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Castagnola V, Tomati V, Boselli L, Braccia C, Decherchi S, Pompa PP, Pedemonte N, Benfenati F, Armirotti A. Sources of biases in the in vitro testing of nanomaterials: the role of the biomolecular corona. Nanoscale Horiz 2024; 9:799-816. [PMID: 38563642 DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00510k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The biological fate of nanomaterials (NMs) is driven by specific interactions through which biomolecules, naturally adhering onto their surface, engage with cell membrane receptors and intracellular organelles. The molecular composition of this layer, called the biomolecular corona (BMC), depends on both the physical-chemical features of the NMs and the biological media in which the NMs are dispersed and cells grow. In this work, we demonstrate that the widespread use of 10% fetal bovine serum in an in vitro assay cannot recapitulate the complexity of in vivo systemic administration, with NMs being transported by the blood. For this purpose, we undertook a comparative journey involving proteomics, lipidomics, high throughput multiparametric in vitro screening, and single molecular feature analysis to investigate the molecular details behind this in vivo/in vitro bias. Our work indirectly highlights the need to introduce novel, more physiological-like media closer in composition to human plasma to produce realistic in vitro screening data for NMs. We also aim to set the basis to reduce this in vitro-in vivo mismatch, which currently limits the formulation of NMs for clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Castagnola
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Luca Boselli
- Nanobiointeractions & Nanodiagnostics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Clarissa Braccia
- Analytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy.
| | - Sergio Decherchi
- Data Science and Computation Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego, 30, Genova, 16163, Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Pompa
- Nanobiointeractions & Nanodiagnostics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova, 16163, Italy.
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2
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Scala M, Tomati V, Ferla M, Lena M, Cohen JS, Fatemi A, Brokamp E, Bican A, Phillips JA, Koziura ME, Nicouleau M, Rio M, Siquier K, Boddaert N, Musante I, Tamburro S, Baldassari S, Iacomino M, Scudieri P, Rosenfeld JA, Bellus G, Reed S, Al Saif H, Russo RS, Walsh MB, Cantagrel V, Crunk A, Gustincich S, Ruggiero SM, Fitzgerald MP, Helbig I, Striano P, Severino M, Salpietro V, Pedemonte N, Zara F. De novo variants in DENND5B cause a neurodevelopmental disorder. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:529-543. [PMID: 38387458 PMCID: PMC10940048 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The Rab family of guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) includes key regulators of intracellular transport and membrane trafficking targeting specific steps in exocytic, endocytic, and recycling pathways. DENND5B (Rab6-interacting Protein 1B-like protein, R6IP1B) is the longest isoform of DENND5, an evolutionarily conserved DENN domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that is highly expressed in the brain. Through exome sequencing and international matchmaking platforms, we identified five de novo variants in DENND5B in a cohort of five unrelated individuals with neurodevelopmental phenotypes featuring cognitive impairment, dysmorphism, abnormal behavior, variable epilepsy, white matter abnormalities, and cortical gyration defects. We used biochemical assays and confocal microscopy to assess the impact of DENND5B variants on protein accumulation and distribution. Then, exploiting fluorescent lipid cargoes coupled to high-content imaging and analysis in living cells, we investigated whether DENND5B variants affected the dynamics of vesicle-mediated intracellular transport of specific cargoes. We further generated an in silico model to investigate the consequences of DENND5B variants on the DENND5B-RAB39A interaction. Biochemical analysis showed decreased protein levels of DENND5B mutants in various cell types. Functional investigation of DENND5B variants revealed defective intracellular vesicle trafficking, with significant impairment of lipid uptake and distribution. Although none of the variants affected the DENND5B-RAB39A interface, all were predicted to disrupt protein folding. Overall, our findings indicate that DENND5B variants perturb intracellular membrane trafficking pathways and cause a complex neurodevelopmental syndrome with variable epilepsy and white matter involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Scala
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Matteo Ferla
- Oxford Protein Informatics Group, Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mariateresa Lena
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Julie S Cohen
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ali Fatemi
- Department of Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elly Brokamp
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Anna Bican
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John A Phillips
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mary E Koziura
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael Nicouleau
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Developmental Brain Disorders Laboratory, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Marlene Rio
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Developmental Brain Disorders Laboratory, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015 Paris, France; Service de Génétique, Necker Enfants Malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Pairs, Paris, France
| | - Karine Siquier
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Developmental Brain Disorders Laboratory, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Boddaert
- Département de Radiologie Pédiatrique, INSERM UMR 1163 and INSERM U1000, AP-HP, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Ilaria Musante
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paolo Scudieri
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gary Bellus
- Clinical Genetics, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822, USA
| | - Sara Reed
- Clinical Genetics, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822, USA
| | - Hind Al Saif
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Division of Clinical Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Matthew B Walsh
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Vincent Cantagrel
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Developmental Brain Disorders Laboratory, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Stefano Gustincich
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sarah M Ruggiero
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark P Fitzgerald
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ingo Helbig
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics (DBHi), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
| | | | - Federico Zara
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
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Borgo C, D’Amore C, Capurro V, Tomati V, Pedemonte N, Bosello Travain V, Salvi M. SUMOylation Inhibition Enhances Protein Transcription under CMV Promoter: A Lesson from a Study with the F508del-CFTR Mutant. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2302. [PMID: 38396982 PMCID: PMC10889535 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a selective anion channel expressed in the epithelium of various organs. The most frequent mutation is F508del. This mutation leads to a misfolded CFTR protein quickly degraded via ubiquitination in the endoplasmic reticulum. Although preventing ubiquitination stabilizes the protein, functionality is not restored due to impaired plasma membrane transport. However, inhibiting the ubiquitination process can improve the effectiveness of correctors which act as chemical chaperones, facilitating F508del CFTR trafficking to the plasma membrane. Previous studies indicate a crosstalk between SUMOylation and ubiquitination in the regulation of CFTR. In this study, we investigated the potential of inhibiting SUMOylation to increase the effects of correctors and enhance the rescue of the F508del mutant across various cell models. In the widely used CFBE41o-cell line expressing F508del-CFTR, inhibiting SUMOylation substantially boosted F508del expression, thereby increasing the efficacy of correctors. Interestingly, this outcome did not result from enhanced stability of the mutant channel, but rather from augmented cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-mediated gene expression of F508del-CFTR. Notably, CFTR regulated by endogenous promoters in multiple cell lines or patient cells was not influenced by SUMOylation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Borgo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Claudio D’Amore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (C.D.)
| | - Valeria Capurro
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (N.P.)
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (N.P.)
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (N.P.)
| | | | - Mauro Salvi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.B.); (C.D.)
