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Allegri L, Baldan F, Mio C, De Felice M, Amendola E, Damante G. BAZ1B is a candidate gene responsible for hypothyroidism in Williams syndrome. Eur J Med Genet 2020; 63:103894. [PMID: 32081709 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2020.103894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated to a hemizygous deletion of 28 genes located on chromosome 7q11.23. WS affected subjects frequently suffer from several endocrine abnormalities including hypothyroidism due to defects in thyroid morphology. To date, several genes involved in thyroid dysgenesis have been identified, nonetheless, none of them is located in the 7q11.23 region. Thus, the hypothyroidism-linked molecular features in WS are not yet known. In this study we focused on one of the WS deleted gene, BAZ1B, demonstrating that its downregulation in thyroid cells leads to cell viability and survival decrement. Taking together, our results show that BAZ1B could be the mainly responsible for thyroid defects observed in some of WS patients and that these alterations are activated by PTEN-mediated mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Allegri
- Department of "Area Medica", University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Federica Baldan
- Department of "Area Medica", University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
| | - Catia Mio
- Department of "Area Medica", University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Mario De Felice
- IEOS - Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore", CNR, Napoli, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- IEOS - Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore", CNR, Napoli, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Damante
- Department of "Area Medica", University of Udine, Udine, Italy; Institute of Medical Genetics, Academic Hospital "Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine", Udine, Italy
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Addeo M, Buonaiuto S, Guerriero I, Amendola E, Visconte F, Marino A, De Angelis MT, Russo F, Roberto L, Marotta P, Russo NA, Iervolino A, Amodio F, De Felice M, Lucci V, Falco G. Insight into Nephrocan Function in Mouse Endoderm Patterning. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010008. [PMID: 31861348 PMCID: PMC6981620 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Endoderm-derived organs as liver and pancreas are potential targets for regenerative therapies, and thus, there is great interest in understanding the pathways that regulate the induction and specification of this germ layer. Currently, the knowledge of molecular mechanisms that guide the in vivo endoderm specification is restricted by the lack of early endoderm specific markers. Nephrocan (Nepn) is a gene whose expression characterizes the early stages of murine endoderm specification (E7.5–11.5) and encodes a secreted N-glycosylated protein. In the present study, we report the identification of a new transcript variant that is generated through alternative splicing. The new variant was found to have differential and tissue specific expression in the adult mouse. In order to better understand Nepn role during endoderm specification, we generated Nepn knock-out (KO) mice. Nepn−/− mice were born at Mendelian ratios and displayed no evident phenotype compared to WT mice. In addition, we produced nullizygous mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) line lacking Nepn by applying (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated systems 9 (Cas9) and employed a differentiation protocol toward endoderm lineage. Our in vitro results revealed that Nepn loss affects the endoderm differentiation impairing the expression of posterior foregut-associated markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Addeo
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (S.B.); (A.M.); (E.A.)
| | - Silvia Buonaiuto
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (S.B.); (A.M.); (E.A.)
| | - Ilaria Guerriero
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
| | - Elena Amendola
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (S.B.); (A.M.); (E.A.)
- Istituto per l’Endocrinologia e l’Oncologia Sperimentale “G. Salvatore”, CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | | | - Antonio Marino
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (S.B.); (A.M.); (E.A.)
| | - Maria Teresa De Angelis
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
| | - Filomena Russo
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
| | - Luca Roberto
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
| | - Pina Marotta
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
| | - Nicola Antonino Russo
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
| | - Anna Iervolino
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
| | - Federica Amodio
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
| | - Mario De Felice
- Istituto per l’Endocrinologia e l’Oncologia Sperimentale “G. Salvatore”, CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Valeria Lucci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (S.B.); (A.M.); (E.A.)
- Istituto per l’Endocrinologia e l’Oncologia Sperimentale “G. Salvatore”, CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
- Correspondence: (V.L.); (G.F.); Tel.: +39-081-679083 (V.L.); +39-081-679092 (G.F.)
| | - Geppino Falco
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche “G. Salvatore”, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; (M.A.); (I.G.); (M.T.D.A.); (F.R.); (L.R.); (N.A.R.); (P.M.); (F.A.); (A.I.)
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (S.B.); (A.M.); (E.A.)
- Istituto per l’Endocrinologia e l’Oncologia Sperimentale “G. Salvatore”, CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
- Correspondence: (V.L.); (G.F.); Tel.: +39-081-679083 (V.L.); +39-081-679092 (G.F.)
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Guerriero I, De Angelis MT, D'Angelo F, Leveque R, Savignano E, Roberto L, Lucci V, Mazzone P, Laurino S, Storto G, Nardelli A, Sgambato A, Ceccarelli M, De Felice M, Amendola E, Falco G. Exploring the Molecular Crosstalk between Pancreatic Bud and Mesenchyme in Embryogenesis: Novel Signals Involved. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20194900. [PMID: 31623299 PMCID: PMC6811752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20194900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic organogenesis is a multistep process that requires the cooperation of several signaling pathways. In this context, the role of pancreatic mesenchyme is important to define the epithelium development; nevertheless, the precise space–temporal signaling activation still needs to be clarified. This study reports a dissection of the pancreatic embryogenesis, highlighting the molecular network surrounding the epithelium–mesenchyme interaction. To investigate this crosstalk, pancreatic epithelium and surrounding mesenchyme, at embryonic day 10.5, were collected through laser capture microdissection (LCM) and characterized based on their global gene expression. We performed a bioinformatic analysis to hypothesize crosstalk interactions, validating the most promising genes and verifying the precise localization of their expression in the compartments, by RNA in situ hybridization (ISH). Our analyses pointed out also the c-Met gene, a very well-known factor involved in stimulating motility, morphogenesis, and organ regeneration. We also highlighted the potential crosstalk between Versican (Vcan) and Syndecan4 (Sdc4) since these genes are involved in pancreatic tissue repair, strengthening the concept that the same signaling pathways required during pancreatic embryogenesis are also involved in tissue repair. This finding leads to novel strategies for obtaining functional pancreatic stem cells for cell replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Guerriero
- Istituto di RicercheGenetiche G. Salvatore, Biogems.c.ar.l, ArianoIrpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy.
| | - Maria Teresa De Angelis
- Istituto di RicercheGenetiche G. Salvatore, Biogems.c.ar.l, ArianoIrpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy.
| | - Fulvio D'Angelo
- Istituto di RicercheGenetiche G. Salvatore, Biogems.c.ar.l, ArianoIrpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy.
| | - Rita Leveque
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita' degliStudi di Napoli, Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Savignano
- Istituto di RicercheGenetiche G. Salvatore, Biogems.c.ar.l, ArianoIrpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy.
| | - Luca Roberto
- Istituto di RicercheGenetiche G. Salvatore, Biogems.c.ar.l, ArianoIrpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy.
