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Şen Ö, Emanet M, Mazzuferi M, Bartolucci M, Catalano F, Prato M, Moscato S, Marino A, De Pasquale D, Pugliese G, Bonaccorso F, Pellegrini V, Castillo AEDR, Petretto A, Ciofani G. Microglia Polarization and Antiglioma Effects Fostered by Dual Cell Membrane-Coated Doxorubicin-Loaded Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanoflakes. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023; 15:58260-58273. [PMID: 38051559 PMCID: PMC10739601 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c17097] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Microglial cells play a critical role in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) progression, which is considered a highly malignant brain cancer. The activation of microglia can either promote or inhibit GBM growth depending on the stage of the tumor development and on the microenvironment conditions. The current treatments for GBM have limited efficacy; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel and efficient strategies for drug delivery and targeting: in this context, a promising strategy consists of using nanoplatforms. This study investigates the microglial response and the therapeutic efficacy of dual-cell membrane-coated and doxorubicin-loaded hexagonal boron nitride nanoflakes tested on human microglia and GBM cells. Obtained results show promising therapeutic effects on glioma cells and an M2 microglia polarization, which refers to a specific phenotype or activation state that is associated with anti-inflammatory and tissue repair functions, highlighted through proteomic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özlem Şen
- Smart
Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa 56025, Italy
| | - Melis Emanet
- Smart
Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa 56025, Italy
| | - Martina Mazzuferi
- Smart
Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa 56025, Italy
- Department
of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy
| | - Martina Bartolucci
- Core
Facilities-Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, Genova 16147, Italy
| | - Federico Catalano
- Electron
Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di
Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Mirko Prato
- Materials
Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano
di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department
of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University
of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Attilio Marino
- Smart
Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa 56025, Italy
| | - Daniele De Pasquale
- Smart
Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa 56025, Italy
| | - Giammarino Pugliese
- Nanochemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Francesco Bonaccorso
- BeDimensional
SPA, Lungotorrente Secca
30R, Genova 16163, Italy
- Graphene
Laboratories, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Vittorio Pellegrini
- BeDimensional
SPA, Lungotorrente Secca
30R, Genova 16163, Italy
- Graphene
Laboratories, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Petretto
- Core
Facilities-Clinical Proteomics and Metabolomics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, Genova 16147, Italy
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Smart
Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa 56025, Italy
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Rutigliano G, Bertolini A, Grittani N, Frascarelli S, Carnicelli V, Ippolito C, Moscato S, Mattii L, Kusmic C, Saba A, Origlia N, Zucchi R. Effect of Combined Levothyroxine (L-T 4) and 3-Iodothyronamine (T 1AM) Supplementation on Memory and Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in a Mouse Model of Hypothyroidism. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13845. [PMID: 37762153 PMCID: PMC10530993 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813845] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mood alterations, anxiety, and cognitive impairments associated with adult-onset hypothyroidism often persist despite replacement treatment. In rodent models of hypothyroidism, replacement does not bring 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) brain levels back to normal. T1AM is a thyroid hormone derivative with cognitive effects. Using a pharmacological hypothyroid mouse model, we investigated whether augmenting levothyroxine (L-T4) with T1AM improves behavioural correlates of depression, anxiety, and memory and has an effect on hippocampal neurogenesis. Hypothyroid mice showed impaired performance in the novel object recognition test as compared to euthyroid mice (discrimination index (DI): 0.02 ± 0.09 vs. 0.29 ± 0.06; t = 2.515, p = 0.02). L-T4 and L-T4+T1AM rescued memory (DI: 0.27 ± 0.08 and 0.34 ± 0.08, respectively), while T1AM had no effect (DI: -0.01 ± 0.10). Hypothyroidism reduced the number of neuroprogenitors in hippocampal neurogenic niches by 20%. L-T4 rescued the number of neuroprogenitors (mean diff = 106.9 ± 21.40, t = 4.99, pcorr = 0.003), while L-T4+T1AM produced a 30.61% rebound relative to euthyroid state (mean diff = 141.6 ± 31.91, t = 4.44, pcorr = 0.004). We performed qPCR analysis of 88 genes involved in neurotrophic signalling pathways and found an effect of treatment on the expression of Ngf, Kdr, Kit, L1cam, Ntf3, Mapk3, and Neurog2. Our data confirm that L-T4 is necessary and sufficient for recovering memory and hippocampal neurogenesis deficits associated with hypothyroidism, while we found no evidence to support the role of non-canonical TH signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Rutigliano
- Institute of Clinical Science, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.B.); (N.G.); (S.F.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (R.Z.)
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Andrea Bertolini
- Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.B.); (N.G.); (S.F.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (R.Z.)
| | - Nicoletta Grittani
- Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.B.); (N.G.); (S.F.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (R.Z.)
| | - Sabina Frascarelli
- Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.B.); (N.G.); (S.F.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (R.Z.)
| | - Vittoria Carnicelli
- Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.B.); (N.G.); (S.F.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (R.Z.)
| | - Chiara Ippolito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.I.); (S.M.); (L.M.)
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.I.); (S.M.); (L.M.)
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (C.I.); (S.M.); (L.M.)
| | - Claudia Kusmic
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Saba
- Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.B.); (N.G.); (S.F.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (R.Z.)
| | | | - Riccardo Zucchi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.B.); (N.G.); (S.F.); (V.C.); (A.S.); (R.Z.)
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De Pasquale D, Pucci C, Desii A, Marino A, Debellis D, Leoncino L, Prato M, Moscato S, Amadio S, Fiaschi P, Prior A, Ciofani G. A Novel Patient-Personalized Nanovector Based on Homotypic Recognition and Magnetic Hyperthermia for an Efficient Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme. Adv Healthc Mater 2023:e2203120. [PMID: 37058273 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202203120] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the deadliest brain tumor, characterized by an extreme genotypic and phenotypic variability, besides a high infiltrative property in healthy tissues. Apart from very invasive surgical procedures, to date, there are no effective treatments, and life expectancy is very limited. In this work, we propose an innovative therapeutic approach based on lipid-based magnetic nanovectors, owning a dual therapeutic function: chemotherapy, thanks to an antineoplastic drug (regorafenib) loaded in the core, and localised magnetic hyperthermia, thanks to the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles, remotely activated by an alternating magnetic field. The drug has been selected based on ad hoc patient-specific screenings; moreover, the nanovector is decorated with cell membranes derived from patients' cells, aiming at increasing homotypic and personalized targeting. We demonstrated that this functionalization not only enhances the selectivity of the nanovectors towards patient-derived GBM cells, but also their blood-brain barrier in vitro crossing ability. The localised magnetic hyperthermia induces both thermal and oxidative intracellular stress, that lead to lysosomal membrane permeabilization and release of proteolytic enzymes into the cytosol. Collected results show that hyperthermia and chemotherapy work in synergy to reduce GBM cell invasion properties, to induce intracellular damage and, eventually, to prompt cellular death. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele De Pasquale
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
| | - Carlotta Pucci
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
| | - Andrea Desii
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
| | - Attilio Marino
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
| | - Doriana Debellis
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Luca Leoncino
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Mirko Prato
- Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Simone Amadio
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
| | - Pietro Fiaschi
- Department of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rossana Benzi 10, Genova, 16132, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genova, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, Genova, 16132, Italy
| | - Alessandro Prior
- Department of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rossana Benzi 10, Genova, 16132, Italy
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
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Madonna R, Moscato S, Cufaro MC, Pieragostino D, Mattii L, Del Boccio P, Ghelardoni S, Zucchi R, De Caterina R. Empagliflozin inhibits excessive autophagy through the AMPK/GSK3β signaling pathway in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:1175-1189. [PMID: 36627733 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have beneficial effects on heart failure and cardiovascular mortality in diabetic and nondiabetic patients, with unclear mechanisms. Autophagy is a cardioprotective mechanism under acute stress conditions, but excessive autophagy accelerates myocardial cell death leading to autosis. We evaluated the protective role of empagliflozin (EMPA) against cardiac injury in murine diabetic cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS Male mice, rendered diabetics by one single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and treated with EMPA (30 mg/kg/day) had fewer apoptotic cells (4.9 ± 2.1 vs 1 ± 0.5 TUNEL-positive cells %, p < 0.05), less senescence (10.1 ± 2 vs 7.9 ± 1.2 β-gal positivity/tissue area, p < 0.05), fibrosis (0.2 ± 0.05 vs 0.15 ± 0.06, p < 0.05 fibrotic area/tissue area), autophagy (7.9 ± 0.05 vs 2.3 ± 0.6 fluorescence intensity/total area, p < 0.01), and connexin (Cx)-43 lateralization compared with diabetic mice. Proteomic analysis showed a downregulation of the 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and upstream activation of sirtuins in the heart of diabetic mice treated with EMPA compared with diabetic mice. Because sirtuin activation leads to modulation of cardiomyogenic transcription factors, we analyzed the DNA binding activity to serum response elements (SRE) of serum response factor (SRF) by electromobility shift assay. Compared with diabetic mice (0.5 ± 0.01 densitometric units, DU), nondiabetic mice treated with EMPA (2.2 ± 0.01 DU, p < 0.01) and diabetic mice treated with EMPA (2.0 ± 0.1 DU, p < 0.01) significantly increased SRF binding activity to SRE, paralleled by increased cardiac actin expression (4.1 ± 0.1 vs 2.2 ± 0.01 target protein/β-actin ratio, p < 0.01). EMPA significantly reversed cardiac dysfunction on echocardiography in diabetic mice and inhibited excessive autophagy in high-glucose-treated cardiomyocytes by inhibiting the autophagy inducer GSK3β, leading to reactivation of cardiomyogenic transcription factors. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results describe a novel paradigm in which EMPA inhibits hyperactivation of autophagy through the AMPK/GSK3β signaling pathway in the context of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalinda Madonna
- Department of Pathology, Cardiology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Histology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Cufaro
- Department of Pharmacy, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Laboratory, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Damiana Pieragostino
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Laboratory, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Histology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Piero Del Boccio
- Department of Pharmacy, ''G. d'Annunzio'' University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.,Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Laboratory, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Sandra Ghelardoni
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Riccardo Zucchi
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
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Falleni A, Moscato S, Fulvio G, Polizzi E, Bernardeschi M, Bianchi F, Donati V, Cabiati M, Ippolito C, Del Ry S, Baldini C, Mattii L. Connexin Expression in Human Minor Salivary Glands: An Immunohistochemical Microscopy Study. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27185926. [PMID: 36144660 PMCID: PMC9505306 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27185926] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexins (Cxs) are transmembrane proteins involved in the formation of hemichannels and gap junctions (GJs). GJs are involved in various physiological functions, including secretion in glandular tissue. It has been demonstrated that Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 are mainly expressed in glands, but no data are available in human salivary glands to date. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence and the localization of Cxs in human minor labial salivary glands. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy were employed to evaluate the Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 protein in human labial salivary gland biopsies (hLSGBs). RT-PCR was also used to detect their mRNA expression. Cx expression was found at both the mRNA and protein levels in all hLSGBs analysed. Cxs were observed at the level of the duct and acinar cells, as well as in myoepithelial cells. The localization of the three Cx types was very similar, suggesting colocalization of these Cxs in the same connexons. These results demonstrated the presence of Cxs in human salivary glands for the first time. Moreover, the few samples with primary Sjögren’s Syndrome analysed only by immunofluorescence showed an alteration of the Cx expression, indicating that these proteins could be involved in salivary gland dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Falleni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (L.M.); Tel.: +39-050-221-9106 (A.F.); +39-050-221-8615 (L.M.)
