Combined evaluation of prolactin-induced peptide (PIP) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) as new sperm biomarkers of FSH treatment efficacy in normogonadotropic idiopathic infertile men

PURPOSE

Nearly, 40% of the causes of male infertility remain idiopathic. The only suggested treatment in idiopathic oligo- and/or asthenozoospermia in normogonadotropic patients is the FSH. In the current clinical practice, efficacy is exclusively assessable through semen analysis after 3 months of treatment. No molecular markers of treatment efficacy are appliable in clinical practice. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the combination of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 and prolactin inducible peptide (PIP) as potential markers of idiopathic infertility and FSH treatment efficacy.

METHODS

Western blot and confocal microscopy were performed to analyze the modulation of PIP and ERK1/2 in idiopathic infertile patients (IIP) sperm cells. Taking advantage of mass spectrometry analysis, we identified these proteins unequivocally in sperm cells.

RESULTS

 We demonstrated a significant decrease of both PIP protein and of ERK1/2 levels in spermatozoa obtained from IIP in comparison to healthy fertile patients (HFP). Conversely, we reported a significant increase of these markers comparing infertile patients before and after 3 months of FSH treatment. Importantly, this correlated with an increase in total number of sperm and sperm motility after FSH treatment. Finally, we identified of PIP and ERK2 proteins in sperm samples by proteomic analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined evaluation of ERK1/2 and PIP proteins might represent a useful molecular marker to tailor FSH treatment in the management of male normogonadotropic idiopathic infertility.

CRIPTO-based micro-heterogeneity of mouse muscle satellite cells enables adaptive response to regenerative microenvironment

Skeletal muscle repair relies on heterogeneous populations of satellite cells (SCs). The mechanisms that regulate SC homeostasis and state transition during activation are currently unknown. Here, we investigated the emerging role of non-genetic micro-heterogeneity, i.e., intrinsic cell-to-cell variability of a population, in this process. We demonstrate that micro-heterogeneity of the membrane protein CRIPTO in mouse-activated SCs (ASCs) identifies metastable cell states that allow a rapid response of the population to environmental changes. Mechanistically, CRIPTO micro-heterogeneity is generated and maintained through a process of intracellular trafficking coupled with active shedding of CRIPTO from the plasma membrane. Irreversible perturbation of CRIPTO micro-heterogeneity affects the balance of proliferation, self-renewal, and myogenic commitment in ASCs, resulting in increased self-renewal in vivo. Our findings demonstrate that CRIPTO micro-heterogeneity regulates the adaptative response of ASCs to microenvironmental changes, providing insights into the role of intrinsic heterogeneity in preserving stem cell population diversity during tissue repair.

Proteomic analysis of salivary inflammatory biomarkers of developmental gingival enlargements in patients with West and Noonan syndromes: a preliminary pilot single-center retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the preliminary pilot single-center retrospective cross-sectional study was to analyze and compare the presence of non-secretory salivary inflammatory biomarkers in pediatric patients with West syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and a healthy control group.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 60 saliva samples were collected during dental check-ups. The saliva samples collected were analyzed by liquid chromatography. The results were analyzed with a t-test, and the statistical significance was given by a p-value lower than 0.05.

RESULTS

We found statistical significance for defensin α1 (p=0.006) and thymosin β4 (p=0.025) in the Noonan syndrome. In the West syndrome, only the defensin α1 had a statistically significant difference with the other groups (p=0.022). Proteomic analysis revealed an overexpression of peptides related to the innate (thymosin β4) and acquired (defensin α1, α3) immunity.

CONCLUSIONS

West and Noonan's syndromes showed the overexpression of molecular biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis. The inflammatory status is triggered and amplified by the abnormal overgrowth of gingival tissues, the amplified release of proinflammatory cytokines from the immune cells, and the poor cooperation in maintaining adequate oral hygiene.

Taurine deficiency as a driver of aging

Aging is associated with changes in circulating levels of various molecules, some of which remain undefined. We find that concentrations of circulating taurine decline with aging in mice, monkeys, and humans. A reversal of this decline through taurine supplementation increased the health span (the period of healthy living) and life span in mice and health span in monkeys. Mechanistically, taurine reduced cellular senescence, protected against telomerase deficiency, suppressed mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased DNA damage, and attenuated inflammaging. In humans, lower taurine concentrations correlated with several age-related diseases and taurine concentrations increased after acute endurance exercise. Thus, taurine deficiency may be a driver of aging because its reversal increases health span in worms, rodents, and primates and life span in worms and rodents. Clinical trials in humans seem warranted to test whether taurine deficiency might drive aging in humans.

