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Ardino C, Sannio F, Poli G, Galati S, Dreassi E, Botta L, Docquier JD, D'Agostino I. An update on antibacterial AlkylGuanidino Ureas: Design of new derivatives, synergism with colistin and data analysis of the whole library. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116362. [PMID: 38574637 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents one of the most challenging global Public Health issues, with an alarmingly increasing rate of attributable mortality. This scenario highlights the urgent need for innovative medicinal strategies showing activity on resistant isolates (especially, carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci) yielding new approaches for the treatment of bacterial infections. We previously reported AlkylGuanidino Ureas (AGUs) with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and a putative membrane-based mechanism of action. Herein, new tetra- and mono-guanidino derivatives were designed and synthesized to expand the structure-activity relationships (SARs) and, thereby, tested on the same panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The membrane-active mechanism of selected compounds was then investigated through molecular dynamics (MD) on simulated bacterial membranes. In the end, the newly synthesized series, along with the whole library of compounds (more than 70) developed in the last decade, was tested in combination with subinhibitory concentrations of the last resort antibiotic colistin to assess putative synergistic or additive effects. Moreover, all the AGUs were subjected to cheminformatic and machine learning analyses to gain a deeper knowledge of the key features required for bioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ardino
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Filomena Sannio
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Viale Mario Bracci 16, I-53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, I-56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, I-56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Dreassi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Botta
- Lead Discovery Siena s.r.l., Via Vittorio Alfieri 31, I-53019, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Italy; Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università snc, I-01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Jean-Denis Docquier
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Viale Mario Bracci 16, I-53100, Siena, Italy; Lead Discovery Siena s.r.l., Via Vittorio Alfieri 31, I-53019, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Italy
| | - Ilaria D'Agostino
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, I-53100, Siena, Italy; Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno Pisano 6, I-56126, Pisa, Italy.
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2
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Di Stefano M, Galati S, Piazza L, Granchi C, Mancini S, Fratini F, Macchia M, Poli G, Tuccinardi T. VenomPred 2.0: A Novel In Silico Platform for an Extended and Human Interpretable Toxicological Profiling of Small Molecules. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:2275-2289. [PMID: 37676238 PMCID: PMC11005041 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The application of artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) methods is becoming increasingly popular in computational toxicology and drug design; it is considered as a promising solution for assessing the safety profile of compounds, particularly in lead optimization and ADMET studies, and to meet the principles of the 3Rs, which calls for the replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal testing. In this context, we herein present the development of VenomPred 2.0 (http://www.mmvsl.it/wp/venompred2/), the new and improved version of our free of charge web tool for toxicological predictions, which now represents a powerful web-based platform for multifaceted and human-interpretable in silico toxicity profiling of chemicals. VenomPred 2.0 presents an extended set of toxicity endpoints (androgenicity, skin irritation, eye irritation, and acute oral toxicity, in addition to the already available carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, hepatotoxicity, and estrogenicity) that can be evaluated through an exhaustive consensus prediction strategy based on multiple ML models. Moreover, we also implemented a new utility based on the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method that allows human interpretable toxicological profiling of small molecules, highlighting the features that strongly contribute to the toxicological predictions in order to derive structural toxicophores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriana Di Stefano
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department
of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Piazza
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Carlotta Granchi
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Simone Mancini
- Department
of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Fratini
- Department
of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Macchia
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Poli
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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3
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Di Stefano M, Masoni S, Bononi G, Poli G, Galati S, Gado F, Manzi S, Vagaggini C, Brai A, Caligiuri I, Asif K, Rizzolio F, Macchia M, Chicca A, Sodi A, Di Bussolo V, Minutolo F, Meier P, Gertsch J, Granchi C, Dreassi E, Tuccinardi T. Design, synthesis, ADME and biological evaluation of benzylpiperidine and benzylpiperazine derivatives as novel reversible monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 263:115916. [PMID: 37976705 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The degradation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol is mediated by the enzyme monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), thus generating arachidonic acid, the precursor of prostaglandins and other pro-inflammatory mediators. MAGL also contributes to the hydrolysis of monoacylglycerols into glycerol and fatty acids in peripheral body districts, which may act as pro-tumorigenic signals. For this reason, MAGL inhibitors have been considered as interesting therapeutic agents for their anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. So far, only a limited series of reversible MAGL inhibitors, which are devoid of side effects shown by irreversible inhibitors in animal models, have been reported. Here we optimized a class of benzylpiperidine and benzylpiperazine-based compounds for a reversible MAGL inhibition. The best MAGL inhibitors of this class, compounds 28 and 29, showed a very good inhibition potency, both on the isolated enzyme and in U937 cells, as confirmed by molecular modeling studies that predicted their binding mode into the MAGL active site. Both compounds are characterized by a high selectivity for MAGL versus other serine hydrolases including enzymes of the endocannabinoid system, as confirmed by ABPP experiments in mouse brain membranes. Moreover, very good properties concerning ADME parameters and low in vivo toxicity have been observed for both compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriana Di Stefano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro, 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Samuele Masoni
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Bononi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Gado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Manzi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Vagaggini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro, 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Annalaura Brai
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro, 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Isabella Caligiuri
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Kanwal Asif
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University, 30123, Venezia, Italy
| | - Flavio Rizzolio
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081, Aviano, Italy; Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca' Foscari University, 30123, Venezia, Italy
| | - Marco Macchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Chicca
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Sodi
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Eye Clinic, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Valeria Di Bussolo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Minutolo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing of the University of Pisa (CISUP), Lungarno Pacinotti 43, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Philip Meier
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jürg Gertsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carlotta Granchi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing of the University of Pisa (CISUP), Lungarno Pacinotti 43, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Elena Dreassi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro, 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing of the University of Pisa (CISUP), Lungarno Pacinotti 43, 56126, Pisa, Italy
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4
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Galati S, Di Stefano M, Bertini S, Granchi C, Giordano A, Gado F, Macchia M, Tuccinardi T, Poli G. Identification of New GSK3β Inhibitors through a Consensus Machine Learning-Based Virtual Screening. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17233. [PMID: 38139062 PMCID: PMC10743990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417233] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays key roles in glycogen metabolism, Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade, synaptic modulation, and multiple autophagy-related signaling pathways. GSK3β is an attractive target for drug discovery since its aberrant activity is involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. In the present study, multiple machine learning models aimed at identifying novel GSK3β inhibitors were developed and evaluated for their predictive reliability. The most powerful models were combined in a consensus approach, which was used to screen about 2 million commercial compounds. Our consensus machine learning-based virtual screening led to the identification of compounds G1 and G4, which showed inhibitory activity against GSK3β in the low-micromolar and sub-micromolar range, respectively. These results demonstrated the reliability of our virtual screening approach. Moreover, docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies were employed for predicting reliable binding modes for G1 and G4, which represent two valuable starting points for future hit-to-lead and lead optimization studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Galati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (S.B.); (C.G.); (M.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Miriana Di Stefano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (S.B.); (C.G.); (M.M.); (G.P.)
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Bertini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (S.B.); (C.G.); (M.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Carlotta Granchi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (S.B.); (C.G.); (M.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA;
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Gado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Marco Macchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (S.B.); (C.G.); (M.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (S.B.); (C.G.); (M.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (S.B.); (C.G.); (M.M.); (G.P.)
