1
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Meneghetti N, Vannini E, Mazzoni A. Rodents' visual gamma as a biomarker of pathological neural conditions. J Physiol 2024; 602:1017-1048. [PMID: 38372352 DOI: 10.1113/jp283858] [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: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural gamma oscillations (indicatively 30-100 Hz) are ubiquitous: they are associated with a broad range of functions in multiple cortical areas and across many animal species. Experimental and computational works established gamma rhythms as a global emergent property of neuronal networks generated by the balanced and coordinated interaction of excitation and inhibition. Coherently, gamma activity is strongly influenced by the alterations of synaptic dynamics which are often associated with pathological neural dysfunctions. We argue therefore that these oscillations are an optimal biomarker for probing the mechanism of cortical dysfunctions. Gamma oscillations are also highly sensitive to external stimuli in sensory cortices, especially the primary visual cortex (V1), where the stimulus dependence of gamma oscillations has been thoroughly investigated. Gamma manipulation by visual stimuli tuning is particularly easy in rodents, which have become a standard animal model for investigating the effects of network alterations on gamma oscillations. Overall, gamma in the rodents' visual cortex offers an accessible probe on dysfunctional information processing in pathological conditions. Beyond vision-related dysfunctions, alterations of gamma oscillations in rodents were indeed also reported in neural deficits such as migraine, epilepsy and neurodegenerative or neuropsychiatric conditions such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Altogether, the connections between visual cortical gamma activity and physio-pathological conditions in rodent models underscore the potential of gamma oscillations as markers of neuronal (dys)functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Meneghetti
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence for Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Mazzoni
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Excellence for Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
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2
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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3
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Tantillo E, Scalera M, De Santis E, Meneghetti N, Cerri C, Menicagli M, Mazzoni A, Costa M, Mazzanti CM, Vannini E, Caleo M. Molecular changes underlying decay of sensory responses and enhanced seizure propensity in peritumoral neurons. Neuro Oncol 2023:7048460. [PMID: 36805257 PMCID: PMC10398807 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad035] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma growth impacts on the structure and physiology of peritumoral neuronal networks, altering the activity of pyramidal neurons which drives further tumor progression. It is therefore of paramount importance to identify glioma-induced changes in pyramidal neurons, since they represent a key therapeutic target. METHODS We longitudinal monitored visual evoked potentials after the orthotopic implant of murine glioma cells into the mouse occipital cortex. With laser microdissection we analysed layer II-III pyramidal neurons molecular profile and with Local Field Potentials (LFP) recordings we evaluated the propensity to seizures in glioma-bearing animals with respect to control mice. RESULTS We determine the time course of neuronal dysfunction of glioma-bearing mice and we identify a symptomatic stage, based on the decay of visual response. At that time point, we microdissect layer II-III pyramidal neurons and evaluate the expression of a panel of genes involved in synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability. Compared to the control group, peritumoral neurons show a decrease in the expression of the SNARE complex gene SNAP-25 and the alpha1 subunit of the GABA-A receptor. No significant changes are detected in glutamatergic (i.e., AMPA or NMDA receptor subunit) markers. Further reduction of GABA-A signalling by delivery of a benzodiazepine inverse agonist, DMCM (methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate) precipitates seizures in two mouse models of tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSIONS These studies reveal novel molecular changes that occur in the principal cells of the tumor-adjacent zone. These modifications may be therapeutically targeted to ameliorate patients' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tantillo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa.,Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza Onlus (FPS) via F. Giovannini 13, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marta Scalera
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa
| | | | - Nicolò Meneghetti
- Department of Excellence for Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56025 Pisa, Italy.,The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56025 Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Cerri
- Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, 20122 Milan, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Michele Menicagli
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza Onlus (FPS) via F. Giovannini 13, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Mazzoni
- Department of Excellence for Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56025 Pisa, Italy.,The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56025 Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa.,Centro Pisano ricerca e implementazione clinica Flash Radiotherapy "CPFR@CISUP", "S. Chiara" Hospital, Pisa, Italy.,Laboratory of Biology BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza di Cavalieri 7, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Chiara Maria Mazzanti
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza Onlus (FPS) via F. Giovannini 13, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa.,Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, 20122 Milan, Italy.,Centro Pisano ricerca e implementazione clinica Flash Radiotherapy "CPFR@CISUP", "S. Chiara" Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, via G. Colombo 3, 35121 Padua
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4
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Testa G, Mainardi M, Vannini E, Pancrazi L, Cattaneo A, Costa M. Disentangling the signaling complexity of nerve growth factor receptors by
CRISPR
/Cas9. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22498. [PMID: 37036720 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101760rr] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The binding of nerve growth factor (NGF) to the tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) and p75NTR receptors activates a large variety of pathways regulating critical processes as diverse as proliferation, differentiation, membrane potential, synaptic plasticity, and pain. To ascertain the details of TrkA-p75NTR interaction and cooperation, a plethora of experiments, mostly based on receptor overexpression or downregulation, have been performed. Among the heterogeneous cellular systems used for studying NGF signaling, the PC12 pheochromocytoma-derived cell line is a widely used model. By means of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we created PC12 cells lacking TrkA, p75NTR , or both. We found that TrkA-null cells become unresponsive to NGF. Conversely, the absence of p75NTR enhances the phosphorylation of TrkA and its effectors. Using a patch-clamp, we demonstrated that the individual activation of TrkA and p75NTR by NGF results in antagonizing effects on the membrane potential. These newly developed PC12 cell lines can be used to investigate the specific roles of TrkA and p75NTR in a genetically defined cellular model, thus providing a useful platform for future studies and further gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Testa
