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Grassilli E, Pisano F, Cialdella A, Bonomo S, Missaglia C, Cerrito MG, Masiero L, Ianzano L, Giordano F, Cicirelli V, Narloch R, D'Amato F, Noli B, Ferri GL, Leone BE, Stanta G, Bonin S, Helin K, Giovannoni R, Lavitrano M. Correction: A novel oncogenic BTK isoform is overexpressed in colon cancers and required for RAS-mediated transformation. Oncogene 2024:10.1038/s41388-024-03037-w. [PMID: 38637670 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03037-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- E Grassilli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
- BiOnSil srl, Monza, Italy.
| | - F Pisano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- BiOnSil srl, Monza, Italy
| | - A Cialdella
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- BiOnSil srl, Monza, Italy
| | - S Bonomo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - C Missaglia
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - M G Cerrito
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - L Masiero
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - L Ianzano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - F Giordano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - V Cicirelli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - R Narloch
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - F D'Amato
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - B Noli
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - G L Ferri
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - B E Leone
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - G Stanta
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy
| | - S Bonin
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy
| | - K Helin
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Epigenetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Stem Cell Center (Danstem), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - M Lavitrano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
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Costagli S, Abenaim L, Rosini G, Conti B, Giovannoni R. De Novo Genome Assembly at Chromosome-Scale of Hermetia illucens (Diptera Stratiomyidae) via PacBio and Omni-C Proximity Ligation Technology. Insects 2024; 15:133. [PMID: 38392552 PMCID: PMC10889594 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Hermetia illucens is a species of great interest for numerous industrial applications. A high-quality reference genome is already available for H. illucens. However, the worldwide maintenance of numerous captive populations of H. illucens, each with its own genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, made it of interest to perform a de novo genome assembly on one population of H. illucens to define a chromosome-scale genome assembly. By combining the PacBio and the Omni-C proximity ligation technologies, a new H. illucens chromosome-scale genome of 888.59 Mb, with a scaffold N50 value of 162.19 Mb, was assembled. The final chromosome-scale assembly obtained a BUSCO completeness of 89.1%. By exploiting the Omni-C proximity ligation technology, topologically associated domains and other topological features that play a key role in the regulation of gene expression were identified. Further, 65.62% of genomic sequences were masked as repeated sequences, and 32,516 genes were annotated using the MAKER pipeline. The H. illucens Lsp-2 genes that were annotated were further characterized, and the three-dimensional organization of the encoded proteins was predicted. A new chromosome-scale genome assembly of good quality for H. illucens was assembled, and the genomic annotation phase was initiated. The availability of this new chromosome-scale genome assembly enables the further characterization, both genotypically and phenotypically, of a species of interest for several biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Costagli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Linda Abenaim
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Rosini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Barbara Conti
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Nutrafood Center, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- CIRSEC, Center for Climate Change Impact, Centro di Ricerche Agro-Ambientali, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Nutrafood Center, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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3
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Corrado A, Aceto R, Miglietta S, Silvestri R, Dell’Anno I, Lepori I, Ricci B, Romei C, Giovannoni R, Poliseno L, Evangelista M, Vitiello M, Cipollini M, Elisei R, Landi S, Gemignani F. Strategies for single base gene editing in an immortalized human cell line by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. 3 Biotech 2024; 14:45. [PMID: 38261961 PMCID: PMC10798938 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03878-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of CRISPR/Cas9 system has rapidly grown in the last years. Here, the optimization of gene editing of a single-nucleotide polymorphism in a human non-malignant somatic cell line of thyrocytes (Nthy-Ori) was described highlighting strategies for overcoming the problems concerning the delivery and off-targets. We employed both lentivirus and chemical lipids as delivery agents and two strategies for creating the double-strand breaks (DSB). The former induced a DSB by a classical Cas9 nuclease (standard strategy), while the second one employed a modified Cas9 creating a single-strand break (SSB). The knock-in was carried out using a single-stranded donor oligonucleotide or the HR410-PA donor vector (HR). The desired cells could be obtained by combining the double nickase system with the HR vector transfected chemically. This result could be due to the type of DSB, likely processed mainly by non-homologous end joining when blunt (standard strategy) and by HR when overhanging (double nickase). Our results showed that the double nickase is suitable for knocking-in the immortalized Nthy-Ori cell line, while the standard CRISPR/Cas9 system is suitable for gene knock-out creating in/del mutations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03878-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alda Corrado
- Department of Biology, Genetic Unit, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Romina Aceto
- Department of Biology, Genetic Unit, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre- IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Miglietta
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Silvestri
- Department of Biology, Genetic Unit, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Dell’Anno
- Department of Biology, Genetic Unit, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Lepori
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), CNR, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Benedetta Ricci
- Fondazione I.R.C.C.S., Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Romei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Biology, Genetic Unit, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Poliseno
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), CNR, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Monica Evangelista
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), CNR, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marianna Vitiello
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), CNR, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Monica Cipollini
- Department of Biology, Genetic Unit, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Rossella Elisei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Landi
- Department of Biology, Genetic Unit, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Federica Gemignani
- Department of Biology, Genetic Unit, University of Pisa, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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4
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Mierzejewska P, Di Marzo N, Zabielska-Kaczorowska MA, Walczak I, Slominska EM, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R, Kutryb-Zajac B, Smolenski RT. Endothelial Effects of Simultaneous Expression of Human HO-1, E5NT, and ENTPD1 in a Mouse. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1409. [PMID: 37895880 PMCID: PMC10610121 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The vascular endothelium is key target for immune and thrombotic responses that has to be controlled in successful xenotransplantation. Several genes were identified that, if induced or overexpressed, help to regulate the inflammatory response and preserve the transplanted organ function and metabolism. However, few studies addressed combined expression of such genes. The aim of this work was to evaluate in vivo the effects of the simultaneous expression of three human genes in a mouse generated using the multi-cistronic F2A technology. Male 3-month-old mice that express human heme oxygenase 1 (hHO-1), ecto-5'-nucleotidase (hE5NT), and ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (hENTPD1) (Transgenic) were compared to wild-type FVB mice (Control). Background analysis include extracellular nucleotide catabolism enzymes profile on the aortic surface, blood nucleotide concentration, and serum L-arginine metabolites. Furthermore, inflammatory stress induced by LPS in transgenic and control mice was used to characterize interleukin 6 (IL-6) and adhesion molecules endothelium permeability responses. Transgenic mice had significantly higher rates of extracellular adenosine triphosphate and adenosine monophosphate hydrolysis on the aortic surface in comparison to control. Increased levels of blood AMP and adenosine were also noticed in transgenics. Moreover, transgenic animals demonstrated the decrease in serum monomethyl-L-arginine level and a higher L-arginine/monomethyl-L-arginine ratio. Importantly, significantly decreased serum IL-6, and adhesion molecule levels were observed in transgenic mice in comparison to control after LPS treatment. Furthermore, reduced endothelial permeability in the LPS-treated transgenic mice was noted as compared to LPS-treated control. The human enzymes (hHO-1, hE5NT, hENTPD1) simultaneously encoded in transgenic mice demonstrated benefits in several biochemical and functional aspects of endothelium. This is consistent in use of this approach in the context of xenotransplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Mierzejewska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St., 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (P.M.); (M.A.Z.-K.); (I.W.); (E.M.S.)
| | - Noemi Di Marzo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (N.D.M.); (M.L.); (R.G.)
| | - Magdalena A. Zabielska-Kaczorowska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St., 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (P.M.); (M.A.Z.-K.); (I.W.); (E.M.S.)
- Department of Physiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St., 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Iga Walczak
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St., 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (P.M.); (M.A.Z.-K.); (I.W.); (E.M.S.)
| | - Ewa M. Slominska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St., 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (P.M.); (M.A.Z.-K.); (I.W.); (E.M.S.)
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (N.D.M.); (M.L.); (R.G.)
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (N.D.M.); (M.L.); (R.G.)
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56026 Pisa, Italy
| | - Barbara Kutryb-Zajac
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St., 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (P.M.); (M.A.Z.-K.); (I.W.); (E.M.S.)
| | - Ryszard T. Smolenski
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1 St., 80-211 Gdansk, Poland; (P.M.); (M.A.Z.-K.); (I.W.); (E.M.S.)
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Vitulo M, Gnodi E, Rosini G, Meneveri R, Giovannoni R, Barisani D. Current Therapeutical Approaches Targeting Lipid Metabolism in NAFLD. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12748. [PMID: 37628929 PMCID: PMC10454602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, including nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)) is a high-prevalence disorder, affecting about 1 billion people, which can evolve to more severe conditions like cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is often concomitant with conditions of the metabolic syndrome, such as central obesity and insulin-resistance, but a specific drug able to revert NAFL and prevent its evolution towards NASH is still lacking. With the liver being a key organ in metabolic processes, the potential therapeutic strategies are many, and range from directly targeting the lipid metabolism to the prevention of tissue inflammation. However, side effects have been reported for the drugs tested up to now. In this review, different approaches to the treatment of NAFLD are presented, including newer therapies and ongoing clinical trials. Particular focus is placed on the reverse cholesterol transport system and on the agonists for nuclear factors like PPAR and FXR, but also drugs initially developed for other conditions such as incretins and thyromimetics along with validated natural compounds that have anti-inflammatory potential. This work provides an overview of the different therapeutic strategies currently being tested for NAFLD, other than, or along with, the recommendation of weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Vitulo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (M.V.); (E.G.); (R.M.)
| | - Elisa Gnodi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (M.V.); (E.G.); (R.M.)
| | - Giulia Rosini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56021 Pisa, Italy; (G.R.); (R.G.)
| | - Raffaella Meneveri
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (M.V.); (E.G.); (R.M.)
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56021 Pisa, Italy; (G.R.); (R.G.)
| | - Donatella Barisani
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (M.V.); (E.G.); (R.M.)