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5
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Amato N, Caverzasio S, Manconi M, Staedler C, Kaelin-Lang A, Galati S. Slow wave activity across sleep-night could predict levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15468. [PMID: 37726375 PMCID: PMC10509191 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42604-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A disruption in the slow wave activity (SWA) mediated synaptic downscaling process features Parkinson's disease (PD) patients presenting levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). To corroborate the role of SWA in LID development, 15 PD patients with LID, who underwent a polysomnography before LID's appearance, were included. Slow wave sleep epochs were extracted, combined and segmented into early and late sleep. SWA power was calculated. A linear regression model established that the SWA overnight decrease could predict the time to the emergence of LID. Our finding supports the link between SWA-mediated synaptic downscaling and the development of LID. If confirmed, it could pave the way to the study of possible sleep targeted therapies able to protect PD patients from LID development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ninfa Amato
- Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, EOC, Via Tesserete 46, 6903, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Serena Caverzasio
- Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, EOC, Via Tesserete 46, 6903, Lugano, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Mauro Manconi
- Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, EOC, Via Tesserete 46, 6903, Lugano, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Freiburgstrasse 18, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Staedler
- Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, EOC, Via Tesserete 46, 6903, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Alain Kaelin-Lang
- Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, EOC, Via Tesserete 46, 6903, Lugano, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, Lugano, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Freiburgstrasse 18, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, EOC, Via Tesserete 46, 6903, Lugano, Switzerland.
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università Della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, Lugano, Switzerland.
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Galati S, Di Stefano M, Macchia M, Poli G, Tuccinardi T. MolBook UNIPI─Create, Manage, Analyze, and Share Your Chemical Data for Free. J Chem Inf Model 2023. [PMID: 37358197 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00278] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Here, we present MolBook UNIPI, freely available and user-friendly software specifically designed for medicinal chemists as a powerful tool for the easy management of virtual libraries of chemical compounds. With MolBook UNIPI, it is possible to create, store, handle, and share molecular databases in a very simple and intuitive way. The software allows users to rapidly generate libraries of bioactive ligands, building blocks, or commercial compounds by either manually creating single molecules or automatically importing compounds from public databases and pre-existing libraries. MolBook UNIPI databases can be enriched with all kinds of data and can be filtered based on molecular structures or properties, allowing the desired molecules, along with their structures and features, to be easily accessible in just a few clicks. Moreover, new molecular properties and potential toxicological effects of compounds can be rapidly and reliably predicted. Notably, all of these functions can be easily mastered even by inexperienced users, with no prior cheminformatics knowledge or programming skills, which makes MolBook UNIPI an invaluable tool for medicinal chemists. MolBook UNIPI can be downloaded free of charge from the project web page https://molbook.farm.unipi.it/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Galati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Miriana Di Stefano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Macchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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7
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Troia A, Galati S, Vighetto V, Cauda V. Piezo/sono-catalytic activity of ZnO micro/nanoparticles for ROS generation as function of ultrasound frequencies and dissolved gases. Ultrason Sonochem 2023; 97:106470. [PMID: 37302265 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We report an accurate study on sonocatalytic properties of different ZnO micro and nanoparticles to enhance OH radical production activated by cavitation. In order to investigate some of the still unsolved aspects related to the piezocatalytic effect, the degradation of Methylene Blue and quantification of radicals production have been evaluated as function of different ultrasonic frequencies (20 kHz and 858 kHz) and dissolved gases (Ar, N2 and air). The results shown that at low frequency the catalytic effect of ZnO particles is well evident and influenced by particle dimension while at high frequency a reduction of the degradation efficiency have been observed using larger particles. An increase of radical production have been observed for all ZnO particles tested while the different saturating gases have poor influence. In both ultrasonic set-up the ZnO nanoparticles resulted the most efficient on MB degradation revealing that the enhanced radical production may arise more from bubbles collapse on particles surface than the discharge mechanism activate by mechanical stress on piezoelectric particles. An interpretation of these effects and a possible mechanism which rules the sonocatalytic activity of ZnO will be proposed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Troia
- Ultrasounds and Chemistry Lab, Advanced Metrology for Quality of Life, Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Turin, Italy.
| | - S Galati
- Ultrasounds and Chemistry Lab, Advanced Metrology for Quality of Life, Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Turin, Italy
| | - V Vighetto
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Polytechnic of Turin, Italy
| | - V Cauda
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Polytechnic of Turin, Italy
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Galati S, Sainas S, Giorgis M, Boschi D, Lolli ML, Ortore G, Poli G, Tuccinardi T. Identification of Human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor by a Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening Study. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27123660. [PMID: 35744791 PMCID: PMC9228440 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27123660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) is an enzyme belonging to a flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent family involved in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, a key biological pathway for highly proliferating cancer cells and pathogens. In fact, hDHODH proved to be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia, multiple myeloma, and viral and bacterial infections; therefore, the identification of novel hDHODH ligands represents a hot topic in medicinal chemistry. In this work, we reported a virtual screening study for the identification of new promising hDHODH inhibitors. A pharmacophore-based approach combined with a consensus docking analysis and molecular dynamics simulations was applied to screen a large database of commercial compounds. The whole virtual screening protocol allowed for the identification of a novel compound that is endowed with promising inhibitory activity against hDHODH and is structurally different from known ligands. These results validated the reliability of the in silico workflow and provided a valuable starting point for hit-to-lead and future lead optimization studies aimed at the development of new potent hDHODH inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Galati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (G.O.); (T.T.)
| | - Stefano Sainas
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Marta Giorgis
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Donatella Boschi
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Marco L. Lolli
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (S.S.); (M.G.); (D.B.); (M.L.L.)
| | - Gabriella Ortore
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (G.O.); (T.T.)
| | - Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (G.O.); (T.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-221-9603
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (G.O.); (T.T.)
