Reinhart B, Han F, Uchida H, Zucchini S, Goins WF, Simonato M, Cohen JB, Glorioso JC. Deletion of the Virion Host Shut-off Gene Enhances Neuronal-Selective Transgene Expression from an HSV Vector Lacking Functional IE Genes. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2017; 6:79-90. [PMID: 28702475 PMCID: PMC5493822 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The ability of herpes simplex virus (HSV) to establish lifelong latency in neurons suggests that HSV-derived vectors hold promise for gene delivery to the nervous system. However, vector toxicity and transgene silencing have created significant barriers to vector applications to the brain. Recently, we described a vector defective for all immediate-early gene expression and deleted for the joint region between the two unique genome segments that proved capable of extended transgene expression in non-neuronal cells. Sustained expression required the proximity of boundary elements from the latency locus. As confirmed here, we have also found that a transgene cassette introduced into the ICP4 locus is highly active in neurons but silent in primary fibroblasts. Remarkably, we observed that removal of the virion host shutoff (vhs) gene further improved transgene expression in neurons without inducing expression of viral genes. In rat hippocampus, the vhs-deleted vector showed robust transgene expression exclusively in neurons for at least 1 month without evidence of toxicity or inflammation. This HSV vector design holds promise for gene delivery to the brain, including durable expression of large or complex transgene cassettes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Miyagawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Bonnie Reinhart
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Fang Han
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Hiroaki Uchida
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
- Division of Bioengineering, Advanced Clinical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| | - William F. Goins
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Justus B. Cohen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Joseph C. Glorioso
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
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Basso M, Simonato M, Furlanetto R, De Nardo L. Study of chemical environments for washing and descaling of food processing appliances: An insight in commercial cleaning products. J IND ENG CHEM 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2017.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Jozwiak S, Becker A, Cepeda C, Engel J, Gnatkovsky V, Huberfeld G, Kaya M, Kobow K, Simonato M, Loeb JA. WONOEP appraisal: Development of epilepsy biomarkers-What we can learn from our patients? Epilepsia 2017; 58:951-961. [PMID: 28387933 PMCID: PMC5806696 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Current medications for patients with epilepsy work in only two of three patients. For those medications that do work, they only suppress seizures. They treat the symptoms, but do not modify the underlying disease, forcing patients to take these drugs with significant side effects, often for the rest of their lives. A major limitation in our ability to advance new therapeutics that permanently prevent, reduce the frequency of, or cure epilepsy comes from a lack of understanding of the disease coupled with a lack of reliable biomarkers that can predict who has or who will get epilepsy. METHODS The main goal of this report is to present a number of approaches for identifying reliable biomarkers from observing patients with brain disorders that have a high probability of producing epilepsy. RESULTS A given biomarker, or more likely a profile of biomarkers, will have both a quantity and a time course during epileptogenesis that can be used to predict who will get the disease, to confirm epilepsy as a diagnosis, to identify coexisting pathologies, and to monitor the course of treatments. SIGNIFICANCE Additional studies in patients and animal models could identify common and clinically valuable biomarkers to successfully translate animal studies into new and effective clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergiusz Jozwiak
- Department of Child Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Child Neurology, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Albert Becker
- Section for Translational Epilepsy Research, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany
| | - Carlos Cepeda
- IDDRC, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jerome Engel
- Departments of Neurology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences and the Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Vadym Gnatkovsky
- Unit of Epilepsy and Experimental Neurophysiology, Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Gilles Huberfeld
- Sorbonne and UPMC University, AP-HP, Department of Neurophysiology, UPMC and La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
- INSERM U1129, Paris Descartes University, PRES Sorbonne Paris, Cité, Paris, CEA, France
| | - Mehmet Kaya
- Department of Physiology, Koc University School of Medicine, Rumelifeneri Yolu, Sariver, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Katja Kobow
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Jeffrey A. Loeb
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
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41
