1
|
Marongiu F, Cheri S, Laconi E. Clones of aging: When better fitness can be dangerous. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151340. [PMID: 37423036 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The biological and clinical significance of aberrant clonal expansions in aged tissues is being intensely discussed. Evidence is accruing that these clones often result from the normal dynamics of cell turnover in our tissues. The aged tissue microenvironment is prone to favour the emergence of specific clones with higher fitness partly because of an overall decline in cell intrinsic regenerative potential of surrounding counterparts. Thus, expanding clones in aged tissues need not to be mechanistically associated with the development of cancer, albeit this is a possibility. We suggest that growth pattern is a critical phenotypic attribute that impacts on the fate of such clonal proliferations. The acquisition of a better proliferative fitness, coupled with a defect in tissue pattern formation, could represent a dangerous mix setting the stage for their evolution towards neoplasia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Samuele Cheri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cattaneo N, Zarantoniello M, Conti F, Frontini A, Chemello G, Dimichino B, Marongiu F, Cardinaletti G, Gioacchini G, Olivotto I. Dietary Microplastic Administration during Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Development: A Comprehensive and Comparative Study between Larval and Juvenile Stages. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2256. [PMID: 37508033 PMCID: PMC10376277 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the main sources of MPs contamination in fish farms is aquafeed. The present study investigated, for the first time through a comparative approach, the effects of different-sized fluorescent MPs included in a diet intended for zebrafish (Danio rerio). A comparison based on fish developmental stage (larval vs. juvenile), exposure time, and dietary MPs' size and concentration was performed. Four experimental diets were formulated, starting from the control, by adding fluorescent polymer A (size range 1-5 µm) and B (size range 40-47 µm) at two different concentrations (50 and 500 mg/kg). Zebrafish were sampled at 20 (larval phase) and 60 dpf (juvenile stage). Whole larvae, intestine, liver and muscles of juveniles were collected for the analyses. Polymer A was absorbed at the intestinal level in both larvae and juveniles, while it was evidenced at the hepatic and muscular levels only in juveniles. Hepatic accumulation caused an increase in oxidative stress markers in juveniles, but at the same time significantly reduced the number of MPs able to reach the muscle, representing an efficient barrier against the spread of MPs. Polymer B simply transited through the gut, causing an abrasive effect and an increase in goblet cell abundance in both stages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nico Cattaneo
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Matteo Zarantoniello
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Federico Conti
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Frontini
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Giulia Chemello
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Beniamino Dimichino
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Gloriana Cardinaletti
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Giorgia Gioacchini
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Ike Olivotto
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Marongiu F, Marongiu S, Ruberto MF, Faa G, Barcellona D. Trace Metals and The Hemostatic System. Clin Chim Acta 2023; 547:117458. [PMID: 37385467 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
In this narrative review we report the main relationships between trace metals and the hemostatic system since this aspect has seldom attracted the attention of the scientific community. A basic aspect to be considered is the importance of maintaining the fine control of all trace metals' levels since they have an important impact on the pathophysiology of the hemostatic system. It is worth noting that poor diet habits are responsible for most trace metal deficiencies, while pollution is responsible for dangerous exposure to them with a consequent negative impact on the general population. This appears of paramount importance in planning the implementation of food and nutrient support to ameliorate the hidden hunger and the quality of life of people especially in developing countries and limiting poisons both in the air and food. As it often happens, when damage to certain mechanisms takes a very long time to appear, no attention is paid to the importance of a systematic prevention to avoid late negative outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Marongiu
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Haemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria (A.O.U.), Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Fondazione Arianna, Anticoagulazione.it, Bologna, Italy
| | - S Marongiu
- Department of Medicine, Azienda Tutela della Salute Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - M F Ruberto
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Haemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria (A.O.U.), Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Faa
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Division of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria (A.O.U.), di Cagliari - University Hospital San Giovanni di Dio, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D Barcellona
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Haemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria (A.O.U.), Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Fondazione Arianna, Anticoagulazione.it, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hill W, Lim EL, Weeden CE, Lee C, Augustine M, Chen K, Kuan FC, Marongiu F, Evans EJ, Moore DA, Rodrigues FS, Pich O, Bakker B, Cha H, Myers R, van Maldegem F, Boumelha J, Veeriah S, Rowan A, Naceur-Lombardelli C, Karasaki T, Sivakumar M, De S, Caswell DR, Nagano A, Black JRM, Martínez-Ruiz C, Ryu MH, Huff RD, Li S, Favé MJ, Magness A, Suárez-Bonnet A, Priestnall SL, Lüchtenborg M, Lavelle K, Pethick J, Hardy S, McRonald FE, Lin MH, Troccoli CI, Ghosh M, Miller YE, Merrick DT, Keith RL, Al Bakir M, Bailey C, Hill MS, Saal LH, Chen Y, George AM, Abbosh C, Kanu N, Lee SH, McGranahan N, Berg CD, Sasieni P, Houlston R, Turnbull C, Lam S, Awadalla P, Grönroos E, Downward J, Jacks T, Carlsten C, Malanchi I, Hackshaw A, Litchfield K, DeGregori J, Jamal-Hanjani M, Swanton C. Lung adenocarcinoma promotion by air pollutants. Nature 2023; 616:159-167. [PMID: 37020004 PMCID: PMC7614604 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05874-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 112.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
A complete understanding of how exposure to environmental substances promotes cancer formation is lacking. More than 70 years ago, tumorigenesis was proposed to occur in a two-step process: an initiating step that induces mutations in healthy cells, followed by a promoter step that triggers cancer development1. Here we propose that environmental particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), known to be associated with lung cancer risk, promotes lung cancer by acting on cells that harbour pre-existing oncogenic mutations in healthy lung tissue. Focusing on EGFR-driven lung cancer, which is more common in never-smokers or light smokers, we found a significant association between PM2.5 levels and the incidence of lung cancer for 32,957 EGFR-driven lung cancer cases in four within-country cohorts. Functional mouse models revealed that air pollutants cause an influx of macrophages into the lung and release of interleukin-1β. This process results in a progenitor-like cell state within EGFR mutant lung alveolar type II epithelial cells that fuels tumorigenesis. Ultradeep mutational profiling of histologically normal lung tissue from 295 individuals across 3 clinical cohorts revealed oncogenic EGFR and KRAS driver mutations in 18% and 53% of healthy tissue samples, respectively. These findings collectively support a tumour-promoting role for PM2.5 air pollutants and provide impetus for public health policy initiatives to address air pollution to reduce disease burden.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Hill
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Emilia L Lim
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Clare E Weeden
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Claudia Lee
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marcellus Augustine
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Kezhong Chen
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology Institute, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Feng-Che Kuan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi Branch, Chiayi, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Edward J Evans
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - David A Moore
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | - Felipe S Rodrigues
- Tumour-Host Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Oriol Pich
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Bjorn Bakker
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Hongui Cha
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Renelle Myers
- BC Cancer Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Febe van Maldegem
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jesse Boumelha
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Selvaraju Veeriah
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Andrew Rowan
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Takahiro Karasaki
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Monica Sivakumar
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Swapnanil De
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Deborah R Caswell
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Ai Nagano
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - James R M Black
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Carlos Martínez-Ruiz
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Min Hyung Ryu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Chan-Yeung Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ryan D Huff
- Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Chan-Yeung Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shijia Li
- Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Chan-Yeung Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Alastair Magness
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Alejandro Suárez-Bonnet
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
- Experimental Histopathology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Simon L Priestnall
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
- Experimental Histopathology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Margreet Lüchtenborg
- National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), NHS England, Leeds, UK
- Centre for Cancer, Society and Public Health, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Katrina Lavelle
- National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), NHS England, Leeds, UK
| | - Joanna Pethick
