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Fiorino C, Palumbo D, Mori M, Palazzo G, Pellegrini AE, Albarello L, Belardo A, Canevari C, Cossu A, Damascelli A, Elmore U, Mazza E, Pavarini M, Passoni P, Puccetti F, Slim N, Steidler S, Del Vecchio A, Di Muzio NG, Chiti A, Rosati R, De Cobelli F. Early regression index (ERI) on MR images as response predictor in esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy: Interim analysis of the prospective ESCAPE trial. Radiother Oncol 2024; 194:110160. [PMID: 38369025 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2024.110160] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The early regression index (ERI) predicts treatment response in rectal cancer patients. Aim of current study was to prospectively assess tumor response to neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (nCRT) of locally advanced esophageal cancer using ERI, based on MRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS From January 2020 to May 2023, 30 patients with esophageal cancer were enrolled in a prospective study (ESCAPE). PET-MRI was performed: i) before nCRT (tpre); ii) at mid-radiotherapy, tmid; iii) after nCRT, 2-6 weeks before surgery (tpost); nCRT delivered 41.4 Gy/23fr with concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel. For patients that skipped surgery, complete clinical response (cCR) was assessed if patients showed no local relapse after 18 months; patients with pathological complete response (pCR) or with cCR were considered as complete responders (pCR + cCR). GTV volumes were delineated by two observers (Vpre, Vmid, Vpost) on T2w MRI: ERI and other volume regression parameters at tmid and tpost were tested as predictors of pCR + cCR. RESULTS Complete data of 25 patients were available at the time of the analysis: 3/25 with complete response at imaging refused surgery and 2/3 were cCR; in total, 10/25 patients showed pCR + cCR (pCR = 8/22). Both ERImid and ERIpost classified pCR + cCR patients, with ERImid showing better performance (AUC:0.78, p = 0.014): A two-variable logistic model combining ERImid and Vpre improved performances (AUC:0.93, p < 0.0001). Inter-observer variability in contouring GTV did not affect the results. CONCLUSIONS Despite the limited numbers, interim analysis of ESCAPE study suggests ERI as a potential predictor of complete response after nCRT for esophageal cancer. Further validation on larger populations is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Fiorino
- Medical Physics, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy.
| | - D Palumbo
- Radiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - M Mori
- Medical Physics, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - G Palazzo
- Medical Physics, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | | | - L Albarello
- Pathology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - A Belardo
- Medical Physics, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - C Canevari
- Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - A Cossu
- Gastric Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - A Damascelli
- Radiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - U Elmore
- Gastric Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - E Mazza
- Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - M Pavarini
- Medical Physics, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - P Passoni
- Radiotherapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - F Puccetti
- Gastric Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - N Slim
- Radiotherapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - S Steidler
- Radiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - A Del Vecchio
- Medical Physics, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - N G Di Muzio
- Radiotherapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute University, Milano, Italy
| | - A Chiti
- Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute University, Milano, Italy
| | - R Rosati
- Gastric Surgery, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute University, Milano, Italy
| | - F De Cobelli
- Radiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy; Vita-Salute University, Milano, Italy
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Cappello A, Mancini M, Madonna S, Rinaldo S, Paone A, Scarponi C, Belardo A, Zolla L, Zuccotti A, Panatta E, Pallotta S, Annicchiarico-Petruzzelli M, Albanesi C, Cutruzzolà F, Wang L, Jia W, Melino G, Candi E. Extracellular serine empowers epidermal proliferation and psoriasis-like symptoms. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabm7902. [PMID: 36525488 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm7902] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The contribution of nutrient availability to control epidermal cell proliferation, inflammation, and hyperproliferative diseases remains unknown. Here, we studied extracellular serine and serine/glycine metabolism using human keratinocytes, human skin biopsies, and a mouse model of psoriasis-like disease. We focused on a metabolic enzyme, serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), that converts serine into glycine and tetrahydrofolate-bound one‑carbon units to support cell growth. We found that keratinocytes are both serine and glycine auxotrophs. Metabolomic profiling and hypoxanthine supplementation indicated that SHMT silencing/inhibition reduced cell growth through purine depletion, leading to nucleotide loss. In addition, topical application of an SHMT inhibitor suppressed both keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation in the imiquimod model and resulted in a decrease in psoriasis-associated gene expression. In conclusion, our study highlights SHMT2 activity and serine/glycine availability as an important metabolic hub controlling both keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory cell expansion in psoriasis and holds promise for additional approaches to treat skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Cappello
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Mancini
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Madonna
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Rinaldo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences A.Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Paone
- Department of Biochemical Sciences A.Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Scarponi