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Vitale G, Filaferro M, Micioni Di Bonaventura MV, Ruggieri V, Cifani C, Guerrini R, Simonato M, Zucchini S. Effects of [Nphe 1, Arg 14, Lys 15] N/OFQ-NH 2 (UFP-101), a potent NOP receptor antagonist, on molecular, cellular and behavioural alterations associated with chronic mild stress. J Psychopharmacol 2017; 31:691-703. [PMID: 28417659 DOI: 10.1177/0269881117691456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated the effect of [Nphe1] Arg14, Lys15-N/OFQ-NH2 (UFP-101), a selective NOP receptor antagonist, in chronic mild stress (CMS) in male Wistar rats. NOP receptor antagonists were reported to elicit antidepressant-like effects in rodents. Our aim was to investigate UFP-101 effects on CMS-induced anhedonia and impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis. UFP-101 (10 nmol/rat intracerebroventricularly) did not influence sucrose intake in non-stressed animals, but reinstated basal sucrose consumption in stressed animals from the second week of treatment. UFP-101 also reversed stress effects in forced swimming test and in open field. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) produced similar effects. Moreover, we investigated whether UFP-101 could affect CMS-induced impairment in hippocampal cell proliferation and neurogenesis, and in fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) expression. Our data confirm that CMS reduced neural stem cell proliferation and neurogenesis in adult rat hippocampus. Chronic UFP-101 treatment did not affect the reduced proliferation (bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells) observed in stressed animals. However, UFP-101 increased the number of doublecortin-positive cells, restoring neurogenesis. Finally, UFP-101 significantly increased FGF-2 expression, reduced by CMS. These findings support the view that blockade of NOP receptors produces antidepressant-like effects in CMS associated with positive effects on neurogenesis and FGF-2 expression. Therefore, NOP receptors may represent a target for innovative antidepressant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Vitale
- 1 Department Life Sciences, University of Modena and RE, Modena, Italy
| | - Monica Filaferro
- 2 Department Biomedical, Metabolical and Neuro-Sciences, University of Modena and RE, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Ruggieri
- 4 Department Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults - University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Carlo Cifani
- 3 School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Remo Guerrini
- 5 Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- 6 Department Medical Sciences and Laboratory for the Technologies for Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- 6 Department Medical Sciences and Laboratory for the Technologies for Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Pitkänen A, Löscher W, Vezzani A, Becker AJ, Simonato M, Lukasiuk K, Gröhn O, Bankstahl JP, Friedman A, Aronica E, Gorter JA, Ravizza T, Sisodiya SM, Kokaia M, Beck H. Advances in the development of biomarkers for epilepsy. Lancet Neurol 2017; 15:843-856. [PMID: 27302363 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(16)00112-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Over 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy. In nearly 30% of these cases, epilepsy remains unsatisfactorily controlled despite the availability of over 20 antiepileptic drugs. Moreover, no treatments exist to prevent the development of epilepsy in those at risk, despite an increasing understanding of the underlying molecular and cellular pathways. One of the major factors that have impeded rapid progress in these areas is the complex and multifactorial nature of epilepsy, and its heterogeneity. Therefore, the vision of developing targeted treatments for epilepsy relies upon the development of biomarkers that allow individually tailored treatment. Biomarkers for epilepsy typically fall into two broad categories: diagnostic biomarkers, which provide information on the clinical status of, and potentially the sensitivity to, specific treatments, and prognostic biomarkers, which allow prediction of future clinical features, such as the speed of progression, severity of epilepsy, development of comorbidities, or prediction of remission or cure. Prognostic biomarkers are of particular importance because they could be used to identify which patients will develop epilepsy and which might benefit from preventive treatments. Biomarker research faces several challenges; however, biomarkers could substantially improve the management of people with epilepsy and could lead to prevention in the right person at the right time, rather than just symptomatic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asla Pitkänen
- Department of Neurobiology, A I Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Wolfgang Löscher
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany; Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Annamaria Vezzani
- Department of Neuroscience, Experimental Neurology, IRCCS-Istituto di Recerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
| | - Albert J Becker
- Section for Translational Epilepsy Research, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn Medical Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Unit of Gene Therapy of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Lukasiuk
- The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Olli Gröhn
- Department of Neurobiology, A I Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jens P Bankstahl
- Preclinical Molecular Imaging, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alon Friedman