- Laboratory of Biology “Bio@SNS” Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa Italy
| | - Marco Mainardi
- Laboratory of Biology “Bio@SNS” Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa Italy
- Neuroscience Institute National Research Council (CNR) Pisa Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute National Research Council (CNR) Pisa Italy
| | - Laura Pancrazi
- Neuroscience Institute National Research Council (CNR) Pisa Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Laboratory of Biology “Bio@SNS” Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa Italy
- European Brain Research Institute “Rita Levi Montalcini” (EBRI) Rome Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- Laboratory of Biology “Bio@SNS” Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa Italy
- Neuroscience Institute National Research Council (CNR) Pisa Italy
- Centro Pisano ricerca e implementazione clinica Flash Radiotherapy “CPFR@CISUP”, “S. Chiara” Hospital Pisa Italy
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5
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Meneghetti N, Cerri C, Vannini E, Tantillo E, Tottene A, Pietrobon D, Caleo M, Mazzoni A. Synaptic alterations in visual cortex reshape contrast-dependent gamma oscillations and inhibition-excitation ratio in a genetic mouse model of migraine. J Headache Pain 2022; 23:125. [PMID: 36175826 PMCID: PMC9523950 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-022-01495-9] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Migraine affects a significant fraction of the world population, yet its etiology is not completely understood. In vitro results highlighted thalamocortical and intra-cortical glutamatergic synaptic gain-of-function associated with a monogenic form of migraine (familial-hemiplegic-migraine-type-1: FHM1). However, how these alterations reverberate on cortical activity remains unclear. As altered responsivity to visual stimuli and abnormal processing of visual sensory information are common hallmarks of migraine, herein we investigated the effects of FHM1-driven synaptic alterations in the visual cortex of awake mice. Methods We recorded extracellular field potentials from the primary visual cortex (V1) of head-fixed awake FHM1 knock-in (n = 12) and wild type (n = 12) mice in response to square-wave gratings with different visual contrasts. Additionally, we reproduced in silico the obtained experimental results with a novel spiking neurons network model of mouse V1, by implementing in the model both the synaptic alterations characterizing the FHM1 genetic mouse model adopted. Results FHM1 mice displayed similar amplitude but slower temporal evolution of visual evoked potentials. Visual contrast stimuli induced a lower increase of multi-unit activity in FHM1 mice, while the amount of information content about contrast level remained, however, similar to WT. Spectral analysis of the local field potentials revealed an increase in the β/low γ range of WT mice following the abrupt reversal of contrast gratings. Such frequency range transitioned to the high γ range in FHM1 mice. Despite this change in the encoding channel, these oscillations preserved the amount of information conveyed about visual contrast. The computational model showed how these network effects may arise from a combination of changes in thalamocortical and intra-cortical synaptic transmission, with the former inducing a lower cortical activity and the latter inducing the higher frequencies ɣ oscillations. Conclusions Contrast-driven ɣ modulation in V1 activity occurs at a much higher frequency in FHM1. This is likely to play a role in the altered processing of visual information. Computational studies suggest that this shift is specifically due to enhanced cortical excitatory transmission. Our network model can help to shed light on the relationship between cellular and network levels of migraine neural alterations. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10194-022-01495-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Meneghetti
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56025, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Excellence for Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56025, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Cerri
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 56124, Pisa, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, 20122, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 56124, Pisa, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Tantillo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 56124, Pisa, Italy.,Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza Onlus (FPS), 56017, Pisa, Italy.,Scuola Normale Superiore, 56100, Pisa, Italy
| | - Angelita Tottene
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Daniela Pietrobon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy.,CNR Institute of Neuroscience, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), 56124, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy.,Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Mazzoni
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56025, Pisa, Italy. .,Department of Excellence for Robotics and AI, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56025, Pisa, Italy.
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6
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Panarese A, Vissani M, Meneghetti N, Vannini E, Cracchiolo M, Micera S, Caleo M, Mazzoni A, Restani L. Disruption of layer-specific visual processing in a model of focal neocortical epilepsy. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4173-4187. [PMID: 36089833 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac335] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The epileptic brain is the result of a sequence of events transforming normal neuronal populations into hyperexcitable networks supporting recurrent seizure generation. These modifications are known to induce fundamental alterations of circuit function and, ultimately, of behavior. However, how hyperexcitability affects information processing in cortical sensory circuits is not yet fully understood. Here, we investigated interlaminar alterations in sensory processing of the visual cortex in a mouse model of focal epilepsy. We found three main circuit dynamics alterations in epileptic mice: (i) a spreading of visual contrast-driven gamma modulation across layers, (ii) an increase in firing rate that is layer-unspecific for excitatory units and localized in infragranular layers for inhibitory neurons, and (iii) a strong and contrast-dependent locking of firing units to network activity. Altogether, our data show that epileptic circuits display a functional disruption of layer-specific organization of visual sensory processing, which could account for visual dysfunction observed in epileptic subjects. Understanding these mechanisms paves the way to circuital therapeutic interventions for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Panarese
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.,Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Vissani
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.,Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicolò Meneghetti
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.,Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marina Cracchiolo
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.,Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvestro Micera
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.,Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 56127 Pisa, Italy.,Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, Centre for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, via G. Colombo 3, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Alberto Mazzoni
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.,Department of Excellence in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Restani
