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Iafisco M, Varoni E, Battistella E, Pietronave S, Prat M, Roveri N, Rimondini L. The Cooperative Effect of Size and Crystallinity Degree on the Resorption of Biomimetic Hydroxyapatite for Soft Tissue Augmentation. Int J Artif Organs 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/039139881003301101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Two kinds of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals were studied as subcutaneous fillers in order to evaluate how their different degree of crystallinity and dimensions influence in vivo resorption. By appropriately adjusting the synthesis temperature, poorly crystalline HA (HApc) and highly crystalline HA (HAhc) were synthesized into clusters of needle-shaped crystals of about 50 nm and plate-shaped crystals of about 100 nm, respectively. The clusters of HApc had larger dimensions (30 μm) than those of HAhc (3 μm). Subcutaneous in vivo inoculations were performed in ten 6-month-old FVB female mice. HAhc underwent complete macroscopic resorption already 4 weeks after the implantation while HApc still showed agglomerates at the eighth week. This unexpected finding may be ascribed to the different size and morphology of the HAhc nanocrystals responsible for a lower aggregation and microcluster dimension than HApc nanocrystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iafisco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”
- Dipartimento di Chimica “G. Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Bologna - Italy
| | - Elena Varoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”
| | - Elisa Battistella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”
| | - Stefano Pietronave
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”
| | - Maria Prat
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”
| | - Norberto Roveri
- Dipartimento di Chimica “G. Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Bologna - Italy
| | - Lia Rimondini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”
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Oltolina F, Zamperone A, Colangelo D, Gregoletto L, Reano S, Pietronave S, Merlin S, Talmon M, Novelli E, Diena M, Nicoletti C, Musarò A, Filigheddu N, Follenzi A, Prat M. Correction: Human Cardiac Progenitor Spheroids Exhibit Enhanced Engraftment Potential. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141632. [PMID: 26495969 PMCID: PMC4619885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
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3
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Oltolina F, Zamperone A, Colangelo D, Gregoletto L, Reano S, Pietronave S, Merlin S, Talmon M, Novelli E, Diena M, Nicoletti C, Musarò A, Filigheddu N, Follenzi A, Prat M. Human Cardiac Progenitor Spheroids Exhibit Enhanced Engraftment Potential. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137999. [PMID: 26375957 PMCID: PMC4572703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137999] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A major obstacle to an effective myocardium stem cell therapy has always been the delivery and survival of implanted stem cells in the heart. Better engraftment can be achieved if cells are administered as cell aggregates, which maintain their extra-cellular matrix (ECM). We have generated spheroid aggregates in less than 24 h by seeding human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) onto methylcellulose hydrogel-coated microwells. Cells within spheroids maintained the expression of stemness/mesenchymal and ECM markers, growth factors and their cognate receptors, cardiac commitment factors, and metalloproteases, as detected by immunofluorescence, q-RT-PCR and immunoarray, and expressed a higher, but regulated, telomerase activity. Compared to cells in monolayers, 3D spheroids secreted also bFGF and showed MMP2 activity. When spheroids were seeded on culture plates, the cells quickly migrated, displaying an increased wound healing ability with or without pharmacological modulation, and reached confluence at a higher rate than cells from conventional monolayers. When spheroids were injected in the heart wall of healthy mice, some cells migrated from the spheroids, engrafted, and remained detectable for at least 1 week after transplantation, while, when the same amount of cells was injected as suspension, no cells were detectable three days after injection. Cells from spheroids displayed the same engraftment capability when they were injected in cardiotoxin-injured myocardium. Our study shows that spherical in vivo ready-to-implant scaffold-less aggregates of hCPCs able to engraft also in the hostile environment of an injured myocardium can be produced with an economic, easy and fast protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Oltolina
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Andrea Zamperone
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Donato Colangelo
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Luca Gregoletto
