1
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Amoriello R, Memo C, Ballerini L, Ballerini C. The brain cytokine orchestra in multiple sclerosis: from neuroinflammation to synaptopathology. Mol Brain 2024; 17:4. [PMID: 38263055 PMCID: PMC10807071 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-024-01077-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is finely protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Immune soluble factors such as cytokines (CKs) are normally produced in the CNS, contributing to physiological immunosurveillance and homeostatic synaptic scaling. CKs are peptide, pleiotropic molecules involved in a broad range of cellular functions, with a pivotal role in resolving the inflammation and promoting tissue healing. However, pro-inflammatory CKs can exert a detrimental effect in pathological conditions, spreading the damage. In the inflamed CNS, CKs recruit immune cells, stimulate the local production of other inflammatory mediators, and promote synaptic dysfunction. Our understanding of neuroinflammation in humans owes much to the study of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common autoimmune and demyelinating disease, in which autoreactive T cells migrate from the periphery to the CNS after the encounter with a still unknown antigen. CNS-infiltrating T cells produce pro-inflammatory CKs that aggravate local demyelination and neurodegeneration. This review aims to recapitulate the state of the art about CKs role in the healthy and inflamed CNS, with focus on recent advances bridging the study of adaptive immune system and neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amoriello
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| | - Christian Memo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
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2
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Nenciarini S, Amoriello R, Bacci G, Cerasuolo B, Di Paola M, Nardini P, Papini A, Ballerini C, Cavalieri D. Yeast strains isolated from fermented beverage produce extracellular vesicles with anti-inflammatory effects. Sci Rep 2024; 14:730. [PMID: 38184708 PMCID: PMC10771474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51370-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayered particles, containing various biomolecules, including nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins, released by cells from all the domains of life and performing multiple communication functions. Evidence suggests that the interaction between host immune cells and fungal EVs induces modulation of the immune system. Most of the studies on fungal EVs have been conducted in the context of fungal infections; therefore, there is a knowledge gap in what concerns the production of EVs by yeasts in other contexts rather than infection and that may affect human health. In this work, we characterized EVs obtained by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia fermentans strains isolated from a fermented milk product with probiotic properties. The immunomodulation abilities of EVs produced by these strains have been studied in vitro through immune assays after internalization from human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Results showed a significant reduction in antigen presentation activity of dendritic cells treated with the fermented milk EVs. The small RNA fraction of EVs contained mainly yeast mRNA sequences, with a few molecular functions enriched in strains of two different species isolated from the fermented milk. Our results suggest that one of the mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory properties of probiotic foods could be mediated by the interactions of human immune cells with yeast EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberta Amoriello
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bacci
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Monica Di Paola
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Patrizia Nardini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Papini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| | - Duccio Cavalieri
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
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3
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Vassallo A, Amoriello R, Guri P, Casbarra L, Ramazzotti M, Zaccaroni M, Ballerini C, Cavalieri D, Marvasi M. Adaptation of Commensal Escherichia coli in Tomato Fruits: Motility, Stress, Virulence. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:biology12040633. [PMID: 37106833 PMCID: PMC10136321 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Food contamination can be a serious concern for public health because it can be related to the severe spreading of pathogens. This is a main issue, especially in the case of fresh fruits and vegetables; indeed, they have often been associated with gastrointestinal outbreak events, due to contamination with pathogenic bacteria. However, little is known about the physiological adaptation and bacterial response to stresses encountered in the host plant. Thus, this work aimed to investigate the adaptation of a commensal E. coli strain while growing in tomato pericarp. Pre-adapted and non-adapted cells were compared and used to contaminate tomatoes, demonstrating that pre-adaptation boosted cell proliferation. DNA extracted from pre-adapted and non-adapted cells was sequenced, and their methylation profiles were compared. Hence, genes involved in cell adhesion and resistance against toxic compounds were identified as genes involved in adaptation, and their expression was compared in these two experimental conditions. Finally, pre-adapted and non-adapted E. coli were tested for their ability to resist the presence of toxic compounds, demonstrating that adaptation exerted a protective effect. In conclusion, this work provides new information about the physiological adaptation of bacteria colonizing the tomato fruit pericarp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Vassallo
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Roberta Amoriello
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Prandvera Guri
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Casbarra
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Ramazzotti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Zaccaroni
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Duccio Cavalieri