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Cifaldi L, Melaiu O, Giovannoni R, Benvenuto M, Focaccetti C, Nardozi D, Barillari G, Bei R. DNAM-1 chimeric receptor-engineered NK cells: a new frontier for CAR-NK cell-based immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1197053. [PMID: 37359555 PMCID: PMC10285446 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1197053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
DNAM-1 is a major NK cell activating receptor and, together with NKG2D and NCRs, by binding specific ligands, strongly contributes to mediating the killing of tumor or virus-infected cells. DNAM-1 specifically recognizes PVR and Nectin-2 ligands that are expressed on some virus-infected cells and on a broad spectrum of tumor cells of both hematological and solid malignancies. So far, while NK cells engineered for different antigen chimeric receptors (CARs) or chimeric NKG2D receptor have been extensively tested in preclinical and clinical studies, the use of DNAM-1 chimeric receptor-engineered NK cells has been proposed only in our recent proof-of-concept study and deserves further development. The aim of this perspective study is to describe the rationale for using this novel tool as a new anti-cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Cifaldi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Ombretta Melaiu
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Nardozi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Barillari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
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Riva M, Wouters R, Nittner D, Ceusters J, Sterpin E, Giovannoni R, Himmelreich U, Gsell W, VAN Ranst M, Coosemans A. Radiation dose-escalation and dose-fractionation modulate the immune microenvironment, cancer stem cells and vasculature in experimental high-grade gliomas. J Neurosurg Sci 2023; 67:55-65. [PMID: 33056947 DOI: 10.23736/s0390-5616.20.05060-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the context of high-grade gliomas (HGGs), very little evidence is available concerning the optimal radiotherapy (RT) schedule to be used in radioimmunotherapy combinations. This studied was aimed at shedding new light in this field by analyzing the effects of RT dose escalation and dose fractionation on the tumor microenvironment of experimental HGGs. METHODS Neurospheres (NS) CT-2A HGG-bearing C57BL/6 mice were treated with stereotactic RT. For dose-escalation experiments, mice received 2, 4 or 8 Gy as single administrations. For dose-fractionation experiments, mice received 4 Gy as a single fraction or multiple (1.33x3 Gy) fractions. The impact of the RT schedule on murine survival and tumor immunity was evaluated. Modifications of glioma stem cells (GSCs), tumor vasculature and tumor cell replication were also assessed. RESULTS RT dose-escalation was associated with an improved immune profile, with higher CD8+ T cells and CD8+ T cells/regulatory T cells (Tregs) ratio (P=0.0003 and P=0.0022, respectively) and lower total tumor associated microglia/macrophages (TAMs), M2 TAMs and monocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (mMDSCs) (P=0.0011, P=0.0024 and P<0.0001, respectively). The progressive increase of RT dosages prolonged survival (P<0.0001) and reduced tumor vasculature (P=0.069), tumor cell proliferation (P<0.0001) and the amount of GSCs (P=0.0132 or lower). Compared to the unfractionated regimen, RT dose-fractionation negatively affected tumor immunity by inducing higher total TAMs, M2 TAMs and mMDSCs (P=0.0051, P=0.0036 and P=0.0436, respectively). Fractionation also induced a shorter survival (P=0.0078), a higher amount of GSCs (P=0.0015 or lower) and a higher degree of tumor cell proliferation (P=0.0003). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that RT dosage and fractionation significantly influence survival, tumor immunity and GSCs in experimental HGGs. These findings should be taken into account when aiming at designing more synergistic and effective radio-immunotherapy combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riva
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium - .,Department of Neurosurgery, UcL Namur, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium -
| | - Roxanne Wouters
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Nittner
- Center for the Biology of Disease, Catholic University of Leuven Center for Human Genetics - InfraMouse, VIB, Catholic University of University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Ceusters
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Edmond Sterpin
- Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Willy Gsell
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc VAN Ranst
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Oncology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Leuven Cancer Institute, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Virtuoso A, Colangelo AM, Korai SA, Izzo S, Todisco A, Giovannoni R, Lavitrano M, Papa M, Cirillo G. Inhibition of plasminogen/plasmin system retrieves endogenous nerve growth factor and adaptive spinal synaptic plasticity following peripheral nerve injury. Neurochem Int 2021; 148:105113. [PMID: 34171416 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Dysfunctions of the neuronal-glial crosstalk and/or impaired signaling of neurotrophic factors represent key features of the maladaptive changes in the central nervous system (CNS) in neuroinflammatory as neurodegenerative disorders. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen (PA)/plasmin system has been involved in either process of maturation and degradation of nerve growth factor (NGF), highlighting multiple potential targets for new therapeutic strategies. We here investigated the role of intrathecal (i.t.) delivery of neuroserpin (NS), an endogenous inhibitor of plasminogen activators, on neuropathic behavior and maladaptive synaptic plasticity in the rat spinal cord following spared nerve injury (SNI) of the sciatic nerve. We demonstrated that SNI reduced spinal NGF expression, induced spinal reactive gliosis, altering the expression of glial and neuronal glutamate and GABA transporters, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and is associated to neuropathic behavior. Beside the increase of NGF expression, i.t. NS administration reduced reactive gliosis, restored synaptic homeostasis, GSH levels and reduced neuropathic behavior. Our results hereby highlight the essential role of tPA/PA system in the synaptic homeostasis and mechanisms of maladaptive plasticity, sustaining the beneficial effects of NGF-based approach in neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta Virtuoso
- Division of Human Anatomy, Laboratory of Morphology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Colangelo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience "R. Levi-Montalcini", Dept. of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy; SYSBIO Centre of Systems Biology ISBE.ITALY, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Sohaib Ali Korai
- Division of Human Anatomy, Laboratory of Morphology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Sara Izzo
- Division of Human Anatomy, Laboratory of Morphology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Todisco
- Division of Human Anatomy, Laboratory of Morphology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Michele Papa
- Division of Human Anatomy, Laboratory of Morphology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy; SYSBIO Centre of Systems Biology ISBE.ITALY, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Cirillo
- Division of Human Anatomy, Laboratory of Morphology of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
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9
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Corrado A, Aceto R, Silvestri R, Dell'Anno I, Ricci B, Miglietta S, Romei C, Giovannoni R, Poliseno L, Evangelista M, Vitiello M, Cipollini M, Garritano S, Giusti L, Zallocco L, Elisei R, Landi S, Gemignani F. Pro64His (rs4644) Polymorphism Within Galectin-3 Is a Risk Factor of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma and Affects the Transcriptome of Thyrocytes Engineered via CRISPR/Cas9 System. Thyroid 2021; 31:1056-1066. [PMID: 33308024 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2020.0366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background: Galectin-3 (LGALS3) is an important glycoprotein involved in the malignant transformation of thyrocytes acting in the extracellular matrix, cytoplasm, and nucleus where it regulates TTF-1 and TCF4 transcription factors. Within LGALS3 gene, a common single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (c.191C>A, p.Pro64His; rs4644) encoding for the variant Proline to Histidine at codon 64 has been extensively studied. However, data on rs4644 in the context of thyroid cancer are lacking. Thus, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the role of the rs4644 SNP as risk factor for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and to determine the effect on the transcriptome in thyrocytes. Methods: A case/control association study in 1223 controls and 1142 unrelated consecutive DTC patients was carried out to evaluate the association between rs4644-P64H and the risk of DTC. We used the nonmalignant cell line Nthy-Ori (rs4644-C/A) and the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to generate isogenic cells carrying either the rs4644-A/A or rs4644-C/C homozygosis. Then, the transcriptome of the derivative and unmodified parental cells was analyzed by RNA-seq. Genes differentially expressed were validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and further tested in the parental Nthy-Ori cells after LGALS3 gene silencing, to investigate whether the expression of target genes was dependent on galectin-3 levels. Results: rs4644 AA genotype was associated with a reduced risk of DTC (compared with CC, ORadj = 0.66; 95% confidence interval = 0.46-0.93; Pass = 0.02). We found that rs4644 affects galectin-3 as a transcriptional coregulator. Among 34 genes affected by rs4644, HES1, HSPA6, SPC24, and NHS were of particular interest since their expression was rs4644-dependent (CC>AA for the first and AA>CC for the others), also in 574 thyroid tissues of Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) biobank. Moreover, the expression of these genes was regulated by LGALS3-silencing. Using the proximity ligation assay in Nthy-Ori cells, we found that the TTF-1 interaction was genotype dependent. Conclusions: Our data show that in thyroid, rs4644 is a trans-expression quantitative trait locus that can modify the transcriptional expression of downstream genes, through the modulation of TTF-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alda Corrado
- Genetic Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Romina Aceto
- Genetic Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre-IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Silvestri
- Genetic Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Dell'Anno
- Genetic Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Benedetta Ricci
- Fondazione I.R.C.C.S., Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Miglietta
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Romei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Laura Poliseno
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Monica Cipollini
- Genetic Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sonia Garritano
- Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Laura Giusti
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Zallocco
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rossella Elisei
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Landi
- Genetic Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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10
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Grassilli E, Cerrito MG, Bonomo S, Giovannoni R, Conconi D, Lavitrano M. p65BTK Is a Novel Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Solid Tumors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:690365. [PMID: 34164404 PMCID: PMC8215537 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.690365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a non-receptor intracellular kinase playing a key role in the proliferation and survival of normal and malignant B-lymphocytes. Its targeting by Ibrutinib, the first specific inhibitor, represented a turning point for the therapy of certain types of B-cell leukemias/lymphomas and several more BTK inhibitors are today in the clinic or advanced clinical trials. BTK expression was successively found to occur also outside of the hematopoietic compartment. In fact, we identified p65BTK, a novel 65 kDa isoform lacking an N-term stretch of 86 amino acids (compared to the 77 kDa protein expressed in B cells) as highly expressed in colon cancer patients. We demonstrated that p65BTK is a powerful oncogene acting downstream of the RAS/MAPK pathway and necessary for RAS-mediated transformation. Notably, the kinase domain is conserved and therefore inhibited by the available BTK-targeting drugs (Ibrutinib, Spebrutinib, etc.) which we used to demonstrate that p65BTK is an actionable target in drug-resistant colorectal carcinomas. We found p65BTK expressed also in >50% non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and demonstrated that it is an actionable target in KRAS-mutated/EGFR-wild type drug-resistant NSCLC models (for which no targeted therapy is available). We also reported a significant correlation between p65BTK expression and low-grade tumors and overall survival of patients with grade III gliomas and showed that its targeting induced a significant decrease in the viability of in glioma stem cells. Finally, in ovarian cancer patients, p65BTK expression levels correlate with early relapse and shorter progression-free survival, both indicators of resistance to therapy. Remarkably, Ibrutinib is more effective than standard of care (SOC) therapeutics in in vitro and ex vivo settings. On the whole, our preclinical data indicate that, depending on the tumor type, BTK inhibitors used alone can induce cytotoxicity (gliomas), be more effective than SOC chemotherapy (ovarian cancer) or can kill drug-resistant tumor cells when used in combination with SOC chemotherapy (colon cancer and NSCLC) or targeted therapy (NSCLC and ovarian cancer), thus suggesting that p65BTK may be an actionable target in different solid tumors. In addition, our data also give the proof-of-concept for starting clinical trials using BTK inhibitors, alone or in combination, to improve the therapeutic options for solid tumors treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Grassilli
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cerrito
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Sara Bonomo
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Donatella Conconi
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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11
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Torsello B, De Marco S, Bombelli S, Chisci E, Cassina V, Corti R, Bernasconi D, Giovannoni R, Bianchi C, Perego RA. Correction: The 1ALCTL and 1BLCTL isoforms of Arg/Abl2 induce fibroblast activation and extra cellular matrix remodelling differently. Biol Open 2021; 10:261776. [PMID: 34184728 PMCID: PMC8214730 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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12
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Riva M, Wouters R, Sterpin E, Giovannoni R, Boon L, Himmelreich U, Gsell W, Van Ranst M, Coosemans A. Radiotherapy, Temozolomide, and Antiprogrammed Cell Death Protein 1 Treatments Modulate the Immune Microenvironment in Experimental High-Grade Glioma. Neurosurgery 2021; 88:E205-E215. [PMID: 33289503 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lack of immune synergy with conventional chemoradiation could explain the failure of checkpoint inhibitors in current clinical trials for high-grade gliomas (HGGs). OBJECTIVE To analyze the impact of radiotherapy (RT), Temozolomide (TMZ) and antiprogrammed cell death protein 1 (αPD1) (as single or combined treatments) on the immune microenvironment of experimental HGGs. METHODS Mice harboring neurosphere /CT-2A HGGs received RT (4 Gy, single dose), TMZ (50 mg/kg, 4 doses) and αPD1 (100 μg, 3 doses) as monotherapies or combinations. The influence on survival, tumor volume, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells was analyzed. RESULTS RT increased total T cells (P = .0159) and cluster of differentiation (CD)8+ T cells (P = .0078) compared to TMZ. Lymphocyte subpopulations resulting from TMZ or αPD1 treatment were comparable with those of controls. RT reduced M2 tumor-associated macrophages/microglia (P = .0019) and monocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (mMDSCs, P = .0003) compared to controls. The effect on mMDSC was also seen following TMZ and αPD1 treatment, although less pronounced (P = .0439 and P = .0538, respectively). Combining RT with TMZ reduced CD8+ T cells (P = .0145) compared to RT alone. Adding αPD1 partially mitigated this effect as shown by the increased CD8+ T cells/Tregs ratio, even if this result failed to reach statistical significance (P = .0973). Changing the combination sequence of RT, TMZ, and αPD1 did not alter survival nor the immune effects. CONCLUSION RT, TMZ, and αPD1 modify the immune microenvironment of HGG. The combination of RT with TMZ induces a strong immune suppression which cannot be effectively counteracted by αPD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riva
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Godinne, UCL Namur, Yvoir, Belgium
| | - Roxanne Wouters
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Edmond Sterpin
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Louis Boon
- Polpharma Biologics, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), Biomedical MRI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Willy Gsell
- Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), Biomedical MRI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc Van Ranst
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Leuven Cancer Institute, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Virtuoso A, Giovannoni R, De Luca C, Gargano F, Cerasuolo M, Maggio N, Lavitrano M, Papa M. The Glioblastoma Microenvironment: Morphology, Metabolism, and Molecular Signature of Glial Dynamics to Discover Metabolic Rewiring Sequence. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3301. [PMID: 33804873 PMCID: PMC8036663 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Different functional states determine glioblastoma (GBM) heterogeneity. Brain cancer cells coexist with the glial cells in a functional syncytium based on a continuous metabolic rewiring. However, standard glioma therapies do not account for the effects of the glial cells within the tumor microenvironment. This may be a possible reason for the lack of improvements in patients with high-grade gliomas therapies. Cell metabolism and bioenergetic fitness depend on the availability of nutrients and interactions in the microenvironment. It is strictly related to the cell location in the tumor mass, proximity to blood vessels, biochemical gradients, and tumor evolution, underlying the influence of the context and the timeline in anti-tumor therapeutic approaches. Besides the cancer metabolic strategies, here we review the modifications found in the GBM-associated glia, focusing on morphological, molecular, and metabolic features. We propose to analyze the GBM metabolic rewiring processes from a systems biology perspective. We aim at defining the crosstalk between GBM and the glial cells as modules. The complex networking may be expressed by metabolic modules corresponding to the GBM growth and spreading phases. Variation in the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) rate and regulation appears to be the most important part of the metabolic and functional heterogeneity, correlating with glycolysis and response to hypoxia. Integrated metabolic modules along with molecular and morphological features could allow the identification of key factors for controlling the GBM-stroma metabolism in multi-targeted, time-dependent therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta Virtuoso
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania ‘‘Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.V.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy;
| | | | - Ciro De Luca
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania ‘‘Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.V.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Francesca Gargano
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania ‘‘Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.V.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Michele Cerasuolo
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania ‘‘Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.V.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
| | - Nicola Maggio
- Department of Neurology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel;
- Department of Neurology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5211401, Israel
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy;
| | - Michele Papa
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania ‘‘Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.V.); (F.G.); (M.C.); (M.P.)
