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Restivo I, Giardina IC, Barone R, Cilla A, Burgio S, Allegra M, Tesoriere L, Attanzio A. Indicaxanthin prevents eryptosis induced by cigarette smoke extract by interfering with active Fas-mediated signaling. Biofactors 2024. [PMID: 38520710 DOI: 10.1002/biof.2051] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
A physiological mechanism of programmed cell death called eryptosis occurs in aged or damaged red blood cells (RBCs). Dysregulated eryptosis contributes to abnormal microcirculation and prothrombotic risk. Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induces a p38 MAPK-initiated, Fas-mediated eryptosis, activating the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). Indicaxanthin (Ind) from cactus pear fruits, is a bioavailable dietary phytochemical in humans and it is able to incorporate into RBCs enhancing their defense against numerous stimuli. This in vitro work shows that Ind, at concentrations that mimic plasma concentrations after a fruit meal, protects erythrocytes from CSE-induced eryptosis. CSE from commercial cigarettes was prepared in aqueous solution using an impinger air sampler and nicotine content was determined. RBCs were treated with CSE for 3 h in the absence or presence of increasing concentrations of Ind (from 1 to 5 μM). Cytofluorimetric measurements indicated that Ind reduced CSE-induced phosphatidylserine externalization and ceramide formation in a concentration-dependent manner. Confocal microscopy visualization and coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Ind prevented both CSE-triggered Fas aggregation and FasL/FADD/caspase 8 recruitment in the membrane, indicating inhibition of DISC assembly. Ind inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, caspase-8/caspase-3 cleavage, and caspase-3 activity induced by CSE. Finally, Ind reduced CSE-induced ATP depletion and restored aminophospholipid translocase activity impaired by CSE treatment. In conclusion, Ind concentrations comparable to nutritionally relevant plasma concentrations, can prevent Fas-mediated RBC death signaling induced by CSE, which suggests that dietary intake of cactus pear fruits may limit the deleterious effects of cigarette smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio Restivo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Ilenia Concetta Giardina
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosario Barone
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Section of Human Anatomy, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Cilla
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Stefano Burgio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, Section of Human Anatomy, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Restivo I, Basilicata MG, Giardina IC, Massaro A, Pepe G, Salviati E, Pecoraro C, Carbone D, Cascioferro S, Parrino B, Diana P, Ostacolo C, Campiglia P, Attanzio A, D’Anneo A, Pojero F, Allegra M, Tesoriere L. A Combination of Polymethoxyflavones from Citrus sinensis and Prenylflavonoids from Humulus lupulus Counteracts IL-1β-Induced Differentiated Caco-2 Cells Dysfunction via a Modulation of NF-κB/Nrf2 Activation. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1621. [PMID: 37627616 PMCID: PMC10451557 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081621] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
We here investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of a polymethoxylated flavone-containing fraction (PMFF) from Citrus sinensis and of a prenylflavonoid-containing one (PFF) from Humulus lupulus, either alone or in combination (MIX). To this end, an in vitro model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), consisting of differentiated, interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated Caco-2 cells, was employed. We demonstrated that non-cytotoxic concentrations of either PMFF or PFF or MIX reduced nitric oxide (NO) production while PFF and MIX, but not PMFF, also inhibited prostaglandin E2 release. Coherently, MIX suppressed both inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 over-expression besides NF-κB activation. Moreover, MIX increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation, heme oxygenase-1 expression, restoring GSH and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONs) levels. Remarkably, these effects with MIX were stronger than those produced by PMFF or PFF alone. Noteworthy, nobiletin (NOB) and xanthohumol (XTM), two of the most represented phytochemicals in PMFF and PFF, respectively, synergistically inhibited RONs production. Overall, our results demonstrate that MIX enhances the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of the individual fractions in a model of IBD, via a mechanism involving modulation of NF-κB and Nrf2 signalling. Synergistic interactions between NOB and XTM emerge as a relevant aspect underlying this evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio Restivo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (I.C.G.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.D.); (F.P.); (L.T.)
| | | | - Ilenia Concetta Giardina
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (I.C.G.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.D.); (F.P.); (L.T.)
| | - Alessandro Massaro
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (I.C.G.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.D.); (F.P.); (L.T.)
| | - Giacomo Pepe
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.G.B.); (E.S.); (C.O.); (P.C.)
