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Marassi V, Beretti F, Roda B, Alessandrini A, Facci P, Maraldi T, Zattoni A, Reschiglian P, Portolani M. A new approach for the separation, characterization and testing of potential prionoid protein aggregates through hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation and multi-angle light scattering. Anal Chim Acta 2019; 1087:121-130. [PMID: 31585560 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation are the common mechanisms in a variety of aggregation-dependent diseases. The compromised proteins often assemble into toxic, accumulating amyloid-like structures of various lengths and their toxicity can also be transferred both in vivo and in vitro a prion-like behavior. The characterization of protein interactions, degradation and conformational dynamics in biological systems still represents an analytical challenge in the prion-like protein comprehension. In our work, we investigated the nature of a transferable cytotoxic agent, presumably a misfolded protein, through the coupling of a multi-detector, non-destructive separation platform based on hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation with imaging and downstream in vitro tests. After purification with ion exchange chromatography, the transferable cytotoxic agentwas analyzed with Atomic Force Microscopy and statistical analysis, showing that the concentration of protein dimers and low n-oligomer forms was higher in the cytotoxic sample than in the control preparation. To assess whether the presence of these species was the actual toxic and/or self-propagating factor, we employed HF5 fractionation, with UV and Multi-Angle Light Scattering detection, to define proteins molar mass distribution and abundance, and fractionate the sample into size-homogeneous fractions. These fractions were then tested individually in vitro to investigate the direct correlation with cytotoxicity. Only the later-eluted fraction, which contains high-molar mass aggregates, proved to be toxic onto cell cultures. Moreover, it was observed that the selective transfer of toxicity also occurs for one lower-mass fraction, suggesting that two different mechanisms, acute and later induced toxicity, are in place. These results strongly encourage the efficacy of this platform to enable the identification of protein toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Marassi
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; ByFlow Srl, Via dell'Arcoveggio 74, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Beretti
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Barbara Roda
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; ByFlow Srl, Via dell'Arcoveggio 74, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Andrea Alessandrini
- CNR-Istituto Nanoscienze, S3, Via Campi 213/A, 41125, Modena, Italy; Department of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Paolo Facci
- CNR-Istituto Nanoscienze, S3, Via Campi 213/A, 41125, Modena, Italy; Department of Physics, Informatics and Mathematics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Tullia Maraldi
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Zattoni
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; ByFlow Srl, Via dell'Arcoveggio 74, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Reschiglian
- Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy; ByFlow Srl, Via dell'Arcoveggio 74, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marinella Portolani
- Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
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Cermelli C, Orsi CF, Cuoghi A, Ardizzoni A, Tagliafico E, Neglia R, Peppoloni S, Blasi E. Gene expression profiling of monocytes displaying herpes simplex virus 1 induced dysregulation of antifungal defences. J Med Microbiol 2009; 58:1283-1290. [PMID: 19608693 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.011023-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we showed that herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)-infected monocytes have altered antifungal defences, in particular they show augmented phagocytosis of Candida albicans followed by a failure of the intracellular killing of the ingested fungi. On the basis of these functional data, comparative studies were carried out on the gene expression profile of cells infected with HSV-1 and/or C. albicans in order to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying such virus-induced dysfunction. Affymetrix GeneChip technology was used to evaluate the cell transcription pattern, focusing on genes involved in phagocytosis, fungal adhesion, antimicrobial activity and apoptosis. The results indicated there was: (a) prevalent inhibition of opsonin-mediated phagocytosis, (b) upregulation of several pathways of antibody- and complement-independent phagocytosis, (c) inhibition of macrophage activation, (d) marked dysregulation of oxidative burst, (e) induction of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Cermelli
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, Modena, Italy
| | - Carlotta Francesca Orsi
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, Modena, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cuoghi
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Ardizzoni
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, Modena, Italy
| | - Enrico Tagliafico
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, Modena, Italy
| | - Rachele Neglia
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, Modena, Italy
| | - Samuele Peppoloni
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Blasi
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, Modena, Italy
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Cermelli C, Orsi CF, Ardizzoni A, Lugli E, Cenacchi V, Cossarizza A, Blasi E. Herpes simplex virus type 1 dysregulates anti-fungal defenses preventing monocyte activation and downregulating toll-like receptor-2. Microbiol Immunol 2009; 52:575-84. [PMID: 19120971 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2008.00074.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the interplay occurring between pathogens in the course of dual infections, using an in vitro model in which the THP-1 monocytic cell line is first infected with HSV-1 and then exposed to Ca or Cn. These three pathogens share some pathogenic features: they cause opportunistic infections, target macrophages and are neurotropic. Here, we show that HSV-1-infected THP-1 cells exhibited augmented phagocytosis against the two opportunistic fungi but reduced capability to counteract fungal infection: the better ingestion by monocytes was followed by facilitated fungal survival and replication. Reduced IL-12 production was also observed. Cytofluorimetric analysis showed that HSV-1-infected monocytes exhibit: (i) downregulated TLR-2 and TLR-4, critical structures in fungal recognition; (ii) reduced expression of CD38 and CD69, known to be important markers of monocyte activation; and (iii) enhanced expression of apoptosis and necrosis markers, in the absence of altered cell proliferation. Overall, these findings imply that HSV-1 infection prevents monocyte activation, thus leading to a significant dysfunction of the monocyte-mediated anti-Candida response; HSV-1 induced apoptosis and necrosis of monocytes further contribute to this impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Cermelli
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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