- National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), NHS England, Leeds, UK
| | - Steven Hardy
- National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), NHS England, Leeds, UK
| | - Fiona E McRonald
- National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), NHS England, Leeds, UK
| | - Meng-Hung Lin
- Health Information and Epidemiology Laboratory, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Clara I Troccoli
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Flagship Biosciences, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Moumita Ghosh
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - York E Miller
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Daniel T Merrick
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Robert L Keith
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Maise Al Bakir
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Chris Bailey
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Mark S Hill
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Lao H Saal
- SAGA Diagnostics, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Yilun Chen
- SAGA Diagnostics, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anthony M George
- SAGA Diagnostics, Lund, Sweden
- Division of Oncology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christopher Abbosh
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Nnennaya Kanu
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Se-Hoon Lee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Nicholas McGranahan
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Peter Sasieni
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Richard Houlston
- Division of Genetics and Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Clare Turnbull
- Division of Genetics and Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Stephen Lam
- BC Cancer Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Philip Awadalla
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eva Grönroos
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Julian Downward
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Tyler Jacks
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christopher Carlsten
- Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Chan-Yeung Centre for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Disease, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, UBC, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ilaria Malanchi
- Tumour-Host Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Allan Hackshaw
- Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, London, UK
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Swanton C, Hill W, Lim E, Lee C, Weeden C, Augustine M, Chen K, Kuan FC, Marongiu F, Rodrigues F, Cha H, Jacks T, Luchtenborg M, Malanchi I, Downward J, Carlsten C, Hackshaw A, Litchfield K, DeGregori J, Jamal-Hanjani M. LBA1 Mechanism of action and an actionable inflammatory axis for air pollution induced non-small cell lung cancer: Towards molecular cancer prevention. Ann Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.08.046] [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: 11/01/2022] Open
|
6
|
Marongiu F, DeGregori J. The sculpting of somatic mutational landscapes by evolutionary forces and their impacts on aging-related disease. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:3238-3258. [PMID: 35726685 PMCID: PMC9490148 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging represents the major risk factor for the development of cancer and many other diseases. Recent findings show that normal tissues become riddled with expanded clones that are frequently driven by cancer‐associated mutations in an aging‐dependent fashion. Additional studies show how aged tissue microenvironments promote the initiation and progression of malignancies, while young healthy tissues actively suppress the outgrowth of malignant clones. Here, we discuss conserved mechanisms that eliminate poorly functioning or potentially malignant cells from our tissues to maintain organismal health and fitness. Natural selection acts to preserve tissue function and prevent disease to maximize reproductive success but these mechanisms wane as reproduction becomes less likely. The ensuing age‐dependent tissue decline can impact the shape and direction of clonal somatic evolution, with lifestyle and exposures influencing its pace and intensity. We also consider how aging‐ and exposure‐dependent clonal expansions of “oncogenic” mutations might both increase cancer risk late in life and contribute to tissue decline and non‐malignant disease. Still, we can marvel at the ability of our bodies to avoid cancers and other diseases despite the accumulation of billions of cells with cancer‐associated mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pathology, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.,University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
DeGregori J, Pham-Danis C, Rozhok AI, Evans EJ, Marongiu F, Scarborough H, Henry CJ. Abstract IA012: Aging, tissue ecology, and the evolution of cancer within us. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.evodyn22-ia012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Why do we get cancer? Why is cancer highly associated with old age? Of course, aging is associated with the accumulation of more mutations, and some of these mutations can contribute to cancer phenotypes. But we now understand that carcinogenesis is much more complex than originally appreciated. In particular, there are tissue environmental forces that both impede and promote cancer evolution. Just as organismal evolution is known to be driven by environmental changes, cellular (somatic) evolution in our bodies is similarly driven by changes in tissue environments, whether caused by the normal process of aging, by lifestyle choices or by extrinsic exposures. Environmental change promotes selection for new phenotypes that are adaptive to the new context. In our tissues, aging or insult-driven alterations in tissues drives selection for adaptive mutations, and some of these mutations can confer malignant phenotypes. We have been using mouse models of cancer initiation, mathematical models of cellular evolution, and analyses of human tissue samples to better understand the evolutionary forces that control somatic cell evolution and thus cancer risk. We have shown that aging and inflammation dependent changes in tissue environments dramatically dictate whether cancer-causing mutations are advantageous to stem cells in our tissues, starting the cells down the path to cancer. Our studies have focused on cancer initiation within the hematopoietic system and the lung. These studies have also uncovered molecular explanations for mutation-driven adaptation to aged and inflammatory tissue environments. In all, these studies indicate that strategies to prevent or treat cancers will need to incorporate interventions that alter tissue microenvironments.
Citation Format: James DeGregori, Catherine Pham-Danis, Andrii I Rozhok, Edward J. Evans, Fabio Marongiu, Hannah Scarborough, Curtis J. Henry. Aging, tissue ecology, and the evolution of cancer within us [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Evolutionary Dynamics in Carcinogenesis and Response to Therapy; 2022 Mar 14-17. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA012.
Collapse
|
8
|
Barcellona D, Schirru P, Mameli A, Cornacchini S, Fenu L, Marongiu F. Over-anticoagulation by vitamin K antagonists and gender differences. Int J Cardiol 2022; 362:147-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2022.05.003] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
9
|
Marongiu F, Bertozzi N, Sibilio A, Curcio A. The First Use of Autologous Dermal Patch in DTI Pre-Pectoral Breast Reconstruction After Skin Reducing Mastectomy: A New Useful and Cheap Reconstruction Option. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2022; 46:590-592. [PMID: 33825071 DOI: 10.1007/s00266-021-02246-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
10
|
Congiu T, Demontis R, Cau F, Piras M, Fanni D, Gerosa C, Botta C, Scano A, Chighine A, Faedda E, Cau R, Van Eyken P, Marongiu F, Barcellona D, Saba L, Orrù G, Coghe F, Suri JS, Faa G, d'Aloja E. Scanning electron microscopy of lung disease due to COVID-19 - a case report and a review of the literature. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2022; 25:7997-8003. [PMID: 34982463 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202112_27650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) showed similar characteristics with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). In the most compromised cases, COVID-19 infection leads to death due to severe respiratory complications. COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the primary cause of death in these patients. In the present study, we show an ultrastructural analysis on the lungs of a patient affected by COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS Lung specimens obtained at autopsy from a 63-years old patient affected by COVID-19 were fixed in 1% paraformaldehyde. Slices of 300 µm thickness were dehydrated and dried by Critical Point Drying in CO2. Slices were covered with a conductive gold film approximately 30 nm thick and observed at a Zeiss Sigma 300 SEM FEG in the secondary electron (SE) and backscattered electron (BSE) modes. As case control a lung biopsy from a 60-year-old man was considered. RESULTS At low power in all COVID-19 lung specimens severe changes in the pulmonary architecture were found, due to the collapse of air spaces. Moreover, alveolar cavities were covered by large membranes. At high power, alveolar membranes showed a fibrillar structure, suggestive of a loose network of fibrin. It has been also found that intra-alveolar red blood cells were frequently present in the alveolar spaces, surrounded by a reticular fibrin network, suggestive for fibrin-hemorrhagic alveolitis. Alveolar changes were constantly associated with pathological features related to the pulmonary vessels. Vascular changes were prominent, including endothelial damage and thrombosis of large pulmonary vessels. Fibrinous microthrombi were frequently detected in the inter-alveolar septal capillaries. In addition, it has been frequently detected capillary proliferation in the alveolar septa with finding suggestive for intussusceptive neo-angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our electron microscopy analysis showed that COVID-19-related lung disease is characterized by a substantial architectural distortion, with the interactions between alveolar and vascular changes. Intra-alveolar hyaline membranes are associated with macro- and micro-thrombotic angiopathy, ending with capillary proliferation. The new blood vessel formation originates from the septa and extends into the surrounding parenchyma. Our findings confirm previous reports on the specificity of the multiple and complex morphological pattern typical, and apparently specific, of COVID-19-related lung disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Congiu
