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Lorefice L, Cortese R. Brain and spinal cord atrophy in NMOSD and MOGAD: Current evidence and future perspectives. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2024; 85:105559. [PMID: 38554671 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a severe form of inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) including acute myelitis, optic neuritis and brain syndrome. Currently, the classification of NMOSD relies on serologic testing, distinguishing between seropositive or seronegative anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4) status. However, the situation has recently grown more intricate with the identification of patients exhibiting the NMOSD phenotype and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOGAD). NMOSD is primarily recognized as a relapsing disorder; MOGAD can manifest with either a monophasic or relapsing course. Significant symptomatic inflammatory CNS injuries with stability in clinical findings outside the acute phase are reported in both diseases. Nevertheless, recent studies have proposed the existence of a subclinical pathological process, revealing longitudinal changes in brain and spinal cord atrophy. Within this context, we summarise key studies investigating brain and spinal cord measurements in adult NMOSD and MOGAD. We also explore their relationship with clinical aspects, highlight differences from multiple sclerosis (MS), and address future challenges. This exploration is crucial for determining the presence of chronic damage processes, enabling the customization of therapeutic interventions irrespective of the acute phase of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Lorefice
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Multiple Sclerosis Center, Binaghi Hospital, ASL Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Via Is Guadazzonis 2, Cagliari 09126, Italy.
| | - R Cortese
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Santoro C, Babanova S, Cristiani P, Artyushkova K, Atanassov P, Bergel A, Bretschger O, Brown RK, Carpenter K, Colombo A, Cortese R, Erable B, Harnisch F, Kodali M, Phadke S, Riedl S, Rosa LFM, Schröder U. How Comparable are Microbial Electrochemical Systems around the Globe? An Electrochemical and Microbiological Cross-Laboratory Study. ChemSusChem 2021; 14:2267. [PMID: 34002490 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202100824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Invited for this month's cover is the collaborative work among Univ. of Milano-Bicocca, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico S.p.A., Univ. degli Studi di Milano, Univ. of California Irvine, Univ. of New Mexico, CNRS Toulouse. Technische Univ. Braunschweig, Aquacycl LLC, J. Craig Venter Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research. The image shows a sketch of a microbial fuel cell and a target indicating the need of developing common standards for the field of microbial electrochemical technologies. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.202100294.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Santoro
- Department of Material Science, University of Milan Bicocca, U5 Via Cozzi 55, Milan, 20125, Italy
| | - Sofia Babanova
- Aquacycl LLC, 2180 Chablis Court, Suite 102, Escondido, CA 92029, USA
| | - Pierangela Cristiani
- Department of Sustainable Development and Energy Resources, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico S.p.A., Via Rubattino 54, Milan, 20134, Italy
| | | | - Plamen Atanassov
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC), University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Alain Bergel
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS-INPT-UPS, 4 allée Emile Monso, 31432, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Robert K Brown
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Kayla Carpenter
- J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Alessandra Colombo
- Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Rachel Cortese
- J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Benjamin Erable
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS-INPT-UPS, 4 allée Emile Monso, 31432, Toulouse, France
| | - Falk Harnisch
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mounika Kodali
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC), University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Sujal Phadke
- J. Craig Venter Institute, 4120 Capricorn Lane, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sebastian Riedl
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Luis F M Rosa
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uwe Schröder
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
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Santoro C, Babanova S, Cristiani P, Artyushkova K, Atanassov P, Bergel A, Bretschger O, Brown RK, Carpenter K, Colombo A, Cortese R, Erable B, Harnisch F, Kodali M, Phadke S, Riedl S, Rosa LFM, Schröder U. How Comparable are Microbial Electrochemical Systems around the Globe? An Electrochemical and Microbiological Cross-Laboratory Study. ChemSusChem 2021; 14:2313-2330. [PMID: 33755321 PMCID: PMC8252665 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202100294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
A cross-laboratory study on microbial fuel cells (MFC) which involved different institutions around the world is presented. The study aims to assess the development of autochthone microbial pools enriched from domestic wastewater, cultivated in identical single-chamber MFCs, operated in the same way, thereby approaching the idea of developing common standards for MFCs. The MFCs are inoculated with domestic wastewater in different geographic locations. The acclimation stage and, consequently, the startup time are longer or shorter depending on the inoculum, but all MFCs reach similar maximum power outputs (55±22 μW cm-2 ) and COD removal efficiencies (87±9 %), despite the diversity of the bacterial communities. It is inferred that the MFC performance starts when the syntrophic interaction of fermentative and electrogenic bacteria stabilizes under anaerobic conditions at the anode. The generated power is mostly limited by electrolytic conductivity, electrode overpotentials, and an unbalanced external resistance. The enriched microbial consortia, although composed of different bacterial groups, share similar functions both on the anode and the cathode of the different MFCs, resulting in similar electrochemical output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Santoro
- Department of Material ScienceUniversity of Milan BicoccaU5 Via Cozzi 55Milan20125Italy
| | - Sofia Babanova
- Aquacycl LLC2180 Chablis Court, Suite 102EscondidoCA 92029USA
| | - Pierangela Cristiani
- Department of Sustainable Development and Energy ResourcesRicerca sul Sistema Energetico S.p.A.Via Rubattino 54Milan20134Italy
| | | | - Plamen Atanassov
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC)University of CaliforniaIrvineCA 92697USA
| | - Alain Bergel
- Laboratoire de Génie ChimiqueUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS-INPT-UPS4 allée Emile Monso31432ToulouseFrance
| | | | - Robert K. Brown
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable ChemistryTechnische Universität BraunschweigHagenring 3038106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Kayla Carpenter
- J. Craig Venter Institute4120 Capricorn LaneLa JollaCA 92037USA
| | - Alessandra Colombo
- Department of ChemistryUniversità degli Studi di MilanoVia Golgi 19Milan20133Italy
| | - Rachel Cortese
- J. Craig Venter Institute4120 Capricorn LaneLa JollaCA 92037USA
| | - Benjamin Erable
- Laboratoire de Génie ChimiqueUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS-INPT-UPS4 allée Emile Monso31432ToulouseFrance
| | - Falk Harnisch
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyHelmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZPermoserstr. 1504318LeipzigGermany
| | - Mounika Kodali
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC)University of CaliforniaIrvineCA 92697USA
| | - Sujal Phadke
- J. Craig Venter Institute4120 Capricorn LaneLa JollaCA 92037USA
| | - Sebastian Riedl
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable ChemistryTechnische Universität BraunschweigHagenring 3038106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Luis F. M. Rosa
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyHelmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZPermoserstr. 1504318LeipzigGermany
| | - Uwe Schröder
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable ChemistryTechnische Universität BraunschweigHagenring 3038106BraunschweigGermany
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Babanova S, Jones J, Phadke S, Lu M, Angulo C, Garcia J, Carpenter K, Cortese R, Chen S, Phan T, Bretschger O. Continuous flow, large-scale, microbial fuel cell system for the sustained treatment of swine waste. Water Environ Res 2020; 92:60-72. [PMID: 31306532 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have long held the promise of being a cost-effective technology for the energy-neutral treatment of wastewater. However, successful pilot-scale demonstrations for this technology are still limited to very few. Here, we present a large-scale MFC system, composed of 12 MFCs with a total volume of 110 L, successfully treating swine wastewater at a small educational farm. The system was operated for over 200 days in continuous mode with hydraulic residence time of 4 hr. Very stable electrochemical and waste treatment performance was observed with up to 65% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removed and a maximum treatment rate of 5.0 kg COD/m3 .day. Robust microbial enrichment was performed and adapted to metabolize and transform a diversity of compounds present. The Net Energy Recovery (NER = 0.11 kWhr/kg COD) is not only competitive with conventional cogeneration processes, but is in fact sufficient to sustain the operational energy requirements of the system. PRACTITIONER POINTS: This study demonstrates the design and operation of a large-scale microbial fuel cells (MFC) system for continuous treatment of swine wastewater. The system achieved a high chemical oxygen demand removal rate within a short hydraulic residence time. This study moves one-step closer to applying MFC technology for real wastewater treatment.