| | - Valeria Lucci
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita' degliStudi di Napoli, Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Pellegrino Mazzone
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita' degliStudi di Napoli, Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Simona Laurino
- IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Giovanni Storto
- IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Anna Nardelli
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini-CNR, Via De Amicis No. 95, 80145 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Sgambato
- IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Michele Ceccarelli
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
| | - Mario De Felice
- Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'OncologiaSperimentale "G. Salvatore", CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Elena Amendola
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita' degliStudi di Napoli, Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
- Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'OncologiaSperimentale "G. Salvatore", CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Geppino Falco
- Istituto di RicercheGenetiche G. Salvatore, Biogems.c.ar.l, ArianoIrpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita' degliStudi di Napoli, Federico II, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
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Credendino SC, Bellone ML, Lewin N, Amendola E, Sanges R, Basu S, Sepe R, Decaussin-Petrucci M, Tinto N, Fusco A, De Felice M, De Vita G. A ceRNA Circuitry Involving the Long Noncoding RNA Klhl14-AS, Pax8, and Bcl2 Drives Thyroid Carcinogenesis. Cancer Res 2019; 79:5746-5757. [PMID: 31558562 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Klhl14-AS is a long noncoding RNA expressed since early specification of thyroid bud and is the most enriched gene in the mouse thyroid primordium at E10.5. Here, we studied its involvement in thyroid carcinogenesis by analyzing its expression in cancer tissues and different models of neoplastic transformation. Compared with normal thyroid tissue and cells, Klhl14-AS was significantly downregulated in human thyroid carcinoma tissue specimens, particularly the anaplastic histotype, thyroid cancer cell lines, and rodent models of thyroid cancer. Downregulating the expression of Klhl14-AS in normal thyroid cells decreased the expression of thyroid differentiation markers and cell death and increased cell viability. These effects were mediated by the binding of Klhl14-AS to two miRNAs, Mir182-5p and Mir20a-5p, which silenced Pax8 and Bcl2, both essential players of thyroid differentiation. MIR182-5p and MIR20a-5p were upregulated in human thyroid cancer and thyroid cancer experimental models and their effects on Pax8 and Bcl2 were rescued by Klhl14-AS overexpression, confirming Klhl14-AS as a ceRNA for both Pax8 and Bcl2. This work connects deregulation of differentiation with increased proliferation and survival in thyroid neoplastic cells and highlights a novel ceRNA circuitry involving key regulators of thyroid physiology. SIGNIFICANCE: This study describes a new ceRNA with potential tumor suppression activity and helps us better understand the regulatory mechanisms during thyroid differentiation and carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C Credendino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria L Bellone
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicole Lewin
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "G. Salvatore", National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Remo Sanges
- Computational Genomics Laboratory, Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Swaraj Basu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Romina Sepe
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "G. Salvatore", National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | | | - Nadia Tinto
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Fusco
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario De Felice
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "G. Salvatore", National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriella De Vita
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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Zoppoli P, Calice G, Laurino S, Ruggieri V, La Rocca F, La Torre G, Ciuffi M, Amendola E, De Vita F, Petrillo A, Napolitano G, Falco G, Russi S. TRPV2 Calcium Channel Gene Expression and Outcomes in Gastric Cancer Patients: A Clinically Relevant Association. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E662. [PMID: 31083561 PMCID: PMC6572141 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8050662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is characterized by poor efficacy and the modest clinical impact of current therapies. Apoptosis evasion represents a causative factor for treatment failure in GC as in other cancers. Since intracellular calcium homeostasis regulation has been found to be associated with apoptosis resistance, the aberrant expression of intracellular calcium regulator genes (CaRGs) could have a prognostic value in GC patients. We analyzed the association of the expression levels of 98 CaRGs with prognosis by the log-rank test in a collection of 1524 GC samples from four gene expression profiling datasets. We also evaluated differential gene expression in comparison with normal stomach tissue, and then we crossed results with tissue microarrays from the Human Protein Atlas. Among the investigated CaRGs, patients with high levels of TRPV2 expression were characterized by a shorter overall survival. TRPV2 expression was found to increase according to tumor stage. Both mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in tumor than normal stomach samples. TRPV2 was also associated with poor prognosis in the Lauren's intestinal type GC and in patients treated with adjuvant therapy. Overall, we highlighted the relevance of TRPV2 not only as a prognostic biomarker but also as a potential therapeutic target to improve GC treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Zoppoli
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Giovanni Calice
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Simona Laurino
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Vitalba Ruggieri
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Francesco La Rocca
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Giuseppe La Torre
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Mario Ciuffi
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
| | - Elena Amendola
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Ferdinando De Vita
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Study of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Angelica Petrillo
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Study of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Giuliana Napolitano
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Geppino Falco
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.
- Biogem, Istituto di Biologia e Genetica Molecolare, Via Camporeale, 83031 Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy.
| | - Sabino Russi
- Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata (CROB), 85028 Rionero in Vulture (PZ), Italy.
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Vigli D, Rusconi L, Valenti D, La Montanara P, Cosentino L, Lacivita E, Leopoldo M, Amendola E, Gross C, Landsberger N, Laviola G, Kilstrup-Nielsen C, Vacca RA, De Filippis B. Rescue of prepulse inhibition deficit and brain mitochondrial dysfunction by pharmacological stimulation of the central serotonin receptor 7 in a mouse model of CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. Neuropharmacology 2018; 144:104-114. [PMID: 30326240 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the X-linked cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene cause CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD), a rare neurodevelopmental syndrome characterized by severe behavioural and physiological symptoms. No cure is available for CDD. CDKL5 is a kinase that is abundantly expressed in the brain and plays a critical role in neurodevelopmental processes, such as neuronal morphogenesis and plasticity. This study provides the first characterization of the neurobehavioural phenotype of 1 year old Cdkl5-null mice and demonstrates that stimulation of the serotonin receptor 7 (5-HT7R) with the agonist molecule LP-211 (0.25 mg/kg once/day for 7 days) partially rescues the abnormal phenotype and brain molecular alterations in Cdkl5-null male mice. In particular, LP-211 treatment completely normalizes the prepulse inhibition defects observed in Cdkl5-null mice and, at a molecular level, restores the abnormal cortical phosphorylation of rpS6, a downstream target of mTOR and S6 kinase, which plays a direct role in regulating protein synthesis. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that mitochondria show prominent functional abnormalities in Cdkl5-null mouse brains that can be restored by pharmacological stimulation of brain 5-HT7R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Vigli
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Rusconi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences and Center of Neuroscience, University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Daniela Valenti
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Council of Research, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Paolo La Montanara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences and Center of Neuroscience, University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Livia Cosentino
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Enza Lacivita
- Dept. Pharmacy, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70125 Bari, Italy
| | | | - Elena Amendola
- Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Cornelius Gross