| | - Emanuela Salviati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.G.B.); (E.S.); (C.O.); (P.C.)
| | - Camilla Pecoraro
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (C.P.); (D.C.); (S.C.); (B.P.); (P.D.)
| | - Daniela Carbone
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (C.P.); (D.C.); (S.C.); (B.P.); (P.D.)
| | - Stella Cascioferro
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (C.P.); (D.C.); (S.C.); (B.P.); (P.D.)
| | - Barbara Parrino
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (C.P.); (D.C.); (S.C.); (B.P.); (P.D.)
| | - Patrizia Diana
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (C.P.); (D.C.); (S.C.); (B.P.); (P.D.)
| | - Carmine Ostacolo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.G.B.); (E.S.); (C.O.); (P.C.)
| | - Pietro Campiglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy; (M.G.B.); (E.S.); (C.O.); (P.C.)
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (I.C.G.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.D.); (F.P.); (L.T.)
| | - Antonella D’Anneo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (I.C.G.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.D.); (F.P.); (L.T.)
| | - Fanny Pojero
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (I.C.G.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.D.); (F.P.); (L.T.)
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (I.C.G.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.D.); (F.P.); (L.T.)
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (I.C.G.); (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.D.); (F.P.); (L.T.)
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3
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Pojero F, Gervasi F, Fiore SD, Aiello A, Bonacci S, Caldarella R, Attanzio A, Candore G, Caruso C, Ligotti ME, Procopio A, Restivo I, Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Accardi G. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Nutritionally Relevant Concentrations of Oleuropein and Hydroxytyrosol on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Age-Related Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11029. [PMID: 37446206 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosenescence and inflammaging facilitate the insurgence of chronic diseases. The Mediterranean diet is a non-invasive intervention to improve the chronic low-grade inflammatory status associated with aging. Olive oil oleuropein (OLE) and hydroxytyrosol (HT) demonstrated a controversial modulatory action on inflammation in vitro when tested at concentrations exceeding those detectable in human plasma. We studied the potential anti-inflammatory effects of OLE and HT at nutritionally relevant concentrations on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as regards cell viability, frequency of leukocyte subsets, and cytokine release, performing an age-focused analysis on two groups of subjects: Adult (age 18-64 years) and Senior (age ≥ 65 years). OLE and HT were used alone or as a pre-treatment before challenging PBMCs with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Both polyphenols had no effect on cell viability irrespective of LPS, but 5 µM HT had an LPS-like effect on monocytes, reducing the intermediate subset in Adult subjects. OLE and HT had no effect on LPS-triggered release of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8, but 5 µM HT reduced IL-10 secretion by PBMCs from Adult vs. Senior group. In summary, nutritionally relevant concentrations of OLE and HT elicit no anti-inflammatory effect and influence the frequency of immune cell subsets with age-related different outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Pojero
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Technologies, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Gervasi
- Specialistic Oncology Laboratory Unit, ARNAS Hospitals Civico Di Cristina e Benfratelli, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Davide Fiore
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Aiello
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Technologies, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Sonia Bonacci
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rosalia Caldarella
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, "P. Giaccone" University Hospital, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Candore
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Technologies, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Calogero Caruso
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Technologies, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mattia Emanuela Ligotti
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Technologies, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Procopio
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ignazio Restivo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Accardi
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Technologies, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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Notaro A, Lauricella M, Di Liberto D, Emanuele S, Giuliano M, Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Carlisi D, Allegra M, De Blasio A, Calvaruso G, D'Anneo A. A Deadly Liaison between Oxidative Injury and p53 Drives Methyl-Gallate-Induced Autophagy and Apoptosis in HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1292. [PMID: 37372022 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12061292] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl gallate (MG), which is a gallotannin widely found in plants, is a polyphenol used in traditional Chinese phytotherapy to alleviate several cancer symptoms. Our studies provided evidence that MG is capable of reducing the viability of HCT116 colon cancer cells, while it was found to be ineffective on differentiated Caco-2 cells, which