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Belardo
- Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lello Zolla
- Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | | | - Emanuele Panatta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Francesca Cutruzzolà
- Department of Biochemical Sciences A.Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Lu Wang
- Chinese Medicine and Systems Biology/School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Wei Jia
- Chinese Medicine and Systems Biology/School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Candi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy
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3
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Carpentieri G, Leoni C, Pietraforte D, Cecchetti S, Iorio E, Belardo A, Pietrucci D, Di Nottia M, Pajalunga D, Megiorni F, Mercurio L, Tatti M, Camero S, Marchese C, Rizza T, Tirelli V, Onesimo R, Carrozzo R, Rinalducci S, Chillemi G, Zampino G, Tartaglia M, Flex E. Hyperactive HRAS dysregulates energetic metabolism in fibroblasts from patients with Costello syndrome via enhanced production of reactive oxidizing species. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:561-575. [PMID: 34508588 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Germline activating mutations in HRAS cause Costello Syndrome (CS), a cancer prone multisystem disorder characterized by reduced postnatal growth. In CS, poor weight gain and growth are not caused by low caloric intake. Here we show that constitutive plasma membrane translocation and activation of the GLUT4 glucose transporter, via ROS-dependent AMPKα and p38 hyperactivation, occurs in CS, resulting in accelerated glycolysis, and increased fatty acid synthesis and storage as lipid droplets in primary fibroblasts. An accelerated autophagic flux was also identified as contributing to the increased energetic expenditure in CS. Concomitant inhibition of p38 and PI3K signaling by wortmannin was able to rescue both the dysregulated glucose intake and accelerated autophagic flux. Our findings provide a mechanistic link between upregulated HRAS function, defective growth and increased resting energetic expenditure in CS, and document that targeting p38 and PI3K signaling is able to revert this metabolic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Carpentieri
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Leoni
- Center for Rare Diseases and Birth Defects, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Serena Cecchetti
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Egidio Iorio
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Belardo
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Daniele Pietrucci
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Michela Di Nottia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Deborah Pajalunga
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Megiorni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Mercurio
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Tatti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Camero
- Department Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, SAPIENZA University, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Marchese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Teresa Rizza
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Onesimo
- Center for Rare Diseases and Birth Defects, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Rosalba Carrozzo
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Rinalducci
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Chillemi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Zampino
- Center for Rare Diseases and Birth Defects, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Flex
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Gevi F, Belardo A, Zolla L. A metabolomics approach to investigate urine levels of neurotransmitters and related metabolites in autistic children. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165859. [PMID: 32512190 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Since recently metabolic abnormalities in autistic children have been associated with ASD disturbs, the aim of this study is to determine the neurotransmitter levels in urine samples of autistic children and to analyse the altered metabolic pathway involved in their production. Thus, ASD-specific urinary metabolomic patterns were explored in 40 ASD children and 40 matched controls using untargeted metabolomics through UHPLC-mass spectrometry (Q-exactive analyser), and by using XCMS Metlin software for data interpretation. Through this new advanced technique, a more considerable number of urinary altered metabolites were recorded in autistic children, than in the previous investigations, which allowed us to collect metabolites involved in neurotransmitter production. In these subjects, a high amount of dopamine was revealed and an increased amount of homovanillic acid, to the detriment of noradrenaline and adrenaline production, as well as MHPG and vanillylmandelic acid, which were found lower. This indicates that the accumulation of dopamine is not due to its greater production, but its lesser biotransformation into noradrenaline, due to the blockage of the dopamine β-hydroxylase enzyme by 4-cresol and vitamin C, both found in high quantities in autistic subjects. Finally, a decreased amount of the active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal phosphate (P5P), implicated in biotransformation of glutamate into γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), was also detected, justifying the lower levels of latter. All of these alterations are correlated with a peculiar intestinal microbiome in autistic subjects, supporting the idea of a microbiota-gut-brain axis, then altered levels of neurotransmitters and altered neuronal transmission exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Gevi
- University of Tuscia, Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, 01110 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Antonio Belardo
- University of Tuscia, Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, 01110 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lello Zolla
- University of Tuscia, Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, 01110 Viterbo, Italy.