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Landsberger
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20090 Segrate, Italy
| | - Giovanni Laviola
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Charlotte Kilstrup-Nielsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences and Center of Neuroscience, University of Insubria, 21052 Busto Arsizio, Italy
| | - Rosa A Vacca
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, National Council of Research, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Bianca De Filippis
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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7
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Ziros PG, Habeos IG, Chartoumpekis DV, Ntalampyra E, Somm E, Renaud CO, Bongiovanni M, Trougakos IP, Yamamoto M, Kensler TW, Santisteban P, Carrasco N, Ris-Stalpers C, Amendola E, Liao XH, Rossich L, Thomasz L, Juvenal GJ, Refetoff S, Sykiotis GP. NFE2-Related Transcription Factor 2 Coordinates Antioxidant Defense with Thyroglobulin Production and Iodination in the Thyroid Gland. Thyroid 2018; 28:780-798. [PMID: 29742982 PMCID: PMC5994681 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2018.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thyroid gland has a special relationship with oxidative stress. While generation of oxidative substances is part of normal iodide metabolism during thyroid hormone synthesis, the gland must also defend itself against excessive oxidation in order to maintain normal function. Antioxidant and detoxification enzymes aid thyroid cells to maintain homeostasis by ameliorating oxidative insults, including during exposure to excess iodide, but the factors that coordinate their expression with the cellular redox status are not known. The antioxidant response system comprising the ubiquitously expressed NFE2-related transcription factor 2 (Nrf2) and its redox-sensitive cytoplasmic inhibitor Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) defends tissues against oxidative stress, thereby protecting against pathologies that relate to DNA, protein, and/or lipid oxidative damage. Thus, it was hypothesized that Nrf2 should also have important roles in maintaining thyroid homeostasis. METHODS Ubiquitous and thyroid-specific male C57BL6J Nrf2 knockout (Nrf2-KO) mice were studied. Plasma and thyroids were harvested for evaluation of thyroid function tests by radioimmunoassays and of gene and protein expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting, respectively. Nrf2-KO and Keap1-KO clones of the PCCL3 rat thyroid follicular cell line were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and were used for gene and protein expression studies. Software-predicted Nrf2 binding sites on the thyroglobulin enhancer were validated by site-directed in vitro mutagenesis and chromatin immunoprecipitation. RESULTS The study shows that Nrf2 mediates antioxidant transcriptional responses in thyroid cells and protects the thyroid from oxidation induced by iodide overload. Surprisingly, it was also found that Nrf2 has a dramatic impact on both the basal abundance and the thyrotropin-inducible intrathyroidal abundance of thyroglobulin (Tg), the precursor protein of thyroid hormones. This effect is mediated by cell-autonomous regulation of Tg gene expression by Nrf2 via its direct binding to two evolutionarily conserved antioxidant response elements in an upstream enhancer. Yet, despite upregulating Tg levels, Nrf2 limits Tg iodination both under basal conditions and in response to excess iodide. CONCLUSIONS Nrf2 exerts pleiotropic roles in the thyroid gland to couple cell stress defense mechanisms to iodide metabolism and the thyroid hormone synthesis machinery, both under basal conditions and in response to excess iodide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panos G. Ziros
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ioannis G. Habeos
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | | | - Eleni Ntalampyra
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Somm
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cédric O. Renaud
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Massimo Bongiovanni
- Service of Clinical Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ioannis P. Trougakos
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Thomas W. Kensler
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Pilar Santisteban
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, CIBERONC (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nancy Carrasco
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Carrie Ris-Stalpers
- Women's and Children's Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elena Amendola
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli, Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Xiao-Hui Liao
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Luciano Rossich
- Nuclear Biochemistry Division, Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lisa Thomasz
- Nuclear Biochemistry Division, Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo J. Juvenal
- Nuclear Biochemistry Division, Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Samuel Refetoff
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Committee on Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Gerasimos P. Sykiotis
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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8
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Pascarella A, Ferrandino G, Credendino SC, Moccia C, D'Angelo F, Miranda B, D'Ambrosio C, Bielli P, Spadaro O, Ceccarelli M, Scaloni A, Sette C, De Felice M, De Vita G, Amendola E. DNAJC17 is localized in nuclear speckles and interacts with splicing machinery components. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7794. [PMID: 29773831 PMCID: PMC5958099 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26093-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
DNAJC17 is a heat shock protein (HSP40) family member, identified in mouse as susceptibility gene for congenital hypothyroidism. DNAJC17 knockout mouse embryos die prior to implantation. In humans, germline homozygous mutations in DNAJC17 have been found in syndromic retinal dystrophy patients, while heterozygous mutations represent candidate pathogenic events for myeloproliferative disorders. Despite widespread expression and involvement in human diseases, DNAJC17 function is still poorly understood. Herein, we have investigated its function through high-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic approaches. DNAJC17-depleted cells transcriptome highlighted genes involved in general functional categories, mainly related to gene expression. Conversely, DNAJC17 interactome can be classified in very specific functional networks, with the most enriched one including proteins involved in splicing. Furthermore, several splicing-related interactors, were independently validated by co-immunoprecipitation and in vivo co-localization. Accordingly, co-localization of DNAJC17 with SC35, a marker of nuclear speckles, further supported its interaction with spliceosomal components. Lastly, DNAJC17 up-regulation enhanced splicing efficiency of minigene reporter in live cells, while its knockdown induced perturbations of splicing efficiency at whole genome level, as demonstrated by specific analysis of RNAseq data. In conclusion, our study strongly suggests a role of DNAJC17 in splicing-related processes and provides support to its recognized essential function in early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pascarella
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - G Ferrandino
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche G. Salvatore, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - S C Credendino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - C Moccia
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - F D'Angelo
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche G. Salvatore, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - B Miranda
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - C D'Ambrosio
- Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, Napoli, Italy
| | - P Bielli
- Laboratory of Neuroembryology, Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - O Spadaro
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche G. Salvatore, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - M Ceccarelli
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche G. Salvatore, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - A Scaloni
- Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, ISPAAM, National Research Council, Napoli, Italy
| | - C Sette
- Laboratory of Neuroembryology, Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - M De Felice
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.,Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche G. Salvatore, Biogem s.c.ar.l, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - G De Vita
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
| | - E Amendola
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
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Potenza N, Panella M, Castiello F, Mosca N, Amendola E, Russo A. Molecular mechanisms governing microRNA-125a expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10712. [PMID: 28878257 PMCID: PMC5587745 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11418-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a) is a vertebrate homolog of lin-4, the first discovered microRNA, and plays a fundamental role in embryo development by downregulating Lin-28 protein. MiR-125a is also expressed in differentiated cells where it generally acts as an antiproliferative factor by targeting membrane receptors or intracellular transductors of mitogenic signals. MiR-125a expression is downregulated in several tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) where it targets sirtuin-7, matrix metalloproteinase-11, VEGF-A, Zbtb7a, and c-Raf. In this study, we have isolated the transcription promoter of human miR-125a and characterized its activity in HCC cells. It is a TATA-less Pol II promoter provided with an initiator element and a downstream promoter element, located 3939 bp upstream the genomic sequence of the miRNA. The activity of the promoter is increased by the transcription factor NF-kB, a master regulator of inflammatory response, and miR-125a itself was found to strengthen this activation through inhibition of TNFAIP3, a negative regulator of NF-kB. This finding contributes to explain the increased levels of miR-125a observed in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Marta Panella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Filomena Castiello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