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Vacchi E, Lazzarini E, Pinton S, Chiaro G, Disanto G, Marchi F, Robert T, Staedler C, Galati S, Gobbi C, Barile L, Kaelin-Lang A, Melli G. Tau protein quantification in skin biopsies differentiates tauopathies from alpha-synucleinopathies. Brain 2022; 145:2755-2768. [PMID: 35485527 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal accumulation of microtubule-associated protein tau (τ) is a characteristic feature of atypical parkinsonisms with tauopathies such as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD). However, pathological τ has also been observed in α-synucleinopathies like Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Based on the involvement of peripheral nervous system in several neurodegenerative diseases, we characterized and compared τ expression in skin biopsies of patients clinically diagnosed with PD, MSA, PSP, CBD, and in healthy control subjects. In all groups, τ protein was detected along both somatosensory and autonomic nerve fibers in the epidermis and dermis by immunofluorescence. We found by western blot the presence of mainly two different bands at 55 and 70 KDa, co-migrating with 0N4R/1N3R and 2N4R isoforms, respectively. At the RNA level, the main transcript variants were 2N and 4R, and both resulted more expressed in PSP/CBD by real-time PCR. ELISA assay demonstrated significantly higher levels of total τ protein in skin lysates of PSP/CBD compared to the other groups. Multivariate regression analysis and ROC curves analysis of τ amount at both sites showed a clinical association with tauopathies diagnosis and high diagnostic value for PSP/CBD vs. PD (sensitivity 90%, specificity 69%) and PSP/CBD vs. MSA (sensitivity 90%, specificity 86%). τ protein increase correlated with cognitive impairment in PSP/CBD. This study is a comprehensive characterization of τ in the human cutaneous peripheral nervous system in physiologic and pathologic conditions. The differential expression of τ, both at transcript and protein levels, suggests that skin biopsy, an easily accessible and minimally invasive exam, can help in discriminating among different neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Vacchi
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Edoardo Lazzarini
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Theranostics, Cardiocentro Ticino Institute, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Pinton
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Giacomo Chiaro
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.,Neurology Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Giulio Disanto
- Neurology Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Marchi
- Neurosurgery Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Robert
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.,Neurosurgery Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Staedler
- Neurology Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.,Neurology Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Gobbi
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.,Neurology Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Lucio Barile
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.,Laboratory for Cardiovascular Theranostics, Cardiocentro Ticino Institute, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.,Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alain Kaelin-Lang
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.,Neurology Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Giorgia Melli
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.,Neurology Department, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
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10
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Galati S, Di Stefano M, Martinelli E, Macchia M, Martinelli A, Poli G, Tuccinardi T. VenomPred: A Machine Learning Based Platform for Molecular Toxicity Predictions. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042105. [PMID: 35216217 PMCID: PMC8877213 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of in silico toxicity prediction methods plays an important role in the selection of lead compounds and in ADMET studies since in vitro and in vivo methods are often limited by ethics, time, budget and other resources. In this context, we present our new web tool VenomPred, a user-friendly platform for evaluating the potential mutagenic, hepatotoxic, carcinogenic and estrogenic effects of small molecules. VenomPred platform employs several in-house Machine Learning (ML) models developed with datasets derived from VEGA QSAR, a software that includes a comprehensive collection of different toxicity models and has been used as a reference for building and evaluating our ML models. The results showed that our models achieved equal or better performance than those obtained with the reference models included in VEGA QSAR. In order to improve the predictive performance of our platform, we adopted a consensus approach combining the results of different ML models, which was able to predict chemical toxicity better than the single models. This improved method was thus implemented in the VenomPred platform, a freely accessible webserver that takes the SMILES (Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System) strings of the compounds as input and sends the prediction results providing a probability score about their potential toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Galati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (T.T.)
| | - Miriana Di Stefano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (T.T.)
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Elisa Martinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (T.T.)
| | - Marco Macchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (T.T.)
| | - Adriano Martinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (T.T.)
| | - Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (T.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-2219603
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.G.); (M.D.S.); (E.M.); (M.M.); (A.M.); (T.T.)
- Center for Biotechnology, Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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11
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Galati S, Yonchev D, Rodríguez-Pérez R, Vogt M, Tuccinardi T, Bajorath J. Predicting Isoform-Selective Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors via Machine Learning and Rationalizing Structural Features Important for Selectivity. ACS Omega 2021; 6:4080-4089. [PMID: 33585783 PMCID: PMC7876851 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c06153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) catalyze the physiological hydration of carbon dioxide and are among the most intensely studied pharmaceutical target enzymes. A hallmark of CA inhibition is the complexation of the catalytic zinc cation in the active site. Human (h) CA isoforms belonging to different families are implicated in a wide range of diseases and of very high interest for therapeutic intervention. Given the conserved catalytic mechanisms and high similarity of many hCA isoforms, a major challenge for CA-based therapy is achieving inhibitor selectivity for hCA isoforms that are associated with specific pathologies over other widely distributed isoforms such as hCA I or hCA II that are of critical relevance for the integrity of many physiological processes. To address this challenge, we have attempted to predict compounds that are selective for isoform hCA IX, which is a tumor-associated protein and implicated in metastasis, over hCA II on the basis of a carefully curated data set of selective and nonselective inhibitors. Machine learning achieved surprisingly high accuracy in predicting hCA IX-selective inhibitors. The results were further investigated, and compound features determining successful predictions were identified. These features were then studied on the basis of X-ray structures of hCA isoform-inhibitor complexes and found to include substructures that explain compound selectivity. Our findings lend credence to selectivity predictions and indicate that the machine learning models derived herein have considerable potential to aid in the identification of new hCA IX-selective compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Galati
- Department
of Life Science Informatics, B-IT, LIMES Program Unit Chemical Biology
and Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 6, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Dimitar Yonchev
- Department
of Life Science Informatics, B-IT, LIMES Program Unit Chemical Biology
and Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 6, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Raquel Rodríguez-Pérez
- Department
of Life Science Informatics, B-IT, LIMES Program Unit Chemical Biology
and Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 6, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Vogt
- Department
of Life Science Informatics, B-IT, LIMES Program Unit Chemical Biology
and Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 6, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- . Phone: 39-050-2219595
| | - Jürgen Bajorath
- Department
of Life Science Informatics, B-IT, LIMES Program Unit Chemical Biology
and Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 6, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
- . Phone: 49-228-7369-100
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12
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Picconi B, Galati S. Progress of clinical neuroscience in movement disorders: Technical and methodological developments. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 349:109034. [PMID: 33347901 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.109034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Picconi
- Università Telematica San Raffaele, Roma, Italy; Laboratoro Neurofisiologia Sperimentale, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Roma, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland - Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland.
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13
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De Deurwaerdère P, Galati S, Di Giovanni G. Mediterranean Neuroscience Methods 2019. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 348:109010. [PMID: 33242527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.109010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland - Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Malta; Neuroscience Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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14
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Stefani A, Cerroni R, Pierantozzi M, D’Angelo V, Grandi L, Spanetta M, Galati S. Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease patients and routine 6‐OHDA rodent models: Synergies and pitfalls. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 53:2322-2343. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Stefani
- Department of System Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome Italy
| | - Rocco Cerroni
- Department of System Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome Italy
| | - Mariangela Pierantozzi
- Department of System Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome Italy