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Brusa I, Sondo E, Pesce E, Tomati V, Gioia D, Falchi F, Balboni B, Ortega Martínez JA, Veronesi M, Romeo E, Margaroli N, Recanatini M, Girotto S, Pedemonte N, Roberti M, Cavalli A. Innovative Strategy toward Mutant CFTR Rescue in Cystic Fibrosis: Design and Synthesis of Thiadiazole Inhibitors of the E3 Ligase RNF5. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37440686 PMCID: PMC10388311 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
In cystic fibrosis (CF), deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del) in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is associated to misfolding and defective gating of the mutant channel. One of the most promising CF drug targets is the ubiquitin ligase RNF5, which promotes F508del-CFTR degradation. Recently, the first ever reported inhibitor of RNF5 was discovered, i.e., the 1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylidene inh-2. Here, we designed and synthesized a series of new analogues to explore the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of this class of compounds. SAR efforts ultimately led to compound 16, which showed a greater F508del-CFTR corrector activity than inh-2, good tolerability, and no toxic side effects. Analogue 16 increased the basal level of autophagy similar to what has been described with RNF5 silencing. Furthermore, co-treatment with 16 significantly improved the F508del-CFTR rescue induced by the triple combination elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor in CFBE41o- cells. These findings validate the 1,2,4-thiadiazolylidene scaffold for the discovery of novel RNF5 inhibitors and provide evidence to pursue this unprecedented strategy for the treatment of CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Brusa
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Elvira Sondo
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pesce
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Dario Gioia
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Federico Falchi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Beatrice Balboni
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Marina Veronesi
- Structural Biophysics and Translational Pharmacology Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Elisa Romeo
- Structural Biophysics and Translational Pharmacology Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Natasha Margaroli
- Structural Biophysics and Translational Pharmacology Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Maurizio Recanatini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Girotto
- Structural Biophysics and Translational Pharmacology Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Centre Européen de Calcul Atomique et Moléculaire, EPFL CECAM, 1015 Lousanne, Switzerland
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5
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Liessi N, Tomati V, Capurro V, Loberto N, Garcia-Aloy M, Franceschi P, Aureli M, Pedemonte N, Armirotti A. The combination elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) modulates the de novo synthethic pathway of ceramides in a genotype-independent manner. J Cyst Fibros 2023; 22:680-682. [PMID: 37088636 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2023.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
We report here how the triple combination of drugs elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) alters the balance of the de-novo synthethic pathway of sphingolipids in primary cells of human bronchial epithelium. The treatment with ETI roughly doubles the levels of dihydrosphingolipids, possibly by modulating the delta(4)-desaturase enzymes that convert dihydroceramides into ceramides. This appears to be an off-target effect of ETI, since it occurs in a genotype-independent manner, for both cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara Liessi
- Analytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Capurro
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Loberto
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate (MI)
| | - Mar Garcia-Aloy
- Centro di Ricerca e Innovazione, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Edmund Mach, 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Pietro Franceschi
- Centro di Ricerca e Innovazione, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via Edmund Mach, 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Massimo Aureli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate (MI)
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
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6
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Viti F, Pramotton FM, Martufi M, Magrassi R, Pedemonte N, Nizzari M, Zanacchi FC, De Michele B, Alampi M, Zambito M, Santamaria G, Bajetto A, Sardar S, Tomati V, Gandullia P, Giampietro C, Florio T, Beltrame F, Vassalli M, Ceccherini I. Patient's dermal fibroblasts as disease markers for visceral myopathy. Biomater Adv 2023; 148:213355. [PMID: 36893487 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213355] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Visceral myopathy (VSCM) is a rare genetic disease, orphan of pharmacological therapy. VSCM diagnosis is not always straightforward due to symptomatology similarities with mitochondrial or neuronal forms of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. The most prevalent form of VSCM is associates with variants in the gene ACTG2, encoding the protein gamma-2 actin. Overall, VSCM is a mechano-biological disorder, in which different genetic variants lead to similar alterations to the contractile phenotype of enteric smooth muscles, resulting in the emergence of life-threatening symptoms. In this work we analyzed the morpho-mechanical phenotype of human dermal fibroblasts from patients affected with VSCM, demonstrating that they retain a clear signature of the disease when compared with different controls. We evaluated several biophysical traits of fibroblasts, and we show that a measure of cellular traction forces can be used as a non-specific biomarker of the disease. We propose that a simple assay based on traction forces could be designed to provide a valuable support for clinical decision or pre-clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Viti
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy.
| | - Francesca Micaela Pramotton
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, The Institute for Mechanical Systems, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michela Martufi
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy; Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Sezione di Farmacologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 2, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Raffaella Magrassi
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Mario Nizzari
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Benedetta De Michele
- Istituto di Biofisica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via De Marini 16, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | - Manuela Alampi
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Viale Causa, 13, 16145 Genova, Italy
| | - Martina Zambito
- Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Sezione di Farmacologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 2, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Santamaria
- UOSD Laboratorio di Genetica e Genomica delle Malattie Rare, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Adriana Bajetto
- Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Sezione di Farmacologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 2, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Sabah Sardar
- Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield avenue, G128LT Glasgow, UK
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Gandullia
- UOC Pediatric Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Ueberlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, The Institute for Mechanical Systems, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tullio Florio
- Dipartimento Medicina Interna, Sezione di Farmacologia, Università di Genova, viale Benedetto XV, 2, 16132 Genova, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo rosanna benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Francesco Beltrame
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Viale Causa, 13, 16145 Genova, Italy
| | - Massimo Vassalli
- Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield avenue, G128LT Glasgow, UK
| | - Isabella Ceccherini
- UOSD Laboratorio di Genetica e Genomica delle Malattie Rare, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
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7
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Terlizzi V, Pesce E, Capurro V, Tomati V, Lena M, Pastorino C, Bocciardi R, Zara F, Centrone C, Taccetti G, Castellani C, Pedemonte N. Clinical Consequences and Functional Impact of the Rare S737F CFTR Variant and Its Responsiveness to CFTR Modulators. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076576. [PMID: 37047546 PMCID: PMC10095403 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
S737F is a Cystic Fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) missense variant. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical features of a cohort of individuals carrying this variant. In parallel, by exploiting ex vivo functional and molecular analyses on nasal epithelia derived from a subset of S737F carriers, we evaluated its functional impact on CFTR protein as well as its responsiveness to CFTR modulators. We retrospectively collected clinical data of all individuals bearing at least one S737F CFTR variant and followed at the CF Centre of Tuscany region (Italy). Nasal brushing was performed in cooperating individuals. At study end clinical data were available for 10 subjects (mean age: 14 years; range 1–44 years; 3 adult individuals). Five asymptomatic subjects had CF, 2 were CRMS/CFSPID and 3 had an inconclusive diagnosis. Ex vivo analysis on nasal epithelia demonstrated different levels of CF activity. In particular, epithelia derived from asymptomatic CF subjects and from one of the subjects with inconclusive diagnosis showed reduced CFTR activity that could be rescued by treatment with CFTR modulators. On the contrary, in the epithelia derived from the other two individuals with an inconclusive diagnosis, the CFTR-mediated current was similar to that observed in epithelia derived from healthy donors. In vitro functional and biochemical analysis on S737F-CFTR expressed in immortalized bronchial cells highlighted a modest impairment of the channel activity, that was improved by treatment with ivacaftor alone or in combination with tezacaftor/elexacaftor. Our study provide evidence towards the evaluation of CFTR function on ex vivo nasal epithelial cell models as a new assay to help clinicians to classify individuals, in presence of discordance between clinical picture, sweat test and genetic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Terlizzi
- Department of Paediatric Medicine, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Cystic Fibrosis Regional Reference Center, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pesce
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Capurro
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Lena
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16126 Genova, Italy
| | - Cristina Pastorino
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Renata Bocciardi
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16126 Genova, Italy
| | - Federico Zara
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16126 Genova, Italy
| | - Claudia Centrone
- Diagnostic Genetics Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Taccetti
- Department of Paediatric Medicine, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Cystic Fibrosis Regional Reference Center, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Carlo Castellani
- UOSD Centro Fibrosi Cistica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
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8
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Baldassarri M, Zguro K, Tomati V, Pastorino C, Fava F, Croci S, Bruttini M, Picchiotti N, Furini S, Pedemonte N, Gabbi C, Renieri A, Fallerini C. Gain- and Loss-of-Function CFTR Alleles Are Associated with COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes. Cells 2022; 11:cells11244096. [PMID: 36552859 PMCID: PMC9776607 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Carriers of single pathogenic variants of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and 14-day death. The machine learning post-Mendelian model pinpointed CFTR as a bidirectional modulator of COVID-19 outcomes. Here, we demonstrate that the rare complex allele [G576V;R668C] is associated with a milder disease via a gain-of-function mechanism. Conversely, CFTR ultra-rare alleles with reduced function are associated with disease severity either alone (dominant disorder) or with another hypomorphic allele in the second chromosome (recessive disorder) with a global residual CFTR activity between 50 to 91%. Furthermore, we characterized novel CFTR complex alleles, including [A238V;F508del], [R74W;D1270N;V201M], [I1027T;F508del], [I506V;D1168G], and simple alleles, including R347C, F1052V, Y625N, I328V, K68E, A309D, A252T, G542*, V562I, R1066H, I506V, I807M, which lead to a reduced CFTR function and thus, to more severe COVID-19. In conclusion, CFTR genetic analysis is an important tool in identifying patients at risk of severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Baldassarri
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Kristina Zguro
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16148 Genova, Italy
| | - Cristina Pastorino
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16148 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Fava
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Susanna Croci
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Mirella Bruttini
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Nicola Picchiotti
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- University of Siena, DIISM-SAILAB, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Furini
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16148 Genova, Italy
- Correspondence: (N.P.); (A.R.); Tel.: +39-010-5636-3178 (N.P.); +39-0577-233303 (A.R.); Fax: +39-0577-233325 (A.R.)
| | - Chiara Gabbi
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alessandra Renieri
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Correspondence: (N.P.); (A.R.); Tel.: +39-010-5636-3178 (N.P.); +39-0577-233303 (A.R.); Fax: +39-0577-233325 (A.R.)