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10
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Dello Iacono S, Martone A, Pastore A, Filippone G, Acierno D, Zarrelli M, Giordano M, Amendola E. Thermally activated multiple self-healing diels-alder epoxy system. POLYM ENG SCI 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.24570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Dello Iacono
- CNR-IPCB Institute for Polymers Composites and Biomaterials; National Research Council; P.le E. Fermi 1 Portici Naples 80055 Italy
| | - A. Martone
- CNR-IPCB Institute for Polymers Composites and Biomaterials; National Research Council; P.le E. Fermi 1 Portici Naples 80055 Italy
| | - A. Pastore
- CNR-IPCB Institute for Polymers Composites and Biomaterials; National Research Council; P.le E. Fermi 1 Portici Naples 80055 Italy
| | - G. Filippone
- University of Naples “Federico II,” DICMAPI; P.le V. Tecchio, 80 1 Naples 80125 Italy
| | - D. Acierno
- University of Naples “Federico II,” DICMAPI; P.le V. Tecchio, 80 1 Naples 80125 Italy
| | - M. Zarrelli
- CNR-IPCB Institute for Polymers Composites and Biomaterials; National Research Council; P.le E. Fermi 1 Portici Naples 80055 Italy
| | - M. Giordano
- CNR-IPCB Institute for Polymers Composites and Biomaterials; National Research Council; P.le E. Fermi 1 Portici Naples 80055 Italy
| | - E. Amendola
- CNR-IPCB Institute for Polymers Composites and Biomaterials; National Research Council; P.le E. Fermi 1 Portici Naples 80055 Italy
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11
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Pizzo R, Gurgone A, Castroflorio E, Amendola E, Gross C, Sassoè-Pognetto M, Giustetto M. Lack of Cdkl5 Disrupts the Organization of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses and Parvalbumin Interneurons in the Primary Visual Cortex. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:261. [PMID: 27965538 PMCID: PMC5124713 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) mutations are found in severe neurodevelopmental disorders, including the Hanefeld variant of Rett syndrome (RTT; CDKL5 disorder). CDKL5 loss-of-function murine models recapitulate pathological signs of the human disease, such as visual attention deficits and reduced visual acuity. Here we investigated the cellular and synaptic substrates of visual defects by studying the organization of the primary visual cortex (V1) of Cdkl5−/y mice. We found a severe reduction of c-Fos expression in V1 of Cdkl5−/y mutants, suggesting circuit hypoactivity. Glutamatergic presynaptic structures were increased, but postsynaptic PSD-95 and Homer were significantly downregulated in CDKL5 mutants. Interneurons expressing parvalbumin, but not other types of interneuron, had a higher density in mutant V1, and were hyperconnected with pyramidal neurons. Finally, the developmental trajectory of pavalbumin-containing cells was also affected in Cdkl5−/y mice, as revealed by fainter appearance perineuronal nets at the closure of the critical period (CP). The present data reveal an overall disruption of V1 cellular and synaptic organization that may cause a shift in the excitation/inhibition balance likely to underlie the visual deficits characteristic of CDKL5 disorder. Moreover, ablation of CDKL5 is likely to tamper with the mechanisms underlying experience-dependent refinement of cortical circuits during the CP of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Pizzo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin Turin, Italy
| | - Antonia Gurgone
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin Turin, Italy
| | | | - Elena Amendola
- Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II" Napoli, Italy
| | - Cornelius Gross
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Marco Sassoè-Pognetto
- Department of Neuroscience, University of TurinTurin, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience-ItalyTurin, Italy
| | - Maurizio Giustetto
- Department of Neuroscience, University of TurinTurin, Italy; National Institute of Neuroscience-ItalyTurin, Italy
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12
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Silberschmidt D, Rodriguez-Mallon A, Mithboakar P, Calì G, Amendola E, Sanges R, Zannini M, Scarfò M, De Luca P, Nitsch L, Di Lauro R, De Felice M. Erratum to: In vivo role of different domains and of phosphorylation in the transcription factor Nkx2-1. BMC Dev Biol 2016; 16:29. [PMID: 27553860 PMCID: PMC4995620 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-016-0130-0] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Silberschmidt
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy.,IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - Alina Rodriguez-Mallon
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy.,IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | | | - Gaetano Calì
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy.,IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - Remo Sanges
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - Mariastella Zannini
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "G. Salvatore", National Research Council, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marzia Scarfò
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
| | - Pasquale De Luca
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Lucio Nitsch
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Lauro
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy. .,IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy. .,Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Mario De Felice
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy.,Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
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13
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Della Sala G, Putignano E, Chelini G, Melani R, Calcagno E, Michele Ratto G, Amendola E, Gross CT, Giustetto M, Pizzorusso T. Dendritic Spine Instability in a Mouse Model of CDKL5 Disorder Is Rescued by Insulin-like Growth Factor 1. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 80:302-311. [PMID: 26452614 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CDKL5 (cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5) is mutated in many severe neurodevelopmental disorders, including atypical Rett syndrome. CDKL5 was shown to interact with synaptic proteins, but an in vivo analysis of the role of CDKL5 in dendritic spine dynamics and synaptic molecular organization is still lacking. METHODS In vivo two-photon microscopy of the somatosensory cortex of Cdkl5(-/y) mice was applied to monitor structural dynamics of dendritic spines. Synaptic function and plasticity were measured using electrophysiological recordings of excitatory postsynaptic currents and long-term potentiation in brain slices and assessing the expression of synaptic postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). Finally, we studied the impact of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) treatment on CDKL5 null mice to restore the synaptic deficits. RESULTS Adult mutant mice showed a significant reduction in spine density and PSD-95-positive synaptic puncta, a reduction of persistent spines, and impaired long-term potentiation. In juvenile mutants, short-term spine elimination, but not formation, was dramatically increased. Exogenous administration of IGF-1 rescued defective rpS6 phosphorylation, spine density, and PSD-95 expression. Endogenous cortical IGF-1 levels were unaffected by CDKL5 deletion. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that dendritic spine stabilization is strongly regulated by CDKL5. Moreover, our data suggest that IGF-1 treatment could be a promising candidate for clinical trials in CDKL5 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Della Sala
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, and Child Health-Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence
| | - Elena Putignano
- Institute of Neuroscience (EP, TP), National Research Council, Pisa
| | - Gabriele Chelini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, and Child Health-Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence
| | - Riccardo Melani
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, and Child Health-Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence
| | - Eleonora Calcagno
- Department of Neuroscience and National Institute of Neuroscience (EC, MG), University of Turin, Turin
| | - Gian Michele Ratto
- National Enterprise for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (GMR), Institute of Nanoscience of the National Research Council, and Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa
| | - Elena Amendola
- Mouse Biology Unit (EA, CTG), European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Cornelius T Gross
- Mouse Biology Unit (EA, CTG), European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Maurizio Giustetto
- Department of Neuroscience and National Institute of Neuroscience (EC, MG), University of Turin, Turin
| | - Tommaso Pizzorusso
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research, and Child Health-Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence; Institute of Neuroscience (EP, TP), National Research Council, Pisa.