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Fulvio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Enza Polizzi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Bianchi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina Donati
- Pathological Anatomy Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Manuela Cabiati
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Ippolito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Del Ry
- Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Baldini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (L.M.); Tel.: +39-050-221-9106 (A.F.); +39-050-221-8615 (L.M.)
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Novelli M, Masini M, Vecoli C, Moscato S, Funel N, Pippa A, Mattii L, Ippolito C, Campani D, Neglia D, Masiello P. Dysregulated insulin secretion is associated with pancreatic β-cell hyperplasia and direct acinar-β-cell trans-differentiation in partially eNOS-deficient mice. Physiol Rep 2022; 10:e15425. [PMID: 35986504 PMCID: PMC9391603 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15425] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
eNOS-deficient mice were previously shown to develop hypertension and metabolic alterations associated with insulin resistance either in standard dietary conditions (eNOS-/- homozygotes) or upon high-fat diet (HFD) (eNOS+/- heterozygotes). In the latter heterozygote model, the present study investigated the pancreatic morphological changes underlying the abnormal glycometabolic phenotype. C57BL6 wild type (WT) and eNOS+/- mice were fed with either chow or HFD for 16 weeks. After being longitudinally monitored for their metabolic state after 8 and 16 weeks of diet, mice were euthanized and fragments of pancreas were processed for histological, immuno-histochemical and ultrastructural analyses. HFD-fed WT and eNOS+/- mice developed progressive glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Differently from WT animals, eNOS+/- mice showed a blunted insulin response to a glucose load, regardless of the diet regimen. Such dysregulation of insulin secretion was associated with pancreatic β-cell hyperplasia, as shown by larger islet fractional area and β-cell mass, and higher number of extra-islet β-cell clusters than in chow-fed WT animals. In addition, only in the pancreas of HFD-fed eNOS+/- mice, there was ultrastructural evidence of a number of hybrid acinar-β-cells, simultaneously containing zymogen and insulin granules, suggesting the occurrence of a direct exocrine-endocrine transdifferentiation process, plausibly triggered by metabolic stress associated to deficient endothelial NO production. As suggested by confocal immunofluorescence analysis of pancreatic histological sections, inhibition of Notch-1 signaling, likely due to a reduced NO availability, is proposed as a novel mechanism that could favor both β-cell hyperplasia and acinar-β-cell transdifferentiation in eNOS-deficient mice with impaired insulin response to a glucose load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Novelli
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Matilde Masini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Cecilia Vecoli
- Institute of Clinical PhysiologyNational Research Council (CNR)PisaItaly
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
- Interdepartmental Research Centre "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health"University of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Niccola Funel
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Anna Pippa
- Institute of Clinical PhysiologyNational Research Council (CNR)PisaItaly
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
- Interdepartmental Research Centre "Nutraceuticals and Food for Health"University of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Chiara Ippolito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental MedicineUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Daniela Campani
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, and Critical Care MedicineUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Danilo Neglia
- Cardiovascular DepartmentFondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio per la Ricerca Medica e di Sanità PubblicaPisaItaly
| | - Pellegrino Masiello
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
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Madonna R, Barachini S, Moscato S, Ippolito C, Mattii L, Lenzi C, Balistreri CR, Zucchi R, De Caterina R. Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors prevent ponatinib-induced endothelial senescence and disfunction: A potential rescue strategy. Vascul Pharmacol 2021; 142:106949. [PMID: 34843980 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2021.106949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ponatinib (PON), a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has proven cardiovascular toxicity, with no known preventing agents usable to limit such side effect. Sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of glucose-lowering agents, featuring favorable cardiac and vascular effects. AIMS We assessed the effects of the SGLT2 inhibitors empagliflozin (EMPA) and dapagliflozin (DAPA) on human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and underlying vasculo-protective mechanisms in an in vitro model of PON-induced endothelial toxicity. METHODS AND RESULTS We exposed HAECs to PON or vehicle (DMSO) in the presence or absence of EMPA (100 and 500 nmol/L) or dapagliflozin (DAPA) for 0-48 h exposure times. Compared with vehicle, incubations of HAECs with PON significantly reduced cell viability (0.56 ± 0.11 vs 0.23 ± 0.05 absorbance units, p < 0.01), increased the number of senescent cells at β-gal-assay (PON 9 ± 4 vs basal DMSO 3 ± 1 β-Gal+ cells/field, p < 0.01), decreased tubulization in Matrigel (PON PON: 6 ± 1 vs basal DMSO 12 ± 1 tubuli number/field, p < 0.05) with a non-statistically significant trend of PON to decrease the number of autophagic cells at immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometry. EMPA reverted the effects of PON on cell viability (E 500 + PON 0.24 ± 0.05 vs PON 0.56 ± 0.11 absorbance units, p < 0.01) and induced autophagy (E 500 7 ± 4.3 vs basal DMSO 2.6 ± 2.3 mean fluorescence vs PON 2.6 ± 2.4 mean fluorescence, p < 0.05). EMPA and DAPA also reversed the effects of PON on cell senescence (E 500 + PON 4 ± 1 and DAPA 100 4 ± 2 vs PON 9 ± 4 β-Gal+ cells/field, p < 0.01) and improved cell tubulization (E 500 + PON 21 ± 3 vs PON 6 ± 1 tubuli number/field, p < 0.05; DAPA 100 + PON 16 ± 2 vs PON 6 ± 1 tubuli number/field, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION EMPA and DAPA attenuate the vasculo-toxic effect exerted by PON by reverting endothelial cell senescence and dysfunction. These findings support the design of clinical studies exploring the vasculo-protective effects of EMPA or DAPA on PON-induced vascular toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalinda Madonna
- Department of Pathology, Cardiology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Serena Barachini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Hematology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Histology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Ippolito
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Histology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Histology Division, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Lenzi
- Department of Histopathology, Pisa University Hospital, Italy
| | - Carmela Rita Balistreri
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced, Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Riccardo Zucchi
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Pisa, Italy
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Chivasso C, Hagströmer CJ, Rose KL, Lhotellerie F, Leblanc L, Wang Z, Moscato S, Chevalier C, Zindy E, Martin M, Vanhollebeke B, Gregoire F, Bolaky N, Perret J, Baldini C, Soyfoo MS, Mattii L, Schey KL, Törnroth-Horsefield S, Delporte C. Ezrin Is a Novel Protein Partner of Aquaporin-5 in Human Salivary Glands and Shows Altered Expression and Cellular Localization in Sjögren's Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179213. [PMID: 34502121 PMCID: PMC8431299 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179213] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an exocrinopathy characterized by the hypofunction of salivary glands (SGs). Aquaporin-5 (AQP5); a water channel involved in saliva formation; is aberrantly distributed in SS SG acini and contributes to glandular dysfunction. We aimed to investigate the role of ezrin in AQP5 mislocalization in SS SGs. The AQP5–ezrin interaction was assessed by immunoprecipitation and proteome analysis and by proximity ligation assay in immortalized human SG cells. We demonstrated, for the first time, an interaction between ezrin and AQP5. A model of the complex was derived by computer modeling and in silico docking; suggesting that AQP5 interacts with the ezrin FERM-domain via its C-terminus. The interaction was also investigated in human minor salivary gland (hMSG) acini from SS patients (SICCA-SS); showing that AQP5–ezrin complexes were absent or mislocalized to the basolateral side of SG acini rather than the apical region compared to controls (SICCA-NS). Furthermore, in SICCA-SS hMSG acinar cells, ezrin immunoreactivity was decreased at the acinar apical region and higher at basal or lateral regions, accounting for altered AQP5–ezrin co-localization. Our data reveal that AQP5–ezrin interactions in human SGs could be involved in the regulation of AQP5 trafficking and may contribute to AQP5-altered localization in SS patients
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Chivasso
- Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.C.); (F.L.); (L.L.); (F.G.); (N.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Carl Johan Hagströmer
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden;
| | - Kristie L. Rose
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37240, USA; (K.L.R.); (Z.W.); (K.L.S.)
| | - Florent Lhotellerie
- Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.C.); (F.L.); (L.L.); (F.G.); (N.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Lionel Leblanc
- Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.C.); (F.L.); (L.L.); (F.G.); (N.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37240, USA; (K.L.R.); (Z.W.); (K.L.S.)
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.); (C.B.); (L.M.)
| | - Clément Chevalier
- Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), 6041 Gosselies, Belgium; (C.C.); (E.Z.)
| | - Egor Zindy
- Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), 6041 Gosselies, Belgium; (C.C.); (E.Z.)
| | - Maud Martin
- Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium; (M.M.); (B.V.)
| | - Benoit Vanhollebeke
- Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium; (M.M.); (B.V.)
| | - Françoise Gregoire
- Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.C.); (F.L.); (L.L.); (F.G.); (N.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Nargis Bolaky
- Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.C.); (F.L.); (L.L.); (F.G.); (N.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Jason Perret
- Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.C.); (F.L.); (L.L.); (F.G.); (N.B.); (J.P.)
| | - Chiara Baldini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.); (C.B.); (L.M.)
| | | | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.); (C.B.); (L.M.)
| | - Kevin L. Schey
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37240, USA; (K.L.R.); (Z.W.); (K.L.S.)
| | - Susanna Törnroth-Horsefield
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (S.T.-H.); (C.D.)
| | - Christine Delporte
- Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional Biochemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium; (C.C.); (F.L.); (L.L.); (F.G.); (N.B.); (J.P.)
- Correspondence: (S.T.-H.); (C.D.)
