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De Vitis C, D’Ascanio M, Sacconi A, Pizzirusso D, Salvati V, Mancini M, Scafetta G, Cirombella R, Ascenzi F, Bruschini S, Esposito A, Castelli S, Salvucci C, Teodonio L, Sposato B, Catizone A, Di Napoli A, Vecchione A, Ciliberto G, Sciacchitano S, Ricci A, Mancini R. B4GALT1 as a New Biomarker of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315040. [PMID: 36499368 PMCID: PMC9738382 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease characterized by progressive scarring of the lung that involves the pulmonary interstitium. The disease may rapidly progress, leading to respiratory failure, and the long-term survival is poor. There are no accurate biomarkers available so far. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of the B4GALT1 in patients with IPF. Analysis of B4GALT1 gene expression was performed in silico on two gene sets, retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Expression of B4GALT1 was then evaluated, both at the mRNA and protein levels, on lung specimens obtained from lung biopsies of 4 IPF patients, on one IPF-derived human primary cell and on 11 cases of IPF associated with cancer. In silico re-analysis demonstrated that the B4GALT1 gene was overexpressed in patients and human cell cultures with IPF (p = 0.03). Network analysis demonstrated that B4GALT1 upregulation was correlated with genes belonging to the EMT pathway (p = 0.01). The overexpression of B4GALT1 was observed, both at mRNA and protein levels, in lung biopsies of our four IPF patients and in the IPF-derived human primary cell, in other fibrotic non-lung tissues, and in IPF associated with cancer. In conclusion, our results indicate that B4GALT1 is overexpressed in IPF and could represent a novel marker of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia De Vitis
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Sacconi
- UOSD Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Pizzirusso
- UOC Respiratory Disease, Sant’Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Salvati
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Mancini
- Morphologic and Molecular Pathology Unit, S. Andrea University Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Scafetta
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Cirombella
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ascenzi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Bruschini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Esposito
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Silvia Castelli
- UOC Respiratory Disease, Sant’Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Salvucci
- UOC Respiratory Disease, Sant’Andrea Hospital, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Teodonio
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Sposato
- Pneumology Department, Azienda USL Toscana Sud-Est, “Misericordia” Hospital, 58100 Grosseto, Italy
| | - Angela Catizone
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic-Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Di Napoli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Vecchione
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Sciacchitano
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Alberto Ricci
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Ricci A, Salvucci C, Castelli S, Carraturo A, de Vitis C, D’Ascanio M. Adenocarcinomas of the Lung and Neurotrophin System: A Review. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102531. [PMID: 36289793 PMCID: PMC9598928 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102531] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins (NTs) represent a group of growth factors with pleiotropic activities at the central nervous system level. The prototype of these molecules is represented by the nerve growth factor (NGF), but other factors with similar functions have been identified, including the brain derived-growth factor (BDNF), the neurotrophin 3 (NT-3), and NT-4/5. These growth factors act by binding specific low (p75) and high-affinity tyrosine kinase (TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC) receptors. More recently, these growth factors have shown effects outside the nervous system in different organs, particularly in the lungs. These molecules are involved in the natural development of the lungs, and their homeostasis. However, they are also important in different pathological conditions, including lung cancer. The involvement of neurotrophins in lung cancer has been detailed most for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in particular adenocarcinoma. This review aimed to extensively analyze the current knowledge of NTs and lung cancer and clarify novel molecular mechanisms for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Several clinical trials on humans are ongoing using NT receptor antagonists in different cancer cell types for further therapeutic applications. The pharmacological intervention against NT signaling may be essential to directly counteract cancer cell biology, and also indirectly modulate it in an inhibitory way by affecting neurogenesis and/or angiogenesis with potential impacts on tumor growth and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Michela D’Ascanio
- UOC Respiratory Disease, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
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Pezzuto A, Trabalza Marinucci B, Ricci A, Ciccozzi M, Tonini G, D'Ascanio M, Guerrieri G, Chianese M, Castelli S, Rendina EA. Predictors of respiratory failure after thoracic surgery: a retrospective cohort study with comparison between lobar and sub-lobar resection. J Int Med Res 2022; 50:3000605221094531. [PMID: 35768901 PMCID: PMC9251996 DOI: 10.1177/03000605221094531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Only approximately 15% of patients with lung cancer are suitable for surgery and clinical postoperative outcomes vary. The aim of this study was to investigate variables associated with post-surgery respiratory failure in this patient cohort. Methods Patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer were retrospectively studied for respiratory function. All patients had undergone lung resection by a mini-thoracotomy approach. The study population was divided into two subgroups for comparison: lobectomy group, who underwent lobar resection; and sub-lobar resection group. Results A total of 85 patients were included, with a prevalence of lung cancer stage IA and adenocarcinoma histotype. Lobectomy (versus sub-lobar resection), the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and a COPD assessment test (CAT) score >10, were all associated with an increased risk of respiratory failure. The partial pressure of arterial oxygen decreased more in the lobectomy group than in the sub-lobar resection group following surgery, with a significant postoperative between-group difference in values. Postoperative CAT scores were also better in the sub-lobar resection group. Conclusions Post-surgical variations in functional parameters were greater in the group treated by lobectomy. COPD, high CAT score and surgery type were associated with postoperative development of respiratory failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Pezzuto
- Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Ricci
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Department of Epidemiology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tonini
- Department of Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela D'Ascanio
- Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Guerrieri
- Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Chianese
- Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Castelli
- Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Sciences, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Erino Angelo Rendina
- Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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da Silva MM, Ribeiro GH, de Camargo MS, Ferreira AG, Ribeiro L, Barbosa MIF, Deflon VM, Castelli S, Desideri A, Corrêa RS, Ribeiro AB, Nicolella HD, Ozelin SD, Tavares DC, Batista AA. Ruthenium(II) Diphosphine Complexes with Mercapto Ligands That Inhibit Topoisomerase IB and Suppress Tumor Growth In Vivo. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:14174-14189. [PMID: 34477373 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c01539] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Ruthenium(II) complexes (Ru1-Ru5), with the general formula [Ru(N-S)(dppe)2]PF6, bearing two 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) ligands and a series of mercapto ligands (N-S), have been developed. The combination of these ligands in the complexes endowed hydrophobic species with high cytotoxic activity against five cancer cell lines. For the A549 (lung) and MDA-MB-231 (breast) cancer cell lines, the IC50 values of the complexes were 288- to 14-fold lower when compared to cisplatin. Furthermore, the complexes were selective for the A549 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines compared to the MRC-5 nontumor cell line. The multitarget character of the complexes was investigated by using calf thymus DNA (CT DNA), human serum albumin, and human topoisomerase IB (hTopIB). The complexes potently inhibited hTopIB. In particular, complex [Ru(dmp)(dppe)2]PF6 (Ru3), bearing the 4,6-diamino-2-mercaptopyrimidine (dmp) ligand, effectively inhibited hTopIB by acting on both the cleavage and religation steps of the catalytic cycle of this enzyme. Molecular docking showed that the Ru1-Ru5 complexes have binding affinity by active sites on the hTopI and hTopI-DNA, mainly via π-alkyl and alkyl hydrophobic interactions, as well as through hydrogen bonds. Complex Ru3 displayed significant antitumor activity against murine melanoma in mouse xenograph models, but this complex did not damage DNA, as revealed by Ames and micronucleus tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monize M da Silva
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel H Ribeiro
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana S de Camargo
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antônio G Ferreira
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro Ribeiro
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marília I F Barbosa
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Victor M Deflon
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia Castelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Tor Vergata di Roma, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rodrigo S Corrêa
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP 35400-000 Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Arthur B Ribeiro
- Universidade de Franca, CEP 14404-600, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Saulo D Ozelin
- Universidade de Franca, CEP 14404-600, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denise C Tavares
- Universidade de Franca, CEP 14404-600, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alzir A Batista
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
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5
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D'ascanio M, Innammorato M, Pasquariello L, Pizzirusso D, Guerrieri G, Castelli S, Pezzuto A, De Vitis C, Anibaldi P, Marcolongo A, Mancini R, Ricci A, Sciacchitano S. Age is not the only risk factor in COVID-19: the role of comorbidities and of long staying in residential care homes. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:63. [PMID: 33451296 PMCID: PMC7809533 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02013-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The actual SARS-CoV-2 outbreak caused a highly transmissible disease with a tremendous impact on elderly people. So far, few studies focused on very elderly patients (over 80 years old). In this study we examined the clinical presentation and the outcome of the disease in this group of patients, admitted to our Hospital in Rome. METHODS This is a single-center, retrospective study performed in the Sant'Andrea University Hospital of Rome. We included patients older than 65 years of age with a diagnosis of COVID-19, from March 2020 to May 2020, divided in two groups according to their age (Elderly: 65-80 years old; Very Elderly > 80 years old). Data extracted from the each patient record included age, sex, comorbidities, symptoms at onset, the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI), the ratio of the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) to the inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) (P/F) on admission, laboratory tests, radiological findings on computer tomography (CT), length of hospital stay (LOS), mortality rate and the viral shedding. The differences between the two groups were analyzed by the Fisher's exact test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. To assess significance among multiple groups of factors, we used the Bonferroni correction. The survival time was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and Log Rank Test. Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression were performed to estimate associations between age, comorbidities, provenance from long-stay residential care homes (LSRCH) s and clinical outcomes. RESULTS We found that Very Elderly patients had an increased mortality rate, also due to the frequent occurrence of multiple comorbidities. Moreover, we found that patients coming from LSRCHs appeared to be highly susceptible and vulnerable to develop severe manifestations of the disease. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that there were considerable differences between Elderly and Very Elderly patients in terms of inflammatory activity, severity of disease, adverse clinical outcomes. To establish a correct risk stratification, comorbidities and information about provenience from LSRCHs should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D'ascanio
- Division of Pneumology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy.
