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Morello G, Villari A, Spampinato AG, La Cognata V, Guarnaccia M, Gentile G, Ciotti MT, Calissano P, D’Agata V, Severini C, Cavallaro S. Transcriptional Profiles of Cell Fate Transitions Reveal Early Drivers of Neuronal Apoptosis and Survival. Cells 2021; 10:3238. [PMID: 34831459 PMCID: PMC8620386 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113238] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal apoptosis and survival are regulated at the transcriptional level. To identify key genes and upstream regulators primarily responsible for these processes, we overlayed the temporal transcriptome of cerebellar granule neurons following induction of apoptosis and their rescue by three different neurotrophic factors. We identified a core set of 175 genes showing opposite expression trends at the intersection of apoptosis and survival. Their functional annotations and expression signatures significantly correlated to neurological, psychiatric and oncological disorders. Transcription regulatory network analysis revealed the action of nine upstream transcription factors, converging pro-apoptosis and pro-survival-inducing signals in a highly interconnected functionally and temporally ordered manner. Five of these transcription factors are potential drug targets. Transcriptome-based computational drug repurposing produced a list of drug candidates that may revert the apoptotic core set signature. Besides elucidating early drivers of neuronal apoptosis and survival, our systems biology-based perspective paves the way to innovative pharmacology focused on upstream targets and regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Ambra Villari
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Antonio Gianmaria Spampinato
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Valentina La Cognata
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Maria Guarnaccia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Giulia Gentile
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
| | - Maria Teresa Ciotti
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Via E. Ramarini, 32, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy; (M.T.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI Foundation), Viale Regina Elena, 295, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Velia D’Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Cinzia Severini
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Via E. Ramarini, 32, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Rome, Italy; (M.T.C.); (C.S.)
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.M.); (A.V.); (A.G.S.); (V.L.C.); (M.G.); (G.G.)
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Maino B, Spampinato AG, Severini C, Petrella C, Ciotti MT, D'Agata V, Calissano P, Cavallaro S. The trophic effect of nerve growth factor in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons is associated to an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive transcriptional program. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:7178-7187. [PMID: 29741791 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Nerve growth factor, the prototype of a family of neurotrophins, elicits differentiation and survival of peripheral and central neuronal cells. Although its neural mechanisms have been studied extensively, relatively little is known about the transcriptional regulation governing its effects. We have previously observed that in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons treatment with nerve growth factor for 72 hr increases neurite outgrowth and cell survival. To obtain a comprehensive view of the underlying transcriptional program, we performed whole-genome expression analysis by microarray technology. We identified 541 differentially expressed genes and characterized dysregulated pathways related to innate immunity: the complement system and neuro-inflammatory signaling. The exploitation of such genes and pathways may help interfering with the intracellular mechanisms involved in neuronal survival and guide novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Maino
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, Italian National Research Council, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio G Spampinato
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, Italian National Research Council, Catania, Italy
| | - Cinzia Severini
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Italian National Research Council, Roma, Italy.,European Brain Research Institute, Roma, Italy
| | - Carla Petrella
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Italian National Research Council, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Velia D'Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute of Neurological Sciences, Italian National Research Council, Catania, Italy
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Borkum JM. The Migraine Attack as a Homeostatic, Neuroprotective Response to Brain Oxidative Stress: Preliminary Evidence for a Theory. Headache 2017; 58:118-135. [DOI: 10.1111/head.13214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M. Borkum
- Department of Psychology; University of Maine; Orono ME USA
- Health Psych Maine; Waterville ME USA
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Maino B, Paparone S, Severini C, Ciotti MT, D'agata V, Calissano P, Cavallaro S. Drug target identification at the crossroad of neuronal apoptosis and survival. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 12:249-259. [PMID: 28067072 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2017.1280023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Inappropriate activation of apoptosis may contribute to neurodegeneration, a multifaceted process that results in various chronic disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Several in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that neuronal apoptosis is a multi-pathway cell-death program that requires RNA synthesis. Thus, transcriptionally activated genes whose products induce cell death can be triggered by different stimuli and antagonized by neurotrophic factors. Systems biology is now unveiling the series of intracellular signaling pathways and key drug targets at the intersection of neuronal apoptosis and survival. Areas covered: This review introduces a genomic approach that can be used to elucidate the systems biology of neuronal apoptosis and survival, and to rationally select drug targets, no longer oriented to emulate the action of growth factors at the membrane receptor level, but rather to modulate their downstream signals. Expert opinion: The advent of genomics is offering an unprecedented opportunity to explore how the delicate balance between apoptosis and survival-inducing signals triggers a transcriptional program. Characterization of this program can be useful to identify potential pharmacological targets for existing drugs. Such knowledge might pave the way towards an innovative pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Maino
- a Institute of Neurological Sciences , Italian National Research Council , Catania , Italy
| | - Simona Paparone
- a Institute of Neurological Sciences , Italian National Research Council , Catania , Italy
| | - Cinzia Severini
- b Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology , Italian National Research Council , Roma , Italy.,c European Brain Research Institute , 00143 Roma , Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Ciotti
- b Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology , Italian National Research Council , Roma , Italy
| | - Velia D'agata
- d Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy and Histology , University of Catania , 95125 Catania , Italy
| | | | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- a Institute of Neurological Sciences , Italian National Research Council , Catania , Italy
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