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9
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di Leo N, Moscato S, Borso’ M, Sestito S, Polini B, Bandini L, Grillone A, Battaglini M, Saba A, Mattii L, Ciofani G, Chiellini G. Delivery of Thyronamines (TAMs) to the Brain: A Preliminary Study. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26061616. [PMID: 33799468 PMCID: PMC7999687 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent reports highlighted the significant neuroprotective effects of thyronamines (TAMs), a class of endogenous thyroid hormone derivatives. In particular, 3-iodothyronamine (T1AM) has been shown to play a pleiotropic role in neurodegeneration by modulating energy metabolism and neurological functions in mice. However, the pharmacological response to T1AM might be influenced by tissue metabolism, which is known to convert T1AM into its catabolite 3-iodothyroacetic acid (TA1). Currently, several research groups are investigating the pharmacological effects of T1AM systemic administration in the search of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of interlinked pathologies, such as metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). A critical aspect in the development of new drugs for NDDs is to know their distribution in the brain, which is fundamentally related to their ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). To this end, in the present study we used the immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell line bEnd.3 to develop an in vitro model of BBB and evaluate T1AM and TA1 permeability. Both drugs, administered at 1 µM dose, were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Our results indicate that T1AM is able to efficiently cross the BBB, whereas TA1 is almost completely devoid of this property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta di Leo
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy or (N.d.L.); (S.M.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (G.C.)
- The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy or (N.d.L.); (S.M.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (G.C.)
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Marco Borso’
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (M.B.); or (S.S.); (B.P.); (L.B.) (A.S.)
| | - Simona Sestito
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (M.B.); or (S.S.); (B.P.); (L.B.) (A.S.)
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Beatrice Polini
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (M.B.); or (S.S.); (B.P.); (L.B.) (A.S.)
| | - Lavinia Bandini
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (M.B.); or (S.S.); (B.P.); (L.B.) (A.S.)
| | - Agostina Grillone
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy or (N.d.L.); (S.M.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Matteo Battaglini
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy or (N.d.L.); (S.M.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Alessandro Saba
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (M.B.); or (S.S.); (B.P.); (L.B.) (A.S.)
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy or (N.d.L.); (S.M.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Grazia Chiellini
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Pathology, University of Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italy; (M.B.); or (S.S.); (B.P.); (L.B.) (A.S.)
- Correspondence:
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10
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Moscato S, Cabiati M, Bianchi F, Panetta D, Burchielli S, Massimetti G, Del Ry S, Mattii L. Heart and liver connexin expression related to the first stage of aging: A study on naturally aged animals. Acta Histochem 2020; 122:151651. [PMID: 33171391 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2020.151651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Connexins are membrane-spanning proteins that form membrane channels and hemichannels. They are involved in the cellular communication and in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Recent studies in humans and animals have demonstrated that the expression and distribution of Cx43, the most studied connexin, can change during aging. However, the research on the involvement of the other connexins in cardiac and hepatic aging is, at present, still very poor. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of Cx43 and Cx26 in the heart as well as Cx26 and Cx32 in the liver of a rat model that aged naturally, rather than prematurely because of genetic mutations or age-related diseases. The results obtained in the present study have demonstrated that these connexins decrease in rat cardiomyocytes and in rat hepatocytes as they age. This change was revealed only at protein level, as connexin-mRNAs remained unchanged during aging. Moreover, the aged rats showed an increase in body fat, whose subcutaneous layer tended to be higher. Finally, how these changes could represent signs of physiological adaptation in successful aging was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Moscato
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embriology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; University of Pisa, Interdepartmental Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health, Pisa, Italy; Italian Institute of Technology, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Pontedera (Pisa), Italy
| | - Manuela Cabiati
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Bianchi
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embriology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Panetta
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Massimetti
- Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Del Ry
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy; Institute of Life Sciences, ScuolaSuperioreSant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embriology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; University of Pisa, Interdepartmental Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health, Pisa, Italy.
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11
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Grillone A, Battaglini M, Moscato S, Mattii L, de Julián Fernández C, Scarpellini A, Giorgi M, Sinibaldi E, Ciofani G. Nutlin-loaded magnetic solid lipid nanoparticles for targeted glioblastoma treatment. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2018; 14:727-752. [PMID: 30574827 PMCID: PMC6701990 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2018-0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [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] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, and current treatments are limited to palliative cares. The present study proposes a nanotechnology-based solution able to improve both drug efficacy and its delivery efficiency. Materials & methods Nutlin-3a and superparamagnetic nanoparticles were encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles, and the obtained nanovectors (nutlin-loaded magnetic solid lipid nanoparticle [Nut-Mag-SLNs]) were characterized by analyzing both their physicochemical properties and their effects on U-87 MG glioblastoma cells. Results Nut-Mag-SLNs showed good colloidal stability, the ability to cross an in vitro blood–brain barrier model, and a superior pro-apoptotic activity toward glioblastoma cells with respect to the free drug. Conclusion Nut-Mag-SLNs represent a promising multifunctional nanoplatform for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agostina Grillone
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinado Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
| | - Matteo Battaglini
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinado Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.,The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Università di Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Università di Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - César de Julián Fernández
- Institute of Materials for Electronics & Magnetism, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-CNR, Parco area delle Scienza 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alice Scarpellini
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Mario Giorgi
- Veterinary Clinics Department, Università di Pisa, Via Livornese 1, 56010 San Piero a Grado, Italy
| | - Edoardo Sinibaldi
- Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinado Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera, Italy.,Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy
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12
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Moscato S, Cabiati M, Bianchi F, Vaglini F, Morales MA, Burchielli S, Botta L, Sabbatini ARM, Falleni A, Del Ry S, Mattii L. Connexin 26 Expression in Mammalian Cardiomyocytes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13975. [PMID: 30228305 PMCID: PMC6143590 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32405-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Connexins are a family of membrane-spanning proteins named according to their molecular weight. They are known to form membrane channels mediating cell-cell communication, which play an essential role in the propagation of electrical activity in the heart. Cx26 has been described in a number of tissues but not in the heart, and its mutations are frequently associated with deafness and skin diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the possible Cx26 expression in heart tissues of different mammalian species and to demonstrate its localization at level of cardiomyocytes. Samples of pig, human and rat heart and H9c2 cells were used for our research. Immunohistochemical and molecular biology techniques were employed to test the expression of Cx26. Interestingly, this connexin was found in cardiomyocytes, at level of clusters scattered over the cell cytoplasm but not at level of the intercalated discs where the other cardiac connexins are usually located. Furthermore, the expression of Cx26 in H9c2 myoblast cells increased when they were differentiated into cardiac-like phenotype. To our knowledge, the expression of Cx26 in pig, human and rat has been demonstrated for the first time in the present paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Histology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - M Cabiati
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Bianchi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Histology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - F Vaglini
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - M A Morales
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - L Botta
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - A R M Sabbatini
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - A Falleni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Histology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Del Ry
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Pisa, Italy
| | - L Mattii
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Unit of Histology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Fabiano A, Brilli E, Mattii L, Testai L, Moscato S, Citi V, Tarantino G, Zambito Y. Ex Vivo and in Vivo Study of Sucrosomial ® Iron Intestinal Absorption and Bioavailability. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19092722. [PMID: 30213039 PMCID: PMC6165425 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19092722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to demonstrate that Sideral® RM (SRM, Sucrosomial® Raw Material Iron) is transported across the excised intestine via a biological mechanism, and to investigate the effect that this transport route may produce on oral iron absorption, which is expected to reduce the gastrointestinal (GI) side effects caused by the bioavailability of non-absorbed iron. Excised rat intestine was exposed to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled SRM in Ussing chambers followed by confocal laser scanning microscopy to look for the presence of fluorescein-tagged vesicles of the FITC-labeled SRM. To identify FITC-labeled SRM internalizing cells, an immunofluorescence analysis for macrophages and M cells was performed using specific antibodies. Microscopy analysis revealed the presence of fluorescein positive particulate structures in tissues treated with FITC-labeled SRM. These structures do not disintegrate during transit, and concentrate in macrophage cells. Iron bioavailability was assessed by determining the time-course of Fe3+ plasma levels. As references, iron contents in liver, spleen, and bone marrow were determined in healthy rats treated by gavage with SRM or ferric pyrophosphate salt (FP). SRM significantly increased both area under the curve (AUC) and clearance maxima (Cmax) compared to FP, thus increasing iron bioavailability (AUCrel = 1.8). This led to increased iron availability in the bone marrow at 5 h after single dose gavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Fabiano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | | | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Lara Testai
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
- Interdepartmental Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Valentina Citi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | | | - Ylenia Zambito
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
- Interdepartmental Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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14
