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Benazzato C, Lojudice F, Pöehlchen F, Leite PEC, Manucci AC, Van der Linden V, Jungmann P, Sogayar MC, Bruni-Cardoso A, Russo FB, Beltrão-Braga P. Zika virus vertical transmission induces neuroinflammation and synapse impairment in brain cells derived from children born with Congenital Zika Syndrome. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18002. [PMID: 39097642 PMCID: PMC11297915 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65392-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was first reported in 2015 in Brazil as causing microcephaly and other developmental abnormalities in newborns, leading to the identification of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Viral infections have been considered an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders outcome, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Moreover, not only the infection per se, but maternal immune system activation during pregnancy, has been linked to fetal neurodevelopmental disorders. To understand the impact of ZIKV vertical infection on brain development, we derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from Brazilian children born with CZS, some of the patients also being diagnosed with ASD. Comparing iPSC-derived neurons from CZS with a control group, we found lower levels of pre- and postsynaptic proteins and reduced functional synapses by puncta co-localization. Furthermore, neurons and astrocytes derived from the CZS group showed decreased glutamate levels. Additionally, the CZS group exhibited elevated levels of cytokine production, one of which being IL-6, already associated with the ASD phenotype. These preliminary findings suggest that ZIKV vertical infection may cause long-lasting disruptions in brain development during fetal stages, even in the absence of the virus after birth. These disruptions could contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders manifestations such as ASD. Our study contributes with novel knowledge of the CZS outcomes and paves the way for clinical validation and the development of potential interventions to mitigate the impact of ZIKV vertical infection on neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Benazzato
- Microbiology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB-II), University of São Paulo, Av. Prof Lineu Prestes, 1374, 2Nd Floor, Room 235, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Fernando Lojudice
- Cell and Molecular Therapy Center (NUCEL), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Felizia Pöehlchen
- Microbiology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB-II), University of São Paulo, Av. Prof Lineu Prestes, 1374, 2Nd Floor, Room 235, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
- Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Paulo Emílio Corrêa Leite
- Clinical Research Unit of the Antonio Pedro Hospital, Federal Fluminense University, Rio de Janeiro, 24220-900, Brazil
| | - Antonio Carlos Manucci
- Biochemistry Department, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | | | - Patricia Jungmann
- Pathology Department, University of Pernambuco, Recife, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Mari C Sogayar
- Cell and Molecular Therapy Center (NUCEL), School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, 01246-903, Brazil
- Biochemistry Department, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Bruni-Cardoso
- Biochemistry Department, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Fabiele B Russo
- Microbiology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB-II), University of São Paulo, Av. Prof Lineu Prestes, 1374, 2Nd Floor, Room 235, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Patricia Beltrão-Braga
- Microbiology Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB-II), University of São Paulo, Av. Prof Lineu Prestes, 1374, 2Nd Floor, Room 235, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
- Institute Pasteur of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lucio Martins Rodrigues 370, A-Building, 4Th Floor, São Paulo-SP, 05508-020, Brazil.