- SYSBIO Centre of Systems Biology ISBE-IT, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
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14
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D’Agostino S, Tombolan L, Saggioro M, Frasson C, Rampazzo E, Pellegrini S, Favaretto F, Biz C, Ruggieri P, Gamba P, Bonvini P, Aveic S, Giovannoni R, Pozzobon M. Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells Produce Their Own Extracellular Matrix With Minimal Involvement of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: A Preliminary Study. Front Oncol 2021; 10:600980. [PMID: 33585217 PMCID: PMC7878542 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.600980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interplay between neoplastic cells and surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) is one of the determinant elements for cancer growth. The remodeling of the ECM by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) shapes tumor microenvironment by depositing and digesting ECM proteins, hence promoting tumor growth and invasion. While for epithelial tumors CAFs are well characterized, little is known about the stroma composition of mesenchymal cancers, such as in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft tissue sarcoma during childhood and adolescence. The aim of this work is to identify the importance of CAFs in specifying RMS microenvironment and the role of these stromal cells in RMS growth. METHODS We assessed in two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) systems the attraction between RMS cells and fibroblasts using epithelial colon cancer cell line as control. CAFs were studied in a xenogeneic mouse model of both tumor types and characterized in terms of fibroblast activation protein (FAP), mouse PDGFR expression, metalloproteases activation, and ECM gene and protein expression profiling. RESULTS In 2D model, the rate of interaction between stromal and malignant cells was significantly lower in RMS with respect to colon cancer. Particularly, in 3D system, RMS spheroids tended to dismantle the compact aggregate when grown on the layer of stromal cells. In vivo, despite the well-formed tumor mass, murine CAFs were found in low percentage in RMS xenogeneic samples. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support the evidence that, differently from epithelial cancers, RMS cells are directly involved in their own ECM remodeling, and less dependent on CAFs support for cancer cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania D’Agostino
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Tombolan
- Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Pediatric Solid Tumors Laboratory, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Saggioro
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Frasson
- Onco-Hematology Laboratory, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Rampazzo
- Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Brain Tumors Laboratory, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefania Pellegrini
- Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Favaretto
- Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine 3, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Carlo Biz
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, Orthopedic Clinic, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Pietro Ruggieri
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, Orthopedic Clinic, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Piergiorgio Gamba
- Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonvini
- Pediatric Solid Tumors Laboratory, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Sanja Aveic
- Neuroblastoma Laboratory, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Michela Pozzobon
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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15
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Melaiu O, Lucarini V, Giovannoni R, Fruci D, Gemignani F. News on immune checkpoint inhibitors as immunotherapy strategies in adult and pediatric solid tumors. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 79:18-43. [PMID: 32659257 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown unprecedented benefits in various adult cancers, and this success has prompted the exploration of ICI therapy even in childhood malignances. Although the use of ICIs as individual agents has achieved disappointing response rates, combinational therapies are likely to promise better results. However, only a subset of patients experienced prolonged clinical effects, thus suggesting the need to identify robust bio-markers that predict individual clinical response or resistance to ICI therapy as the main challenge. In this review, we focus on how the use of ICIs in adult cancers can be translated into pediatric malignances. We discuss the physiological mechanism of action of each IC, including PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 and the new emerging ones, LAG-3, TIM-3, TIGIT, B7-H3, BTLA and IDO-1, and evaluate their prognostic value in both adult and childhood tumors. Furthermore, we offer an overview of preclinical models and clinical trials currently under investigation to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies in these patients. Finally, we outline the main predictive factors that influence the efficacy of ICIs, in order to lay the basis for the development of a pan-cancer immunogenomic model, able to direct young patients towards more specific immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ombretta Melaiu
- Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Department, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Lucarini
- Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Department, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Doriana Fruci
- Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Department, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.
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16
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Lavitrano M, Ianzano L, Bonomo S, Cialdella A, Cerrito MG, Pisano F, Missaglia C, Giovannoni R, Romano G, McLean CM, Voest EE, D'Amato F, Noli B, Ferri GL, Agostini M, Pucciarelli S, Helin K, Leone BE, Canzonieri V, Grassilli E. BTK inhibitors synergise with 5-FU to treat drug-resistant TP53-null colon cancers. J Pathol 2019; 250:134-147. [PMID: 31518438 DOI: 10.1002/path.5347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth cause of death from cancer worldwide mainly due to the high incidence of drug-resistance. During a screen for new actionable targets in drug-resistant tumours we recently identified p65BTK - a novel oncogenic isoform of Bruton's tyrosine kinase. Studying three different cohorts of patients here we show that p65BTK expression correlates with histotype and cancer progression. Using drug-resistant TP53-null colon cancer cells as a model we demonstrated that p65BTK silencing or chemical inhibition overcame the 5-fluorouracil resistance of CRC cell lines and patient-derived organoids and significantly reduced the growth of xenografted tumours. Mechanistically, we show that blocking p65BTK in drug-resistant cells abolished a 5-FU-elicited TGFB1 protective response and triggered E2F-dependent apoptosis. Taken together, our data demonstrated that targeting p65BTK restores the apoptotic response to chemotherapy of drug-resistant CRCs and gives a proof-of-concept for suggesting the use of BTK inhibitors in combination with 5-FU as a novel therapeutic approach in CRC patients. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonarda Ianzano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Sara Bonomo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | | | - Fabio Pisano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Carola Missaglia
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Gabriele Romano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Chelsea M McLean
- Department of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emile E Voest
- Department of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Filomena D'Amato
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Barbara Noli
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Ferri
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Agostini
- First Surgical Clinic Section, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Nanomedicine, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Salvatore Pucciarelli
- First Surgical Clinic Section, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Kristian Helin
- Center for Epigenetics, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Biagio E Leone
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Canzonieri
- Pathology Unit and CRO Biobank, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - Emanuela Grassilli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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17
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Abstract
Epidemiologically, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels have been inversely associated to cardiovascular (CV) events, although a Mendelian Randomisation Study had failed to establish a clear causal role. Numerous atheroprotective mechanisms have been attributed to HDL, the main being the ability to promote cholesterol efflux from arterial walls; anti-inflammatory effects related to HDL ligands such as S1P (sphingosine-1-phosphate), resolvins and others have been recently identified. Experimental studies and early clinical investigations have indicated the potential of HDL to slow progression or induce regression of atherosclerosis. More recently, the availability of different HDL formulations, with different phospholipid moieties, has allowed to test other indications for HDL therapy. Positive reports have come from studies on coronary stent biocompatibility, where the use of HDL from different sources reduced arterial cell proliferation and thrombogenicity. The observation that low HDL-C levels may be associated with an enhanced risk of heart failure (HF) has also suggested that HDL therapy may be applied to this condition. HDL infusions or apoA-I gene transfer were able to reverse heart abnormalities, reduce diastolic resistance and improve cardiac metabolism. HDL therapy may be effective not only in atherosclerosis, but also in other conditions, of relevant impact on human health.Key messagesHigh-density lipoproteins have as a major activity that of removing excess cholesterol from tissues (particularly arteries).Knowledge on the activity of high-density lipoproteins on health have however significantly widened.HDL-therapy may help to improve stent biocompatibility and to reduce peripheral arterial resistance in heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Sirtori
- Dyslipidemia Center, A.S.S.T. Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - M Ruscica
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - L Calabresi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - G Chiesa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - R Giovannoni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - J J Badimon
- Mount Sinai Heart, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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18
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Riva M, Wouters R, Weerasekera A, Belderbos S, Nittner D, Thal DR, Baert T, Giovannoni R, Gsell W, Himmelreich U, Van Ranst M, Coosemans A. CT-2A neurospheres-derived high-grade glioma in mice: a new model to address tumor stem cells and immunosuppression. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.044552. [PMID: 31511246 PMCID: PMC6777368 DOI: 10.1242/bio.044552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, several promising treatments for high-grade gliomas (HGGs) failed to provide significant benefit when translated from the preclinical setting to patients. Improving the animal models is fundamental to overcoming this translational gap. To address this need, we developed and comprehensively characterized a new in vivo model based on the orthotopic implantation of CT-2A cells cultured in neurospheres (NS/CT-2A). Murine CT-2A methylcholanthrene-induced HGG cells (C57BL/6 background) were cultured in monolayers (ML) or NS and orthotopically inoculated in syngeneic animals. ML/CT-2A and NS/CT-2A tumors' characterization included the analysis of tumor growth, immune microenvironment, glioma stem cells (GSCs), vascularization and metabolites. The immuno-modulating properties of NS/CT-2A and ML/CT-2A cells on splenocytes were tested in vitro. Mice harboring NS/CT-2A tumors had a shorter survival than those harboring ML/CT-2A tumors (P=0.0033). Compared to standard ML/CT-2A tumors, NS/CT-2A tumors showed more abundant GSCs (P=0.0002 and 0.0770 for Nestin and CD133, respectively) and regulatory T cells (Tregs, P=0.0074), and a strong tendency towards an increased vascularization (P=0.0503). There were no significant differences in metabolites' composition between NS/ and ML/CT-2A tumors. In vitro, NS were able to drive splenocytes towards a more immunosuppressive status by reducing CD8+ T cells (P=0.0354) and by promoting Tregs (P=0.0082), macrophages (MF, P=0.0019) and their M2 subset (P=0.0536). Compared to standard ML/CT-2A tumors, NS/CT-2A tumors show a more aggressive phenotype with increased immunosuppression and GSCs proliferation. Because of these specific features, the NS/CT-2A model represents a clinically relevant platform in the search for new HGG treatments aimed at reducing immunosuppression and eliminating GSCs. Summary: The NS/CT-2A tumor model represents a valuable research platform for the study of innovative treatments aimed at eliminating GSCs and reversing the tumor-induced immunosuppression in HGGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Riva
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium .,Department of Neurosurgery, Erasme Hospital, Bruxelles 1070, Belgium
| | - Roxanne Wouters
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Akila Weerasekera
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Sarah Belderbos
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - David Nittner
- Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics - InfraMouse, VIB, University of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Dietmar R Thal
- Laboratory of Neuropathology, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Department of Pathology, UZ-Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Thaïs Baert
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen Mitte (KEM), Essen 2910, Germany
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Willy Gsell
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology and Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Marc Van Ranst
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.,Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Leuven Cancer Institute, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
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19
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Giordano F, Vaira V, Cortinovis D, Bonomo S, Goedmakers J, Brena F, Cialdella A, Ianzano L, Forno I, Cerrito MG, Giovannoni R, Ferri GL, Tasciotti E, Vicent S, Damarco F, Bosari S, Lavitrano M, Grassilli E. p65BTK is a novel potential actionable target in KRAS-mutated/EGFR-wild type lung adenocarcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:260. [PMID: 31200752 PMCID: PMC6570906 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1199-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer is still the main cause of cancer death worldwide despite the availability of targeted therapies and immune-checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy. Cancer cell heterogeneity and primary or acquired resistance mechanisms cause the elusive behaviour of this cancer and new biomarkers and active drugs are urgently needed to overcome these limitations. p65BTK, a novel isoform of the Bruton Tyrosine Kinase may represent a new actionable target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS p65BTK expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 382 NSCLC patients with complete clinico-pathological records including smoking habit, ALK and EGFR status, and in metastatic lymph nodes of 30 NSCLC patients. NSCLC cell lines mutated for p53 and/or a component of the RAS/MAPK pathway and primary lung cancer-derived cells from Kras/Trp53 null mice were used as a preclinical model. The effects of p65BTK inhibition by BTK Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) (Ibrutinib, AVL-292, RN486) and first-generation EGFR-TKIs (Gefitinib, Erlotinib) on cell viability were evaluated by MTT. The effects of BTK-TKIs on cell growth and clonogenicity were assessed by crystal violet and colony assays, respectively. Cell toxicity assays were performed to study the effect of the combination of non-toxic concentrations of BTK-TKIs with EGFR-TKIs and standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapy (Cisplatin, Gemcitabine, Pemetrexed). RESULTS p65BTK was significantly over-expressed in EGFR-wild type (wt) adenocarcinomas (AdC) from non-smoker patients and its expression was also preserved at the metastatic site. p65BTK was also over-expressed in cell lines mutated for KRAS or for a component of the RAS/MAPK pathway and in tumors from Kras/Trp53 null mice. BTK-TKIs were more effective than EGFR-TKIs in decreasing cancer cell viability and significantly impaired cell proliferation and clonogenicity. Moreover, non-toxic doses of BTK-TKIs re-sensitized drug-resistant NSCLC cell lines to both target- and SOC therapy, independently from EGFR/KRAS status. CONCLUSIONS p65BTK results as an emerging actionable target in non-smoking EGFR-wt AdC, also at advanced stages of disease. Notably, these patients are not eligible for EGFR-TKIs-based therapy due to a lack of EGFR mutation. The combination of BTK-TKIs with EGFR-TKIs is cytotoxic for EGFR-wt/KRAS-mutant/p53-null tumors and BTK-TKIs re-sensitizes drug-resistant NSCLC to SOC chemotherapy. Therefore, our data suggest that adding BTK-TKIs to SOC chemotherapy and EGFR-targeted therapy may open new avenues for clinical trials in currently untreatable NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Giordano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Valentina Vaira
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Sara Bonomo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Joyce Goedmakers
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Federica Brena
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cialdella
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Leonarda Ianzano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Irene Forno
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Present address: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Ferri
- Department of Biomedical Science, NEF-Laboratory, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ennio Tasciotti
- Center for Biomimetic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.,Houston Methodist Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Silve Vicent
- Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesco Damarco