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel; Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of Neuropathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede, Netherlands
| | - Jan A Gorter
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Teresa Ravizza
- Department of Neuroscience, Experimental Neurology, IRCCS-Istituto di Recerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
| | - Sanjay M Sisodiya
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Epilepsy Society, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, UK
| | - Merab Kokaia
- Epilepsy Center, Experimental Epilepsy Group, Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Heinz Beck
- Laboratory for Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
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Lapinlampi N, Melin E, Aronica E, Bankstahl JP, Becker A, Bernard C, Gorter JA, Gröhn O, Lipsanen A, Lukasiuk K, Löscher W, Paananen J, Ravizza T, Roncon P, Simonato M, Vezzani A, Kokaia M, Pitkänen A. Common data elements and data management: Remedy to cure underpowered preclinical studies. Epilepsy Res 2017; 129:87-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2016.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/19/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Roncon P, Zucchini S, Ferracin M, Marucci G, Giulioni M, Michelucci R, Rubboli G, Simonato M. Is autopsy tissue a valid control for epilepsy surgery tissue in microRNA studies? Epilepsia Open 2016; 2:90-95. [PMID: 29750217 PMCID: PMC5939384 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are differentially expressed in the brain under pathologic conditions and may therefore represent both therapeutic targets and diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for neurologic diseases, including epilepsy. In fact, miRNA expression profiles have been investigated in the hippocampi of patients with epilepsy in comparison with control, nonepileptic cases. Unfortunately, the interpretation of these data is difficult because surgically resected epileptic tissue is generally compared with control tissue obtained from autopsies. To challenge the validity of this approach, we performed an miRNA microarray on the laser microdissected granule cell layer of the human hippocampus obtained from surgical samples of patients with epilepsy, autoptic nonepileptic controls, and patients with autoptic epilepsy, using the latter as internal control. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to collect autopsy material from documented epilepsy individuals who died of non–epilepsy‐related causes—we found only two such cases. However, hierarchical clustering of all samples showed that those obtained from autopsies of patients with epilepsy segregated with the other autoptic samples (controls) and not with the bioptic tissues from the surgery patients, suggesting that the origin of the tissue (surgery or autopsy) may be prevalent over the underlying pathology (epilepsy or not epilepsy). Even taking into account the limitations due to the small number of cases, this observation arises concerns on the use of autopsy tissue as control for this kind of studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Roncon
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy.,National Institute of Neuroscience Ferrara Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA) University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES) University of Bologna Bologna Italy
| | - Gianluca Marucci
- Section of Pathology "M. Malpighi" Bellaria Hospital Azienda USL - IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences Bologna Italy
| | - Marco Giulioni
- Section of Neurosurgery IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences Bellaria Hospital Bologna Italy
| | - Roberto Michelucci
- Section of Neurology IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences Bellaria Hospital Bologna Italy
| | - Guido Rubboli
- Section of Neurology IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences Bellaria Hospital Bologna Italy.,Danish Epilepsy Center Filadelfia/University of Copenhagen Dianalund Denmark
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy.,National Institute of Neuroscience Ferrara Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA) University of Ferrara Ferrara Italy
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45
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Falcicchia C, Trempat P, Binaschi A, Perrier-Biollay C, Roncon P, Soukupova M, Berthommé H, Simonato M. Silencing Status Epilepticus-Induced BDNF Expression with Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Based Amplicon Vectors. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150995. [PMID: 26954758 PMCID: PMC4783051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been found to produce pro- but also anti-epileptic effects. Thus, its validity as a therapeutic target must be verified using advanced tools designed to block or to enhance its signal. The aim of this study was to develop tools to silence the BDNF signal. We generated Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) derived amplicon vectors, i.e. viral particles containing a genome of 152 kb constituted of concatameric repetitions of an expression cassette, enabling the expression of the gene of interest in multiple copies. HSV-1 based amplicon vectors are non-pathogenic and have been successfully employed in the past for gene delivery into the brain of living animals. Therefore, amplicon vectors should represent a logical choice for expressing a silencing cassette, which, in multiple copies, is expected to lead