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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7
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Angiari S, D'Alessandro G, Paolicelli RC, Prada I, Vannini E. Editorial: Cell-Cell Interactions Controlling Neuronal Functionality in Health and Disease. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:968029. [PMID: 35837504 PMCID: PMC9274267 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.968029] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Angiari
- Division of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- *Correspondence: Stefano Angiari
| | | | | | - Ilaria Prada
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
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8
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Degl’Innocenti E, Poloni TE, Medici V, Recupero L, Dell’Amico C, Vannini E, Borello U, Mazzanti CM, Onorati M, Dell’Anno MT. Centrin 2: A Novel Marker of Mature and Neoplastic Human Astrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:858347. [PMID: 35573835 PMCID: PMC9100563 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.858347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs), centrosomes play a pivotal role in cell division, neurodevelopment and neuronal maturation. Among centrosomal proteins, centrin-2 (CETN2) also contributes to DNA repair mechanisms which are fundamental to prevent genomic instability during neural stem cell pool expansion. Nevertheless, the expression profile of CETN2 in human neural stem cells and their progeny is currently unknown. To address this question, we interrogated a platform of human neuroepithelial stem (NES) cells derived from post mortem developing brain or established from pluripotent cells and demonstrated that while CETN2 retains its centrosomal location in proliferating NES cells, its expression pattern changes upon differentiation. In particular, we found that CETN2 is selectively expressed in mature astrocytes with a broad cytoplasmic distribution. We then extended our findings on human autoptic nervous tissue samples. We investigated CETN2 distribution in diverse anatomical areas along the rostro-caudal neuraxis and pointed out a peculiar topography of CETN2-labeled astrocytes in humans which was not appreciable in murine tissues, where CETN2 was mostly confined to ependymal cells. As a prototypical condition with glial overproliferation, we also explored CETN2 expression in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), reporting a focal concentration of CETN2 in neoplastic astrocytes. This study expands CETN2 localization beyond centrosomes and reveals a unique expression pattern that makes it eligible as a novel astrocytic molecular marker, thus opening new roads to glial biology and human neural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Degl’Innocenti
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tino Emanuele Poloni
- Department of Neurology and Neuropathology, Golgi-Cenci Foundation and ASP Golgi-Redaelli, Abbiategrasso, Italy
| | - Valentina Medici
- Department of Neurology and Neuropathology, Golgi-Cenci Foundation and ASP Golgi-Redaelli, Abbiategrasso, Italy
| | - Luca Recupero
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
| | - Claudia Dell’Amico
- Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ugo Borello
- Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Marco Onorati
- Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Dell’Anno
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, San Giuliano Terme, Italy
- *Correspondence: Maria Teresa Dell’Anno,
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9
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Parmigiani E, Scalera M, Mori E, Tantillo E, Vannini E. Old Stars and New Players in the Brain Tumor Microenvironment. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:709917. [PMID: 34690699 PMCID: PMC8527006 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.709917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the direct interaction between cancer cells and tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as a crucial regulator of tumor growth and a promising therapeutic target. The TME, including the surrounding peritumoral regions, is dynamically modified during tumor progression and in response to therapies. However, the mechanisms regulating the crosstalk between malignant and non-malignant cells are still poorly understood, especially in the case of glioma, an aggressive form of brain tumor. The presence of unique brain-resident cell types, namely neurons and glial cells, and an exceptionally immunosuppressive microenvironment pose additional important challenges to the development of effective treatments targeting the TME. In this review, we provide an overview on the direct and indirect interplay between glioma and neuronal and glial cells, introducing new players and mechanisms that still deserve further investigation. We will focus on the effects of neural activity and glial response in controlling glioma cell behavior and discuss the potential of exploiting these cellular interactions to develop new therapeutic approaches with the aim to preserve proper brain functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Parmigiani
- Embryology and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marta Scalera
- Neuroscience Institute, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Elena Tantillo
- Neuroscience Institute, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pisa, Italy
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10
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Greco F, Anastasi F, Pardini LF, Dilillo M, Vannini E, Baroncelli L, Caleo M, McDonnell LA. Longitudinal Bottom-Up Proteomics of Serum, Serum Extracellular Vesicles, and Cerebrospinal Fluid Reveals Candidate Biomarkers for Early Detection of Glioblastoma in a Murine Model. Molecules 2021; 26:5992. [PMID: 34641541 PMCID: PMC8512455 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195992] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a brain tumor with a poor prognosis and low survival rates. GBM is diagnosed at an advanced stage, so little information is available on the early stage of the disease and few improvements have been made for earlier diagnosis. Longitudinal murine models are a promising platform for biomarker discovery as they allow access to the early stages of the disease. Nevertheless, their use in proteomics has been limited owing to the low sample amount that can be collected at each longitudinal time point. Here we used optimized microproteomics workflows to investigate longitudinal changes in the protein profile of serum, serum small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a GBM murine model. Baseline, pre-symptomatic, and symptomatic tumor stages were determined using non-invasive motor tests. Forty-four proteins displayed significant differences in signal intensities during GBM progression. Dysregulated proteins are involved in cell motility, cell growth, and angiogenesis. Most of the dysregulated proteins already exhibited a difference from baseline at the pre-symptomatic stage of the disease, suggesting that early effects of GBM might be detectable before symptom onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Greco
- Institute of Life Sciences, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127 Pisa, Italy;
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56017 San Giuliano Terme, Italy; (F.A.); (L.F.P.); (M.D.)
| | - Federica Anastasi
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56017 San Giuliano Terme, Italy; (F.A.); (L.F.P.); (M.D.)
- NEST Laboratories, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Fidia Pardini
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56017 San Giuliano Terme, Italy; (F.A.); (L.F.P.); (M.D.)
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marialaura Dilillo
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56017 San Giuliano Terme, Italy; (F.A.); (L.F.P.); (M.D.)