| | - Vincenza D’Angelo
- Department of System Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome Italy
| | - Laura Grandi
- Center for Movement Disorders Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland Lugano Switzerland
| | - Matteo Spanetta
- Department of System Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Rome Italy
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Center for Movement Disorders Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland Lugano Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences Università della Svizzera Italiana Lugano Switzerland
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15
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Ratti PL, Faraci F, Hackethal S, Mascheroni A, Ferlito C, Caverzasio S, Amato N, Choe EK, Luo Y, Nunes-Ferreira PE, Galati S, Puiatti A, Kaelin-Lang A. A New Prospective, Home-Based Monitoring of Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease. J Parkinsons Dis 2020; 9:803-809. [PMID: 31476169 PMCID: PMC6839495 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-191662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Subjective symptoms, which are retrospectively assessed during clinical interviews in the office, may be influenced by patient recall in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Prospective collection of subjective data might be an effective tool to overcome this bias. Objective: We investigated the correspondence between prospectively and retrospectively assessed motor symptoms in PD. Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients (9 females, 67±9.8 years old) with mild to moderate PD reported their symptoms four times a day for two weeks, using the “SleepFit” application (app) for tablets. This app incorporates a new Visual Analogue Scale assessing global mobility (m-VAS), and the Scales for Outcome in Parkinson Assessment Diary Card (SCOPA-DC). At day 14, the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) parts II and IV questionnaires were completed at the hospital. Agreement (root mean square difference) and the tendency to under- or overestimate their symptoms by patients (relative difference after normalization) were calculated to compare prospectively vs. retrospectively collected information. Results: Although agreement was good for overall scores (m-VAS: 10.0%; SCOPA-DC: 18.3%), and for single motor symptoms (involuntary movements, hand dexterity, walking, changing position; each <20%), some individuals with more advanced disease, higher fatigue or worse sleep quality showed poor symptom recall in retrospect. Moreover, a subgroup of patients (16.7%) either over- or underestimated symptom severity. Conclusions: Regular, prospective monitoring of motor symptoms is suitable in PD patients. SleepFit might be a useful tool in routine practice to identify patients tending to under- or overestimate their symptoms, and for their follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro-Luca Ratti
- Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Regional Hospital of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland.,Clinical Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Neurology, Pierre Zobda-Quitman Hospital, University Hospitals of Martinique, Fort-de-France, Martinique, France
| | - Francesca Faraci
- Institute of Information Technology and Networking, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) - Galleria 2, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Hackethal
- Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Regional Hospital of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Mascheroni
- Institute of Information Technology and Networking, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) - Galleria 2, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Clara Ferlito
- Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Regional Hospital of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Serena Caverzasio
- Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Regional Hospital of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Ninfa Amato
- Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Regional Hospital of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Eun Kyoung Choe
- College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Yuhan Luo
- College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Salvatore Galati
- Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Regional Hospital of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Puiatti
- Institute of Information Technology and Networking, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) - Galleria 2, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Alain Kaelin-Lang
- Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Regional Hospital of Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland.,Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland.,Medical faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
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16
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Amato N, Caverzasio S, Galati S. Clinical implication of high-density EEG sleep recordings in Parkinson’s disease. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 340:108746. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Jha V, Galati S, Volpi V, Ciccone L, Minutolo F, Rizzolio F, Granchi C, Poli G, Tuccinardi T. Discovery of a new ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) inhibitor identified by a pharmacophore-based virtual screening study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:3996-4004. [PMID: 32448086 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1773314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is an important enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of citrate to acetyl-CoA in normal cells, facilitating the de novo fatty acid synthesis. Lipids and fatty acids were found to be accumulated in different types of tumors, such as brain, breast, rectal and ovarian cancer, representing a great source of energy for cancer cell growth and metabolism. Since ACLY-mediated conversion of citrate to acetyl-CoA constitutes the basis for fatty acid synthesis, ACLY seems to be quite an unexplored and promising therapeutic target for anticancer drug design. A pharmacophore-based virtual screening (VS) protocol with the aid of hierarchical docking, consensus docking (CD), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and ligand-protein binding free energy calculations led to the identification of compound VS1, which showed a moderate but promising inhibitory activity, demonstrating to be 2.5 times more potent than reference inhibitor 2-hydroxycitrate. These results validate the reliability of our VS workflow and pave the way for the design of novel and more potent ACLY inhibitors.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibhu Jha
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Valerio Volpi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lidia Ciccone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Flavio Rizzolio
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.,Department of Molecular science and Nanosystems, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Venice, Italy
| | | | - Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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18
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Di Giovanni G, Grandi LC, Fedele E, Orban G, Salvadè A, Song W, Cuboni E, Stefani A, Kaelin-Lang A, Galati S. Acute and Chronic Dopaminergic Depletion Differently Affect Motor Thalamic Function. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082734. [PMID: 32326424 PMCID: PMC7215393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The motor thalamus (MTh) plays a crucial role in the basal ganglia (BG)-cortical loop in motor information codification. Despite this, there is limited evidence of MTh functionality in normal and Parkinsonian conditions. To shed light on the functional properties of the MTh, we examined the effects of acute and chronic dopamine (DA) depletion on the neuronal firing of MTh neurons, cortical/MTh interplay and MTh extracellular concentrations of glutamate (GLU) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in two states of DA depletion: acute depletion induced by the tetrodotoxin (TTX) and chronic denervation obtained by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), both infused into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in anesthetized rats. The acute TTX DA depletion caused a clear-cut reduction in MTh neuronal activity without changes in burst content, whereas the chronic 6-OHDA depletion did not modify the firing rate but increased the burst firing. The phase correlation analysis underscored that the 6-OHDA chronic DA depletion affected the MTh-cortical activity coupling compared to the acute TTX-induced DA depletion state. The TTX acute DA depletion caused a clear-cut increase of the MTh GABA concentration and no change of GLU levels. On the other hand, the 6-OHDA-induced chronic DA depletion led to a significant reduction of local GABA and an increase of GLU levels in the MTh. These data show that MTh is affected by DA depletion and support the hypothesis that a rebalancing of MTh in the chronic condition counterbalances the profound alteration arising after acute DA depletion state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta
- Neuroscience Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Laura Clara Grandi
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, 6900 Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Ernesto Fedele
- Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Pharmacy, Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gergely Orban
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, 6900 Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Agnese Salvadè
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, 6900 Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Wei Song
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, 6900 Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Cuboni
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta
| | - Alessandro Stefani
- Department of system medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Alain Kaelin-Lang
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, 6900 Taverne, Switzerland
- Medical Faculty, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, 6900 Taverne, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Center for Movement Disorders, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
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19