to an efficient knock-down of the target gene expression. Here, we employed two amplicon-based BDNF silencing strategies. The first, antisense, has been chosen to target and degrade the cytoplasmic mRNA pool of BDNF, whereas the second, based on the convergent transcription technology, has been chosen to repress transcription at the BDNF gene. Both these amplicon vectors proved to be effective in down-regulating BDNF expression in vitro, in BDNF-expressing mesoangioblast cells. However, only the antisense strategy was effective in vivo, after inoculation in the hippocampus in a model of status epilepticus in which BDNF mRNA levels are strongly increased. Interestingly, the knocking down of BDNF levels induced with BDNF-antisense was sufficient to produce significant behavioral effects, in spite of the fact that it was produced only in a part of a single hippocampus. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a reliable effect of amplicon vectors in knocking down gene expression in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, this approach may find broad applications in neurobiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Falcicchia
- Department of Medical Science, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy
- Bioviron, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Pascal Trempat
- Department of Medical Science, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy
- Bioviron, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Anna Binaschi
- Department of Medical Science, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Roncon
- Department of Medical Science, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Medical Science, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Hervé Berthommé
- Bioviron, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Science, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Ferrara, Italy
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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46
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Roncon P, Soukupovà M, Binaschi A, Falcicchia C, Zucchini S, Ferracin M, Langley SR, Petretto E, Johnson MR, Marucci G, Michelucci R, Rubboli G, Simonato M. MicroRNA profiles in hippocampal granule cells and plasma of rats with pilocarpine-induced epilepsy--comparison with human epileptic samples. Sci Rep 2015; 5:14143. [PMID: 26382856 PMCID: PMC4585664 DOI: 10.1038/srep14143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [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: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of biomarkers of the transformation of normal to epileptic tissue would help to stratify patients at risk of epilepsy following brain injury, and inform new treatment strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an attractive option in this direction. In this study, miRNA microarrays were performed on laser-microdissected hippocampal granule cell layer (GCL) and on plasma, at different time points in the development of pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in the rat: latency, first spontaneous seizure and chronic epileptic phase. Sixty-three miRNAs were differentially expressed in the GCL when considering all time points. Three main clusters were identified that separated the control and chronic phase groups from the latency group and from the first spontaneous seizure group. MiRNAs from rats in the chronic phase were compared to those obtained from the laser-microdissected GCL of epileptic patients, identifying several miRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-23a-5p, miR-146a-5p and miR-181c-5p) that were up-regulated in both human and rat epileptic tissue. Analysis of plasma samples revealed different levels between control and pilocarpine-treated animals for 27 miRNAs. Two main clusters were identified that segregated controls from all other groups. Those miRNAs that are altered in plasma before the first spontaneous seizure, like miR-9a-3p, may be proposed as putative biomarkers of epileptogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Roncon
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupovà
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Anna Binaschi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Falcicchia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, Italy.,National Institute of Neuroscience, Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sarah R Langley
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital,UK
| | - Enrico Petretto
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, UK
| | - Michael R Johnson
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital,UK
| | - Gianluca Marucci
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), Section of Pathology, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Michelucci
- IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Section of Neurology, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Rubboli
- IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Section of Neurology, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy.,Danish Epilepsy Center, Filadelfia/University of Copenhagen, Dianalund, Denmark
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, Italy.,National Institute of Neuroscience, Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Italy
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47
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Soukupova M, Binaschi A, Falcicchia C, Palma E, Roncon P, Zucchini S, Simonato M. Increased extracellular levels of glutamate in the hippocampus of chronically epileptic rats. Neuroscience 2015; 301:246-53. [PMID: 26073699 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