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- CNR, Neuroscience Institute, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.V.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
- Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, 20122 Milano, Italy
| | - Laura Baroncelli
- CNR, Neuroscience Institute, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.V.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56018 Calambrone, Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- CNR, Neuroscience Institute, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.V.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università di Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Liam A. McDonnell
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56017 San Giuliano Terme, Italy; (F.A.); (L.F.P.); (M.D.)
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11
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Vannini E, Mori E, Tantillo E, Schmidt G, Caleo M, Costa M. CTX-CNF1 Recombinant Protein Selectively Targets Glioma Cells In Vivo. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:194. [PMID: 33800135 PMCID: PMC7998600 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13030194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Current strategies for glioma treatment are only partly effective because of the poor selectivity for tumoral cells. Hence, the necessity to identify novel approaches is urgent. Recent studies highlighted the effectiveness of the bacterial protein cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) in reducing tumoral mass, increasing survival of glioma-bearing mice and protecting peritumoral neural tissue from dysfunction. However, native CNF1 needs to be delivered into the brain, because of its incapacity to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) per se, thus hampering its clinical translation. To allow a non-invasive administration of CNF1, we here developed a chimeric protein (CTX-CNF1) conjugating CNF1 with chlorotoxin (CTX), a peptide already employed in clinics due to its ability of passing the BBB and selectively binding glioma cells. After systemic administration, we found that CTX-CNF1 is able to target glioma cells and significantly prolong survival of glioma-bearing mice. Our data point out the potentiality of CTX-CNF1 as a novel effective tool to treat gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.T.); (M.C.); (M.C.)
- Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Elena Tantillo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.T.); (M.C.); (M.C.)
| | - Gudula Schmidt
- Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, University of Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg, Germany;
| | - Matteo Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.T.); (M.C.); (M.C.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (E.T.); (M.C.); (M.C.)
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12
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Vannini E, Restani L, Dilillo M, McDonnell LA, Caleo M, Marra V. Synaptic Vesicles Dynamics in Neocortical Epilepsy. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:606142. [PMID: 33362472 PMCID: PMC7758433 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.606142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal hyperexcitability often results from an unbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, but the synaptic alterations leading to enhanced seizure propensity are only partly understood. Taking advantage of a mouse model of neocortical epilepsy, we used a combination of photoconversion and electron microscopy to assess changes in synaptic vesicles pools in vivo. Our analyses reveal that epileptic networks show an early onset lengthening of active zones at inhibitory synapses, together with a delayed spatial reorganization of recycled vesicles at excitatory synapses. Proteomics of synaptic content indicate that specific proteins were increased in epileptic mice. Altogether, our data reveal a complex landscape of nanoscale changes affecting the epileptic synaptic release machinery. In particular, our findings show that an altered positioning of release-competent vesicles represent a novel signature of epileptic networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Restani
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Matteo Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Marra
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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13
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Anastasi F, Greco F, Dilillo M, Vannini E, Cappello V, Baroncelli L, Costa M, Gemmi M, Caleo M, McDonnell LA. Proteomics analysis of serum small extracellular vesicles for the longitudinal study of a glioblastoma multiforme mouse model. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20498. [PMID: 33235327 PMCID: PMC7686310 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77535-8] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal analysis of disease models enables the molecular changes due to disease progression or therapeutic intervention to be better resolved. Approximately 75 µl of serum can be drawn from a mouse every 14 days. To date no methods have been reported that are able to analyze the proteome of small extracellular vesicles (sEV’s) from such low serum volumes. Here we report a method for the proteomics analysis of sEV's from 50 µl of serum. Two sEV isolation procedures were first compared; precipitation based purification (PPT) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The methodological comparison confirmed that SEC led to purer sEV’s both in terms of size and identified proteins. The procedure was then scaled down and the proteolytic digestion further optimized. The method was then applied to a longitudinal study of serum-sEV proteome changes in a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) mouse model. Serum was collected at multiple time points, sEV’s isolated and their proteins analyzed. The protocol enabled 274 protein groups to be identified and quantified. The longitudinal analysis revealed 25 deregulated proteins in GBM serum sEV's including proteins previously shown to be associated with GBM progression and metastasis (Myh9, Tln-1, Angpt1, Thbs1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Anastasi
- NEST Laboratories, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56127, Pisa, Italy.,Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56107, San Giuliano Terme, PI, Italy
| | - Francesco Greco
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56107, San Giuliano Terme, PI, Italy.,Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marialaura Dilillo
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56107, San Giuliano Terme, PI, Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- CNR, Neuroscience Institute, 56124, Pisa, Italy.,Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, 20122, Milano, Italy
| | - Valentina Cappello
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Baroncelli
- CNR, Neuroscience Institute, 56124, Pisa, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56018, Calambrone, PI, Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- CNR, Neuroscience Institute, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Mauro Gemmi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- CNR, Neuroscience Institute, 56124, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 335122, Padua, Italy
| | - Liam A McDonnell
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, 56107, San Giuliano Terme, PI, Italy.