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Poli G, Galati S, Martinelli A, Supuran CT, Tuccinardi T. Development of a cheminformatics platform for selectivity analyses of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2020; 35:365-371. [PMID: 31854205 PMCID: PMC6968703 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2019.1705291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The selectivity for a specific human Carbonic Anhydrase (hCA) isoform is an important property a hCA inhibitor (CAI) should be endowed with, in order to constitute a valuable therapeutic tool for the treatment of a desired pathology. In this context, we developed a chemoinformatic platform that allows the analysis of the structure and selectivity profile of known CAIs reported in literature, with the aim of identifying structural motifs connected to ligand selectivity, thus providing useful guidelines for the design of novel ligands selective for the desired hCA isoform. The platform is able to perform ultrafast structure and selectivity analyses through ligand fingerprint similarity, with no need of structural information about the target receptor and ligands' binding mode. It is easily accessible to the non-expert user through the implementation of a KNIME Analytic Platform workflow and could be extended to analyze the selectivity profile of known ligands of different target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Poli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Claudiu T Supuran
- NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
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20
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Stefani A, Grandi LC, Galati S. Deep brain stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus modulates subthalamic pathological oscillations. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 128:49-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
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21
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Nowacki A, Galati S, Ai-Schlaeppi J, Bassetti C, Kaelin A, Pollo C. Pedunculopontine nucleus: An integrative view with implications on Deep Brain Stimulation. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 128:75-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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22
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Stefani A, Galati S. PPN-DBS: A utopic vision or a realistic perspective? Neurobiol Dis 2019; 128:1-2. [PMID: 30885790 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.03.011] [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: 11/28/2022] Open
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23
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Grandi LC, Di Giovanni G, Galati S. Reprint of “Animal models of early-stage Parkinson's disease and acute dopamine deficiency to study compensatory neurodegenerative mechanisms”. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 310:75-88. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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24
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Amato N, Manconi M, Möller JC, Sarasso S, Stanzione P, Staedler C, Kaelin-Lang A, Galati S. Levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson disease: Sleep matters. Ann Neurol 2018; 84:905-917. [DOI: 10.1002/ana.25360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ninfa Amato
- Sleep and Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland; Lugano Switzerland
| | - Mauro Manconi
- Sleep and Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland; Lugano Switzerland
| | - Jens C. Möller
- Parkinson Center; Zihlschlacht-Sitterdorf Switzerland
- Department of Neurology; Philipp University of Marburg; Marburg Germany
| | - Simone Sarasso
- L. Sacco Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; University of Milan; Milan Italy
| | - Paolo Stanzione
- Department of Medical Systems; University of Rome Tor Vergata; Rome Italy
| | - Claudio Staedler
- Sleep and Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland; Lugano Switzerland
| | - Alain Kaelin-Lang
- Sleep and Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland; Lugano Switzerland
- University of Italian Switzerland; Lugano Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Sleep and Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland; Lugano Switzerland
- University of Italian Switzerland; Lugano Switzerland
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Melli G, Vacchi E, Biemmi V, Galati S, Staedler C, Ambrosini R, Kaelin-Lang A. Cervical skin denervation associates with alpha-synuclein aggregates in Parkinson disease. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2018; 5:1394-1407. [PMID: 30480033 PMCID: PMC6243385 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Autonomic nervous system is involved at the onset of Parkinson disease (PD), and alpha‐synuclein (α‐Syn) and its phosphorylated form (p‐αSyn) have been detected in dermal autonomic nerve fibers of PD. We assessed disease specific conformation variant of α‐Syn immunoreactivity in cutaneous nerves and characterized skin denervation patterns in PD and atypical parkinsonism (AP). Methods We enrolled 49 subjects, 19 with PD, 17 age‐matched healthy controls, and 13 with AP. The manifestations of disease were rated on clinical scales. Skin biopsies from ankle, thigh, and neck were analyzed by immunofluorescence for p‐αSyn, 5G4 as a conformation specific antibody to pathogenic α‐Syn and PGP9.5 as axonal marker. Intraepidermal nerve fiber density was measured in all anatomical sites as marker of neurodegeneration. Thirteen of the 19 PD underwent a 1 year follow‐up visit plus skin biopsies. Results PD subjects displayed more severe cervical skin denervation (P < 0.03), which correlated to disease duration and worsened between initial and follow‐up examination (P < 0.001). p‐αSyn and 5G4 were equally sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of PD (area under the ROC was 0.839 for p‐αSyn and 0.886 for 5G4). PD and AP with possible alpha‐synucleinopathies share the features of marked cervical denervation and the presence of 5G4. In contrast AP with possible tauopathies were normal. Interpretation Conformational specific forms of α‐Syn are detectable in skin biopsy by immunofluorescence in PD, with a promising diagnostic efficiency similar to p‐αSyn. Cervical cutaneous denervation correlates with disease duration and increases over time standing out as a potential biomarker of PD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Melli
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via ai Söi 24. CH-6807 Torricella-Taverne Switzerland.,Neurology Department Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via Tesserete 46 CH-6900 Lugano Switzerland
| | - Elena Vacchi
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via ai Söi 24. CH-6807 Torricella-Taverne Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Biemmi
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via ai Söi 24. CH-6807 Torricella-Taverne Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via ai Söi 24. CH-6807 Torricella-Taverne Switzerland.,Neurology Department Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via Tesserete 46 CH-6900 Lugano Switzerland
| | - Claudio Staedler
- Neurology Department Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via Tesserete 46 CH-6900 Lugano Switzerland
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan Italy
| | - Alain Kaelin-Lang
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via ai Söi 24. CH-6807 Torricella-Taverne Switzerland.,Neurology Department Neurocentre of Southern Switzerland Via Tesserete 46 CH-6900 Lugano Switzerland.,Department of Neurology Inselspital Bern University Hospital University of Bern Freiburgstrasse 4,3010 Bern Switzerland
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Grandi LC, Kaelin-Lang A, Orban G, Song W, Salvadè A, Stefani A, Di Giovanni G, Galati S. Oscillatory Activity in the Cortex, Motor Thalamus and Nucleus Reticularis Thalami in Acute TTX and Chronic 6-OHDA Dopamine-Depleted Animals. Front Neurol 2018; 9:663. [PMID: 30210425 PMCID: PMC6122290 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The motor thalamus (MTh) and the nucleus reticularis thalami (NRT) have been largely neglected in Parkinson's disease (PD) research, despite their key role as interface between basal ganglia (BG) and cortex (Cx). In the present study, we investigated the oscillatory activity within the Cx, MTh, and NRT, in normal and different dopamine (DA)-deficient states. We performed our experiments in both acute and chronic DA-denervated rats by injecting into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) tetrodotoxin (TTX) or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), respectively. Interestingly, almost all the electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency bands changed in acute and/or chronic DA depletion, suggesting alteration of all oscillatory activities and not of a specific band. Overall, δ (2-4 Hz) and θ (4-8 Hz) band decreased in NRT and Cx in acute and chronic state, whilst, α (8-13 Hz) band decreased in acute and chronic states in the MTh and NRT but not in the Cx. The β (13-40 Hz) and γ (60-90 Hz) bands were enhanced in the Cx. In the NRT the β bands decreased, except for high-β (Hβ, 25-30 Hz) that increased in acute state. In the MTh, Lβ and Hβ decreased in acute DA depletion state and γ decreased in both TTX and 6-OHDA-treated animals. These results confirm that abnormal cortical β band are present in the established DA deficiency and it might be considered a hallmark of PD. The abnormal oscillatory activity in frequency interval of other bands, in particular the dampening of low frequencies in thalamic stations, in both states of DA depletion might also underlie PD motor and non-motor symptoms. Our data highlighted the effects of acute depletion of DA and the strict interplay in the oscillatory activity between the MTh and NRT in both acute and chronic stage of DA depletion. Moreover, our findings emphasize early alterations in the NRT, a crucial station for thalamic information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Grandi
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Alain Kaelin-Lang
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Taverne, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Gergely Orban
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Wei Song
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Agnese Salvadè
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Taverne, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Stefani
- Department System Medicine, UOSD Parkinson, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Neuroscience Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Taverne, Switzerland
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Di Giovanni G, Chagraoui A, Puginier E, Galati S, De Deurwaerdère P. Reciprocal interaction between monoaminergic systems and the pedunculopontine nucleus: Implication in the mechanism of L-DOPA. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 128:9-18. [PMID: 30149181 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is part of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) and has been involved in the control of gait, posture, locomotion, sleep, and arousal. It likely participates in some motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease and is regularly proposed as a surgical target to ameliorate gait, posture and sleep disorders in Parkinsonian patients. The PPN overlaps with the monoaminergic systems including dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline in the modulation of the above-mentioned functions. All these systems are involved in Parkinson's disease and the mechanism of the anti-Parkinsonian agents, mostly L-DOPA. This suggests that PPN interacts with monoaminergic neurons and vice versa. Some evidence indicates that the PPN sends cholinergic, glutamatergic and even gabaergic inputs to mesencephalic dopaminergic cells, with the data regarding serotonergic or noradrenergic cells being less well known. Similarly, the control exerted by the PPN on dopaminergic neurons, is multiple and complex, and more extensively explored than the other monoaminergic systems. The data on the influence of monoaminergic systems on PPN neuron activity are rather scarce. While there is evidence that the PPN influences the therapeutic response of L-DOPA, it is still difficult to discerne the reciprocal action of the PPN and monoaminergic systems in this action. Additional data are required to better understand the functional organization of monoaminergic inputs to the MLR including the PPN to get a clearer picture of their interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Department of Physiology & Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Neuroscience Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| | - Abdeslam Chagraoui