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Grossman RL, Abel B, Angiuoli S, Barrett JC, Bassett D, Bramlett K, Blumenthal GM, Carlsson A, Cortese R, DiGiovanna J, Davis-Dusenbery B, Dittamore R, Eberhard DA, Febbo P, Fitzsimons M, Flamig Z, Godsey J, Goswami J, Gruen A, Ortuño F, Han J, Hayes D, Hicks J, Holloway D, Hovelson D, Johnson J, Juhl H, Kalamegham R, Kamal R, Kang Q, Kelloff GJ, Klozenbuecher M, Kolatkar A, Kuhn P, Langone K, Leary R, Loverso P, Manmathan H, Martin AM, Martini J, Miller D, Mitchell M, Morgan T, Mulpuri R, Nguyen T, Otto G, Pathak A, Peters E, Philip R, Posadas E, Reese D, Reese MG, Robinson D, Dei Rossi A, Sakul H, Schageman J, Singh S, Scher HI, Schmitt K, Silvestro A, Simmons J, Simmons T, Sislow J, Talasaz A, Tang P, Tewari M, Tomlins S, Toukhy H, Tseng HR, Tuck M, Tzou A, Vinson J, Wang Y, Wells W, Welsh A, Wilbanks J, Wolf J, Young L, Lee J, Leiman LC. Collaborating to Compete: Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (BloodPAC) Consortium. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2017; 101:589-592. [PMID: 28187516 PMCID: PMC5525192 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The cancer community understands the value of blood profiling measurements in assessing and monitoring cancer. We describe an effort among academic, government, biotechnology, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical companies called the Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (BloodPAC) Project. BloodPAC will aggregate, make freely available, and harmonize for further analyses, raw datasets, relevant associated clinical data (e.g., clinical diagnosis, treatment history, and outcomes), and sample preparation and handling protocols to accelerate the development of blood profiling assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Grossman
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - B Abel
- Genomic Health, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - S Angiuoli
- Personal Genome Diagnostics, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - K Bramlett
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - G M Blumenthal
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Springs, Maryland, USA
| | - A Carlsson
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - R Cortese
- Seven Bridges, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - R Dittamore
- Epic Research and Diagnostics, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - P Febbo
- Genomic Health, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - M Fitzsimons
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Z Flamig
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - J Godsey
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J Goswami
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - A Gruen
- Seven Bridges, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - F Ortuño
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - J Han
- Genomic Health, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - D Hayes
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - J Hicks
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - D Holloway
- Seven Bridges, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - D Hovelson
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - J Johnson
- AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - H Juhl
- Indivumed GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - R Kalamegham
- Genentech, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - R Kamal
- Omicia, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Q Kang
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - G J Kelloff
- Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - A Kolatkar
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - P Kuhn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - K Langone
- Genomic Health, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - R Leary
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - P Loverso
- Personal Genome Diagnostics, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - H Manmathan
- Seven Bridges, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - A-M Martin
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - D Miller
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - M Mitchell
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - T Morgan
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - R Mulpuri
- Provista Diagnostics Inc., New York, New York, USA
| | - T Nguyen
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - G Otto
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - A Pathak
- Center for Device and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Springs, Maryland, USA
| | - E Peters
- Genentech, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - R Philip
- Center for Device and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Springs, Maryland, USA
| | - E Posadas
- CytoLumina, Inc., Los Angeles, California, USA.,Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - D Reese
- Provista Diagnostics Inc., New York, New York, USA
| | | | - D Robinson
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - A Dei Rossi
- Genomic Health, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - H Sakul
- Pfizer, San Diego, California, USA
| | - J Schageman
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - S Singh
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - H I Scher
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - K Schmitt
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - A Silvestro
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J Simmons
- Personal Genome Diagnostics, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - T Simmons
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - J Sislow
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - A Talasaz
- Guardant Health, Inc., Redwood City, California, USA
| | - P Tang
- Center for Data Intensive Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - M Tewari
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - S Tomlins
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - H Toukhy
- Guardant Health, Inc., Redwood City, California, USA
| | - H R Tseng
- CytoLumina, Inc., Los Angeles, California, USA.,Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - M Tuck
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - A Tzou
- Center for Device and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Springs, Maryland, USA
| | - J Vinson
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Y Wang
- Epic Research and Diagnostics, San Diego, California, USA
| | - W Wells
- Open Commons Consortium, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - A Welsh
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J Wilbanks
- Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - J Wolf
- Provista Diagnostics Inc., New York, New York, USA
| | - L Young
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jsh Lee
- Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Tortelli R, Copetti M, Panza F, Fontana A, Cortese R, Capozzo R, Introna A, D'Errico E, Zoccolella S, Arcuti S, Seripa D, Simone IL, Logroscino G. Time to generalization and prediction of survival in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a retrospective observational study. Eur J Neurol 2016; 23:1117-25. [PMID: 27016147 DOI: 10.1111/ene.12994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A strong association between time to generalization (TTG), considered as the time of spreading of the clinical signs from spinal or bulbar localization to both, and survival was recently identified in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Thus, TTG may be used as an early to intermediate end-point in survival studies. The aim of the present study was to test TTG as a predictor of survival in ALS. METHODS This was an observational retrospective study of ALS patients from a tertiary referral centre over a 5-year follow-up period. RESULTS In 212 ALS patients, TTG was associated with time to death/tracheostomy [R 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53-0.70; P < 0.001]. In a time-to-event analysis, longer TTG resulted in lower risk to reach a composite outcome (death or tracheostomy) both in univariate [hazard ratio (HR) 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99] and multivariate Cox analyses (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99). TTG predicted death/tracheostomy at 4 years (C-statistic 0.58; 95% CI 0.53-0.63) and at 5 years (C-statistic 0.58; 95% CI 0.53-0.62). CONCLUSIONS Based on the present results from a large clinical cohort, TTG may be used as a new early to intermediate end-point to describe the ALS natural history. TTG may be potentially useful as a new primary outcome measure for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tortelli
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - M Copetti
- Unit of Biostatistics, IRCCS 'Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza', San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - F Panza
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Tricase, Lecce, Italy.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy.,Geriatric Unit and Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS 'Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza', San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - A Fontana
- Unit of Biostatistics, IRCCS 'Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza', San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - R Cortese
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - R Capozzo
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - A Introna
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - E D'Errico
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - S Zoccolella
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - S Arcuti
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - D Seripa
- Geriatric Unit and Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS 'Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza', San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - I L Simone
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
| | - G Logroscino
- Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Tricase, Lecce, Italy.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', Bari, Italy
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Cortese R, Khalyfa A, Bao R, Andrade J, Gozal D. Epigenomic profiling in visceral white adipose tissue of offspring of mice exposed to late gestational sleep fragmentation. Int J Obes (Lond) 2015; 39:1432. [PMID: 26347212 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2015.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Green CA, Scarselli E, Voysey M, Capone S, Vitelli A, Nicosia A, Cortese R, Thompson AJ, Sande CS, de Lara C, Klenerman P, Pollard AJ. Safety and immunogenicity of novel respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines based on the RSV viral proteins F, N and M2-1 encoded by simian adenovirus (PanAd3-RSV) and MVA (MVA-RSV); protocol for an open-label, dose-escalation, single-centre, phase 1 clinical trial in healthy adults. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e008748. [PMID: 26510727 PMCID: PMC4636663 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection causes respiratory disease throughout life, with infants and the elderly at risk of severe disease and death. RSV001 is a phase 1 (first-in-man), open-label, dose-escalation, clinical trial of novel genetic viral-vectored vaccine candidates PanAd3-RSV and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)-RSV. The objective of RSV001 is to characterise the (primary objective) safety and (secondary objective) immunogenicity of these vaccines in healthy younger and older adults. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Heterologous and homologous 'prime'/boost combinations of PanAd3-RSV and single-dose MVA-RSV are evaluated in healthy adults. 40 healthy adults aged 18-50 years test one of four combinations of intramuscular (IM) or intranasal (IN) PanAd3-RSV prime and IM PanAd3 or IM MVA-RSV boost vaccination, starting at a low dose for safety. The following year an additional 30 healthy adults aged 60-75 years test either a single dose of IM MVA-RSV, one of three combinations of IN or IM PanAd3-RSV prime and PanAd3-RSV or MVA-RSV boost vaccination used in younger volunteers, and a non-vaccinated control group. Study participants are self-selected volunteers who satisfy the eligibility criteria and are assigned to study groups by sequential allocation. Safety assessment includes the daily recording of solicited and unsolicited adverse events for 1 week after vaccination, as well as visit (nursing) observations and safety bloods obtained at all scheduled attendances. Laboratory measures of RSV-specific humoral and cellular immune responses after vaccination will address the secondary end points. All study procedures are performed at the Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine (CCVTM), Oxford, UK. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION RSV001 has clinical trial authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and ethics approval from NRES Berkshire (reference 13/SC/0023). All study procedures adhere to International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Good Clinical Practice guidelines. The results of the trial are to be published in peer-reviewed journals, conferences and academic forums. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT01805921.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Green