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14
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Agostini M, Amato F, Vieri ML, Greco G, Tonazzini I, Baroncelli L, Caleo M, Vannini E, Santi M, Signore G, Cecchini M. Glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein (GFAP) biomarker detection in serum-matrix: Functionalization strategies and detection by an ultra-high-frequency surface-acoustic-wave (UHF-SAW) lab-on-chip. Biosens Bioelectron 2020; 172:112774. [PMID: 33160234 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein (GFAP) has recently drawn significant attention from the clinical environment as a promising biomarker. The pathologies which can be linked to the presence of GFAP in blood severely affect the human central nervous system. These pathologies are glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), multiple sclerosis (MS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Here, we develop three different detection strategies for GFAP, among the most popular in the biosensing field and never examined side by side within the experimental frame. We compare their capability of detecting GFAP in a clean-buffer and serum-matrix by using gold-coated quartz-crystal-microbalance (QCM) sensors. All the three detection strategies are based on antibodies, and each of them focuses on a key aspect of the biosensing process. The first is based on a polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain for antifouling, the second on a protein-G linker for controlling antibody-orientation, and the third on antibody-splitting and direct surface immobilization for high-surface coverage. Then, we select the best-performing protocol and validate its detection performance with an ultra-high-frequency (UHF) surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) based lab-on-chip (LoC). GFAP successful detection is demonstrated in a clean-buffer and serum-matrix at a concentration of 35 pM. This GFAP level is compatible with clinical diagnostics. This result suggests the use of our technology for the realization of a point-of-care biosensing platform for the detection of multiple brain-pathology biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Agostini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy; INTA srl, Intelligent Acoustics Systems, Via Nino Pisano 14, 56122, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Amato
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - M L Vieri
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - G Greco
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - I Tonazzini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - L Baroncelli
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, viale del Tirreno 331, 56128, Pisa, Italy
| | - M Caleo
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, via G. Colombo 3, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - E Vannini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - M Santi
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - G Signore
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy; Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Via Ferruccio Giovannini 13, 56017, Pisa, Italy
| | - M Cecchini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy; INTA srl, Intelligent Acoustics Systems, Via Nino Pisano 14, 56122, Pisa, Italy.
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15
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Tantillo E, Vannini E, Cerri C, Spalletti C, Colistra A, Mazzanti CM, Costa M, Caleo M. Differential roles of pyramidal and fast-spiking, GABAergic neurons in the control of glioma cell proliferation. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 141:104942. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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16
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Tantillo E, Vannini E, Cerri C, Maria Mazzanti C, Costa M, Caleo M. Bidirectional neuron-glioma interactions: effects of glioma cells on synaptic activity and its impact on tumor growth. Neuro Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz167.000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Gliomas grow in a neuronal environment, but little is known on the functional changes in peritumoral neurons during tumor development. Moreover, investigations on the role of neural activity in glioma progression have yielded contradictory results. Here, we monitored longitudinal changes in network activity by recording visual evoked potentials (VEP) and local field potentials (LFP) after transplant of GL261 glioma cells in mouse visual cortex. We detected a progressive deterioration of VEP amplitudes in glioma-bearing mice, accompanied by an increase in slow network oscillations. At the cellular level, the analysis of microdissected peritumoral neurons showed alterations in both pre- and post-synaptic markers. To investigate whether glioma-driven alterations in synaptic function may impact on tumor growth, we manipulated levels of afferent cortical activity in glioma-bearing mice. Specifically, we tested blockade of synaptic activity via botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A), visual deprivation (dark rearing, DR) and visual stimulation (VS). Replicating cells were quantified via immunostaining for BrdU and Ki67. We found that manipulation of cortical activity bidirectionally regulated glioma proliferation. Silencing of cortical synapses with BoNT/A and DR increased tumor proliferation while daily VS had the opposite effect.
These findings demonstrate reduced responsiveness of peritumoral neurons which may in turn stimulate tumor cell proliferation, thus triggering a vicious loop that exacerbates glioma progression. Physiological stimulation of neural activity appears to restrain glioma proliferation so it could be implemented in the clinical setting as an adjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tantillo
- National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
- Pisa Science Foundation_Onlus (FPS), Pisa, Italia
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italia
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Cerri
- National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
- Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Mario Costa
- National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italia
| | - Matteo Caleo
- National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
- University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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17
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Tantillo E, Colistra A, Vannini E, Cerri C, Pancrazi L, Baroncelli L, Costa M, Caleo M. Bacterial Toxins and Targeted Brain Therapy: New Insights from Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1). Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061632. [PMID: 29857515 PMCID: PMC6032336 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria produce toxins to promote host invasion and, therefore, their survival. The extreme potency and specificity of these toxins confer to this category of proteins an exceptionally strong potential for therapeutic exploitation. In this review, we deal with cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF1), a cytotoxin produced by Escherichia coli affecting fundamental cellular processes, including cytoskeletal dynamics, cell cycle progression, transcriptional regulation, cell survival and migration. First, we provide an overview of the mechanisms of action of CNF1 in target cells. Next, we focus on the potential use of CNF1 as a pharmacological treatment in central nervous system’s diseases. CNF1 appears to impact neuronal morphology, physiology, and plasticity and displays an antineoplastic activity on brain tumors. The ability to preserve neural functionality and, at the same time, to trigger senescence and death of proliferating glioma cells, makes CNF1 an encouraging new strategy for the treatment of brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tantillo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza Onlus (FPS), via Ferruccio Giovannini 13, San Giuliano Terme, 56017 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Antonella Colistra
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
- Departement of Biology, University of Pisa, via Luca Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Chiara Cerri
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
- Fondazione Umberto Veronesi, Piazza Velasca 5, 20122 Milano, Italy.