Phosphorylation of FAM134C by CK2 controls starvation-induced ER-phagy

Selective degradation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via autophagy (ER-phagy) is initiated by ER-phagy receptors, which facilitate the incorporation of ER fragments into autophagosomes. FAM134 reticulon family proteins (FAM134A, FAM134B, and FAM134C) are ER-phagy receptors with structural similarities and nonredundant functions. Whether they respond differentially to the stimulation of ER-phagy is unknown. Here, we describe an activation mechanism unique to FAM134C during starvation. In fed conditions, FAM134C is phosphorylated by casein kinase 2 (CK2) at critical residues flanking the LIR domain. Phosphorylation of these residues negatively affects binding affinity to the autophagy proteins LC3. During starvation, mTORC1 inhibition limits FAM134C phosphorylation by CK2, hence promoting receptor activation and ER-phagy. Using a novel tool to study ER-phagy in vivo and FAM134C knockout mice, we demonstrated the physiological relevance of FAM134C phosphorylation during starvation-induced ER-phagy in liver lipid metabolism. These data provide a mechanistic insight into ER-phagy regulation and an example of autophagy selectivity during starvation.

Thymosin β4 and β10 are highly expressed at the deep infiltrative margins of colorectal cancer - A mass spectrometry analysis

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complicated tumor, involving several oncogenic signaling pathways, and with a molecular mechanism not fully understood yet. The implication of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) with tumor insurgence and in migration of CRC cells was evidenced in the past with different methodologies, while Tβ10 connection with CRC has been sporadically investigated. This study focused on the implication of both types of thymosin in CRC progression and invasion by analyzing the changes in their levels according to different zones of the tumor, and to Dukes stage and budding index.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Tβ4 and Tβ10 were analyzed in deep and superficial tumor samples, and normal mucosa from 18 patients. Concentrations of Tβ4 and Tβ10 have been measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray-ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MS). MS data were compared by t-test and ANOVA statistical analysis. Identification of thymosin and their proteoforms has been performed by HPLC-high resolution-ESI-IT-MSMS.

RESULTS

Both Tβ4 and Tβ10, exhibited intra-tumoral quantitative differences, being upregulated in the deep part of the CRC. They exhibited, moreover, strong association with the Dukes stage and the budding grade, being more concentrated in patients at Dukes stage B and with budding index "2".

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained in the present investigation encouraged the hypothesis that the two thymosin are involved in colorectal cancer progression, and in promoting cancer invasion. Thus, they are good candidates to be diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and therapy targets.

The prevention of obesity starting from the kindergarten by means of peer educator mothers and WhatsApp messages

Study design

Experimental approach.

Background

Early-life diet plays a crucial role in the development of body weight issues. We therefore investigated the effectiveness of a peer-education intervention, aiming at encouraging the intake of fruits and vegetables and of a healthy mid-morning snack, targeting the mothers of 3-8 years old children attending kindergarten and primary school.

Methods

The study involved 924 children (intervention group) and 450 children (control group). The intervention was carried out by organizing three meetings at school with the participation of healthcare professionals, mothers and teachers in a maieutic way. The meetings focused on i) discussing the issues that mothers face with their children's nutrition; ii) possible solutions; iii) identification of "leading mothers" playing as peer-educators. As control a similar intervention targeting only the teachers, without involving the mothers, was also carried out. The effectiveness of such interventions was evaluated by external evaluators, before, the interventions and 3 and 9 months after the interventions.

Results

The check, carried out 3 months after the intervention, showed a significant improvement with respect to the mid-morning snack, and the consumption of the main dishes as well as fruits; the check carried out 9 months after the intervention, showed that such improvements were maintained in the case of the midmorning snack and the fruit intake. No improvement was observed in relation to the control group.

Conclusions

This is the first example of an intervention promoting a healthy diet involving mothers of children attending kindergarten and primary school as peer educators and it actually improved the dietary habits.

Proteomic evaluation of GCF in the development of pregnancy related periodontal disease: a pilot clinical study

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study analyzed the possible changes of periodontal disease status in female patients during the period following pregnancy. Both clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A non-randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted by the Periodontal Department of the Dental Clinic in collaboration with the Pediatrics Department, at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy. Ten female patients, who completed the pregnancy without complications, were enrolled in this research protocol forming the experimental group. During the first post-partum days, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples were collected and analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography associated with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC ESI MS); periodontal parameters as pocket depth (PD), full mouth plaque score (FMPS) and full mouth bleeding score (FMBS) were recorded, and a professional oral hygiene session was performed. The same protocol was applied after three months with the same patients forming the recall group. A control group was created in order to compare the results with GCF samples from 10 not pregnant fertile women.