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2
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Lebeau G, Hoareau M, Rivière S, El Safadi D, Da Silva CR, Krejbich-Trotot P, Viranaicken W. Cell cycle and mitosis progression during ZIKA virus infection: The viral non-structural protein NS5 as a master regulator of the APC/cyclosome? Biochimie 2024; 221:75-80. [PMID: 38307244 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Alterations in cell cycle regulation contribute to Zika virus (ZIKV)-associated pathogenesis and may have implications for the development of therapeutic avenues. As a matter of fact, ZIKV alters cell cycle progression at multiple stages, including G1, S, G2, and M phases. During a cell cycle, the progression of mitosis is particularly controlled to avoid any abnormalities in cell division. In this regard, the critical metaphase-anaphase transition is triggered by the activation of anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) by its E3 ubiquitin ligase subunit Cdc20. Cdc20 recognizes substrates by interacting with a destruction box motif (D-box). Recently, the ZIKV nonstructural protein 5 (NS5), one of the most highly conserved flavivirus proteins, has been shown to localize to the centrosome in each pole and to spindle fibers during mitosis. Inducible expression of NS5 reveals an interaction of this viral factor with centrosomal proteins leading to an increase in the time required to complete mitosis. By analyzing the NS5 sequence, we discovered the presence of a D-box. Taken together, these data support the idea that, in addition to its role in viral replication, NS5 plays a critical role in the control of the cell cycle of infected cells and, more specifically, in the regulation of the mitotic spindle. Here we propose that the NS5 protein may interfere with the metaphase-anaphase progression, and thus cause the observed delay in mitosis via the regulation of APC/C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégorie Lebeau
- Université de la Réunion, INSERM U1187, CNRS UMR 9192, IRD UMR 249, Unité Mixte Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 94791, Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France
| | - Mathilde Hoareau
- Université de la Réunion, INSERM U1187, CNRS UMR 9192, IRD UMR 249, Unité Mixte Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 94791, Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France; Université de La Réunion, INSERM, UMR 1188 Diabète athérothombose Réunion Océan Indien (DéTROI), 97410, Saint-Pierre, France
| | - Sébastien Rivière
- Université de la Réunion, INSERM U1187, CNRS UMR 9192, IRD UMR 249, Unité Mixte Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 94791, Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France; Université de La Réunion, INSERM, UMR 1188 Diabète athérothombose Réunion Océan Indien (DéTROI), 97410, Saint-Pierre, France
| | - Daed El Safadi
- Université de la Réunion, INSERM U1187, CNRS UMR 9192, IRD UMR 249, Unité Mixte Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 94791, Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France
| | - Christine Robert Da Silva
- Université de La Réunion, INSERM, UMR 1188 Diabète athérothombose Réunion Océan Indien (DéTROI), 97410, Saint-Pierre, France
| | - Pascale Krejbich-Trotot
- Université de la Réunion, INSERM U1187, CNRS UMR 9192, IRD UMR 249, Unité Mixte Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 94791, Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France.
| | - Wildriss Viranaicken
- Université de la Réunion, INSERM U1187, CNRS UMR 9192, IRD UMR 249, Unité Mixte Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, Plateforme Technologique CYROI, 94791, Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion, France; Université de La Réunion, INSERM, UMR 1188 Diabète athérothombose Réunion Océan Indien (DéTROI), 97410, Saint-Pierre, France.
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3
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Trevisan M, Pianezzola A, Onorati M, Apolloni L, Pistello M, Arav-Boger R, Palù G, Mercorelli B, Loregian A. Human neural progenitor cell models to study the antiviral effects and neuroprotective potential of approved and investigational human cytomegalovirus inhibitors. Antiviral Res 2024; 223:105816. [PMID: 38286212 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the viral leading cause of congenital defects in newborns worldwide. Many aspects of congenital CMV (cCMV) infection, which currently lacks a specific treatment, as well as the main determinants of neuropathogenesis in the developing brain during HCMV infection are unclear. In this study, we modeled HCMV infection at different stages of neural development. Moreover, we evaluated the effects of both approved and investigational anti-HCMV drugs on viral replication and gene expression in two different neural progenitor cell lines, i.e., human embryonic stem cells-derived neural stem cells (NSCs) and fetus-derived neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells. Ganciclovir, letermovir, nitazoxanide, and the ozonide OZ418 reduced viral DNA synthesis and the production of infectious virus in both lines of neural progenitors. HCMV infection dysregulated the expression of genes that either are markers of neural progenitors, such as SOX2, NESTIN, PAX-6, or play a role in neurogenesis, such as Doublecortin. Treatment with antiviral drugs had different effects on HCMV-induced dysregulation of the genes under investigation. This study contributes to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cCMV neuropathogenesis and paves the way for further consideration of anti-HCMV drugs as candidate therapeutic agents for the amelioration of cCMV-associated neurological manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Trevisan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | - Anna Pianezzola