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Simone Reano
- Dept. Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Stefano Pietronave
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Simone Merlin
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Maria Talmon
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Eugenio Novelli
- Dept. of Cardiac Surgery, Clinica S. Gaudenzio, Novara, Italy
| | - Marco Diena
- Dept. of Cardiac Surgery, Clinica S. Gaudenzio, Novara, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Institute Pasteur Cenci-Bolognetti, DAHFMO, Roma, Italy
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, IIM, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Musarò
- Institute Pasteur Cenci-Bolognetti, DAHFMO, Roma, Italy
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, IIM, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Filigheddu
- Dept. Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Antonia Follenzi
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
- Centro di Biotecnologie per la Ricerca Medica Applicata (BRMA), Novara, Italy
| | - Maria Prat
- Dept. Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
- Centro di Biotecnologie per la Ricerca Medica Applicata (BRMA), Novara, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Zamperone A, Pietronave S, Colangelo D, Antonini S, Locatelli M, Travaglia F, Coïsson JD, Arlorio M, Prat M. Protective effects of clovamide against H2O2-induced stress in rat cardiomyoblasts H9c2 cell line. Food Funct 2014; 5:2542-51. [PMID: 25133994 DOI: 10.1039/c4fo00195h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Cocoa contains phenolic compounds with known antioxidant and antiradical properties beneficial in different pathologies, including cardiovascular diseases. Herein, we have evaluated the protective effects of clovamide, a minor cocoa component, against oxidative stress induced in the rat cardiomyoblast cell line, also comparing it to its bio-isosteric form, rosmarinic acid, and to the main monomeric flavan-3-ol from low-molecular-weight polyphenol in cocoa, i.e. epicatechin. At nano-micro-molar concentrations, the three compounds inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis, evaluated under different aspects, namely, annexin V positivity, DNA fragmentation, caspase release and activation. These molecules can, thus, be considered for their bioactive beneficial activity in the context of cardiovascular pathologies and, particularly, in the protection towards oxidative stress that follows ischemic injury. Clovamide may, thus, be the primary compound for the development of innovative nutraceutical strategies towards cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Zamperone
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", Novara, Italy.
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Pavesi A, Soncini M, Zamperone A, Pietronave S, Medico E, Redaelli A, Prat M, Fiore GB. Electrical conditioning of adipose-derived stem cells in a multi-chamber culture platform. Biotechnol Bioeng 2014; 111:1452-63. [PMID: 24473977 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In tissue engineering, several factors play key roles in providing adequate stimuli for cells differentiation, in particular biochemical and physical stimuli, which try to mimic the physiological microenvironments. Since electrical stimuli are important in the developing heart, we have developed an easy-to-use, cost-effective cell culture platform, able to provide controlled electrical stimulation aimed at investigating the influence of the electric field in the stem cell differentiation process. This bioreactor consists of an electrical stimulator and 12 independent, petri-like culture chambers and a 3-D computational model was used to characterize the distribution and the intensity of the electric field generated in the cell culture volume. We explored the effects of monophasic and biphasic square wave pulse stimulation on a mouse adipose-derived stem cell line (m17.ASC) comparing cell viability, proliferation, protein, and gene expression. Both monophasic (8 V, 2 ms, 1 Hz) and biphasic (+4 V, 1 ms and -4 V, 1 ms; 1 Hz) stimulation were compatible with cell survival and proliferation. Biphasic stimulation induced the expression of Connexin 43, which was found to localize also at the cell membrane, which is its recognized functional mediating intercellular electrical coupling. Electrically stimulated cells showed an induced transcriptional profile more closely related to that of neonatal cadiomyocytes, particularly for biphasic stimulation. The developed platform thus allowed to set-up precise conditions to drive adult stem cells toward a myocardial phenotype solely by physical stimuli, in the absence of exogenously added expensive bioactive molecules, and can thus represent a valuable tool for translational applications for heart tissue engineering and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pavesi
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy.