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Division Pathological Anatomy, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Murru V, Cocco V, Marras C, Sestu A, Marongiu F, Saba L, Cianchetti ME, Scuteri A. Acute embolisms in multiple arterial districts following Ad26.COV2-S vaccine. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2022; 26:278-283. [PMID: 35049005 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202201_27778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A case of multiple arterial thrombosis/embolisms in a 74-year-old Caucasian man with no other cardiovascular risk factors who received Ad26.COV2-S vaccine 16 days before is reported. The unusual presentation required a longer diagnostic workup. The clinical manifestations and the therapy-specific response suggest an unusual presentation of Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Murru
- Post-Graduate Medical School of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Congiu T, Fanni D, Piras M, Gerosa C, Cau F, Barcellona D, D'Aloja E, Demontis R, Chighine A, Nioi M, Coni P, Ravarino A, Cerrone G, Aimola V, Botta C, Scano A, Orrù G, Coghe F, Van Eyken P, La Nasa G, Saba L, Suri JS, Faa G, Marongiu F. Ultrastructural findings of lung injury due to Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombo- cytopenia (VITT) following COVID-19 vaccination: a scanning electron microscopic study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2022; 26:270-277. [PMID: 35049004 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202201_27777] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare new syndrome occurring after the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine immunization. Patients with VITT are characterized by a variable clinical presentation, likewise also the outcome of these patients is very variable. Here we report the lung ultrastructural findings in the course of VITT of a 58-year-old male patient. Alveoli were mainly dilated, irregular in shape, and occupied by a reticular network of fibrin, while interalveolar septa appeared thickened. The proliferation of small capillaries gave rise to plexiform structures and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis-like features. Near the alveoli occupied by a dense fibrin network, the medium-sized arteries showed a modified wall and an intraluminal thrombus. This scenario looks quite similar to that found during COVID-19, where the lungs suffer from the attack of the antigen-antibodies complexes and the virus respectively. In both diseases, the final outcome is a severe inflammation, activation of the haemostatic system and fibrinolysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Congiu
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU of Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gerosa C, Faa G, Fanni D, Cerrone G, Suri JS, Barcellona D, Coni P, Congiu T, Lai ML, Piras M, Cau F, Coghe F, Balestrieri A, Cau R, Orru' G, Scano A, Van Eyken P, La Nasa G, Campagna M, Castagnola M, Gibo Y, Marongiu F, Saba L. Fetal programming of atherosclerosis: may the barker hypothesis explain the susceptibility of a subset of patients to develop stroke or cardiac infarct? Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:6633-6641. [PMID: 34787867 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202111_27107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The risk stratification of young adults between subjects who will develop a mild form of atherosclerosis and subjects who will undergo a severe disease remains inaccurate. In the eighties of the previous century, David JP Barker has demonstrated the relationship between fetal conditions and occurrence of pathologies in adulthood. In this paper, the multiple evidence that might explain the increased susceptibility to severe forms of atherosclerosis, including stroke and cardiac infarct, in subjects who underwent intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) will be analyzed. Specifically, we will review those inter-connected data indicating an association between a low weight at birth and an adult phenotype which might favor a severe outcome of atherosclerosis. Young and adult subjects born too small (IUGR) or too early (pre-terms) might represent a subgroup of "at risk subjects", more susceptible toward severe forms of atherosclerosis. Given that low birth weight (LBW) may be considered a surrogate of IUGR, this phenotypic feature could be considered among those indispensable clinical data collected in every patient presenting with atherosclerosis, irrespectively of age. According to the hypothesis that structural arterial changes might represent the link between LBW and susceptibility to atherosclerosis later in life, we suggest that the prevention of atherosclerosis should begin at birth. Regenerative and physiological substances such as thymosin Beta-4 could be challenged for a new "arterial regenerative medicine" in the perinatal period. The goal of this new approach should be the reinforcement of the structure of the arterial wall, allowing LBW newborns to avoid the most severe complications of atherosclerosis later in life: a dream that our research could contribute to bringing to life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Gerosa
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU of Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Faa G, Gerosa C, Fanni D, Barcellona D, Cerrone G, Orrù G, Scano A, Marongiu F, Suri J, Demontis R, Nioi M, D'Aloja E, La Nasa G, Saba L. Aortic vulnerability to COVID-19: is the microvasculature of vasa vasorum a key factor? A case report and a review of the literature. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:6439-6442. [PMID: 34730226 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202110_27018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Arterial thromboembolic complications reported in patients with COVID-19 infection suggested that SARS-CoV-2 can trigger atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. While endothelial cells in healthy subjects protect against thrombus formation, after injury they show prothrombotic activity. In addition, it has been hypothesized that "cytokine storm" might stimulate the production of neo-platelets triggering an abnormal "immunothrombosis" responsible for the hypercoagulable state induced in COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study is to report a case of severe COVID-19 infection characterized by the occurrence of microthrombosis in the vasa vasorum of the aorta. A 67-year-old male patient, in good health status and without comorbidities, who underwent a severe COVID-19 infection with fatal outcome, showed scattered aortic atherosclerotic plaques, characterized by multiple occlusive micro-thromboses in the vasa vasorum, spread out lymphocytic infiltrates and foci of endotheliitis and endothelial detachment. This case report confirms the previously described thrombotic involvement of vasa vasorum in COVID-19. The occurrence of the synchronous damage involving both the lumen surface (endothelial dysfunction, endotheliitis and endothelial detachment) and the adventitia (inflammation and occlusive thrombosis of vasa vasorum) could be the key points related to the fatal outcome of the SARS-CoV-2 patients. In our opinion, vasa vasorum thrombosis may thus initiate an atherogenic process that could be characterized by a much more rapid development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Faa
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU of Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Fanni D, Cerrone G, Saba L, Demontis R, Congiu T, Piras M, Gerosa C, Suri J, Coni P, Caddori A, Piga M, Mancosu G, Barcellona D, Ravarino A, Chighine A, Cau F, Scano A, Balestrieri A, Coghe F, Orrù G, Van Eyken P, La Nasa G, D'Aloia E, Marongiu F, Faa G. Thrombotic sinusoiditis and local diffuse intrasinusoidal coagulation in the liver of subjects affected by COVID-19: the evidence from histology and scanning electron microscopy. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:5904-5912. [PMID: 34661248 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202110_26866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Liver injury has been reported in patients with COVID-19. This condition is characterized by severe outcome and could be related with the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to activate cytotoxic T cells. The purpose of this study is to show the histological and scanning electron microscopy features of liver involvement in COVID-19 to characterize the liver changes caused by the activation of multiple molecular pathways following this infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS Liver biopsies from 4 patients (3 post-mortems and 1 in vivo) with COVID-19 were analyzed with histology and by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS The liver changes showed significant heterogeneity. The first case showed ground glass hepatocytes and scattered fibrin aggregates in the sinusoidal lumen. The second evidenced intra-sinusoidal thrombi. The third was characterized by sinusoidal dilatation, atrophy of hepatocytes, Disse's spaces dilatation and intra-sinusoidal aggregates of fibrin and red blood cells. The fourth case exhibited diffuse fibrin aggregates in the dilated Disse spaces and microthrombi in the sinusoidal lumen. CONCLUSIONS In COVID-19-related liver injury, a large spectrum of pathological changes was observed. The most peculiar features were very mild inflammation, intra-sinusoidal changes, including sinusoidal dilatation, thrombotic sinusoiditis and diffuse intra-sinusoidal fibrin deposition. These findings suggested that a thrombotic sinusoiditis followed by a local diffuse intra-vascular (intra-sinusoidal) coagulation could be the typical features of the SARS-CoV-2-related liver injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Fanni
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, AOU of Cagliari, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Gerosa C, Faa G, Fanni D, Manchia M, Suri JS, Ravarino A, Barcellona D, Pichiri G, Coni P, Congiu T, Piras M, Cerrone G, Cau F, Ledda F, Aimola V, Coghe F, Porcu M, Cau R, Orru' G, Van Eyken P, La Nasa G, Castagnola M, Marongiu F, Saba L. Fetal programming of COVID-19: may the barker hypothesis explain the susceptibility of a subset of young adults to develop severe disease? Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:5876-5884. [PMID: 34604981 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202109_26810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The risk stratification of young adults between subjects who will develop a mild form COVID-19 and subjects who will undergo a severe disease remains inaccurate. In this review, we propose that the Barker hypothesis might explain the increased susceptibility to severe forms of COVID-19 in subjects who underwent intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In this paper evidence indicating an association between a low birth weight and an adult phenotype which might favor a severe outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection are presented: lower lung functional capacity; increased respiratory morbidity; changes in fibrinogen and Factor VII serum levels and dysregulation of the hemostasis and thrombosis system; acquisition of a pro-thrombotic phenotype; low nephron number, with decreased ability to sustain renal function and increased renal morbidity; heart remodeling, with a less efficient cardiac function; endothelial dysfunction, a risk factor for the insurgence of the multiple organ failure; remodeling of arteries, with changes in the elastic properties of the arterial wall, predisposing to the insurgence and progression of atherosclerosis; dysfunction of the innate immune system, a risk factor for immune diseases in adulthood. These data suggest that young and adult subjects born too small (IUGR) or too early (pre-terms) might represent a subgroup of "at risk subjects", more susceptible toward severe forms of COVID-19. Given that LBW may be considered a surrogate of IUGR, this phenotypic marker should be included among the indispensable clinical data collected in every patient presenting with SARS-COV-2 infection, irrespectively of his/her age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Gerosa