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Onorati
- Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Apolloni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Centro Retrovirus, Department of Translational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Ravit Arav-Boger
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Disease, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Arianna Loregian
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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Scotto G, Massa S, Spirito F, Fazio V. Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome: Microcephaly and Orofacial Anomalies. Life (Basel) 2023; 14:55. [PMID: 38255670 PMCID: PMC10820182 DOI: 10.3390/life14010055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The progressive reappearance of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections since October 2013 and its circulation in >70 countries and territories (from French Polynesia to Brazil and other countries in the Americas, with sporadic spread in Europe and the East) has long been reported as a global public health emergency. ZIKV is a virus transmitted by arthropods (arboviruses), mainly by Aedes mosquitoes. ZIKV can also be transmitted to humans through mechanisms other than vector infection such as sexual intercourse, blood transfusions, and mother-to-child transmission. The latter mode of transmission can give rise to a severe clinical form called congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), which can result in spontaneous abortion or serious pathological alterations in the fetus such as microcephaly or neurological and orofacial anomalies. In this study, beside a succinct overview of the etiological, microbiological, and epidemiological aspects and modes of transmission of Zika virus infections, we have focused our attention on the pathogenetic and histopathological aspects in pregnancy and the pathogenetic and molecular mechanisms that can determine microcephaly, and consequently the clinical alterations, typical of the fetus and newborns, in a subject affected by CZS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Scotto
- Infectious Diseases Unit, University Hospital “OORR” Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Salvatore Massa
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resource and Engineering, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Francesca Spirito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Vincenzina Fazio
- Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Virology Unit, University Hospital “OORR” Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
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Lai M, La Rocca V, Iacono E, Filipponi C, De Carli A, Favaro D, Fonnesu R, Filippini F, Spezia PG, Amato R, Catelli E, Matteo B, Lottini G, Onorati M, Clementi N, Freer G, Piomelli D, Pistello M. Inhibiting immunoregulatory amidase NAAA blocks ZIKV maturation in Human Neural Stem Cells. Antiviral Res 2023; 216:105664. [PMID: 37414288 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that lipids play a crucial role in viral infections beyond their traditional functions of supplying envelope and energy, and creating protected niches for viral replication. In the case of Zika virus (ZIKV), it alters host lipids by enhancing lipogenesis and suppressing β-oxidation to generate viral factories at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) interface. This discovery prompted us to hypothesize that interference with lipogenesis could serve as a dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory strategy to combat the replication of positive sense single-stranded RNA (ssRNA+) viruses. To test this hypothesis, we examined the impact of inhibiting N-Acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) on ZIKV-infected human Neural Stem Cells. NAAA is responsible for the hydrolysis of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in lysosomes and endolysosomes. Inhibition of NAAA results in PEA accumulation, which activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), directing β-oxidation and preventing inflammation. Our findings indicate that inhibiting NAAA through gene-editing or drugs moderately reduces ZIKV replication by approximately one log10 in Human Neural Stem Cells, while also releasing immature virions that have lost their infectivity. This inhibition impairs furin-mediated prM cleavage, ultimately blocking ZIKV maturation. In summary, our study highlights NAAA as a host target for ZIKV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Lai
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Centre for Instrumentation Sharing, University of Pisa (CISUP), Italy.