| | - Laura Pancrazi
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Laura Baroncelli
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Mario Costa
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Matteo Caleo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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18
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Vannini E, Caleo M, Chillemi S, Di Garbo A. Dynamical properties of LFPs from mice with unilateral injection of TeNT. Biosystems 2017; 161:57-66. [PMID: 28918300 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2017.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Local field potential (LFP) recordings were performed from the visual cortex (V1) of a focal epilepsy mouse model. Epilepsy was induced by a unilateral injection of the synaptic blocker tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT). LFP signals were simultaneously recorded from V1 of both hemispheres of each animal under acute and chronic conditions (i.e. during and after the period of TeNT action). All data were analysed by using nonlinear time series methods. Suitable values of the lag time and embedding dimension for phase space reconstruction were estimated by employing well-known methods. The results showed that lag times are sensitive to the presence of TeNT. Interestingly, TeNT promoted an increase in the level of linear and nonlinear correlation of LFP signals. The values of the embedding dimension failed to show any dependence on the presence of the neurotoxin. However, a local nonlinear prediction method showed that the presence of TeNT increases the predictability, quantified by the normalized prediction error, of the neural recordings. From a neurophysiological point of view, the above results suggest that TeNT injected in one hemisphere strongly impacts the local electrical activity of the neural populations in the opposite hemisphere. We hypothesize that this could arise from a qualitative and quantitative alteration of the transmission properties of the callosal fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Santi Chillemi
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Angelo Di Garbo
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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19
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Vannini E, Maltese F, Olimpico F, Fabbri A, Costa M, Caleo M, Baroncelli L. Progression of motor deficits in glioma-bearing mice: impact of CNF1 therapy at symptomatic stages. Oncotarget 2017; 8:23539-23550. [PMID: 28212563 PMCID: PMC5410325 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain tumor. In this context, animal models represent excellent tools for the early detection and longitudinal mapping of neuronal dysfunction, that are critical in the preclinical validation of new therapeutic strategies. In a mouse glioma model, we developed sensitive behavioral readouts that allow early recognizing and following neurological symptoms. We injected GL261 cells into the primary motor cortex of syngenic mice and we used a battery of behavioral tests to longitudinally monitor the dysfunction induced by tumor growth. Grip strength test revealed an early onset of functional deficit associated to the glioma growth, with a significant forelimb weakness appearing 9 days after tumor inoculation. A later deficit was observed in the rotarod and in the grid walk tasks. Using this model, we found reduced tumor growth and maintenance of behavioral functions following treatment with Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1) at a symptomatic stage. Our data provide a detailed and precise examination of how tumor growth reverberates on the behavioral functions of glioma-bearing mice, providing normative data for the study of therapeutic strategies for glioma treatment. The reduced tumor volume and robust functional sparing observed in CNF1-treated, glioma-bearing mice strengthen the notion that CNF1 delivery is a promising strategy for glioma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Vannini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Federica Maltese
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Mario Costa
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Caleo
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Baroncelli
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
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20
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Dilillo M, Ait-Belkacem R, Esteve C, Pellegrini D, Nicolardi S, Costa M, Vannini E, Graaf ELD, Caleo M, McDonnell LA. Ultra-High Mass Resolution MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Proteins and Metabolites in a Mouse Model of Glioblastoma. Sci Rep 2017; 7:603. [PMID: 28377615 PMCID: PMC5429601 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00703-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
MALDI mass spectrometry imaging is able to simultaneously determine the spatial distribution of hundreds of molecules directly from tissue sections, without labeling and without prior knowledge. Ultra-high mass resolution measurements based on Fourier-transform mass spectrometry have been utilized to resolve isobaric lipids, metabolites and tryptic peptides. Here we demonstrate the potential of 15T MALDI-FTICR MSI for molecular pathology in a mouse model of high-grade glioma. The high mass accuracy and resolving power of high field FTICR MSI enabled tumor specific proteoforms, and tumor-specific proteins with overlapping and isobaric isotopic distributions to be clearly resolved. The protein ions detected by MALDI MSI were assigned to proteins identified by region-specific microproteomics (0.8 mm2 regions isolated using laser capture microdissection) on the basis of exact mass and isotopic distribution. These label free quantitative experiments also confirmed the protein expression changes observed by MALDI MSI and revealed changes in key metabolic proteins, which were supported by in-situ metabolite MALDI MSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Dilillo
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS - Via Panfilo Castaldi 2, 56121, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry - Università di Pisa - Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - R Ait-Belkacem
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS - Via Panfilo Castaldi 2, 56121, Pisa, Italy
| | - C Esteve
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - D Pellegrini
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS - Via Panfilo Castaldi 2, 56121, Pisa, Italy
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-National Research Council, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Nicolardi
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - M Costa
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - E Vannini
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - E L de Graaf
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS - Via Panfilo Castaldi 2, 56121, Pisa, Italy
| | - M Caleo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - L A McDonnell
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS - Via Panfilo Castaldi 2, 56121, Pisa, Italy.