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Ruberto MF, Piras MS, Sorbello O, Civolani A, Usai P, Fanni D, Orrù G, Faa G, Marongiu F, Barcellona D. Chronic intravascular coagulation in liver cirrhosis predicts a high hemorrhagic risk. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:5518-5524. [PMID: 34533802 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202109_26663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In liver cirrhosis, a complex coagulopathy does exist. The aim was to investigate whether a possible chronic consumption coagulopathy is the underlying phenomenon of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS We measured endogenous thrombin generation with and without thrombomodulin (ETP ratio) along with D-Dimer in a group of consecutive 282 cirrhotic patients. Fibrinogen, Platelet count and the Hemorrhagic score were previously computed in the same patients. The ETP ratio represents the resistance to the anticoagulant activity of TM and should be considered as an index of a procoagulant imbalance. RESULTS ETP ratio and D-Dimer showed higher values in the cirrhotic patients when compared to controls thus showing a hypercoagulable state. When the patients were divided based on the Hemorrhagic score >7, we found that Fibrinogen, ETP ratio, D-Dimer and the platelet count were significantly different between the two groups. Again, when we considered ETP ratio >0.88, the median value of the cirrhotic patients, all parameters, were statistically different between the two groups. D-Dimer were higher while fibrinogen and platelet count were statistically lower in cirrhotic patients with higher ETP ratio values. Even when the same patients were divided based on their platelet count (</> 100 x 109/L) the results showed a similar behavior. ROC curves showed significant AUCs when the hemorrhagic score was challenged against Fibrinogen, D-Dimer, Platelet count and ETP ratio. CONCLUSIONS In liver cirrhosis hypercoagulable state is associated with an increase in D-Dimer levels along with a decrease in fibrinogen and platelet count thus indicating a low-grade intravascular coagulation which predicts a high hemorrhagic risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M F Ruberto
- Hemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Complex multicellular organisms require quantitative and qualitative assessments on each of their constitutive cell types to ensure coordinated and cooperative behavior towards overall functional proficiency. Cell competition represents one of the operating arms of such quality control mechanisms and relies on fitness comparison among individual cells. However, what is exactly included in the fitness equation for each cell type is still uncertain. Evidence will be discussed to suggest that the ability of the cell to integrate and collaborate within the organismal community represents an integral part of the best fitness phenotype. Thus, under normal conditions, cell competition will select against the emergence of altered cells with disruptive behavior towards tissue integrity and/or tissue pattern formation. On the other hand, the winner phenotype prevailing as a result of cell competition does not entail, by itself, any degree of growth autonomy. While cell competition per se should not be considered as a biological driving force towards the emergence of the neoplastic phenotype, it is possible that the molecular machinery involved in the winner/loser interaction could be hijacked by evolving cancer cell populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Samuele Cheri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Fanni D, Saba L, Demontis R, Gerosa C, Chighine A, Nioi M, Suri JS, Ravarino A, Cau F, Barcellona D, Botta MC, Porcu M, Scano A, Coghe F, Orrù G, Van Eyken P, Gibo Y, La Nasa G, D'aloja E, Marongiu F, Faa G. Vaccine-induced severe thrombotic thrombocytopenia following COVID-19 vaccination: a report of an autoptic case and review of the literature. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:5063-5069. [PMID: 34355379 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202108_26464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a new syndrome occurring primarily in healthy young adults, with a female predominance, after receiving the first dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. We describe VITT syndrome characterized by severe thrombosis and thrombocytopenia found in our patient, with fatal outcome. CASE REPORT A 58-year-old man, after 13 days from the first administration of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca), presented with abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomitus. Laboratory tests revealed a severe thrombocytopenia, low fibrinogen serum levels and marked increase of D-dimer serum levels. The patient quickly developed a multiple organ failure, till death, three days after the hospital admission. RESULTS At histology, in the lungs, interalveolar septa appeared thickened with microthrombi in the capillaries and veins. Interalveolar septa appeared thickened and showed vascular proliferation. Thrombi were detected in the capillaries of glomerular tufts. In the hearth, thrombi were observed in veins and capillaries. In the liver, voluminous fibrin thrombi were diffusely observed in the branches of the portal vein. Microthrombi were also found in the vasa vasorum of the wall of abdominal aorta. In the brain, microthrombi were observed in the capillaries of the choroid plexuses. Diffuse hemorrhagic necrosis was observed in the intestinal wall with marked congestion of the venous vessels. CONCLUSIONS In our patient, the majority of data necessary for a VITT final diagnosis were present: thrombocytopenia and thrombosis in pulmonary, portal, hepatic, renal and mesenteric veins, associated with a marked increase of D-dimer serum levels. The finding of cerebral thrombosis in choroid plexuses, is a new finding in VITT. These features are suggestive for a very aggressive form of VITT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Fanni
- Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Barcellona D, Fenu L, Marongiu F. Clinical history and gastrointestinal bleeding in patients taking oral anticoagulants. Int J Cardiol 2021; 339:134-137. [PMID: 34280423 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2021.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) are advanced age and the use of antiplatelet or anticoagulants drugs for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. METHODS In this prospective real-world observational study, oral anticoagulated patients were recruited and followed between June 2013 and December 2019. The primary end-point was to evaluate a possible relationship between bleeding events and patients' clinical history of gastrointestinal disease prior to the start of the therapy. The secondary end-points were time of GIB appearance and the percentage of idiopathic or provoked events, i.e., bleeding due to a gastrointestinal disease. In case of GIB event all the patients were studied by means of endoscopic procedures. Cox regression was used to calculate the relative hazard ratios (HRs) of GIB for each considered clinical variable. RESULTS 734 patients on both VKAs or DOACs were studied. Overall, 46 hemorrhagic events were recorded: 6 were major bleeding (0.42/100 patient-years) while 43 were clinically relevant non major bleeding (2.8/100 patient-years). The Cox regression analysis did not show any relationships among GIB and the variables considered. CONCLUSION The patients' clinical history is neither a predictor for GIB bleeding nor a guide to the choice of the oral anticoagulant to be administered. Routinely applying bleeding risk screening, such as occult blood in the stool, should be added to the periodic laboratory checks for early recognition of patients at higher risk of GIB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doris Barcellona
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - L Fenu
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Marongiu
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Marongiu F, Grandone E, Scano A, Orrù G, Marongiu S, Gerosa C, Fanni D, Faa G, Barcellona D. Infectious agents including COVID-19 and the involvement of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. A narrative review. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:3886-3897. [PMID: 34109597 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202105_25956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Platelets, blood coagulation along with fibrinolysis are greatly involved in the pathophysiology of infectious diseases induced by bacteria, parasites and virus. This phenomenon is not surprising since both the innate immunity and the hemostatic systems are two ancestral mechanisms which closely cooperate favoring host's defense against foreign invaders. However, the excessive response of these systems may be dangerous for the host itself. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched and retrieved the articles, using the following electronic database: MedLine and Embase. We limited our search to articles published in English, but no restrictions in terms of article type, publication year, and geography were adopted. RESULTS The hemostatic phenotype of the infectious diseases is variable depending on the points of attack of the different involved pathogens. Infectious diseases which show a prothrombotic phenotype are bacterial sepsis, SARS-CoV-2 and malaria. However, among the bacterial sepsis, Yersinia Pestis is characterized by a profibrinolytic behavior. On the contrary, the hemorrhagic fevers, due to Dengue and Ebola virus, mainly exploit the activation of fibrinolysis secondary to a huge endothelial damage which can release a large amount of t-PA in the early phase of the diseases. CONCLUSIONS Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis are greatly activated based on the strategy of the different infectious agents which exploit the excess of response of both systems to achieve the greatest possible virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Marongiu