| | - M Innammorato
- Division of Pneumology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - L Pasquariello
- Division of Pneumology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - D Pizzirusso
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - G Guerrieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - S Castelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Pezzuto
- Division of Pneumology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - C De Vitis
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - P Anibaldi
- Health Director, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - A Marcolongo
- General Director, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035-1039, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - R Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Ricci
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - S Sciacchitano
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena n. 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Biomedical research, Niccolò Cusano University Foundation, Via Don Carlo Gnocchi, 3, 00166, Rome, Italy
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Oriolo C, Fanelli F, Castelli S, Mezzullo M, Altieri P, Corzani F, Pelusi C, Repaci A, Di Dalmazi G, Vicennati V, Baldazzi L, Menabò S, Dormi A, Nardi E, Brillanti G, Pasquali R, Pagotto U, Gambineri A. Steroid biomarkers for identifying non-classic adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in a population of PCOS with suspicious levels of 17OH-progesterone. J Endocrinol Invest 2020; 43:1499-1509. [PMID: 32236851 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-020-01235-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed at defining the most effective routine immunoassay- or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-determined steroid biomarkers for identifying non-classic adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-NCAH) in a PCOS-like population before genotyping. METHODS Seventy PCOS-like patients in reproductive age with immunoassay-determined follicular 17OH-progesterone (17OHP) ≥ 2.00 ng/mL underwent CYP21A2 gene analysis and 1-24ACTH test. Serum steroids were measured by immunoassays at baseline and 60 min after ACTH stimulation; basal steroid profile was measured by LC-MS/MS. RESULTS Genotyping revealed 23 21-NCAH, 15 single allele heterozygous CYP21A2 mutations (21-HTZ) and 32 PCOS patients displaying similar clinical and metabolic features. Immunoassays revealed higher baseline 17OHP and testosterone, and after ACTH stimulation, higher 17OHP (17OHP60) and lower cortisol, whereas LC-MS/MS revealed higher 17OHP (17OHPLC-MS/MS), progesterone and 21-deoxycortisol and lower corticosterone in 21-NCAH compared with both 21-HTZ and PCOS patients. Steroid thresholds best discriminating 21-NCAH from 21-HTZ and PCOS were estimated, and their diagnostic accuracy in identifying 21-NCAH from PCOS was established by ROC analysis. The highest accuracy was observed for 21-deoxycortisol ≥ 0.087 ng/mL, showing 100% sensitivity, while the combination of 17OHPLC-MS/MS ≥ 1.79 ng/mL and corticosterone ≤ 8.76 ng/mL, as well as the combination of ACTH-stimulated 17OHP ≥ 6.77 ng/mL and cortisol ≤ 240 ng/mL by immunoassay, showed 100% specificity. CONCLUSIONS LC-MS/MS measurement of basal follicular 21-deoxycortisol, 17OHP and corticosterone seems the most convenient method for diagnosing 21-NCAH in a population of PCOS with a positive first level screening, providing high accuracy and reducing the need for ACTH stimulation test.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Oriolo
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - F Fanelli
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - S Castelli
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - M Mezzullo
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - P Altieri
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - F Corzani
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - C Pelusi
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - A Repaci
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - G Di Dalmazi
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - V Vicennati
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - L Baldazzi
- Medical Genetic Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - S Menabò
- Medical Genetic Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - A Dormi
- Biostatistics Laboratory, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - E Nardi
- Biostatistics Laboratory, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - G Brillanti
- Biostatistics Laboratory, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - R Pasquali
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - U Pagotto
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - A Gambineri
- Endocrinology Unit and Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
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D'Ascanio M, Castelli S, Moretta A, Salvucci C, Sglavo R, Gencarelli G, Giovagnoli S, Guerrieri G. EFFECT OF POSTURE ON HEMIDIAPHRAGMATIC PARALYSIS. Chest 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.05.478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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Oliveira CG, Romero-Canelón I, Silva MM, Coverdale JPC, Maia PIS, Batista AA, Castelli S, Desideri A, Sadler PJ, Deflon VM. Palladium(ii) complexes with thiosemicarbazones derived from pyrene as topoisomerase IB inhibitors. Dalton Trans 2020; 48:16509-16517. [PMID: 31670343 DOI: 10.1039/c9dt02570g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
New palladium complexes with thiosemicarbazonate ligands derived from pyrene exhibit potent antiproliferative activity against A2780 and cisplatin-resistant A2780Cis human ovarian cancer cells, which is dependent on substituent groups of the thiosemicarbazone ligands. Cellular accumulation and distribution studies confirmed that palladium enters the cell nucleus. DNA and topoisomerase IB studies show that one complex is a potent TopIB inhibitor, with selectivity for cancer versus normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina G Oliveira
- São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, 13560-970, São Carlos, Brazil.