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14
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Bartram MP, Amendola E, Benzing T, Schermer B, de Vita G, Müller RU. Mice lacking microRNAs in Pax8-expressing cells develop hypothyroidism and end-stage renal failure. BMC Mol Biol 2016; 17:11. [PMID: 27090781 PMCID: PMC4835897 DOI: 10.1186/s12867-016-0064-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-coding RNAs have gained increasing attention during the last decade. The first large group of non-coding RNAs to be characterized systematically starting at the beginning of the 21st century were small oligonucleotides--the so-called microRNAs (miRNAs). By now we have learnt that microRNAs are indispensable for most biological processes including organogenesis and maintenance of organ structure and function. The role of microRNAs has been studied extensively in the development of a number of organs, so far most studies focussed on e.g. the heart or the brain whilst the role of microRNAs in the development and maintenance of complex epithelial organs is less well understood. Furthermore most analyses regarding microRNA function in epithelial organs employed conditional knockout mouse models of the RNAse III Dicer to abrogate microRNA biogenesis. However, there is increasing evidence for Dicer to have multiple functions independent from microRNA maturation. Therefore Dicer independent models are needed to gain further insight into the complex biology of miRNA dependent processes. RESULTS Here we analyze the contribution of microRNA-dependent transcriptional control in Pax8-expressing epithelial cells. Pax8 is a transcription factor that is crucial to the development of epithelial organs. The miRNA machinery was disrupted by crossing conditional DiGeorge syndrome critical region 8 (Dgcr8) fl/fl mice to Pax8Cre mice. The Dgcr8/Drosha complex processes pri-miRNAs in the nucleus before they are exported as pre-miRNAs for further maturation by Dicer in the cytoplasm. Dgcr8 fl/fl; Pax8Cre+ knockout mice died prematurely, developed massive hypothyroidism and end stage renal disease due to a loss of miRNAs in Pax8 expressing tissue. CONCLUSION Pax8Cre-mediated conditional loss of DiGeorge syndrome critical region 8 (Dgcr8), an essential component of the nuclear machinery that is required for microRNA biogenesis, resulted in severe hypothyroidism, massively reduced body weight and ultimately led to renal failure and death of the animals. These data provide further insight into the importance of miRNAs in organ homeostasis using a Dicer independent model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte P Bartram
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elena Amendola
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - Thomas Benzing
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Systems Biology of Ageing Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schermer
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Systems Biology of Ageing Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gabriella de Vita
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Napoli 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
| | - Roman-Ulrich Müller
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany. .,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. .,Systems Biology of Ageing Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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15
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Porreca I, Ulloa Severino L, D’Angelo F, Cuomo D, Ceccarelli M, Altucci L, Amendola E, Nebbioso A, Mallardo M, De Felice M, Ambrosino C. "Stockpile" of Slight Transcriptomic Changes Determines the Indirect Genotoxicity of Low-Dose BPA in Thyroid Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151618. [PMID: 26982218 PMCID: PMC4794173 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological and experimental data highlighted the thyroid-disrupting activity of bisphenol A (BPA). Although pivotal to identify the mechanisms of toxicity, direct low-dose BPA effects on thyrocytes have not been assessed. Here, we report the results of microarray experiments revealing that the transcriptome reacts dynamically to low-dose BPA exposure, adapting the changes in gene expression to the exposure duration. The response involves many genes, enriching specific pathways and biological functions mainly cell death/proliferation or DNA repair. Their expression is only slightly altered but, since they enrich specific pathways, this results in major effects as shown here for transcripts involved in the DNA repair pathway. Indeed, even though no phenotypic changes are induced by the treatment, we show that the exposure to BPA impairs the cell response to further stressors. We experimentally verify that prolonged exposure to low doses of BPA results in a delayed response to UV-C-induced DNA damage, due to impairment of p21-Tp53 axis, with the BPA-treated cells more prone to cell death and DNA damage accumulation. The present findings shed light on a possible mechanism by which BPA, not able to directly cause genetic damage at environmental dose, may exert an indirect genotoxic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luisa Ulloa Severino
- University of Trieste, PhD School of Nanotechnology, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fulvio D’Angelo
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino, Avellino, Italy
| | - Danila Cuomo
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Via Port’Arsa 11, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - Michele Ceccarelli
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino, Avellino, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Via Port’Arsa 11, 82100, Benevento, Italy
| | - Lucia Altucci
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, Second University of Naples, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138, Napoli, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, via Pansini 6, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Angela Nebbioso
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, Second University of Naples, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138, Napoli, Italy
| | - Massimo Mallardo
- Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, via Pansini 6, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Mario De Felice
- Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples “Federico II”, via Pansini 6, 80131, Napoli, Italy
- IEOS-CNR, Via Pansini 6, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Concetta Ambrosino
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, 83031, Ariano Irpino, Avellino, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Via Port’Arsa 11, 82100, Benevento, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Marotta P, Amendola E, Scarfò M, De Luca P, Zoppoli P, Amoresano A, De Felice M, Di Lauro R. The paired box transcription factor Pax8 is essential for function and survival of adult thyroid cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 396:26-36. [PMID: 25127920 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor Pax8 is already known to be essential at very early stages of mouse thyroid gland development, before the onset of thyroid hormone production. In this paper we show, using a conditional inactivation strategy, that the removal of the Pax8 protein late in gland development results in severe hypothyroidism, consequent to a reduced gland size and a deranged differentiation. These results demonstrate that Pax8 is also an essential player in controlling survival and differentiation of adult thyroid follicular cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pina Marotta
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy
| | - Marzia Scarfò
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Luca
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy
| | - Pietro Zoppoli
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy
| | - Angela Amoresano
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Mario De Felice
- IRGS, Biogem, Via Camporeale, Ariano Irpino, 83031 Avellino, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Roberto Di Lauro