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Barcellona D, Fanni D, Gerosa C, Congiu T, Orrù G, Faa G, Marongiu F. Heparins and 2019-nCoV infection: a narrative review. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:3594-3606. [PMID: 34002834 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202105_25842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with 2019-nCoV infection have a high risk to develop venous thrombotic events. Several guidelines recommend the use of either unfractionated heparin or low molecular weight heparins in preventing thrombotic events in these patients. However, results from clinical studies, so far published, reached controversial conclusions on heparin efficacy in this kind of patients since the incidence of venous thromboembolism remains high despite prophylaxis. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of heparins and their efficacy and safety in SARS-CoV-2 medical ward-patients. Moreover, anatomical findings and ongoing trials are also reported. Finally, this narrative review tries to explain why heparins fail to prevent venous thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched for the most relevant published studies on heparins and 2019-nCoV infected patients using the MEDLINE electronic database in the period between January and December 2020. Articles were preliminarily defined as eligible if they: a) were in English language, b) enrolled 250 or more medical ward-patients and 100 or more ICU-patients, c) reported results on patients treated with heparins in a percentage of at least 70% and d) performed an objectively confirmed diagnosis of VTE. RESULTS Data from medium to large scientific studies show that the incidence of venous thrombotic events in medical ward-patients with SARS-CoV-2 vary between 0% and 8.3%, while this rate is higher, from 6.2% to 49%, in Intensive Care Unit-patients. However, heparins reduce the mortality rate in these patients of about 50%. Histological findings show that thrombosis could affect capillaries, main and small-mid-sized vessels, and it is associated with diffuse alveolar damage. CONCLUSIONS Heparins have anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties, which may be of help in reducing mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Failure of heparins at prophylactic dosages in preventing VTE, especially in ICU-patients, could be due to the severity of the disease. Data on the use of heparins in an early phase of the 2019-nCoV infection are still lacking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Barcellona
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Serra M, Marongiu F, Laconi E. Long-term moderate caloric restriction and social isolation synergize to induce anorexia-like behavior in rats. Nutrition 2021; 86:111177. [PMID: 33631619 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Moderate caloric restriction (CR) is an effective strategy to delay the onset of chronic disease states. Conversely, social isolation (SI) carries an increased risk of morbidity and mortality from several causes. The present studies were designed to investigate the long-term effect of the two combined exposures. Two-month-old male rats of the Fischer 344 strain were fed either ad libitum or under a regimen of CR, and each of the two animal sets were housed either in group or isolation. Food consumption and animal growth curves were as expected during the first 6 wk of observation. However, starting at 2 mo and continuing until the fifth month of follow up, rats exposed to both CR and SI showed signs of altered feeding behavior and were unable to complete their (already restricted) meal. Furthermore, altered behavior was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in growth rate until no further increase in body weight was observed. Restoration of group-housing conditions led to a reversal of this phenotype. We conclude that chronic moderate CR and SI synergize to induce anorexia-like behavior, representing a simple and reproducible model to study such an eating disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences - Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences - Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences - Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Saba L, Gerosa C, Fanni D, Marongiu F, La Nasa G, Caocci G, Barcellona D, Balestrieri A, Coghe F, Orru G, Coni P, Piras M, Ledda F, Suri JS, Ronchi A, D'Andrea F, Cau R, Castagnola M, Faa G. Molecular pathways triggered by COVID-19 in different organs: ACE2 receptor-expressing cells under attack? A review. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 24:12609-12622. [PMID: 33336781 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202012_24058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In human pathology, SARS-CoV-2 utilizes multiple molecular pathways to determine structural and biochemical changes within the different organs and cell types. The clinical picture of patients with COVID-19 is characterized by a very large spectrum. The reason for this variability has not been clarified yet, causing the inability to make a prognosis on the evolution of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS PubMed search was performed focusing on the role of ACE 2 receptors in allowing the viral entry into cells, the role of ACE 2 downregulation in triggering the tissue pathology or in accelerating previous disease states, the role of increased levels of Angiotensin II in determining endothelial dysfunction and the enhanced vascular permeability, the role of the dysregulation of the renin angiotensin system in COVID-19 and the role of cytokine storm. RESULTS The pathological changes induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection in the different organs, the correlations between the single cell types targeted by the virus in the different human organs and the clinical consequences, COVID-19 chronic pathologies in liver fibrosis, cardiac fibrosis and atrial arrhythmias, glomerulosclerosis and pulmonary fibrosis, due to the systemic fibroblast activation induced by angiotensin II are discussed. CONCLUSIONS The main pathways involved showed different pathological changes in multiple tissues and the different clinical presentations. Even if ACE2 is the main receptor of SARS-CoV-2 and the main entry point into cells for the virus, ACE2 expression does not always explain the observed marked inter-individual variability in clinical presentation and outcome, evidencing the complexity of this disorder. The proper interpretation of the growing data available might allow to better classifying COVID-19 in human pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Saba
- Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria (AOU), di Cagliari - Polo di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Marongiu F, de Tullio D, Tognali D, Nensor P, Pasquali S, Sibilio A, Sgarzani R, Mingozzi M, Buggi F, Curcio A. A human-derived acellular dermal matrix for breast reconstruction: The first European experience. Eur J Cancer 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(20)30634-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
26
|
Abstract
Cell competition is now a well-established quality control strategy to optimize cell and tissue fitness in multicellular organisms. While pursuing this goal, it is also effective in selecting against altered/defective cells with putative (pre)-neoplastic potential, thereby edging the risk of cancer development. The flip side of the coin is that the molecular machinery driving cell competition can also be co-opted by neoplastic cell populations to expand unchecked, outside the boundaries of tissue homeostatic control. This review will focus on information that begins to emerge regarding the role of cell competition in liver physiology and pathology. Liver repopulation by normal transplanted hepatocytes is an interesting field of investigation in this regard. The biological coordinates of this process share many features suggesting that cell competition is a driving force for the clearance of endogenous damaged hepatocytes by normal donor-derived cells, as previously proposed. Intriguing analogies between liver repopulation and carcinogenesis will be briefly discussed and the potential dual role of cell competition, as a barrier or a spur to neoplastic development, will be considered. Cell competition is in essence a cooperative strategy organized at tissue level. One facet of such cooperative attitude is expressed in the elimination of altered cells which may represent a threat to the organismal community. On the other hand, the society of cells can be disrupted by the emergence of selfish clones, exploiting the molecular bar codes of cell competition, thereby paving their way to uncontrolled growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09124, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari 09124, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Serra M, Marongiu F, Pisu MG, Serra M, Laconi E. Time-restricted feeding delays the emergence of the age-associated, neoplastic-prone tissue landscape. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:3851-3863. [PMID: 31188781 PMCID: PMC6594823 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Aging increases the risk of cancer partly through alterations in the tissue microenvironment. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is being proposed as an effective strategy to delay biological aging. In the present studies, we assessed the effect of long-term exposure to TRF on the emergence of the age-associated, neoplastic-prone tissue landscape. Animals were exposed to either ad libitum feeding (ALF) or TRF for 18 months and then transplanted with hepatocytes isolated from pre-neoplastic nodules. Both groups were continued ALF and the growth of transplanted cells was evaluated 3 months later. A significant decrease in frequency of larger size clusters of pre-neoplastic hepatocytes was seen in TRF-exposed group compared to controls. Furthermore, TRF modified several parameters related to both liver and systemic aging towards the persistence of a younger phenotype, including a decrease in liver cell senescence, diminished fat accumulation and up-regulation of SIRT1 in the liver, down-regulation of plasma IGF-1, decreased levels of plasma lipoproteins and up-regulation of hippocampal brain-derived growth factor (BDNF).These results indicate that TRF was able to delay the onset of the neoplastic-prone tissue landscape typical of aging. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation to describe a direct beneficial effect of TRF on early phases of carcinogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Mariangela Serra
- Department of Life and Environment Sciences University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Passaretta F, Bosco D, Centurione L, Centurione MA, Marongiu F, Di Pietro R. Differential response to hepatic differentiation stimuli of amniotic epithelial cells isolated from four regions of the amniotic membrane. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:4350-4355. [PMID: 32142212 PMCID: PMC7171396 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells (hAEC) isolated from term placenta are a promising source for regenerative medicine. However, it has long been debated whether the hAEC population consists of heterogeneous or homogeneous cells. In a previous study, we investigated the characteristics of hAEC isolated from four different regions of the amniotic membrane finding significant heterogeneity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic differentiation capability of hAEC isolated from these four regions. Human term placentae were collected after caesarean section and hAEC were isolated from four regions of the amniotic membrane (R1-R4, according to their relative distance from the umbilical cord) and treated in hepatic differentiation conditions for 14 days. hAEC-derived hepatocyte-like cells showed marked differences in the expression of hepatic markers: R4 showed higher levels of Albumin and Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor (HNF) 4α whereas R1 expressed higher Cytochrome P450 enzymes, both at the gene and protein level. These preliminary results suggest that hAEC isolated from R1 and R4 of the amniotic membrane are more prone to hepatic differentiation. Therefore, the use of hAEC from a specific region of the amniotic membrane should be taken into consideration as it could have an impact on the outcome of therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Passaretta