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Savelli S, Trombi L, D'Alessandro D, Moscato S, Pacini S, Giannotti S, Lapi S, Scatena F, Petrini M. Pooled human serum: A new culture supplement for bioreactor-based cell therapies. Preliminary results. Cytotherapy 2018; 20:556-563. [PMID: 29429942 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bone Marrow MSCs are an appealing source for several cell-based therapies. Many bioreactors, as the Quantum Cell Expansion System, have been developed to generate a large number of MSCs under Good Manufacturing Practice conditions by using Human Platelet Lysate (HPL). Previously we isolated in the human bone marrow a novel cell population, named Mesodermal Progenitor Cells (MPCs), which we identified as precursors of MSCs. MPCs could represent an important cell source for regenerative medicine applications. As HPL gives rise to a homogeneus MSC population, limiting the harvesting of other cell types, in this study we investigated the efficacy of pooled human AB serum (ABS) to provide clinically relevant numbers of both MSCs and MPCs for regenerative medicine applications by using the Quantum System. METHODS Bone marrow aspirates were obtained from healthy adult individuals undergoing routine total hip replacement surgery and used to generate primary cultures in the bioreactor. HPL and ABS were tested as supplements to culture medium. Morphological observations, cytofluorimetric analysis, lactate and glucose level assessment were performed. RESULTS ABS gave rise to both heterogeneous MSC and MPC population. About 95% of cells cultured in HPL showed a fibroblast-like morphology and typical mesenchymal surface markers, but MPCs were scarcely represented. DISCUSSION The use of ABS appeared to sustain a large scale MSC production, as well as the recovery of a subset of MPCs, and resulted a suitable alternative to HPL in the cell generation based on the Quantum System.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Savelli
- Cell Factory, Regenerative Medicine Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Luisa Trombi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Delfo D'Alessandro
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Simone Pacini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Giannotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Lapi
- Immunohematology Operative Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Scatena
- Immunohematology Operative Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP), Pisa, Italy
| | - Mario Petrini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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15
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Trombi L, Danti S, Savelli S, Moscato S, D'Alessandro D, Ricci C, Giannotti S, Petrini M. Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Culture and Delivery in Autologous Conditions: A Smart Approach for Orthopedic Applications. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 28060333 DOI: 10.3791/54845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (hMSCs) are cultured in vitro with different media. Limits on their use in clinical settings, however, mainly depend on potential biohazard and inflammation risks exerted by xenogeneic nutrients for their culture. Human derivatives or recombinant materials are the first choice candidates to reduce these reactions. Therefore, culture supplements and materials of autologous origin represent the best nutrients and the safest products. Here, we describe a new protocol for the isolation and culture of bone marrow hMSCs in autologous conditions - namely, patient-derived serum as a supplement for the culture medium and fibrin as a scaffold for hMSC administration. Indeed, hMSC/fibrin clot constructs could be extremely useful for several clinical applications. In particular, we focus on their use in orthopedic surgery, where the fibrin clot derived from the donor's own blood allowed effective cell delivery and nutrient/waste exchanges. To ensure optimal safety conditions, it is of the utmost importance to avoid the risks of hMSC transformation and tissue overgrowth. For these reasons, the approach described in this paper also indicates a minimally ex vivo hMSC expansion, to reduce cell senescence and morphologic changes, and short-term osteo-differentiation before implantation, to induce osteogenic lineage specification, thus decreasing the risk of subsequent uncontrolled proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Trombi
- Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa; OtoLab, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP);
| | - Serena Danti
- OtoLab, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP); Dept. of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa
| | - Sara Savelli
- Immunohematology Operative Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP)
| | | | - Delfo D'Alessandro
- OtoLab, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP); Dept. Of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa
| | - Claudio Ricci
- OtoLab, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP)
| | - Stefano Giannotti
- II Orthopedic and Traumatologic Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana (AOUP)
| | - Mario Petrini
- Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa
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D'Alessandro D, Perale G, Milazzo M, Moscato S, Stefanini C, Pertici G, Danti S. Bovine bone matrix/poly(l-lactic-co-ε-caprolactone)/gelatin hybrid scaffold (SmartBone ®) for maxillary sinus augmentation: A histologic study on bone regeneration. Int J Pharm 2016; 523:534-544. [PMID: 27769886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.10.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The ideal scaffold for bone regeneration is required to be highly porous, non-immunogenic, biostable until the new tissue formation, bioresorbable and osteoconductive. This study aimed at investigating the process of new bone formation in patients treated with granular SmartBone® for sinus augmentation, providing an extensive histologic analysis. Five biopsies were collected at 4-9 months post SmartBone® implantation and processed for histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Histomorphometric analysis was performed. Bone-particle conductivity index (BPCi) was used to assess SmartBone® osteoconductivity. At 4 months, SmartBone® (12%) and new bone (43.9%) were both present and surrounded by vascularized connective tissue (37.2%). New bone was grown on SmartBone® (BPCi=0.22). At 6 months, SmartBone® was almost completely resorbed (0.5%) and new bone was massively present (80.8%). At 7 and 9 months, new bone accounted for a large volume fraction (79.3% and 67.4%, respectively) and SmartBone® was resorbed (0.5% and 0%, respectively). Well-oriented lamellae and bone scars, typical of mature bone, were observed. In all the biopsies, bone matrix biomolecules and active osteoblasts were visible. The absence of inflammatory cells confirmed SmartBone® biocompatibility and non-immunogenicity. These data indicate that SmartBone® is osteoconductive, promotes fast bone regeneration, leading to mature bone formation in about 7 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delfo D'Alessandro
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Perale
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Via Cantonale 2C, 6928 Manno, Switzerland; Industrie Biomediche Insubri S/A (IBI), Via Cantonale 67, CH6805 Mezzovico-Vira, Switzerland
| | - Mario Milazzo
- Creative Engineering Design Area, The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale R. Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera (PI), Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Cesare Stefanini
- Creative Engineering Design Area, The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale R. Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera (PI), Italy; Department of Biomedical Engineering and Robotics Institute, Khalifa University of Science Technology and Research, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Gianni Pertici
- Department of Innovative Technologies, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Via Cantonale 2C, 6928 Manno, Switzerland; Industrie Biomediche Insubri S/A (IBI), Via Cantonale 67, CH6805 Mezzovico-Vira, Switzerland
| | - Serena Danti
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Creative Engineering Design Area, The Biorobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale R. Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera (PI), Italy; Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo L. Lazzarino 2, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
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Ricci C, Mota C, Moscato S, D'Alessandro D, Ugel S, Sartoris S, Bronte V, Boggi U, Campani D, Funel N, Moroni L, Danti S. Interfacing polymeric scaffolds with primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells to develop 3D cancer models. Biomatter 2015; 4:e955386. [PMID: 25482337 PMCID: PMC4578550 DOI: 10.4161/21592527.2014.955386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed the interactions between human primary cells from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and polymeric scaffolds to develop 3D cancer models useful for mimicking the biology of this tumor. Three scaffold types based on two biocompatible polymeric formulations, such as poly(vinyl alcohol)/gelatin (PVA/G) mixture and poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) copolymer, were obtained via different techniques, namely, emulsion and freeze-drying, compression molding followed by salt leaching, and electrospinning. In this way, primary PDAC cells interfaced with different pore topographies, such as sponge-like pores of different shape and size or nanofiber interspaces. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence played by the scaffold architecture over cancerous cell growth and function. In all scaffolds, primary PDAC cells showed good viability and synthesized tumor-specific metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP-2, and MMP-9. However, only sponge-like pores, obtained via emulsion-based and salt leaching-based techniques allowed for an organized cellular aggregation very similar to the native PDAC morphological structure. Differently, these cell clusters were not observed on PEOT/PBT electrospun scaffolds. MMP-2 and MMP-9, as active enzymes, resulted to be increased in PVA/G and PEOT/PBT sponges, respectively. These findings suggested that spongy scaffolds supported the generation of pancreatic tumor models with enhanced aggressiveness. In conclusion, primary PDAC cells showed diverse behaviors while interacting with different scaffold types that can be potentially exploited to create stage-specific pancreatic cancer models likely to provide new knowledge on the modulation and drug susceptibility of MMPs.
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Key Words
- 2D, Bi-dimensional
- 3D, Three-dimensional
- BCA, Bicinchoninic acid
- BSA, Bovine serum albumin
- Dd, double distilled
- Ds, double stranded
- ECM, Extracellular matrix
- G, Gelatin
- HRP, Horseradish peroxidase
- K-ras, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog
- MMP, Matrix metalloproteinase
- PBS, Phosphate buffer saline
- PCR, Polymer-chain reaction
- PDAC, Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
- PEOT/PBT, Poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate)
- PVA, Poly(vinyl alcohol)
- PanIN, Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia
- Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
- Smad4, Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4
- TME, Tumor microenvironment.
- cancer
- compression molding
- electrospinning
- emulsion and freeze-drying
- metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2)
- metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9)
- polyethylene oxide terephthalate (PEOT)
- polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
- scaffold
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Ricci
- a Department of Pathology and Diagnostics ; University of Verona ; Verona , Italy
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Grillone A, Riva ER, Mondini A, Forte C, Calucci L, Innocenti C, de Julian Fernandez C, Cappello V, Gemmi M, Moscato S, Ronca F, Sacco R, Mattoli V, Ciofani G. Drug Targeting: Active Targeting of Sorafenib: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro Testing of Drug-Loaded Magnetic Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 11/2015). Adv Healthc Mater 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201570068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Agostina Grillone
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna; The BioRobotics Institute; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
| | - Eugenio Redolfi Riva
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna; The BioRobotics Institute; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
| | - Alessio Mondini
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
| | - Claudia Forte
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR; Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Lucia Calucci
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR; Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Claudia Innocenti
- INSTM and Department of Chemistry “Ugo Shiff”; University of Florence; Via della Lastruccia 3-13 50019 Sesto Fiorentino Firenze Italy
| | - Cesar de Julian Fernandez
- Istituto dei Materiali per l'Elettronica e il Magnetismo; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR; Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A 43124 Parma Italy
| | - Valentina Cappello
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST; Piazza San Silvestro 12 56127 Pisa Italy
| | - Mauro Gemmi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST; Piazza San Silvestro 12 56127 Pisa Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale; Università di Pisa; Via Savi 10 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Francesca Ronca
- Università di Pisa; Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica; Medica, Molecolare e dell'Area Critica; Via Savi 10 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Rodolfo Sacco
- Unità Operativa di Gastroenterologia e Malattie del Ricambio; Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Pisana; Via Paradisa 2 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Virgilio Mattoli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