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, The NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - E Scarselli
- ReiThera Srl, (formerly Okairos Srl), Rome, Italy
| | - M Voysey
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, The NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - S Capone
- ReiThera Srl, (formerly Okairos Srl), Rome, Italy
| | - A Vitelli
- ReiThera Srl, (formerly Okairos Srl), Rome, Italy
| | - A Nicosia
- ReiThera Srl, (formerly Okairos Srl), Rome, Italy
| | - R Cortese
- ReiThera Srl, (formerly Okairos Srl), Rome, Italy
| | - A J Thompson
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, The NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - C S Sande
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, The NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Catherine de Lara
- Experimental Medicine Division, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - P Klenerman
- Experimental Medicine Division, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - A J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, The NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Cortese R, Khalyfa A, Bao R, Andrade J, Gozal D. Epigenomic profiling in visceral white adipose tissue of offspring of mice exposed to late gestational sleep fragmentation. Int J Obes (Lond) 2015; 39:1135-42. [PMID: 25801690 PMCID: PMC4496299 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2015.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep fragmentation during late gestation (LG-SF) is one of the major perturbations associated with sleep apnea and other sleep disorders during pregnancy. We have previously shown that LG-SF induces metabolic dysfunction in offspring mice during adulthood. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of late LG-SF on metabolic homeostasis in offspring and to determine the effects of LG-SF on the epigenome of visceral white adipose tissue (VWAT) in the offspring. METHODS Time-pregnant mice were exposed to LG-SF or sleep control during LG (LG-SC) conditions during the last 6 days of gestation. At 24 weeks of age, lipid profiles and metabolic parameters were assessed in the offspring. We performed large-scale DNA methylation analyses using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) coupled with microarrays (MeDIP-chip) in VWAT of 24-week-old LG-SF and LG-SC offspring (n=8 mice per group). Univariate multiple-testing adjusted statistical analyses were applied to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between the groups. DMRs were mapped to their corresponding genes, and tested for potential overlaps with biological pathways and gene networks. RESULTS We detected significant increases in body weight (31.7 vs 28.8 g; P=0.001), visceral (642.1 vs 497.0 mg; P=0.002) and subcutaneous (293.1 vs 250.1 mg; P=0.001) fat mass, plasma cholesterol (110.6 vs 87.6 mg dl(-1); P=0.001), triglycerides (87.3 vs 84.1 mg dl(-1); P=0.003) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance values (8.1 vs 6.1; P=0.007) in the LG-SF group. MeDIP analyses revealed that 2148 DMRs (LG-SF vs LG-SC; P<0.0001, model-based analysis of tilling-arrays algorithm). A large proportion of the DMR-associated genes have reported functions that are altered in obesity and metabolic syndrome, such as Cartpt, Akt2, Apoe, Insr1 and so on. Overrepresented pathways and gene networks were related to metabolic regulation and inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show a major role for epigenomic regulation of pathways associated with the metabolic processes and inflammatory responses in VWAT. LG-SF-induced epigenetic alterations may underlie increases in the susceptibility to obesity and metabolic syndrome in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Cortese
- Section of Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A Khalyfa
- Section of Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - R Bao
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - J Andrade
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - D Gozal
- Section of Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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10
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Testini M, Gurrado A, Bellantone R, Brazzarola P, Cortese R, De Toma G, Fabiola Franco I, Lissidini G, Pio Lombardi C, Minerva F, Di Meo G, Pasculli A, Piccinni G, Rosato L. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and substernal goiter. An Italian multicenter study. J Visc Surg 2014; 151:183-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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11
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Tortelli R, Copetti M, Ruggieri M, Cortese R, Capozzo R, Leo A, D'Errico E, Mastrapasqua M, Zoccolella S, Pellegrini F, Simone IL, Logroscino G. Cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light chain levels: marker of progression to generalized amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2014; 22:215-8. [PMID: 24750431 DOI: 10.1111/ene.12421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [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: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To evaluate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels could predict the time to generalization (TTG) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Cerebrospinal fluid NFL levels of 37 cases of sporadic ALS were measured and the time of symptom spreading from spinal or bulbar localization to both (TTG) was evaluated in all patients. RESULTS Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a short TTG in patients with high NFL levels (log-rank test chi-squared = 19.4, P < 0.0001). In a multivariate regression model patients with NFL levels above the median had an eight-fold higher risk of generalization (adjusted hazard ratio 7.9, 95% confidence interval 2.9-21.4, P < 0.0001) compared with those with NFL levels below the median. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that in sporadic ALS NFL, a marker of neurodegeneration, is correlated with TTG, a clinical intermediate parameter of survivorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Tortelli
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, Unit of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Bari, c/o Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico, Tricase (Lecce), Italy
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12
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Tortelli R, Ruggieri M, Cortese R, D'Errico E, Capozzo R, Leo A, Mastrapasqua M, Zoccolella S, Leante R, Livrea P, Logroscino G, Simone IL. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light levels in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a possible marker of disease severity and progression. Eur J Neurol 2012; 19:1561-7. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2012.03777.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Accepted: 04/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Tortelli
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - M. Ruggieri
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - R. Cortese
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - E. D'Errico
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - R. Capozzo
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - A. Leo
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - M. Mastrapasqua
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - S. Zoccolella
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - R. Leante
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - P. Livrea
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - G. Logroscino
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
| | - I. L. Simone
- Department of Neurosciences and Sense Organs; University of Bari; Policlinico Bari Italy
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13
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Simone I, Mezzapesa D, D'Errico E, Dicuonzo F, Zoccolella S, Tortelli R, Cortese R, Federico F, Logroscino G, Livrea P. Cortical Thinning in Frontal Lobes Is Relate with Faster Progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (P03.161). Neurology 2012. [DOI: 10.1212/wnl.78.1_meetingabstracts.p03.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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14
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Barulli MR, Tursi M, Tortelli R, Capozzo R, Cortese R, D'Errico E, Leo A, Simone I, Logroscino G. Verbal Learning Abilities in ALS Patients (P01.109). Neurology 2012. [DOI: 10.1212/wnl.78.1_meetingabstracts.p01.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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15
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Megna M, Cortese R, Dellomonaco A, Bellomo RG, Salonna I, Cristella G, Ranieri M. Pharmacological aspects and neurological speech therapy: target of dysphony, dysarthria and dysphagia. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2012; 25:29S-33S. [PMID: 22652159 DOI: 10.1177/03946320120250s105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The word dysphagy was suggested by Nicolatopoulos (1907) and derives from the ancient Greek "duz", which means "difficulty" and "katapinein", which means "to swallow". Generally, the dysphagia is defined on the basis of its origin: oral, pharynx and oesophagus, otherwise by its mechanical or neurological aetiology. The symptoms are dependent on the nature of the lesions in the affected organs. The swallow is a complex motor sequence dependent on the coordinate contraction of the muscle of mouth, of larynx and of the oesophagus. The mechanical action of the swallow helps the liquid or solid food progression from mouth to stomach thanks to cooperation of 31 muscles and 5 cranial nerves and allows swallowing about 580 times approximately. The dysphagy in neurological diseases is mainly due to the following reasons. Increase of vascular cerebral disease, increase of population age and increase of road and work traumas. The difficulties in swallowing causes heavy social problems like meager diet, social isolation and worsening of quality of life. The speech rehabilitation requires the involvement of care givers through a re-educational program that takes place in two periods: the first of relaxation, and the second of restoration of phonodeglutition praxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Megna
- Neuroscience and Sense Organs Department, Aldo Moro University, Bari, Italy.