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5
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Fanelli G, Belardo A, Savino R, Rinalducci S, Zolla L. Testosterone replacement therapy in insulin-sensitive hypogonadal men restores phosphatidylcholine levels by regulation of arachidonic acid metabolism. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:8266-8269. [PMID: 32491269 PMCID: PMC7348168 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Male hypogonadism is notoriously associated with altered lipid metabolism. In this study, we performed an untargeted mass spectrometry–based profiling of plasma lipids from twenty healthy and twenty hypogonadal men before and after testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for 60 days. Results demonstrated that hypogonadism was associated with a significant increase in sphingomyelin (SM), whereas phosphatidylcholine (PC) was mainly cleaved by activated phospholipase‐A2 into lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). In hypogonadal patients, arachidonic acid (AA), also produced through the latter cleavage, was prevalently bio‐transformed into leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and not into endoperoxides from which prostaglandins and thromboxanes are derived. Interestingly, upon testosterone treatment SM, PC and LPC returned to levels similar to controls. Also, AA was newly converted into prostaglandin‐A2, thromboxane‐A2 and 5(S)‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), suggesting that testosterone probably plays a role in controlling hypogonadal alterations above reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Fanelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Antonio Belardo
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Rocco Savino
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Sara Rinalducci
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lello Zolla
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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6
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Romano N, Catalani A, Lattante S, Belardo A, Proietti S, Bertini L, Silvestri F, Catalani E, Cervia D, Zolla L, Sabatelli M, Welshhans K, Ceci M. ALS skin fibroblasts reveal oxidative stress and ERK1/2-mediated cytoplasmic localization of TDP-43. Cell Signal 2020; 70:109591. [PMID: 32126264 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The main hallmark of many forms of familiar and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a reduction in nuclear TDP-43 protein and its inclusion in cytoplasmic aggregates in motor neurons. In order to understand which cellular and molecular mechanisms underlie the mislocalization of TDP-43, we examined human skin fibroblasts from two individuals with familial ALS, both with mutations in TDP-43, and two individuals with sporadic ALS, both without TDP-43 mutations or mutations in other ALS related genes. We found that all ALS fibroblasts had a partially cytoplasmic localization of TDP-43 and had reduced cell metabolism as compared to fibroblasts from apparently healthy individuals. ALS fibroblasts showed an increase in global protein synthesis and an increase in 4E-BP1 and rpS6 phosphorylation, which is indicative of mTORC1 activity. We also observed a decrease in glutathione (GSH), which suggests that oxidative stress is elevated in ALS. ERK1/2 activity regulated the extent of oxidative stress and the localization of TDP-43 in the cytoplasm in all ALS fibroblasts. Lastly, ALS fibroblasts showed reduced stress granule formation in response to H2O2 stress. In conclusion, these findings identify specific cellular and molecular defects in ALS fibroblasts, thus providing insight into potential mechanisms that may also occur in degenerating motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicla Romano
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Alessia Catalani
- Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Via Santa Chiara, 27 61029 Urbino, PU, Italy
| | - Serena Lattante
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Unità Operativa Complessa di Genetica Medica, 00168 Roma, Italy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Istituto di Medicina Genomica, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Belardo
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Silvia Proietti
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Laura Bertini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Federica Silvestri
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lello Zolla
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia (DAFNE), 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Mario Sabatelli
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Neurologia, Dipartimento Scienze dell'invecchiamento, neurologiche, ortopediche e della testa-collo, 00168 Roma, Italy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Istituto di Neurologia, Centro Clinico NEMO, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Kristy Welshhans
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences and Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44236, USA
| | - Marcello Ceci
- Department of Ecological and Biological Science (DEB), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
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Proietti S, Falconieri GS, Bertini L, Baccelli I, Paccosi E, Belardo A, Timperio AM, Caruso C. GLYI4 Plays A Role in Methylglyoxal Detoxification and Jasmonate-Mediated Stress Responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9100635. [PMID: 31652571 PMCID: PMC6843518 DOI: 10.3390/biom9100635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant hormones play a central role in various physiological functions and in mediating defense responses against (a)biotic stresses. In response to primary metabolism alteration, plants can produce also small molecules such as methylglyoxal (MG), a cytotoxic aldehyde. MG is mostly detoxified by the combined actions of the enzymes glyoxalase I (GLYI) and glyoxalase II (GLYII) that make up the glyoxalase system. Recently, by a genome-wide association study performed in Arabidopsis, we identified GLYI4 as a novel player in the crosstalk between jasmonate (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) hormone pathways. Here, we investigated the impact of GLYI4 knock-down on MG scavenging and on JA pathway. In glyI4 mutant plants, we observed a general stress phenotype, characterized by compromised MG scavenging, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), stomatal closure, and reduced fitness. Accumulation of MG in glyI4 plants led to lower efficiency of the JA pathway, as highlighted by the increased susceptibility of the plants to the pathogenic fungus Plectospherella cucumerina. Moreover, MG accumulation brought about a localization of GLYI4 to the plasma membrane, while MeJA stimulus induced a translocation of the protein into the cytoplasmic compartment. Collectively, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that GLYI4 is a hub in the MG and JA pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Proietti
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | | | - Laura Bertini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Ivan Baccelli
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy.