is a model of polarized colon cells. In the first phase of treatment, MG promoted both early ROS generation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, sustained by elevated PERK, Grp78 and CHOP expression levels, as well as an upregulation in intracellular calcium content. Such events were accompanied by an autophagic process (16-24 h), where prolonging the time (48 h) of MG exposure led to cellular homeostasis collapse and apoptotic cell death with DNA fragmentation and p53 and γH2Ax activation. Our data demonstrated that a crucial role in the MG-induced mechanism is played by p53. Its level, which increased precociously (4 h) in MG-treated cells, was tightly intertwined with oxidative injury. Indeed, the addition of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is a ROS scavenger, counteracted the p53 increase, as well as the MG effect on cell viability. Moreover, MG promoted p53 accumulation into the nucleus and its inhibition by pifithrin-α (PFT-α), which is a negative modulator of p53 transcriptional activity, enhanced autophagy, increased the LC3-II level and inhibited apoptotic cell death. These findings provide new clues to the potential action of MG as a possible anti-tumor phytomolecule for colon cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Notaro
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marianna Lauricella
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Diana Di Liberto
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Sonia Emanuele
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Michela Giuliano
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Daniela Carlisi
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna De Blasio
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Calvaruso
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonella D'Anneo
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
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Celesia A, Franzò M, Di Liberto D, Lauricella M, Carlisi D, D'Anneo A, Notaro A, Allegra M, Giuliano M, Emanuele S. Oncogenic BRAF and p53 Interplay in Melanoma Cells and the Effects of the HDAC Inhibitor ITF2357 (Givinostat). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119148. [PMID: 37298104 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic BRAF mutations have been widely described in melanomas and promote tumour progression and chemoresistance. We previously provided evidence that the HDAC inhibitor ITF2357 (Givinostat) targets oncogenic BRAF in SK-MEL-28 and A375 melanoma cells. Here, we show that oncogenic BRAF localises to the nucleus of these cells, and the compound decreases BRAF levels in both the nuclear and cytosolic compartments. Although mutations in the tumour suppressor p53 gene are not equally frequent in melanomas compared to BRAF, the functional impairment of the p53 pathway may also contribute to melanoma development and aggressiveness. To understand whether oncogenic BRAF and p53 may cooperate, a possible interplay was considered in the two cell lines displaying a different p53 status, being p53 mutated into an oncogenic form in SK-MEL-28 and wild-type in A375 cells. Immunoprecipitation revealed that BRAF seems to preferentially interact with oncogenic p53. Interestingly, ITF2357 not only reduced BRAF levels but also oncogenic p53 levels in SK-MEL-28 cells. ITF2357 also targeted BRAF in A375 cells but not wild-type p53, which increased, most likely favouring apoptosis. Silencing experiments confirmed that the response to ITF2357 in BRAF-mutated cells depends on p53 status, thus providing a rationale for melanoma-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Celesia
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marzia Franzò
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Diana Di Liberto
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marianna Lauricella
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Daniela Carlisi
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonella D'Anneo
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonietta Notaro
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Michela Giuliano
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Sonia Emanuele
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Biochemistry Building, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
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Gambino G, Giglia G, Allegra M, Di Liberto V, Zummo FP, Rappa F, Restivo I, Vetrano F, Saiano F, Palazzolo E, Avellone G, Ferraro G, Sardo P, Di Majo D. "Golden" Tomato Consumption Ameliorates Metabolic Syndrome: A Focus on the Redox Balance in the High-Fat-Diet-Fed Rat. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12051121. [PMID: 37237987 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12051121] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Tomato fruits defined as "golden" refer to a food product harvested at an incomplete ripening stage with respect to red tomatoes at full maturation. The aim of this study is to explore the putative influence of "golden tomato" (GT) on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), especially focusing on the effects on redox homeostasis. Firstly, the differential chemical properties of the GT food matrix were characterized in terms of phytonutrient composition and antioxidant capacities with respect to red tomato (RT). Later, we assessed the biochemical, nutraceutical and eventually disease-modifying potential of GT in vivo in the high-fat-diet rat model of MetS. Our data revealed that GT oral supplementation is able to counterbalance MetS-induced biometric and metabolic modifications. Noteworthy is that this nutritional supplementation proved to reduce plasma oxidant status and improve the endogenous antioxidant barriers, assessed by strong systemic biomarkers. Furthermore, consistently with the reduction of hepatic reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) levels, treatment with GT markedly reduced the HFD-induced increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation and hepatic steatosis. This research elucidates the importance of food supplementation with GT in the prevention and management of MetS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuditta Gambino