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Armata N, Baldissin G, Barone G, Cortese R, D’Anna V, Ferrante F, Giuffrida S, Li Manni G, Prestianni A, Rubino T, Varga Z, Duca D. Molecular-Level Characterization of Heterogeneous Catalytic Systems by Algorithmic Time Dependent Monte Carlo. Top Catal 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s11244-008-9178-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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17
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Armata N, Baldissin G, Barone G, Cortese R, D’Anna V, Ferrante F, Giuffrida S, Li Manni G, Prestianni A, Rubino T, Duca D. Structural and Kinetic DFT Characterization of Materials to Rationalize Catalytic Performance. Top Catal 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s11244-008-9176-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Amabile G, D'Alise AM, Iovino M, Jones P, Santaguida S, Musacchio A, Taylor S, Cortese R. The Aurora B kinase activity is required for the maintenance of the differentiated state of murine myoblasts. Cell Death Differ 2008; 16:321-30. [PMID: 18974773 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2008.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Reversine is a synthetic molecule capable of inducing dedifferentiation of C2C12, a murine myoblast cell line, into multipotent progenitor cells, which can be redirected to differentiate in nonmuscle cell types under appropriate conditions. Reversine is also a potent inhibitor of Aurora B, a protein kinase required for mitotic chromosome segregation, spindle checkpoint function, cytokinesis and histone H3 phosphorylation, raising the possibility that the dedifferentiation capability of reversine is mediated through the inhibition of Aurora B. Indeed, here we show that several other well-characterized Aurora B inhibitors are capable of dedifferentiating C2C12 myoblasts. Significantly, expressing drug-resistant Aurora B mutants, which are insensitive to reversine block the dedifferentiation process, indicating that Aurora B kinase activity is required to maintain the differentiated state. We show that the inhibition of the spindle checkpoint or cytokinesis per se is not sufficient for dedifferentiation. Rather, our data support a model whereby changes in histone H3 phosphorylation result in chromatin remodeling, which in turn restores the multipotent state.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Amabile
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
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19
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Poli V, Oliviero S, Morrone G, Cortese R. Characterization of an IL-6-responsive element (IL6RE) present on liver-specific genes and identification of the cognate IL-6-dependent DNA-binding protein (IL6DBP). Ann N Y Acad Sci 2008; 557:297-309. [PMID: 2544131 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1989.tb24022.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- V Poli
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany
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20
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Folgori A, Spada E, Pezzanera M, Ruggeri L, Mele A, Garbuglia AR, Perrone MP, Del Porto P, Piccolella E, Cortese R, Nicosia A, Vitelli A. Early impairment of hepatitis C virus specific T cell proliferation during acute infection leads to failure of viral clearance. Gut 2006; 55:1012-9. [PMID: 16484505 PMCID: PMC1856340 DOI: 10.1136/gut.2005.080077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Cellular mediated immunity (CMI) is thought to play a key role in resolution of primary hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses are also generated during acute infection in individuals who become chronic, suggesting that they developed a defective CMI. The aim of this study was to verify if and when such immune dysfunction is established by measuring the breadth, magnitude, function, and duration of CMI in a large cohort of subjects during the natural course of acute HCV infection. METHODS CMI was comprehensively studied by prospective sampling of 31 HCV acutely infected subjects enrolled at the onset of infection and followed for a median period of one year. RESULTS Our results indicated that while at the onset of acute HCV infection a measurable CMI with effector function was detected in the majority of subjects, after approximately six months less than 10% of chronically infected individuals displayed significant CMI compared with 70% of subjects who cleared the virus. We showed that progressive disappearance of HCV specific T cells from the peripheral blood of chronic patients was due to an impaired ability to proliferate that could be rescued in vitro by concomitant exposure to interleukin 2 and the antigen. CONCLUSION Our data provide evidence of strong and multispecific T cell responses with a sustained ability to proliferate in response to antigen stimulation as reliable pharmacodynamic measures of a protective CMI during acute infection, and suggest that early impairment of proliferation may contribute to loss of T cell response and chronic HCV persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Folgori
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P Angeletti, Via Pontina km 30.600, 00040, Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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21
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Fattori E, Zampaglione I, Arcuri M, Meola A, Ercole BB, Cirillo A, Folgori A, Bett A, Cappelletti M, Sporeno E, Cortese R, Nicosia A, Colloca S. Efficient immunization of rhesus macaques with an HCV candidate vaccine by heterologous priming-boosting with novel adenoviral vectors based on different serotypes. Gene Ther 2006; 13:1088-96. [PMID: 16554842 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Efficient vaccination against viral agents requires a strong T-cell-mediated immune response to clear viral-infected cells. Optimal vaccination can be achieved by administration of recombinant viral vectors encoding phatogen antigens. Adenoviral vectors have attracted considerable attention as potential viral vectors for genetic vaccination owing to their favorable safety profile and potent transduction efficiency following intramuscular injection. However, the neutralizing antibody response against adenoviral capsid proteins following adenoviral vectors injection limits the success of vaccination protocols based on multiple administrations of the same adenoviral serotype. In this work, we describe efficient immunization of rhesus macaques, the preferred model for preclinical assessment, with an HCV candidate vaccine by heterologous priming-boosting with adenoviral vectors based on different serotypes. The induced responses are broad and show significant cross-strain reactivity. Boosting can be delayed for over 2 years after priming, indicating that there is long-term maintenance of resting memory cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Fattori
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biololgy, Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P Angeletti, Pomezia, Rome, Italy.
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22
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Zampaglione I, Simon A, Capone S, Finnefrock A, Casimiro D, Kath G, Tang A, Folgori A, La Monica N, Shiver J, Nicosia A, Ciliberto G, Cortese R, Fattori E. Genetic vaccination by gene electro-transfer in non-human primates. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s1773-2247(06)50013-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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23
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Spada E, Mele A, Berton A, Ruggeri L, Ferrigno L, Garbuglia AR, Perrone MP, Girelli G, Del Porto P, Piccolella E, Mondelli MU, Amoroso P, Cortese R, Nicosia A, Vitelli A, Folgori A. Multispecific T cell response and negative HCV RNA tests during acute HCV infection are early prognostic factors of spontaneous clearance. Gut 2004; 53:1673-81. [PMID: 15479691 PMCID: PMC1774263 DOI: 10.1136/gut.2003.037788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection results in a high frequency of chronic disease. The aim of this study was to identify early prognostic markers of disease resolution by performing a comprehensive analysis of viral and host factors during the natural course of acute HCV infection. METHODS The clinical course of acute hepatitis C was determined in 34 consecutive patients. Epidemiological and virological parameters, as well as cell mediated immunity (CMI) and distribution of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) alleles were analysed. RESULTS Ten out of 34 patients experienced self-limiting infection, with most resolving patients showing fast kinetics of viral clearance: at least one negative HCV RNA test during this phase predicted a favourable outcome. Among other clinical epidemiological parameters measured, the self-limiting course was significantly associated with higher median peak bilirubin levels at the onset of disease, and with the female sex, but only the latter parameter was independently associated after multivariate analysis. No significant differences between self-limiting or chronic course were observed for the distribution of DRB1 and DQB1 alleles. HCV specific T cell response was more frequently detected during acute HCV infection, than in patients with chronic HCV disease. A significantly broader T cell response was found in patients with self-limiting infection than in those with chronic evolving acute hepatitis C. CONCLUSION The results suggest that host related factors, in particular sex and CMI, play a crucial role in the spontaneous clearance of this virus. Most importantly, a negative HCV RNA test and broad CMI within the first month after onset of the symptoms represent very efficacious predictors of viral clearance and could thus be used as criteria in selecting candidates for early antiviral treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Spada
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center of Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
The clinical efficacy and safety as well as the application range of gene therapy will be broadened by developing systems capable of finely modulating the expression of therapeutic genes. Transgene regulation will be crucial for maintaining appropriate levels of a gene product within the therapeutic range, thus preventing toxicity. Moreover, the possibility to modulate, stop or resume transgene expression in response to disease evolution would facilitate the combination of gene therapy with more conventional therapeutic modalities. The development of ligand-dependent transcription regulatory systems is thus of great importance. Here, we summarize the most recent progress in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Toniatti