- Division of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Tranplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale maggiore Policlinico Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvano Bosari
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Emanuela Grassilli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
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20
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Torsello B, De Marco S, Bombelli S, Chisci E, Cassina V, Corti R, Bernasconi D, Giovannoni R, Bianchi C, Perego RA. The 1ALCTL and 1BLCTL isoforms of Arg/Abl2 induce fibroblast activation and extra cellular matrix remodelling differently. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.038554. [PMID: 30837227 PMCID: PMC6451347 DOI: 10.1242/bio.038554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The fibrotic tissue and the stroma adjacent to cancer cells are characterised by the presence of activated fibroblasts (myofibroblasts) which play a role in creating a supportive tissue characterised by abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion. The myofibroblasts remodel this tissue through secreted molecules and modulation of their cytoskeleton and specialized contractile structures. The non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase Arg (also called Abl2) has the unique ability to bind directly to the actin cytoskeleton, transducing diverse extracellular signals into cytoskeletal rearrangements. In this study we analysed the 1ALCTL and 1BLCTL Arg isoforms in Arg−/− murine embryonal fibroblasts (MEF) cell line, focusing on their capacity to activate fibroblasts and to remodel ECM. The results obtained showed that Arg isoform 1BLCTL has a major role in proliferation, migration/invasion of MEF and in inducing a milieu able to modulate tumour cell morphology, while 1ALCTL isoform has a role in MEF adhesion maintaining active focal adhesions. On the whole, the presence of Arg in MEF supports the proliferation, activation, adhesion, ECM contraction and stiffness, while the absence of Arg affected these myofibroblast features. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: The non-receptor tyrosine kinase Arg and its isoforms modulate the extra cellular matrix production that is relevant in fibrosis and tumour growth, this may open future novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Torsello
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Sofia De Marco
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Silvia Bombelli
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Elisa Chisci
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Valeria Cassina
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Roberta Corti
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy.,Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20125 Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Bernasconi
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Cristina Bianchi
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto A Perego
- School of Medicine & Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
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21
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Villa C, Colombo G, Meneghini S, Gotti C, Moretti M, Ferini-Strambi L, Chisci E, Giovannoni R, Becchetti A, Combi R. CHRNA2 and Nocturnal Frontal Lobe Epilepsy: Identification and Characterization of a Novel Loss of Function Mutation. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:17. [PMID: 30809122 PMCID: PMC6379349 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in genes coding for subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) have been involved in familial sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (also named autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, ADNFLE). Most of these mutations reside in CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 genes, coding for the α4 and β2 nAChR subunits, respectively. Two mutations with contrasting functional effects were also identified in the CHRNA2 gene coding for the α2 subunit. Here, we report the third mutation in the CHRNA2, found in a patient showing ADNFLE. The patient was examined by scalp EEG, contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nocturnal video-polysomnographic recording. All exons and the exon-intron boundaries of CHRNA2, CHRNA4, CHRNB2, CRH, KCNT1 were amplified and Sanger sequenced. In the proband, we found a c.754T>C (p.Tyr252His) missense mutation located in the N-terminal ligand-binding domain and inherited from the mother. Functional studies were performed by transient co-expression of α2 and α2Tyr252His, with either β2 or β4, in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Equimolar amounts of subunits expression were obtained by using F2A-based multi-cistronic constructs encoding for the genes relative to the nAChR subunits of interest and for the enhanced green fluorescent protein. The mutation reduced the maximal currents by approximately 80% in response to saturating concentrations of nicotine in homo- and heterozygous form, in both the α2β4 and α2β2 nAChR subtypes. The effect was accompanied by a strong right-shift of the concentration-response to nicotine. Similar effects were observed using ACh. Negligible effects were produced by α2Tyr252His on the current reversal potential. Moreover, binding of (±)-[3H]Epibatidine revealed an approximately 10-fold decrease of both Kd and Bmax (bound ligand in saturating conditions), in cells expressing α2Tyr252His. The reduced Bmax and whole-cell currents were not caused by a decrease in mutant receptor expression, as minor effects were produced by α2Tyr252His on the level of transcripts and the membrane expression of α2β4 nAChR. Overall, these results suggest that α2Tyr252His strongly reduced the number of channels bound to the agonist, without significantly altering the overall channel expression. We conclude that mutations in CHRNA2 are more commonly linked to ADNFLE than previously thought, and may cause a loss-of-function phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Villa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Giulia Colombo
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Meneghini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Milena Moretti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Ferini-Strambi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Sleep Disorders Center, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Chisci
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Andrea Becchetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Romina Combi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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22
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Sala L, Cirillo G, Riva G, Romano G, Giussani C, Cialdella A, Todisco A, Virtuoso A, Cerrito MG, Bentivegna A, Grassilli E, Ardizzoia A, Bonoldi E, Giovannoni R, Papa M, Lavitrano M. Specific Expression of a New Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Isoform (p65BTK) in the Glioblastoma Gemistocytic Histotype. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:2. [PMID: 30733667 PMCID: PMC6353843 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bruton's tyrosine-kinase (BTK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase recently associated with glioma tumorigenesis and a novel prognostic marker for poor survival in patients with glioma. The p65BTK is a novel BTK isoform involved in different pathways of drug resistance of solid tumors, thus we aimed to investigate the expression and the putative role of p65BTK in tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). We selected a large cohort of patients with glial tumors (n = 71) and analyzed the expression of p65BTK in different histotypes and correlation with clinical parameters. Sections were stained with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), p53, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), S100, vimentin, and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) antibodies. Glioma stem cell (GSC) lines, isolated from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), were treated with different concentrations of ibrutinib, a specific inhibitor of BTK, in order to evaluate their metabolic activity, mitotic index and mortality. Moreover, an orthotopic xenotransplant of GSC from human GBM was used to evaluate the expression of p65BTK in the brain of immunodeficient mice. p65BTK was expressed in GSC and in gemistocytes in human gliomas at different histological grade. We found a significant correlation between BTK expression and low-grade (LG) tumors (p ≤ 0.05) and overall survival (OS) of patients with grade III gliomas (p ≤ 0.05), suggestive of worst prognosis. Interestingly, the expression of p65BTK remained restricted exclusively to gemistocytic cells in the xenograft mouse model. Ibrutinib administration significantly reduced metabolic activity and mitotic index and increased mortality in GSC, highlighting the specific role of p65BTK in cell proliferation and survival. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that p65BTK is expressed in glioma tumors, restricted to gemistocytic cells, has a key role in GSC and has a bad prognostic value, thus highlighting the importance of future research for targeted therapy of human gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Sala
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cirillo
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriele Riva
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Gabriele Romano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Carlo Giussani
- Unit of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine and Surgery, Neuroscience Center, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Todisco
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Assunta Virtuoso
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | | | - Angela Bentivegna
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Emanuela Grassilli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | | | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Michele Papa
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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23
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Cerrito MG, De Giorgi M, Pelizzoni D, Bonomo SM, Digiacomo N, Scagliotti A, Bugarin C, Gaipa G, Grassilli E, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R, Bidoli P, Cazzaniga ME. Metronomic combination of Vinorelbine and 5Fluorouracil is able to inhibit triple-negative breast cancer cells. Results from the proof-of-concept VICTOR-0 study. Oncotarget 2018; 9:27448-27459. [PMID: 29937997 PMCID: PMC6007943 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive neoplasia with median Overall Survival (OS) less than two years. Despite the availability of new drugs, the chance of survival of these patients did not increase. The combination of low doses of drugs in a metronomic schedule showed efficacy in clinical trials, exhibiting an anti-proliferative and anti-tumour activity. In Victor-2 study we recently evaluated a new metronomic combination (mCHT) of Capecitabine (CAPE) and Vinorelbine (VNR) in breast cancer patients showing a disease control rate with a median Progression-Free Survival (PFS) of 4.7 months in 28 TNBC patients. Here in Victor-0 study, we examined the effect of mCHT vs standard (STD) schedule of administration of different combinations of 5-Fluorouracil (5FU), the active metabolite of CAPE, and VNR in TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and BT-549. A significant anti-proliferative activity was observed in cells treated with metronomic vs STD administration of 5FU or VNR alone. Combination of the two drugs showed an additive inhibitor effect on cell growth in both cell lines. Moreover, after exposure of cells to 5FU and VNR under mCHT or conventional schedule of administration we also observed a downregulation of chemoresistance factor Bcl-2, changes in pro-apoptotic protein Bax and in cleaved effector caspase-3 and increased expression of LC3A/B autophagy protein. Our results therefore suggest that molecular mechanisms implicated in apoptosis and autophagy as well as the cross-talk between these two forms of cell death in MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells treated with 5FU and VNR is dose- and schedule-dependent and provide some insights about the roles of autophagy and senescence in 5FU/VNR-induced cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Cerrito
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Davide Pelizzoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy.,Oncology Unit, ASST Monza, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Sara Maria Bonomo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Nunzio Digiacomo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy.,Oncology Unit, ASST Monza, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Arianna Scagliotti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Cristina Bugarin
- M.Tettamanti Research Center, Pediatric Clinic, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gaipa
- M.Tettamanti Research Center, Pediatric Clinic, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Emanuela Grassilli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Paolo Bidoli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy.,Oncology Unit, ASST Monza, Monza 20900, Italy
| | - Marina Elena Cazzaniga
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza 20900, Italy.,Oncology Unit, ASST Monza, Monza 20900, Italy.,Phase 1 Research Centre, Monza 20900, Italy
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24
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Giovannoni R, Facoetti A, Chisci E, Reggi S, Kutryb-Zajac B, Bombelli S, Di Marzo N, Farina L, Bianchi C, Perego R, Avezza F, Cadamuro M, Crippa L, Lavitrano M, Bentivegna A, Leone BE, Rivolta I, Barisani D, Smolenski RT, Romano G. Innovative and Efficient Oral Delivery Method of APOA-1Milano Muteins Which Retain Anti-Atherosclerotic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties. ATHEROSCLEROSIS SUPP 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosissup.2018.04.070] [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: 11/16/2022]
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25
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Binda A, Rivolta I, Villa C, Chisci E, Beghi M, Cornaggia CM, Giovannoni R, Combi R. A Novel KCNJ2 Mutation Identified in an Autistic Proband Affects the Single Channel Properties of Kir2.1. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:76. [PMID: 29615871 PMCID: PMC5869910 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir) have been historically associated to several cardiovascular disorders. In particular, loss-of-function mutations in the Kir2.1 channel have been reported in cases affected by Andersen-Tawil syndrome while gain-of-function mutations in the same channel cause the short QT3 syndrome. Recently, a missense mutation in Kir2.1, as well as mutations in the Kir4.1, were reported to be involved in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) suggesting a role of potassium channels in these diseases and introducing the idea of the existence of K+ channel ASDs. Here, we report the identification in an Italian affected family of a novel missense mutation (p.Phe58Ser) in the KCNJ2 gene detected in heterozygosity in a proband affected by autism and borderline for short QT syndrome type 3. The mutation is located in the N-terminal region of the gene coding for the Kir2.1 channel and in particular in a very conserved domain. In vitro assays demonstrated that this mutation results in an increase of the channel conductance and in its open probability. This gain-of-function of the protein is consistent with the autistic phenotype, which is normally associated to an altered neuronal excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Binda
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Ilaria Rivolta
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Chiara Villa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Elisa Chisci
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Cesare M Cornaggia
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Romina Combi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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Lupia M, Angiolini F, Bertalot G, Freddi S, Sachsenmeier KF, Chisci E, Kutryb-Zajac B, Confalonieri S, Smolenski RT, Giovannoni R, Colombo N, Bianchi F, Cavallaro U. CD73 Regulates Stemness and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Ovarian Cancer-Initiating Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:1412-1425. [PMID: 29551673 PMCID: PMC5998305 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-initiating cells (CICs) have been implicated in tumor development and aggressiveness. In ovarian carcinoma (OC), CICs drive tumor formation, dissemination, and recurrence, as well as drug resistance, thus accounting for the high death-to-incidence ratio of this neoplasm. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie such a pathogenic role of ovarian CICs (OCICs) remain elusive. Here, we have capitalized on primary cells either from OC or from its tissues of origin to obtain the transcriptomic profile associated with OCICs. Among the genes differentially expressed in OCICs, we focused on CD73, which encodes the membrane-associated 5′-ectonucleotidase. The genetic inactivation of CD73 in OC cells revealed that this molecule is causally involved in sphere formation and tumor initiation, thus emerging as a driver of OCIC function. Furthermore, functional inhibition of CD73 via either a chemical compound or a neutralizing antibody reduced sphere formation and tumorigenesis, highlighting the druggability of CD73 in the context of OCIC-directed therapies. The biological function of CD73 in OCICs required its enzymatic activity and involved adenosine signaling. Mechanistically, CD73 promotes the expression of stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated genes, implying a regulation of OCIC function at the transcriptional level. CD73, therefore, is involved in OCIC biology and may represent a therapeutic target for innovative treatments aimed at OC eradication. CD73 is enriched in ovarian cancer-initiating cells (OCICs) CD73 orchestrates OCIC stemness and EMT OC initiation and growth require CD73 activity OCIC-associated CD73 is a therapeutic target useful for OC eradication
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Lupia
- Unit of Gynecological Oncology Research, European Institute of Oncology, Via G. Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Angiolini
- Unit of Gynecological Oncology Research, European Institute of Oncology, Via G. Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bertalot
- Molecular Medicine Program, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Freddi
- Molecular Medicine Program, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Chisci
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Colombo
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, IRCCS-Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Ugo Cavallaro
- Unit of Gynecological Oncology Research, European Institute of Oncology, Via G. Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milano, Italy.