RESULTS

Student's t-test has been used to evaluate the statistical significance of the collected data. Mean levels of PD decreased from 3.75 mm ± 1.2 mm after pregnancy to 2.88 mm ± 0.85 mm at three months post-partum (p<0.01). Mean value of FMPS and FMBS decreased from 21.8% ± 1.35% and 34.27% ± 1.5% after pregnancy to 13% ± 2.81% and 17.55% ± 2.84% at three months post-partum, respectively (p<0.05). The concentration of each analyzed peptide has changed in relation to the general improvement of the periodontal status at three months post-partum.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of periodontal disease. Both clinical and laboratory data have demonstrated that a professional oral hygiene session can affect the course of pregnancy inducing periodontal diseases allowing a faster healing and restitutio ab integrum.

Cripto shapes macrophage plasticity and restricts EndMT in injured and diseased skeletal muscle

Macrophages are characterized by a high plasticity in response to changes in tissue microenvironment, which allows them to acquire different phenotypes and to exert essential functions in complex processes, such as tissue regeneration. Here, we report that the membrane protein Cripto plays a key role in shaping macrophage plasticity in skeletal muscle during regeneration and disease. Conditional deletion of Cripto in the myeloid lineage (Cripto^My‐LOF) perturbs MP plasticity in acutely injured muscle and in mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (mdx). Specifically, Cripto^My‐LOF macrophages infiltrate the muscle, but fail to properly expand as anti‐inflammatory CD206⁺ macrophages, which is due, at least in part, to aberrant activation of TGFβ/Smad signaling. This reduction in macrophage plasticity disturbs vascular remodeling by increasing Endothelial‐to‐Mesenchymal Transition (EndMT), reduces muscle regenerative potential, and leads to an exacerbation of the dystrophic phenotype. Thus, in muscle‐infiltrating macrophages, Cripto is required to promote the expansion of the CD206⁺ anti‐inflammatory macrophage type and to restrict the EndMT process, providing a direct functional link between this macrophage population and endothelial cells.

Salivary biomarkers and proteomics: future diagnostic and clinical utilities

Saliva testing is a non-invasive and inexpensive test that can serve as a source of information useful for diagnosis of disease. As we enter the era of genomic technologies and -omic research, collection of saliva has increased. Recent proteomic platforms have analysed the human salivary proteome and characterised about 3000 differentially expressed proteins and peptides: in saliva, more than 90% of proteins in weight are derived from the secretion of three couples of "major" glands; all the other components are derived from minor glands, gingival crevicular fluid, mucosal exudates and oral microflora. The most common aim of proteomic analysis is to discriminate between physiological and pathological conditions. A proteomic protocol to analyze the whole saliva proteome is not currently available. It is possible distinguish two type of proteomic platforms: top-down proteomics investigates intact naturally-occurring structure of a protein under examination; bottom-up proteomics analyses peptide fragments after pre-digestion (typically with trypsin). Because of this heterogeneity, many different biomarkers may be proposed for the same pathology. The salivary proteome has been characterised in several diseases: oral squamous cell carcinoma and oral leukoplakia, chronic graft-versus-host disease Sjögren's syndrome and other autoimmune disorders such as SAPHO, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and genetic diseases like Down's Syndrome and Wilson disease. The results of research reported herein suggest that in the near future human saliva will be a relevant diagnostic fluid for clinical diagnosis and prognosis.

Induction of Acute Skeletal Muscle Regeneration by Cardiotoxin Injection

Skeletal muscle regeneration is a physiological process that occurs in adult skeletal muscles in response to injury or disease. Acute injury-induced skeletal muscle regeneration is a widely used, powerful model system to study the events involved in muscle regeneration as well as the mechanisms and different players. Indeed, a detailed knowledge of this process is essential for a better understanding of the pathological conditions that lead to skeletal muscle degeneration, and it aids in identifying new targeted therapeutic strategies. The present work describes a detailed and reproducible protocol to induce acute skeletal muscle regeneration in mice through a single intramuscular injection of cardiotoxin (CTX). CTX belongs to the family of snake venom toxins and causes myolysis of myofibers, which eventually triggers the regeneration events. The dynamics of skeletal muscle regeneration is evaluated by histological analysis of muscle sections. The protocol also illustrates the experimental procedures for dissecting, freezing, and cutting the Tibialis Anterior muscle, as well as the routine Hematoxylin & Eosin staining that is widely used for subsequent morphological and morphometric analysis.