- 1I.R.B.M.-P. Angeletti, Via Pontina Km. 30.600, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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Roccasecca R, Folgori A, Ercole BB, Puntoriero G, Lahm A, Zucchelli S, Tafi R, Pezzanera M, Galfre G, Tramontano A, Mondelli MU, Pessi A, Nicosia A, Cortese R, Meola A. Induction of cross-reactive humoral immune response by immunization with mimotopes of the hypervariable region 1 of the hepatitis C virus. Int Rev Immunol 2002; 20:289-300. [PMID: 11878771 DOI: 10.3109/08830180109043040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, worldwide, and the development of an effective vaccine represents a high priority goal. The Hyper Variable Region 1 (HVR1) of the second Envelope protein (E2) of HCV contains a principal neutralizing determinant, but it is highly variable among different isolates and it is involved in the escape from host immune response. Thus, to be effective, a vaccine should elicit a cross-reacting humoral response against the majority of viral variants. We show that it is possible to achieve a broadly cross-reactive immune response in rabbits by immunization with mimotopes of the HVR1. selected from a specialized phage library using HCV patients' sera. At least some of the cross-reacting anti-mimotope antibodies, elicited in rabbits, recognize discontinuous epitopes in a manner similar to those induced by the virus in infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Roccasecca
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti, Pomezia, Roma, Italy
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26
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Roccasecca R, Folgori A, Ercole BB, Puntoriero G, Lahm A, Zucchelli S, Tafi R, Pezzanera M, Galfre G, Tramontano A, Mondelli MU, Pessi A, Nicosia A, Cortese R, Meola A. Mimotopes of the hyper variable region 1 of the hepatitis C virus induce cross-reactive antibodies directed against discontinuous epitopes. Mol Immunol 2001; 38:485-92. [PMID: 11741698 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-5890(01)00084-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause worldwide of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and the development of an effective vaccine represents a high priority goal. The hyper variable region 1 (HVR1) of the second envelope protein (E2) of HCV contains a principal neutralizing determinant, but it is highly variable among different isolates and it is involved in the escape from host immune response. To be effective, a vaccine should elicit a cross-reacting humoral response against the majority of viral variants. We show that it is possible to achieve a broadly cross-reactive immune response in rabbits by immunization with mimotopes of the HVR1, selected from a specialized phage library using HCV patients' sera. Some of the cross-reacting anti-mimotope antibodies elicited in rabbits, recognize discontinuous epitopes in a manner similar to those induced by the virus in infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Roccasecca
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare "P. Angeletti", Via Pontina Km 30.600, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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Minenkova O, Gargano N, De Tomassi A, Bellintani F, Pucci A, Fortugno P, Fuscaldi E, Pessi A, Rapicetta M, Miceli M, Iudicone P, Cortese R, Felici F, Monaci P. ADAM-HCV, a new-concept diagnostic assay for antibodies to hepatitis C virus in serum. Eur J Biochem 2001; 268:4758-68. [PMID: 11532012 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.02402.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We screened phage libraries using sera from noninfected individuals and patients infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV). By applying different selection and maturation strategies, we identified a wide collection of efficient phage-borne ligands for HCV-specific antibodies. The selected ligands retained their antigenic properties when expressed as multimeric synthetic peptides. Peptides that mimic several immunodominant epitopes of the virus were used to develop a novel type of diagnostic assay which efficiently detects antibodies to HCV in serum. This type of analysis provides a conclusive diagnosis for many patients identified as indeterminate according to presently available serological assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Minenkova
- Kenton Laboratories, c/o Sigma Tau, Rome, Italy
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Zucchelli S, Roccasecca R, Meola A, Ercole BB, Tafi R, Dubuisson J, Galfré G, Cortese R, Nicosia A. Mimotopes of the hepatitis C virus hypervariable region 1, but not the natural sequences, induce cross-reactive antibody response by genetic immunization. Hepatology 2001; 33:692-703. [PMID: 11230750 DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2001.22175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
The hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of the putative envelope protein E2 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains a principal neutralization epitope, and anti-HVR1 antibodies have been shown to possess protective activity in ex vivo neutralization experiments. However, the high rate of variability of this antigenic fragment may play a major role in the mechanism of escape from host immune response and might represent a major obstacle to developing an HCV vaccine. Thus, even if direct experimental evidence of the neutralizing potential of anti-HVR1 antibodies by active immunization is still missing, the generation of a vaccine candidate with a cross-reactive potential would be highly desirable. To overcome the problem of HVR1 variability, we have engineered cross-reactive HVR1 peptide mimics (mimotopes) at the N terminus of the E2 ectodomain in plasmid vectors suitable for genetic immunization. High levels of secreted and biologically active mimotope/E2 chimeras were obtained by transient transfection of these plasmids in cultured cells. All plasmids elicited anti-HVR1 antibodies in mice and rabbits with some of them leading to a cross-reacting response against many HVR1 variants from natural isolates. Epitope mapping revealed a pattern of reactivity similar to that induced by HCV infection. In contrast, plasmids encoding naturally occurring HVR1 sequences displayed either on full-length E2 in the context of the whole HCV structural region, or on a soluble, secreted E2 ectodomain, did not induce a cross-reacting anti-HVR1 response.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Zucchelli
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti, Pomezia, Rome, Italy; and CNRS-UMR8526, IBL/Institute Pasteur De Lille, Lille, France
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29
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Cortese I, Capone S, Luchetti S, Cortese R, Nicosia A. Cross-reactive phage-displayed mimotopes lead to the discovery of mimicry between HSV-1 and a brain-specific protein. J Neuroimmunol 2001; 113:119-28. [PMID: 11137583 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(00)00398-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported the selection of several families of phage-displayed peptide mimics (mimotopes) recognized by oligoclonal immunoglobulins present in the CSF of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. To search for the natural antigens recognized by these antibodies, anti-sera were raised against one of the mimotopes and used as a probe in ELISA, Western blotting and immunoprecipitation experiments. Anti-mimotope IgG were found to cross-react with an epitope shared by a brain-specific factor conserved from rodents to humans, and the surface glycoprotein gB of HSV-1. These findings support the hypothesis that common viral infections are the triggering agents of self-reactive CSF antibodies, whose role in MS still remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Cortese
- Clinica Neurologica, Universita' di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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30
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Aurisicchio L, Bujard H, Hillen W, Cortese R, Ciliberto G, La Monica N, Palombo F. Regulated and prolonged expression of mIFN(alpha) in immunocompetent mice mediated by a helper-dependent adenovirus vector. Gene Ther 2001; 8:1817-25. [PMID: 11821934 PMCID: PMC7091917 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 07/18/2001] [Accepted: 10/09/2001] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A major goal in gene therapy is to develop efficient gene transfer protocols that allow tissue-specific, long-term and tightly regulated expression of the desired transgene. This objective is becoming more attainable through the co-evolution of gene transfer vectors and regulation systems. The ideal vector should efficiently transduce non-dividing cells with minimal toxicity, thus endowing the system with persistent transgene expression. The helper-dependent adenovirus vectors meet these requirements, as demonstrated in various studies in the literature. The most promising regulation system is the tet-on system, which has low basal transcriptional activity and high inducibility. To explore the regulated transgene expression in the context of a helper-dependent vector, we constructed the HD-TET-IFN vector, containing the mIFN(alpha) gene under the control of the tetracycline inducible transactivator rtTA2(s)-S2. Mice injected with HD-TET-IFN showed high levels of serum mIFN(alpha) only upon transcriptional activation. The transgene expression was reinducible to the same high level up to 3 months p.i., and the amount of expressed cytokine could be regulated by dosing doxycycline. Transcriptional activation of mIFN(alpha) induced by doxycycline resulted in prolonged survival and reduced liver damage in HD-TET-IFN-injected mice challenged with a lethal dose of coronavirus. Activation of antiviral genes mediated by doxycycline-dependent mIFN(alpha) expression was also observed at low HD-TET-IFN doses. The possibility of controlling gene expression by the combination of HD vectors and the latest tet-on transactivator also holds promise for studying gene function in other animal models.