An increase in the release of excitatory amino acids has consistently been observed in the hippocampus during seizures, both in humans and animals. However, very little or nothing is known about the extracellular levels of glutamate and aspartate during epileptogenesis and in the interictal chronic period of established epilepsy. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the relationship between seizure activity and changes in hippocampal glutamate and aspartate extracellular levels under basal and high K(+)-evoked conditions, at various time-points in the natural history of experimental temporal lobe epilepsy, using in vivo microdialysis. Hippocampal extracellular glutamate and aspartate levels were evaluated: 24h after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE); during the latency period preceding spontaneous seizures; immediately after the first spontaneous seizure; in the chronic (epileptic) period. We found that (i) basal (spontaneous) glutamate outflow is increased in the interictal phases of the chronic period, whereas basal aspartate outflow remains stable for the entire course of the disease; (ii) high K(+) perfusion increased glutamate and aspartate outflow in both control and pilocarpine-treated animals, and the overflow of glutamate was clearly increased in the chronic group. Our data suggest that the glutamatergic signaling is preserved and even potentiated in the hippocampus of epileptic rats, and thus may favor the occurrence of spontaneous recurrent seizures. Together with an impairment of GABA signaling (Soukupova et al., 2014), these data suggest that a shift toward excitation occurs in the excitation/inhibition balance in the chronic epileptic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Soukupova
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - A Binaschi
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - C Falcicchia
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - E Palma
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Roma "Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Roma, Italy; IRCCS San Raffaele, Via della Pisana 235, Roma, Italy.
| | - P Roncon
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - S Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, Ferrara, Italy; Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, Via Ludovico Ariosto 35, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - M Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara and National Institute of Neuroscience, Via Fossato di Mortara 17-19, Ferrara, Italy; Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, Via Ludovico Ariosto 35, Ferrara, Italy.
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48
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Viale E, Martinez-Sañudo I, Brown JM, Simonato M, Girolami V, Squartini A, Bressan A, Faccoli M, Mazzon L. Pattern of association between endemic Hawaiian fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) and their symbiotic bacteria: Evidence of cospeciation events and proposal of "Candidatus Stammerula trupaneae". Mol Phylogenet Evol 2015; 90:67-79. [PMID: 25959751 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 07/18/2014] [Revised: 04/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Several insect lineages have evolved mutualistic association with symbiotic bacteria. This is the case of some species of mealybugs, whiteflies, weevils, tsetse flies, cockroaches, termites, carpenter ants, aphids and fruit flies. Some species of Tephritinae, the most specialized subfamily of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae), harbour co-evolved vertically transmitted, bacterial symbionts in their midgut, known as "Candidatus Stammerula spp.". The 25 described endemic species of Hawaiian tephritids, plus at least three undescribed species, are taxonomically distributed among three genera: the cosmopolitan genus Trupanea (21 described spp.), the endemic genus Phaeogramma (2 spp.) and the Nearctic genus Neotephritis (2 spp.). We examined the presence of symbiotic bacteria in the endemic tephritids of the Hawaiian Islands, which represent a spectacular example of adaptive radiation, and tested the concordant evolution between host and symbiont phylogenies. We detected through PCR assays the presence of specific symbiotic bacteria, designated as "Candidatus Stammerula trupaneae", from 35 individuals of 15 species. The phylogeny of the insect host was reconstructed based on two regions of the mitochondrial DNA (16S rDNA and COI-tRNALeu-COII), while the bacterial 16S rRNA was used for the symbiont analysis. Host and symbiont phylogenies were then compared and evaluated for patterns of cophylogeny and strict cospeciation. Topological congruence between Hawaiian Tephritinae and their symbiotic bacteria phylogenies suggests a limited, but significant degree of host-symbiont cospeciation. We also explored the character reconstruction of three host traits, as island location, host lineage, and host tissue attacked, based on the symbiont phylogenies under the hypothesis of cospeciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Viale
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova - Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
| | - I Martinez-Sañudo
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova - Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
| | - J M Brown
- Department of Biology, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 50012, USA.