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Romano G, Santi L, Bianco MR, Giuffrè MR, Pettinato M, Bugarin C, Garanzini C, Savarese L, Leoni S, Cerrito MG, Leone BE, Gaipa G, Grassilli E, Papa M, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R. The TGF-β pathway is activated by 5-fluorouracil treatment in drug resistant colorectal carcinoma cells. Oncotarget 2017; 7:22077-91. [PMID: 26956045 PMCID: PMC5008345 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TGF-β pathway is generally associated with the processes of metastasis, angiogenesis and EMT in cancer. Very little is known, however, about the role of TGF-β in cancer drug resistance. In this work, we show a specific activation of the TGF-β pathway in consequence of chemotherapeutic treatment in in vivo and in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma. 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) was able to stimulate the activation of SMAD3 and the transcription of specific genes such as ACVRL1, FN1 and TGFB1. On the other hand, the specific inhibition of TGF-βRI was able to repress the 5FU-induced genes transcription and to restore the sensitivity of chemoresistant cells to the toxic action of the drug, by decreasing the expression of BCL2L1 and ID1 genes. The role of the TGF-β molecule in the chemoresistant colon carcinoma cells' response to 5FU was further demonstrated by conditioned medium (CM) experiments: CM from 5FU-treated chemoresistant cells was able to protect chemosensitive cells against the toxic action of 5FU. In conclusion, these findings showed the pivotal role of TGF-β pathway in colon cancer mechanisms of drug resistance suggesting new possible approaches in diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Romano
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Ludovica Santi
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Bianco
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Giuffrè
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Pettinato
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Cristina Bugarin
- M. Tettamanti Research Center, Pediatric Clinic, University of Milano Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Cristina Garanzini
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Leonilde Savarese
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Leoni
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cerrito
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Biagio Eugenio Leone
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gaipa
- M. Tettamanti Research Center, Pediatric Clinic, University of Milano Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Emanuela Grassilli
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Michele Papa
- Laboratory of Neuronal Networks, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900, Monza, Italy
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Chisci E, De Giorgi M, Zanfrini E, Testasecca A, Brambilla E, Cinti A, Farina L, Kutryb-Zajac B, Bugarin C, Villa C, Grassilli E, Combi R, Gaipa G, Cerrito MG, Rivolta I, Smolenski RT, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R. Simultaneous overexpression of human E5NT and ENTPD1 protects porcine endothelial cells against H 2O 2-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in vitro. Free Radic Biol Med 2017; 108:320-333. [PMID: 28389406 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and oxidative stress still limit the survival of cells and organs in xenotransplantation models. Ectonucleotidases play an important role in inflammation and IRI in transplantation settings. We tested the potential protective effects derived by the co-expression of the two main vascular ectonucleotidases, ecto-5'-nucleotidase (E5NT) and ecto nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1 (ENTPD1), in an in vitro model of H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. We produced a dicistronic plasmid (named pCX-DI-2A) for the co-expression of human E5NT and ENTPD1 by using the F2A technology. pCX-DI-2A-transfected porcine endothelial cells simultaneously overexpressed hE5NT and hENTPD1, which were correctly processed and localized on the plasma membrane. Furthermore, such co-expression system led to the synergistic enzymatic activity of hE5NT and hENTPD1 as shown by the efficient catabolism of pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic extracellular adenine nucleotides along with the enhanced production of the anti-inflammatory molecule adenosine. Interestingly, we found that the hE5NT/hENTPD1 co-expression system conferred protection to cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. pCX-DI-2A-transfected cells showed reduced activation of caspase 3/7 and cytotoxicity than mock-, hE5NT- and hENTPD1-transfected cells. Furthermore, pCX-DI-2A-transfected cells showed decreased H2O2-induced production of ROS as compared to the other control cell lines. The cytoprotective phenotype observed in pCX-DI-2A-transfected cells was associated with higher detoxifying activity of catalase as well as increased activation of the survival signaling molecules Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Our data add new insights to the protective effects of the combination of hE5NT and hENTPD1 against oxidative stress and constitute a proof of concept for testing this new genetic combination in pig-to-non-human primates xenotransplantation models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Chisci
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy; Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Elisa Zanfrini
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Angela Testasecca
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Elena Brambilla
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cinti
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Laura Farina
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Barbara Kutryb-Zajac
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Debinki 1, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Cristina Bugarin
- M. Tettamanti Research Center, Pediatric Clinic, University of Milano Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Chiara Villa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Emanuela Grassilli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Romina Combi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gaipa
- M. Tettamanti Research Center, Pediatric Clinic, University of Milano Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cerrito
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Ilaria Rivolta
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | | | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy.
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Corrado A, Lepori I, Miglietta S, Batoni S, Vitiello M, Evangelista M, Chisci E, Giovannoni R, Poliseno L, Gemignani F, Landi S. Abstract LB-282: Two different strategies of delivery CRISPR/Cas9 system to gene edit rs4644 SNP in LGALS3 gene. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-lb-282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Galectin-3 is a glycoprotein of 31KDa with a chimeric structure. It is encoded by a single gene, LGALS3, located on chromosome 14. Previous studies showed a relation between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs4644, c.191C>A, p.Pro64His) and the risk of cancer. In literature, some data show different results indicating that SNP could have different roles in base on the tissues. The aim of our study is to create isogenic cell lines that differ only for SNP permitting further studies about the function of SNP in different cancers. The “generation” of the cell lines is performed with a Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-associated Endonuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system. We have used two different strategies to deliver the system. In the first strategy, our aim was the reduction of the problem of efficiency of transfection that could depend on different cell lines. In fact, we have used the lentivirus method to deliver all components of the CRISPR/Cas9 on Nthy-Ori (normal thyroid tissue) and HCT 116 +/+ (colorectal cancer tissue) cells. Two different vectors (pCW-Cas9 and pLXgRNA) are used to build up the inducible CRISPR/Cas9 system and HR410PA-1 vector (transfected by Lipofectamine 3000) is used to knock-in. HR410PA-1 is a particular vector that facilities the homologous recombination (HR) to repair the double strand break. Moreover, to improve HR, we use also Scr7, which is an inhibitor of DNA IV ligase. In the second approach, we have used the double nickase system using two modified Cas9 vectors (SpCas9D10a) that produce only a single strand break. In this way, the problem of off-targets is notably reduced. In this approach, the knock-in is due to or single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) or HR410PA-1 vector. The first results show that some of the transfected cells are edited in a correct way. In the further steps, we will isolate the “positive clones” using the selection cassette in HR410PA-1 vector (GFP protein and/or puromycin) or the single cell dilution assay (1 cell/well) for the transfected cells with ssODNs.