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Grillone A, Riva ER, Mondini A, Forte C, Calucci L, Innocenti C, de Julian Fernandez C, Cappello V, Gemmi M, Moscato S, Ronca F, Sacco R, Mattoli V, Ciofani G. Active Targeting of Sorafenib: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro Testing of Drug-Loaded Magnetic Solid Lipid Nanoparticles. Adv Healthc Mater 2015; 4:1681-90. [PMID: 26039933 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib is an anticancer drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hepatocellular and advanced renal carcinoma. The clinical application of sorafenib is promising, yet limited by its severe toxic side effects. The aim of this study is to develop sorafenib-loaded magnetic nanovectors able to enhance the drug delivery to the disease site with the help of a remote magnetic field, thus enabling cancer treatment while limiting negative effects on healthy tissues. Sorafenib and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles by a hot homogenization technique using cetyl palmitate as lipid matrix. The obtained nanoparticles (Sor-Mag-SLNs) have a sorafenib loading efficiency of about 90% and are found to be very stable in an aqueous environment. Plain Mag-SLNs exhibit good cytocompatibility, whereas an antiproliferative effect against tumor cells (human hepatocarcinoma HepG2) is observed for drug-loaded Sor-Mag-SLNs. The obtained results show that it is possible to prepare stable Sor-Mag-SLNs able to inhibit cancer cell proliferation through the sorafenib cytotoxic action, and to enhance/localize this effect in a desired area thanks to a magnetically driven accumulation of the drug. Moreover, the relaxivity properties observed in water suspensions hold promise for Sor-Mag-SLN tracking through clinical magnetic resonance imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agostina Grillone
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna; The BioRobotics Institute; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
| | - Eugenio Redolfi Riva
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna; The BioRobotics Institute; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
| | - Alessio Mondini
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
| | - Claudia Forte
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR; Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Lucia Calucci
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti OrganoMetallici; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR; Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Claudia Innocenti
- INSTM and Department of Chemistry “Ugo Shiff”; University of Florence; Via della Lastruccia 3-13 50019 Sesto Fiorentino Firenze Italy
| | - Cesar de Julian Fernandez
- Istituto dei Materiali per l'Elettronica e il Magnetismo; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - CNR; Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A 43124 Parma Italy
| | - Valentina Cappello
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST; Piazza San Silvestro 12 56127 Pisa Italy
| | - Mauro Gemmi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST; Piazza San Silvestro 12 56127 Pisa Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale; Università di Pisa; Via Savi 10 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Francesca Ronca
- Università di Pisa; Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica; Medica, Molecolare e dell'Area Critica; Via Savi 10 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Rodolfo Sacco
- Unità Operativa di Gastroenterologia e Malattie del Ricambio; Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Pisana; Via Paradisa 2 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Virgilio Mattoli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia; Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA; Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy
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20
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Del Ry S, Moscato S, Bianchi F, Morales MA, Dolfi A, Burchielli S, Cabiati M, Mattii L. Altered expression of connexin 43 and related molecular partners in a pig model of left ventricular dysfunction with and without dipyrydamole therapy. Pharmacol Res 2015; 95-96:92-101. [PMID: 25836920 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Gap junctions (GJ) mediate electrical coupling between cardiac myocytes, allowing the spreading of the electrical wave responsible for synchronized contraction. GJ function can be regulated by modulation of connexon densities on membranes, connexin (Cx) phosphorylation, trafficking and degradation. Recent studies have shown that adenosine (A) involves Cx43 turnover in A1 receptor-dependent manner, and dipyridamole increases GJ coupling and amount of Cx43 in endothelial cells. As the abnormalities in GJ organization and regulation have been described in diseased myocardium, the aim of the present study was to assess the regional expression of molecules involved in GJ regulation in a model of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). For this purpose the distribution and quantitative expression of Cx43, its phosphorylated form pS368-Cx43, PKC phosphorylated substrates, RhoA and A receptors, were investigated in experimental models of right ventricular-pacing induced LVD, undergoing concomitant dipyridamole therapy or placebo, and compared with those obtained in the myocardium from sham-operated minipigs. Results demonstrate that an altered pattern of factors involved in Cx43-made GJ regulation is present in myocardium of a dysfunctioning left ventricle. Furthermore, dipyridamole treatment, which shows a mild protective role on left ventricular function, seems to act through modulating the expression and activation of these factors as confirmed by in vitro experiments on cardiomyoblastic cell line H9c2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Del Ry
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Laboratory Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, CNR, Italy Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinic and Experimental Medicine, Section Histology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Bianchi
- Department of Clinic and Experimental Medicine, Section Histology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Aurora Morales
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Laboratory Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, CNR, Italy Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy
| | - Amelio Dolfi
- Department of Clinic and Experimental Medicine, Section Histology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Manuela Cabiati
- CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Laboratory Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, CNR, Italy Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy
| | - Letizia Mattii
- Department of Clinic and Experimental Medicine, Section Histology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Moscato S, Ronca F, Campani D, Danti S. Poly(vinyl alcohol)/gelatin Hydrogels Cultured with HepG2 Cells as a 3D Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Morphological Study. J Funct Biomater 2015; 6:16-32. [PMID: 25590431 PMCID: PMC4384098 DOI: 10.3390/jfb6010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models represent fundamental tools for the comprehension of cellular phenomena both for normal and cancerous tissues. Indeed, the microenvironment affects the cellular behavior as well as the response to drugs. In this study, we performed a morphological analysis on a hepatocarcinoma cell line, HepG2, grown for 24 days inside a bioartificial hydrogel composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and gelatin (G) to model a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 3D. Morphological features of PVA/G hydrogels were investigated, resulting to mimic the trabecular structure of liver parenchyma. A histologic analysis comparing the 3D models with HepG2 cell monolayers and tumor specimens was performed. In the 3D setting, HepG2 cells were viable and formed large cellular aggregates showing different morphotypes with zonal distribution. Furthermore, β-actin and α5β1 integrin revealed a morphotype-related expression; in particular, the frontline cells were characterized by a strong immunopositivity on a side border of their membrane, thus suggesting the formation of lamellipodia-like structures apt for migration. Based on these results, we propose PVA/G hydrogels as valuable substrates to develop a long term 3D HCC model that can be used to investigate important aspects of tumor biology related to migration phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Francesca Ronca
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Daniela Campani
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Serena Danti
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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Rocca A, Marino A, Rocca V, Moscato S, de Vito G, Piazza V, Mazzolai B, Mattoli V, Ngo-Anh TJ, Ciofani G. Barium titanate nanoparticles and hypergravity stimulation improve differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts. Int J Nanomedicine 2015; 10:433-45. [PMID: 25609955 PMCID: PMC4294648 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s76329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Enhancement of the osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is highly desirable in the field of bone regeneration. This paper proposes a new approach for the improvement of osteogenesis combining hypergravity with osteoinductive nanoparticles (NPs). Materials and methods In this study, we aimed to investigate the combined effects of hypergravity and barium titanate NPs (BTNPs) on the osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs, and the hypergravity effects on NP internalization. To obtain the hypergravity condition, we used a large-diameter centrifuge in the presence of a BTNP-doped culture medium. We analyzed cell morphology and NP internalization with immunofluorescent staining and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, respectively. Moreover, cell differentiation was evaluated both at the gene level with quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and at the protein level with Western blotting. Results Following a 20 g treatment, we found alterations in cytoskeleton conformation, cellular shape and morphology, as well as a significant increment of expression of osteoblastic markers both at the gene and protein levels, jointly pointing to a substantial increment of NP uptake. Taken together, our findings suggest a synergistic effect of hypergravity and BTNPs in the enhancement of the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Conclusion The obtained results could become useful in the design of new approaches in bone-tissue engineering, as well as for in vitro drug-delivery strategies where an increment of nanocarrier internalization could result in a higher drug uptake by cell and/or tissue constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Rocca
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Micro-BioRobotics @ SSSA, Pontedera, Italy ; Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, The BioRobotics Institute, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Attilio Marino
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Micro-BioRobotics @ SSSA, Pontedera, Italy ; Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, The BioRobotics Institute, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Veronica Rocca
- Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, Pisa, Italy, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe de Vito
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Pisa, Italy ; Scuola Normale Superiore, NEST, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Piazza
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Pisa, Italy
| | - Barbara Mazzolai
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Micro-BioRobotics @ SSSA, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Virgilio Mattoli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Micro-BioRobotics @ SSSA, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Thu Jennifer Ngo-Anh
- Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, the Netherlands
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Micro-BioRobotics @ SSSA, Pontedera, Italy
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Barachini S, Danti S, Pacini S, D’Alessandro D, Carnicelli V, Trombi L, Moscato S, Mannari C, Cei S, Petrini M. Plasticity of human dental pulp stromal cells with bioengineering platforms: A versatile tool for regenerative medicine. Micron 2014; 67:155-168. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2014.07.003] [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] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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D'Alessandro D, Pertici G, Moscato S, Metelli MR, Danti S, Nesti C, Berrettini S, Petrini M, Danti S. Processing large-diameter poly(L-lactic acid) microfiber mesh/mesenchymal stromal cell constructs via resin embedding: an efficient histologic method. Biomed Mater 2014; 9:045007. [PMID: 25029413 DOI: 10.1088/1748-6041/9/4/045007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we performed a complete histologic analysis of constructs based on large diameter ( >100 μm) poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) microfibers obtained via dry-wet spinning and rat Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (rMSCs) differentiated towards the osteogenic lineage, using acrylic resin embedding. In many synthetic polymer-based microfiber meshes, ex post processability of fiber/cell constructs for histologic analysis may face deterring difficulties, leading to an incomplete investigation of the potential of these scaffolds. Indeed, while polymeric nanofiber (fiber diameter = tens of nanometers)/cell constructs can usually be embedded in common histologic media and easily sectioned, preserving the material structure and the antigenic reactivity, histologic analysis of large polymeric microfiber/cell constructs in the literature is really scant. This affects microfiber scaffolds based on FDA-approved and widely used polymers such as PLLA and its copolymers. Indeed, for such constructs, especially those with fiber diameter and fiber interspace much larger than cell size, standard histologic processing is usually inefficient due to inhomogeneous hardness and lack of cohesion between the synthetic and the biological phases under sectioning. In this study, the microfiber/MSC constructs were embedded in acrylic resin and the staining/reaction procedures were calibrated to demonstrate the possibility of successfully employing histologic methods in tissue engineering studies even in such difficult cases. We histologically investigated the main osteogenic markers and extracellular matrix molecules, such as alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, osteocalcin, TGF-β1, Runx2, Collagen type I and the presence of amorphous, fibrillar and mineralized matrix. Biochemical tests were employed to confirm our findings. This protocol permitted efficient sectioning of the treated constructs and good penetration of the histologic reagents, thus allowing distribution and expression of almost all the tested molecules to be revealed. Our results demonstrated that it is possible to perform histologic analyses of large-diameter PLLA-based microfiber scaffold/MSC constructs that face the failure of standard histologic procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delfo D'Alessandro