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giglia
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Euro Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Valentina Di Liberto
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Zummo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Rappa
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ignazio Restivo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Filippo Vetrano
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Filippo Saiano
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Eristanna Palazzolo
- Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Ed.4, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Avellone
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
- ATeN (Advanced Technologies Network) Center, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ferraro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Sardo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Danila Di Majo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
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7
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Angellotti G, Di Prima G, D'Agostino F, Peri E, Tricoli MR, Belfiore E, Allegra M, Cancemi P, De Caro V. Multicomponent Antibiofilm Lipid Nanoparticles as Novel Platform to Ameliorate Resveratrol Properties: Preliminary Outcomes on Fibroblast Proliferation and Migration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098382. [PMID: 37176088 PMCID: PMC10179555 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098382] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The well-being of skin and mucous membranes is fundamental for the homeostasis of the body and thus it is imperative to treat any lesion quickly and correctly. In this view, polyphenols might assist and enhance a successful wound healing process by reducing the inflammatory cascade and the production of free radicals. However, they suffer from disadvantageous physico-chemical properties, leading to restricted clinical use. In this work, a complex mixture of PEGylated lipid, Glyceryl monoester, 18-β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid and Menthol was designed to entrap Resveratrol (RSV) as the active ingredient and further produce lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) by homogenization followed by high-frequency sonication. The nanosystem was properly characterized in terms of particle size (DLS, SEM), zeta potential, drug loading, antioxidant power (DPPH), release behaviour, cytocompatibility, wound healing and antibiofilm properties. The optimized lipid mixture was homogeneous, melted at 57-61 °C and encapsulated amorphous RSV (4.56 ± 0.04% w/w). The RSV-loaded LNPs were almost monodispersed (PDI: 0.267 ± 0.010), with nanometric size (162.86 ± 3.12 nm), scavenger properties and suitable DR% and LE% values (96.82 ± 1.34% and 95.17 ± 0.25%, respectively). The release studies were performed to simulate the wound conditions: 1-octanol to mimic the lipophilic domains of biological tissues (where the First Order kinetic was observed) and citrate buffer pH 5.5 according to the inflammatory wound exudate (where the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic was followed). The biological and microbiological evaluations highlighted fibroblast proliferation and migration effects as well as antibiofilm properties at extremely low doses (LNPs: 22 μg/mL, corresponding to RSV 5 µM). Thus, the proposed multicomponent LNPs could represent a valuable RSV delivery platform for wound healing purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Angellotti
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Di Prima
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio D'Agostino
- Institute for the Study of Anthropogenic Impacts and Sustainability in the Marine Environment, National Research Council (IAS-CNR), Campobello di Mazara, 91021 Trapani, Italy
| | - Emanuela Peri
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Tricoli
- Department of Health Promotion, Maternal-Childhood, Internal Medicine of Excellence G. D'Alessandro, Section of Microbiology, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Elena Belfiore
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Patrizia Cancemi
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Viviana De Caro
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy
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8
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Idesis S, Allegra M, Vohryzek J, Sanz Perl Y, Faskowitz J, Corbetta M, Sporns O, Deco G. P-107 Dimensionality reduction in stroke patients neuroimaging data. Clin Neurophysiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.02.124] [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: 03/08/2023]
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9