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9
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da Silva M, de Camargo M, Castelli S, de Grandis R, Castellano E, Deflon V, Cominetti M, Desideri A, Batista A. Ruthenium(II)-mercapto Complexes with Anticancer Activity Interact with Topoisomerase IB. J BRAZIL CHEM SOC 2020. [DOI: 10.21577/0103-5053.20190214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Dario BS, Fernandes Neto F, Portes MC, Boni Fazzi R, Rodrigues da Silva D, Peterson EJ, Farrell NP, Castelli S, Desideri A, Petersen PAD, Petrilli HM, Da Costa Ferreira AM. DNA binding, cytotoxic effects and probable targets of an oxindolimine–vanadyl complex as an antitumor agent. NEW J CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1039/c9nj02480h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The vanadyl–oxindolimine complex as an antitumor agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Soares Dario
- Instituto de Química
- Universidade de São Paulo
- Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes
- 748 – São Paulo 05508-000
- Brazil
| | - Francisco Fernandes Neto
- Instituto de Química
- Universidade de São Paulo
- Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes
- 748 – São Paulo 05508-000
- Brazil
| | - Marcelo Cecconi Portes
- Instituto de Química
- Universidade de São Paulo
- Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes
- 748 – São Paulo 05508-000
- Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Boni Fazzi
- Instituto de Química
- Universidade de São Paulo
- Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes
- 748 – São Paulo 05508-000
- Brazil
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11
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da Silva MM, de Camargo MS, Correa RS, Castelli S, De Grandis RA, Takarada JE, Varanda EA, Castellano EE, Deflon VM, Cominetti MR, Desideri A, Batista AA. Non-mutagenic Ru(ii) complexes: cytotoxicity, topoisomerase IB inhibition, DNA and HSA binding. Dalton Trans 2019; 48:14885-14897. [DOI: 10.1039/c9dt01905g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Herein we discuss five ruthenium(ii) complexes with good cytotoxicity against cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rodrigo S. Correa
- Departamento de Química
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto
- Ouro Preto
- Brazil
| | - Silvia Castelli
- Dipartimentodi Biologia
- UniversitàTorVergatadi Roma
- 00133 Rome
- Italy
| | - Rone A. De Grandis
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas
- UNESP
- Araraquara
- Brazil
| | | | - Eliana A. Varanda
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas
- UNESP
- Araraquara
- Brazil
| | | | - Victor M. Deflon
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos
- Universidade de São Paulo
- São Carlos
- Brazil
| | - Marcia R. Cominetti
- Departamento de Gerontologia
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos
- São Carlos
- Brazil
| | | | - Alzir A. Batista
- Departamento de Química
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos
- São Carlos
- Brazil
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12
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Castelli S, Gonçalves MB, Katkar P, Stuchi GC, Couto RAA, Petrilli HM, da Costa Ferreira AM. Comparative studies of oxindolimine-metal complexes as inhibitors of human DNA topoisomerase IB. J Inorg Biochem 2018; 186:85-94. [PMID: 29860208 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Marcos Brown Gonçalves
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, 80230-901 Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Prafulla Katkar
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Gabriela Cristina Stuchi
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Alexandre Alves Couto
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Helena Maria Petrilli
- Departamento de Física dos Materiais e Mecânica, Instituto de Física, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria da Costa Ferreira
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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13
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Takarada JE, Guedes APM, Correa RS, Silveira-Lacerda EDP, Castelli S, Iacovelli F, Deflon VM, Batista AA, Desideri A. Ru/Fe bimetallic complexes: Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity and study of their interactions with DNA/HSA and human topoisomerase IB. Arch Biochem Biophys 2017; 636:28-41. [PMID: 29107586 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2017.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Three ruthenium/iron-based compounds, 1: [Ru(MIm)(bipy)(dppf)]PF6 (MIm = 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole anion), 2: [RuCl(Im)(bipy)(dppf)]PF6 (Im = imidazole), and 3: [Ru(tzdt)(bipy)(dppf)]PF6 (tzdt = 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione anion) (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphine)ferrocene and bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), were synthesized, and characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity, UV/Vis, IR, 1H, 13C and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopies, and by electrochemical technique. The complex 3 was also characterized by single-crystal X-ray. The three ruthenium(II) complexes show cytotoxicity against DU-145 (prostate carcinoma cells) and A549 (lung carcinoma cells) tumor cells. The free ligands do not exhibit any cytotoxic activity, such as evident by the IC50 values higher than 200 μM. UV/Vis and viscosity experiments showed that the complexes interact weakly with the DNA molecule, via electrostatic forces. The interaction of the complexes 1-3 with the HSA is moderate, with Kb values in range of 105-107 M-1, presenting a static mechanism of interaction stabilized by hydrophobic. Complexes 2 and 3 showed high affinity for the FA7 HSA site as evidenced by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking. Complexes 1-3 were tested as potential human Topoisomerase IB inhibitors by analysing the different steps of the enzyme catalytic cycle. The results indicate that all compounds efficiently inhibit the DNA relaxation and the cleavage reaction, in which the effect increases upon pre-incubation. Complexes 1 and 2 are also able to slow down the religation reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Takarada
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana P M Guedes
- Department of Chemistry, University Federal of São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo S Correa
- Department of Chemistry, University Federal of São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elisângela de P Silveira-Lacerda
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics, Institute of Biological Sciences, University Federal of Goiás-UFG, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Silvia Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Iacovelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Victor Marcelo Deflon
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alzir Azevedo Batista
- Department of Chemistry, University Federal of São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
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14
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de Camargo MS, da Silva MM, Correa RS, Vieira SD, Castelli S, D'Anessa I, De Grandis R, Varanda E, Deflon VM, Desideri A, Batista AA. Inhibition of human DNA topoisomerase IB by nonmutagenic ruthenium(II)-based compounds with antitumoral activity. Metallomics 2016; 8:179-92. [PMID: 26758075 DOI: 10.1039/c5mt00227c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Herein we synthesized two new ruthenium(II) compounds [Ru(pySH)(bipy)(dppb)]PF6 (1) and [Ru(HSpym)(bipy)(dppb)]PF6 (2) that are analogs to an antitumor agent recently described, [Ru(SpymMe2)(bipy)(dppb)]PF6 (3), where [(Spy) = 2-mercaptopyridine anion; (Spym) = 2-mercaptopyrimidine anion and (SpymMe2) = 4,6-dimethyl-2-mercaptopyrimidine anion]. In vitro cell culture experiments revealed significant anti-proliferative activity for 1-3 against HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 tumor cells, higher than the standard anti-cancer drugs doxorubicin and cisplatin. No mutagenicity is detected when compounds are evaluated by cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus cytome and Ames test in the presence and absence of S9 metabolic activation from rat liver. Interaction studies show that compounds 1-3 can bind to DNA through electrostatic interactions and to albumin through hydrophobic interactions. The three compounds are able to inhibit the DNA supercoiled relaxation mediated by human topoisomerase IB (Top1). Compound 3 is the most efficient Top1 inhibitor and the inhibitory effect is enhanced upon pre-incubation with the enzyme. Analysis of different steps of Top1 catalytic cycle indicates that 3 inhibits the cleavage reaction impeding the binding of the enzyme to DNA and slows down the religation reaction. Molecular docking shows that 3 preferentially binds closer to the residues of the active site when Top1 is free and lies on the DNA groove downstream of the cleavage site in the Top1-DNA complex. Thus, 3 can be considered in further studies for a possible use as an anticancer agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana S de Camargo
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
| | - Monize M da Silva
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo S Correa
- Departamento de Química, ICEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, CEP 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Sara D Vieira
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Tor Vergata di Roma, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Castelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Tor Vergata di Roma, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Ilda D'Anessa
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Tor Vergata di Roma, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Rone De Grandis
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP, CEP 14800-900, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliana Varanda
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP, CEP 14800-900, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Victor M Deflon
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Alzir A Batista
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
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15
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Vutey V, Castelli S, D'Annessa I, Sâmia LBP, Souza-Fagundes EM, Beraldo H, Desideri A. Human topoisomerase IB is a target of a thiosemicarbazone copper(II) complex. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 606:34-40. [PMID: 27431056 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The human topoisomerase IB inhibition and the antiproliferative activity of 3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-pyridin-2-ylprop-2-en-1-one thiosemicarbazone HPyCT4BrPh alone and its copper(II) complex [Cu(PyCT4BrPh)Cl] was investigated. [Cu(PyCT4BrPh)Cl] inhibits both the DNA cleavage and religation step of the enzyme, whilst the ligand alone does not display any effect. In addition we show that coordination to copper(II) improves the cytotoxicity of HPyCT4BrPh against THP-1 leukemia and MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The data indicate that the copper(II) thiosemicarbazone complex may hit human topoisomerase IB and that metal coordination can be useful to improve cytotoxicity of this versatile class of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venn Vutey
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilda D'Annessa
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciana B P Sâmia
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elaine M Souza-Fagundes
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Heloisa Beraldo
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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16
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Vieira S, Castelli S, Desideri A. Importance of a stable topoisomerase IB clamping for an efficient DNA processing: Effect of the Lys 369 Glu mutation. Int J Biol Macromol 2015; 81:76-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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17
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León IE, Cadavid-Vargas JF, Tiscornia I, Porro V, Castelli S, Katkar P, Desideri A, Bollati-Fogolin M, Etcheverry SB. Oxidovanadium(IV) complexes with chrysin and silibinin: anticancer activity and mechanisms of action in a human colon adenocarcinoma model. J Biol Inorg Chem 2015; 20:1175-91. [PMID: 26404080 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-015-1298-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Vanadium compounds were studied during recent years to be considered as a representative of a new class of nonplatinum metal antitumor agents in combination to its low toxicity. On the other hand, flavonoids are a wide family of polyphenolic compounds synthesized by plants that display many interesting biological effects. Since coordination of ligands to metals can improve the pharmacological properties, we report herein, for the first time, a exhaustive study of the mechanisms of action of two oxidovanadium(IV) complexes with the flavonoids: silibinin Na₂[VO(silibinin)₂2]·6H₂O (VOsil) and chrysin [VO(chrysin)₂EtOH]₂(VOchrys) on human colon adenocarcinoma derived cell line HT-29. The complexes inhibited the cell viability of colon adenocarcinoma cells in a dose dependent manner with a greater potency than that the free ligands and free metal, demonstrating the benefit of complexation. The decrease of the ratio of the amount of reduced glutathione to the amount of oxidized glutathione were involved in the deleterious effects of both complexes. Besides, VOchrys caused cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase while VOsil activated caspase 3 and triggering the cells directly to apoptosis. Moreover, VOsil diminished the NF-kB activation via increasing the sensitivity of cells to apoptosis. On the other hand, VOsil inhibited the topoisomerase IB activity concluding that this is important target involved in the anticancer vanadium effects. As a whole, the results presented herein demonstrate that VOsil has a stronger deleterious action than VOchrys on HT-29 cells, whereby suggesting that Vosil is the potentially best candidate for future use in alternative anti-tumor treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- I E León
- Cátedra de Bioquímica Patológica, Facultad Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, 1900, La Plata, Argentina.,Centro de Química Inorgánica (CEQUINOR-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - J F Cadavid-Vargas
- Cátedra de Bioquímica Patológica, Facultad Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, 1900, La Plata, Argentina.,Centro de Química Inorgánica (CEQUINOR-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - I Tiscornia
- Unidad de Biología Celular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - V Porro
- Unidad de Biología Celular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - S Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - P Katkar
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - A Desideri
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - M Bollati-Fogolin
- Unidad de Biología Celular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - S B Etcheverry
- Cátedra de Bioquímica Patológica, Facultad Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, 1900, La Plata, Argentina. .,Centro de Química Inorgánica (CEQUINOR-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 47 y 115, 1900, La Plata, Argentina.