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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Baroncelli L, Alessandrì MG, Tola J, Putignano E, Migliore M, Amendola E, Gross C, Leuzzi V, Cioni G, Pizzorusso T. A novel mouse model of creatine transporter deficiency. F1000Res 2014; 3:228. [PMID: 25485098 PMCID: PMC4243761 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.5369.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the creatine (Cr) transporter (CrT) gene lead to cerebral creatine deficiency syndrome-1 (CCDS1), an X-linked metabolic disorder characterized by cerebral Cr deficiency causing intellectual disability, seizures, movement and behavioral disturbances, language and speech impairment ( OMIM #300352). CCDS1 is still an untreatable pathology that can be very invalidating for patients and caregivers. Only two murine models of CCDS1, one of which is an ubiquitous knockout mouse, are currently available to study the possible mechanisms underlying the pathologic phenotype of CCDS1 and to develop therapeutic strategies. Given the importance of validating phenotypes and efficacy of promising treatments in more than one mouse model we have generated a new murine model of CCDS1 obtained by ubiquitous deletion of 5-7 exons in the
Slc6a8 gene. We showed a remarkable Cr depletion in the murine brain tissues and cognitive defects, thus resembling the key features of human CCDS1. These results confirm that CCDS1 can be well modeled in mice. This CrT
−/y murine model will provide a new tool for increasing the relevance of preclinical studies to the human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Baroncelli
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, I-56124, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Alessandrì
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Scientific Institute, Calambrone (Pisa), I-56128, Italy
| | - Jonida Tola
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, I-56124, Italy
| | - Elena Putignano
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, I-56124, Italy
| | - Martina Migliore
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, I-56124, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo (Roma), I-00015, Italy
| | - Cornelius Gross
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo (Roma), I-00015, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Department of Paediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, I-00185, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cioni
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Stella Maris Scientific Institute, Calambrone (Pisa), I-56128, Italy ; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, I-56126, Italy
| | - Tommaso Pizzorusso
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, I-56124, Italy ; Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, I-50135, Italy
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Fuchs C, Trazzi S, Torricella R, Viggiano R, De Franceschi M, Amendola E, Gross C, Calzà L, Bartesaghi R, Ciani E. Loss of CDKL5 impairs survival and dendritic growth of newborn neurons by altering AKT/GSK-3β signaling. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 70:53-68. [PMID: 24952363 PMCID: PMC4146476 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the X-linked cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene have been identified in a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by early-onset intractable seizures, severe developmental delay, intellectual disability, and Rett's syndrome-like features. Since the physiological functions of CDKL5 still need to be elucidated, in the current study we took advantage of a new Cdkl5 knockout (KO) mouse model in order to shed light on the role of this gene in brain development. We mainly focused on the hippocampal dentate gyrus, a region that largely develops postnatally and plays a key role in learning and memory. Looking at the process of neurogenesis, we found a higher proliferation rate of neural precursors in Cdkl5 KO mice in comparison with wild type mice. However, there was an increase in apoptotic cell death of postmitotic granule neuron precursors, with a reduction in total number of granule cells. Looking at dendritic development, we found that in Cdkl5 KO mice the newly-generated granule cells exhibited a severe dendritic hypotrophy. In parallel, these neurodevelopmental defects were associated with impairment of hippocampus-dependent memory. Looking at the mechanisms whereby CDKL5 exerts its functions, we identified a central role of the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Overall our findings highlight a critical role of CDKL5 in the fundamental processes of brain development, namely neuronal precursor proliferation, survival and maturation. This evidence lays the basis for a better understanding of the neurological phenotype in patients carrying mutations in the CDKL5 gene. Loss of Cdkl5 decreases survival of postmitotic granule cells. Loss of Cdkl5 results in dendritic hypotrophy of newborn granule cells. Loss of Cdkl5 impairs hippocampus-dependent behavior. Loss of Cdkl5 alters the AKT/GSK-3β pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Fuchs
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Trazzi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Torricella
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Rocchina Viggiano
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Elena Amendola
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Cornelius Gross
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Renata Bartesaghi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ciani
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.
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Amendola E, Zhan Y, Mattucci C, Castroflorio E, Calcagno E, Fuchs C, Lonetti G, Silingardi D, Vyssotski AL, Farley D, Ciani E, Pizzorusso T, Giustetto M, Gross CT. Mapping pathological phenotypes in a mouse model of CDKL5 disorder. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91613. [PMID: 24838000 PMCID: PMC4023934 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) cause early-onset epileptic encephalopathy, a neurodevelopmental disorder with similarities to Rett Syndrome. Here we describe the physiological, molecular, and behavioral phenotyping of a Cdkl5 conditional knockout mouse model of CDKL5 disorder. Behavioral analysis of constitutive Cdkl5 knockout mice revealed key features of the human disorder, including limb clasping, hypoactivity, and abnormal eye tracking. Anatomical, physiological, and molecular analysis of the knockout uncovered potential pathological substrates of the disorder, including reduced dendritic arborization of cortical neurons, abnormal electroencephalograph (EEG) responses to convulsant treatment, decreased visual evoked responses (VEPs), and alterations in the Akt/rpS6 signaling pathway. Selective knockout of Cdkl5 in excitatory and inhibitory forebrain neurons allowed us to map the behavioral features of the disorder to separable cell-types. These findings identify physiological and molecular deficits in specific forebrain neuron populations as possible pathological substrates in CDKL5 disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Amendola
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Yang Zhan
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Camilla Mattucci
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Enrico Castroflorio
- Department of Neuroscience and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Eleonora Calcagno
- Department of Neuroscience and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Claudia Fuchs
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Lonetti
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Davide Silingardi
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Alexei L. Vyssotski
- Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zürich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominika Farley
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ciani
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tommaso Pizzorusso
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health NEUROFARBA University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maurizio Giustetto
- Department of Neuroscience and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Cornelius T. Gross
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Monterotondo, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Lavorgna M, Buonocore GG, Tescione F, Capezzuto F, Yan N, Amendola E. Multifunctional chitosan nanocomposites: The effect of silver supported on montmorillonite platelets on barrier and mechanical properties. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4876873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Amendola E. Epoxy Nanocomposites Based on Silylated Montmorillonite: Effect of the Coupling Agents Structure on the Mechanical Properties. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.2174/1874343901206010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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22