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, CHU Rouen, Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication Laboratory, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine of Normandy (IRIB), Rouen, France; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
| | - Emilie Puginier
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, CHU Rouen, Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication Laboratory, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine of Normandy (IRIB), Rouen, France; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Parkinson and movement Disorders Center Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Ospedale Civico di Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Philippe De Deurwaerdère
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Unité Mixte de Recherche 5287), 146 rue Léo Saignat, B.P.281, F-33000 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
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Stefani A, Cerroni R, Mazzone P, Liguori C, Di Giovanni G, Pierantozzi M, Galati S. Mechanisms of action underlying the efficacy of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson's disease: central role of disease severity. Eur J Neurosci 2018; 49:805-816. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Stefani
- Department of System Medicine UOSD Parkinson Center University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata viale Oxford 81 Rome 00133 Italy
| | - Rocco Cerroni
- Department of System Medicine UOSD Parkinson Center University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata viale Oxford 81 Rome 00133 Italy
| | | | - Claudio Liguori
- Department of System Medicine UOSD Parkinson Center University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata viale Oxford 81 Rome 00133 Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry Faculty of Medicine and Surgery University of Malta La Valletta Malta
| | - Mariangela Pierantozzi
- Department of System Medicine UOSD Parkinson Center University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata viale Oxford 81 Rome 00133 Italy
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Movement disorders service Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland Lugano Switzerland
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Grandi LC, Di Giovanni G, Galati S. Animal models of early-stage Parkinson's disease and acute dopamine deficiency to study compensatory neurodegenerative mechanisms. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 308:205-218. [PMID: 30107207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by a widely variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. While the motor deficits are only visible following a severe dopamine depletion, neurodegenerative process and some non-motor symptoms are manifested years before the motor deficits. Importantly, chronic degeneration of dopaminergic neurons leads to the development of compensatory mechanisms that play roles in the progression of the disease and the response to anti-parkinsonian therapies. The identification of these mechanisms will be of great importance for improving our understanding of factors with important contributions to the disease course and the underlying adaptive process. To date, most of the data obtained from animal models reflect the late, chronic, dopamine-depleted states, when compensatory mechanisms have already been established. Thus, adequate animal models with which researchers are able to dissect early- and late-phase mechanisms are necessary. Here, we reviewed the literature related to animal models of early-stage PD and pharmacological treatments capable of inducing acute dopamine impairments and/or depletion, such as reserpine, haloperidol and tetrodotoxin. We highlighted the advantages, limitations and the future prospective uses of these models, as well as their applications in the identification of novel agents for treating this neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Clara Grandi
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Di Giovanni
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Malta; Neuroscience Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Switzerland.
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Liguori C, Olivola E, Pierantozzi M, Cerroni R, Galati S, Saviozzi V, Mercuri NB, Stefani A. Cerebrospinal-fluid Alzheimer's Disease Biomarkers and Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity in a Natural Population of Cognitive Intact Parkinson's Disease Patients. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 2018; 16:339-345. [PMID: 27934563 DOI: 10.2174/1871527316666161205123123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal-fluid (CSF) Alzheimer's Disease (AD) biomarkers have been extensively studied in Parkinson's Disease (PD). Although reduced CSF beta-amyloid1-42 (Aβ42) levels have been associated with cognitive decline in PD, the alteration of CSF tau proteins remains controversial. In addition, the impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been previously demonstrated along the PD progression. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to assess CSF AD biomarkers and BBB integrity in a natural cohort of cognitive intact PD patients compared to matched controls. METHOD We measured and correlated CSF AD biomarkers and CSF/serum albumin ratio (expression of BBB integrity) in 124 PD patients and 46 controls. We distributed PD patients in three subgroups based on the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) staging: mild PD (1-1.5, n=40); moderate PD (2-2.5, n=58); advanced PD (3-5, n=26). PD patients were also distinguished as tremor dominant (TD, n=44) and non-tremor dominant (NTD, n=80). RESULTS PD patients showed lower CSF Aβ42 levels and higher CSF/serum albumin ratio compared to controls. CSF total tau (t-tau) concentrations as well as the CSF/serum albumin ratio gradually increased among H&Y stages. Conversely, we did not find differences between TD and NTD patients. Significantly, we documented the positive correlation between CSF t-tau levels and both CSF/serum albumin ratio and motor impairment in PD patients. CONCLUSION This study performed in cognitive intact PD patients confirms the progressive increase of CSF tau proteins levels and BBB impairment along with the evolution of PD pathology. Since the BBB ensures the clearance of tau proteins from brain, we hypothesize that the dysfunction of the BBB throughout the disease progression may possibly cause the concurrent increase of CSF tau proteins levels in PD, which could be irrespective of cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Liguori
- Department of Systems Medicine, Neurophysiopathology Unit, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome. Italy
| | - Enrica Olivola
- Department of Systems Medicine, Movement Disorders Centre, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome. Italy
| | - Mariangela Pierantozzi
- Department of Systems Medicine, Movement Disorders Centre, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome. Italy
| | - Rocco Cerroni
- Department of Systems Medicine, Movement Disorders Centre, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome. Italy
| | | | - Valentina Saviozzi
- Department of Systems Medicine, Movement Disorders Centre, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome. Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Stefani
- Movement Disorders Centre, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Viale Oxford, 81, 00133, Rome. Italy
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Caverzasio S, Amato N, Manconi M, Prosperetti C, Kaelin-Lang A, Hutchison WD, Galati S. Brain plasticity and sleep: Implication for movement disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 86:21-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Stefani A, Trendafilov V, Liguori C, Fedele E, Galati S. Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation on motor-symptoms of Parkinson's disease: Focus on neurochemistry. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 151:157-174. [PMID: 28159574 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a standard therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) and it is also currently under investigation for other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Although many scientific, clinical and ethical issues are still unresolved, DBS delivered into the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has improved the quality of life of several thousands of patients. The mechanisms underlying STN-DBS have been debated extensively in several reviews; less investigated are the biochemical consequences, which are still under scrutiny. Crucial and only partially understood, for instance, are the complex interplays occurring between STN-DBS and levodopa (LD)-centred therapy in the post-surgery follow-up. The main goal of this review is to address the question of whether an improved motor control, based on STN-DBS therapy, is also achieved through the additional modulation of other neurotransmitters, such as noradrenaline (NA) and serotonin (5-HT). A critical issue is to understand not only acute DBS-mediated effects, but also chronic changes, such as those involving cyclic nucleotides, capable of modulating circuit plasticity. The present article will discuss the neurochemical changes promoted by STN-DBS and will document the main results obtained in microdialysis studies. Furthermore, we will also examine the preliminary achievements of voltammetry applied to humans, and discuss new hypothetical investigational routes, taking into account novel players such as glia, or subcortical regions such as the pedunculopontine (PPN) area. Our further understanding of specific changes in brain chemistry promoted by STN-DBS would further disseminate its utilisation, at any stage of disease, avoiding an irreversible lesioning approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stefani
- Department of System Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - V Trendafilov
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences (LBN), Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland (NSI), Lugano, Switzerland
| | - C Liguori
- Department of System Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - E Fedele
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy
| | - S Galati
- Laboratory for Biomedical Neurosciences (LBN), Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland (NSI), Lugano, Switzerland.