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18
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Vieira S, Castelli S, Falconi M, Takarada J, Fiorillo G, Buzzetti F, Lombardi P, Desideri A. Role of 13-(di)phenylalkyl berberine derivatives in the modulation of the activity of human topoisomerase IB. Int J Biol Macromol 2015; 77:68-75. [PMID: 25783020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.02.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Topoisomerases IB are anticancer and antimicrobial targets whose inhibition by several natural and non-natural compounds has been documented. The inhibition effect by berberine and some 13-(di)phenylalkyl berberine derivatives has been tested towards human topoisomerase IB. Derivatives belonging to the 13-diphenylalkyl series display an efficient inhibition of the DNA relaxation and cleavage step, that increases upon pre-incubation with the enzyme. The religation step of the enzyme catalytic cycle is not affected by compounds and only slightly upon pre-incubation. The binding of the protein to the DNA substrate occurs also in the presence of the compounds, as monitored by a DNA shift assay, indicating that the compounds are not able to inhibit the formation of the enzyme-DNA complex but that they act as catalytic inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Vieira
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biology, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Castelli
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biology, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Falconi
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biology, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Jéssica Takarada
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biology, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano Fiorillo
- Naxospharma srl, Via G. Di Vittorio, 70, 20026 Novate Milanese, Italy
| | - Franco Buzzetti
- Naxospharma srl, Via G. Di Vittorio, 70, 20026 Novate Milanese, Italy
| | - Paolo Lombardi
- Naxospharma srl, Via G. Di Vittorio, 70, 20026 Novate Milanese, Italy
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biology, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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19
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D’Annessa I, Castelli S, Desideri A. Topoisomerase 1B as a Target Against Leishmaniasis. Mini Rev Med Chem 2015; 15:203-10. [DOI: 10.2174/138955751503150312120912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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20
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Katkar P, Coletta A, Castelli S, Sabino GL, Couto RAA, Ferreira AMDC, Desideri A. Effect of oxindolimine copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes on human topoisomerase I activity. Metallomics 2014; 6:117-25. [PMID: 24172750 DOI: 10.1039/c3mt00099k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The ability of oxindolimine copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes, known to have antitumor activity, to inhibit human topoisomerase IB has been tested through enzymatic kinetic assays and molecular docking simulations. These copper and zinc compounds are able to inhibit remarkably the cleavage reaction and only partially the religation step, the copper compound being more efficient than the zinc one. A complete inhibition activity of the cleavage is only obtained when the enzyme is pre-incubated with the compound, the inhibition being irreversible and reversible for the copper and zinc compounds, respectively. The relative stability of such complexes was estimated by competitive equilibria with human serum albumin (HSA), monitored by CD spectroscopy. The copper species shows a log KCuL = 17.2, while the analogous zinc complex exhibits a log KZnL = 7.2. Molecular docking simulation studies show that the almost square planar geometry of the copper compound allows a direct coordination of the metal with two amino acids (Glu492, Asp563) of the enzyme at variance of the zinc compound which has a more tetrahedral geometry. Altogether, the data indicate that the different coordination geometry achieved by the two transition metal ions has an important role in modulating their efficiency as topoisomerase I inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prafulla Katkar
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università Tor Vergata di Roma, 00173 Roma, Italy.
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21
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Castelli S, Coletta A, D'Annessa I, Fiorani P, Tesauro C, Desideri A. Interaction between natural compounds and human topoisomerase I. Biol Chem 2014; 393:1327-40. [PMID: 23109546 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2012-0240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic topoisomerase I (Top1) is a monomeric enzyme that catalyzes the relaxation of supercoiled DNA during important processes including DNA replication, transcription, recombination and chromosome condensation. Human Top1 I is of significant medical interest since it is the unique cellular target of camptothecin (CPT), a plant alkaloid that rapidly blocks both DNA and RNA synthesis. In this review, together with CPT, we point out the interaction between human Top1 and some natural compounds, such us terpenoids, flavonoids, stilbenes and fatty acids. The drugs can interact with the enzyme at different levels perturbing the binding, cleavage, rotation or religation processes. Here we focus on different assays that can be used to identify the catalytic step of the enzyme inhibited by different natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, I-00133 Rome, Italy
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22
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Coletta A, Castelli S, Chillemi G, Sanna N, Cushman M, Pommier Y, Desideri A. Solvent dependency of the UV-Vis spectrum of indenoisoquinolines: role of keto-oxygens as polarity interaction probes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73881. [PMID: 24086299 PMCID: PMC3784438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Indenoisoquinolines are the most promising non-campthotecins topoisomerase IB inhibitors. We present an integrated experimental/computational investigation of the UV-Vis spectra of the IQNs parental compound (NSC314622) and two of its derivatives (NSC724998 and NSC725776) currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials. In all the three compounds a similar dependence of the relative absorption intensities at 270 nm and 290 nm on solvent polarity is found. The keto-oxygens in positions 5 and 11 of the molecular scaffold of the molecule are the principal chromophores involved in this dependence. Protic interactions on these sites are also found to give rise to absorptions at wavelength <250 nm observed in water solution, due to the stabilization of highly polarized tautomers of the molecule. These results suggest that the keto-oxygens are important polarizable groups that can act as useful interactors with the molecular receptor, providing at the same time an useful fingerprint for the monitoring of the drug binding to topoisomerase IB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Coletta
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italy
| | - Silvia Castelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Chillemi
- Consorzio interuniversitario per le Applicazioni del Supercalcolo Per Università e Ricerca, Roma, Italy
| | - Nico Sanna
- Consorzio interuniversitario per le Applicazioni del Supercalcolo Per Università e Ricerca, Roma, Italy
| | - Mark Cushman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Yves Pommier
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Roma, Italy
- * E-mail:
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23
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Jahan Z, Castelli S, Aversa G, Rufini S, Desideri A, Giovanetti A. Role of human topoisomerase IB on ionizing radiation induced damage. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 432:545-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Castelli S, Katkar P, Vassallo O, Falconi M, Linder S, Desideri A. A Natural Anticancer Agent Thaspine Targets Human Topoisomerase IB. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2013; 13:356-63. [DOI: 10.2174/1871520611313020021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2012] [Revised: 06/28/2012] [Accepted: 06/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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25
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Castelli S, Vieira S, D'Annessa I, Katkar P, Musso L, Dallavalle S, Desideri A. A derivative of the natural compound kakuol affects DNA relaxation of topoisomerase IB inhibiting the cleavage reaction. Arch Biochem Biophys 2012; 530:7-12. [PMID: 23262316 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2012.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 12/06/2012] [Accepted: 12/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Topoisomerases IB are anticancer and antimicrobial targets whose inhibition by several natural and synthetic compounds has been documented over the last three decades. Here we show that kakuol, a natural compound isolated from the rhizomes of Asarum sieboldii, and a derivative analogue are able to inhibit the DNA relaxation mediated by the human enzyme. The analogue is the most efficient one and the inhibitory effect is enhanced upon pre-incubation with the enzyme. Analysis of the different steps of the catalytic cycle indicates that the inhibition occurs at the cleavage level and does not prevent DNA binding. Molecular docking shows that the compound preferentially binds near the active site at the bottom of the catalytic residue Tyr723, providing an atomistic explanation for its inhibitory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Castelli
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Biology, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
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26
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Castelli S, Stella L, Petrarca P, Battistoni A, Desideri A, Falconi M. Zinc ion coordination as a modulating factor of the ZnuA histidine-rich loop flexibility: a molecular modeling and fluorescence spectroscopy study. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012. [PMID: 23206707 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.11.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