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Pietronave S, Zamperone A, Oltolina F, Colangelo D, Follenzi A, Novelli E, Diena M, Pavesi A, Consolo F, Fiore GB, Soncini M, Prat M. Monophasic and biphasic electrical stimulation induces a precardiac differentiation in progenitor cells isolated from human heart. Stem Cells Dev 2014; 23:888-98. [PMID: 24328510 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2013.0375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation (ES) of cells has been shown to induce a variety of responses, such as cytoskeleton rearrangements, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, we have investigated whether monophasic and biphasic pulsed ES could exert any effect on the proliferation and differentiation of human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) isolated from human heart fragments. Cells were cultured under continuous exposure to monophasic or biphasic ES with fixed cycles for 1 or 3 days. Results indicate that neither stimulation protocol affected cell viability, while the cell shape became more elongated and reoriented more perpendicular to the electric field direction. Moreover, the biphasic ES clearly induced the upregulation of early cardiac transcription factors, MEF2D, GATA-4, and Nkx2.5, as well as the de novo expression of the late cardiac sarcomeric proteins, troponin T, cardiac alpha actinin, and SERCA 2a. Both treatments increased the expression of connexin 43 and its relocation to the cell membrane, but biphasic ES was faster and more effective. Finally, when hCPCs were exposed to both monophasic and biphasic ES, they expressed de novo the mRNA of the voltage-dependent calcium channel Cav 3.1(α1G) subunit, which is peculiar of the developing heart. Taken together, these results show that ES alone is able to set the conditions for early differentiation of adult hCPCs toward a cardiac phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Pietronave
- 1 Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro ," Novara, Italy
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Zamperone A, Pietronave S, Merlin S, Colangelo D, Ranaldo G, Medico E, Di Scipio F, Berta GN, Follenzi A, Prat M. Isolation and characterization of a spontaneously immortalized multipotent mesenchymal cell line derived from mouse subcutaneous adipose tissue. Stem Cells Dev 2013; 22:2873-84. [PMID: 23777308 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2012.0718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is a multidisciplinary science that is based on the combination of a reliable source of stem cells, biomaterial scaffolds, and cytokine growth factors. Adult mesenchymal stem cells are considered important cells for applications in this field, and adipose tissue has revealed to be an excellent source of them. Indeed, adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can be easily isolated from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue. During the isolation and propagation of murine ASCs, we observed the appearance of a spontaneously immortalized cell clone, named m17.ASC. This clone has been propagated for more than 180 passages and stably expresses a variety of stemness markers, such as Sca-1, c-kit/CD117, CD44, CD106, islet-1, nestin, and nucleostemin. Furthermore, these cells can be induced to differentiate toward osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, and cardiogenic phenotypes. m17.ASC clone displays a normal karyotype and stable telomeres; it neither proliferates when plated in soft agar nor gives rise to tumors when injected subcutaneously in NOD/SCID-γ (null) mice. The analysis of gene expression highlighted transcriptional traits of SVF cells. m17.ASCs were genetically modified by lentiviral vectors carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker transgene and efficiently engrafted in the liver, when injected in the spleen of NOD/SCID-γ (null) monocrotaline-treated mice. These results suggest that this non-tumorigenic spontaneously immortalized ASC line may represent a useful tool (cell model) for studying the differentiation mechanisms involved in tissue repair as well as a model for pharmacological/toxicological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Zamperone
- 1 Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università del Piemonte Orientale , Novara, Italy
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Cappellano G, Uberti F, Caimmi PP, Pietronave S, Mary DASG, Dianzani C, Micalizzi E, Melensi M, Boldorini R, Nicosia G, Crosio E, Chiocchetti A, Aina F, Prat M, Dianzani U, Vacca G, Ariatti C, Grossini E. Different expression and function of the endocannabinoid system in human epicardial adipose tissue in relation to heart disease. Can J Cardiol 2012; 29:499-509. [PMID: 22926037 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2012.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 04/03/2012] [Revised: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 06/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The endocannabinoid system reportedly plays a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. This system is expressed also in adipose tissue, which could thus be involved in cardiac disorders through modulation of metabolically triggered inflammation. The current study aims to determine the relevance of the endocannabinoid system in epicardial adipose tissue in heart disease. METHODS Expression of the endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, and of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme, fatty acid amidohydrolase, and activation of protein kinase A (PKA), phospholipase C (PLC), protein kinase C (PKC), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible (i)NOS, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) (a member of the reperfusion-injury salvage kinase pathway), were analyzed by Western blot in patients after coronary artery bypass surgery (ischemics; N = 18) or valve surgery (nonischemics; N = 15) and in preadipocytes isolated from epicardial adipose tissue. RESULTS In ischemics, the CB1-to-CB2 expression ratio shifted toward CB1 and was accompanied by higher PKA activation. In contrast, in nonischemics, CB2, fatty acid amidohydrolase, PLC and PKC, and ERK1/2 were upregulated. Moreover, NO production and iNOS-to-eNOS ratios were higher in preadipocytes from ischemics. CONCLUSIONS These results show a different modulation and functioning of the endocannabinoid system in ischemics compared with nonischemics. Hence, while CB2, PLC and PKC, ERK1/2, and eNOS are more strongly expressed in patients without ischemic heart disease, high CB1 and PKA expression is associated with low survival intracellular pathway activation and high iNOS activation in ischemic heart disease patients. The changes in the endocannabinoid system in ischemics may contribute to cardiac dysfunction and therefore represents a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cappellano
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
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Forte G, Pietronave S, Nardone G, Zamperone A, Magnani E, Pagliari S, Pagliari F, Giacinti C, Nicoletti C, Musaró A, Rinaldi M, Ribezzo M, Comoglio C, Traversa E, Okano T, Minieri M, Prat M, Di Nardo P. Human cardiac progenitor cell grafts as unrestricted source of supernumerary cardiac cells in healthy murine hearts. Stem Cells 2012; 29:2051-61. [PMID: 22009661 DOI: 10.1002/stem.763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Human heart harbors a population of resident progenitor cells that can be isolated by stem cell antigen-1 antibody and expanded in culture. These cells can differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro and contribute to cardiac regeneration in vivo. However, when directly injected as single cell suspension, less than 1%-5% survive and differentiate. Among the major causes of this failure are the distressing protocols used to culture in vitro and implant progenitor cells into damaged hearts. Human cardiac progenitors obtained from the auricles of patients were cultured as scaffoldless engineered tissues fabricated using temperature-responsive surfaces. In the engineered tissue, progenitor cells established proper three-dimensional intercellular relationships and were embedded in self-produced extracellular matrix preserving their phenotype and multipotency in the absence of significant apoptosis. After engineered tissues were leant on visceral pericardium, a number of cells migrated into the murine myocardium and in the vascular walls, where they integrated in the respective textures. The study demonstrates the suitability of such an approach to deliver stem cells to the myocardium. Interestingly, the successful delivery of cells in murine healthy hearts suggests that myocardium displays a continued cell cupidity that is strictly regulated by the limited release of progenitor cells by the adopted source. When an unregulated cell source is added to the system, cells are delivered to the myocardium. The exploitation of this novel concept may pave the way to the setup of new protocols in cardiac cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Forte
- Laboratorio di Cardiologia Molecolare e Cellulare, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
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Abstract
Direct reprogramming of somatic cells into pluripotent cells is an emerging technology for creating patient-specific cells, and potentially opens new scenarios in medical and pharmacological fields. From the discovery of Shinya Yamanaka, who first obtained pluripotent cells from fibroblasts by retrovirus-derived ectopic expression of defined embryonic transcription factors, new methods have been developed to generate safe induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells without genomic manipulations. This review will focus on the recent advances in iPS technology and their application in pharmacology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Pietronave
- Laboratory of Histology, Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Maria Prat
- Laboratory of Histology, Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Centro di Biotecnologie per la Ricerca Medica Applicata (BRMA), Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
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Iafisco M, Varoni E, Di Foggia M, Pietronave S, Fini M, Roveri N, Rimondini L, Prat M. Conjugation of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals with human immunoglobulin G for nanomedical applications. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2012; 90:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2011.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2011] [Revised: 07/29/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Baldanzi G, Pietronave S, Locarno D, Merlin S, Porporato P, Chianale F, Filigheddu N, Cantelmo AR, Albini A, Graziani A, Prat M. Diacylglycerol kinases are essential for hepatocyte growth factor-dependent proliferation and motility of Kaposi's sarcoma cells. Cancer Sci 2011; 102:1329-36. [PMID: 21477072 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2011.01953.