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31
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Zucchelli S, Capone S, Fattori E, Folgori A, Di Marco A, Casimiro D, Simon AJ, Laufer R, La Monica N, Cortese R, Nicosia A. Enhancing B- and T-cell immune response to a hepatitis C virus E2 DNA vaccine by intramuscular electrical gene transfer. J Virol 2000; 74:11598-607. [PMID: 11090158 PMCID: PMC112441 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.74.24.11598-11607.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe an improved genetic immunization strategy for eliciting a full spectrum of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope 2 (E2) glycoprotein responses in mammals through electrical gene transfer (EGT) of plasmid DNA into muscle fibers. Intramuscular injection of a plasmid encoding a cross-reactive hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) peptide mimic fused at the N terminus of the E2 ectodomain, followed by electrical stimulation treatment in the form of high-frequency, low-voltage electric pulses, induced more than 10-fold-higher expression levels in the transfected mouse tissue. As a result of this substantial increment of in vivo antigen production, the humoral response induced in mice, rats, and rabbits ranged from 10- to 30-fold higher than that induced by conventional naked DNA immunization. Consequently, immune sera from EGT-treated mice displayed a broader cross-reactivity against HVR1 variants from natural isolates than sera from injected animals that were not subjected to electrical stimulation. Cellular response against E2 epitopes specific for helper and cytotoxic T cells was significantly improved by EGT. The EGT-mediated enhancement of humoral and cellular immunity is antigen independent, since comparable increases in antibody response against ciliary neurotrophic factor or in specific anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag CD8(+) T cells were obtained in rats and mice. Thus, the method described potentially provides a safe, low-cost treatment that may be scaled up to humans and may hold the key for future development of prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines against HCV and other infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Zucchelli
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti, 00040 Pomezia (Rome), Italy
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32
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Maione D, Wiznerowicz M, Delmastro P, Cortese R, Ciliberto G, La Monica N, Savino R. Prolonged expression and effective readministration of erythropoietin delivered with a fully deleted adenoviral vector. Hum Gene Ther 2000; 11:859-68. [PMID: 10779163 DOI: 10.1089/10430340050015473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Helper-dependent (HD) adenoviral (Ad) vectors, in which all viral coding sequences are deleted, have been generated. We show here that intravenous delivery of a mouse EPO (mEPO) expression cassette cloned in an HD vector in immunocompetent mice is effective and long lasting, but not permanent. A precise dose-response relationship between the dose of injected virus and stable EPO serum levels was observed, together with a 100-fold increase in gene expression per infectious particle when compared with a first-generation Ad vector bearing the same cassette. As a direct consequence, therapeutic increases in hematocrit that lasted more than 6 months were achieved with minute amounts of virus, which caused no detectable production of neutralizing antibodies. Intravenous readministration of the HD-mEPO vector in the same mice was as effective as in naive animals without any need for prior immunosuppression. Finally, HD-mEPO injection in subtotally nephrectomized rats improved the anemic status induced by surgery. HD Ad vectors are thus excellent tools for EPO gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Maione
- Department of Genetics, IRBM P. Angeletti, Pomezia, Italy
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33
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Martin F, Steinkühler C, Brunetti M, Pessi A, Cortese R, De Francesco R, Sollazzo M. A loop-mimetic inhibitor of the HCV-NS3 protease derived from a minibody. Protein Eng 1999; 12:1005-11. [PMID: 10585507 DOI: 10.1093/protein/12.11.1005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
We have been interested for some time in establishing a strategy for deriving lead compounds from macromolecule ligands such as minibody variants. A minibody is a minimized antibody variable domain whose two loops are amenable to combinatorial mutagenesis. This approach can be especially useful when dealing with 'difficult' targets. One such target is the NS3 protease of hepatitis C virus (HCV), a human pathogen that is believed to infect about 100 million individuals worldwide and for which an effective therapy is not yet available. Based on known inhibitor specificity (residues P6-P1) of NS3 protease, we screened a number of minibodies from our collection and we were able to identify a competitive inhibitor of this enzyme. We thus validated an aspect of recognition by HCV NS3 protease, namely that an acid anchor is necessary for inhibitor activity. In addition, the characterization of the minibody inhibitor led to the synthesis of a constrained hexapeptide mimicking the bioactive loop of the parent macromolecule. The cyclic peptide is a lead compound prone to rapid optimization through solid phase combinatorial chemistry. We therefore confirmed that the potential of turning a protein ligand into a low molecular weight active compound for lead discovery is achievable and can complement more traditional drug discovery approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Martin
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM) P. Angeletti,Via Pontina Km 30,600-00040, Pomezia (Roma), Italy
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Becker JA, Wallace A, Garzon A, Ingallinella P, Bianchi E, Cortese R, Simonin F, Kieffer BL, Pessi A. Ligands for kappa-opioid and ORL1 receptors identified from a conformationally constrained peptide combinatorial library. J Biol Chem 1999; 274:27513-22. [PMID: 10488086 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.274.39.27513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We have screened a synthetic peptide combinatorial library composed of 2 x 10(7) beta-turn-constrained peptides in binding assays on four structurally related receptors, the human opioid receptors mu, delta, and kappa and the opioid receptor-like ORL1. Sixty-six individual peptides were synthesized from the primary screening and tested in the four receptor binding assays. Three peptides composed essentially of unnatural amino acids were found to show high affinity for human kappa-opioid receptor. Investigation of their activity in agonist-promoted stimulation of [(35)S]guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate binding assay revealed that we have identified the first inverse agonist as well as peptidic antagonists for kappa-receptors. To fine-tune the potency and selectivity of these kappa-peptides we replaced their turn-forming template by other turn mimetic molecules. This "turn-scan" process allowed the discovery of compounds with modified selectivity and activity profiles. One peptide displayed comparable affinity and partial agonist activity toward all four receptors. Interestingly, another peptide showed selectivity for the ORL1 receptor and displayed antagonist activity at ORL1 and agonist activity at opioid receptors. In conclusion, we have identified peptides that represent an entirely new class of ligands for opioid and ORL1 receptors and exhibit novel pharmacological activity. This study demonstrates that conformationally constrained peptide combinatorial libraries are a rich source of ligands that are more suitable for the design of nonpeptidal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Becker
- Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
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35
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Fierabracci A, Biro PA, Yiangou Y, Mennuni C, Luzzago A, Ludvigsson J, Cortese R, Bottazzo GF. Osteopontin is an autoantigen of the somatostatin cells in human islets: identification by screening random peptide libraries with sera of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Vaccine 1999; 18:342-54. [PMID: 10506661 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(99)00204-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Random peptide libraries (RPLs) screening with IDDM sera has identified 5 disease-specific 'mimotopes' displayed on phage (phagotopes). We characterised one phagotope (CH1p), by raising a rabbit antibody against the peptide insert on phage, which was employed in immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and cDNA libraries screening. The CH1p mimotope was detected in somatostatin cells of human islets and experimentally raised anti-osteopontin antibodies or human sera positive for the phagotope, detected a similar subpopulation of islet cells. The screening of cDNA library identified a clone corresponding to human osteopontin. In summary, RPLs proved to be successful in the identification of a novel islet-related autoantigen (osteopontin), whose significance in disease remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fierabracci
- Department of Immunology, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Turner Street, London, UK
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36
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Barbato G, Cicero DO, Nardi MC, Steinkühler C, Cortese R, De Francesco R, Bazzo R. The solution structure of the N-terminal proteinase domain of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protein provides new insights into its activation and catalytic mechanism. J Mol Biol 1999; 289:371-84. [PMID: 10366511 DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.1999.2745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The solution structure of the hepatitis C virus (BK strain) NS3 protein N-terminal domain (186 residues) has been solved by NMR spectroscopy. The protein is a serine protease with a chymotrypsin-type fold, and is involved in the maturation of the viral polyprotein. Despite the knowledge that its activity is enhanced by the action of a viral protein cofactor, NS4A, the mechanism of activation is not yet clear. The analysis of the folding in solution and the differences from the crystallographic structures allow the formulation of a model in which, in addition to the NS4A cofactor, the substrate plays an important role in the activation of the catalytic mechanism. A unique structural feature is the presence of a zinc-binding site exposed on the surface, subject to a slow conformational exchange process.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Barbato
- IRBM "P. Angeletti", Via Pontina km 30.600, Pomezia, Roma, 00040, Italy
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37
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Cicero DO, Barbato G, Koch U, Ingallinella P, Bianchi E, Nardi MC, Steinkühler C, Cortese R, Matassa V, De Francesco R, Pessi A, Bazzo R. Structural characterization of the interactions of optimized product inhibitors with the N-terminal proteinase domain of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protein by NMR and modelling studies. J Mol Biol 1999; 289:385-96. [PMID: 10366512 DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.1999.2746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The interactions of peptide inhibitors, obtained by the optimization of N-terminal cleavage products of natural substrates, with the protease of human hepatitis C virus (HCV) are characterized by NMR and modelling studies. The S-binding region of the enzyme and the bound conformation of the ligands are experimentally determined. The NMR data are then used as the experimental basis for modelling studies of the structure of the complex. The S-binding region involves the loop connecting strands E2 and F2, and appears shallow and solvent-exposed. The ligand binds in an extended conformation, forming an antiparallel beta-sheet with strand E2 of the protein, with the P1 carboxylate group in the oxyanion hole.