ZnuA is the soluble component of the high-affinity ZnuABC zinc transporter belonging to the ATP-binding cassette-type periplasmic Zn-binding proteins. The zinc transporter ZnuABC is composed by three proteins: ZnuB, the membrane permease, ZnuC, the ATPase component and ZnuA, the soluble periplasmic metal-binding protein which captures Zn and delivers it to ZnuB. The ZnuA protein contains a charged flexible loop, rich in histidines and acidic residues, showing significant species-specific differences. Various studies have established that this loop contributes to the formation of a secondary zinc binding site, which has been proposed to be important in the acquisition of periplasmic Zn for its delivery to ZnuB or for regulation of zinc uptake. Due to its high mobility the structure of the histidine-rich loop has never been solved by X-ray diffraction studies. In this paper, through a combined use of molecular modeling, mutagenesis and fluorescence spectroscopy, we confirm the presence of two zinc binding sites characterized by different affinities for the metal ion and show that the flexibility of the loop is modulated by the binding of the zinc ions to the protein. The data obtained by fluorescence spectroscopy have then be used to validate a 3D model including the unsolved histidine-rich loop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Levi Setti P, Baggiani A, Castelli S, Bracone G, Marras A, Albani E. Incidence of congenital anomalies in 2351 IVF/ICSI babies. Fertil Steril 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.07.1015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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28
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Vassallo O, Castelli S, D'Annessa I, della Rocca BM, Stella L, Knudsen BR, Desideri A. Evidences of a natively unfolded state for the human topoisomerase IB N-terminal domain. Amino Acids 2010; 41:945-53. [PMID: 21046176 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-010-0794-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2010] [Accepted: 10/20/2010] [Indexed: 09/29/2022]
Abstract
The N-terminal domain of human topoisomerase IB has been expressed, purified and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. CD spectra as a function of concentration and pH indicate that the domain does not possess any defined secondary structure. The protein is probably in a natively unfolded state since its denaturation curve is indicative of a non-cooperative transition. Evidence of a partially folded structure comes from the fluorescence spectrum of ANS, whose intensity increases in presence of the domain. Indication of a partial structural arrangement of the domain comes also from the endogenous fluorescence of tryptophans that is centred at 350 nm in the native and shifts to 354 nm in the fully denaturated protein. Interestingly despite the poor structural degree, as also confirmed by a predictive approach, the domain efficiently binds DNA, suggesting that the absence of a defined 3D structure has a functional meaning that permits the domain to be available for the interaction with different molecular partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Vassallo
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
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29
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Hamza L, Girardi T, Castelli S, Gargioli C, Cannata S, Patamia M, Luly P, Laraba-Djebari F, Petruzzelli R, Rufini S. Isolation and characterization of a myotoxin from the venom of Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea. Toxicon 2010; 56:381-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2010.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2010] [Revised: 03/30/2010] [Accepted: 04/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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30
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Bruzzese F, Rocco M, Castelli S, Di Gennaro E, Desideri A, Budillon A. Synergistic antitumor effect between vorinostat and topotecan in small cell lung cancer cells is mediated by generation of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Mol Cancer Ther 2009; 8:3075-87. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-09-0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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31
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Sanna N, Chillemi G, Gontrani L, Grandi A, Mancini G, Castelli S, Zagotto G, Zazza C, Barone V, Desideri A. UV-vis spectra of the anticancer camptothecin family drugs in aqueous solution: specific spectroscopic signatures unraveled by a combined computational and experimental study. J Phys Chem B 2009; 113:5369-75. [PMID: 19334673 DOI: 10.1021/jp809801y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum of camptothecin (CPT) has been been recorded in aqueous solution at pH 5.3, where the equilibrium among the different CPT forms is shifted toward the lactonic one. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) computations lead to a remarkable reproduction of the experimental spectrum only upon addition of explicit water molecules in interaction with specific moieties of the camptothecin molecule. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations enforcing boundary periodic conditions for CPT embedded with 865 water molecules, with a force field derived from DFT computations, show that the experimental spectrum is due to the contributions of CPT molecules with different solvation patterns. A similar solvent effect is observed for several CPT derivatives, including the clinically relevant SN-38 and topotecan drugs. The quantitative agreement between TD-DFT/MD computations and experimental data allow us to identify specific spectroscopic signatures diagnostic of the drug environment and to develop procedures that can be used to monitor the drug-DNA/protein interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Sanna
- CASPUR, Consortium for Supercomputing in Research, Via dei Tizii 6, 00185 Roma, Italy.
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32
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Castelli S, Campagna A, Vassallo O, Tesauro C, Fiorani P, Tagliatesta P, Oteri F, Falconi M, Majumder HK, Desideri A. Conjugated eicosapentaenoic acid inhibits human topoisomerase IB with a mechanism different from camptothecin. Arch Biochem Biophys 2009; 486:103-10. [PMID: 19397888 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2009.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2009] [Revised: 04/17/2009] [Accepted: 04/19/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Conjugated eicosapentaenoic acid (cEPA) has been found to have antitumor effects which has been ascribed to their ability to inhibit DNA topoisomerases and DNA polymerases. We here show that cEPA inhibits the catalytic activity of human topoisomerase I, but unlike camptothecin it does not stabilize the cleavable complex, indicating a different mechanism of action. cEPA inhibits topoisomerase by impeding the catalytic cleavage of the DNA substrate as demonstrated using specific oligonucleotide substrates, and prevents the stabilization of the cleavable complex by camptothecin. Preincubation of the inhibitor with the enzyme is required to obtain complete inhibition. Molecular docking simulations indicate that the preferred cEPA binding site is proximal to the active site with the carboxylic group strongly interacting with the positively charged K443 and K587. Taken together the results indicate that cEPA inhibitor does not prevent DNA binding but inhibits DNA cleavage, binding in a region close to the topoisomerase active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
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33
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Chillemi G, Fiorani P, Bruselles A, Castelli S, Campagna A, Sarra O, Tesauro C, Fiorentini M, Vassallo O, D'Annessa I, Santoleri S, Desideri A. Role of flexibility and long range communication on the function of human topoisomerase I. Ital J Biochem 2007; 56:110-4. [PMID: 17722651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic topoisomerase I is an essential enzyme that regulates the changes in DNA topology, relaxing the superhelical tension associated with DNA replication, transcription and recombination. Human topoisomerase I is of significant medical interest being the only target of the antitumor drug camptothecin. The enzyme undergoes large conformational changes during its catalytic cycle and the knowedge of the degree of flexibility of the different regions provides an useful guide to the understanding of such movements. Molecular dynamics simulation is a well consolidated method for the investigation of structural and dynamic properties of proteins and nucleic acids and has been successfully applied to study the dynamical properties of the DNA-human topoisomerase complex. This review highlights some structural and dynamic properties of topoisomerase, obtained by MD simulations, that permits to explain the importance of flexibility in the modulation of the functional properties of the enzyme and in the transmission of communication between domains located far away one from each other.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology
- Camptothecin/chemistry
- Camptothecin/pharmacology
- DNA Replication/drug effects
- DNA Replication/physiology
- DNA Topoisomerases, Type I/chemistry
- DNA Topoisomerases, Type I/metabolism
- DNA, Superhelical/chemistry
- DNA, Superhelical/metabolism
- Humans
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Recombination, Genetic/drug effects
- Recombination, Genetic/physiology
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
- Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
- Transcription, Genetic/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Chillemi
- CASPUR Interuniversities Consortium for Supercomputing Applications, Rome, Italy
