Increased expression or activation of TRPML1 reduces hepatic storage of toxic Z alpha-1 antitrypsin

Mutant Z alpha-1 antitrypsin (ATZ) accumulates in globules in the liver and is the prototype of proteotoxic hepatic disease. Therapeutic strategies aiming at clearance of polymeric ATZ are needed. Transient receptor potential mucolipin-1 (TRPML1) is a lysosomal Ca2+ channel that maintains lysosomal homeostasis. In this study, we show that by increasing lysosomal exocytosis, TRPML1 gene transfer or small-molecule-mediated activation of TRPML1 reduces hepatic ATZ globules and fibrosis in PiZ transgenic mice that express the human ATZ. ATZ globule clearance induced by TRPML1 occurred without increase in autophagy or nuclear translocation of TFEB. Our results show that targeting TRPML1 and lysosomal exocytosis is a novel approach for treatment of the liver disease due to ATZ and potentially other diseases due to proteotoxic liver storage.

Improved SARS-CoV-2 sequencing surveillance allows the identification of new variants and signatures in infected patients

Background

Genomic surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the only approach to rapidly monitor and tackle emerging variants of concern (VOC) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such scrutiny is crucial to limit the spread of VOC that might escape the immune protection conferred by vaccination strategies or previous virus exposure. It is also becoming clear now that efficient genomic surveillance would require monitoring of the host gene expression to identify prognostic biomarkers of treatment efficacy and disease progression. Here we propose an integrative workflow to both generate thousands of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences per week and analyze host gene expression upon infection.

Methods

In this study we applied an integrated workflow for RNA extracted from nasal swabs to obtain in parallel the full genome of SARS-CoV-2 and transcriptome of host respiratory epithelium. The RNA extracted from each sample was reverse transcribed and the viral genome was specifically enriched through an amplicon-based approach. The very same RNA was then used for patient transcriptome analysis. Samples were collected in the Campania region, Italy, for viral genome sequencing. Patient transcriptome analysis was performed on about 700 samples divided into two cohorts of patients, depending on the viral variant detected (B.1 or delta).

Results

We sequenced over 20,000 viral genomes since the beginning of the pandemic, producing the highest number of sequences in Italy. We thus reconstructed the pandemic dynamics in the regional territory from March 2020 to December 2021. In addition, we have matured and applied novel proof-of-principle approaches to prioritize possible gain-of-function mutations by leveraging patients’ metadata and isolated patient-specific signatures of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This allowed us to (i) identify three new viral variants that specifically originated in the Campania region, (ii) map SARS-CoV-2 intrahost variability during long-term infections and in one case identify an increase in the number of mutations in the viral genome, and (iii) identify host gene expression signatures correlated with viral load in upper respiratory ways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have successfully generated an optimized and cost-effective strategy to monitor SARS-CoV-2 genetic variability, without the need of automation. Thus, our approach is suitable for any lab with a benchtop sequencer and a limited budget, allowing an integrated genomic surveillance on premises. Finally, we have also identified a gene expression signature defining SARS-CoV-2 infection in real-world patients’ upper respiratory ways.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13073-022-01098-8.

Automatic synchronisation of the cell cycle in budding yeast through closed-loop feedback control

The cell cycle is the process by which eukaryotic cells replicate. Yeast cells cycle asynchronously with each cell in the population budding at a different time. Although there are several experimental approaches to synchronise cells, these usually work only in the short-term. Here, we build a cyber-genetic system to achieve long-term synchronisation of the cell population, by interfacing genetically modified yeast cells with a computer by means of microfluidics to dynamically change medium, and a microscope to estimate cell cycle phases of individual cells. The computer implements a controller algorithm to decide when, and for how long, to change the growth medium to synchronise the cell-cycle across the population. Our work builds upon solid theoretical foundations provided by Control Engineering. In addition to providing an avenue for yeast cell cycle synchronisation, our work shows that control engineering can be used to automatically steer complex biological processes towards desired behaviours similarly to what is currently done with robots and autonomous vehicles.

Lysosomal dysfunction disrupts presynaptic maintenance and restoration of presynaptic function prevents neurodegeneration in lysosomal storage diseases

Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are inherited diseases characterized by lysosomal dysfunction and often showing a neurodegenerative course. There is no cure to treat the central nervous system in LSDs. Moreover, the mechanisms driving neuronal degeneration in these pathological conditions remain largely unknown. By studying mouse models of LSDs, we found that neurodegeneration develops progressively with profound alterations in presynaptic structure and function. In these models, impaired lysosomal activity causes massive perikaryal accumulation of insoluble α‐synuclein and increased proteasomal degradation of cysteine string protein α (CSPα). As a result, the availability of both α‐synuclein and CSPα at nerve terminals strongly decreases, thus inhibiting soluble NSF attachment receptor (SNARE) complex assembly and synaptic vesicle recycling. Aberrant presynaptic SNARE phenotype is recapitulated in mice with genetic ablation of one allele of both CSPα and α‐synuclein. The overexpression of CSPα in the brain of a mouse model of mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA, a severe form of LSD, efficiently re‐established SNARE complex assembly, thereby ameliorating presynaptic function, attenuating neurodegenerative signs, and prolonging survival. Our data show that neurodegenerative processes associated with lysosomal dysfunction may be presynaptically initiated by a concomitant reduction in α‐synuclein and CSPα levels at nerve terminals. They also demonstrate that neurodegeneration in LSDs can be slowed down by re‐establishing presynaptic functions, thus identifying synapse maintenance as a novel potentially druggable target for brain treatment in LSDs.