- Department of Medicine and Ageing SciencesGabriele D'Annunzio University of Chieti‐PescaraChietiItaly
- StemTeCh GroupChietiItaly
| | - Domenico Bosco
- Institute of Molecular GeneticsNational Research Council‐PaviaSection of ChietiChietiItaly
| | - Lucia Centurione
- Department of Medicine and Ageing SciencesGabriele D'Annunzio University of Chieti‐PescaraChietiItaly
- StemTeCh GroupChietiItaly
| | - Maria Antonietta Centurione
- StemTeCh GroupChietiItaly
- Institute of Molecular GeneticsNational Research Council‐PaviaSection of ChietiChietiItaly
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUnit of Experimental MedicineUniversity of CagliariCagliariItaly
| | - Roberta Di Pietro
- Department of Medicine and Ageing SciencesGabriele D'Annunzio University of Chieti‐PescaraChietiItaly
- StemTeCh GroupChietiItaly
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Laconi E, Marongiu F, DeGregori J. Cancer as a disease of old age: changing mutational and microenvironmental landscapes. Br J Cancer 2020; 122:943-952. [PMID: 32042067 PMCID: PMC7109142 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0721-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Why do we get cancer mostly when we are old? According to current paradigms, the answer is simple: mutations accumulate in our tissues throughout life, and some of these mutations contribute to cancers. Although mutations are necessary for cancer development, a number of studies shed light on roles for ageing and exposure-dependent changes in tissue landscapes that determine the impact of oncogenic mutations on cellular fitness, placing carcinogenesis into an evolutionary framework. Natural selection has invested in somatic maintenance to maximise reproductive success. Tissue maintenance not only ensures functional robustness but also prevents the occurrence of cancer through periods of likely reproduction by limiting selection for oncogenic events in our cells. Indeed, studies in organisms ranging from flies to humans are revealing conserved mechanisms to eliminate damaged or oncogenically initiated cells from tissues. Reports of the existence of striking numbers of oncogenically initiated clones in normal tissues and of how this clonal architecture changes with age or external exposure to noxious substances provide critical insight into the early stages of cancer development. A major challenge for cancer biology will be the integration of these studies with epidemiology data into an evolutionary theory of carcinogenesis, which could have a large impact on addressing cancer risk and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pathology, University of Cagliari School of Medicine, 09126, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pathology, University of Cagliari School of Medicine, 09126, Cagliari, Italy
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Integrated Department of Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine (Section of Hematology), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abbondio M, Palomba A, Tanca A, Fraumene C, Pagnozzi D, Serra M, Marongiu F, Laconi E, Uzzau S. Fecal Metaproteomic Analysis Reveals Unique Changes of the Gut Microbiome Functions After Consumption of Sourdough Carasau Bread. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1733. [PMID: 31417524 PMCID: PMC6682701 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01733] [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: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sourdough-leavened bread (SB) is acknowledged for its great variety of valuable effects on consumer's metabolism and health, including a low glycemic index and a reduced content of the possible carcinogen acrylamide. Here, we aimed to investigate how these effects influence the gut microbiota composition and functions. Therefore, we subjected rats to a diet supplemented with SB, baker's yeast leavened bread (BB), or unsupplemented diet (chow), and, after 4 weeks of treatment, their gut microbiota was analyzed using a metaproteogenomic approach. As a result, diet supplementation with SB led to a reduction of specific members of the intestinal microbiota previously associated to low protein diets, namely Alistipes and Mucispirillum, or known as intestinal pathobionts, i.e., Mycoplasma. Concerning functions, asparaginases expressed by Bacteroides were observed as more abundant in SB-fed rats, leading to hypothesize that in their colonic microbiota the enzyme substrate, asparagine, was available in higher amounts than in BB- and chow-fed rats. Another group of protein families, expressed by Clostridium, was detected as more abundant in animal fed SB-supplemented diet. Of these, manganese catalase, small acid-soluble proteins (SASP), Ser/Thr kinase PrkA, and V-ATPase proteolipid subunit have been all reported to take part in Clostridium sporulation, strongly suggesting that the diet supplementation with SB might promote environmental conditions inducing metabolic dormancy of Clostridium spp. within the gut microbiota. In conclusion, our data describe the effects of SB consumption on the intestinal microbiota taxonomy and functions in rats. Moreover, our results suggest that a metaproteogenomic approach can provide evidence of the interplay between metabolites deriving from bread digestion and microbial metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Abbondio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Palomba
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Alghero, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tanca
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Alghero, Italy
| | - Cristina Fraumene
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Alghero, Italy
| | - Daniela Pagnozzi
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Alghero, Italy
| | - Monica Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sergio Uzzau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Alghero, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Serra M, Marongiu M, Contini A, Miki T, Cadoni E, Laconi E, Marongiu F. Evidence of Amniotic Epithelial Cell Differentiation toward Hepatic Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells. Cell Transplant 2019; 27:23-30. [PMID: 29562778 PMCID: PMC6434484 DOI: 10.1177/0963689717727541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) represent a useful and noncontroversial source for liver-based regenerative medicine, as they can differentiate into hepatocytes upon transplantation into the liver. However, the possibility that AECs can differentiate into other liver cell types, such as hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (HSECs), has never been assessed. In order to test this hypothesis, rat- and human-derived AECs (rAECs and hAECs, respectively) were subjected to endothelial cell tube formation assay in vitro. Moreover, to evaluate differentiation in vivo, the retrorsine (RS) model of liver repopulation was used. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (including RS) are known to target both hepatocytes and endothelial cells, inducing cell enlargement and inhibition of cell cycle progression. rAECs and hAECs were able to form capillary-like structures when cultured under proangiogenic conditions. For in vivo experiments, rAECs were obtained from dipeptidyl peptidase type IV (DPP-IV, CD26) donors and were transplanted into the liver of recipient CD26 negative animals pretreated with RS. rAEC-derived cells were engrafted in between hepatocytes and resembled HSECs as assessed by morphological analysis and the pattern of expression of CD26. Donor-derived CD26+ cells coexpressed HSEC markers RECA-1 and SE-1, while they lacked expression of typical hepatocyte markers (i.e., cytochrome P450, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α). As such, these results provide the first evidence that AECs can respond to proangiogenic signals in vitro and differentiate into HSECs in vivo. Furthermore, they support the conclusion that AECs possesses great plasticity and represents a promising tool in the field of regenerative medicine both in the liver and in other organs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Serra
- 1 Experimental Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Monica Serra and Michela Marongiu equally contributed to this work
| | - Michela Marongiu
- 1 Experimental Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.,Monica Serra and Michela Marongiu equally contributed to this work
| | - Antonella Contini
- 1 Experimental Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Toshio Miki
- 2 Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Erika Cadoni
- 1 Experimental Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- 1 Experimental Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- 1 Experimental Medicine Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Tanca A, Abbondio M, Palomba A, Fraumene C, Marongiu F, Serra M, Pagnozzi D, Laconi E, Uzzau S. Caloric restriction promotes functional changes involving short-chain fatty acid biosynthesis in the rat gut microbiota. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14778. [PMID: 30283130 PMCID: PMC6170429 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33100-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Caloric restriction (CR) is known to promote health and longevity, likely via modification of the gut microbiota (GM). However, functional and metabolic changes induced in the GM during CR are still unidentified. Here, we investigated the short- and long-term effects of CR on the rat GM using a metaproteogenomic approach. We show that a switch from ad libitum (AL) low fat diet to CR in young rats is able to induce rapid and deep changes in their GM metaproteomic profile, related to a reduction of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and an expansion of lactobacilli. Specifically, we observed a significant change in the expression of the microbial enzymes responsible for short-chain fatty acid biosynthesis, with CR boosting propionogenesis and limiting butyrogenesis and acetogenesis. Furthermore, these CR-induced effects were maintained up to adulthood and started to be reversed after a short-term diet change. We also found that CR alters the abundance of an array of host proteins released in stool, mainly related to epithelial barrier integrity and inflammation. Hence, our results provide thorough information about CR-induced modifications to GM and host functional activity, and might constitute the basis for novel GM-based approaches aimed at monitoring the effectiveness of dietary interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Tanca
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
| | - Marcello Abbondio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Palomba
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
| | - Cristina Fraumene
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monica Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Daniela Pagnozzi
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sergio Uzzau
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Marongiu F, Biondi G, Sorano GG, Mameli G, Conti M, Mamusa AM, Balestrieri A. Bleeding Time and Oral Anticoagulant Therapy. Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1651646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Marongiu