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Restivo I, Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Garcia-Llatas G, Cilla A. A Mixture of Dietary Plant Sterols at Nutritional Relevant Serum Concentration Inhibits Extrinsic Pathway of Eryptosis Induced by Cigarette Smoke Extract. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021264. [PMID: 36674779 PMCID: PMC9861561 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021264] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell death program of red blood cells (RBCs), called eryptosis, is characterized by activation of caspases and scrambling of membrane phospholipids with externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS). Excessive eryptosis confers a procoagulant phenotype and is implicated in impairment of microcirculation and increased prothrombotic risk. It has recently been reported that cigarette smokers have high levels of circulating eryptotic erythrocytes, and a possible contribution of eryptosis to the vaso-occlusive complications associated to cigarette smoke has been postulated. In this study, we demonstrate how a mixture of plant sterols (MPtS) consisting of β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol, at serum concentration reached after ingestion of a drink enriched with plant sterols, inhibits eryptosis induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Isolated RBCs were exposed for 4 h to CSE (10-20% v/v). When RBCs were co-treated with CSE in the presence of 22 µM MPtS, a significant reduction of the measured hallmarks of apoptotic death like assembly of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), PS outsourced, ceramide production, cleaved forms of caspase 8/caspase 3, and phosphorylated p38 MAPK, was evident. The new beneficial properties of plant sterols on CSE-induced eryptosis presented in this work open new perspectives to prevent the negative physio-pathological events caused by the eryptotic red blood cells circulating in smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio Restivo
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-091-2386-2434
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Guadalupe Garcia-Llatas
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Antonio Cilla
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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10
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Attanzio A, Restivo I, Tutone M, Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Livrea MA. Redox Properties, Bioactivity and Health Effects of Indicaxanthin, a Bioavailable Phytochemical from Opuntia ficus indica, L.: A Critical Review of Accumulated Evidence and Perspectives. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11122364. [PMID: 36552572 PMCID: PMC9774763 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11122364] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytochemicals from plant foods are considered essential to human health. Known for their role in the adaptation of plants to their environment, these compounds can induce adaptive responses in cells, many of which are directed at maintaining the redox tone. Indicaxanthin is a long-known betalain pigment found in the genus Opuntia of cactus pear and highly concentrated in the edible fruits of O. ficus indica, L. whose bioactivity has been overlooked until recently. This review summarizes studies conducted so far in vitro and in vivo, most of which have been performed in our laboratory. The chemical and physicochemical characteristics of Indicaxanthin are reflected in the molecule's reducing properties and antioxidant effects and help explain its ability to interact with membranes, modulate redox-regulated cellular pathways, and possibly bind to protein molecules. Measurement of bioavailability in volunteers has been key to exploring its bioactivity; amounts consistent with dietary intake, or plasma concentration after dietary consumption of cactus pear fruit, have been used in experimental setups mimicking physiological or pathophysiological conditions, in cells and in animals, finally suggesting pharmacological potential and relevance of Indicaxanthin as a nutraceutical. In reporting experimental results, this review also aimed to raise questions and seek insights for further basic research and health promotion applications.
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11
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Gambino G, Brighina F, Allegra M, Marrale M, Collura G, Gagliardo C, Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Di Majo D, Ferraro G, Sardo P, Giglia G. Modulation of Human Motor Cortical Excitability and Plasticity by Opuntia Ficus Indica Fruit Consumption: Evidence from a Preliminary Study through Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14224915. [PMID: 36432601 PMCID: PMC9694319 DOI: 10.3390/nu14224915] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Indicaxanthin (IX) from Opuntia Ficus Indica (OFI) has been shown to exert numerous biological effects both in vitro and in vivo, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-modulatory activity in rodent models. Our goal was to investigate the eventual neuro-active role of orally assumed fruits containing high levels of IX at nutritionally-relevant amounts in healthy subjects, exploring cortical excitability and plasticity in the human motor cortex (M1). To this purpose, we applied paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) in basal conditions and followed the consumption of yellow cactus pear fruits containing IX or white cactus pear fruits devoid of IX (placebo). Furthermore, resting state-functional MRI (rs-fMRI) preliminary acquisitions were performed before and after consumption of the same number of yellow fruits. Our data revealed that the consumption of IX-containing fruits could specifically activate intracortical excitatory circuits, differently from the placebo-controlled group. Furthermore, we found that following the ingestion of IX-containing fruits, elevated network activity of glutamatergic intracortical circuits can homeostatically be restored to baseline levels following a-tDCS stimulation. No significant differences were observed through rs-fMRI acquisitions. These outcomes suggest that IX from OFI increases intracortical excitability of M1 and leads to homeostatic cortical plasticity responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuditta Gambino
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.G.); (P.S.)