| | - Chiara Fallerini
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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9
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Tomati V, Costa S, Capurro V, Pesce E, Pastorino C, Lena M, Sondo E, Di Duca M, Cresta F, Cristadoro S, Zara F, Galietta LJ, Bocciardi R, Castellani C, Lucanto MC, Pedemonte N. Rescue by elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor of the G1244E cystic fibrosis mutation's stability and gating defects are dependent on cell background. J Cyst Fibros 2022:S1569-1993(22)01425-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Principi E, Sondo E, Bianchi G, Ravera S, Morini M, Tomati V, Pastorino C, Zara F, Bruno C, Eva A, Pedemonte N, Raffaghello L. Targeting of Ubiquitin E3 Ligase RNF5 as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Neuroectodermal Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14071802. [PMID: 35406574 PMCID: PMC8997491 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
RNF5, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) E3 ubiquitin ligase, participates to the ER-associated protein degradation guaranteeing the protein homeostasis. Depending on tumor model tested, RNF5 exerts pro- or anti-tumor activity. The aim of this study was to elucidate the controversial role of RNF5 in neuroblastoma and melanoma, two neuroectodermal tumors of infancy and adulthood, respectively. RNF5 gene levels are evaluated in publicly available datasets reporting the gene expression profile of melanoma and neuroblastoma primary tumors at diagnosis. The therapeutic effect of Analog-1, an RNF5 pharmacological activator, was investigated on in vitro and in vivo neuroblastoma and melanoma models. In both neuroblastoma and melanoma patients the high expression of RNF5 correlated with a better prognostic outcome. Treatment of neuroblastoma and melanoma cell lines with Analog-1 reduced cell viability by impairing the glutamine availability and energy metabolism through inhibition of F1Fo ATP-synthase activity. This latter event led to a marked increase in oxidative stress, which, in turn, caused cell death. Similarly, neuroblastoma- and melanoma-bearing mice treated with Analog-1 showed a significant delay of tumor growth in comparison to those treated with vehicle only. These findings validate RNF5 as an innovative drug target and support the development of Analog-1 in early phase clinical trials for neuroblastoma and melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Principi
- Center of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
| | - Elvira Sondo
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Bianchi
- Stem Cell Laboratory and Cell Therapy Center, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Ravera
- Experimental Medicine Department, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Martina Morini
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
| | - Cristina Pastorino
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DI-NOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Federico Zara
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DI-NOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Claudio Bruno
- Center of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DI-NOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Eva
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Lizzia Raffaghello
- Center of Translational and Experimental Myology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
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11
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Borgo C, D'Amore C, Capurro V, Tomati V, Sondo E, Cresta F, Castellani C, Pedemonte N, Salvi M. Targeting the E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme (UBA1) improves elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor efficacy towards F508del and rare misfolded CFTR mutants. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:192. [PMID: 35292885 PMCID: PMC8924136 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04215-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The advent of Trikafta (Kaftrio in Europe) (a triple-combination therapy based on two correctors—elexacaftor/tezacaftor—and the potentiator ivacaftor) has represented a revolution for the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) carrying the most common misfolding mutation, F508del-CFTR. This therapy has proved to be of great efficacy in people homozygous for F508del-CFTR and is also useful in individuals with a single F508del allele. Nevertheless, the efficacy of this therapy needs to be improved, especially in light of the extent of its use in patients with rare class II CFTR mutations. Using CFBE41o- cells expressing F508del-CFTR, we provide mechanistic evidence that targeting the E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme (UBA1) by TAK-243, a small molecule in clinical trials for other diseases, boosts the rescue of F508del-CFTR induced by CFTR correctors. Moreover, TAK-243 significantly increases the F508del-CFTR short-circuit current induced by elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor in differentiated human primary airway epithelial cells, a gold standard for the pre-clinical evaluation of patients’ responsiveness to pharmacological treatments. This new combinatory approach also leads to an improvement in CFTR conductance on cells expressing other rare CF-causing mutations, including N1303K, for which Trikafta is not approved. These findings show that Trikafta therapy can be improved by the addition of a drug targeting the misfolding detection machinery at the beginning of the ubiquitination cascade and may pave the way for an extension of Trikafta to low/non-responding rare misfolded CFTR mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Borgo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Claudio D'Amore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Valeria Capurro
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genova, Italy
| | - Elvira Sondo
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genova, Italy
| | - Federico Cresta
- Centro Fibrosi Cistica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Carlo Castellani
- Centro Fibrosi Cistica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147, Genova, Italy.
| | - Mauro Salvi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padova, Italy.
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Parodi A, Righetti G, Pesce E, Salis A, Tomati V, Pastorino C, Tasso B, Benvenuti M, Damonte G, Pedemonte N, Cichero E, Millo E. Journey on VX-809-Based Hybrid Derivatives towards Drug-like F508del-CFTR Correctors: From Molecular Modeling to Chemical Synthesis and Biological Assays. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030274. [PMID: 35337072 PMCID: PMC8955485 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting the lungs and pancreas and causing progressive damage. CF is caused by mutations abolishing the function of CFTR, a protein whose role is chloride’s mobilization in the epithelial cells of various organs. Recently a therapy focused on small molecules has been chosen as a main approach to contrast CF, designing and synthesizing compounds acting as misfolding (correctors) or defective channel gating (potentiators). Multi-drug therapies have been tested with different combinations of the two series of compounds. Previously, we designed and characterized two series of correctors, namely, hybrids, which were conceived including the aminoarylthiazole (AAT) core, merged with the benzodioxole carboxamide moiety featured by VX-809. In this paper, we herein proceeded with molecular modeling studies guiding the design of a new third series of hybrids, featuring structural variations at the thiazole moiety and modifications on position 4. These derivatives were tested in different assays including a YFP functional assay on models F508del-CFTR CFBE41o-cells, alone and in combination with VX-445, and by using electrophysiological techniques on human primary bronchial epithelia to demonstrate their F508del-CFTR corrector ability. This study is aimed (i) at identifying three molecules (9b, 9g, and 9j), useful as novel CFTR correctors with a good efficacy in rescuing the defect of F508del-CFTR; and (ii) at providing useful information to complete the structure–activity study within all the three series of hybrids as possible CFTR correctors, supporting the development of pharmacophore modelling studies, taking into account all the three series of hybrids. Finally, in silico evaluation of the hybrids pharmacokinetic (PK) properties contributed to highlight hybrid developability as drug-like correctors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Parodi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biochemistry, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (A.P.); (A.S.); (M.B.); (G.D.)
| | - Giada Righetti
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (G.R.); (B.T.)
| | - Emanuela Pesce
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy; (E.P.); (V.T.); (N.P.)
| | - Annalisa Salis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biochemistry, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (A.P.); (A.S.); (M.B.); (G.D.)
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy; (E.P.); (V.T.); (N.P.)
| | - Cristina Pastorino
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DI-NOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Bruno Tasso
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (G.R.); (B.T.)
| | - Mirko Benvenuti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biochemistry, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (A.P.); (A.S.); (M.B.); (G.D.)
| | - Gianluca Damonte
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biochemistry, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (A.P.); (A.S.); (M.B.); (G.D.)
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy; (E.P.); (V.T.); (N.P.)
| | - Elena Cichero
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (G.R.); (B.T.)
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (E.M.)
| | - Enrico Millo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biochemistry, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 1, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (A.P.); (A.S.); (M.B.); (G.D.)
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (E.M.)
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13
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Capurro V, Tomati V, Sondo E, Renda M, Borrelli A, Pastorino C, Guidone D, Venturini A, Giraudo A, Mandrup Bertozzi S, Musante I, Bertozzi F, Bandiera T, Zara F, Galietta LJV, Pedemonte N. Partial Rescue of F508del-CFTR Stability and Trafficking Defects by Double Corrector Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105262. [PMID: 34067708 PMCID: PMC8156943 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Deletion of phenylalanine at position 508 (F508del) in the CFTR chloride channel is the most frequent mutation in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. F508del impairs the stability and folding of the CFTR protein, thus resulting in mistrafficking and premature degradation. F508del-CFTR defects can be overcome with small molecules termed correctors. We investigated the efficacy and properties of VX-445, a newly developed corrector, which is one of the three active principles present in a drug (Trikafta®/Kaftrio®) recently approved for the treatment of CF patients with F508del mutation. We found that VX-445, particularly in combination with type I (VX-809, VX-661) and type II (corr-4a) correctors, elicits a large rescue of F508del-CFTR function. In particular, in primary bronchial epithelial cells of CF patients, the maximal rescue obtained with corrector combinations including VX-445 was close to 60–70% of CFTR function in non-CF cells. Despite this high efficacy, analysis of ubiquitylation, resistance to thermoaggregation, protein half-life, and subcellular localization revealed that corrector combinations did not fully normalize F508del-CFTR behavior. Our study indicates that it is still possible to further improve mutant CFTR rescue with the development of corrector combinations having maximal effects on mutant CFTR structural and functional properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Capurro
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (E.S.); (C.P.); (I.M.); (F.Z.)
| | - Valeria Tomati
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (E.S.); (C.P.); (I.M.); (F.Z.)
| | - Elvira Sondo
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (E.S.); (C.P.); (I.M.); (F.Z.)
| | - Mario Renda
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.R.); (A.B.); (D.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Anna Borrelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.R.); (A.B.); (D.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Cristina Pastorino
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (E.S.); (C.P.); (I.M.); (F.Z.)
| | - Daniela Guidone
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.R.); (A.B.); (D.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Arianna Venturini
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.R.); (A.B.); (D.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Alessandro Giraudo
- D3-PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy; (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.B.)
| | - Sine Mandrup Bertozzi
- Analytical Chemistry Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Musante
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (E.S.); (C.P.); (I.M.); (F.Z.)