Citation Format: Alda Corrado, Irene Lepori, Simona Miglietta, Simone Batoni, Marianna Vitiello, Monica Evangelista, Elisa Chisci, Roberto Giovannoni, Laura Poliseno, Federica Gemignani, Stefano Landi. Two different strategies of delivery CRISPR/Cas9 system to gene edit rs4644 SNP in LGALS3 gene [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-282. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-282
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marianna Vitiello
- 2Oncogenomics Unit, Istituto Toscano Tumori, c/o IFC-CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Laura Poliseno
- 2Oncogenomics Unit, Istituto Toscano Tumori, c/o IFC-CNR, Pisa, Italy
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Salerno D, Beretta GL, Zanchetta G, Brioschi S, Cristofalo M, Missana N, Nardo L, Cassina V, Tempestini A, Giovannoni R, Cerrito MG, Zaffaroni N, Bellini T, Mantegazza F. Platinum-Based Drugs and DNA Interactions Studied by Single-Molecule and Bulk Measurements. Biophys J 2017; 110:2151-61. [PMID: 27224480 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2016.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [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] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum-containing molecules are widely used as anticancer drugs. These molecules exert cytotoxic effects by binding to DNA through various mechanisms. The binding between DNA and platinum-based drugs hinders the opening of DNA, and therefore, DNA duplication and transcription are severely hampered. Overall, impeding the above-mentioned important DNA mechanisms results in irreversible DNA damage and the induction of apoptosis. Several molecules, including multinuclear platinum compounds, belong to the family of platinum drugs, and there is a body of research devoted to developing more efficient and less toxic versions of these compounds. In this study, we combined different biophysical methods, including single-molecule assays (magnetic tweezers) and bulk experiments (ultraviolet absorption for thermal denaturation) to analyze the differential stability of double-stranded DNA in complex with either cisplatin or multinuclear platinum agents. Specifically, we analyzed how the binding of BBR3005 and BBR3464, two representative multinuclear platinum-based compounds, to DNA affects its stability as compared with cisplatin binding. Our results suggest that single-molecule approaches can provide insights into the drug-DNA interactions that underlie drug potency and provide information that is complementary to that generated from bulk analysis; thus, single-molecule approaches have the potential to facilitate the selection and design of optimized drug compounds. In particular, relevant differences in DNA stability at the single-molecule level are demonstrated by analyzing nanomechanically induced DNA denaturation. On the basis of the comparison between the single-molecule and bulk analyses, we suggest that transplatinated drugs are able to locally destabilize small portions of the DNA chain, whereas other regions are stabilized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giovanni L Beretta
- Dipartimento di Oncologia Sperimentale e Medicina Molecolare, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuliano Zanchetta
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Translazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Italy
| | - Simone Brioschi
- School of Medicine, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Natalia Missana
- School of Medicine, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Luca Nardo
- School of Medicine, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Valeria Cassina
- School of Medicine, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Nadia Zaffaroni
- Dipartimento di Oncologia Sperimentale e Medicina Molecolare, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Tommaso Bellini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Translazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Segrate, Italy
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Caria P, Pillai R, Dettori T, Frau DV, Zavattari P, Riva G, Romano G, Pani F, Bentivegna A, Giovannoni R, Pagni F, Sogos V, Vanni R. Thyrospheres from B-CPAP Cell Line with BRAF and TERT Promoter Mutations have Different Functional and Molecular Features than Parental Cells. J Cancer 2017; 8:1629-1639. [PMID: 28775782 PMCID: PMC5535718 DOI: 10.7150/jca.18855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human thyroid cancer derived cell lines are widely used to study the mechanisms involved in thyroid carcinogenesis. However, there is limited availability of non-cross-contaminated cancer cell lines derived from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and the B-CPAP cell line is one of the few such lines. B-CPAP cells have been genetically and cytogenetically well-characterized, but details of their stemness features remain uncertain. Considering that this cell line is extensively used for in vitro studies on thyroid tumorigenesis, we broaden its functional and molecular profiles as well as the tumorigenic capacity. We used functional assays (sphere-forming capacity and efficiency), assessed self-renewal and propagation efficiency and tested in vivo tumorigenicity in Hsd:Athymic Nude-Foxn1nu mice. Expression of markers of stemness, differentiation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were estimated at RNA and protein levels in adherent parental cells and sphere-forming cells. Functional aspects and stemness features were compared with normal thyrocytes. Protein expression of xenograft tumors was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. B-CPAP sphere-forming cells were able to form thyrospheres theoretically indefinitely in an appropriate serum-free medium, reverting to the adherent parental cell phenotype when cultured in differentiation medium. Different expression of ALDH1-A1 and CD44 stemness markers and TTF-1 and CK19 differentiation markers allowed discrimination between isolated sphere-forming cells and adherent parental cells, indicating that sphere-forming cells retained stem-like features. In keeping with these observations, tumorigenicity assays confirmed that, relative to parental adherent cells, thyrospheres had enhanced capacity to initiate xenograft tumors. Thyrospheres from normal cell line retained very low functional capacity, as well as different stemness markers expression compared to tumor thyrospheres. Our findings may constitute a useful background to develop an in vitro model for assessing the origin and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma bearing BRAFV600E and TERT promoter mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Caria
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Rita Pillai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Tinuccia Dettori
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | | | | | - Gabriele Riva
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Gabriele Romano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Fabiana Pani
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | | | | | - Fabio Pagni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Valeria Sogos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberta Vanni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
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Cerrito MG, Pelizzoni D, De Giorgi M, Digiacomo N, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R, Bidoli P, Cazzaniga ME. Is metronomic vinorelbine (mVRL) able to inhibit both HUVEC and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells? The proof-of-concept VICTOR-0 study. J Clin Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.e14014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
e14014 Background: TNBC represents an important clinical challenge because of poor prognosis. One of the emerging strategy to achieve disease control while reducing toxicity is metronomic chemotherapy (mCHT) which targets the endothelial cells (ECs) and inhibits the tumor growth. mVRL is a promising option in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), resulting in a median PFS of 7.7 months and median OS of 15.9. To better explain the effect of mVRL we studied the effects of metronomic doses of VRL in in vitro models and compared them with standard doses of the same drug. Methods: Cell viability and cytotoxicity assays were performed on TNBC cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). Cell lines were exposed to different concentration (0,01nM-1mM) of VRL for 4 and 96 h. To simulate the metronomic dosing schedule, we replaced the drug-enriched medium every 24h, while to simulate the conventional administration protocol (sCHT) cells were exposed to VRL for 4h, then the medium was changed and replaced with fresh medium without drug every 24 h. The IC50was calculated by non-linear regression fit of the mean values of data obtained in triplicate experiments. Results: A significant anti-proliferative activity was observed on both HUVEC and MDA cells treated with VRL in mCHT as compared to sCHT protocol (see Table). These lower drug concentrations did not have remarkable effects on cell death. Conversely, the higher dose utilized in sCHT produced important cell death in MDA as well as in HUVEC, even if in vivo, the higher dose of drug inducing the largest apoptosis of cancer cells also affectd healthy proliferating cells causing toxicity. Our findings suggest that mCHT inhibited the proliferation of both endothelial and tumour cells and can block cancer progression with minor side effects. Conclusions: This study provides the proof-of-concept that metronomic doses of VRL, but not the standard ones, are able to inhibit, at the same concentration, both the ECs and the TNBC cells. The clinical trial TEMPO-BREAST, which compares metronomic vs standard VRL, is ongoing in MBC pts. [Table: see text]
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Ženka J, Caisová V, Uher O, Nedbalová P, Kvardová K, Masáková K, Krejčová G, Paďouková L, Jochmanová I, Wolf KI, Chmelař J, Kopecký J, Loumagne L, Mestadier J, D’agostino S, Rohaut A, Ruffin Y, Croize V, Lemaître O, Sidhu SS, Althammer S, Steele K, Rebelatto M, Tan T, Wiestler T, Spitzmueller A, Korn R, Schmidt G, Higgs B, Li X, Shi L, Jin X, Ranade K, Koeck S, Amann A, Gamerith G, Zwierzina M, Lorenz E, Zwierzina H, Kern J, Riva M, Baert T, Coosemans A, Giovannoni R, Radaelli E, Gsell W, Himmelreich U, Van Ranst M, Xing F, Qian W, Dong C, Xu X, Guo S, Shi Q, Quandt D, Seliger B, Plett C, Amberger DC, Rabe A, Deen D, Stankova Z, Hirn A, Vokac Y, Werner J, Krämer D, Rank A, Schmid C, Schmetzer H, Guerin M, Weiss JM, Regnier F, Renault G, Vimeux L, Peranzoni E, Feuillet V, Thoreau M, Guilbert T, Trautmann A, Bercovici N, Amberger DC, Doraneh-Gard F, Boeck CL, Plett C, Gunsilius C, Kugler C, Werner J, Schmohl J, Kraemer D, Ismann B, Rank A, Schmid C, Schmetzer HM, Markota A, Ochs C, May P, Gottschlich A, Gosálvez JS, Karches C, Wenk D, Endres S, Kobold S, Hilmenyuk T, Klar R, Jaschinski F, Gamerith G, Augustin F, Lorenz E, Manzl C, Hoflehner E, Moser P, Zelger B, Köck S, Amann A, Kern J, Schäfer G, Öfner D, Maier H, Zwierzina H, Sopper S, Prado-Garcia H, Romero-Garcia S, Sandoval-Martínez R, Puerto-Aquino A, Lopez-Gonzalez J, Rumbo-Nava U, Klar R, Hilmenyuk T, Jaschinski F, Coosemans A, Baert T, Van Hoylandt A, Busschaert P, Vergote I, Baert T, Van Hoylandt A, Busschaert P, Vergote I, Coosemans A, Laengle J, Pilatova K, Budinska E, Bencsikova B, Sefr R, Nenutil R, Brychtova V, Fedorova L, Hanakova B, Zdrazilova-Dubska L, Allen C, Ku YC, Tom W, Sun Y, Pankov A, Looney T, Hyland F, Au-Young J, Mongan A, Becker A, Tan JBL, Chen A, Lawson K, Lindsey E, Powers JP, Walters M, Schindler U, Young S, Jaen JC, Yin S, Chen Y, Gullo I, Gonçalves G, Pinto ML, Athelogou M, Almeida G, Huss R, Oliveira C, Carneiro F, Merz C, Sykora J, Hermann K, Hussong R, Richards DM, Fricke H, Hill O, Gieffers C, Pinho MP, Barbuto JAM, McArdle SE, Foulds G, Vadakekolathu JN, Abdel-Fatah TMA, Johnson C, Hood S, Moseley P, Rees RC, Chan SYT, Pockley AG, Rutella S, Geppert C, Hartmann A, Kumar KS, Gokilavani M, Wang S, Merz C, Richards DM, Sykora J, Redondo-Müller M, Heinonen K, Marschall V, Thiemann M, Fricke H, Gieffers C, Hill O, Zhang L, Mao B, Jin Y, Zhai G, Li Z, Wang Z, Qian W, An X, Qiao M, Zhang J, Shi Q, Weber J, Kluger H, Halaban R, Sznol M, Roder H, Roder J, Grigorieva J, Asmellash S, Oliveira C, Meyer K, Steingrimsson A, Blackmon S, Sullivan R, Boeck CL, Amberger DC, Doraneh-Gard F, Sutanto W, Guenther T, Schmohl J, Schuster F, Salih H, Babor F, Borkhardt A, Schmetzer H, Kim Y, Oh I, Park C, Ahn S, Na K, Song S, Choi Y, Fedorova L, Poprach A, Lakomy R, Selingerova I, Demlova R, Pilatova K, Kozakova S, Valik D, Petrakova K, Vyzula R, Zdrazilova-Dubska L, Aguilar-Cazares D, Galicia-Velasco M, Camacho-Mendoza C, Islas-Vazquez L, Chavez-Dominguez R, Gonzalez-Gonzalez C, Prado-Garcia H, Lopez-Gonzalez JS, Yang S, Moynihan KD, Noh M, Bekdemir A, Stellacci F, Irvine DJ, Volz B, Kapp K, Oswald D, Wittig B, Schmidt M, Chavez-Dominguez R, Aguilar-Cazares D, Prado-Garcia H, Islas-Vazquez L, Lopez-Gonzalez JS, Kleef R, Bohdjalian A, McKee D, Moss RW, Saeed M, Zalba S, Debets R, ten Hagen TLM, Javed S, Becher J, Koch-Nolte F, Haag F, Gordon EM, Sankhala KK, Stumpf N, Tseng W, Chawla SP, Suárez NG, Báez GB, Rodríguez MC, Pérez AG, García LC, Fernández DH, Pous JR, Ramírez BS, Jacoberger-Foissac C, Saliba H, Seguin C, Brion A, Frisch B, Fournel S, Heurtault B, Otterhaug T, Håkerud M, Nedberg A, Edwards V, Selbo P, Høgset A, Jaitly T, Dörrie J, Schaft N, Gross S, Schuler-Thurner B, Gupta S, Taher L, Schuler G, Vera J, Rataj F, Kraus F, Grassmann S, Chaloupka M, Lesch S, Heise C, Endres S, Kobold S, Cadilha BML, Dorman K, Heise C, Rataj F, Endres S, Kobold S. Abstracts from the 4th ImmunoTherapy of Cancer Conference. J Immunother Cancer 2017. [PMCID: PMC5374589 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-017-0219-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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Cilibrasi C, Riva G, Romano G, Cadamuro M, Bazzoni R, Butta V, Paoletta L, Dalprà L, Strazzabosco M, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R, Bentivegna A. Resveratrol Impairs Glioma Stem Cells Proliferation and Motility by Modulating the Wnt Signaling Pathway. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169854. [PMID: 28081224 PMCID: PMC5231344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [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: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a grade IV astrocytoma and the most common form of malignant brain tumor in adults. GBM remains one of the most fatal and least successfully treated solid tumors: current therapies provide a median survival of 12–15 months after diagnosis, due to the high recurrence rate. Glioma Stem Cells (GSCs) are believed to be the real driving force of tumor initiation, progression and relapse. Therefore, better therapeutic strategies GSCs-targeted are needed. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in fruits and vegetables displaying pleiotropic health benefits. Many studies have highlighted its chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic activities in a wide range of solid tumors. In this work, we analyzed the effects of Resveratrol exposure on cell viability, proliferation and motility in seven GSC lines isolated from GBM patients. For the first time in our knowledge, we investigated Resveratrol impact on Wnt signaling pathway in GSCs, evaluating the expression of seven Wnt signaling pathway-related genes and the protein levels of c-Myc and β-catenin. Finally, we analyzed Twist1 and Snail1 protein levels, two pivotal activators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. Results showed that although response to Resveratrol exposure was highly heterogeneous among GSC lines, generally it was able to inhibit cell proliferation, increase cell mortality, and strongly decrease cell motility, modulating the Wnt signaling pathway and the EMT activators. Treatment with Resveratrol may represent a new interesting therapeutic approach, in order to affect GSCs proliferation and motility, even if further investigations are needed to deeply understand the GSCs heterogeneous response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cilibrasi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