- Center for Clinical Use of Stem Cells (CUCCS-RRMR), University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy. Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Danti S, Ciofani G, Pertici G, Moscato S, D'Alessandro D, Ciabatti E, Chiellini F, D'Acunto M, Mattoli V, Berrettini S. Boron nitride nanotube-functionalised myoblast/microfibre constructs: a nanotech-assisted tissue-engineered platform for muscle stimulation. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2014; 9:847-51. [DOI: 10.1002/term.1878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 12/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Danti
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine; University of Pisa; Italy
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT); Centre for Micro-BioRobotics@SSSA; Pontedera PI Italy
| | - Gianni Pertici
- Department of Innovative Technologies; University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI); Manno Switzerland
| | - Stefania Moscato
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine; University of Pisa; Italy
| | - Delfo D'Alessandro
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine; University of Pisa; Italy
| | - Elena Ciabatti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine; University of Pisa; Italy
| | - Federica Chiellini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry; University of Pisa; Italy
| | - Mario D'Acunto
- Institute of Matter Structure; Tor Vergata Research Area, CNR; Rome Italy
| | - Virgilio Mattoli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT); Centre for Micro-BioRobotics@SSSA; Pontedera PI Italy
| | - Stefano Berrettini
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine; University of Pisa; Italy
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Danti S, Ciofani G, Moscato S, D'Alessandro D, Ciabatti E, Nesti C, Brescia R, Bertoni G, Pietrabissa A, Lisanti M, Petrini M, Mattoli V, Berrettini S. Boron nitride nanotubes and primary human osteoblasts: in vitro compatibility and biological interactions under low frequency ultrasound stimulation. Nanotechnology 2013; 24:465102. [PMID: 24150892 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/24/46/465102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In this paper we investigated a novel and non-invasive approach for an endogenous osteoblast stimulation mediated by boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). Specifically, following the cellular uptake of the piezoelectric nanotubes, cultures of primary human osteoblasts (hOBs) were irradiated with low frequency ultrasound (US), as a simple method to apply a mechanical input to the cells loaded with BNNTs. This in vitro study was aimed at investigating the main interactions between hOBs and BNNTs and to study the effects of the 'BNNTs + US' stimulatory method on the osteoblastic function and maturation.A non-cytotoxic BNNT concentration to be used in vitro with hOB cultures was established. Moreover, investigation with transmission electron microscopy/electron energy loss spectroscopy (TEM/EELS) confirmed that BNNTs were internalized in membranal vesicles. The panel of investigated osteoblastic markers disclosed that BNNTs were capable of fostering the expression of late-stage bone proteins in vitro, without using any mineralizing culture supplements. In our samples, the maximal osteopontin expression, with the highest osteocalcin and Ca(2+) production, in the presence of mineral matrix with nodular morphology, was observed in the samples treated with BNNTs + US. In this group was also shown a significantly enhanced synthesis of TGF-β1, a molecule sensitive to electric stimulation in bone. Finally, gene deregulations of the analyzed osteoblastic genes leading to depletive cellular effects were not detected. Due to their piezoelectricity, BNNT-based therapies might disclose advancements in the treatment of bone diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Danti
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa, via Paradisa 2, I-56124 Pisa, Italy. Center for the Clinical Use of Stem Cells-Regional Network of Regenerative Medicine 'CUCCS-RRMR', University of Pisa, via Roma 55, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
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Danti S, Serino LP, D'Alessandro D, Moscato S, Danti S, Trombi L, Dinucci D, Chiellini F, Pietrabissa A, Lisanti M, Berrettini S, Petrini M. Growing bone tissue-engineered niches with graded osteogenicity: an in vitro method for biomimetic construct assembly. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2013; 19:911-24. [PMID: 23537352 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2012.0445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The traditional bone tissue-engineering approach exploits mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to be seeded once only on three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds, hence, differentiated for a certain period of time and resulting in a homogeneous osteoblast population at the endpoint. However, after achieving terminal osteodifferentiation, cell viability is usually markedly compromised. On the other hand, naturally occurring osteogenesis results from the coexistence of MSC progenies at distinct differentiative stages in the same microenvironment. This diversification also enables long-term viability of the mature tissue. We report an easy and tunable in vitro method to engineer simple osteogenic cell niches in a biomimetic fashion. The niches were grown via periodic reseeding of undifferentiated MSCs on MSC/scaffold constructs, the latter undergoing osteogenic commitment. Time-fractioning of the seeded cell number during differentiation time of the constructs allowed graded osteogenic cell populations to be grown together on the same scaffolds (i.e., not only terminally differentiated osteoblasts). In such cell-dynamic systems, the overall differentiative stage of the constructs could also be tuned by varying the cell density seeded at each inoculation. In this way, we generated two different biomimetic niche models able to host good reservoirs of preosteoblasts and other osteoprogenitors after 21 culture days. At that time, the niche type resulting in 40.8% of immature osteogenic progenies and only 59.2% of mature osteoblasts showed a calcium content comparable to the constructs obtained with the traditional culture method (i.e., 100.03 ± 29.30 vs. 78.51 ± 28.50 pg/cell, respectively; p=not significant), the latter colonized only by fully differentiated osteoblasts showing exhausted viability. This assembly method for tissue-engineered constructs enabled a set of important parameters, such as viability, colonization, and osteogenic yield of the MSCs to be balanced on 3D scaffolds, thus achieving biomimetic in vitro models with graded osteogenicity, which are more complex and reliable than those currently used by tissue engineers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Danti
- 1 Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Emergency Medicine, University of Pisa , Pisa, Italy
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Ciofani G, Danti S, Ricotti L, D’Alessandro D, Moscato S, Mattoli V. Applications of Piezoelectricity in Nanomedicine. Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-28044-3_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Ciofani G, Danti S, D'Alessandro D, Ricotti L, Moscato S, Bertoni G, Falqui A, Berrettini S, Petrini M, Mattoli V, Menciassi A. Enhancement of neurite outgrowth in neuronal-like cells following boron nitride nanotube-mediated stimulation. ACS Nano 2010; 4:6267-77. [PMID: 20925390 DOI: 10.1021/nn101985a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we propose an absolutely innovative technique for the electrical stimulation of cells, based on piezoelectric nanoparticles. Ultrasounds are used to impart mechanical stress to boron nitride nanotubes incubated with neuronal-like PC12 cells. By virtue of their piezoelectric properties, these nanotubes can polarize and convey electrical stimuli to the cells. PC12 stimulated with the present method exhibit neurite sprout 30% greater than the control cultures after 9 days of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Ciofani
- Italian Institute of Technology c/o Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 Pontedera (Pisa), 56025, Italy.
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30
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Ciofani G, Danti S, D'Alessandro D, Moscato S, Petrini M, Menciassi A. Barium Titanate Nanoparticles: Highly Cytocompatible Dispersions in Glycol-chitosan and Doxorubicin Complexes for Cancer Therapy. Nanoscale Res Lett 2010; 5:1093-101. [PMID: 20596329 PMCID: PMC2894309 DOI: 10.1007/s11671-010-9607-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2010] [Accepted: 04/06/2010] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In the latest years, innovative nanomaterials have attracted a dramatic and exponentially increasing interest, in particular for their potential applications in the biomedical field. In this paper, we reported our findings on the cytocompatibility of barium titanate nanoparticles (BTNPs), an extremely interesting ceramic material. A rational and systematic study of BTNP cytocompatibility was performed, using a dispersion method based on a non-covalent binding to glycol-chitosan, which demonstrated the optimal cytocompatibility of this nanomaterial even at high concentration (100 μg/ml). Moreover, we showed that the efficiency of doxorubicin, a widely used chemotherapy drug, is highly enhanced following the complexation with BTNPs. Our results suggest that innovative ceramic nanomaterials such as BTNPs can be realistically exploited as alternative cellular nanovectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Ciofani
- Center of MicroBioRobotics c/o Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Italian Institute of Technology, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera (Pisa), Italy.
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Ciofani G, Ricotti L, Danti S, Moscato S, Nesti C, D’Alessandro D, Dinucci D, Chiellini F, Pietrabissa A, Petrini M, Menciassi A. Investigation of interactions between poly-L-lysine-coated boron nitride nanotubes and C2C12 cells: up-take, cytocompatibility, and differentiation. Int J Nanomedicine 2010; 5:285-98. [PMID: 20463944 PMCID: PMC2865023 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s9879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have generated considerable interest within the scientific community by virtue of their unique physical properties, which can be exploited in the biomedical field. In the present in vitro study, we investigated the interactions of poly-l-lysine-coated BNNTs with C2C12 cells, as a model of muscle cells, in terms of cytocompatibility and BNNT internalization. The latter was performed using both confocal and transmission electron microscopy. Finally, we investigated myoblast differentiation in the presence of BNNTs, evaluating the protein synthesis of differentiating cells, myotube formation, and expression of some constitutive myoblastic markers, such as MyoD and Cx43, by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. We demonstrated that BNNTs are highly internalized by C2C12 cells, with neither adversely affecting C2C12 myoblast viability nor significantly interfering with myotube formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Ciofani
- Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - L Ricotti
- Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Danti
- CUCCS-RRMR, Center for the Clinical Use of Stem Cells – Regional Network of Regenerative Medicine
- Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies
| | - S Moscato
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - C Nesti
- CUCCS-RRMR, Center for the Clinical Use of Stem Cells – Regional Network of Regenerative Medicine
| | - D D’Alessandro
- CUCCS-RRMR, Center for the Clinical Use of Stem Cells – Regional Network of Regenerative Medicine
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - D Dinucci
- Laboratory of Bioactive Polymeric Materials for Biomedical and Environmental Applications (BIOlab), UdR INSTM, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, San Piero a Grado, Italy
| | - F Chiellini
- Laboratory of Bioactive Polymeric Materials for Biomedical and Environmental Applications (BIOlab), UdR INSTM, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, San Piero a Grado, Italy
| | - A Pietrabissa
- Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies
| | - M Petrini
- CUCCS-RRMR, Center for the Clinical Use of Stem Cells – Regional Network of Regenerative Medicine
- Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies
| | - A Menciassi
- Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy
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Ciofani G, Danti S, D'Alessandro D, Moscato S, Menciassi A. Assessing cytotoxicity of boron nitride nanotubes: Interference with the MTT assay. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 394:405-11. [PMID: 20226164 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2010] [Accepted: 03/05/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Thanks to a non-covalent wrapping with glycol-chitosan, highly biocompatible and highly concentrated dispersions of boron nitride nanotubes were obtained and tested on human neuroblastoma cells. A systematic investigation of the cytotoxicity of these nanovectors with several complementary qualitative and quantitative assays allowed a strong interference with the MTT metabolic assay to be highlighted, similar to a phenomenon already observed for carbon nanotubes, that would wrongly suggest toxicity of boron nitride nanotubes. These results confirm the high complexity of these new nanomaterials, and the needing of extensive investigations on their exciting potential applications in the biomedical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Ciofani
- Italian Institute of Technology, Smart Materials Lab, Center of MicroBioRobotics at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025 Pontedera (Pisa), Italy.