Available influenza vaccines: immunization strategies, history and new tools for fighting the disease

The main public health strategy for containing influenza-related disease is annual vaccination, which is recommended for the elderly and others belonging to risk-factor categories, who present the highest morbidity and mortality, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) Recommendations. The availability of different influenza vaccine formulations makes the choice of the best immunization strategy a challenge for stakeholders and public health experts. Heterogeneity in at-risk categories included in national influenza vaccine recommendations still exists, in particular among European countries. Broader consensus is expected, which should positively impact on influenza vaccination coverage. The availability of quadrivalent vaccines, containing both influenza B lineages, offers the potential to improve protection by overcoming the drawbacks of wrongly predicting which B lineage will predominate in a given year.

Conditional Cripto overexpression in satellite cells promotes myogenic commitment and enhances early regeneration

Skeletal muscle regeneration mainly depends on satellite cells, a population of resident muscle stem cells. Despite extensive studies, knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the early events associated with satellite cell activation and myogenic commitment in muscle regeneration remains still incomplete. Cripto is a novel regulator of postnatal skeletal muscle regeneration and a promising target for future therapy. Indeed, Cripto is expressed both in myogenic and inflammatory cells in skeletal muscle after acute injury and it is required in the satellite cell compartment to achieve effective muscle regeneration. A critical requirement to further explore the in vivo cellular contribution of Cripto in regulating skeletal muscle regeneration is the possibility to overexpress Cripto in its endogenous configuration and in a cell and time-specific manner. Here we report the generation and the functional characterization of a novel mouse model for conditional expression of Cripto, i.e., the Tg:DsRed^loxP/loxPCripto-eGFP mice. Moreover, by using a satellite cell specific Cre-driver line we investigated the biological effect of Cripto overexpression in vivo, and provided evidence that overexpression of Cripto in the adult satellite cell compartment promotes myogenic commitment and differentiation, and enhances early regeneration in a mouse model of acute injury.

Transcription factor PREP1 induces EMT and metastasis by controlling the TGF-β-SMAD3 pathway in non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma

Pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox (Pbx)-regulating protein-1 (Prep1) is a ubiquitous homeoprotein involved in early development, genomic stability, insulin sensitivity, and hematopoiesis. Previously we have shown that Prep1 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor that inhibits neoplastic transformation by competing with myeloid ecotropic integration site 1 for binding to the common heterodimeric partner Pbx1. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is controlled by complex networks of proinvasive transcription factors responsive to paracrine factors such as TGF-β. Here we show that, in addition to inhibiting primary tumor growth, PREP1 is a novel EMT inducer and prometastatic transcription factor. In human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, PREP1 overexpression is sufficient to trigger EMT, whereas PREP1 down-regulation inhibits the induction of EMT in response to TGF-β. PREP1 modulates the cellular sensitivity to TGF-β by inducing the small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (SMAD3) nuclear translocation through mechanisms dependent, at least in part, on PREP1-mediated transactivation of a regulatory element in the SMAD3 first intron. Along with the stabilization and accumulation of PBX1, PREP1 induces the expression of multiple activator protein 1 components including the proinvasive Fos-related antigen 1 (FRA-1) oncoprotein. Both FRA-1 and PBX1 are required for the mesenchymal changes triggered by PREP1 in lung tumor cells. Finally, we show that the PREP1-induced mesenchymal transformation correlates with significantly increased lung colonization by cells overexpressing PREP1. Accordingly, we have detected PREP1 accumulation in a large number of human brain metastases of various solid tumors, including NSCLC. These findings point to a novel role of the PREP1 homeoprotein in the control of the TGF-β pathway, EMT, and metastasis in NSCLC.

Morpho-functional modifications of human neutrophils induced by aqueous cigarette smoke extract: comparison with chemiluminescence activity

Cigarette smoking plays an important role as a cause of morbidity and mortality in humans, involving respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive and reproductive systems. Tobacco smoke contains a large number of molecules, some of which are proven carcinogens. Although not fully understood, polymorphonuclear leukocytes seem to play a crucial role in the mechanisms by which tobacco smoke compounds are implicated in smoke-related diseases. In this paper the effects of an aqueous cigarette smoke extract on the expression of adhesion molecules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes together with the changes in the cell morphology have been related to the chemiluminescence activity. The results obtained show that polymorphonuclear leukocytes treated with aqueous cigarette smoke extract are significantly impaired, as suggested by the changes of chemiluminescence activity, of membrane receptors (CD18, CD62), myeloperoxidase expression and of cell morphology. Altogether the present data indicate that treated polymorphonuclear leukocytes are ineffectively activated and therefore unable to phagocytize zymosan particles.