| | - M Simonato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova - Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
| | - V Girolami
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova - Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - A Squartini
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova - Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
| | - A Bressan
- Bayer Crop Science LP, R&D Trait Research, 3500 Paramount Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA.
| | - M Faccoli
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova - Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
| | - L Mazzon
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova - Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
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49
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Johnson MR, Behmoaras J, Bottolo L, Krishnan ML, Pernhorst K, Santoscoy PLM, Rossetti T, Speed D, Srivastava PK, Chadeau-Hyam M, Hajji N, Dabrowska A, Rotival M, Razzaghi B, Kovac S, Wanisch K, Grillo FW, Slaviero A, Langley SR, Shkura K, Roncon P, De T, Mattheisen M, Niehusmann P, O'Brien TJ, Petrovski S, von Lehe M, Hoffmann P, Eriksson J, Coffey AJ, Cichon S, Walker M, Simonato M, Danis B, Mazzuferi M, Foerch P, Schoch S, De Paola V, Kaminski RM, Cunliffe VT, Becker AJ, Petretto E. Systems genetics identifies Sestrin 3 as a regulator of a proconvulsant gene network in human epileptic hippocampus. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6031. [PMID: 25615886 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene-regulatory network analysis is a powerful approach to elucidate the molecular processes and pathways underlying complex disease. Here we employ systems genetics approaches to characterize the genetic regulation of pathophysiological pathways in human temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Using surgically acquired hippocampi from 129 TLE patients, we identify a gene-regulatory network genetically associated with epilepsy that contains a specialized, highly expressed transcriptional module encoding proconvulsive cytokines and Toll-like receptor signalling genes. RNA sequencing analysis in a mouse model of TLE using 100 epileptic and 100 control hippocampi shows the proconvulsive module is preserved across-species, specific to the epileptic hippocampus and upregulated in chronic epilepsy. In the TLE patients, we map the trans-acting genetic control of this proconvulsive module to Sestrin 3 (SESN3), and demonstrate that SESN3 positively regulates the module in macrophages, microglia and neurons. Morpholino-mediated Sesn3 knockdown in zebrafish confirms the regulation of the transcriptional module, and attenuates chemically induced behavioural seizures in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Johnson
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Jacques Behmoaras
- Centre for Complement and Inflammation Research, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Leonardo Bottolo
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, 180 Queen's Gate, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Michelle L Krishnan
- Centre for the Developing Brain, Department of Perinatal Imaging and Health, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Katharina Pernhorst
- Section of Translational Epileptology, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Street 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany
| | - Paola L Meza Santoscoy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Tiziana Rossetti
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Doug Speed
- UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Prashant K Srivastava
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK.,Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Marc Chadeau-Hyam
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, MRC/PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, W21PG London, UK
| | - Nabil Hajji
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Aleksandra Dabrowska
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Maxime Rotival
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Banafsheh Razzaghi
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Stjepana Kovac
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Klaus Wanisch
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Federico W Grillo
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Anna Slaviero
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sarah R Langley
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK.,Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Kirill Shkura
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK.,Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Paolo Roncon
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,National Institute of Neuroscience, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Tisham De
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Manuel Mattheisen
- Department of Genomics, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.,Institute for Genomic Mathematics, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Pitt Niehusmann
- Section of Translational Epileptology, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Street 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Medicine, RMH, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Slave Petrovski
- Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Marec von Lehe
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Bonn Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
| | - Per Hoffmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Johan Eriksson
- Folkhälsan Research Centre, Topeliusgatan 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Central Hospital, Unit of General Practice, Haartmaninkatu 4, Helsinki 00290, Finland.,Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, 407, PO Box 20, Tukholmankatu 8 B, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Alison J Coffey