| | - Elena Paccosi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Antonio Belardo
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Anna Maria Timperio
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Carla Caruso
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
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8
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Belardo A, Gevi F, Zolla L. The concomitant lower concentrations of vitamins B6, B9 and B12 may cause methylation deficiency in autistic children. J Nutr Biochem 2019; 70:38-46. [PMID: 31151052 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by severe and persistent difficulties in social communication and social interaction at multiple levels. Recently, metabolic disorders have been associated with most cases of patients with ASD. The aim of this study was to investigate, through a new and more sophisticated mass technique, such as UHPLC-mass spectrometry (Q-exactive analyzer), alteration in metabolisms analyzing ASD children urine samples from children showing simultaneous vitamin B6, B9 and B12 deficiencies. This in order to study how these concurrent deficiencies may influence some phenotypic aspects of autistic disorder. Thus, urinary metabolic patterns specific to ASD were explored at an early age in 60 children with ASD, showing lower three vitamins levels, and 60 corresponding controls (age group 3-8, M: F=42:18). The results showed significant block of cystathionine formation with consequent accumulation of homocysteine. A lower glutathione levels (GSH), with reduction of essential intracellular reducing environment required for normal immune function, detoxification capacity and redox-sensitive enzyme activity. Increased concentration of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, which leads to a lower availability of methyl group and significant decrease in urinary methionine and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) concentrations, the major methyl donor. The latter justify the well-known reduction in protein and DNA methylation reported in autistic children. As a final consideration, the concomitant deficiencies of all three B vitamins, recorded in a significant number of autistic children, suggests that intestinal dysbiosis in these patients may be the main cause of a reduction in their absorption, in addition to the genetic mutation of a specific gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Belardo
- University of Tuscia, Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, 01110 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Federica Gevi
- University of Tuscia, Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lello Zolla
- University of Tuscia, Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
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9
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Abstract
Male hypogonadism is a disorder characterised by low levels of the hormone testosterone. At beginning subjects with low levels of testosterone do not show insulin resistance (insulin-sensitive patients), which develops over time (insulin-resistance patients). To analyse the metabolic alterations mainly related to decreased testosterone, we performed metabolomics investigations on the plasma of males with hypogonadism who showed normal insulin levels. Plasma from patients with low testosterone (<8 nmol/l) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin-resistance-index (HOMAi) < 2.5, as well as matched controls, was analysed by UHPLC and mass spectrometry. Then metabolites were then subjected to multivariate statistical analysis and grouped by metabolic pathways. Glycolysis was not altered, as expected for the presence of insulin activity, but imbalances in several other pathways were found, such as the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), glycerol shuttle, malate shuttle, Krebs cycle (TCA) and lipid metabolism. The PPP was significantly upregulated. Moreover, while the first steps of the Krebs cycle were downregulated, 2-oxoglutarate was replenished via glutaminolysis. Since glutaminolysis leads to an activation of the malate aspartate cycle, greater amounts of NADH and ATP with respect to the control were recorded. The activation of the glycerol shuttle was also recorded, with consequent lower triglyceride production and downregulation of beta-oxidation. This explained the moderately increased dyslipidaemia, as well as the mild increase in body mass index (BMI) observed in insulin-sensitive hypogonadism. Finally, a significant decrease in carnosine was recorded, explaining the muscle weakness commonly observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Fanelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Federica Gevi
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Antonio Belardo
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Lello Zolla
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