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Ciofani G, Danti S, Moscato S, Albertazzi L, D'Alessandro D, Dinucci D, Chiellini F, Petrini M, Menciassi A. Preparation of stable dispersion of barium titanate nanoparticles: Potential applications in biomedicine. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2009; 76:535-43. [PMID: 20060274 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2009.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2009] [Revised: 12/15/2009] [Accepted: 12/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Nanoscale structures and materials have been explored in many biological applications because of their extraordinary novel properties. Here we propose a study of cellular interactions with barium titanate nanoparticles, an interesting ceramic material that has received a lot of interest in the nanotechnology research, but without any attention about its biological potential. We introduced for the first time an efficient method for the preparation of stable aqueous dispersions of barium titanate nanoparticles, characterized with FIB, TEM and AFM imaging, light scattering, Z-potential and UV/vis analysis. Finally, we presented a systematic study of short-term cytotoxicity of the prepared dispersion based both on quantitative (metabolism, proliferation) and qualitative (apoptosis, viability, differentiation) assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Ciofani
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
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Ippolito C, Segnani C, De Giorgio R, Blandizzi C, Mattii L, Castagna M, Moscato S, Dolfi A, Bernardini N. Quantitative evaluation of myenteric ganglion cells in normal human left colon: implications for histopathological analysis. Cell Tissue Res 2009; 336:191-201. [PMID: 19322590 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-009-0770-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2008] [Accepted: 01/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The analysis of myenteric neurons is becoming increasingly important for the assessment of enteric nervous system injury and degeneration occurring in motor disorders of the gut. Limited information is presently available on the quantitative estimation of myenteric neurons and glial cells in paraffin-embedded colonic sections; additional data would be useful for diagnostic purposes. In this morphometric study, we performed immunohistochemistry to count myenteric neurons and glial cells in paraffin sections of human colon. Serial cross sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded full-thickness normal human left colon (n = 10, age-range: 50-72 years) were examined. HuC/D and S100beta antigens were found to be the best markers for the detection of neurons and glial cells, respectively. Significant correlations were noted between the numbers of neurons/glial cells and the respective myenteric ganglion areas. These findings suggest that HuC/D-S100beta-immunostained paraffin cross sections of human colon can be regarded as valuable tools for the quantitative estimation of myenteric neurons and glial cells. Based on the present method, only a limited number of paraffin sections are needed for reliable quantitative assessments of myenteric ganglion cells, thus allowing fast and simple approaches in the settings of the histopathological diagnosis of colonic motility disorders and retrospective evaluations of pathological archival tissue specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ippolito
- Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Danti S, Stefanini C, D’Alessandro D, Moscato S, Pietrabissa A, Petrini M, Berrettini S. Novel biological/biohybrid prostheses for the ossicular chain: fabrication feasibility and preliminary functional characterization. Biomed Microdevices 2009; 11:783-93. [DOI: 10.1007/s10544-009-9293-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Mattii L, Battolla B, Moscato S, Fazzi R, Galimberti S, Bernardini N, Dolfi A, Petrini M. The small peptide OGP(10-14) acts through Src kinases and RhoA pathways in Mo-7e cells: morphologic and immunologic evaluation. Med Sci Monit 2008; 14:BR103-BR108. [PMID: 18509267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) is an endogenous tetradecapeptide present in micromolar concentrations in mammalian serum; its carboxy-terminal pentapeptide, OGP(10-14), represents its physiologically active fragment. OGP(10-14) induces proliferation and differentiation in fibroblast and osteoblast cell lines, and it enhances hematopoiesis in vitro and in vivo. The signaling pathways triggered by OGP(10-14) are not yet fully known. In the present report, we evaluated the effect of OGP(10-14) on differentiation of a cancer megakaryoblast cell line and its involvement on RhoA and Src family kinases signaling pathway. MATERIAL/METHODS Cell proliferation of the Mo-7e line was evaluated using the MTT test. Mo-7e differentiation was evaluated by microscopic observation of cell morphology and by expression of the factor VIII-related antigen. Involvement of RhoA and Src kinases on signaling pathways triggered by OGP(10-14) was analyzed using RhoA and Src family kinase (SFK) inhibitors (C3 and PP2) and an immunoperoxidase technique. RESULTS OGP(10-14) induces expression of the factor VIII-related antigen, morphologic changes indicative of megakaryocytic differentiation, and a down-regulation of the Fyn Src kinase. These OGP(10-14) effects were prevented by C3 and enhanced by PP2. CONCLUSIONS The anti-proliferative and pro-differentiating activities of OGP(10-14) on thrombopoietin (TPO)-primed Mo-7e cells are mediated by RhoA and Src kinase pathways as demonstrated by the use of C3 and PP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Mattii
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, Section of Histology and General Embryology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, Pisa, Italy
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Moscato S, Mattii L, D'Alessandro D, Cascone MG, Lazzeri L, Serino LP, Dolfi A, Bernardini N. Interaction of human gingival fibroblasts with PVA/gelatine sponges. Micron 2007; 39:569-79. [PMID: 17702585 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2007.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 05/02/2007] [Accepted: 06/20/2007] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Tissue engineering scaffolds should be able to reproduce optimal microenvironments in order to support cell attachment, three-dimensional growth, migration and, regarding fibroblasts, must also promote extracellular matrix production. Various bioactive molecules are employed in the preparation of spongy scaffolds to obtain biomimetic matrices by either surface-coating or introducing them into the bulk composition of the biomaterial. The biomimetic properties of a spongy matrix composed of PVA combined with the natural component gelatine were evaluated by culturing human gingival fibroblasts on the scaffold. Cell adhesion, morphology and distribution within the scaffold were assessed by histology and electron microscopy; viability and metabolic activity as well as extracellular matrix production were analyzed by MTT assay, cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry. Fibroblasts interacted positively with PVA/gelatine. They adhered to the PVA/gelatine matrix in which they had good spreading activity and active metabolism; fibroblasts were also able to produce extracellular matrix molecules (type I collagen, fibronectin and laminin) compared to bi-dimensionally grown cells. The in situ creation of a biological matrix by human fibroblasts together with the ability to produce growth factor TGF-beta1 and the intracellular signal transduction molecule RhoA, suggests that this kind of PVA/gelatine sponge may represent a suitable support for in vitro extracellular matrix production and connective tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Moscato
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, Medical Histology and Embriology Section, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
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Lazzeri L, Cascone MG, Danti S, Serino LP, Moscato S, Bernardini N. Gelatine/PLLA sponge-like scaffolds: morphological and biological characterization. J Mater Sci Mater Med 2007; 18:1399-405. [PMID: 17277980 DOI: 10.1007/s10856-007-0127-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2005] [Accepted: 01/04/2006] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable synthetic polymers such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are widely used to prepare scaffolds for cell transplantation and tissue growth, using different techniques set up for the purpose. However the poor hydrophilicity of these polymers represents the main limitation to their use as scaffolds because it causes a low affinity for the cells. An effective way to solve this problem could be represented by the addition of biopolymers that are in general highly hydrophilic. The present work concerns porous biodegradable sponge-like systems based on poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and gelatine. Morphology and porosity characteristics of the sponges were studied by scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry respectively. Blood compatibility was investigated by bovine plasma fibrinogen (BPF) adsorption test and platelet adhesion test (PAT). The cell culture method was used in order to evaluate the ability of the matrices to work as scaffolds for tissue regeneration. The obtained results indicate that the sponges have interesting porous characteristics, good blood compatibility and above all good ability to support cell adhesion and growth. In fact viable and metabolically active animal cells were found inside the sponges after 8 weeks in culture. On this basis the systems produced seem to be good candidates as scaffolds for tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Lazzeri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Lazzeri L, Cascone MG, Danti S, Serino LP, Moscato S, Bernardini N. Gelatine/PLLA sponge-like scaffolds: morphological and biological characterization. J Mater Sci Mater Med 2006; 17:1211-7. [PMID: 17143751 DOI: 10.1007/s10856-006-0594-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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] [Received: 10/04/2005] [Accepted: 01/04/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable synthetic polymers such as poly(lactic acid) are widely used to prepare scaffolds for cell transplantation and tissue growth, using different techniques set up for the purpose. However the poor hydrophilicity of these polymers represents the main limitation to their use as scaffolds because it causes a low affinity for the cells. An effective way to solve this problem could be represented by the addition of biopolymers that are in general highly hydrophilic. The present work concerns porous biodegradable sponge-like systems based on poly(L-lactic acid) and gelatine. Morphology and porosity characteristics of the sponges were studied by scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry respectively. Blood compatibility was investigated by bovine plasma fibrinogen adsorption test and platelet adhesion test. The cell culture method was used in order to evaluate the ability of the matrices to work as scaffolds for tissue regeneration. The obtained results indicate that the sponges have interesting porous characteristics, good blood compatibility and above all good ability to support cell adhesion and growth. In fact viable and metabolically active animal cells were found inside the sponges after 8 weeks in culture. On this basis the systems produced seem to be good candidates as scaffolds for tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Lazzeri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Moscato S, Cascone MG, Lazzeri L, Danti S, Mattii L, Dolfi A, Bernardini N. Morphological features of ovine embryonic lung fibroblasts cultured on different bioactive scaffolds. J Biomed Mater Res A 2006; 76:214-21. [PMID: 16265645 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.30538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Tissue regeneration with autologous cell transplantation is one of the most important goals in clinical research. In this field, the development of bioactive materials that provide microenvironments for cell-matrix interactions mimicking biological conditions is required. In recent years, many synthetic materials have been developed as scaffolds and many procedures for the surface modification of these materials have been applied using biological molecules. In this study, we analyzed the morphology and the molecule production by ovine embryonic lung fibroblasts cultured on three different sponge-like matrices based on poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA): agarose/PLLA, crosslinked and uncrosslinked gelatin/PLLA. The matrices were produced by using an emulsion freeze-drying method leading to the formation of sponge-like materials with high porosity and with interconnection between the pores. In vitro MTT test demonstrated that transplanted cells were viable and metabolically active. Morphological analysis revealed that fibroblasts adhered to and penetrated the polymeric structures. Moreover, all the different matrices supported fibroblast production of proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and matrix molecules such as elastin, collagen I, and fibronectin. These data suggest that the tested bioactive scaffolds may support the growth and extracellular matrix molecule production of fibroblasts allowing in vitro connective tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Moscato
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, Medical Histology and Embriology Section, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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D'Alessandro D, Neri E, Moscato S, Dolfi A, Bartolozzi C, Calderazzi A, Bianchi F. Immediate structural changes of porcine renal arteries after angioplasty: a histological and morphometric study. Micron 2005; 37:255-61. [PMID: 16361101 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2005.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 06/20/2005] [Revised: 10/06/2005] [Accepted: 10/06/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this research was to characterize the immediate alterations induced by angioplasty and to compare the results of the application of two types of balloons. Ten porcine renal arteries were dilated with a compliant balloon, and ten with a non-compliant balloon. After angioplastic treatment arterial specimens were wax embedded for light microscopy. Sections were stained with the orcein-Van Gieson method, orcein, haematoxylin-eosin, and PAS. Image analysis was performed taking into consideration the following parameters: thickness of the entire wall, of the tunica media and of the inner elastic lamina. The major axes of the smooth muscle cells nuclei were also measured. The effects of the two types of balloon resulted in changes consisting in thinning of the entire arterial wall, reduction of the tunica media, distension of reticular fibers, presence of wide spaces between smooth muscle cells, stretching of smooth muscle cells, inner elastic lamina thickening. Both angioplasty devices used can modify the vascular wall. The identification of the tunica media structural damages might be useful in order to estimate the behavior of the vascular wall in the follow-up after angioplasty, because the entity of modifications could be predictive of restenosis that often takes place weeks or months after angioplasty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delfo D'Alessandro