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Biondi
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - G G Sorano
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Mameli
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - M Conti
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - A M Mamusa
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - A Balestrieri
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Affiliation(s)
- G Biondi
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - G G Sorano
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - M Conti
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Mameli
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - R Cirillo
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Marongiu
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Affiliation(s)
- F Marongiu
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Biondi
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - M Conti
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - M L Murtas
- Institute of Endocrinology, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Mameli
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - G G Sorano
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - E Martinox
- Institute of Endocrinology, University of Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Marongiu F, Conti M, Murtas ML, Mameli G, Sorano GG, Martino E. What Causes the Increase in Platelet Mean Volume in Thyroid Pathological Conditions? Thromb Haemost 2018. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1645220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Marongiu
- Clinica Medica I, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - M Conti
- Clinica Medica I, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - M L Murtas
- Cattedra di Endocrinologia, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Mameli
- Clinica Medica I, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - G G Sorano
- Clinica Medica I, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - E Martino
- Cattedra di Endocrinologia, University of Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Affiliation(s)
- P M Mannucci
- A. Bianchi Bonomi, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Italy
| | - M Cugno
- A. Bianchi Bonomi, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Italy
| | - G Mameli
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Marongiu
- Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Affiliation(s)
- F Marongiu
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, Università di Cagliari, Via S. Giorgio 12, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Mameli
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, Università di Cagliari, Via S. Giorgio 12, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
| | - M R Acca
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, Università di Cagliari, Via S. Giorgio 12, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
| | - A M Mamusa
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, Università di Cagliari, Via S. Giorgio 12, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
| | - G Mulas
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, Università di Cagliari, Via S. Giorgio 12, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
| | - A Balestrieri
- Istituto di Medicina Interna, Università di Cagliari, Via S. Giorgio 12, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Marongiu F, Serra M, Laconi E. Development versus Evolution in Cancer Biology. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:342-348. [PMID: 29709258 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The terms 'development' and 'evolution' are both used to describe the unfolding of the carcinogenic process. However, there is increasing awareness of an essential difference in the meanings of these two terms with reference to cancer. We discuss evidence suggesting that the concepts of development and evolution are both pertinent to the description of carcinogenesis; however, they appropriately apply to distinct phases of a multistep process. Such a distinction bears important implications for the study and management of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Marongiu
- Unit of Experimental Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monica Serra
- Unit of Experimental Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Unit of Experimental Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Zarba Meli E, Curcio A, Samorani D, Manna E, Pallara T, Tognali D, Marongiu F, Fabiocchi L, Frisoni G, Cattin F, Fortunato L, Folli S, Gennaro M. Surgical delay in nipple-sparing mastectomy: A multicenter study. Eur J Cancer 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(18)30492-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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: 11/30/2022]
|
41
|
Cadoni E, Marongiu F, Fanti M, Serra M, Laconi E. Caloric restriction delays early phases of carcinogenesis via effects on the tissue microenvironment. Oncotarget 2018; 8:36020-36032. [PMID: 28415598 PMCID: PMC5482635 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Caloric restriction (CR) is an effective and consistent means to delay aging and the incidence of chronic diseases related to old age, including cancer. However, the precise mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effect of CR on carcinogenic process are yet to be identified. In the present studies the hypothesis was tested that the CR might delay carcinogenesis via modulatory effects exerted on the age-associated, neoplastic-prone tissue microenvironment. Using a well characterized, orthotopic cell transplantation (Tx) system in the rat, preneoplastic hepatocytes isolated from liver nodules were injected into either old syngeneic rats fed ad libitum (AL) or animals of the same age given a CR diet (70% of AL feeding). Analysis of donor-derived cell clusters performed at 10 weeks post-Tx revealed a significant shift towards smaller class sizes in the group receiving CR diet. Clusters comprising more than 50 cells, including large hepatic nodules, were thrice more frequent in AL vs. CR animals. Incidence of spontaneous endogenous nodules was also decreased by CR. Markers of cell senescence were equally expressed in the liver of AL and CR groups. However, higher levels of SIRT1 and FOXO1 proteins were detected in CR-exposed livers, while expression of HDAC1 and C/EBPβ were decreased. These results are interpreted to indicate that CR delays the emergence of age-associated neoplastic disease through effects exerted, at least in part, on the tissue microenvironment. Nutrient-sensing pathways might mediate such modulatory effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Cadoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine University of Cagliari-Italy, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine University of Cagliari-Italy, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maura Fanti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine University of Cagliari-Italy, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monica Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine University of Cagliari-Italy, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine University of Cagliari-Italy, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Mereu A, Frau S, Murgia A, Sotgiu A, Lai A, Pisano F, Marongiu F, Portoghese I, Pinna L, Lepori E, Origa P, Azara A, Castiglia P, Solinas MG, Porcheddu S, Saderi L, Argiolas F, Murtas S, Murru MG, Faedda MR, Corriga AM, Mereu NM, Spada L, Sechi GM, Massa F, Accalai S, Sanna F, Bellu C, Campagna M, Prasciolu S, Aresu C, Pedron M, Pes MA, Pisone E, Pezzi E, Contu P, Sardu C. [Accurate compiling of the hospital discharge records according to clinicians' perception: critical issues and perspectives]. Epidemiol Prev 2018; 42:34-39. [PMID: 29506359 DOI: 10.19191/ep18.1.p034.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to explore clinicians vision on hospital discharge records in order to identify useful elements to foster a more accurate compiling. DESIGN qualitative research with phenomenological approach. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS participants were selected through purposive sampling among clinicians of two hospitals located in Sardinia; the sample included 76 people (32 medical directors and 44 doctors in training). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES identified codes for themes under investigation: vision of accurate compiling, difficulties, and proposals. RESULTS collected data highlighted two prevailing visions, respectively focused on the importance of an accurate compiling and on the burden of such activity. The accurate compiling is hindered by the lack of motivation and training, by the limits of the registration system and the information technology, by the distortions induced by the prominent role of the hospital discharge records in the evaluation processes. Training, timely updating of the information system accompanied by a proper cross-cultural validation process, improvement of the computer system, and activation of support services could promote more accurate compiling. CONCLUSIONS the implementation of services, unconnected with evaluation and control processes, dedicated to training and support in the compiling of the hospital discharge records and in the conduction of related epidemiological studies would facilitate the compliance to the compilation. Such services will make tangible the benefits obtainable from this registration system, increasing skills, motivation, ownership, and facilitating greater accuracy in compiling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Mereu
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Sara Frau
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | | | | | - Alberto Lai
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Federica Pisano
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Igor Portoghese
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Lucia Pinna
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Elide Lepori
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Pierangelo Origa
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Antonio Azara
- Dipartimento di scienze biomediche, Sezione di igiene e medicina preventiva, Università di Sassari
| | - Paolo Castiglia
- Dipartimento di scienze biomediche, Sezione di igiene e medicina preventiva, Università di Sassari
| | - Maria Giuliana Solinas
- Dipartimento di scienze biomediche, Sezione di igiene e medicina preventiva, Università di Sassari
| | | | - Laura Saderi
- Dipartimento di scienze biomediche, Sezione di igiene e medicina preventiva, Università di Sassari
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paolo Contu
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari
| | - Claudia Sardu