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Bertozzi
- D3-PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy; (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.B.)
| | - Tiziano Bandiera
- D3-PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy; (A.G.); (F.B.); (T.B.)
| | - Federico Zara
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (E.S.); (C.P.); (I.M.); (F.Z.)
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Luis J. V. Galietta
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; (M.R.); (A.B.); (D.G.); (A.V.)
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences (DISMET), University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.J.V.G.); (N.P.)
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (V.C.); (V.T.); (E.S.); (C.P.); (I.M.); (F.Z.)
- Correspondence: (L.J.V.G.); (N.P.)
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14
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Pedemonte N, Bertozzi F, Caci E, Sorana F, Di Fruscia P, Tomati V, Ferrera L, Rodríguez-Gimeno A, Berti F, Pesce E, Sondo E, Gianotti A, Scudieri P, Bandiera T, Galietta LJV. Discovery of a picomolar potency pharmacological corrector of the mutant CFTR chloride channel. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eaay9669. [PMID: 32128418 PMCID: PMC7034990 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay9669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
F508del, the most frequent mutation causing cystic fibrosis (CF), results in mistrafficking and premature degradation of the CFTR chloride channel. Small molecules named correctors may rescue F508del-CFTR and therefore represent promising drugs to target the basic defect in CF. We screened a carefully designed chemical library to find F508del-CFTR correctors. The initial active compound resulting from the primary screening underwent extensive chemical optimization. The final compound, ARN23765, showed an extremely high potency in bronchial epithelial cells from F508del homozygous patients, with an EC50 of 38 picomolar, which is more than 5000-fold lower compared to presently available corrector drugs. ARN23765 also showed high efficacy, synergy with other types of correctors, and compatibility with chronic VX-770 potentiator. Besides being a promising drug, particularly suited for drug combinations, ARN23765 represents a high-affinity probe for CFTR structure-function studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabio Bertozzi
- D3 PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Federico Sorana
- D3 PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Di Fruscia
- D3 PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Loretta Ferrera
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Berti
- D3 PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pesce
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Elvira Sondo
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Ambra Gianotti
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Tiziano Bandiera
- D3 PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Luis J. V. Galietta
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences (DISMET), University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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15
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Amaral MD, Hutt DM, Tomati V, Botelho HM, Pedemonte N. CFTR processing, trafficking and interactions. J Cyst Fibros 2019; 19 Suppl 1:S33-S36. [PMID: 31680043 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2019.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mutations associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) have complex effects on the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common CF mutation, F508del, disrupts the processing to and stability at the plasma membrane and function as a Cl- channel. CFTR is surrounded by a dynamic network of interacting components, referred to as the CFTR Functional Landscape, that impact its synthesis, folding, stability, trafficking and function. CFTR interacting proteins can be manipulated by functional genomic approaches to rescue the trafficking and functional defects characteristic of CF. Here we review recent efforts to elucidate the impact of genetic variation on the ability of the nascent CFTR polypeptide to interact with the proteostatic environment. We also provide an overview of how specific components of this protein network can be modulated to rescue the trafficking and functional defects associated with the F508del variant of CFTR. The identification of novel proteins playing key roles in the processing of CFTR could pave the way for their use as novel therapeutic targets to provide synergistic correction of mutant CFTR for the greater benefit of individuals with CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida D Amaral
- University of Lisboa, Faculty of Sciences, BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Portugal
| | - Darren M Hutt
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Research, La Jolla CA, USA
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, Genova 16147, Italy
| | - Hugo M Botelho
- University of Lisboa, Faculty of Sciences, BioISI-Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Portugal
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, Genova 16147, Italy.
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16
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Tomati V, Caci E, Ferrera L, Pesce E, Sondo E, Cholon DM, Quinney NL, Boyles SE, Armirotti A, Ravazzolo R, Galietta LJ, Gentzsch M, Pedemonte N. Thymosin α-1 does not correct F508del-CFTR in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia. JCI Insight 2019; 4:128935. [DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.128935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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17
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Amato F, Scudieri P, Musante I, Tomati V, Caci E, Comegna M, Maietta S, Manzoni F, Di Lullo AM, De Wachter E, Vanderhelst E, Terlizzi V, Braggion C, Castaldo G, Galietta LJV. Two CFTR mutations within codon 970 differently impact on the chloride channel functionality. Hum Mutat 2019; 40:742-748. [PMID: 30851139 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [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: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Pharmacological rescue of mutant cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in cystic fibrosis (CF) depends on the specific defect caused by different mutation classes. We asked whether a patient with the rare p.Gly970Asp (c.2909G>A) mutation could benefit from CFTR pharmacotherapy since a similar missense mutant p.Gly970Arg (c.2908G>C) was previously found to be sensitive to potentiators in vitro but not in vivo. By complementary DNA transfection, we found that both mutations are associated with defective CFTR function amenable to pharmacological treatment. However, analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) from patient's cells revealed that c.2908G>C impairs RNA splicing whereas c.2909G>A does not perturb splicing and leads to the expected p.Gly970Asp mutation. In agreement with these results, nasal epithelial cells from the p.Gly970Asp patient showed significant improvement of CFTR function upon pharmacological treatment. Our results underline the importance of controlling the effect of CF mutation at the mRNA level to determine if the pharmacotherapy of CFTR basic defect is appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felice Amato
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- Cell Biology and Disease Mechanisms Program, Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Cell Biology and Disease Mechanisms Program, Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- UOC Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Marika Comegna
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - Sabrina Maietta
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Manzoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonella Miriam Di Lullo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - Elke De Wachter
- CF Centre, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eef Vanderhelst
- CF Centre, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vito Terlizzi
- Centro Regionale Toscano Fibrosi Cistica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Meyer, Firenze, Italy
| | - Cesare Braggion
- Centro Regionale Toscano Fibrosi Cistica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Meyer, Firenze, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Castaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - Luis J V Galietta
- Cell Biology and Disease Mechanisms Program, Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.,Department of Translational Medical Sciences (DISMET), University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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18
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Pesce E, Sondo E, Ferrera L, Tomati V, Caci E, Scudieri P, Musante I, Renda M, Baatallah N, Servel N, Hinzpeter A, di Bernardo D, Pedemonte N, Galietta LJV. The Autophagy Inhibitor Spautin-1 Antagonizes Rescue of Mutant CFTR Through an Autophagy-Independent and USP13-Mediated Mechanism. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1464. [PMID: 30618756 PMCID: PMC6300570 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mutation F508del, responsible for a majority of cystic fibrosis cases, provokes the instability and misfolding of the CFTR chloride channel. Pharmacological recovery of F508del-CFTR may be obtained with small molecules called correctors. However, treatment with a single corrector in vivo and in vitro only leads to a partial rescue, a consequence of cell quality control systems that still detect F508del-CFTR as a defective protein causing its degradation. We tested the effect of spautin-1 on F508del-CFTR since it is an inhibitor of USP10 deubiquitinase and of autophagy, a target and a biological process that have been associated with cystic fibrosis and mutant CFTR. We found that short-term treatment of cells with spautin-1 downregulates the function and expression of F508del-CFTR despite the presence of corrector VX-809, a finding obtained in multiple cell models and assays. In contrast, spautin-1 was ineffective on wild type CFTR. Silencing and upregulation of USP13 (another target of spautin-1) but not of USP10, had opposite effects on F508del-CFTR expression/function. In contrast, modulation of autophagy with known activators or inhibitors did not affect F508del-CFTR. Our results identify spautin-1 as a novel chemical probe to investigate the molecular mechanisms that prevent full rescue of mutant CFTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Pesce
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elvira Sondo
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Loretta Ferrera
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Mario Renda
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Nesrine Baatallah