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Alfie J, Lugones L, Belardo A, Tutzer M, Galarza CR, Waisman GD, Cámera MI. Hemodynamic effects of transdermal estradiol alone and combined with norethisterone acetate. Maturitas 1997; 27:163-9. [PMID: 9255751 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-5122(97)00030-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A 24 weeks, randomized, two-period, placebo controlled study was conducted to compare the effects of continuous transdermal 17 beta-estradiol replacement therapy (0.05 mg/day once a week) with placebo on systemic hemodynamics and blood pressure in postmenopausal women. Twenty-nine postmenopausal women (47-62 years) free of hormone replacement therapy were randomized in two groups; group 1 received estradiol patches for the first 12 weeks and placebo patches for the second, and group 2 received the same treatments in the reverse order. The effect of combined estradiol plus oral norethisterone acetate (NETA) 1 mg was also evaluated in the subset of women with intact uteri (n = 24). Crossover analysis showed that stroke volume and cardiac output were significantly higher (P < 0.05) and blood pressure was significantly lower (P < 0.05) with estradiol, irrespective of the order in which the treatments were administered. Although correlations between plasma estradiol levels during active treatment and hemodynamic changes were not significant, hemodynamic changes were significantly greater above 63 pg/ml than below this level (P < 0.05). Oral norethisterone acetate administration either during transdermal placebo or estradiol arms tended to modify systemic hemodynamics in the same direction than estradiol but the changes did not attained statistical significance. In summary compared with placebo, transdermal 17 beta-estradiol, replacement to postmenopausal women, increased cardiac output and decreased blood pressure. Although the average magnitude of changes was small, the results suggest that plasma estradiol levels could be a source of individual variability in the hemodynamic response. Oral NETA administration tended to enhance rather than reverse the estradiol-induced changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alfie
- Unidad de Hipertension Arterial, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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11
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Lugones L, Alflet J, Belardo A, Tutzer M, Galarza CR, Waisman G, Cámera MI. F212 Systemic hemodynamic changes during unopposed and combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Maturitas 1996. [DOI: 10.1016/s0378-5122(97)81176-0] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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12
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De Palma GD, Sivero L, Di Matteo E, Belardo A, Angrisani L, Catanzano C. [The current status of the perendoscopic treatment of biliary lithiasis]. MINERVA GASTROENTERO 1996; 42:1-5. [PMID: 8652735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The role of therapeutic biliary endoscopy, for management of bile duct stones, continues to be defined. Actually the endoscopic management should be considered the procedure of choice for treatment of retained or recurrent stones of the main bile duct, gallstone pancreatitis an acute cholangitis. It's role in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy is evolving. Actually new techniques and accessories continue to be developed for treatment of bile duct stones. The problem of the difficult bile duct stones has essentially been solved by the development of a variety of lithotripsy techniques. This work focuses on new developments in the therapeutic biliary endoscopy for treatment of main bile duct stones.
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Affiliation(s)
- G D De Palma
- Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi Federico II, Napoli
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De Palma GD, Di Matteo E, Monaco A, Abbruzzese P, Belardo A, Catanzano C. [Results of endoscopic Nd-Yag laser treatment of inoperable colorectal carcinoma]. MINERVA CHIR 1996; 51:87-91. [PMID: 8684659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Between November 1986 and December 1993, 94 patients underwent endoscopic laser therapy for inoperable colo-rectal cancers. According to the main clinical symptoms, tumors were divided into obstructing and bleeding; A Nd-YAG non contact laser was used at power setting of 70 to 100 watt. In 28 cases laser therapy was carried out after electrorection of the tumor and in 22 cases after dilation; in 41 cases it was associated with radiation therapy. In 90% of bleeding tumors and in 70% of obstructing tumors we achieved a good result in the short term. In 50% of bleeding tumors and in 65% of obstructing tumors the symptoms recurred after an interval of 8.2 and 6.1 weeks. The main survival period was 11.2 months for bleeding tumors and 7.4 months for obstructing tumors. Two patients with a small rectal cancer are free to neoplasia at 19 and 26 months after laser therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- G D De Palma
- Cattedra di Chirurgia dell'Apparato Digerente, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli
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