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Fagman H, Amendola E, Parrillo L, Zoppoli P, Marotta P, Scarfò M, De Luca P, de Carvalho DP, Ceccarelli M, De Felice M, Di Lauro R. Gene expression profiling at early organogenesis reveals both common and diverse mechanisms in foregut patterning. Dev Biol 2011; 359:163-75. [PMID: 21924257 PMCID: PMC3206993 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The thyroid and lungs originate as neighboring bud shaped outgrowths from the midline of the embryonic foregut. When and how organ specific programs regulate development into structures of distinct shapes, positions and functions is incompletely understood. To characterize, at least in part, the genetic basis of these events, we have employed laser capture microdissection and microarray analysis to define gene expression in the mouse thyroid and lung primordia at E10.5. By comparing the transcriptome of each bud to that of the whole embryo as well as to each other, we broadly describe the genes that are preferentially expressed in each developing organ as well as those with an enriched expression common to both. The results thus obtained provide a valuable resource for further analysis of genes previously unrecognized to participate in thyroid and lung morphogenesis and to discover organ specific as well as common developmental mechanisms. As an initial step in this direction we describe a regulatory pathway involving the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 that controls cell survival in early thyroid development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elena Amendola
- IRGS, Biogem, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michele Ceccarelli
- IRGS, Biogem, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Sannio, Benevento, Italy
| | - Mario De Felice
- IRGS, Biogem, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Lauro
- IRGS, Biogem, Ariano Irpino (AV), Italy
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Amendola E, Scamardella AM, Petrarca C, Acierno D. Epoxy-nanocomposites with ceramic reinforcement for electrical insulation. J Appl Polym Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/app.34782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Abstract
Mutated BRAF is detected in approximately 45% of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC). To model PTC, we bred mice with adult-onset, thyrocyte-specific expression of BRAF(V600E). One month following BRAF(V600E) expression, mice displayed increased thyroid size, widespread alterations in thyroid architecture, and dramatic hypothyroidism. Over 1 year, without any deliberate manipulation of tumor suppressor genes, all mice developed PTC displaying nuclear atypia and marker expression characteristic of the human disease. Pharmacologic inhibition of MEK1/2 led to decreased thyroid size, restoration of thyroid form and function, and inhibition of tumorigenesis. Mice with BRAF(V600E)-induced PTC will provide an excellent system to study thyroid tumor initiation and progression and the evaluation of inhibitors of oncogenic BRAF signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roch-Philippe Charles
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, USA
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Andersson L, Westerlund J, Liang S, Carlsson T, Amendola E, Fagman H, Nilsson M. Role of EphA4 receptor signaling in thyroid development: regulation of folliculogenesis and propagation of the C-cell lineage. Endocrinology 2011; 152:1154-64. [PMID: 21266507 DOI: 10.1210/en.2010-0232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptome analysis revealed that the tyrosine kinase receptor EphA4 is enriched in the thyroid bud in mouse embryos. We used heterozygous EphA4-EGFP knock-in mice in which enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) replaced the intracellular receptor domain (EphA4(+/EGFP)) to localize EphA4 protein in thyroid primordial tissues. This showed that thyroid progenitors originating in the pharyngeal floor express EphA4 at all embryonic stages and when follicles are formed in late development. Also, the ultimobranchial bodies developed from the pharyngeal pouch endoderm express EphA4, but the ultimobranchial epithelium loses the EGFP signal before it merges with the median thyroid primordium. Embryonic C cells invading the thyroid are exclusively EphA4-negative. EphA4 expression continues in the adult thyroid. EphA4 knock-out mice and EphA4-EGFP homozygous mutants are euthyroid and have a normal thyroid anatomy but display subtle histological alterations regarding number, size, and shape of follicles. Of particular interest, the pattern of follicular abnormality differs between EphA4(-/-) and EphA4(EGFP/EGFP) thyroids. In addition, the number of C cells is reduced by >50% exclusively in animals lacking EphA4 forward signaling (EphA4(EGFP/EGFP)). Heterozygous EphA4 mutants have no apparent thyroid phenotype. We conclude that EphA4 is a novel regulator of thyroid morphogenesis that impacts on postnatal development of the two endocrine cell lineages of the differentiating gland. In this process both EphA4 forward signaling (in the follicular epithelium) and reverse signaling mediated by its cognate ligand(s) (A- and/or B-ephrins expressed in follicular cells and C cells, respectively) are probably functionally important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Andersson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrensk Academy at University of Gothenburg, Box 440, SE-40530 Göteborg, Sweden
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Silberschmidt D, Rodriguez-Mallon A, Mithboakar P, Calì G, Amendola E, Sanges R, Zannini M, Scarfò M, De Luca P, Nitsch L, Di Lauro R, De Felice M. In vivo role of different domains and of phosphorylation in the transcription factor Nkx2-1. BMC Dev Biol 2011; 11:9. [PMID: 21345181 PMCID: PMC3055846 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-11-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2010] [Accepted: 02/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background The transcription factor Nkx2-1 (also known as TTF-1, Titf1 or T/EBP) contains two apparently redundant activation domains and is post-translationally modified by phosphorylation. We have generated mouse mutant strains to assess the roles of the two activation domains and of phosphorylation in mouse development and differentiation. Results Mouse strains expressing variants of the transcription factor Nkx2-1 deleted of either activation domain have been constructed. Phenotypic analysis shows for each mutant a distinct set of defects demonstrating that distinct portions of the protein endow diverse developmental functions of Nkx2-1. Furthermore, a mouse strain expressing a Nkx2-1 protein mutated in the phosphorylation sites shows a thyroid gland with deranged follicular organization and gene expression profile demonstrating the functional role of phosphorylation in Nkx2-1. Conclusions The pleiotropic functions of Nkx2-1 are not all due to the protein as a whole since some of them can be assigned to separate domains of the protein or to specific post-translational modifications. These results have implication for the evolutionary role of mutations in transcription factors.
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De Santis R, Gloria A, Prisco D, Amendola E, Puppulin L, Pezzotti G, Rengo S, Ambrosio L, Nicolais L. Fast curing of restorative materials through the soft light energy release. Dent Mater 2010; 26:891-900. [PMID: 20554315 DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2010.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2009] [Revised: 11/23/2009] [Accepted: 05/16/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The effect of a novel light curing process, namely soft light energy release (SLER), on shrinkage, mechanical strength and residual stress of four dental restorative materials (DEI experience, Gradia Direct, Enamel Plus HFO and Venus) was investigated. METHODS Composite specimens were fast cured through high level of power density and soft light energy release. Temperature, linear shrinkage and light power measurements were acquired in parallel in order to assess the effect of light modulation on temperature and shrinkage profiles during the light curing process and the following dark reaction phase. The small punch test and Raman spectroscopy were adopted to investigate the effect of SLER on mechanical strength and on internal stress, respectively. RESULTS The soft light energy release photo-polymerization allows to reduce of about 20% the shrinkage rate and to increase the strength of fast light cured specimens. In addition, a more relaxed and homogeneous internal stress distribution was observed. SIGNIFICANCE Properties of fast cured restorative materials can be improved by adopting the soft light energy release process.
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Affiliation(s)
- R De Santis
- IMCB-CNR, Institute of Composite and Biomedical Materials, National Research Council, P.le Tecchio 80, Naples 80125, Italy.