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Servel
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Hinzpeter
- INSERM, U1151, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
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19
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Braccia C, Tomati V, Caci E, Pedemonte N, Armirotti A. SWATH label-free proteomics for cystic fibrosis research. J Cyst Fibros 2018; 18:501-506. [PMID: 30348611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Label-free proteomics is a powerful tool for biological investigation. The SWATH protocol, relying on the Pan Human ion library, currently represents the state-of-the-art methodology for this kind of analysis. We recently discovered that this tool is not perfectly suitable for proteomics research in the CF field, as it lacks assays for several proteins crucial for the CF biology, including CFTR. METHODS We extensively investigated the proteome of a very popular model for in vitro research on CF, CFBE41o-, and we used the corresponding data to improve the power of SWATH proteomics for CF investigation. We then used this improved tool to explore in depth the proteome of primary bronchial epithelial (BE) cells deriving from four CF individuals compared with that of four corresponding non-CF controls. By means of advanced bioinformatics tools, we outlined the presence of a number of protein networks being significantly altered by CF. RESULTS Our analysis on patients' BE cells identified 154 proteins dysregulated by the CF pathology (94 upregulated and 60 downregulated). Some known CFTR interactors are present among them, but our analysis also revealed the alteration of other proteins not previously known to be related with CF. CONCLUSIONS The present work outlines the power of SWATH label free proteomics applied to CF research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Braccia
- D3Pharmachemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy; Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical Chemistry Lab, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
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20
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Tomati V, Caci E, Ferrera L, Pesce E, Sondo E, Cholon DM, Quinney NL, Boyles SE, Armirotti A, Ravazzolo R, Galietta LJ, Gentzsch M, Pedemonte N. Thymosin α-1 does not correct F508del-CFTR in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia. JCI Insight 2018; 3:98699. [PMID: 29415893 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.98699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In cystic fibrosis (CF), deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del) in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel causes misfolding and premature degradation. Considering the numerous effects of the F508del mutation on the assembly and processing of CFTR protein, combination therapy with several pharmacological correctors is likely to be required to treat CF patients. Recently, it has been reported that thymosin α-1 (Tα-1) has multiple beneficial effects that could lead to a single-molecule-based therapy for CF patients with F508del. Such effects include suppression of inflammation, improvement in F508del-CFTR maturation and gating, and stimulation of chloride secretion through the calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC). Given the importance of such a drug, we aimed to characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms of action of Tα-1. In-depth analysis of Tα-1 effects was performed using well-established microfluorimetric, biochemical, and electrophysiological techniques on epithelial cell lines and primary bronchial epithelial cells from CF patients. The studies, which were conducted in 2 independent laboratories with identical outcome, demonstrated that Tα-1 is devoid of activity on mutant CFTR as well as on CaCC. Although Tα-1 may still be useful as an antiinflammatory agent, its ability to target defective anion transport in CF remains to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Tomati
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Loretta Ferrera
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pesce
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Elvira Sondo
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Deborah M Cholon
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nancy L Quinney
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Susan E Boyles
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Analytical Chemistry Lab, Genova, Italy
| | - Roberto Ravazzolo
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.,University of Genova, DINOGMI Department, Genova, Italy
| | - Luis Jv Galietta
- Telethon Institute for Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Martina Gentzsch
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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21
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Sondo E, Pesce E, Tomati V, Marini M, Pedemonte N. RNF5, DAB2 and Friends: Novel Drug Targets for Cystic Fibrosis. Curr Pharm Des 2018; 23:176-186. [PMID: 27719636 DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666161006161033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deletion of phenylalanine 508 is the most frequent mutation causing cystic fibrosis. It causes multiple defects: 1) misfolding of the protein causing retention at the ER (processing defect); 2) reduced channel activity (gating defect); 3) reduced plasma membrane residency time due to increased internalization rate and defective recycling. METHODS Druggability of F508del-CFTR was demonstrated by several studies. Correctors are molecules able to improve maturation and trafficking to the membrane of F508del- CFTR. Correctors could act as pharmacological chaperones or as proteostasis regulators. Pharmacological chaperones act directly on mutant CFTR, while proteostasis regulators modify the proteostasis environment leading to beneficial effects on CFTR maturation. RESULTS The use of a single compound is not sufficient to promote a therapeutically relevant F508del-CFTR rescue. Drug therapy for CF will require combinations of correctors exploiting different mechanisms of action, i.e. pharmacological chaperones combined together or with a proteostasis regulator. CONCLUSION Development of more effective CF drugs could therefore rely on a better understanding of the molecular events underlying CFTR processing/degradation. This review will focus on most promising pathways and related targets for the development of novel CF pharmacotherapies.
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22
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Liessi N, Cichero E, Pesce E, Arkel M, Salis A, Tomati V, Paccagnella M, Damonte G, Tasso B, Galietta LJ, Pedemonte N, Fossa P, Millo E. Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel thiazole- VX-809 hybrid derivatives as F508del correctors by QSAR-based filtering tools. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 144:179-200. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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23
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Tomati V, Pesce E, Caci E, Sondo E, Scudieri P, Marini M, Amato F, Castaldo G, Ravazzolo R, Galietta LJV, Pedemonte N. High-throughput screening identifies FAU protein as a regulator of mutant cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator channel. J Biol Chem 2017; 293:1203-1217. [PMID: 29158263 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.816595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In cystic fibrosis, deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del) in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel causes misfolding and premature degradation. One possible approach to reducing the detrimental health effects of cystic fibrosis could be the identification of proteins whose suppression rescues F508del-CFTR function in bronchial epithelial cells. However, searches for these potential targets have not yet been conducted, particularly in a relevant airway background using a functional readout. To identify proteins associated with F508del-CFTR processing, we used a high-throughput functional assay to screen an siRNA library targeting 6,650 different cellular proteins. We identified 37 proteins whose silencing significantly rescued F508del-CFTR activity, as indicated by enhanced anion transport through the plasma membrane. These proteins included FAU, UBE2I, UBA52, MLLT6, UBA2, CHD4, PLXNA1, and TRIM24, among others. We focused our attention on FAU, a poorly characterized protein with unknown function. FAU knockdown increased the plasma membrane targeting and function of F508del-CFTR, but not of wild-type CFTR. Investigation into the mechanism of action revealed a preferential physical interaction of FAU with mutant CFTR, leading to its degradation. FAU and other proteins identified in our screening may offer a therapeutically relevant panel of drug targets to correct basic defects in F508del-CFTR processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Tomati
- From the Unità Operativa Complessa (U.O.C.) Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pesce
- From the Unità Operativa Complessa (U.O.C.) Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- From the Unità Operativa Complessa (U.O.C.) Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Elvira Sondo
- From the Unità Operativa Complessa (U.O.C.) Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Monica Marini
- From the Unità Operativa Complessa (U.O.C.) Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Felice Amato
- the Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.,CEINGE-Advanced Biotechnology Scarl, 80145 Naples, Italy, and
| | - Giuseppe Castaldo
- the Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.,CEINGE-Advanced Biotechnology Scarl, 80145 Naples, Italy, and
| | - Roberto Ravazzolo
- From the Unità Operativa Complessa (U.O.C.) Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy.,the Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Riabilitazione, Oftalmologia, Genetica e Scienze Materno-Infantili (DINOGMI), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Luis J V Galietta
- the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Pedemonte
- From the Unità Operativa Complessa (U.O.C.) Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy,
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24