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Sven Cichon
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthew Walker
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,National Institute of Neuroscience, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Bénédicte Danis
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Avenue de l'industrie, R9, B-1420 Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Manuela Mazzuferi
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Avenue de l'industrie, R9, B-1420 Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Patrik Foerch
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Avenue de l'industrie, R9, B-1420 Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Susanne Schoch
- Section of Translational Epileptology, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Street 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany.,Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany
| | - Vincenzo De Paola
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Rafal M Kaminski
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Avenue de l'industrie, R9, B-1420 Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- Department of Biomedical Science, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Albert J Becker
- Section of Translational Epileptology, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Street 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany
| | - Enrico Petretto
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
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50
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Montecchio L, Fanchin G, Simonato M, Faccoli M. First Record of Thousand Cankers Disease Fungal Pathogen Geosmithia morbida and Walnut Twig Beetle Pityophthorus juglandis on Juglans regia in Europe. Plant Dis 2014; 98:1445. [PMID: 30703957 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-07-14-0719-pdn] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Thousand cankers disease (TCD) is a disease complex caused by the fungus Geosmithia morbida Kolařik (Ascomycota, Hypocreales) and its vector Pityophthorus juglandis Blackman 1928 (Coleoptera, Scolytinae; walnut twig beetle, WTB). Since the mid-1990s, the disease was responsible for widespread mortality of many walnut species in the United States (4). After the first detection of TCD on black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) in Italy (3), an extensive survey was activated in cooperation with the Regional Phytosanitary Service. In May 2014, early TCD symptoms (4) were observed on English walnuts (J. regia L.). Canopies showed yellowing, wilting, and dieback of the youngest twigs, and a number of small brown cankers. Longitudinal and radial sections sampled through the cankers revealed gray to brown discoloration of both phloem and bark, and the presence of bark beetle galleries. Xylem discoloration was never observed. From one ~20-year-old European walnut growing in a garden neighboring an infected black walnut plantation (Santorso, Vicenza, 45°72' N, 11°40' E), a number of 1- to 2.5-cm-diameter twigs showing cankers up to 2 cm long surrounding bark beetle holes were collected. Whitish mycelium producing verticillate conidiophores was detected inside the insect galleries. From the necrotic margin of eight cankers previously surface-sterilized with 3% sodium hypochlorite, two 4-mm-wide chips per canker were placed on potato dextrose agar and incubated at 28 ± 1°C in the dark. Slow growing lobate, plane, yellowish-ocher colonies with hyaline mycelium appeared in 5 days. After subculturing to the same medium, growth features, mycelium, conidiophores, and conidia with morphological characteristics matching Kolarik's description of G. morbida (2) were observed. The ITS region of rDNA from the fungus strain LM14GM001-JR was amplified by using ITS1F and ITS4 primers and sequenced obtaining a 387-bp gene fragment. BLAST analysis showed 99% identity to the G. morbida strain U19 (GenBank Accession No. KF808301.1) for 384 bp, and 99% identity to the G. morbida strain LM13GM001-JN previously isolated from J. nigra in Italy (3). From the same samples, two emerging beetles were collected and identified as P. juglandis both morphologically (5) and genetically by DNA extraction following a standard salting out protocol. The barcode region of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I was then amplified by using universal primers (1) and sequenced to obtain a 614-bp fragment of the gene. BLAST analysis showed 100% identity to P. juglandis based on comparison with KJ451422. A few other English walnuts with both the fungus and WTB were also found close to other infected black walnut plantations. To our knowledge, this is the first record of G. morbida and P. juglandis on J. regia in Europe, where the tree is cultivated for both fruit and timber production, as well as a traditional landscape tree. Voucher specimens are stored in the TeSAF herbarium and in the DAFNAE insect collection. References: (1) O. Folmer et al. Mol. Marine Biol. Biotechnol. 3:294, 1994. (2) M. Kolarik et al. Mycologia 103:325, 2011. (3) L. Montecchio and M. Faccoli. Plant Dis. 98:696, 2014. (4) S. J. Seybold et al. USDA Forest Service, NA-PR-02-10, 2013. (5) S. L. Wood. Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs 6:1123, 1982.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Montecchio
- Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture, and Forestry (TeSAF), University of Padova, Italy
| | - G Fanchin
- Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture, and Forestry (TeSAF), University of Padova, Italy
| | - M Simonato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Italy
| | - M Faccoli
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Italy
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