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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4
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Di Mauro G, Amoriello R, Lozano N, Carnasciali A, Guasti D, Becucci M, Cellot G, Kostarelos K, Ballerini C, Ballerini L. Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Reduce Astrocyte Reactivity to Inflammation and Ameliorate Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. ACS Nano 2023; 17:1965-1978. [PMID: 36692902 PMCID: PMC9933621 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c06609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In neuroinflammation, astrocytes play multifaceted roles that regulate the neuronal environment. Astrocytes sense and respond to pro-inflammatory cytokines (CKs) and, by a repertoire of intracellular Ca2+ signaling, contribute to disease progression. Therapeutic approaches wish to reduce the overactivation in Ca2+ signaling in inflammatory-reactive astrocytes to restore dysregulated cellular changes. Cell-targeting therapeutics might take advantage by the use of nanomaterial-multifunctional platforms such as graphene oxide (GO). GO biomedical applications in the nervous system involve therapeutic delivery and sensing, and GO flakes were shown to enable interfacing of neuronal and glial membrane dynamics. We exploit organotypic spinal cord cultures and optical imaging to explore Ca2+ changes in astrocytes, and we report, when spinal tissue is exposed to CKs, neuroinflammatory-associated modulation of resident glia. We show the efficacy of GO to revert these dynamic changes in astrocytic reactivity to CKs, and we translate this potential in an animal model of immune-mediated neuroinflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Mauro
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberta Amoriello
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136Trieste, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University
of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Neus Lozano
- Catalan
Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), 08193Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Carnasciali
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University
of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Guasti
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University
of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, DICUS, University of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Giada Cellot
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136Trieste, Italy
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Catalan
Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), 08193Barcelona, Spain
- Nanomedicine
Lab, and Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, The National Graphene
Institute, University of Manchester, ManchesterM13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University
of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136Trieste, Italy
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Amoriello R, Rizzo R, Mariottini A, Bortolotti D, Gentili V, Bonechi E, Aldinucci A, Carnasciali A, Peruzzi B, Repice AM, Massacesi L, Fainardi E, Ballerini C. Investigating Serum sHLA-G Cooperation With MRI Activity and Disease-Modifying Treatment Outcome in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:872396. [PMID: 35693002 PMCID: PMC9174986 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.872396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is a demyelinating disease in which pathogenesis T cells have a major role. Despite the unknown etiology, several risk factors have been described, including a strong association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. Recent findings showed that HLA class I-G (HLA-G) may be tolerogenic in MS, but further insights are required. To deepen the HLA-G role in MS inflammation, we measured soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) and cytokines serum level in 27 patients with RRMS at baseline and after 12 and 24 months of natalizumab (NTZ) treatment. Patients were divided into high (sHLA-G>20 ng/ml), medium (sHLA-G between 10 and 20 ng/ml), and low (sHLA-G <10 ng/ml) producers. Results showed a heterogeneous distribution of genotypes among producers, with no significant differences between groups. A significant decrease of sHLA-G was found after 24 months of NTZ in low producers carrying the +3142 C/G genotype. Finally, 83.3% of high and 100% of medium producers were MRI-activity free after 24 months of treatment, compared to 63.5% of low producers. Of note, we did not find any correlation of sHLA-G with peripheral cell counts or cytokines level. These findings suggest that serum sHLA-G level may partly depend on genotype rather than peripheral inflammation, and that may have impacted on MRI activity of patients over treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amoriello
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (DMSC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Rizzo
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alice Mariottini
- Department of Neurosciences, Drugs and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daria Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Gentili
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elena Bonechi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (DMSC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandra Aldinucci
- Department of Neurosciences, Drugs and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Carnasciali
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (DMSC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Peruzzi
- Flow Cytometry Diagnostic Center and Immunotherapy (CDCI), Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Repice
- Department of Neurosciences, Drugs and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Massacesi
- Department of Neurosciences, Drugs and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department Neurology II, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Fainardi
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (DMSC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- *Correspondence: Clara Ballerini