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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21
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Vallone F, Vannini E, Cintio A, Caleo M, Di Garbo A. Time evolution of interhemispheric coupling in a model of focal neocortical epilepsy in mice. Phys Rev E 2016; 94:032409. [PMID: 27739854 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.94.032409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is characterized by substantial network rearrangements leading to spontaneous seizures and little is known on how an epileptogenic focus impacts on neural activity in the contralateral hemisphere. Here, we used a model of unilateral epilepsy induced by injection of the synaptic blocker tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) in the mouse primary visual cortex (V1). Local field potential (LFP) signals were simultaneously recorded from both hemispheres of each mouse in acute phase (peak of toxin action) and chronic condition (completion of TeNT effects). To characterize the neural electrical activities the corresponding LFP signals were analyzed with several methods of time series analysis. For the epileptic mice, the spectral analysis showed that TeNT determines a power redistribution among the different neurophysiological bands in both acute and chronic phases. Using linear and nonlinear interdependence measures in both time and frequency domains, it was found in the acute phase that TeNT injection promotes a reduction of the interhemispheric coupling for high frequencies (12-30 Hz) and small time lag (<20 ms), whereas an increase of the coupling is present for low frequencies (0.5-4 Hz) and long time lag (>40 ms). On the other hand, the chronic period is characterized by a partial or complete recovery of the interhemispheric interdependence level. Granger causality test and symbolic transfer entropy indicate a greater driving influence of the TeNT-injected side on activity in the contralateral hemisphere in the chronic phase. Lastly, based on experimental observations, we built a computational model of LFPs to investigate the role of the ipsilateral inhibition and exicitatory interhemispheric connections in the dampening of the interhemispheric coupling. The time evolution of the interhemispheric coupling in such a relevant model of epilepsy has been addressed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Vallone
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy.,The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, 56026 Pisa, Italy
| | - E Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - A Cintio
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - M Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - A Di Garbo
- Institute of Biophysics, CNR-National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy.,INFN-Section of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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22
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Vannini E, Olimpico F, Middei S, Ammassari-Teule M, de Graaf EL, McDonnell L, Schmidt G, Fabbri A, Fiorentini C, Baroncelli L, Costa M, Caleo M. Electrophysiology of glioma: a Rho GTPase-activating protein reduces tumor growth and spares neuron structure and function. Neuro Oncol 2016; 18:1634-1643. [PMID: 27298309 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/now114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastomas are the most aggressive type of brain tumor. A successful treatment should aim at halting tumor growth and protecting neuronal cells to prevent functional deficits and cognitive deterioration. Here, we exploited a Rho GTPase-activating bacterial protein toxin, cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1), to interfere with glioma cell growth in vitro and vivo. We also investigated whether this toxin spares neuron structure and function in peritumoral areas. METHODS We performed a microarray transcriptomic and in-depth proteomic analysis to characterize the molecular changes triggered by CNF1 in glioma cells. We also examined tumor cell senescence and growth in vehicle- and CNF1-treated glioma-bearing mice. Electrophysiological and morphological techniques were used to investigate neuronal alterations in peritumoral cortical areas. RESULTS Administration of CNF1 triggered molecular and morphological hallmarks of senescence in mouse and human glioma cells in vitro. CNF1 treatment in vivo induced glioma cell senescence and potently reduced tumor volumes. In peritumoral areas of glioma-bearing mice, neurons showed a shrunken dendritic arbor and severe functional alterations such as increased spontaneous activity and reduced visual responsiveness. CNF1 treatment enhanced dendritic length and improved several physiological properties of pyramidal neurons, demonstrating functional preservation of the cortical network. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that CNF1 reduces glioma volume while at the same time maintaining the physiological and structural properties of peritumoral neurons. These data indicate a promising strategy for the development of more effective antiglioma therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Vannini
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Francesco Olimpico
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Silvia Middei
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Martine Ammassari-Teule
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Erik L de Graaf
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Liam McDonnell
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Gudula Schmidt
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Alessia Fabbri
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Carla Fiorentini
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Laura Baroncelli
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Mario Costa
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
| | - Matteo Caleo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy (E.V., F.O., L.B., M.C., Mat.C.); CNR Cellular Biology and Neurobiology Institute, Rome, Italy (S.M., M.A.-T.); Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Pisa, Italy (E.L.d.G., L.M.); Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Freiburg, Germany (G.S.); Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy (A.F., C.F.); Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy (M.C., Mat.C.)
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Vannini E, Panighini A, Cerri C, Fabbri A, Lisi S, Pracucci E, Benedetto N, Vannozzi R, Fiorentini C, Caleo M, Costa M. The bacterial protein toxin, cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) provides long-term survival in a murine glioma model. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:449. [PMID: 24939046 PMCID: PMC4075618 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastomas are largely unresponsive to all available treatments and there is therefore an urgent need for novel therapeutics. Here we have probed the antineoplastic effects of a bacterial protein toxin, the cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1), in the syngenic GL261 glioma cell model. CNF1 produces a long-lasting activation of Rho GTPases, with consequent blockade of cytodieresis in proliferating cells and promotion of neuron health and plasticity. Methods We have tested the antiproliferative effects of CNF1 on GL261 cells and human glioma cells obtained from surgical specimens. For the in vivo experiments, we injected GL261 cells into the adult mouse visual cortex, and five days later we administered either a single intracerebral dose of CNF1 or vehicle. To compare CNF1 with a canonical antitumoral drug, we infused temozolomide (TMZ) via minipumps for 1 week in an additional animal group. Results In culture, CNF1 was very effective in blocking proliferation of GL261 cells, leading them to multinucleation, senescence and death within 15 days. CNF1 had a similar cytotoxic effect in primary human glioma cells. CNF1 also inhibited motility of GL261 cells in a scratch-wound migration assay. Low dose (2 nM) CNF1 and continuous TMZ infusion significantly prolonged animal survival (median survival 35 days vs. 28 days in vehicle controls). Remarkably, increasing CNF1 concentration to 80 nM resulted in a dramatic enhancement of survival with no obvious toxicity. Indeed, 57% of the CNF1-treated animals survived up to 60 days following GL261 glioma cell transplant. Conclusions The activation of Rho GTPases by CNF1 represents a novel potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of central nervous system tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Matteo Caleo
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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Rebonato A, Vannini E, Giganti M, Volterrani L, Fonio P, Piscioli I, Scialpi M. [Small renal oncocytoma (≤ 4 cm): enhancement patterns on triphasic spiral computed tomography]. Recenti Prog Med 2013; 103:477-82. [PMID: 23096735 DOI: 10.1701/1166.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
In 18 patients with 19 RO, 9 hypervascularity and hypovascularity was identified in 9 and 10 RO, respectively, in the cortico-medullary phase (CMP). Hypervascular RO showed increased density in the CMP (151.4±38.5 HU) and a gradual wash-out in the nephrographic phase (133.8±34.6 HU) and excretory phase (79±23 HU). Hypovascular RO showed increased density in the CMP (87.8±20.1 UH) and a gradual wash-out in the nephrographic phase (100.3±33 UH) and excretory phase (20.9±86.9 UH).