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Fiorani P, Chillemi G, Losasso C, Castelli S, Desideri A. The different cleavage DNA sequence specificity explains the camptothecin resistance of the human topoisomerase I Glu418Lys mutant. Nucleic Acids Res 2006; 34:5093-100. [PMID: 16990249 PMCID: PMC1636438 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkl670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Yeast cells expressing the Glu418Lys human topoisomerase I mutant display a camptothecin resistance that slowly decreases as a function of time. Molecular characterization of the single steps of the catalytic cycle of the purified mutant indicates that it has a relaxation activity identical to the wild-type protein but a different DNA sequence specificity for the cleavage sites when compared to the wild-type enzyme, as assayed on several substrates. In particular the mutant has a low specificity for CPT sensitive cleavable sites. In fact, the mutant has, at variance of the wild-type enzyme, a reduced preference for cleavage sites having a thymine base in position −1 of the scissile strand. This preference, together with the strict requirement for a thymine base in position −1 for an efficient camptothecin binding, explains the temporary camptothecin resistance of the yeast cell expressing the mutant and points out the importance of the DNA sequence in the binding of the camptothecin drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fiorani
- CNR National Research Council, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
- INFM National Institute for the Physics of Matter, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Giovanni Chillemi
- CASPUR Interuniversities Consortium for Supercomputing Applications, Via dei Tizii 6bRome 00185, Italy
| | - Carmen Losasso
- Department of Biology, University of PaduaVia U. Bassi 58/B, Padua 35131, Italy
| | - Silvia Castelli
- CNR National Research Council, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
- INFM National Institute for the Physics of Matter, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- CNR National Research Council, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
- INFM National Institute for the Physics of Matter, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +39 0672594376; Fax: +39 0672594326;
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35
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Giani M, Berto D, Zangrando V, Castelli S, Sist P, Urbani R. Chemical characterization of different typologies of mucilaginous aggregates in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Sci Total Environ 2005; 353:232-46. [PMID: 16257434 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The chemical composition of mucilage aggregates found during summer 2000, 2001 and 2002 in the North Adriatic Sea depends on the nature of the organic matter during aggregation, on the environmental conditions of the site of formation and on the transformations during ageing. The mucilages were composed of organic matter, together with a significant inorganic fraction. Elemental analysis revealed 12.5-32.2% of organic carbon, 0-7.3% of inorganic carbon and 1.0-3.7% of nitrogen. The C(org)/N ratios of most aggregates were between 7.5 and 12.6, values close to those found in the suspended matter; higher ratios were found in large-size (>5 m) aggregates which are probably older. The content of carbohydrates and proteins determined in the aggregates, respectively, 15.4+/-8.9% and 7.9+/-4.8%, w/w, showed a prevalence of carbohydrates over proteins. Neutral carbohydrate analysis of purified polysaccharides from mucilage samples showed very similar signatures with high relative abundance of galactose and glucose. Humic, fulvic and humin substances extracted from the mucilages constitute an important fraction of the organic matter in the aggregates. The humin (a fraction insoluble in acidic and basic media) was present in all mucilage samples, indicating the refractory nature of a part of the organic matter in the mucilage. The iron and calcium could play a role during the aggregation process to form a complex with polysaccharides and humic fractions. The C(org)/N ratio 10+/-2 found in the humic acids extracted from the Adriatic aggregates disclosed a marine origin. The low phosphorus content and the high C(org)/P ratio found in the aggregates might depend from high bacteria activity or from the aggregation of organic fractions depleted of phosphorus. The principal inorganic species contained aluminium and silicon, part of which was of biogenic origin and was more significant in the offshore mucilage aggregates than in the coastal ones. The Si(biog)/C(org) ratio showed that diatoms were always present in the aggregates, although it cannot be established whether these are the producers or these develop within the aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Giani
- Istituto Centrale per la Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica Applicata al Mare, ICRAM, Brondolo, I-30015 Chioggia, Italy.
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36
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Sanna N, Chillemi G, Grandi A, Castelli S, Desideri A, Barone V. New Hints on the pH-Driven Tautomeric Equilibria of the Topotecan Anticancer Drug in Aqueous Solutions from an Integrated Spectroscopic and Quantum-Mechanical Approach. J Am Chem Soc 2005; 127:15429-36. [PMID: 16262406 DOI: 10.1021/ja052637u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The equilibria between the different forms of the topotecan anticancer drug have been studied at moderately acidic and physiological pH by an integrated computational tool rooted in the density functional theory and its time-dependent extension together with the polarizable continuum model. The results allow an unbiased selection between the different possible tautomeric forms and provide invaluable complements to experimental data. The ultraviolet-visible topotecan spectrum, recorded at moderately acidic pH, is accurately reproduced only by TD-DFT computations including solvent effects. Comparison of the experimental and calculated bands of the UV-vis spectrum at physiological pH indicates the presence of an equilibrium among different forms that is tuned by the microenvironment embedding the drug. The quantitative agreement between TD-DFT/PCM computations and experiments allows the identification of unequivocal spectroscopic signatures for different forms of topotecan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Sanna
- CASPUR, Consortium for Supercomputing in Research, Via dei Tizii 6/b, 00185 Rome, Italy
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37
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Chillemi G, Fiorani P, Castelli S, Bruselles A, Benedetti P, Desideri A. Effect on DNA relaxation of the single Thr718Ala mutation in human topoisomerase I: a functional and molecular dynamics study. Nucleic Acids Res 2005; 33:3339-50. [PMID: 15944452 PMCID: PMC1145191 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gki642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional and dynamical properties of the human topoisomerase I Thr718Ala mutant have been compared to that of the wild-type enzyme using functional assays and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. At physiological ionic strength, the cleavage and religation rates, evaluated on oligonucleotides containing the preferred topoisomerase I DNA sequence, are almost identical for the wild-type and the mutated enzymes, as is the cleavage/religation equilibrium. On the other hand, the Thr718Ala mutant shows a decreased efficiency in a DNA plasmid relaxation assay. The MD simulation, carried out on the enzyme complexed with its preferred DNA substrate, indicates that the mutant has a different dynamic behavior compared to the wild-type enzyme. Interestingly, no changes are observed in the proximity of the mutation site, whilst a different flexibility is detected in regions contacting the DNA scissile strand, such as the linker and the V-shaped α helices. Taken together, the functional and simulation results indicate a direct communication between the mutation site and regions located relatively far away, such as the linker domain, that with their altered flexibility confer a reduced DNA relaxation efficiency. These results provide evidence that the comprehension of the topoisomerase I dynamical properties are an important element in the understanding of its complex catalytic cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Chillemi
- CASPUR Interuniversities Consortium for Supercomputing ApplicationsVia dei Tizii 6b, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Paola Fiorani
- Department of Biology, National Institute for the Physics of Matter, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Silvia Castelli
- Department of Biology, National Institute for the Physics of Matter, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bruselles
- CASPUR Interuniversities Consortium for Supercomputing ApplicationsVia dei Tizii 6b, Rome 00185, Italy
- Department of Biology, National Institute for the Physics of Matter, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Piero Benedetti
- Department of Biology, University of PaduaVia Ugo Bassi 58/B, Padua 35131, Italy
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- Department of Biology, National Institute for the Physics of Matter, University of Rome Tor VergataVia Della Ricerca Scientifica, Rome 00133, Italy
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +39 06 72594376; Fax: +39 06 2022798;
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38
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Maragliano L, Falconi M, Sergi A, Cioni P, Castelli S, Lania A, Stroppolo ME, Strambini G, Ferrario M, Desideri A. Experimental and simulative dissociation of dimeric Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase doubly mutated at the intersubunit surface. Biophys J 2005; 88:2875-82. [PMID: 15681652 PMCID: PMC1305382 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.104.057638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The equilibrium properties of dimeric Photobacterium leiognathi Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase mutant bearing two negative charges in the amino acid clusters at the association interface has been studied, experimentally and computationally, and compared to those of the native enzyme. Pressure-dependent dissociation is observed for the mutant, as observed by the fluorescence shift of the unique tryptophan residue located at the intersubunit surface. The spectral shift occurs slowly, reaching a plateau after 15-20 min, and is fully reversible. Measurement of the degree of dissociation allows us to calculate the standard volume variation upon association and the dissociation constant at atmospheric pressure. On the other hand the native protein is undissociable at any pressure. In the simulative approach, the dissociation free energy has been calculated through the blue moon calculation method for the case of a multidimensional reaction coordinate, corrected for the rotational contribution within the semiclassical approximation for a free rigid-body rotor. The scheme permits to define a definite path for the rupture of the dimer and to calculate the effective force involved in the process. The calculated free energy difference is close to the experimental one, and the value obtained for the mutant is well below that obtained for the native protein, indicating that the theoretical reaction scheme is able to reproduce the experimental trend. Moreover, we find that, when the separation distance increases, the protein structure of the monomer is stable in line with the fast recovery of the original fluorescence properties after decompression, which excludes the presence of partly unfolded intermediates during the dimer-monomer transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Maragliano