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology-Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, I-56126 Pisa
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Mattii L, Segnani C, Cupisti A, D'Alessandro D, Moscato S, Meola M, Barsotti G, Marinò M, Bianchi F, Dolfi A, Bernardini N. Kidney Expression of RhoA, TGF-β1, and Fibronectin in Human IgA Nephropathy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 101:e16-23. [PMID: 15925904 DOI: 10.1159/000086035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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] [Received: 07/07/2004] [Accepted: 01/13/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Rho/transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) system plays a crucial role in the progression of renal damage due to stimulation of extracellular matrix molecule deposition. In fact, the in vitro TGF-beta-mediated production of fibronectin, one of the major TGF-beta-regulated extracellular components, has recently been correlated with Rho protein signalling molecules. Although a close relationship between increased renal tissue levels of TGF-beta1 and fibronectin has been reported in IgA nephropathy, no data are available on renal tissue expression of Rho proteins. METHODS This study was designed to assess in IgA nephropathy patients the kidney tissue immunohistochemical expression of RhoA, TGF-beta1, and fibronectin, and the rate of immunoreactivity for each antigen by image analysis. RESULTS An increase in RhoA, TGF-beta1, and fibronectin expression was detected in tubulointerstitium and in glomeruli of IgA nephropathy compared to normal kidneys; in particular, RhoA was found also in proximal tubules, unlike control kidneys and mainly at the cell boundary level, which is in keeping with its activated form. The image analysis confirmed that the kidney tissue levels of RhoA, TGF-beta1, and fibronectin were significantly enhanced in the patients. CONCLUSION This study suggests that RhoA may represent a key molecule in the signalling transduction pathway of profibrotic signals in IgA nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Mattii
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Mattii L, Fazzi R, Moscato S, Segnani C, Pacini S, Galimberti S, D'Alessandro D, Bernardini N, Petrini M. Carboxy-terminal fragment of osteogenic growth peptide regulates myeloid differentiation through RhoA. J Cell Biochem 2005; 93:1231-41. [PMID: 15486974 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.20248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The carboxy-terminal fragment of osteogenic growth peptide, OGP(10-14), is a pentapeptide with bone anabolic effects and hematopoietic activity. The latter activity appears to be largely enhanced by specific growth factors. To study the direct activity of OGP(10-14) on myeloid cells, we tested the pentapeptide proliferating/differentiating effects in HL60 cell line. In this cell line, OGP(10-14) significantly inhibited cell proliferation, and enhanced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and nitroblue tetrazolium reducing ability. Moreover, it induced cytoskeleton remodeling and small GTP-binding protein RhoA activation. RhoA, which is known to be involved in HL60 differentiation, mediated these effects as shown by using its specific inhibitor, C3. Treatment with GM-CSF had a comparable OGP(10-14) activity on proliferation, MPO expression, and RhoA activation. Further studies on cell proliferation and RhoA activation proved enhanced activity by association of the two factors. These results strongly suggest that OGP(10-14) acts directly on HL60 cells by activating RhoA signaling although other possibilities cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Mattii
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, Section of Histology and General Embryology, University of Pisa, Via Roma, Pisa, Italy
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Caponi L, Petit-Teixeira E, Sebbag M, Bongiorni F, Moscato S, Pratesi F, Pierlot C, Osorio J, Chapuy-Regaud S, Guerrin M, Cornelis F, Serre G, Migliorini P. A family based study shows no association between rheumatoid arthritis and the PADI4 gene in a white French population. Ann Rheum Dis 2004; 64:587-93. [PMID: 15485997 PMCID: PMC1755438 DOI: 10.1136/ard.2004.026831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins (ACPA) are considered a specific marker for rheumatoid arthritis. Peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) is the enzyme that converts arginyl into citrullyl residues; different isoforms of the enzyme are expressed in mammals. It has been suggested that the PADI4 gene may contribute to genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis, but conflicting results have been obtained in different populations. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that the PADI4 gene may confer susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in a white French population, using powerful and highly reliable family based association tests. METHODS DNA samples were analysed from 100 families where one member was affected by rheumatoid arthritis and both parents were available for sampling. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms, located within the PADI4 gene and in its close proximity, were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism, and haplotypes were constructed. The analysis involved use of the transmission disequilibrium test and genotype relative risk. ACPA were detected by ELISA on cyclic citrullinated peptides and on human deiminated fibrinogen. RESULTS No single SNP or haplotype was associated with the disease, or was preferentially transmitted. No association was found when patients were partitioned according to ACPA positivity. CONCLUSIONS No PADI4 haplotype is associated with rheumatoid arthritis in a white French population. The role of genes encoding the other PAD isoforms, or modulating tissue expression or enzyme activity, remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Caponi
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pisa, via Roma 67, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
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D'Alessandro D, Mattii L, Moscato S, Bernardini N, Segnani C, Dolfi A, Bianchi F. Immunohistochemical demonstration of the small GTPase RhoA on epoxy-resin embedded sections. Micron 2004; 35:287-96. [PMID: 15003616 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2003.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2003] [Revised: 09/18/2003] [Accepted: 10/02/2003] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to establish a method for light microscopical immunohistochemical localization of the small G protein RhoA on specimens treated and embedded for routine transmission electron microscopy. There are advantages in antigen immunolocalization on resin semi-thin sections compared to cryostat or paraffin sections: the preservation of morphological details, the well-defined immunoprecipitate localization and the possibility to correlate the immunohistochemical results with those obtained by electron microscope on neighbouring sections. These advantages are particularly useful for the subcellular localization of low molecular weight proteins such as RhoA, a small G protein able to cycle from the inactive cytoplasmic form to the plasma membrane-bound active form.
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Affiliation(s)
- D D'Alessandro
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
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Bianchi F, Mattii L, D'Alessandro D, Moscato S, Segnani C, Dolfi A, Bernardini N. Cellular and subcellular localization of the small G protein RhoA in the human and rat embryonic and adult kidney. Acta Histochem 2003; 105:89-97. [PMID: 12666992 DOI: 10.1078/0065-1281-00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Rho proteins, a subgroup of the Ras GTPase superfamily, control many cellular processes and morphogenetic events by acting as signaling molecules in the transduction pathways of various receptors. Among the "Rho-dependent" receptors are the extracellular matrix- and growth factor-binding sites; these are particularly involved in the modulation of renal development since they control the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions that drive kidney organogenesis. The present study has addressed the immunohistochemical localization of RhoA in developing and adult kidneys of rats and humans because: a) Rho proteins are known to have a morphogenetic role, b) data in the literature on expression of Rho GTPases during mammalian histogenesis and organogenesis are scarce, and c) their involvement in the transduction pathways of receptors is implicated in kidney development. In particular, RhoA peptide was found to be localized in the mesonephric duct and vesicles in both rats and humans; metanephric anlagen were mainly stained in ampullar-derived cells. Periglomerular tubules of fetal and adult kidneys as well as collecting ducts of adult kidneys showed intense staining. Therefore, the present study provides new information on the distribution patterns of RhoA during early stages of mammalian kidney development suggesting that this signaling molecule may take part in epithelial-mesenchymal induction processes that control kidney organogenesis. RhoA expression in adult structures may be linked with renewal of renal epithelial cells and the maintenance of their morphology and polarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bianchi
- Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Revoltella RP, Laricchia Robbio L, Moscato S, Vinante F, Fasciani A, Liberati AM, Reato G, Foa R. Naturally-occurring anti-G-CSF antibodies produced by human cord blood B-cell lines infected with Epstein-Barr virus. Hematol J 2002; 2:161-71. [PMID: 11920241 DOI: 10.1038/sj.thj.6200082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2000] [Accepted: 11/29/2000] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Naturally occurring antibodies (auto-Abs) recognizing human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor were detected with high frequency in serum samples obtained from umbilical cord blood of newborns (12 of 65 samples screened) and maternal peripheral blood serum samples from women at the end of gestation (seven of 56 cases tested). The aim of this paper was to demonstrate that auto-Abs anti-G-CSF revealed in the blood of newborns were produced during foetal life. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mononuclear cells from cord blood samples of different newborns containing high titer anti-G-CSF Abs were infected with Epstein-Barr virus in vitro, and EBV-immortalized B-cell lines were isolated and characterized for specific anti-G-CSF Ab production. RESULTS Six different, unrelated cell lines of male origin which showed the presence of EBNA-2 antigen in the nucleus, displayed a B-cell phenotype (CD30+, CD5-, CD10-, HLA-DR+, CD19+, CD20+, CD23+, CD38+, CD25+), coexpressed low intensity sIgM and sIgD, and produced only IgM with prevailing lambda clonal restriction and anti-rhG-CSF Ab reactivity. The Ab specificity was proven against either glycosylated or unglycosylated G-CSF by saturable binding in direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, by competition binding and Western immunoblotting assays. CONCLUSION The secreted Abs did not affect the in vitro generation of granulocyte colonies by human normal adult haemopoietic progenitor cells in soft agar clonogenic assays, suggesting that these Abs were not neutralizing.
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Affiliation(s)
- R P Revoltella
- Institute of Mutagenesis and Differentiation, C.N.R., Pisa, Italy.
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Moscato S, Pratesi F, Bongiorni F, Scavuzzo MC, Chimenti D, Bombardieri S, Migliorini P. Endothelial cell binding by systemic lupus antibodies: functional properties and relationship with anti-DNA activity. J Autoimmun 2002; 18:231-8. [PMID: 12126636 DOI: 10.1006/jaut.2002.0583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Anti-DNA antibodies and anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) are often detected in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Anti-DNA antibodies can also bind the membrane of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), but little is known about the presence of AECA in the population of immunoglobulins from SLE sera that do not bind DNA. The aim of this study is to analyse the ability of anti-DNA and non-anti-DNA antibodies from SLE sera to bind endothelial cell antigens and to investigate their pathogenic potential. Both anti-DNA and non-anti-DNA antibodies display AECA activity by immunoprecipitation and flow cytometry and in some patients recognize antigens of identical molecular weight. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity on HUVEC was not detected with either anti-DNA or non-anti-DNA antibodies. Similarly, apoptosis was not induced in HUVEC and HL60 incubated with anti-DNA or non-anti-DNA antibodies, as shown by the DNA hypodiploid content. These data indicate that AECA are highly heterogeneous, as they recognize a wide variety of surface molecules on HUVEC and equally present in anti-DNA and non-anti-DNA antibodies from SLE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Moscato
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
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Abstract
In situ formation of immune complexes is a well recognized mechanism of renal injury in systemic autoimmune disorders. The identification of intrinsic renal antigens that are targets of nephritogenic antibodies is a field of active investigation. Recently, two proteins expressed in the kidney have been characterized as renal antigens. Alpha-actinin, an actin-binding protein localized in glomerular podocytes, is the major target of nephritogenic anti-DNA antibodies. Alpha-enolase, a glycolytic enzyme, is a target of nephritogenic anti-DNA and non-anti-DNA antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Migliorini
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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Migliorini P, Pratesi F, Moscato S, Bongiorni F, Bombardieri S. Mechanisms of renal damage in mixed cryoglobulinaemia nephritis. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2002; 16 Suppl 6:58-9. [PMID: 11568244 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/16.suppl_6.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P Migliorini
- Clinical Immunology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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