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is involved in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the most frequent neoplasia in patients with AIDS, characterized by proliferating spindle cells, infiltrating inflammatory cells, angiogenesis, edema, and invasiveness. In vitro, this factor sustains the biological behavior of KS derived cells, after activation of its receptor and the downstream MAPK and AKT signals. In other cell types, namely endothelial and epithelial cells, movement, proliferation, and survival stimulated by HGF and other growth factors and cytokines depend on diacylglycerol kinases (DGK). In an effort to identify new intracellular transducers operative in KS cells, which could represent therapeutic targets, we investigated the role of DGK in KS cell movement and proliferation by treating cells with the DGK pharmacological inhibitor R59949. We report that R59949 strongly inhibits HGF-induced KS motility, proliferation, and anchorage-independent growth with only a partial effect on cell adhesion and spreading. R59949 does not affect cell survival, HGF receptor activation, or the classical MAPK and AKT signalling pathways. Furthermore, we carried out an siRNA screen to characterize the DGK isoforms involved in KS motility and anchorage independent growth. Our data indicate a strong involvement of DGK-δ in KS motility and of DGK-ι in anchorage-independent growth. These results indicate that DGK inhibition is sufficient to impair in vitro KS cell proliferation and movement and suggest that selected DGK represent new pharmacological targets to interfere with the malignant properties of KS, independently from the well-known RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Baldanzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro, Novara IRCCS Multimedica, Milan, Italy
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Pagliari S, Vilela-Silva AC, Forte G, Pagliari F, Mandoli C, Vozzi G, Pietronave S, Prat M, Licoccia S, Ahluwalia A, Traversa E, Minieri M, Di Nardo P. Cooperation of biological and mechanical signals in cardiac progenitor cell differentiation. Adv Mater 2011; 23:514-8. [PMID: 21254254 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201003479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Pagliari
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Italy
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Iafisco M, Varoni E, Battistella E, Pietronave S, Prat M, Roveri N, Rimondini L. The cooperative effect of size and crystallinity degree on the resorption of biomimetic hydroxyapatite for soft tissue augmentation. Int J Artif Organs 2010; 33:765-774. [PMID: 21140352] [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] [Accepted: 10/11/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Two kinds of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals were studied as subcutaneous fillers in order to evaluate how their different degree of crystallinity and dimensions influence in vivo resorption. By appropriately adjusting the synthesis temperature, poorly crystalline HA (HApc) and highly crystalline HA (HAhc) were synthesized into clusters of needle-shaped crystals of about 50 nm and plate-shaped crystals of about 100 nm, respectively. The clusters of HApc had larger dimensions (30 µm) than those of HAhc (3 µm). Subcutaneous in vivo inoculations were performed in ten 6-month-old FVB female mice. HAhc underwent complete macroscopic resorption already 4 weeks after the implantation while HApc still showed agglomerates at the eighth week. This unexpected finding may be ascribed to the different size and morphology of the HAhc nanocrystals responsible for a lower aggregation and microcluster dimension than HApc nanocrystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iafisco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università del Piemonte Orientale A. Avogadro, Bologna, Italy
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Pietronave S, Forte G, Locarno D, Merlin S, Zamperone A, Nicotra G, Isidoro C, Nardo PD, Prat M. Agonist monoclonal antibodies against HGF receptor protect cardiac muscle cells from apoptosis. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2010; 298:H1155-65. [PMID: 20061536 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.01323.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a pleiotropic cytokine with mitogenic, motogenic, morphogenic, and antiapoptotic effects in various cell types, is a cardioprotective growth factor that can counteract the loss of cardiomyocytes usually observed in cardiac diseases. HGF is a quite unstable molecule in its biologically active heterodimeric form. Since all HGF-induced biological responses are mediated by its high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptor (Met/HGF-R) encoded by the Met gene, we asked whether a monoclonal antibody (MAb) that displays receptor full agonist activity could protect cardiac muscle cell lines from hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis. We report that the MAb efficiently inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced cell shrinkage, DNA fragmentation, annexin V positivity, mitochondrial translocation of bax, and caspase activation. The MAb was thus able to counteract apoptosis evaluated by both morphological and biochemical criteria. The agonist activity of the MAb was mediated by Met/HGF-R, since a Met/HGF-R-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) inhibited both activation of transduction pathways and motility triggered by MAb DO-24. The protective antiapoptotic effect of MAb DO-24 was dependent on activation of the ras-MAPK Erk1/2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)-Akt transduction pathways, since it was abrogated by treatments with their specific pharmacological inhibitors, PD-98059 and wortmannin. Moreover, the MAb induced a motogenic, but not mitogenic, response in these cells, mimicking in all aspects the natural ligand HGF but displaying a significant higher stability than HGF in culture. This MAb may thus be a valuable substitute for HGF, being more easily available in a biologically active, highly stable, and purified form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Pietronave