- INFM-S3 and Department of Physics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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39
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Cioni P, Pesce A, Morozzo della Rocca B, Castelli S, Falconi M, Parrilli L, Bolognesi M, Strambini G, Desideri A. Active-site copper and zinc ions modulate the quaternary structure of prokaryotic Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase. J Mol Biol 2003; 326:1351-60. [PMID: 12595249 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2836(03)00047-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The influence of the constitutive metal ions on the equilibrium properties of dimeric Photobacterium leiognathi Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase has been studied for the wild-type and for two mutant protein forms bearing a negative charge in the amino acid clusters at the dimer association interface. Depletion of copper and zinc dissociates the two mutant proteins into monomers, which reassemble toward the dimeric state upon addition of stoichiometric amounts of zinc. Pressure-dependent dissociation is observed for the copper-depleted wild-type and mutated enzymes, as monitored by the fluorescence shift of a unique tryptophan residue located at the subunit association interface. The spectral shift occurs slowly, reaching a plateau after 15-20 minutes, and is fully reversible. The recovery of the original fluorescence properties, after decompression, is fast (less than four minutes), suggesting that the isolated subunit has a relatively stable structure, and excluding the presence of stable intermediates during the dimer-monomer transition. The dimer dissociation process is still incomplete at 6.5 kbar for the copper-depleted wild-type and mutated enzymes, at variance with what is generally observed for oligomeric proteins that dissociate below 3 kbar. Measurement of the degree of dissociation, at two different protein concentrations, allows us to calculate the standard volume variation upon association, Delta V, and the dissociation constant K(d0), at atmospheric pressure, (25 ml/mol and 3 x 10(-7)M, respectively). The holoprotein is fully dimeric even at 6.5 kbar, which allows us to evaluate a lower Delta G degrees limit of 11.5 kcal/mol, corresponding to a dissociation constant K(d0)<10(-9)M.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Cioni
- Istituto di Biofisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Area della Ricerca di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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40
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Ciceri P, Castelli S, Lauria M, Lazzari B, Genga A, Bernard L, Sturaro M, Viotti A. Specific combinations of zein genes and genetic backgrounds influence the transcription of the heavy-chain zein genes in maize opaque-2 endosperms. Plant Physiol 2000; 124:451-460. [PMID: 10982458 PMCID: PMC59158 DOI: 10.1104/pp.124.1.451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2000] [Accepted: 06/02/2000] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The transcript levels of heavy-chain zein genes (zH1 and zH2) and the occurrence of the zH polypeptides in different opaque-2 (o2) lines were investigated by RNA-blot analyses and by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis protein fractionations. Four mutant alleles o2R, o2T, o2It, and o2-676 introgressed into different genetic backgrounds (GBs) were considered. The mono-dimensional gel electrophoresis zein pattern can be either conserved or different among the various GBs carrying the same o2 allele. Likewise, in the identical GB carrying different o2 alleles, the zein pattern can be either conserved or differentially affected by the different mutant allele. Zein protein analysis of reciprocal crosses between lines with different o2 alleles or the same o2 showed in some case a more than additive zH pattern in respect to the o2 parent lines. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay approaches, with O2-binding oligonucleotide and endosperm extracts from the above o2 lines, failed to reveal o2-specific retarded band in any of the o2 extracts. The results suggest that the promoter of some zH1 and zH2 contains motif(s) that can respond to factors other than O2.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ciceri
- Istituto Biosintesi Vegetali, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Bassini 15, I-20133 Milano, Italy
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41
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Andriani E, Bugli T, Aalders M, Castelli S, De Luigi G, Lazzari N, Rolli GP. [The effectiveness and acceptance of a medical device for the treatment of aphthous stomatitis. Clinical observation in pediatric age]. Minerva Pediatr 2000; 52:15-20. [PMID: 10829589] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To evaluate the efficacy of a new bioadhesive patch, Aloe vera hydrogel, for the treatment of aphthous stomatitis. METHODS An open, not controlled study was performed in 31 pediatric out-patients, aged 6-14 years, affected by mouth ulcers were enrolled consecutively in the 3 Gps Depts+ of San Marino Republic. For each case, data on case history and clinical profile, patterns of the lesion, presence of spontaneous or provoked pain were collected at baseline, and a bioadhesive patch ("Alovex patch") was administered on the basis of a daily regimen of < or = 3 patches for 4 days. Data on modification of the above-mentioned parameters, with patients and physicians opinion on the therapeutical efficacy, were collected during a control visit (4 days later). Moreover, by means of a daily diary, patients recorded information on the course of the symptoms during the 4 days and were also asked to compare the current treatment with other previous therapies. RESULTS At the control visit 77% of the patients have shown a marked resolution of spontaneous pain, while in the other patients, pain was significantly decreased to a "mild" or "moderate" level. No one child declared to suffer from severe pain. Also provoked pain resulted to be significantly decreased after treatment Global efficacy was judged positively, being the therapeutical effect in more than 80% of cases "evident or of absolute improvement" both by physicians and patients opinion. A positive improvement of symptomatology started within the 2nd day of treatment in 74% of the patients. The compliance (adhesivity, acceptability and palatability) of the formulation was judged largely favourable in more than 90% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study underline the good efficacy and compliance of the patch for the treatment of the aphtous stomatitis; also the limit of topical available therapies, linked to the "contact time", to develop their therapeutical action, seems not to be evinced on the basis of this study, so the application of this patch seems to be more easy and beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Andriani
- Servizio Medicina di Base, Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale Repubblica di S. Marino
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42
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Castelli S, Domenici R, Meossi C. [Syncopal pathology in childhood (II)]. Pediatr Med Chir 1997; 19:175-82. [PMID: 9290132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S Castelli
- U.O. Pediatria, Azienda U.S.L. 2, Ospedale di Lucca, Italia
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Castelli S, Domenici R, Meossi C. [Syncopal pathology in childhood (I)]. Pediatr Med Chir 1997; 19:165-73. [PMID: 9340606] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Syncope is a common phenomenon, well-known to all pediatricians: it is defined as a sudden transient loss of consciousness associated with inability to maintain postural tone that is incompatible with a seizure disorder, vertigo, dizziness, coma, shock or other states of altered consciousness. The purpose of this study are to analyse the multiple causes of syncope, to determine the characteristics of pediatric patients with syncope, to define the pathophysiologic mechanisms that result in neurally mediated syncope.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Castelli
- U.O. Pediatria, Azienda U.S.L. 2, Ospedale di Lucca, Italia
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44
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Rizzardi R, Castelli S, Porta C, Vitali F, Minerva M, Della Marta ME, Raimondi M. [Postpartum myoglobin blood monitoring in newborns. Correlations with renal function in the first 48 hours of life]. Minerva Anestesiol 1997; 63:127-31. [PMID: 9380286] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myoglobin is a muscular tissue protein, and it is a very early damage index. As the newborn "thin mass" is less than that of the adult and knowing the renal dynamics of this protein clearance, the authors have analyzed the correlation between myoglobinemia and transitory renal failure, which is frequently present in newborns with fetal distress. METHODS We examined a random population of 56 newborns (33 eutocic deliveries 14 caeserotomy, 9 various degrees of fetal distress) to which, after having had the parents' informed consent, the microsamples pattern was fixed at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours from birth at the same time of ordinary exams to gauge: myoglobin with nephelometric method, CPK, creatininemia, azotemia and transaminase. The same exams were camed out on the mother at the beginning of labor and after delivery. RESULTS We found that the placenta is not permeable to mother myoglobin, at the sixth hour from birth we have the highest value, while CPK is lower to increase, myoglobinemia associated with myoglobin variations. CONCLUSIONS Myoglobinemia might be monitored to prevent distressed newborns from transitory renal tubular defect, justifying forced diuresis and urinary alkalosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Rizzardi