- NeuroMI, Milan center of Neuroscience, University of Milano Bicocca, Dept. of Neurology and Neuroscience, San Gerardo Hospital, via Pergolesi, Monza, Italy
| | - Gabriele Riva
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
- NeuroMI, Milan center of Neuroscience, University of Milano Bicocca, Dept. of Neurology and Neuroscience, San Gerardo Hospital, via Pergolesi, Monza, Italy
| | - Gabriele Romano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
- PhD Program in Translational and Molecular Medicine (DIMET), University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Cadamuro
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bazzoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Valentina Butta
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Laura Paoletta
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Leda Dalprà
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Mario Strazzabosco
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
| | - Angela Bentivegna
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, Monza, Italy
- NeuroMI, Milan center of Neuroscience, University of Milano Bicocca, Dept. of Neurology and Neuroscience, San Gerardo Hospital, via Pergolesi, Monza, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Ianzano L, Bonomo S, Cialdella A, Pisano F, Cerrito M, Carola M, McLean C, Romano G, Giovannoni R, Agostini M, Nitti D, Voest E, Helin K, Lavitrano M, Grassilli E. p65BTK targeting restores the apoptotic response to chemotherapy of p53-null drug-resistant colon cancer cells. Eur J Cancer 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(16)33016-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Grassilli E, Pisano F, Cialdella A, Bonomo S, Missaglia C, Cerrito MG, Masiero L, Ianzano L, Giordano F, Cicirelli V, Narloch R, D'Amato F, Noli B, Ferri GL, Leone BE, Stanta G, Bonin S, Helin K, Giovannoni R, Lavitrano M. A novel oncogenic BTK isoform is overexpressed in colon cancers and required for RAS-mediated transformation. Oncogene 2016; 35:4368-78. [PMID: 26804170 PMCID: PMC4994017 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is essential for B-cell proliferation/differentiation and it is generally believed that its expression and function are limited to bone marrow-derived cells. Here, we report the identification and characterization of p65BTK, a novel isoform abundantly expressed in colon carcinoma cell lines and tumour tissue samples. p65BTK protein is expressed, through heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK)-dependent and internal ribosome entry site-driven translation, from a transcript containing an alternative first exon in the 5'-untranslated region, and is post-transcriptionally regulated, via hnRNPK, by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. p65BTK is endowed with strong transforming activity that depends on active signal-regulated protein kinases-1/2 (ERK1/2) and its inhibition abolishes RAS transforming activity. Accordingly, p65BTK overexpression in colon cancer tissues correlates with ERK1/2 activation. Moreover, p65BTK inhibition affects growth and survival of colon cancer cells. Our data reveal that BTK, via p65BTK expression, is a novel and powerful oncogene acting downstream of the RAS/MAPK pathway and suggest that its targeting may be a promising therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Grassilli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- BiOnSil srl, Monza, Italy
| | - F Pisano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- BiOnSil srl, Monza, Italy
| | - A Cialdella
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- BiOnSil srl, Monza, Italy
| | - S Bonomo
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - C Missaglia
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - M G Cerrito
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - L Masiero
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - L Ianzano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - F Giordano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - V Cicirelli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - R Narloch
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - F D'Amato
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - B Noli
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - G L Ferri
- NEF-Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - B E Leone
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - G Stanta
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy
| | - S Bonin
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Trieste, Italy
| | - K Helin
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Epigenetics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Stem Cell Center (Danstem), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - M Lavitrano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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Conconi D, Redaelli S, Bovo G, Leone BE, Filippi E, Ambrosiani L, Cerrito MG, Grassilli E, Giovannoni R, Dalprà L, Lavitrano M. Unexpected frequency of genomic alterations in histologically normal colonic tissue from colon cancer patients. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:13831-13842. [PMID: 27481518 PMCID: PMC5097093 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5181-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As shown by genomic studies, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous disease, where copy number alterations (CNAs) may greatly vary among different patients. To explore whether CNAs may be present also in histologically normal tissues from patients affected by CRC, we performed CGH + SNP Microarray on 15 paired tumoral and normal samples. Here, we report for the first time the occurrence of CNAs as a common feature of the histologically normal tissue from CRC patients, particularly CNAs affecting different oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes, including some not previously reported in CRC and others known as being involved in tumor progression. Moreover, from the comparison of normal vs paired tumoral tissue, we were able to identify three groups: samples with an increased number of CNAs in tumoral vs normal tissue, samples with a similar number of CNAs in both tissues, and samples with a decrease of CNAs in tumoral vs normal tissue, which may be likely due to a selection of the cell population within the tumor. In conclusion, our approach allowed us to uncover for the first time an unexpected frequency of genetic alteration in normal tissue, suggesting that tumorigenic genetic lesions are already present in histologically normal colonic tissue and that the use in array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) studies of normal samples as reference for the paired tumors can lead to misrepresented genomic data, which may be incomplete or limited, especially if used for the research of target molecules for personalized therapy and for the possible correlation with clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Conconi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy.
| | - Serena Redaelli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Giorgio Bovo
- Unit of Pathology, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Biagio Eugenio Leone
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy.,Section of Pathology, Desio Hospital, Desio, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria Grazia Cerrito
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Emanuela Grassilli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Leda Dalprà
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy.,Medical Genetics Laboratory, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900, Monza, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Liver Cancer Program, Divisions of Liver Diseases and Hematology/Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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Grassilli E, Pisano F, Cialdella A, Bonomo S, Missaglia C, Cerrito MG, Masiero L, Ianzano L, Narloch R, D'Amato F, Noli B, Ferri GL, Leone BE, Stanta G, Bonin S, Helin K, Giovannoni R, Lavitrano M. Abstract B121: A novel oncogenic BTK isoform is overexpressed in colon cancers and required for RAS-mediated transformation. Mol Cancer Ther 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-15-b121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
It is known that Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is essential for B-cell proliferation/differentiation and it is generally believed that its expression and function are limited to bone marrow-derived cells. Here, we report the identification and characterization of p65BTK, a novel oncogenic isoform expressed in colon carcinomas.
Standard procedures were used for cloning the full length p65BTK-encoding mRNA and raise anti-p65BTK specific polyclonal antibodies. Quantitative PCR, western blot, RNA immunoprecipitation, silencing experiments and fluorescence assay upon transfection with bi-cistronic vectors were used to demonstrate post-transcriptional regulation of p65BTK expression. Immunohystochemistry was employed to study p65BTK expression in colon cancer patients specimens. Soft agar assay and foci assay were carried out to assess p65BTK oncogenic properties. Cell growth, cell viability and colony assays were performed to study the effects of p65BTK inhibition (by a specific kinase inhibitor) on colon cancer cells biology.
We found that p65BTK differs from the already known 77 kDa isoform for the lack of the N-terminal PH domain and is translated - through an IRES-dependent mechanism -from a transcript containing an alternative first exon in the 5'UTR. Moreover, p65BTK mRNA translation requires phosho-hnRNPK binding to its cognate sites (located in the alternative first exon) and is post-transcriptionally regulated, via hnRNPK, by the MAPK pathway. We demonstrate that p65BTK is endowed with strong transforming activity that depends on active ERK1/2 and its inhibition abolishes RAS transforming activity. Accordingly, p65BTK overexpression in colon cancer tissues correlates with ERK1/2 activation. Finally we show that p65BTK inhibition affects growth and survival of colon cancer cells.
In conclusion, our data reveal that BTK, via p65BTK expression, is a novel and powerful oncogene acting downstream of the RAS/MAPK pathway and suggest that its targeting may be a promising therapeutic approach.
Citation Format: Emanuela Grassilli, Fabio Pisano, Annamaria Cialdella, Sara Bonomo, Carola Missaglia, Maria Grazia Cerrito, Laura Masiero, Leonarda Ianzano, Robert Narloch, Filomena D'Amato, Barbara Noli, Gian Luca Ferri, Biagio E. Leone, Giorgio Stanta, Serena Bonin, Kristian Helin, Roberto Giovannoni, Marialuisa Lavitrano. A novel oncogenic BTK isoform is overexpressed in colon cancers and required for RAS-mediated transformation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B121.
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Cinti A, De Giorgi M, Chisci E, Arena C, Galimberti G, Farina L, Bugarin C, Rivolta I, Gaipa G, Smolenski RT, Cerrito MG, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R. Simultaneous Overexpression of Functional Human HO-1, E5NT and ENTPD1 Protects Murine Fibroblasts against TNF-α-Induced Injury In Vitro. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141933. [PMID: 26513260 PMCID: PMC4626094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Several biomedical applications, such as xenotransplantation, require multiple genes simultaneously expressed in eukaryotic cells. Advances in genetic engineering technologies have led to the development of efficient polycistronic vectors based on the use of the 2A self-processing oligopeptide. The aim of this work was to evaluate the protective effects of the simultaneous expression of a novel combination of anti-inflammatory human genes, ENTPD1, E5NT and HO-1, in eukaryotic cells. We produced an F2A system-based multicistronic construct to express three human proteins in NIH3T3 cells exposed to an inflammatory stimulus represented by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine which plays an important role during inflammation, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis and in the inflammatory response during ischemia/reperfusion injury in several organ transplantation settings. The protective effects against TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity and cell death, mediated by HO-1, ENTPD1 and E5NT genes were better observed in cells expressing the combination of genes as compared to cells expressing each single gene and the effect was further improved by administrating enzymatic substrates of the human genes to the cells. Moreover, a gene expression analyses demonstrated that the expression of the three genes has a role in modulating key regulators of TNF-α signalling pathway, namely Nemo and Tnfaip3, that promoted pro-survival phenotype in TNF-α injured cells. These results could provide new insights in the research of protective mechanisms in transplantation settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cinti
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Elisa Chisci
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Claudia Arena
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Gloria Galimberti
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Laura Farina
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Cristina Bugarin
- M. Tettamanti Research Center, Pediatric Clinic, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Ilaria Rivolta
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gaipa
- M. Tettamanti Research Center, Pediatric Clinic, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Ryszard Tom Smolenski
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Maria Grazia Cerrito
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Agostini M, Zangrando A, Pastrello C, D'Angelo E, Romano G, Giovannoni R, Giordan M, Maretto I, Bedin C, Zanon C, Digito M, Esposito G, Mescoli C, Lavitrano M, Rizzolio F, Jurisica I, Giordano A, Pucciarelli S, Nitti D. A functional biological network centered on XRCC3: a new possible marker of chemoradiotherapy resistance in rectal cancer patients. Cancer Biol Ther 2015; 16:1160-71. [PMID: 26023803 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2015.1046652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Preoperative chemoradiotherapy is widely used to improve local control of disease, sphincter preservation and to improve survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Patients enrolled in the present study underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy, followed by surgical excision. Response to chemoradiotherapy was evaluated according to Mandard's Tumor Regression Grade (TRG). TRG 3, 4 and 5 were considered as partial or no response while TRG 1 and 2 as complete response. From pretherapeutic biopsies of 84 locally advanced rectal carcinomas available for the analysis, only 42 of them showed 70% cancer cellularity at least. By determining gene expression profiles, responders and non-responders showed significantly different expression levels for 19 genes (P < 0.001). We fitted a logistic model selected with a stepwise procedure optimizing the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and then validated by means of leave one out cross validation (LOOCV, accuracy = 95%). Four genes were retained in the achieved model: ZNF160, XRCC3, HFM1 and ASXL2. Real time PCR confirmed that XRCC3 is overexpressed in responders group and HFM1 and ASXL2 showed a positive trend. In vitro test on colon cancer resistant/susceptible to chemoradioterapy cells, finally prove that XRCC3 deregulation is extensively involved in the chemoresistance mechanisms. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) analysis involving the predictive classifier revealed a network of 45 interacting nodes (proteins) with TRAF6 gene playing a keystone role in the network. The present study confirmed the possibility that gene expression profiling combined with integrative computational biology is useful to predict complete responses to preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with advanced rectal cancer.