- Dipartimento di scienze mediche e sanità pubblica, Università di Cagliari.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Fraumene C, Manghina V, Cadoni E, Marongiu F, Abbondio M, Serra M, Palomba A, Tanca A, Laconi E, Uzzau S. Caloric restriction promotes rapid expansion and long-lasting increase of Lactobacillus in the rat fecal microbiota. Gut Microbes 2018; 9:104-114. [PMID: 28891744 PMCID: PMC5989789 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2017.1371894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [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: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies indicated that caloric restricted diet enables to lower significantly the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In experimental animal models, life-long lasting caloric restriction (CR) was demonstrated to induce changes of the intestinal microbiota composition, regardless of fat content and/or exercise. To explore the potential impact of short and long-term CR treatment on the gut microbiota, we conducted an analysis of fecal microbiota composition in young and adult Fisher 344 rats treated with a low fat feed under ad libitum (AL) or CR conditions (70%). We report here significant changes of the rat fecal microbiota that arise rapidly in young growing animals after short-term administration of a CR diet. In particular, Lactobacillus increased significantly after 8 weeks of CR treatment and its relative abundance was significantly higher in CR vs AL fed animals after 36 weeks of dietary intervention. Taken together, our data suggest that Lactobacillus intestinal colonization is hampered in AL fed young rats compared to CR fed ones, while health-promoting CR diet intervention enables the expansion of this genus rapidly and persistently up to adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Fraumene
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
| | - Valeria Manghina
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
| | - Erika Cadoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marcello Abbondio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Monica Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonio Palomba
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tanca
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sergio Uzzau
- Porto Conte Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Tramariglio, Alghero, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Ruberto MF, Marongiu F, Barcellona D. Comparison of prothrombin time INR and clot waveform analysis performed with 129-mmol/L and 105-mmol/L citrate tubes. Int J Lab Hematol 2017; 40:e15-e16. [PMID: 29214750 DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.12769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M F Ruberto
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Marongiu
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - D Barcellona
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Marongiu F, Serra MP, Doratiotto S, Sini M, Fanti M, Cadoni E, Serra M, Laconi E. Aging promotes neoplastic disease through effects on the tissue microenvironment. Aging (Albany NY) 2017; 8:3390-3399. [PMID: 27929382 PMCID: PMC5270675 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A better understanding of the complex relationship between aging and cancer will provide important tools for the prevention and treatment of neoplasia. In these studies, the hypothesis was tested that aging may fuel carcinogenesis via alterations imposed in the tissue microenvironment. Preneoplastic hepatocytes isolated from liver nodules were orthotopically injected into either young or old syngeneic rats and their fate was followed over time using the dipeptidyl-peptidase type IV (DPPIV) system to track donor-derived-cells. At 3 months post-Tx, the mean size of donor-derived clusters was 11±3 cells in young vs. 42±8 in old recipients. At 8 months post-Tx, no visible lesion were detected in any of 21 young recipients, while 17/18 animals transplanted at old age displayed hepatic nodules, including 7 large tumors. All tumors expressed the DPPIV marker enzyme, indicating that they originated from transplanted cells. Expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase was common in liver of 18-month old animals, while it was a rare finding in young controls. Finally, both mRNA and IL6 protein were found to be increased in the liver of aged rats compared to young controls. These results are interpreted to indicate that the microenvironment of the aged liver promotes the growth of pre-neoplastic hepatocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Silvia Doratiotto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marcella Sini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maura Fanti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Erika Cadoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monica Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Murgia A, Caboni P, Cadoni E, Serra M, Marongiu F, Laconi E. A GC–MS untargeted metabolomics analysis in the plasma and liver of rats lacking dipeptidyl-peptidase type IV enzyme activity. J Physiol Biochem 2017; 73:575-582. [DOI: 10.1007/s13105-017-0588-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
47
|
Marongiu F, Serra MP, Fanti M, Cadoni E, Serra M, Laconi E. Regenerative Medicine: Shedding Light on the Link between Aging and Cancer. Cell Transplant 2017; 26:1530-1537. [PMID: 29113461 PMCID: PMC5680953 DOI: 10.1177/0963689717721224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The evidence linking aging and cancer is overwhelming. Findings emerging from the field of regenerative medicine reinforce the notion that aging and cancer are profoundly interrelated in their pathogenetic pathways. We discuss evidence to indicate that age-associated alterations in the tissue microenvironment contribute to the emergence of a neoplastic-prone tissue landscape, which is able to support the selective growth of preneoplastic cell populations. Interestingly, tissue contexts that are able to select for the growth of preneoplastic cells, including the aged liver microenvironment, are also supportive for the clonal expansion of normal, homotypic, transplanted cells. This suggests that the growth of normal and preneoplastic cells is possibly driven by similar mechanisms, implying that strategies based on principles of regenerative medicine might be applicable to modulate neoplastic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maura Fanti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Erika Cadoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Monica Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Grandone E, Barcellona D, Colaizzo D, Marongiu F. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules in patients on oral anticoagulants. J Endocrinol Invest 2017; 40:785-786. [PMID: 28213643 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-017-0610-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E Grandone
- Unità di Aterosclerosi e Trombosi, I.R.C.C.S. "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", Viale Cappuccini, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy.
| | - D Barcellona
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Internistiche, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - D Colaizzo
- Unità di Aterosclerosi e Trombosi, I.R.C.C.S. "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", Viale Cappuccini, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - F Marongiu
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Internistiche, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ruberto MF, Sorbello O, Civolani A, Barcellona D, Demelia L, Marongiu F. Clot wave analysis and thromboembolic score in liver cirrhosis: two opposing phenomena. Int J Lab Hematol 2017; 39:369-374. [PMID: 28422416 DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.12635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) are abnormal but unreliable in cirrhotic patients to express their risk of bleeding. However, these patients may also suffer from thrombotic episodes. In order to investigate the dynamics of the formation of fibrin, the clot waveform analysis (CWA) of aPTT was studied together with a score for the evaluation of the thromboembolic risk. METHODS CWA in terms of velocity (1st derivative), acceleration (2nd derivatives) and density (Delta) of aPTT and the Padua Prediction Score (PPS) for venous thromboembolism were studied in 191 cirrhotic patients. RESULTS CWA values were lower in the cirrhotic patients when compared to the control groups. However, Delta, 1st and 2nd derivatives were higher in cirrhotic patients with elevated PPS in comparison to those with a low PPS. The 1st derivative was significantly associated with a high PPS score (>4): OR: 2.66, CI: 95% 1.23-5.78. CONCLUSIONS Two opposing tendencies seem to be present in cirrhotic disease: the first shows a weakness of clot formation while the second a predisposition towards thrombosis, identified by the PPS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M F Ruberto
- Internal Medicine and Haemocoagulophaties Unit, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - O Sorbello
- Gastroenterology Unit, Policlinico Universitario 'Duilio Casula', University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - A Civolani
- Gastroenterology Unit, Policlinico Universitario 'Duilio Casula', University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - D Barcellona
- Internal Medicine and Haemocoagulophaties Unit, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - L Demelia
- Gastroenterology Unit, Policlinico Universitario 'Duilio Casula', University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - F Marongiu
- Internal Medicine and Haemocoagulophaties Unit, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Fanti M, Gramignoli R, Serra M, Cadoni E, Strom SC, Marongiu F. Differentiation of amniotic epithelial cells into various liver cell types and potential therapeutic applications. Placenta 2017; 59:139-145. [PMID: 28411944 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 03/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of Regenerative Medicine is to replace or regenerate human cells, tissues or organs in order to restore normal function. Among all organs, the liver is endowed with remarkable regenerative capacity. Nonetheless, there are conditions in which this ability is impaired, and the use of isolated cells, including stem cells, is being considered as a possible therapeutic tool for the management of chronic hepatic disease. Placenta holds great promise for the field of regenerative medicine. It has long been used for the treatment of skin lesions and in ophthalmology, due to its ability to modulate inflammation and promote healing. More recently, cells isolated from the amniotic membrane are being considered as a possible resource for tissue regeneration, including in the context liver disease. Two cell types can be easily isolated from human amnion: epithelial cells (hAEC) and mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSC). However only the first cell population has been demonstrated to be a possible source of proficient hepatic cells. This review will summarize current knowledge on the differentiation of hAEC into liver cells and their potential therapeutic application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maura Fanti
- University of Cagliari, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberto Gramignoli
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Monica Serra
- University of Cagliari, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Erika Cadoni
- University of Cagliari, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stephen C Strom
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fabio Marongiu
- University of Cagliari, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Experimental Medicine, Cagliari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|