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Amoriello R, Mariottini A, Ballerini C. Immunosenescence and Autoimmunity: Exploiting the T-Cell Receptor Repertoire to Investigate the Impact of Aging on Multiple Sclerosis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:799380. [PMID: 34925384 PMCID: PMC8673061 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.799380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity is a determining factor for the immune system capability in fighting infections and preventing autoimmunity. During life, the TCR repertoire diversity progressively declines as a physiological aging progress. The investigation of TCR repertoire dynamics over life represents a powerful tool unraveling the impact of immunosenescence in health and disease. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating, inflammatory, T-cell mediated autoimmune disease of the Central Nervous System in which age is crucial: it is the most widespread neurological disease among young adults and, furthermore, patients age may impact on MS progression and treatments outcome. Crossing knowledge on the TCR repertoire dynamics over MS patients' life is fundamental to investigate disease mechanisms, and the advent of high- throughput sequencing (HTS) has significantly increased our knowledge on the topic. Here we report an overview of current literature about the impact of immunosenescence and age-related TCR dynamics variation in autoimmunity, including MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amoriello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica (DMSC), Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alice Mariottini
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica (DMSC), Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Panattoni G, Amoriello R, Memo C, Thalhammer A, Ballerini C, Ballerini L. Diverse inflammatory threats modulate astrocytes Ca 2+ signaling via connexin43 hemichannels in organotypic spinal slices. Mol Brain 2021; 14:159. [PMID: 34696792 PMCID: PMC8547100 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00868-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is an escalation factor shared by a vast range of central nervous system (CNS) pathologies, from neurodegenerative diseases to neuropsychiatric disorders. CNS immune status emerges by the integration of the responses of resident and not resident cells, leading to alterations in neural circuits functions. To explore spinal cord astrocyte reactivity to inflammatory threats we focused our study on the effects of local inflammation in a controlled micro-environment, the organotypic spinal slices, developed from the spinal cord of mouse embryos. These organ cultures represent a complex in vitro model where sensory-motor cytoarchitecture, synaptic properties and spinal cord resident cells, are retained in a 3D fashion and we recently exploit these cultures to model two diverse immune conditions in the CNS, involving different inflammatory networks and products. Here, we specifically focus on the tuning of calcium signaling in astrocytes by these diverse types of inflammation and we investigate the mechanisms which modulate intracellular calcium release and its spreading among astrocytes in the inflamed environment. Organotypic spinal cord slices are cultured for two or three weeks in vitro (WIV) and exposed for 6 h to a cocktail of cytokines (CKs), composed by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 β) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). By live calcium imaging of the ventral horn, we document an increase in active astrocytes and in the occurrence of spontaneous calcium oscillations displayed by these cells when exposed to each inflammatory threat. Through several pharmacological treatments, we demonstrate that intracellular calcium sources and the activation of connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels have a pivotal role in increasing calcium intercellular communication in both CKs and LPS conditions, while the Cx43 gap junction communication is apparently reduced by the inflammatory treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Panattoni
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberta Amoriello
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.,Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Christian Memo
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Agnes Thalhammer
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
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Amoriello R, Chernigovskaya M, Greiff V, Carnasciali A, Massacesi L, Barilaro A, Repice AM, Biagioli T, Aldinucci A, Muraro PA, Laplaud DA, Lossius A, Ballerini C. TCR repertoire diversity in Multiple Sclerosis: High-dimensional bioinformatics analysis of sequences from brain, cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood. EBioMedicine 2021; 68:103429. [PMID: 34127432 PMCID: PMC8245901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Although several studies recently investigated the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients by high-throughput sequencing (HTS), a deep analysis on repertoire similarities and differences among compartments is still missing. METHODS We performed comprehensive bioinformatics on high-dimensional TCR Vβ sequencing data from published and unpublished MS and healthy donors (HD) studies. We evaluated repertoire polarization, clone distribution, shared CDR3 amino acid sequences (CDR3s-a.a.) across repertoires, clone overlap with public databases, and TCR similarity architecture. FINDINGS CSF repertoires showed a significantly higher public clones percentage and sequence similarity compared to peripheral blood (PB). On the other hand, we failed to reject the null hypothesis that the repertoire polarization is the same between CSF and PB. One Primary-Progressive MS (PPMS) CSF repertoire differed from the others in terms of TCR similarity architecture. Cluster analysis splits MS from HD. INTERPRETATION In MS patients, the presence of a physiological barrier, the blood-brain barrier, does not impact clone prevalence and distribution, but impacts public clones, indicating CSF as a more private site. We reported a high Vβ sequence similarity in the CSF-TCR architecture in one PPMS. If confirmed it may be an interesting insight into MS progressive inflammatory mechanisms. The clustering of MS repertoires from HD suggests that disease shapes the TCR Vβ clonal profile. FUNDING This study was partly financially supported by the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (FISM), that contributed to Ballerini-DB data collection (grant #2015 R02).