- Dept. of Medical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro," Novara, Italy
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Pietronave S, Iafisco M, Locarno D, Rimondini L, Maria Prat M. Functionalized nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy of cancer. J Appl Biomater Biomech 2009; 7:77-89. [PMID: 20799167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in nanotechnology have provided new tools for both cancer imaging and treatment. The functionalization of the nanocarrier based drugs using biological ligands allows increasing specificity of drug targeting enhancing efficacy and reducing side effects. In this paper some current nanocarrier based drugs are described and the principles for their functionalization in cancer treatment and imaging are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Pietronave
- Department of Medical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", Novara - Italy
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Merlin S, Pietronave S, Locarno D, Valente G, Follenzi A, Prat M. Deletion of the ectodomain unleashes the transforming, invasive, and tumorigenic potential of the MET oncogene. Cancer Sci 2009; 100:633-8. [PMID: 19175607 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2008.01079.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The c-MET proto-oncogene, encoding the p190 hepatocyte growth factor tyrosine kinase receptor, can acquire oncogenic potential by multiple mechanisms, such as gene rearrangement, amplification and overexpression, point mutation, and ectopic expression, all resulting in its constitutive activation. Hepatocyte growth factor receptor truncated forms are generated by post-translational cleavage: p140 and p130 lack the kinase domain and are inactive. Their C-terminal remnant fragments are generally undetectable in normal cells, but a membrane-associated truncated form is recognized by anti-C-terminus antibodies in some human tumors, suggesting that a hepatocyte growth factor receptor lacking the ectodomain, but retaining the transmembrane and intracellular domains (Met-EC-), could acquire oncogenic properties. Herein we show that NIH-3T3 cells transduced with MET-EC- expressed a membrane-associated constitutively tyrosine-phosphorylated 60-kDa protein and, similarly to NIH-3T3 cells expressing the cytosolic oncoprotein Tpr-Met, showed activated extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt downstream transducers. Compared to control NIH-3T3 cells, NIH-3T3-Met-EC- cells grew faster and showed anchorage-independent growth and invasive properties in all aspects similar to cells expressing the transforming TPR-MET. Nude female mice injected subcutaneously with NIH-3T3-Met-EC- cells developed visible tumors, displaying the typical morphology of carcinomas with polygonal cells, in contrast to sarcomas with spindle-shaped cells induced by the injection of NIH-3T3-Tpr-Met cells. It is suggested that the different subcellular localization of the oncoproteins, more than differences in signal transduction, could be responsible for the tumor phenotype. All together, these data show that deletion of the ectodomain activates the hepatocyte growth factor receptor and its downstream signaling pathways, unleashing its transforming, invasive, and tumorigenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Merlin
- Laboratory of Histology, Department of Medical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale A. Avogardro, Novara, Italy
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Fracchia L, Pietronave S, Rinaldi M, Giovanna Martinotti M. Site-related airborne biological hazard and seasonal variations in two wastewater treatment plants. Water Res 2006; 40:1985-94. [PMID: 16678881 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2006.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2005] [Revised: 02/20/2006] [Accepted: 03/17/2006] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Results of a study conducted to assess the degree of airborne bacterial contamination generated by two wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) with different treatment systems and evaluate the dispersion of potential pathogens, have been described. Aerosols samples were collected in summer and winter with an agar impact sampler from several plant sites. External upwind and downwind controls were also examined. Total colony-forming counts of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, actinomycetes and streptomycetes, Gram-negatives, coliforms and sulfite-reducers were determined. Selective media were used in order to detect pathogenic bacteria. The lowest concentrations of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria were 8 and 28 CFU/m(3) in plants A and B respectively, the highest >40,000 CFU/m(3) in both plants. Strains of Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. were isolated in some sites of the two plants. Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica and Legionella spp. were never detected. The activities involving nebulization and mechanical aeration of wastewaters and the sewage inflows have proved to be of greatest potential risk. In both plants, we found a statistically significant dependence of bacterial contamination on the season for many of the analyzed parameters but a clear seasonal trend could not be observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Fracchia
- Department of Chemical, Food, Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, DiSCAFF, University of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro, Via Bovio 6, 28100 Novara, Italy.