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Key Words
- CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen
- CRT, Chemoradiotherapy
- DSB, Double-strand breaks
- Gy, Gray
- HT, High throughput
- PPI, Protein-protein interaction
- RC, Rectal cancer
- RIN, RNA integrity number
- SNP, Single nucleotide polymorphism
- SSB, Single-strand breaks
- XRCC3
- biological network
- integrated approach
- mRNA, mRNA
- microarray
- pCRT, Preoperative chemoradiotherapy
- preoperative chemoradiotherapy
- rectal cancer
- siRNA, Small interfering RNA
- treatment response
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Agostini
- a Department of Surgical , Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences ; Section of Surgery ; University of Padova ; Padua , Italy
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De Giorgi M, Cinti A, Pelikant-Malecka I, Chisci E, Lavitrano M, Giovannoni R, Smolenski RT. Co-expression of functional human Heme Oxygenase 1, Ecto-5′-Nucleotidase and ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 by “self-cleaving” 2A peptide system. Plasmid 2015; 79:22-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Bugiardini E, Rivolta I, Binda A, Soriano Caminero A, Cirillo F, Cinti A, Giovannoni R, Botta A, Cardani R, Wicklund M, Meola G. SCN4A mutation as modifying factor of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 phenotype. Neuromuscul Disord 2015; 25:301-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [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: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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De Giorgi M, Pelikant-Malecka I, Sielicka A, Slominska EM, Giovannoni R, Cinti A, Cerrito MG, Lavitrano M, Smolenski RT. Functional analysis of expression of human ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 and/or ecto-5'-nucleotidase in pig endothelial cells. Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids 2015; 33:313-8. [PMID: 24940685 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2014.896466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adenine nucleosides and nucleotides are important signaling molecules involved in control of key mechanisms of xenotransplant rejection. Extracellular pathway that converts ATP and ADP to AMP, and AMP to adenosine mainly mediated by ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase 1, (ENTPD1 or CD39) and ecto-5'-nucleotidase (E5NT or CD73) respectively, is considered as important target for xenograft protection. To clarify feasibility of combined expression of human ENTPD1 and E5NT and to study its functional effect we transfected pig endothelial cell line (PIEC) with both genes together. To do this we have produced a dicistronic construct bearing F2A sequence in frame between human E5NT and human ENTPD1 coding sequences. PIEC cells were mock-transfected as transfection control or transfected with plasmids encoding human ENTPD1 or human E5NT. PIEC cells were exposed to 50 μM ATP or 50 μM ADP or 50 μM AMP. Conversion of extracellular substrates into products (ATP/ADP/AMP/adenosine) was measured by HPLC in the media collected at specific time intervals. Following addition of AMP, production of adenosine in the medium of E5NT/ENTPD1- and E5NT- transfected cells increased to 14.2±1.1 and 24.5±3.4 μM respectively while it remained below 1 μM in controls and in ENTPD1-transfected cells. A marked increase of adenosine formation from ADP or ATP was observed only in E5NT/ENTPD1-transfected cells (11.7±0.1 and 5.7±2.2 μM respectively) but not in any other condition studied. This study indicates feasibility and functionality of combined expression of human E5NT and ENTPD1 in pig endothelial cells using F2A sequence bearing construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- M De Giorgi
- a Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine , University of Milano-Bicocca , Milano , Italy
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Grassilli E, Ianzano L, Bonomo S, Missaglia C, Cerrito MG, Giovannoni R, Masiero L, Lavitrano M. GSK3A is redundant with GSK3B in modulating drug resistance and chemotherapy-induced necroptosis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100947. [PMID: 24984063 PMCID: PMC4077702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 alpha (GSK3A) and beta (GSK3B) isoforms are encoded by distinct genes, are 98% identical within their kinase domain and perform similar functions in several settings; however, they are not completely redundant and, depending on the cell type and differentiative status, they also play unique roles. We recently identified a role for GSK3B in drug resistance by demonstrating that its inhibition enables necroptosis in response to chemotherapy in p53-null drug-resistant colon carcinoma cells. We report here that, similarly to GSK3B, also GSK3A silencing/inhibition does not affect cell proliferation or cell cycle but only abolishes growth after treatment with DNA-damaging chemotherapy. In particular, blocking GSK3A impairs DNA repair upon exposure to DNA-damaging drugs. As a consequence, p53-null cells overcome their inability to undergo apoptosis and mount a necroptotic response, characterized by absence of caspase activation and RIP1-independent, PARP-dependent AIF nuclear re-localization. We therefore conclude that GSK3A is redundant with GSK3B in regulating drug-resistance and chemotherapy-induced necroptosis and suggest that inhibition of only one isoform, or rather partial inhibition of overall cellular GSK3 activity, is enough to re-sensitize drug-resistant cells to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Grassilli
- Department of Surgery and Traslational Medicine, Medical School, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
- BiOnSil srl, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
- * E-mail: (EG); (ML)
| | - Leonarda Ianzano
- Department of Surgery and Traslational Medicine, Medical School, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
| | - Sara Bonomo
- Department of Surgery and Traslational Medicine, Medical School, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
| | - Carola Missaglia
- Department of Surgery and Traslational Medicine, Medical School, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cerrito
- Department of Surgery and Traslational Medicine, Medical School, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberto Giovannoni
- Department of Surgery and Traslational Medicine, Medical School, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
| | - Laura Masiero
- Department of Surgery and Traslational Medicine, Medical School, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- Department of Surgery and Traslational Medicine, Medical School, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza, Italy
- * E-mail: (EG); (ML)
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Grassilli E, Narloch R, Federzoni E, Ianzano L, Pisano F, Giovannoni R, Romano G, Masiero L, Leone BE, Bonin S, Donada M, Stanta G, Helin K, Lavitrano M. Inhibition of GSK3B bypass drug resistance of p53-null colon carcinomas by enabling necroptosis in response to chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:3820-31. [PMID: 23729362 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-3289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Evasion from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis due to p53 loss strongly contributes to drug resistance. Identification of specific targets for the treatment of drug-resistant p53-null tumors would therefore increase the effectiveness of cancer therapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN By using a kinase-directed short hairpin RNA library and HCT116p53KO drug-resistant colon carcinoma cells, glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3B) was identified as a target whose silencing bypasses drug resistance due to loss of p53. p53-null colon cancer cell lines with different sets of mutations were used to validate the role of GSK3B in sustaining resistance and to characterize cell death mechanisms triggered by chemotherapy when GSK3B is silenced. In vivo xenograft studies were conducted to confirm resensitization of drug-resistant cells to chemotherapy upon GSK3 inhibition. Colon cancer samples from a cohort of 50 chemotherapy-treated stage II patients were analyzed for active GSK3B expression. RESULTS Downregulation of GSK3B in various drug-resistant p53-null colon cancer cell lines abolished cell viability and colony growth after drug addition without affecting cell proliferation or cell cycle in untreated cells. Cell death of 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-treated p53-null GSK3B-silenced colon carcinoma cells occurred via PARP1-dependent and AIF-mediated but RIP1-independent necroptosis. In vivo studies showed that drug-resistant xenograft tumor mass was significantly reduced only when 5FU was given after GSK3B inhibition. Tissue microarray analysis of colon carcinoma samples from 5FU-treated patients revealed that GSK3B is significantly more activated in drug-resistant versus responsive patients. CONCLUSIONS Targeting GSK3B, in combination with chemotherapy, may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Grassilli
- Department of Surgery and Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.
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Abstract
The transgenic technologies represent potent biotechnological tools that allow the generation of genetically modified animals useful for basic research and for biomedical, veterinary, and agricultural applications. Among transgenic techniques, we describe here the sperm-mediated gene transfer methods that is gene transfer based on the spontaneous ability of sperm cells to bind and internalize exogenous DNA and to carry it to oocyte during fertilization, producing genetically modified animals with high efficiency.
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Tempestini A, Cassina V, Brogioli D, Ziano R, Erba S, Giovannoni R, Cerrito MG, Salerno D, Mantegazza F. Magnetic tweezers measurements of the nanomechanical stability of DNA against denaturation at various conditions of pH and ionic strength. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 41:2009-19. [PMID: 23248010 PMCID: PMC3561983 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks1206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The opening of DNA double strands is extremely relevant to several biological functions, such as replication and transcription or binding of specific proteins. Such opening phenomenon is particularly sensitive to the aqueous solvent conditions in which the DNA molecule is dispersed, as it can be observed by considering the classical dependence of DNA melting temperature on pH and salt concentration. In the present work, we report a single-molecule study of the stability of DNA against denaturation when subjected to changes in solvent. We investigated the appearance of DNA instability under specific external applied force and imposed twist values, which was revealed by an increase in the temporal fluctuations in the DNA extension. These fluctuations occur in the presence of a continuous interval of equilibrium states, ranging from a plectonemic state to a state characterized by denaturation bubbles. In particular, we observe the fluctuations only around a characteristic force value. Moreover, this characteristic force is demonstrated to be notably sensitive to variations in the pH and ionic strength. Finally, an extension of a theoretical model of plectoneme formation is used to estimate the average denaturation energy, which is found to be linearly correlated to the melting temperature of the DNA double strands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Tempestini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, Monza (MB) 20900, Italy
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Musumeci R, Rausa M, Giovannoni R, Cialdella A, Bramati S, Sibra B, Giltri G, Viganò F, Cocuzza CE. Prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated in a teaching hospital of northern Italy. Microb Drug Resist 2011; 18:33-41. [PMID: 21711147 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2010.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants in uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from inpatients and outpatients in a teaching hospital of northern Italy. The presence of qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr, and qepA was evaluated in 76 and 72 nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli, isolated in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Positivity for the aac(6')-Ib-cr gene was demonstrated in 3 of 76 (3.9%) and 8 of 72 (11%) isolates, respectively; no other PMQR determinant was found. All aac(6')-Ib-cr-positive strains also showed two point mutations in the gyrA and parC genes. Most aac(6')-Ib-cr-positive isolates demonstrated the contemporary presence of bla(CTX-M-15), bla(OXA-1/30), and bla(TEM-1) genes and 4/11 harbored a class 1 integron with a dfrA17-aadA5 gene cassette arrangement. Interestingly, all aac(6')-Ib-cr-positive isolates belonged to B2 phylogenetic group, O25b antigen type, multi locus sequence type 131, and to a cluster of approximately 70% similarity level by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). These findings suggest the circulation of the previously described intercontinentally spreading E. coli O25:H4-ST131 clone in our geographical area since 2004. Hybridization studies of the PFGE profiles showed the aac(6')-Ib-cr gene to be associated with different molecular weight bands (40-350 kb) and interestingly aac(6')-Ib-cr chromosomal integration was demonstrated in one strain by I-Ceu I method. This represents the first report to investigate the presence and diffusion of PMQR determinants in northern Italy and to describe aac(6')-Ib-cr chromosomal integration in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Musumeci
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Prevention, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza (MB), Italy
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Mussolino C, della Corte M, Rossi S, Viola F, Di Vicino U, Marrocco E, Neglia S, Doria M, Testa F, Giovannoni R, Crasta M, Giunti M, Villani E, Lavitrano M, Bacci ML, Ratiglia R, Simonelli F, Auricchio A, Surace EM. AAV-mediated photoreceptor transduction of the pig cone-enriched retina. Gene Ther 2011; 18:637-45. [PMID: 21412286 PMCID: PMC3131697 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent success in clinical trials supports the use of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors for gene therapy of retinal diseases caused by defects in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In contrast, evidence of the efficacy of AAV-mediated gene transfer to retinal photoreceptors, the major site of inherited retinal diseases, is less robust. In addition, although AAV-mediated RPE transduction appears efficient, independently of the serotype used and species treated, AAV-mediated photoreceptor gene transfer has not been systematically investigated thus so far in large animal models, which also may allow identifying relevant species-specific differences in AAV-mediated retinal transduction. In the present study, we used the porcine retina, which has a high cone/rod ratio. This feature allows to properly evaluate both cone and rod photoreceptors transduction and compare the transduction characteristics of AAV2/5 and 2/8, the two most efficient AAV vector serotypes for photoreceptor targeting. Here we show that AAV2/5 and 2/8 transduces both RPE and photoreceptors. AAV2/8 infects and transduces photoreceptor more efficiently than AAV2/5, similarly to what we have observed in the murine retina. The use of the photoreceptor-specific rhodopsin promoter restricts transgene expression to porcine rods and cones, and results in photoreceptor transduction levels similar to those obtained with the ubiquitous promoters tested. Finally, immunological, toxicological and biodistribution studies support the safety of AAV subretinal administration to the large porcine retina. The data presented here on AAV-mediated transduction of the cone-enriched porcine retina may affect the development of gene-based therapies for rare and common severe photoreceptor diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Mussolino
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Naples, Italy
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