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25
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Bini F, Frati A, Garcia-Gil M, Battistini C, Granado M, Martinesi M, Mainardi M, Vannini E, Luzzati F, Caleo M, Peretto P, Gomez-Muñoz A, Meacci E. New signalling pathway involved in the anti-proliferative action of vitamin D3 and its analogues in human neuroblastoma cells. A role for ceramide kinase. Neuropharmacology 2012; 63:524-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2012] [Revised: 04/06/2012] [Accepted: 04/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Caleo M, Restani L, Vannini E, Siskova Z, Al-Malki H, Morgan R, O'Connor V, Perry VH. The role of activity in synaptic degeneration in a protein misfolding disease, prion disease. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41182. [PMID: 22815961 PMCID: PMC3397974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In chronic neurodegenerative diseases associated with aggregates of misfolded proteins (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion disease), there is an early degeneration of presynaptic terminals prior to the loss of the neuronal somata. Identifying the mechanisms that govern synapse degeneration is of paramount importance, as cognitive decline is strongly correlated with loss of presynaptic terminals in these disorders. However, very little is known about the processes that link the presence of a misfolded protein to the degeneration of synapses. It has been suggested that the process follows a simple linear sequence in which terminals that become dysfunctional are targeted for death, but there is also evidence that high levels of activity can speed up degeneration. To dissect the role of activity in synapse degeneration, we infused the synaptic blocker botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) into the hippocampus of mice with prion disease and assessed synapse loss at the electron microscopy level. We found that injection of BoNT/A in naïve mice caused a significant enlargement of excitatory presynaptic terminals in the hippocampus, indicating transmission impairment. Long-lasting blockade of activity by BoNT/A caused only minimal synaptic pathology and no significant activation of microglia. In mice with prion disease infused with BoNT/A, rates of synaptic degeneration were indistinguishable from those observed in control diseased mice. We conclude that silencing synaptic activity neither prevents nor enhances the degree of synapse degeneration in prion disease. These results challenge the idea that dysfunction of synaptic terminals dictates their elimination during prion-induced neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Caleo
- National Research Council Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy.
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27
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Abstract
Tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) is a metalloprotease that cleaves the synaptic protein VAMP/synaptobrevin, leading to focal epilepsy. Although this model is widely used in rats, the time course and spatial specificity of TeNT proteolytic action have not been precisely defined. Here we have studied the biochemical, electrographic, and anatomic characteristics of TeNT-induced epilepsy in mouse visual cortex (V1). We found that VAMP cleavage peaked at 10 days, was reduced at 21 days, and completely extinguished 45 days following TeNT delivery. VAMP proteolysis was restricted to the injected V1 and ipsilateral thalamus, whereas it was undetectable in other cortical areas. Electrographic epileptiform activity was evident both during and after the time window of TeNT effects, indicating development of chronic epilepsy. Anatomic analyses found no evidence for long-term tissue damage, such as neuronal loss or microglia activation. These data show that TeNT reliably induces nonlesional epilepsy in mouse cortex. Due to the excellent physiologic knowledge of the visual cortex and the availability of mouse transgenic strains, this model will be useful for examining the network and cellular alterations underlying hyperexcitability within an epileptic focus.
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Valentini L, Nicolella V, Vannini E, Menozzi M, Penco S, Arcamone F. Association of anthracycline derivatives with DNA: a fluorescence study. Farmaco Sci 1985; 40:377-90. [PMID: 3861331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The DNA affinity for 26 anthracycline derivatives was studied by the quenching fluorescence technique. The stereochemical requirements for DNA intercalation are discussed. The relationship between the DNA affinity and bioactivity is also pointed out.
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Abstract
The dimerization of doxorubicin, daunorubicin, and their 4-demethoxy, 4'-epi, and 4'-deoxy analogues was studied spectrophotometrically. Self-association was found to be influenced by buffer composition and ionic strength. Kd values were 1.3 X 10(4) and 2.3 X 10(4) M-1 for doxorubicin and daunorubicin, respectively, and ranged from 3.8 X 10(3) to 6.1 X 10(3) M-1 for the 4-demethoxy analogues. For 4'-epi- and 4'-deoxydoxorubicin, tetramerization has also been considered. On this basis, values of 2.0 X 10(4) and 2.2 X 10(4) M-1 were found, respectively, for the formation constant of the dimerization process. Stability of the dimeric species appears to be strongly influenced by substitution of the chromophore moiety.
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Perrotta P, Vannini E. [Administration methods and optimal dosage of antibiotics]. Minerva Med 1975; 66:4203-11. [PMID: 1196512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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31
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Guadagnini G, Neri G, Rugginenti GC, Vannini E. [Formulation and operative factors in relation to the physiological availabiltiy of drugs in oral preparations]. Boll Chim Farm 1973; 112:719-33. [PMID: 4786711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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32
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Calabi V, Vannini E, Farina N. [Pharmacokinetics of sulfamethopyrazine: biliary excretion]. Farmaco Prat 1973; 28:585-95. [PMID: 4774727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Curcio L, Schioppacassi G, Vannini E, Sanfilippo A, Rimoldi R. Calculation of the optimal dosage regime for bactericidal antibiotics. Boll Chim Farm 1973; 112:311-20. [PMID: 4761108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Vannini E. [On the relationship between sex-determination and sex-differentiation]. Riv Biol 1967; 60:349-369. [PMID: 5612314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
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