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amoriello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica (DMSC), Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | | | - Victor Greiff
- Department of Immunology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alberto Carnasciali
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica (DMSC), Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Massacesi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Barilaro
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Anna M Repice
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Italy
| | - Tiziana Biagioli
- Laboratorio Generale, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Paolo A Muraro
- Wolfson Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Laplaud
- CRTI-Inserm U1064, CIC0004 and Service de Neurologie, CHU de Nantes, Hôpital Nord Laënnec, Nantes, France
| | - Andreas Lossius
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Postboks 1105, Blindern 0317 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica (DMSC), Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy.
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Amoriello R, Ballerini C. An innovative and affordable quantitative assessment of human TCR repertoire. EBioMedicine 2020; 61:103021. [PMID: 33096477 PMCID: PMC7578669 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amoriello
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence Italy.
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10
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Maseroli E, Cellai I, Filippi S, Comeglio P, Cipriani S, Rastrelli G, Rosi M, Sorbi F, Fambrini M, Petraglia F, Amoriello R, Ballerini C, Lombardelli L, Piccinni MP, Sarchielli E, Guarnieri G, Morelli A, Maggi M, Vignozzi L. Anti-inflammatory effects of androgens in the human vagina. J Mol Endocrinol 2020; 65:109-124. [PMID: 32755990 DOI: 10.1530/jme-20-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Chronic inflammation is involved in the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and beneficial effects of androgens in the vagina have been described. We investigated the potential involvement of human vagina smooth muscle cells (hvSMCs) in the inflammatory response and the immunomodulatory effect of androgen receptor (AR) agonist dihydrotestosterone (DHT). HvSMCs isolated from menopausal women were evaluated for sex steroids receptors and toll-like receptors mRNA expression, and left untreated or treated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or IFNγ, in the presence or absence of DHT. We evaluated mRNA expression (by RT-PCR) and secretion in cell culture supernatants (by a bead-based immunoassay) of pro-inflammatory markers. Nuclear translocation of NF-κB (by immunofluorescence) and cell surface HLA-DR expression (by flow cytometry) were also evaluated. Similar experiments were repeated in rat vSMCs (rvSMCs). In hvSMCs and rvSMCs, AR was highly expressed. DHT pre-treatment inhibited LPS-induced mRNA expression of several pro-inflammatory mediators (i.e. COX2, IL-6, IL-12A and IFNγ), effect significantly blunted by AR antagonist bicalutamide. DHT significantly counteracted the secretion of IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-5, IL-15, FGF, VEGF and TNFα. LPS-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation was significantly inhibited by DHT, an effect counteracted by bicalutamide. DHT pre-treatment significantly decreased IFNγ-induced expression of HLA-DR, mRNA expression of iNOS, COX2 and MCP1, and secretion of IL-1, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, MCP1 and GCSF. Similar effects were observed in rvSMCs. The activation of AR suppresses the inflammatory response in hvSMCs, reducing their potential to be involved in the initiation and maintaining of inflammation, thus representing a therapeutic strategy in conditions, such as the GSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Maseroli
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ilaria Cellai
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sandra Filippi
- Interdepartmental Laboratory of Functional and Cellular Pharmacology of Reproduction, Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Comeglio
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sarah Cipriani
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Rastrelli
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Martina Rosi
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Flavia Sorbi
- Gynecology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Fambrini
- Gynecology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Felice Petraglia
- Gynecology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Amoriello
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Letizia Lombardelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marie-Pierre Piccinni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Erica Sarchielli
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Guarnieri
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Annamaria Morelli
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- I.N.B.B. (Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi), Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Vignozzi
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Department of Experimental Clinical and Biomedical Sciences 'Mario Serio', University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- I.N.B.B. (Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi), Rome, Italy
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11