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Amendola E, Sanges R, Galvan A, Dathan N, Manenti G, Ferrandino G, Alvino FM, Di Palma T, Scarfò M, Zannini M, Dragani TA, De Felice M, Di Lauro R. A locus on mouse chromosome 2 is involved in susceptibility to congenital hypothyroidism and contains an essential gene expressed in thyroid. Endocrinology 2010; 151:1948-58. [PMID: 20160132 DOI: 10.1210/en.2009-1240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We report here the mapping of a chromosomal region responsible for strain-specific development of congenital hypothyroidism in mice heterozygous for null mutations in genes encoding Nkx2-1/Titf1 and Pax8. The two strains showing a differential predisposition to congenital hypothyroidism contain several single-nucleotide polymorphisms in this locus, one of which leads to a nonsynonymous amino acid change in a highly conserved region of Dnajc17, a member of the type III heat-shock protein-40 (Hsp40) family. We demonstrate that Dnajc17 is highly expressed in the thyroid bud and had an essential function in development, suggesting an important role of this protein in organogenesis and/or function of the thyroid gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Amendola
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale I, Naples 80121, Italy
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Trincucci G, Manenti G, Pettinicchio A, Amendola E, Scarfò M, Dragani T. Cis-acting genomic elements of Pas1 locus control Kras mutability in lung tumors. EJC Suppl 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6349(08)71560-x] [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: 11/29/2022] Open
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Calì G, Zannini M, Rubini P, Tacchetti C, D'Andrea B, Affuso A, Wintermantel T, Boussadia O, Terracciano D, Silberschmidt D, Amendola E, De Felice M, Schütz G, Kemler R, Di Lauro R, Nitsch L. Conditional inactivation of the E-cadherin gene in thyroid follicular cells affects gland development but does not impair junction formation. Endocrinology 2007; 148:2737-46. [PMID: 17347311 DOI: 10.1210/en.2006-1344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
We have conditionally inactivated the E-cadherin gene in the thyroid follicular cells of mouse embryo to unravel its role in thyroid development. We used the Cre-loxP system in which the Cre-recombinase was expressed under the control of the tissue-specific thyroglobulin promoter that becomes active at embryonic d 15. At postnatal d 7, thyroid follicle lumens in the knockout mice were about 30% smaller with respect to control mice and had an irregular shape. E-cadherin was almost completely absent in thyrocytes, beta-catenin was significantly reduced, whereas no change in gamma-catenin was detected. alpha-Catenin was also reduced on the cell plasma membrane. Despite the dramatic loss of E-cadherin and beta-catenin, cell-cell junctions were not affected, the distribution of tight junction proteins was unaltered, and no increase of thyroglobulin circulating in the blood was observed. In addition, we found that other members of the cadherin family, the R-cadherin and the Ksp-cadherin, were expressed in thyrocytes and that their membrane distribution was not altered in the E-cadherin conditional knockout mouse. Our results indicate that E-cadherin has a role in the development of the thyroid gland and in the expression of beta-catenin, but it is not essential for the maintenance of follicular cell adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Calì
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Acierno D, Amendola E, Callegaro G, Napolitano G. Innovative Poly(Butylene Terephthalate) Based Nanocomposites: a Preliminary Investigation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1002/masy.200750114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Giamberjni
- a University of Naples, Department of Materials and Production Engineering , Piazzale Tecchio, 80125 , Napoli , Italy
| | - E. Amendola
- a University of Naples, Department of Materials and Production Engineering , Piazzale Tecchio, 80125 , Napoli , Italy
| | - C. Carfagna
- a University of Naples, Department of Materials and Production Engineering , Piazzale Tecchio, 80125 , Napoli , Italy
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Amendola E, De Luca P, Macchia PE, Terracciano D, Rosica A, Chiappetta G, Kimura S, Mansouri A, Affuso A, Arra C, Macchia V, Di Lauro R, De Felice M. A mouse model demonstrates a multigenic origin of congenital hypothyroidism. Endocrinology 2005; 146:5038-47. [PMID: 16150900 DOI: 10.1210/en.2005-0882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Congenital hypothyroidism with thyroid dysgenesis (TD) is a frequent human condition characterized by elevated levels of TSH in response to reduced thyroid hormone levels. Congenital hypothyroidism is a genetically heterogeneous disease. In the majority of cases studied, no causative mutations have been identified and very often the disease does not show a Mendelian transmission. However, in approximately 5% of cases, it can be a consequence of mutations in genes encoding the TSH receptor or the transcription factors TITF1, FOXE1, or PAX8. We report here that in mouse models, the combination of partial deficiencies in the Titf1 and Pax8 genes results in an overt TD phenotype that is absent in either of the singly deficient, heterozygous mice. The disease is characterized by a small thyroid gland, elevated levels of TSH, reduced thyroglobulin biosynthesis, and high occurrence of hemiagenesis. The observed phenotype is strain specific, and the pattern of transmission indicates that at least two other genes, in addition to Titf1 and Pax8, are necessary to generate the condition. These results show that TD can be of multigenic origin in mice and strongly suggest that a similar pathogenic mechanism may be observed in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Amendola
- Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn, Laboratorio di Genetica Animale at CEINGE, Naples, Italy
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Lama G, Amendola E, Aurino AM, Carbone MG, Valentino L, Iafusco F. [Risk factors in calcium urolithiasis]. MINERVA UROL NEFROL 1996; 48:93-6. [PMID: 8815560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study has been to evaluate, retrospectively, if the association of urolithiasis different pathogenetic factors increases stone formation and recurrences. The study included 41 children, 20 males and 21 females, aged 3-15 years, divided into three groups: patients with hypercalciuric or normocalciuric urolithiasis and isolated hypercalciuria. In all of them renal function, blood and urinary pH, serum and urinary electrolytic levels, citraturia (dosed with anenzymatic quantitative method), oxalaturia (enzymatic colorimetric method), urinary glycosaminoglycans (dosed by means of cetylpyridinum chloride precipitation and quantitative analysis) have been considered. Statistical analysis was done using Student's "t"-test, with p < 0.05. In all children with hypercalciuric urolithiasis who during the follow-up presented a decreased citraturia, the number of recurrences increased and was above two. The children who during the follow-up remained hypercalciuric without urolithiasis, in spite of the high familiarity, presented an increased citraturia. In conclusion the association between hypercalciuria and low citraturia increases the risk of stone formation and recurrences in children with calcic urolithiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Lama
- Dipartimento di Pediatria II, Università degli Studi, Napoli
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Carfagna C, Amendola E, Giamberini M, Mensitieri G, Del Nobile MA, Filippov AG. Water sorption in a novel liquid crystalline epoxy resin. POLYM ENG SCI 1995. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.760350203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Carfagna C, Amendola E, Giamberini M. Liquid-crystalline epoxy resins: curing of blends of mesogenic and non-mesogenic epoxy monomers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1994. [DOI: 10.1007/bf00416822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Amendola E, Carfagna C, Netti P, Nicolais L, Saiello S. The influence of a copolymer as adhesion promoter for polycarbonate and liquid crystalline polymer blends. J Appl Polym Sci 1993. [DOI: 10.1002/app.1993.070500111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Carfagna C, Amendola E, Nicolais L, Acierno D, Francescangeli O, Yang B, Rustichelli F. Blends of a polyetherimide and a liquid crystalline polymer: Fiber orientation and mechanical properties. J Appl Polym Sci 1991. [DOI: 10.1002/app.1991.070430501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Nobile MR, Amendola E, Nicolais L, Acierno D, Carfagna C. Physical properties of blends of polycarbonate and a liquid crystalline copolyester. POLYM ENG SCI 1989. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.760290406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Dibenedetto AT, Nicolais L, Amendola E, Carfagna C, Nobile MR. The effect of hot drawing on the properties of thermotropic polymer fibers. POLYM ENG SCI 1989. [DOI: 10.1002/pen.760290302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Amendola E, Grassi B. [Clinical study and comparison of insanity of negation in various psychiatric diseases]. Rass Neuropsichiatr 1968; 22:164-8. [PMID: 5759922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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