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Lualdi S, Del Zotto G, Zegarra-Moran O, Pedemonte N, Corsolini F, Bruschi M, Tomati V, Amico G, Candiano G, Dardis A, Cooper DN, Filocamo M. In vitro recapitulation of the site-specific editing (to wild-type) of mutant IDS mRNA transcripts, and the characterization of IDS protein translated from the edited mRNAs. Hum Mutat 2017; 38:849-862. [PMID: 28477385 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The transfer of genomic information into the primary RNA sequence can be altered by RNA editing. We have previously shown that genomic variants can be RNA-edited to wild-type. The presence of distinct "edited" iduronate 2-sulfatase (IDS) mRNA transcripts ex vivo evidenced the correction of a nonsense and frameshift variant, respectively, in three unrelated Hunter syndrome patients. This phenomenon was confirmed in various patient samples by a variety of techniques, and was quantified by single-nucleotide primer extension. Western blotting also confirmed the presence of IDS protein similar in size to the wild-type. Since preliminary experimental evidence suggested that the "corrected" IDS proteins produced by the patients were similar in molecular weight and net charge to their wild-type counterparts, an in vitro system employing different cell types was established to recapitulate the site-specific editing of IDS RNA (uridine to cytidine conversion and uridine deletion), and to confirm the findings previously observed ex vivo in the three patients. In addition, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analyses demonstrated the expression and lysosomal localization in HEK293 cells of GFP-labeled proteins translated from edited IDS mRNAs. Confocal high-content analysis of the two patients' cells expressing wild-type or mutated IDS confirmed lysosomal localization and showed no accumulation in the Golgi or early endosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Lualdi
- UOSD Centro di Diagnostica Genetica e Biochimica delle Malattie Metaboliche, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Fabio Corsolini
- UOSD Centro di Diagnostica Genetica e Biochimica delle Malattie Metaboliche, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Maurizio Bruschi
- Laboratory on Physiopathology of Uremia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- UOC Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Amico
- UOSD Centro di Diagnostica Genetica e Biochimica delle Malattie Metaboliche, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Candiano
- Laboratory on Physiopathology of Uremia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Dardis
- Regional Coordinator Centre for Rare Diseases, University Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy
| | - David N Cooper
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Mirella Filocamo
- UOSD Centro di Diagnostica Genetica e Biochimica delle Malattie Metaboliche, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
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25
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Gorrieri G, Scudieri P, Caci E, Schiavon M, Tomati V, Sirci F, Napolitano F, Carrella D, Gianotti A, Musante I, Favia M, Casavola V, Guerra L, Rea F, Ravazzolo R, Di Bernardo D, Galietta LJV. Goblet Cell Hyperplasia Requires High Bicarbonate Transport To Support Mucin Release. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36016. [PMID: 27786259 PMCID: PMC5081536 DOI: 10.1038/srep36016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Goblet cell hyperplasia, a feature of asthma and other respiratory diseases, is driven by the Th-2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13. In human bronchial epithelial cells, we find that IL-4 induces the expression of many genes coding for ion channels and transporters, including TMEM16A, SLC26A4, SLC12A2, and ATP12A. At the functional level, we find that IL-4 enhances calcium- and cAMP-activated chloride/bicarbonate secretion, resulting in high bicarbonate concentration and alkaline pH in the fluid covering the apical surface of epithelia. Importantly, mucin release, elicited by purinergic stimulation, requires the presence of bicarbonate in the basolateral solution and is defective in cells derived from cystic fibrosis patients. In conclusion, our results suggest that Th-2 cytokines induce a profound change in expression and function in multiple ion channels and transporters that results in enhanced bicarbonate transport ability. This change is required as an important mechanism to favor release and clearance of mucus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Gorrieri
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Marco Schiavon
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesco Sirci
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | | | - Diego Carrella
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Ambra Gianotti
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Maria Favia
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Italy
| | - Valeria Casavola
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Guerra
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Italy
| | - Federico Rea
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Roberto Ravazzolo
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy.,DINOGMI, University of Genova, Italy
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Pesce E, Gorrieri G, Sirci F, Napolitano F, Carrella D, Caci E, Tomati V, Zegarra-Moran O, di Bernardo D, Galietta LJV. Evaluation of a systems biology approach to identify pharmacological correctors of the mutant CFTR chloride channel. J Cyst Fibros 2016; 15:425-35. [PMID: 26971626 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcf.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mistrafficking of CFTR protein caused by F508del, the most frequent mutation in cystic fibrosis (CF), can be corrected by cell incubation at low temperature, an effect that may be mediated by altered expression of proteostasis genes. METHODS To identify small molecules mimicking low temperature, we compared gene expression profiles of cells kept at 27°C with those previously generated from more than 1300 compounds. The resulting candidates were tested with a functional assay on a bronchial epithelial cell line. RESULTS We found that anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids, such as mometasone, budesonide, and fluticasone, increased mutant CFTR function. However, this activity was not confirmed in primary bronchial epithelial cells. Actually, glucocorticoids enhanced Na(+) absorption, an effect that could further impair mucociliary clearance in CF airways. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that rescue of F508del-CFTR by low temperature cannot be easily mimicked by small molecules and that compounds with closer transcriptional and functional effects need to be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Pesce
- Istituto Giannina Gaslini, via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Giulia Gorrieri
- Istituto Giannina Gaslini, via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Francesco Sirci
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Francesco Napolitano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Diego Carrella
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Emanuela Caci
- Istituto Giannina Gaslini, via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- Istituto Giannina Gaslini, via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | | | - Diego di Bernardo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Luis J V Galietta
- Istituto Giannina Gaslini, via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
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Sondo E, Scudieri P, Tomati V, Caci E, Mazzone A, Farrugia G, Ravazzolo R, Galietta LJV. Non-canonical translation start sites in the TMEM16A chloride channel. Biochim Biophys Acta 2013; 1838:89-97. [PMID: 23994600 PMCID: PMC3898931 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
TMEM16A is a plasma membrane protein with voltage- and calcium-dependent chloride channel activity. The role of the various TMEM16A domains in expression and function is poorly known. In a previous study, we found that replacing the first ATG of the TMEM16A coding sequence with a nonsense codon (M1X mutation), to force translation from the second ATG localized at position 117, only had minor functional consequences. Therefore, we concluded that this region is dispensable for TMEM16A processing and channel activity. We have now removed the first 116 codons from the TMEM16A coding sequence. Surprisingly, the expression of the resulting mutant, Δ(1–116), resulted in complete loss of activity. We hypothesized that, in the mutant M1X, translation may start at a position before the second ATG, using a non-canonical start codon. Therefore, we placed an HA-epitope at position 89 in the M1X mutant. We found, by western blot analysis, that the HA-epitope can be detected, thus demonstrating that translation starts from an upstream non-ATG codon. We truncated the N-terminus of TMEM16A at different sites while keeping the HA-epitope. We found that stepwise shortening of TMEM16A caused an in parallel stepwise decrease in TMEM16A expression and function. Our results indicate that indeed the N-terminus of TMEM16A is important for its activity. The use of an alternative start codon appears to occur in a naturally-occurring TMEM16A isoform that is particularly expressed in human testis. Future experiments will need to address the role of normal and alternative amino-terminus in TMEM16A structure and function. TMEM16A is a membrane protein with chloride channel activity. Two ATG codons are present at positions 1 and 117 of the TMEM16A coding sequence. Deletion of the first ATG, in contrast to removal of the first 116 codons, does not abolish TMEM16A function. Without the first ATG, TMEM16A translation begins from a non-canonical start codon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Sondo
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
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Ponassi R, Biasotti B, Tomati V, Bruno S, Poggi A, Malacarne D, Cimoli G, Salis A, Pozzi S, Miglino M, Damonte G, Cozzini P, Spyrakis F, Campanini B, Bagnasco L, Castagnino N, Tortolina L, Mumot A, Frassoni F, Daga A, Cilli M, Piccardi F, Monfardini I, Perugini M, Zoppoli G, D’Arrigo C, Pesenti R, Parodi S. Erratum to Ponassi R, et al. Cell Cycle Volume 7, Issue 20; pp. 3211-24. Cell Cycle 2012. [PMCID: PMC3478321 DOI: 10.4161/cc.22288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Ponassi
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Barbara Biasotti
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Bruno
- Department of Experimental Medicine; Section of Human Anatomy; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Poggi
- Laboratory of Immunology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Davide Malacarne
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Guido Cimoli
- Tecan Italia S.r.l.; Cernusco Sul Naviglio (MI); Italy
| | - Annalisa Salis
- Department of Experimental Medicine; Biochemistry section c/o Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research; Genoa, Italy
| | - Sarah Pozzi
- Department of Hemato-Oncology; S. Martino Hospital; Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Damonte
- Department of Experimental Medicine; Biochemistry section c/o Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research; Genoa, Italy
| | - Pietro Cozzini
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University of Parma; Parma, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Campanini