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Lama A, Provensi G, Amoriello R, Pirozzi C, Rani B, Mollica MP, Raso GM, Ballerini C, Meli R, Passani MB. The anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects of OEA limit DSS-induced colitis in mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 129:110368. [PMID: 32559625 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatty acid ethanolamides acting on proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α are among the endogenous lipid molecules that attenuate inflammatory processes and pain sensitivity. Whereas these properties are well-known for palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), the efficacy of oleoylethanolamide (OEA, first described as a satiety hormone synthesized in the jejunum) has been overlooked. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of OEA administration in a mouse model of colitis. C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 2.5% dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) in drinking water for 5 days. Daily i.p. administration of 10 mg/kg OEA started 3 days before DSS and lasted for 12 days. The DSS-untreated control group received only ultrapure water. DSS mice treated with OEA had a significant improvement of disease score. OEA restored mRNA transcription of PPAR-α, of tight junctions and protective factors of colon integrity disrupted by DSS. The improvement correlated with significant decrease of colonic and systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to the DSS group. OEA antiinflammatory effects were mediated by the selective targeting of the TLR4 axis causing a downstream inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)- MyD88-dependent and NLRP3 inflammation pathways. OEA treatment also inhibited DSS-induced increase of inflammatory cytokines levels in the mesenteric lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results underscore the validity of OEA as a potent protective and anti-inflammatory agent in ulcerative colitis that may be exploited to broaden the pharmacological strategies against inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Lama
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli (I), Italy
| | - Gustavo Provensi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino, Universitá di Firenze (I), Italy
| | - Roberta Amoriello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze (I), Italy
| | - Claudio Pirozzi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli (I), Italy
| | - Barbara Rani
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università di Firenze (I), Italy
| | - Maria Pina Mollica
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli (I), Italy
| | | | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Firenze (I), Italy
| | - Rosaria Meli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli (I), Italy.
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12
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Cipriani S, Maseroli E, Cellai I, Filippi S, Comeglio P, Frison M, Amoriello R, Ballerini C, Sarchielli E, Guarnieri G, Morelli A, Maggi M, Vignozzi L. HP-1-1 Anti Inflammatory Effects of Androgenic Signaling in Human Vagina: A Potential Therapeutical Application for the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. J Sex Med 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.04.111] [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: 10/24/2022]
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13
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Amoriello R, Greiff V, Aldinucci A, Bonechi E, Carnasciali A, Peruzzi B, Repice AM, Mariottini A, Saccardi R, Mazzanti B, Massacesi L, Ballerini C. The TCR Repertoire Reconstitution in Multiple Sclerosis: Comparing One-Shot and Continuous Immunosuppressive Therapies. Front Immunol 2020; 11:559. [PMID: 32328061 PMCID: PMC7160336 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natalizumab (NTZ) and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) are two successful treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), an autoimmune T-cell-driven disorder affecting the central nervous system that is characterized by relapses interspersed with periods of complete or partial recovery. Both RRMS treatments have been documented to impact T-cell subpopulations and the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in terms of clone frequency, but, so far, the link between T-cell naive and memory populations, autoimmunity, and treatment outcome has not yet been established hindering insight into the post-treatment TCR landscape of MS patients. To address this important knowledge gap, we tracked peripheral T-cell subpopulations (naïve and memory CD4+ and CD8+) across 15 RRMS patients before and after two years of continuous treatment (NTZ) and a single treatment course (AHSCT) by high-throughput TCRß sequencing. We found that the two MS treatments left treatment-specific multidimensional traces in patient TCRß repertoire dynamics with respect to clonal expansion, clonal diversity and repertoire architecture. Comparing MS TCR sequences with published datasets suggested that the majority of public TCRs belonged to virus-associated sequences. In summary, applying multi-dimensional computational immunology to a TCRß dataset of treated MS patients, we show that qualitative changes of TCRß repertoires encode treatment-specific information that may be relevant for future clinical trials monitoring and personalized MS follow-up, diagnosis and treatment regimes. Natalizumab (NTZ) and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) are two successful treatments for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), an autoimmune T-cell-driven disorder affecting the central nervous system that is characterized by relapses interspersed with periods of complete or partial recovery. Both RRMS treatments have been documented to impact T-cell subpopulations and the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in terms of clone frequency, but, so far, the link between T-cell naive and memory populations, autoimmunity, and treatment outcome has not yet been established hindering insight into the posttreatment TCR landscape of MS patients. To address this important knowledge gap, we tracked peripheral T-cell subpopulations (naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+) across 15 RRMS patients before and after 2 years of continuous treatment (NTZ) and a single treatment course (AHSCT) by high-throughput TCRβ sequencing. We found that the two MS treatments left treatment-specific multidimensional traces in patient TCRβ repertoire dynamics with respect to clonal expansion, clonal diversity, and repertoire architecture. Comparing MS TCR sequences with published datasets suggested that the majority of public TCRs belonged to virus-associated sequences. In summary, applying multidimensional computational immunology to a TCRβ dataset of treated MS patients, we show that qualitative changes of TCRβ repertoires encode treatment-specific information that may be relevant for future clinical trials monitoring and personalized MS follow-up, diagnosis, and treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amoriello