- Servizio Anestesia e Rianimazione, USSL 58, Ospedale Uboldo, Cernusco SN, (Milano)
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45
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Rosina F, Alaria P, Castelli S, Dirindin N, Rocca G, Actis GC, Borelli R, Ciancio AL, De Bernardi W, Fornasiero S, Lavezzo B, Lagget M, Martinotti R, Marzano A, Ottobrelli A, Sostegni R, Rizzetto M, Verme G. Effect of patient characteristics on hospital costs for cirrhosis: implications for the disease-related group (DRG) reimbursement system. Ital J Gastroenterol 1996; 28:401-5. [PMID: 8937944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The Prospective Payment System uses Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) as a reimbursement system. DRG 202 is a disease-related group including liver cirrhosis as a whole. Patients referring to the inpatient unit complain of variable severity and complications of cirrhosis, possibly implying different expenditure of resources. Aim of the investigation was to identify factors affecting cost variability in patients with cirrhosis. A total of 73 consecutive, DRG 202-assigned, cirrhotic patients classified according to demographic and clinical variables were evaluated for length and costs of hospitalization calculated on a full-cost basis. Mean length of hospitalization was 10.2 +/- 7 days. Mean cost of hospitalization was Lit. 4.348.000 +/- 2.718.000. Medical, nursing, diagnostic, drug and general charges accounted for 13%, 29%, 37%, 5% and 16% of the cost, respectively. Child-Pugh score significantly correlated with drug consumption (p < 0.005), length (p < 0.01) and costs (p < 0.001) of hospitalization, but not with cost per day. Age, sex, admission status, referral reason, associated diseases and liver transplant susceptibility did not correlate with duration and costs of hospitalization. Disease severity significantly modifies costs of hospital admission in cirrhotic patients mostly on account of longer hospital stay. Surrogate indexes of disease severity, derived from ISTAT/DRG records, cannot identify patients consuming larger resources. In liver cirrhosis, the DRG system could be improved by introducing parameters, such as Child-Pugh score, directly taking into account disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Rosina
- Dipartimento Sperimentale di Gastroenterologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Le Molinette, Italy
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Armellini F, Scalfi L, Zamboni M, Castelli S, Mino A, Bosello O. Relationship between hydration of lean body mass and visceral adipose tissue. A clinical study of women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1996; 20:37-40. [PMID: 8788320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECT To study the relationship between hydration of lean body mass and adipose tissue location. DESIGN Cross-sectional, clinical study of visceral adipose tissue area and total body water as a percentage of lean body mass. PATIENTS Seventy-two adult, overweight, women, 52 pre- and 20 post-menopausal (age: 18-72 years, body mass index: 26-52). MEASUREMENTS Total body water was obtained by electrical impedance measurement; visceral adipose tissue and lean body mass were obtained by computed tomography measurement of visceral adipose tissue area at the level of the 4th-5th lumbar vertebra. RESULTS Visceral adipose tissue was found, by multiple regression analysis, to be the only predictor of the hydration of the lean body mass. The other independent variables: age, menopausal status, body mass index, glucose and insulin both fasting and after glucose load were not able to significantly improve the predictive power. CONCLUSION Results of this study confirm the existence of a relationship between visceral adipose tissue content and hydration of the lean body mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Armellini
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Italy
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47
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Montesanti M, Morgantini F, Landucci C, Rossi L, Biagi C, Castelli S. [Assessment of lead blood levels in children living in Lucca (Italy) in 1993. The study was conducted as part of the project METOS, in accordance with the decree 496 of June 1982 which adopted the directive CEE No.77/312]. Minerva Pediatr 1995; 47:119-25. [PMID: 7643809] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lead poisoning is a major cause of environmental concern in all countries worldwide. Saturnism in children, especially if young and neglected, represents a peculiar phenomenon both in terms of the biology of growing subjects and the epidemiological nature of poisoning. In under five-year-olds, in addition to lead levels in the atmosphere, it is equally important to evaluate the presence of contaminated dust in the house, hand-to-mouth activities and the level of care provided by parents. It has been demonstrated that, in the presence of equivalent environmental lead levels, dust removal from the house and prevention of hand-to-mouth activities can successfully reduce lead blood levels (PbB) in children. AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of chronic lead poisoning in children attending Local Health Unit 6 in Piana di Lucca and to assess the need for a possible health education campaign aimed at eliminating the specific pediatric risk for lead poisoning. MATERIALS AND METHODS Assay of lead blood levels in 172 children from 0 to 14 years old consecutively attending the Emergency Ward at Campo di Marte Hospital in Lucca for reasons not relating to lead poisoning. RESULTS Mean lead blood levels in children were 57.2 +/- 30.2 mg/l (mean 50 mg/l) without significant differences between the various age brackets (0-5, 6-10, 11-14 years old). Only one child presented pathological PbB levels (280 mg/l when first measured; 360 mg/l a few months later with normal values of erythrocytic Zn-protoporphyrin, 24-h urinary lead excretion and 24-h urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid). An epidemiological study is now being made of the causes. The general population within the same area presented mean PbB levels of 70.4 +/- 36.9 mg/l (mean 60 mg/l), measured in a total of 471 subjects (adults and children). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The PbB levels currently found in children resident in Lucca confirm a low-risk environmental situation. Preventive measures specifically aimed at children do not therefore appear to be justified at present.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Montesanti
- U.O. Pediatria, Regione Toscana, USL 6, Piana di Lucca
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Armellini F, Zamboni M, Castelli S, Micciolo R, Mino A, Turcato E, Rigo L, Bergamo-Andreis IA, Bosello O. Measured and predicted total and visceral adipose tissue in women. Correlations with metabolic parameters. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1994; 18:641-7. [PMID: 7812419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was the verification of the clinical utility of predictive equations for total and intra-abdominal adipose tissue areas. Formulas were calculated using computed tomography (CT) as the gold standard. Ninety-three females were randomly divided into two groups. The predictive equation group was used to calculate the predictive equations for computed tomography adipose tissue areas at the L4-L5 level. These equations were then used to predict total and intra-abdominal adipose tissue area in the validation group. Correlations were made between metabolic parameters and both measured and calculated areas and single predictors. The following measurements were carried out: age, weight/height ratio, body mass index, waist, hip, waist/hip ratio, ultrasound measurement of intra-abdominal distance between abdominal muscle and aorta, sagittal abdominal diameter by CT, adipose tissue intra-abdominal area by CT, total abdominal adipose tissue area by CT. Blood glucose and insulin both fasting and after glucose load. Fasting cholesterol and triglycerides. The best predictors of total and visceral adipose tissue areas were, respectively: weight/height ratio and ultrasound intra-abdominal measurement. Correlations between metabolic parameters and adipose tissue areas both as measured and as calculated by predictive equations were quite similar. Correlations between metabolic parameters and single best predictors of measured adipose tissue areas also gave the same results. Some simple and safe anthropometric measurements can be used, instead of total and visceral adipose tissue area as assessed by CT, when studying associations between adipose tissue and metabolic parameters on sufficiently large groups of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Armellini
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Policlinico, Verona, Italy
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Armellini F, Zamboni M, de Simone G, Micciolo R, Castelli S, Mino A, Todesco T, Bosello O. Body fat distribution and whole blood viscosity in a sample of Italian men and women. Am J Cardiol 1994; 74:200-2. [PMID: 8023795 DOI: 10.1016/0002-9149(94)90105-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- F Armellini
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Italy
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Abstract
Acute respiratory failure can be the product of any of a great number of muscular, neuromuscular, and neurologic causes. The family history may be extremely helpful in narrowing the differential diagnosis. We report the case of a girl who, during the course of a slight upper respiratory infection, presented with acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The family history was significant for a brother who had arthrogryposis and died at 15 h of life, also from respiratory failure. The patient herself had a history of palpebral ptosis in the evening. The absence of electromyographic and muscle biopsy abnormalities and the patient's positive response to anticholinesterase therapy supported the diagnosis of familial infantile myasthenia. We emphasize the importance of considering the myasthenic syndromes in the differential diagnosis of acute respiratory failure, since appropriate therapy can rapidly resolve the symptoms. Furthermore, an accurate diagnosis allows appropriate genetic counseling for the hereditary forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Zammarchi
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Florence, Italy
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