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Affiliation(s)
- D O Cicero
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti (IRBM), via Pontina Km 30.600, Pomezia (Rome), 00040, Italy
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38
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Rizzuto G, Cappelletti M, Maione D, Savino R, Lazzaro D, Costa P, Mathiesen I, Cortese R, Ciliberto G, Laufer R, La Monica N, Fattori E. Efficient and regulated erythropoietin production by naked DNA injection and muscle electroporation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999; 96:6417-22. [PMID: 10339602 PMCID: PMC26896 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.11.6417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/1998] [Accepted: 03/24/1999] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We show that an electric treatment in the form of high-frequency, low-voltage electric pulses can increase more than 100-fold the production and secretion of a recombinant protein from mouse skeletal muscle. Therapeutical erythopoietin (EPO) levels were achieved in mice with a single injection of as little as 1 microgram of plasmid DNA, and the increase in hematocrit after EPO production was stable and long-lasting. Pharmacological regulation through a tetracycline-inducible promoter allowed regulation of serum EPO and hematocrit levels. Tissue damage after stimulation was transient. The method described thus provides a potentially safe and low-cost treatment for serum protein deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Rizzuto
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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39
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Recchia A, Parks RJ, Lamartina S, Toniatti C, Pieroni L, Palombo F, Ciliberto G, Graham FL, Cortese R, La Monica N, Colloca S. Site-specific integration mediated by a hybrid adenovirus/adeno-associated virus vector. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1999; 96:2615-20. [PMID: 10077559 PMCID: PMC15817 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.6.2615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenovirus (Ad) and adeno-associated virus (AAV) have attractive and complementary properties that can be exploited for gene transfer purposes. Ad vectors are probably the most efficient vehicles to deliver foreign genes both in vitro and in vivo. AAV exhibits the unique ability to establish latency by efficiently integrating at a specific locus of human chromosome 19 (AAVS1). Two viral elements are necessary for the integration at AAVS1: Rep68/78 and the inverted terminal repeats (AAV-ITRs). In this study, we report the development of two helper-dependent adenoviral (HD) vectors, one carrying the Rep78 gene, the other an AAV-ITR-flanked transgene. Although Rep proteins have been demonstrated to interfere with Ad replication, HD Rep78 vector was successfully amplified on serial passages in 293CRE4 cells with a yield of 50-100 transducing units per cell. DNA integration at the AAVS1 site also was demonstrated in hepatoma cells coinfected with the HD-expressing Rep78 and with the second HD vector carrying a transgene flanked by AAV-ITRs. The high transduction efficiency, large cloning capacity, and high titer of the HD, combined with the site-specific integration machinery provided by AAV-derived components, make the Ad/AAV hybrid viruses a promising vehicle for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Recchia
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare (IRBM) P. Angeletti, Via Pontina Kilometer 30,600, 00040 Pomezia, Rome, Italy
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40
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Rizzuto G, Gorgoni B, Cappelletti M, Lazzaro D, Gloaguen I, Poli V, Sgura A, Cimini D, Ciliberto G, Cortese R, Fattori E, La Monica N. Development of animal models for adeno-associated virus site-specific integration. J Virol 1999; 73:2517-26. [PMID: 9971837 PMCID: PMC104499 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.73.3.2517-2526.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adeno-associated virus (AAV) is unique in its ability to target viral DNA integration to a defined region of human chromosome 19 (AAVS1). Since AAVS1 sequences are not conserved in a rodent's genome, no animal model is currently available to study AAV-mediated site-specific integration. We describe here the generation of transgenic rats and mice that carry the AAVS1 3.5-kb DNA fragment. To test the response of the transgenic animals to Rep-mediated targeting, primary cultures of mouse fibroblasts, rat hepatocytes, and fibroblasts were infected with wild-type wt AAV. PCR amplification of the inverted terminal repeat (ITR)-AAVS1 junction revealed that the AAV genome integrated into the AAVS1 site in fibroblasts and hepatocytes. Integration in rat fibroblasts was also observed upon transfection of a plasmid containing the rep gene under the control of the p5 and p19 promoters and a dicistronic cassette carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and neomycin (neo) resistance gene between the ITRs of AAV. The localization of the GFP-Neo sequence in the AAVS1 region was determined by Southern blot and FISH analysis. Lastly, AAV genomic DNA integration into the AAVS1 site in vivo was assessed by virus injection into the quadriceps muscle of transgenic rats and mice. Rep-mediated targeting to the AAVS1 site was detected in several injected animals. These results indicate that the transgenic lines are proficient for Rep-mediated targeting. These animals should allow further characterization of the molecular aspects of site-specific integration and testing of the efficacy of targeted integration of AAV recombinant vectors designed for human gene therapy.
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41
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Dimasi N, Pasquo A, Martin F, Di Marco S, Steinkühler C, Cortese R, Sollazzo M. Engineering, characterization and phage display of hepatitis C virus NS3 protease and NS4A cofactor peptide as a single-chain protein. Protein Eng 1998; 11:1257-65. [PMID: 9930676 DOI: 10.1093/protein/11.12.1257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The polyprotein encoded by hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomic RNA is processed into functional polypeptides by both host- and virus-encoded proteases. The HCV-encoded NS3 protease and its cofactor peptide NS4A form a non-covalent complex, which participates in processing the viral polyprotein. This proteolytic activity is believed to be essential for virus proliferation and thus the NS3 protease is a prime target for developing anti-HCV pharmacological agents. Recent X-ray crystallography structural studies have revealed the nature of this non-covalent complex between NS3 protease and the 'active' central segment of NS4A, providing the opportunity to design a single-chain polypeptide. To this end, the DNA sequence encoding for the NS4A peptide (residues 21-34) was genetically fused via a short linker, capable of making a beta-turn, to the N-terminus of the NS3 protease domain. This engineered single-chain NS3-protease (scNS3) is fully active with kinetic parameters virtually identical with those of the NS3/ NS4A non-covalent complex. Moreover, the scNS3 protease can be displayed on filamentous phage and affinity selected using an immobilized specific inhibitor. The scNS3 expressed as a soluble protein and in a phage-display format facilitates enzyme engineering for further structural studies and in vitro selection of potential drug-resistant mutants. These are important steps towards developing effective anti-protease compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Dimasi
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare, Pomezia (Rome), Italy
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42
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Abstract
Phage display selection strategies rely on the physical link between the displayed heterologous protein ligand and the DNA encoding it. Thus, genes expressing a ligand with a specific binding affinity can be selected rapidly. To improve the specificity and sensitivity of this technology for potential use in identifying ligands to a specific antibody present in a complex mixture, we incorporated a DNA selection step along with the phage display technology. Ligands for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies present in serum were identified by panning a phage-displayed random peptide library against pools of serum HCV antibodies. An additional DNA hybridization screening step using single-stranded DNA isolated from one of the pools increased the specificity and sensitivity, resulting in the selection of an HCV antibody ligand with diagnostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Bartoli
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti, Pomezia (Roma), Italy
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43
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Pieroni L, Fipaldini C, Monciotti A, Cimini D, Sgura A, Fattori E, Epifano O, Cortese R, Palombo F, La Monica N. Targeted integration of adeno-associated virus-derived plasmids in transfected human cells. Virology 1998; 249:249-59. [PMID: 9791017 DOI: 10.1006/viro.1998.9332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) integrates its genomic DNA into a defined region of human chromosome 19 (AAVS1). The specificity of integration is dependent on the presence of the inverted terminal repeats (ITR) and on expression of the rep gene. To develop vectors capable of targeting the insertion of a selected DNA sequence into a specific location of human chromosome, we determined whether the rep gene can mediate site-specific integration when cloned outside of an ITR-flanked transgene cassette. HeLa and Huh-7 cells were transfected with a plasmid containing the rep gene, as well as the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and neomycin (neo) resistance gene inserted between the ITRs of AAV. Southern blot analysis of individual clones detected Rep-mediated site-specific integration of the ITR-flanked DNA in 25% and 12% of the HeLa and Huh-7 clones, respectively. The localization of the GFP-Neo sequence on chromosome 19 also was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis of the transfected HeLa clones. Sequence analysis of the ITR-AAVS1 junction of one of the transfected Huh-7 clones indicated that the insertion of the ITR DNA fragment had occurred at nucleotide 1003. These results have implications for the development of AAV-derived vectors capable of directing the site-specific integration of a gene of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Pieroni
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare "Piero Angeletti," P. Angeletti, Via Pontina Km 30,600, Pomezia, 00040, Italy