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Fracchia L, Pietronave S, Rinaldi M, Martinotti MG. The assessment of airborne bacterial contamination in three composting plants revealed site-related biological hazard and seasonal variations. J Appl Microbiol 2006; 100:973-84. [PMID: 16629998 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.02846.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [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: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of bacterial contamination generated by three Italian composting plants (1, 2 and 3) in two different seasons and to assess the health risk for the employees. METHODS AND RESULTS Aerosols samples were collected with an agar impact sampler. Several plant sites and external upwind and downwind controls were examined. Total colony-forming counts of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, actinomycetes and streptomycetes, Gram-negatives, coliforms and sulfite-reducers were determined. Selective media were used in order to isolate pathogenic bacteria. The levels of total mesophilic and thermophilic micro-organisms ranged between 33 and >40,000 CFU m(-3) in plant 1, 39 and 18,700 CFU m(-3) in plant 2 and 261 and 6278 CFU m(-3) in plant 3. Strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens were also found. CONCLUSIONS The plants monitored in this study have proved to be sources of aerosolized bacteria. The activities involving mechanical movement of the composting mass and the indoor activities were of greatest potential risk. In all the studied plants, a statistically significant dependence was found between the bacterial contamination and the season for some or almost all the analysed parameters, but a clear seasonal trend could not be observed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This study provides broad evidence of bacterial aerosol dispersion and site-related biological hazards that may be useful to the regional government to implement regulations on worker safety in composting plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Fracchia
- Department of Chemical, Food, Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences (DiSCAFF), University of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro, Novara, Italy.
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Pietronave S, Fracchia L, Rinaldi M, Martinotti MG. Influence of biotic and abiotic factors on human pathogens in a finished compost. Water Res 2004; 38:1963-70. [PMID: 15087177 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2004.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2002] [Revised: 01/05/2004] [Accepted: 01/27/2004] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The role of indigenous microflora of a finished compost, defined NK12, on the growth suppression of pathogens under different moisture and temperature storages was investigated. Total count of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria was evaluated by the most probable number method and growth of seeded Salmonella arizonae 3924 serogroup B and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 84 M in NK12 at different moisture temperature conditions was monitored. Results on sterile and non-sterile NK12 were compared. In all tested experimental conditions, the NK12 indigenous microflora was stable and biologically active. S. arizonae 3924 and E. coli 84 M grew rapidly in sterilized NK12 at different moistures and storage temperatures, and their growth was suppressed in non-sterilized NK12. Pathogens inactivation was lower when compost was stored at 40% and 80% humidity and at 37 degrees C. Our results show that the major role in the pathogens suppression was played by the indigenous microflora of the finished compost, although physical factors too influenced the growth phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pietronave
- Department of Chemical, University of Eastern Piedmont, A. Avogadro, Via Bovio 6, Novara 28100, Italy
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