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Victor Greiff
- Department of Immunology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alessandra Aldinucci
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Bonechi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Carnasciali
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Peruzzi
- Centro Diagnostico di Citofluorimetria e Immunoterapia, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Repice
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alice Mariottini
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Riccardo Saccardi
- SODc Terapie Cellulari e Medicina Trasfusionale, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Mazzanti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica (DMSC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Massacesi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica (DMSC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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14
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Maseroli E, Corno C, Zizza M, Filippi S, Comeglio P, Amoriello R, Ballerini C, Vannelli G, Morelli A, Maggi M, Vignozzi L. 009 Immunomodulatory Effects of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in Human Vaginal Smooth Muscle Cells. J Sex Med 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.03.466] [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: 12/01/2022]
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15
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D'Elios MM, Aldinucci A, Amoriello R, Benagiano M, Bonechi E, Maggi P, Flori A, Ravagli C, Saer D, Cappiello L, Conti L, Valtancoli B, Bencini A, Menichetti L, Baldi G, Ballerini C. Myelin-specific T cells carry and release magnetite PGLA–PEG COOH nanoparticles in the mouse central nervous system. RSC Adv 2018; 8:904-913. [PMID: 35538965 PMCID: PMC9076978 DOI: 10.1039/c7ra11290d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Progress in nanotechnology has determined new strategies concerning drug delivery into the central nervous system for the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases. To date, brain targeting through systemic drug administration, even in a nano-composition, is often unsuccessful. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of loading T lymphocytes with PGLA–PEG COOH magnetite nanoparticles (30 nm), which can be built up to easily bind drugs and monoclonal antibodies, and to exploit the ability of activated T cells to cross the blood–brain barrier and infiltrate the brain parenchyma. Iron oxide nanoparticles have been widely used in biomedical applications due to their theranostic properties and are therefore a well-established nanomaterial. The magnetite core is easily hybridized with polymeric compounds that may enhance the possibility of the nanoparticles entering cells with low phagocytic properties. Taking advantage of these material characteristics, after in vitro assessment of the viability and functionality of nano-loaded MOG35–55 specific T cells, we transferred cells containing the nano-cargo into naïve mice affected by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. By means of histological and immunohistological methods, we were able to identify the nano-loaded T cells in the central nervous system. Our data demonstrated that T cells containing nanomaterials hold the possibility of carrying and releasing nanoparticles in the brain. Magnetite nanoparticles enter non-phagocytic myelin-specific T cells and reach the central nervous system after in vivo transfer.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- M. M. D'Elios
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
- University of Florence
- Italy
| | - A. Aldinucci
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug and Child Health
- University of Florence
- Italy
| | - R. Amoriello
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug and Child Health
- University of Florence
- Italy
| | - M. Benagiano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
- University of Florence
- Italy
| | - E. Bonechi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug and Child Health
- University of Florence
- Italy
| | - P. Maggi
- Department of Neurology
- Hôpital CHU Brugmann-Université libre de Bruxelles-Bruxelles-Be
- Belgium
| | - A. Flori
- Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana G. Monasterio
- Pisa
- Italy
| | - C. Ravagli
- Research Center Colorobbia
- Cericol, Colorobbia Consulting
- Florence
- Italy
| | - D. Saer
- Research Center Colorobbia
- Cericol, Colorobbia Consulting
- Florence
- Italy
| | - L. Cappiello
- Research Center Colorobbia
- Cericol, Colorobbia Consulting
- Florence
- Italy
| | - L. Conti
- Department of Chemistry Ugo Schiff
- University of Florence
- Italy
| | - B. Valtancoli
- Department of Chemistry Ugo Schiff
- University of Florence
- Italy
| | - A. Bencini
- Department of Chemistry Ugo Schiff
- University of Florence
- Italy
| | | | - G. Baldi
- Research Center Colorobbia
- Cericol, Colorobbia Consulting
- Florence
- Italy
| | - C. Ballerini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug and Child Health
- University of Florence
- Italy
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