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Santini C, Brennan D, Mennuni C, Hoess RH, Nicosia A, Cortese R, Luzzago A. Efficient display of an HCV cDNA expression library as C-terminal fusion to the capsid protein D of bacteriophage lambda. J Mol Biol 1998; 282:125-35. [PMID: 9733645 DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.1998.1986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We describe the construction and characterization of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) cDNA expression library displayed as a fusion to the carboxy terminus of the capsid protein D of bacteriophage lambda. cDNA inserts were obtained by tagged random-priming of the HCV genome and cloned into a lambda vector from which chimeric phage bearing both wild-type D protein and D fusion products on the capsid surface were produced. The resulting library was affinity-selected with anti-HCV human monoclonal antibodies recognizing linear or conformational epitopes, and human sera from HCV-infected patients. Selection was monitored by immuno-screening experiments, ELISA, and sequence analysis of positive clones. The performance of this library was compared with two additional HCV cDNA display libraries generated as N-terminal fusions to the III and VIII capsid proteins of filamentous phage M13. The results obtained demonstrate the great potential of the lambda display system for constructing complex cDNA libraries for natural ligand discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Santini
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti (IRBM), Pomezia, Italy
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Puntoriero G, Meola A, Lahm A, Zucchelli S, Ercole BB, Tafi R, Pezzanera M, Mondelli MU, Cortese R, Tramontano A, Galfre' G, Nicosia A. Towards a solution for hepatitis C virus hypervariability: mimotopes of the hypervariable region 1 can induce antibodies cross-reacting with a large number of viral variants. EMBO J 1998; 17:3521-33. [PMID: 9649423 PMCID: PMC1170689 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/17.13.3521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of the putative envelope protein E2 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most variable antigenic fragment in the whole viral genome and is mainly responsible for the large inter-and intra-individual heterogeneity of the infecting virus. It contains a principal neutralization epitope and has been proposed as the major player in the mechanism of escape from host immune response. Since anti-HVR1 antibodies are the only species shown to possess protective activity up to date, developing an effective prevention therapy is a very difficult task. We have approached the problem of HVR1 variability by deriving a consensus profile from >200 HVR1 sequences from different viral isolates and used it as a template to generate a vast repertoire of synthetic HVR1 surrogates displayed on M13 bacteriophage. This library was affinity selected using many different sera from infected patients. Phages were identified which react very frequently with patients' sera and bind serum antibodies that cross-react with a large panel of HVR1 peptides derived from natural HCV variants. When injected into experimental animals, the 'mimotopes' with the highest cross-reactivity induced antibodies which recognized the same panel of natural HVR1 variants. In these mimotopes we identified a sequence pattern responsible for the observed cross-reactivity. These data may hold the key for future development of a prophylactic vaccine against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Puntoriero
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P.Angeletti, Via Pontina Km 30.600, 00040 Pomezia (Roma)
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Ingallinella P, Altamura S, Bianchi E, Taliani M, Ingenito R, Cortese R, De Francesco R, Steinkühler C, Pessi A. Potent peptide inhibitors of human hepatitis C virus NS3 protease are obtained by optimizing the cleavage products. Biochemistry 1998; 37:8906-14. [PMID: 9636032 DOI: 10.1021/bi980314n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the absence of a broadly effective cure for hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV), much effort is currently devoted to the search for inhibitors of the virally encoded protease NS3. This chymotrypsin-like serine protease is required for the maturation of the viral polyprotein, cleaving it at the NS3-NS4A, NS4A-NS4B, NS4B-NS5A, and NS5A-NS5B sites. In the course of our studies on the substrate specificity of NS3, we found that the products of cleavage corresponding to the P6-P1 region of the substrates act as competitive inhibitors of the enzyme, with IC50s ranging from 360 to 1 microM. A detailed study of product inhibition by the natural NS3 substrates is described in the preceding paper [Steinkühler, C., et al. (1997) Biochemistry 37, 8899-8905]. Here we report the results of a study of the structure-activity relationship of the NS3 product inhibitors, which suggest that the mode of binding of the P region-derived products is similar to the ground-state binding of the corresponding substrates, with additional binding energy provided by the C-terminal carboxylate. Optimal binding requires a dual anchor: an "acid anchor" at the N terminus and a "P1 anchor" at the C-terminal part of the molecule. We have then optimized the sequence of the product inhibitors by using single mutations and combinatorial peptide libraries based on the most potent natural product, Ac-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-OH (Ki = 0.6 microM), derived from cleavage at the NS4A-NS4B junction. By sequentially optimizing positions P2, P4, P3, and P5, we obtained several nanomolar inhibitors of the enzyme. These compounds are useful both as a starting point for the development of peptidomimetic drugs and as structural probes for investigating the substrate binding site of NS3 by modeling, NMR, and crystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ingallinella
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti (IRBM), Rome, Italy
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Steinkühler C, Biasiol G, Brunetti M, Urbani A, Koch U, Cortese R, Pessi A, De Francesco R. Product inhibition of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease. Biochemistry 1998; 37:8899-905. [PMID: 9636031 DOI: 10.1021/bi980313v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The nonstructural protein NS3 of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) harbors a serine protease domain that is responsible for most of the processing events of the nonstructural region of the polyprotein. Its inhibition is presently regarded as a promising strategy for coping with the disease caused by HCV. In this work, we show that the NS3 protease undergoes inhibition by the N-terminal cleavage products of substrate peptides corresponding to the NS4A-NS4B, NS4B-NS5A, and NS5A-NS5B cleavage sites, whereas no inhibition is observed with a cleavage product of the intramolecular NS3-NS4A junction. The Ki values of the hexamer inhibitory products [Ki(NS4A) = 0.6 microM, Ki(NS5A) = 1.4 microM, and Ki(NS4B) = 180 microM] are lower than the Km values of the respective substrate peptides [Km(NS4A-NS4B) = 10 microM, Km(NS5A-NS5B) = 3.8 microM, and Km(NS4B-NS5A) > 1000 microM]. Mutagenesis experiments have identified Lys136 as an important determinant for product binding. The phenomenon of product inhibition can be exploited to optimize peptide inhibitors of NS3 protease activity that may be useful in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Steinkühler
- Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti (IRBM), Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
The specificity of the oligoclonal immunoglobulins found in MS CSF is unknown. We have previously shown that random peptide libraries displayed on phage can be used to identify specific ligands for CSF antibodies. Here we describe the use of this tool in the attempt to identify MS-specific CSF-enriched antibody reactivities with potential pathogenic, diagnostic or prognostic value. Applying different experimental strategies, several ligands reacting with CSF-enriched antibodies were identified. When tested against a panel of 55 MS patients, none of the ligands found were recognized by antibodies shared by any two patients. We used the selected peptides to demonstrate the stability in time of CSF-enriched antibodies notwithstanding disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Cortese
- Clinica Neurologica, Università di Roma, Italy
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Palombo F, Monciotti A, Recchia A, Cortese R, Ciliberto G, La Monica N. Site-specific integration in mammalian cells mediated by a new hybrid baculovirus-adeno-associated virus vector. J Virol 1998; 72:5025-34. [PMID: 9573272 PMCID: PMC110065 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.72.6.5025-5034.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/1997] [Accepted: 03/02/1998] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Baculovirus can transiently transduce primary human and rat hepatocytes, as well as a subset of stable cell lines. To prolong transgene expression, we have developed new hybrid vectors which associate key elements from adeno-associated virus (AAV) with the elevated transducing capacity of baculovirus. The hybrid vectors contain a transgene cassette composed of the beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) reporter gene and the hygromycin resistance (Hygr) gene flanked by the AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITRs), which are necessary for AAV replication and integration in the host genome. Constructs were derived both with and without the AAV rep gene under the p5 and p19 promoters cloned in different positions with respect to the baculovirus polyheidrin promoter. A high-titer preparation of baculovirus-AAV (Bac-AAV) chimeric virus containing the ITR-Hygr-beta-Gal sequence was obtained with insect cells only when the rep gene was placed in an antisense orientation to the polyheidrin promoter. Infection of 293 cells with Bac-AAV virus expressing the rep gene results in a 10- to 50-fold increase in the number of Hygr stable cell clones. Additionally, rep expression determined the localization of the transgene cassette in the aavs1 site in approximately 41% of cases as detected by both Southern blotting and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis. Moreover, site-specific integration of the ITR-flanked DNA was also detected by PCR amplification of the ITR-aavs1 junction in transduced human fibroblasts. These data indicate that Bac-AAV hybrid vectors can allow permanent, nontoxic gene delivery of DNA constructs for ex vivo treatment of primary human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Palombo
- IRBM P. Angeletti, 00040 Pomezia, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- A Folgori
- Institute de Genetique et de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, IGMBC, Strasbourg, France
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