| | - Veronica La Rocca
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Iacono
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Carolina Filipponi
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro De Carli
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Domenico Favaro
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rossella Fonnesu
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Filippini
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rachele Amato
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Catelli
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Lottini
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, 53100, Italy
| | - Marco Onorati
- Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Nicola Clementi
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, 20100, Italy
| | - Giulia Freer
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-4625, United States
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Retrovirus Center, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
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Dell'Amico C, Angulo Salavarria MM, Takeo Y, Saotome I, Dell'Anno MT, Galimberti M, Pellegrino E, Cattaneo E, Louvi A, Onorati M. Microcephaly-associated protein WDR62 shuttles from the Golgi apparatus to the spindle poles in human neural progenitors. eLife 2023; 12:e81716. [PMID: 37272619 PMCID: PMC10241521 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
WDR62 is a spindle pole-associated scaffold protein with pleiotropic functions. Recessive mutations in WDR62 cause structural brain abnormalities and account for the second most common cause of autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH), indicating WDR62 as a critical hub for human brain development. Here, we investigated WDR62 function in corticogenesis through the analysis of a C-terminal truncating mutation (D955AfsX112). Using induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) obtained from a patient and his unaffected parent, as well as isogenic corrected lines, we generated 2D and 3D models of human neurodevelopment, including neuroepithelial stem cells, cerebro-cortical progenitors, terminally differentiated neurons, and cerebral organoids. We report that WDR62 localizes to the Golgi apparatus during interphase in cultured cells and human fetal brain tissue, and translocates to the mitotic spindle poles in a microtubule-dependent manner. Moreover, we demonstrate that WDR62 dysfunction impairs mitotic progression and results in alterations of the neurogenic trajectories of iPSC neuroderivatives. In summary, impairment of WDR62 localization and function results in severe neurodevelopmental abnormalities, thus delineating new mechanisms in the etiology of MCPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Dell'Amico
- Department of Biology, Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of PisaPisaItaly
| | | | - Yutaka Takeo
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Ichiko Saotome
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | | | - Maura Galimberti
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale Genetica MolecolareMilanItaly
| | - Enrica Pellegrino
- Department of Biology, Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of PisaPisaItaly
- Host-Pathogen Interactions in Tuberculosis Laboratory, The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
- INGM, Istituto Nazionale Genetica MolecolareMilanItaly
| | - Angeliki Louvi
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience, Yale School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Marco Onorati
- Department of Biology, Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of PisaPisaItaly
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Costa M, Vannini E. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Brain Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119469. [PMID: 37298419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The normal growth and operation of the central nervous system (CNS) at all stages of development, including adulthood, depend on the interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic factors [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Costa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Centro Pisano Ricerca e Implementazione Clinica Flash Radiotherapy "CPFR@CISUP", "S. Chiara" Hospital, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Laboratory of Biology BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza di Cavalieri 7, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Centro Pisano Ricerca e Implementazione Clinica Flash Radiotherapy "CPFR@CISUP", "S. Chiara" Hospital, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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De Vincentiis S, Baggiani M, Merighi F, Cappello V, Lopane J, Di Caprio M, Costa M, Mainardi M, Onorati M, Raffa V. Low Forces Push the Maturation of Neural Precursors into Neurons. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2205871. [PMID: 37058009 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical stimulation modulates neural development and neuronal activity. In a previous study, magnetic "nano-pulling" is proposed as a tool to generate active forces. By loading neural cells with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), a precise force vector is remotely generated through static magnetic fields. In the present study, human neural stem cells (NSCs) are subjected to a standard differentiation protocol, in the presence or absence of nano-pulling. Under mechanical stimulation, an increase in the length of the neural processes which showed an enrichment in microtubules, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria is found. A stimulation lasting up to 82 days induces a strong remodeling at the level of synapse density and a re-organization of the neuronal network, halving the time required for the maturation of neural precursors into neurons. The MNP-loaded NSCs are then transplanted into mouse spinal cord organotypic slices, demonstrating that nano-pulling stimulates the elongation of the NSC processes and modulates their orientation even in an ex vivo model. Thus, it is shown that active mechanical stimuli can guide the outgrowth of NSCs transplanted into the spinal cord tissue. The findings suggest that mechanical forces play an important role in neuronal maturation which could be applied in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Baggiani
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Cappello
- Center for Materials Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
| | - Jakub Lopane
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Di Caprio
- Laboratory of Biology "Bio@SNS", Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Marco Mainardi
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Marco Onorati
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Vittoria Raffa
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
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