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Stefani A, Pierantozzi M, Olivola E, Galati S, Cerroni R, D'Angelo V, Hainsworth AH, Saviozzi V, Fedele E, Liguori C. Homovanillic acid in CSF of mild stage Parkinson's disease patients correlates with motor impairment. Neurochem Int 2017; 105:58-63. [PMID: 28108196 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Revised: 12/31/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In Parkinson's disease (PD), several efforts have been spent in order to find biochemical parameters able to identify the progression of the pathological processes at the basis of the disease. It is already known that advanced PD patients manifesting dyskinesia are featured by the high homovanillic acid (HVA)/dopamine (DA) ratio, suggesting the increased turnover of DA in these patients. Less clear is whether similar changes affect mild and moderate stages of the disease (between 1 and 2.5 of Hoehn & Yahr -H&Y- stage). Hence, here we tested whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of DA and its major metabolites, either 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) or HVA, correlate with motor performance in mild and moderate PD patients. CSF samples were collected after 2 days of anti-PD drugs washout, via lumbar puncture (LP) performed 130 min following administration of oral levodopa (LD) dose (200 mg). LP timing was determined in light of our previous tests clarifying that 2 h after oral LD administration CSF DA concentration reaches a plateau, which was un-respective of PD stage or duration. DA, DOPAC and HVA were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography in a group of 19 patients, distributed in two groups on the basis of the H&Y stage with a cut-off of 1.5. In these PD patients, HVA was correlated with DOPAC (R = 0,56, p < 0,01) and both HVA and DOPAC CSF levels increased in parallel with the motor impairment. More importantly, HVA correlated with motor impairment measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Score -III (UPDRS) (R = 0.61; p < 0.0001). The present findings showed the early alteration of the DA pre-synaptic machinery, as documented by the progressive increase of CSF HVA concentrations, which also correlated with PD motor impairment. Therefore, we suggest the potential use of measuring the CSF HVA level as a possible biomarker of PD stage changes in order to monitor the effectiveness of PD-modifying pharmacological therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Stefani
- Movement Disorders Centre, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
| | - Mariangela Pierantozzi
- Movement Disorders Centre, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Enrica Olivola
- Movement Disorders Centre, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rocco Cerroni
- Movement Disorders Centre, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenza D'Angelo
- Movement Disorders Centre, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Atticus H Hainsworth
- Stroke & Dementia Research Centre, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Saviozzi
- Movement Disorders Centre, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Liguori
- Movement Disorders Centre, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
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Salvadè A, D'Angelo V, Di Giovanni G, Tinkhauser G, Sancesario G, Städler C, Möller JC, Stefani A, Kaelin-Lang A, Galati S. Distinct roles of cortical and pallidal β and γ frequencies in hemiparkinsonian and dyskinetic rats. Exp Neurol 2016; 275 Pt 1:199-208. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [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: 04/24/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Trendafilov V, Sarasso S, Moeller J, Staedler C, Kaelin-Lang A, Galati S. Synaptic homeostasis in Parkinson's disease: An high-density EEG study in different stage of the disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.10.389] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Orban G, Song W, Kaelin-Lang A, Galati S. Integration of cortical and basal ganglia inputs in motor thalamus of parkinsonian animal models. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.10.611] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Orban G, Song W, Kaelin-Lang A, Galati S. Integration of cortical and basal ganglia inputs in motor thalamus of parkinsonian animal models. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.10.451] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Rocchi C, Pierantozzi M, Galati S, Chiaravalloti A, Pisani V, Prosperetti C, Lauretti B, Stampanoni Bassi M, Olivola E, Schillaci O, Stefani A. Autonomic Function Tests and MIBG in Parkinson's Disease: Correlation to Disease Duration and Motor Symptoms. CNS Neurosci Ther 2015. [PMID: 26205884 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Disorders of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) have a variable degree of clinical relevance in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we assessed whether subclinical autonomic dysfunction, as evaluated by a complete battery of autonomic function tests (AFTs), correlates with PD progression. METHODS A series of 27 consecutive patients with PD underwent extensive ANS investigations including the head-up tilt test (HUTT), Valsalva maneuver, deep-breathing test, and handgrip test (HG); further, they performed 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy. RESULTS Seven of the 27 patients showed orthostatic hypotension (OH) at HUTT and pathological responses to the deep-breathing and HG test and Valsalva maneuver. The majority of the remaining 20 patients with PD showed pathological responses to deep-breathing (n = 13) and/or HG (n = 11). Only 3 of 27 suffered relevant OH. MIBG uptake of myocardium was decreased in 19 patients with PD (H/M ratio 1.3 ± 0.2). Prolonged clinical observation (>3 years), persistent response to levodopa, and MIBG repetition allowed us to exclude negative MIBG as attributable to atypical Parkinsonism. MIBG uptake did not correlate with OH and other AFTs. Both HG test response and MIBG did correlate with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score and disease duration. A positive correlation emerged between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) response to HG test and MIBG and with systolic blood pressure (SBP) response at tilt test. CONCLUSIONS Our investigation suggests that ANS impairment affects the majority of patients with PD, even those PD patients showing negative MIBG, irrespective of clinical neurovegetative symptoms. The strict correlation that has been revealed with disease progression supports the routine utilization of AFTs as a reliable and inexpensive tool for monitoring peripheral sympathetic dysfunction in PD and optimizing therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Rocchi
- Department of System Medicine, Neurology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Benedetta Lauretti
- Department of System Medicine, Neurology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | | | - Enrica Olivola
- Department of System Medicine, Neurology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Orazio Schillaci
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Stefani
- Department of System Medicine, Neurology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione S. Lucia, Rome, Italy
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Stefani A, Olivola E, Liguori C, Hainsworth AH, Saviozzi V, Angileri G, D'Angelo V, Galati S, Pierantozzi M. Catecholamine-Based Treatment in AD Patients: Expectations and Delusions. Front Aging Neurosci 2015; 7:67. [PMID: 25999852 PMCID: PMC4418272 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In Alzheimer disease, the gap between excellence of diagnostics and efficacy of therapy is wide. Despite sophisticated imaging and biochemical markers, the efficacy of available therapeutic options is limited. Here we examine the possibility that assessment of endogenous catecholamine levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may fuel new therapeutic strategies. In reviewing the available literature, we consider the effects of levodopa, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and noradrenaline (NE) modulators, showing disparate results. We present a preliminary assessment of CSF concentrations of dopamine (DA) and NE, determined by HPLC, in a small dementia cohort of either Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or frontotemporal dementia patients, compared to control subjects. Our data reveal detectable levels of DA, NE in CSF, though we found no significant alterations in the dementia population as a whole. AD patients exhibit a small impairment of the DA axis and a larger increase of NE concentration, likely to represent a compensatory mechanism. While waiting for preventive strategies, a pragmatic approach to AD may re-evaluate catecholamine modulation, possibly stratified to dementia subtypes, as part of the therapeutic armamentarium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Stefani
- Department of System Medicine, Università di Roma Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy ; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia , Rome , Italy
| | - Enrica Olivola
- Department of System Medicine, Università di Roma Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy
| | | | | | - Valentina Saviozzi
- Department of System Medicine, Università di Roma Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy
| | - Giacoma Angileri
- Department of System Medicine, Università di Roma Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy
| | - Vincenza D'Angelo
- Department of System Medicine, Università di Roma Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy
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Galati S, Salvadè A, Pace M, Sarasso S, Baracchi F, Bassetti CL, Kaelin-Lang A, Städler C, Stanzione P, Möller JC. Evidence of an association between sleep and levodopa-induced dyskinesia in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:1577-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2014] [Revised: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Brusa L, Orlacchio A, Stefani A, Galati S, Pierantozzi M, Iani C, Mercuri NB. Tetrabenazine improves levodopa-induced peak-dose dyskinesias in patients with Parkinson's disease. Funct Neurol 2013; 28:101-5. [PMID: 24125559 DOI: 10.11138/fneur/2013.28.2.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Since levodopa-induced peak dyskinesias (LIDs) may reflect, in part, a disproportionate phasic release of dopamine from synaptic vesicles, we examined the ability of the vesicular depletor tetrabenazine (TBZ) to reduce LIDs in 10 dyskinetic advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. After basal evaluation, the patients received, through a slow titration, oral TBZ twice a day for six weeks (up to 50 mg daily) before being re-assessed after a challenge with levodopa. The primary outcome measure was the change in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) dyskinesia score (items 32 to 34). TBZ was well tolerated. A clear treatment effect on LIDs emerged (up to 45%, p<0.05). In two patients a little worsening of motor performance necessitated an increase of the antiparkinsonian therapy, which did not worsen peak-dose LIDs. The patients experienced a clear benefit in terms of their quality of life. In this open-label pilot study, orally administered TBZ resulted in objective and subjective improvements in LIDs. Larger pharmacological studies are in progress.