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University of Parma; Parma, Italy
| | - Luca Bagnasco
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Castagnino
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Tortolina
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Mumot
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Daga
- Laboratory of Genes Transfer; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | - Michele Cilli
- Animal Facility; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Miriam Perugini
- Department of Internal Medicine; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- Department of Internal Medicine; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Raffaele Pesenti
- Department of Applied Mathematics; Ca’ Foscari University; Venice, Italy
| | - Silvio Parodi
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics; University of Genoa; Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology; National Cancer Institute (IST); Genoa, Italy
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Scudieri P, Caci E, Bruno S, Ferrera L, Schiavon M, Sondo E, Tomati V, Gianotti A, Zegarra-Moran O, Pedemonte N, Rea F, Ravazzolo R, Galietta LJV. Association of TMEM16A chloride channel overexpression with airway goblet cell metaplasia. J Physiol 2012; 590:6141-55. [PMID: 22988141 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.240838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The TMEM16A protein has a potential role as a Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel (CaCC) in airway epithelia where it may be important in the homeostasis of the airway surface fluid. We investigated the function and expression of TMEM16A in primary human bronchial epithelial cells and in a bronchial cell line (CFBE41o-). Under resting conditions, TMEM16A protein expression was relatively low. However, TMEM16A silencing with short-interfering RNAs caused a marked inhibition of CaCC activity, thus demonstrating that a low TMEM16A expression is sufficient to support Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) transport. Following treatment for 24-72 h with interleukin-4 (IL-4), a cytokine that induces mucous cell metaplasia, TMEM16A protein expression was strongly increased in approximately 50% of primary bronchial epithelial cells, with a specific localization in the apical membrane. IL-4 treatment also increased the percentage of cells expressing MUC5AC, a marker of goblet cells. Interestingly, MUC5AC was detected specifically in cells expressing TMEM16A. In particular, MUC5AC was found in 15 and 60% of TMEM16A-positive cells when epithelia were treated with IL-4 for 24 or 72 h, respectively. In contrast, ciliated cells showed expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl(-) channel but not of TMEM16A. Our results indicate that TMEM16A protein is responsible for CaCC activity in airway epithelial cells, particularly in cells treated with IL-4, and that TMEM16A upregulation by IL-4 appears as an early event of goblet cell differentiation. These findings suggest that TMEM16A expression is particularly required under conditions of mucus hypersecretion to ensure adequate secretion of electrolytes and water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Scudieri
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
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Sondo E, Tomati V, Caci E, Esposito AI, Pfeffer U, Pedemonte N, Galietta LJV. Rescue of the mutant CFTR chloride channel by pharmacological correctors and low temperature analyzed by gene expression profiling. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2011; 301:C872-85. [PMID: 21753184 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00507.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The F508del mutation, the most frequent in cystic fibrosis (CF), impairs the maturation of the CFTR chloride channel. The F508del defect can be partially overcome at low temperature (27°C) or with pharmacological correctors. However, the efficacy of correctors on the mutant protein appears to be dependent on the cell expression system. We have used a bronchial epithelial cell line, CFBE41o-, to determine the efficacy of various known treatments and to discover new correctors. Compared with other cell types, CFBE41o- shows the largest response to low temperature and the lowest one to correctors such as corr-4a and VRT-325. A screening of a small-molecule library identified 9-aminoacridine and ciclopirox, which were significantly more effective than corr-4a and VRT-325. Analysis with microarrays revealed that 9-aminoacridine, ciclopirox, and low temperature, in contrast to corr-4a, cause a profound change in cell transcriptome. These data suggest that 9-aminoacridine and ciclopirox act on F508del-CFTR maturation as proteostasis regulators, a mechanism already proposed for the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). However, we found that 9-aminoacridine, ciclopirox, and SAHA, in contrast to corr-4a, VRT-325, and low temperature, do not increase chloride secretion in primary bronchial epithelial cells from CF patients. These conflicting data appeared to be correlated with different gene expression signatures generated by these treatments in the cell line and in primary bronchial epithelial cells. Our results suggest that F508del-CFTR correctors acting by altering the cell transcriptome may be particularly active in heterologous expression systems but markedly less effective in native epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Sondo
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
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Pedemonte N, Tomati V, Sondo E, Caci E, Millo E, Armirotti A, Damonte G, Zegarra-Moran O, Galietta LJV. Dual activity of aminoarylthiazoles on the trafficking and gating defects of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator chloride channel caused by cystic fibrosis mutations. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:15215-26. [PMID: 21383017 PMCID: PMC3083174 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.184267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A large fraction of mutations causing cystic fibrosis impair the function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel by causing reduced channel activity (gating defect) and/or impaired exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (trafficking defect). Such defects need to be treated with separate pharmacological compounds termed potentiators and correctors, respectively. Here, we report the characterization of aminoarylthiazoles (AATs) as compounds having dual activity. Cells expressing mutant CFTR were studied with functional assays (fluorescence-based halide transport and short circuit current measurements) to assess the effect of acute and chronic treatment with compounds. We found that AATs are effective on F508del, the most frequent cystic fibrosis mutation, which is associated with both a gating and a trafficking defect. AATs are also effective on mutations like G1349D and G551D, which cause only a gating defect. Evaluation of a panel of AAT analogs identified EN277I as the most effective compound. Incubation of cells expressing mutant CFTR with EN277I caused a strong stimulation of channel activity as demonstrated by single channel recordings. Compounds with dual activity such as AATs may be useful for the development of effective drugs for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Pedemonte
- Laboratorio di Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
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32
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Melani R, Tomati V, Galietta LJV, Zegarra-Moran O. Modulation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity and genistein binding by cytosolic pH. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:41591-6. [PMID: 20974851 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.166850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Potentiators are molecules that increase the activity of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Some potentiators can also inhibit CFTR at higher concentrations. The activating binding site is thought to be located at the interface of the dimer formed by the two nucleotide-binding domains. We have hypothesized that if binding of potentiators involves titratable residues forming salt bridges, then modifications of cytosolic pH (pH(i)) would alter the binding affinity. Here, we analyzed the effect of pH(i) on CFTR activation and on the binding of genistein, a well known CFTR potentiator. We found that pH(i) does modify CFTR maximum current (I(m)) and half-activation concentration (K(d)): I(m) = 127.7, 185.5, and 231.8 μA/cm(2) and K(d) = 32.7, 56.6 and 71.9 μm at pH 6, 7.35, and 8, respectively. We also found that the genistein apparent dissociation constant for activation (K(a)) increased at alkaline pH(i), near cysteine pK (K(a) = 1.83, 1.81 and 4.99 μm at pH(i) 6, 7.35, and 8, respectively), suggesting the involvement of cysteines in the binding site. Mutations of cysteine residues predicted to be within (Cys-491) or outside (Cys-1344) the potentiator-binding site showed that Cys-491 is responsible for the sensitivity of potentiator binding to alkaline pH(i). Effects of pH(i) on inhibition by high genistein doses were also analyzed. Our results extend previous data about multiple effects of pH(i) on CFTR activity and demonstrate that binding of potentiators involves salt bridge formation with amino acids of nucleotide-binding domain 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Melani
- Laboratorio di Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16148 Genoa, Italy
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Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CFTR chloride channel. Deletion of phenylalanine 508 (F508del), the most frequent CF mutation, impairs the maturation and gating of the CFTR protein. Such defects may be corrected in vitro by pharmacological modulators named as correctors and potentiators, respectively. We have evaluated a panel of correctors and potentiators derived from various sources to assess potency, efficacy, and mechanism of action. For this purpose, we have used functional and biochemical assays on two different cell expression systems, Fischer rat thyroid (FRT) and A549 cells. The order of potency and efficacy of potentiators was similar in the two cell types considered, with phenylglycine PG-01 and isoxazole UCCF-152 being the most potent and least potent, respectively. Most potentiators were also effective on two mutations, G551D and G1349D, that cause a purely gating defect. In contrast, corrector effect was strongly affected by cell background, with the extreme case of many compounds working in one cell type only. Our findings are in favor of a direct action of potentiators on CFTR, possibly at a common binding site. In contrast, most correctors seem to work indirectly with various mechanisms of action. Combinations of correctors acting at different levels may lead to additive F508del-CFTR rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Pedemonte