Activation of 5-HT7 receptor stimulates neurite elongation through mTOR, Cdc42 and actin filaments dynamics

Recent studies have indicated that the serotonin receptor subtype 7 (5-HT7R) plays a crucial role in shaping neuronal morphology during embryonic and early postnatal life. Here we show that pharmacological stimulation of 5-HT7R using a highly selective agonist, LP-211, enhances neurite outgrowth in neuronal primary cultures from the cortex, hippocampus and striatal complex of embryonic mouse brain, through multiple signal transduction pathways. All these signaling systems, involving mTOR, the Rho GTPase Cdc42, Cdk5, and ERK, are known to converge on the reorganization of cytoskeletal proteins that subserve neurite outgrowth. Indeed, our data indicate that neurite elongation stimulated by 5-HT7R is modulated by drugs affecting actin polymerization. In addition, we show, by 2D Western blot analyses, that treatment of neuronal cultures with LP-211 alters the expression profile of cofilin, an actin binding protein involved in microfilaments dynamics. Furthermore, by using microfluidic chambers that physically separate axons from the soma and dendrites, we demonstrate that agonist-dependent activation of 5-HT7R stimulates axonal elongation. Our results identify for the first time several signal transduction pathways, activated by stimulation of 5-HT7R, that converge to promote cytoskeleton reorganization and consequent modulation of axonal elongation. Therefore, the activation of 5-HT7R might represent one of the key elements regulating CNS connectivity and plasticity during development.

Partial remission of refractory RA after adacolumn cytapheresis: a case report

We report on a female case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with hepatitis C virus comorbidity. The patient was treated once weekly over ten consecutive weeks with Adacolumn device. Clinical assessment and HCV-RNA concentration were monitored at weeks-1, 4, 9, 14 and during follow-up over 6 months. At the end of the treatment: the number of tender and swollen joints, patient's global assessment of disease activity (VAS), physician's VAS, C-reactive protein (CRP) decreased, respectively; ACR response was >20. This improvement was maintained for over 2 months. At week 38, the patient was re-treated achieving again an ACR response >20.

Cytokine patterns in fibromyalgia and their correlation with clinical manifestations

OBJECTIVE

To examine the possible role of the soluble factor in fibromyalgia (FM) by studying the correlation of cytokine levels with the patients' clinical and psychiatric profile.

METHODS

Eighty FM patients underwent clinical and psychiatric evaluations, and plasma levels of cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha), aspecific markers of inflammation, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibodies, and anti-nuclear factor (FAN) were measured.

RESULTS

Higher levels of IL-10, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were found in FM patients than in controls. Significant correlations between the biochemical parameters and clinical data were found.

CONCLUSION

The higher levels of cytokines found in FM patients suggest the presence of an inflammatory response system (IRS) and highlight a parallel between the clinical symptoms and biochemical data. They support the hypothesis that cytokines may play a role in the clinical features of fibromyalgia. In addition, the similar cytokine patterns found in FM patients with different psychiatric profiles suggests that IRS impairment may play a specific role in the disease.

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors on platelets of fibromyalgic patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to analyze if alterations of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) characteristics occurred in platelet membranes of patients affected by primary fibromyalgia (FM).

DESIGN AND METHODS

Platelets were obtained from 30 patients with FM. Evaluation of kinetic parameters of PBR was performed using [(3)H] PK11195 as specific radioligand compared with 16 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant increase of PBR binding sites value in platelet membranes from FM patients (B(max) was 5366+/-188 fmol/mg vs. controls, 4193+/-341 fmol/mg, mean+/-SEM) (**p<0.01) but not for affinity value (K(d) was 4.90+/-0.39 nM vs. controls, 4.74+/-0.39 nM, mean+/-SEM) (p>0.05). Symptom severity scores (pain and tiredness) were positively correlated with B(max).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed an up-regulation of PBR in platelets of FM patients, and this seems to be related to the severity of fibromyalgic symptoms.

On sending artifact in search of artifact: reply to Mcdonald, Harris, and Maher

Two studies are reported that show the McDonald, Harris, and Maher critique of our earlier experiment to be mistaken. In the first study, arousal-induced attention to self was demonstrated in a field setting devoid of any of the artifactual covariates of arousal induction suggested by these researchers. In the second study, a replication of the McDonald et al. experiment was conducted in which a crucial manipulation check that they failed to make was included. This check on the unusualness and embarrassment-producing properties of the manipulations revealed that their study was burdened by the very artifact they claimed might exist in ours. Although their slow-running manipulation was superficially similar to our fast-running manipulation, slow running created self-focus through unusualness and embarrassment, whereas fast running led to self-focus via arousal.

On sending artifact in search of artifact: reply to Mcdonald, Harris, and Maher

Two studies are reported that show the McDonald, Harris, and Maher critique of our earlier experiment to be mistaken. In the first study, arousal-induced attention to self was demonstrated in a field setting devoid of any of the artifactual covariates of arousal induction suggested by these researchers. In the second study, a replication of the McDonald et al. experiment was conducted in which a crucial manipulation check that they failed to make was included. This check on the unusualness and embarrassment-producing properties of the manipulations revealed that their study was burdened by the very artifact they claimed might exist in ours. Although their slow-running manipulation was superficially similar to our fast-running manipulation, slow running created self-focus through unusualness and embarrassment, whereas fast running led to self-focus via arousal.