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Mazzone P, Stocchi F, Galati S, Insola A, Altibrandi MG, Modugno N, Tropepi D, Brusa L, Stefani A. Bilateral Implantation of Centromedian-Parafascicularis Complex and GPi: A New Combination of Unconventional Targets for Deep Brain Stimulation in Severe Parkinson Disease. Neuromodulation 2013; 9:221-8. [PMID: 22151710 DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1403.2006.00063.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. Traditional deep brain stimulation (DBS) at the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has proved to be efficacious on core Parkinsonian symptoms. However, very disabling l-dopa-induced abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) and axial signs are slightly affected, suggesting that we target less conventional targets. Our candidates for DBS were the globus pallidus internus (GPi) plus the intralaminar thalamic complex (Pf or CM), given its extensive functional links with basal ganglia nuclei. Materials and Methods. The routine utilization of our innovative stereotactic apparatus allows us to implant, at the same time, both the CM-Pf complex together with the GPi in six Parkinson disease patients. Both intraoperative and postoperative neurophysiologic assessments helped us recognize functional subregions while optimizing implantation of electrodes. Unified Parkinson disease rating scale (UPDRS) motor scores, AIMs, and freezing were carefully blindly evaluated for each condition. Results. A significant amelioration of UPDRS scores was achieved by simultaneous activation of both targets. CM-Pf activation was only slightly effective in reducing rigidity and akinesia, but more efficacious on freezing. Not surprisingly, AIMs were peculiarly decreased by the activation of the permanent electro-catheter in the posteroventral GPi. Conclusions. These findings confirm that, in selected patients, it is conceivable to target structures other than the conventional STN in order to maximize clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Mazzone
- Unità Operativa di Neurochirurgia Funzionale e Stereotassica, Ospedale CTO, Roma, Italy; Institute of Neurology, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy; Clinica Neurologica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy; Unità Operativa di Neurologia, Ospedale S. Eugenio, ASL RMC, Roma, Italy; I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione S. Lucia, Roma, Italy
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Stefani A, Peppe A, Galati S, Bassi MS, D'Angelo V, Pierantozzi M. The serendipity case of the pedunculopontine nucleus low-frequency brain stimulation: chasing a gait response, finding sleep, and cognition improvement. Front Neurol 2013; 4:68. [PMID: 23761781 PMCID: PMC3672779 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2013.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [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: 08/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an efficacious therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD) but its effects on non-motor facets may be detrimental. The low-frequency stimulation (LFS) of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN or the nucleus tegmenti pedunculopontini – PPTg-) opened new perspectives. In our hands, PPTg-LFS revealed a modest influence on gait but increased sleep quality and degree of attentiveness. At odds with potential adverse events following STN-DBS, executive functions, under PPTg-ON, ameliorated. A recent study comparing both targets found that only PPTg-LFS improved night-time sleep and daytime sleepiness. Chances are that different neurosurgical groups influence either the PPN sub-portion identified as pars dissipata (more interconnected with GPi/STN) or the caudal PPN region known as pars compacta, preferentially targeting intralaminar and associative nucleus of the thalamus. Yet, the wide electrical field delivered affects a plethora of en passant circuits, and a fine distinction on the specific pathways involved is elusive. This review explores our angle of vision, by which PPTg-LFS activates cholinergic and glutamatergic ascending fibers, influencing non-motor behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Stefani
- Department of Neuroscience, "Tor Vergata" University , Rome , Italy ; IRCCS, Fondazione Santa Lucia , Rome , Italy
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Prosperetti C, Di Giovanni G, Stefani A, Möller JC, Galati S. Acute nigro-striatal blockade alters cortico-striatal encoding: an in vivo electrophysiological study. Exp Neurol 2013; 247:730-6. [PMID: 23537952 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Revised: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Spreading of slow cortical rhythms into the basal ganglia (BG) is a relatively well-demonstrated phenomenon in the Parkinsonian state, both in humans and animals. Accordingly, striatal dopamine (DA) depletion, either acute or chronic, drives cortical-globus pallidus (GP) and cortical-substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) slow wave coherences in urethane-anesthetized rats. This paper investigates the striatal dynamics following acute DA depletion by tetrodotoxin (TTX) injection in the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) with respect to the transmission of slow cortical rhythms throughout the BG in more detail. The acute DA depletion offers the advantage of detecting electrophysiological changes irrespectively of chronically developing compensatory mechanisms. We observed that the acute blockade of the dopaminergic nigro-striatal pathway reshapes the firing rate and pattern of the different striatal neuron subtypes according to cortical activity, possibly reflecting a remodeled intrastriatal network. The observed alterations differ amongst striatal neuronal subtypes with the striatal medium spiny neurons and fast-spiking neurons being the most affected, while the tonically active neurons seem to be less affected. These acute changes might contribute to the diffusion of cortical activity to BG and the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Prosperetti
- Experimental Laboratory, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
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Galati S, Moeller J, Ferrazzoli D. P3. Pathological synchronization of the rat basal ganglia following the functional blockade of the nigro-striatal pathway. Clin Neurophysiol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2012.03.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Galati S, Salvadè A, Bassetti C, Moeller C. 3.153 ROLE OF SLEEP HOMEOSTASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEVODOPA-INDUCED DYSKINESIA: A LOCAL-FIELD CORTICAL ACTIVITY STUDY IN THE 6-OHDA RAT. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s1353-8020(11)70869-0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Pierucci M, Galati S, Valentino M, Di Matteo V, Benigno A, Pitruzzella A, Muscat R, Di Giovanni G. Nitric Oxide Modulation of the Basal Ganglia Circuitry: Therapeutic Implication for Parkinson's Disease and Other Motor Disorders. CNSNDDT 2011; 10:777-91. [DOI: 10.2174/187152711798072329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2011] [Revised: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 09/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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