- Laboratorio di Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Giannina Gaslini and
- Centro di Biotecnologie Avanzate, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Tomati
- Laboratorio di Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Giannina Gaslini and
| | - Elvira Sondo
- Laboratorio di Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Giannina Gaslini and
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Ghiotto F, Fais F, Tenca C, Tomati V, Morabito F, Casciaro S, Mumot A, Zoppoli G, Ciccone E, Parodi S, Bruno S. Apoptosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells induced by a novel BH3 peptidomimetic. Cancer Biol Ther 2009; 8:263-71. [PMID: 19164937 DOI: 10.4161/cbt.8.3.7424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common leukemia in human adults of the Western world and no definitive cure is yet available. The disease is characterized by accumulation of clonal malignant B lymphocytes resistant to apoptosis. Strategies to hit the anti-apoptotic drift of the Bcl-2 family in B-CLL cells are being explored. A novel peptidomimetic based on the BH3 domain of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim and recently shown to exert significant apoptotic activity on acute myeloid leukemia cells, both in vitro and in vivo, was assayed on ex-vivo derived leukemic cells from untreated B-CLL patients (n = 7). We found that this peptide, named 072RB, induced apoptosis of B-CLL samples at a concentration that does not affect viability of peripheral and bone marrow derived lymphocytes from healthy donors. Apoptosis was demonstrated by activation of Bak and Bax, externalization of plasma membranes phosphadydilserines, appearance of hypodiploid events in DNA flow cytometry histograms and was accompanied by dissipation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Before the onset of marked apoptotic signs a progressive decline of the relevant anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-X(L) and Mcl-1 could be observed. The negative control peptide 072RBL94A was ineffective for B-CLL cells, supporting the sequence specificity of 072RB activity. No relationship was found between responsiveness to 072RB and Mcl-1/Bcl-X(L) basal levels or decrease magnitude, possibly because of the limited sample size of the study. Altogether, we demonstrate that 072RB induces significant apoptosis of B-CLL cells subsequent to Bcl-X(L) and Mcl-1 downregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Ghiotto
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Ponassi R, Biasotti B, Tomati V, Bruno S, Poggi A, Malacarne D, Cimoli G, Salis A, Pozzi S, Miglino M, Damonte G, Cozzini P, Spyrakis F, Spyraki F, Campanini B, Bagnasco L, Castagnino N, Tortolina L, Mumot A, Frassoni F, Daga A, Cilli M, Piccardi F, Monfardini I, Perugini M, Zoppoli G, D'Arrigo C, Pesenti R, Parodi S. A novel Bim-BH3-derived Bcl-XL inhibitor: biochemical characterization, in vitro, in vivo and ex-vivo anti-leukemic activity. Cell Cycle 2008; 7:3211-24. [PMID: 18843207 DOI: 10.4161/cc.7.20.6830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BH3-only members of the Bcl-2 family exert a fundamental role in apoptosis induction. This work focuses on the development of a novel peptidic molecule based on the BH3 domain of Bim. The antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-X(L), involved in cancer development/progression and tumour resistance to cytotoxic drugs, is a target for Bim. According to a rational study of the structural interactions between wt Bim-BH3 and Bcl-X(L), we replaced specific residues of Bim-BH3 with natural and non-natural aminoacids and added an internalizing sequence, thus increasing dramatically the inhibitory activity of our modified Bim-BH3 peptide, called 072RB. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry demonstrated cellular uptake and internalization of 072RB, followed by co-localization with mitochondria. Multiparameter flow cytometry demonstrated that the 072RB dose-dependent growth inhibition of leukaemia cell lines was due to apoptotic cell death. No effect was observed when cells were treated with the internalizing vector alone or a mutated control peptide (single aminoacid substitution L94A). Ex-vivo derived leukemic cells from acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients underwent cell death when cultured in vitro in the presence of 072RB. Conversely, no significant cytotoxic effect was observed when 072RB was administered to cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, either resting or PHA-stimulated, and bone marrow cells of normal donors. Xenografts of human AML cells in NOD/SCID mice displayed a significant delay of leukemic cell growth upon treatment with 072RB administered intravenously (15 mg/Kg three times, 48 hours after tumour cell injection). Altogether, these observations support the therapeutic potentials of this novel BH3 mimetic.
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Avignolo C, Bagnasco L, Biasotti B, Melchiori A, Tomati V, Bauer I, Salis A, Chiossone L, Mingari MC, Orecchia P, Carnemolla B, Neri D, Zardi L, Parodi S. Internalization via Antennapedia protein transduction domain of an scFv antibody toward c-Myc protein. FASEB J 2007; 22:1237-45. [PMID: 18048579 DOI: 10.1096/fj.07-8865com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We constructed a single-chain variable fragment miniantibody (G11-scFv) directed toward the transactivation domain of c-Myc, which is fused with the internalization domain Int of Antennapedia at its carboxyl terminus (a cargo-carrier construct). In ELISA experiments, an EC(50) for binding saturation was achieved at concentrations of G11-scFv-Int(-) of approximately 10(-8) M. Internalization of a fluoresceinated Fl-G11-scFv-Int(+) construct was observed in intact human cultured cells with confocal microscopy. After 5 h of incubation in medium containing 1 microM Fl-G11-scFv-Int(+) or Fl-G11-scFv-Int(-), fluorescence intensity was determined in individual cells, both for cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments: concentration levels of Fl-G11-scFv-Int(+), relative to the extracellular culture medium concentration, were 4-5 times higher in the cytoplasm, 7-8 times higher in the nucleus, and 10 times higher in the nucleoli. In the same experimental conditions, the Fl-G11-scFv-Int(-) construct was 3-4 times more concentrated outside of the cells than inside. Cell membranes kept their integrity after 5 h of incubation. The antiproliferative activity of our miniantibody was studied on HCT116 cells. Incubation with 4 microM G11-scFv-Int(+) for 4 days induced very significant statistical and biological growth inhibition, whereas Int alone was completely inactive. Miniantibodies capable of penetrating cell membranes dramatically broaden the potential for innovative therapeutic agents and attack of new targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Avignolo
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa, L. go R. Benzi 10, Genoa 16132, Italy
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Bagnasco L, Tortolina L, Biasotti B, Castagnino N, Ponassi R, Tomati V, Nieddu E, Stier G, Malacarne D, Parodi S. Inhibition of a protein‐protein interaction between INI1 and c‐Myc by small peptidomimetic molecules inspired by Helix‐1 of c‐Myc: identification of a new target of potential antineoplastic interest. FASEB J 2007; 21:1256-63. [PMID: 17215484 DOI: 10.1096/fj.06-7082com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
c-Myc is a transcription modulator proto-oncogene. When overexpressed, it becomes an important contributor to the multi-hit process of malignant transformation. In two earlier papers in this journal (see refs. 19 , 20) we reported that retro-inverso peptidomimetic molecules inspired by the Helix-1 of c-Myc motif could be sequence-specific antiproliferative agents active in the low micromolar range. We also found that our peptides were not opening the four-alpha-helix Myc:Max bundle. Their antiproliferative activity in cancer cell lines needs the presence of side chains projecting outside of the bundle in the corresponding native H1 motif. This observation suggested interference with an external partner. In this study we investigated the INI1:Myc interaction. INI1 is a subunit of the SWI/SNF complex (component of the enhanceosome surrounding Myc:Max heterodimer). The INI1:Myc interaction was confirmed via pull down, ELISA, and fluorescence anisotropy assays. According to the length of INI1 fragments used, we calculated Kds ranging between 1.3x10(-6) and 4.8x10(-7) M. The three different techniques applied showed that the INI1:Myc interaction was also the target of our retro-inverso peptidomimetic molecules, which seem to bind specifically at INI1. A Myc binding, 21aa INI1 fragment (minimum interacting sequence), could inspire the synthesis of a new class of more selective c-Myc inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Bagnasco
- Department of Oncology, Biology and Genetics, University of Genoa, L. go R. Benzi 10, Genoa 16132, Italy.
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Grasselli E, Tomati V, Bernasconi MV, Nicolini C, Vergani L. C-terminal region of protein kinase CK2 alpha: How the structure can affect function and stability of the catalytic subunit. J Cell Biochem 2005; 92:270-84. [PMID: 15108354 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.20049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
A novel mutant of the catalytic alpha subunit of human protein kinase CK2 (CK2 alpha) was designed in an attempt to clarify the role of the carboxylic-terminal segment characteristic of vertebrates, excluding fish. Starting from the sequence alignments, we constructed a phylogenetic tree of the primary structure of CK2 alpha. On this basis, we substituted two distal prolines with alanines (PA 382-384). Theoretical calculations and spectropolarimetry measurements, performed both on native and mutant subunits, indicate an increased content of alpha-helix after this double amino acidic substitution. In order to clarify the structure/function relationship of the C-terminal region, we verified if the structural change affects the catalytic activity of CK2 alpha. The mutant exhibits slightly increased phosphorylation efficiency, but reduced ability to transfer phosphate in comparison with the native subunit. At last, we compared the thermal stability of the mutant with respect to the native subunit and we tested the proteolytic degradability. The observation that the PA 382-384 mutant exhibits an increased thermal and proteolytic stability suggests that this mutant could be employed to solve the three-dimensional (3D) structure of human CK2 alpha and to overcome difficulties in crystallizing the native form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Grasselli
- Department of Biophysical Sciences and Technologies M&O, School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
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