| | - Filippo Brighina
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maurizio Marrale
- Department of Physics and Chemistry “Emilio Segrè”, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Collura
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Cesare Gagliardo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Danila Di Majo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ferraro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Sardo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
- Postgraduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.G.); (P.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Giglia
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
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12
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Bontoux C, Heeke S, Hofman V, Lespinet-Fabre V, Bordone O, Lassalle S, Long-Mira E, Lalvée S, Tanga V, Allegra M, Salah M, Benzaquen J, Marquette CH, Ilié M, Hofman P. EP11.01-006 Setting Up an Ultra-Fast Next-Generation Sequencing Approach as a Reflex Testing at Diagnosis in Non-squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. J Thorac Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2022.07.903] [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: 10/14/2022]
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13
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Gentile M, Messineo L, La Guardia D, Arrigo M, Città G, Ayala A, Cusimano G, Martines P, Mendolia G, Allegra M. A Parent-Mediated Telehealth Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder : Promoting Parents' Ability to Stimulate the Children's Learning, Reduce Parenting Stress, and Boost Their Sense of Parenting Empowerment. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 52:5285-5300. [PMID: 35235129 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05482-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the effectiveness of a 6-month parent-mediated early intervention telehealth program for children with an autism spectrum disorder. The participants comprised a total of 27 parents. The findings showed that participation in the program promotes parents' empowerment and reduce parental stress and a general improvement in the parents' ability to stimulate children's learning. Moreover, the study reveals an effect of parents' age in mediating the relationship among the parents' ability, stress, and empowerment levels. These results suggest that an early intervention telehealth program may help parents become aware of how to benefit from interactions with their children, promote their empowerment, and reduce parenting stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Gentile
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo la Malfa, 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Linda Messineo
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo la Malfa, 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Dario La Guardia
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo la Malfa, 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Arrigo
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo la Malfa, 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Città
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo la Malfa, 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonia Ayala
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo la Malfa, 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaspare Cusimano
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo la Malfa, 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Pio Martines
- Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Trapani, Cittadella della Salute, viale della Provincia, 2, 91016, Erice Casa-Santa, Trapani, Italy
| | - Giovanna Mendolia
- Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Trapani, Cittadella della Salute, viale della Provincia, 2, 91016, Erice Casa-Santa, Trapani, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo la Malfa, 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
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Culletta G, Allegra M, Almerico AM, Restivo I, Tutone M. In Silico Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Anticancer Arylsulfonamide Endowed with Anti-Telomerase Activity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15010082. [PMID: 35056139 PMCID: PMC8778141 DOI: 10.3390/ph15010082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase, a reverse transcriptase enzyme involved in DNA synthesis, has a tangible role in tumor progression. Several studies have evidenced telomerase as a promising target for developing cancer therapeutics. The main reason is due to the overexpression of telomerase in cancer cells (85–90%) compared with normal cells where it is almost unexpressed. In this paper, we used a structure-based approach to design potential inhibitors of the telomerase active site. The MYSHAPE (Molecular dYnamics SHared PharmacophorE) approach and docking were used to screen an in-house library of 126 arylsulfonamide derivatives. Promising compounds were synthesized using classical and green methods. Compound 2C revealed an interesting IC50 (33 ± 4 µM) against the K-562 cell line compared with the known telomerase inhibitor BIBR1532 IC50 (208 ± 11 µM) with an SI ~10 compared to the BALB/3-T3 cell line. A 100 ns MD simulation of 2C in the telomerase active site evidenced Phe494 as the key residue as well as in BIBR1532. Each moiety of compound 2C was involved in key interactions with some residues of the active site: Arg557, Ile550, and Gly553. Compound 2C, as an arylsulfonamide derivative, is an interesting hit compound that deserves further investigation in terms of optimization of its structure to obtain more active telomerase inhibitors
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Culletta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche e Ambientali, Università di Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (A.M.A.); (I.R.)
| | - Mario Allegra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (A.M.A.); (I.R.)
| | - Anna Maria Almerico
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (A.M.A.); (I.R.)
| | - Ignazio Restivo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (A.M.A.); (I.R.)
| | - Marco Tutone
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (A.M.A.); (I.R.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Chifari A, Allegra M, Benigno V, Caruso G, Fulantelli G, Gentile M, Ferlino L. Distance Learning During the First Lockdown: Impact on the Family and Its Effect on Students' Engagement. Front Psychol 2021; 12:762213. [PMID: 34858288 PMCID: PMC8632369 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.762213] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This contribute investigates how Emergency Remote Education (ERE) impacted families during the spring 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, and in particular, the extent to which the impact of ERE on families, measured in terms of space and equipment sharing, moderates the effect of student and family characteristics on students' engagement. The study derived from the administration of an online survey to 19,527 families with children attending schools, from nursery to upper secondary grade. The total number of student records collected amounted to 31,805, since parents had to provide data for each school-age child in the family. The survey contains 58 questions, divided into three sections, with the first two sections designed to get a reading at family level and the third section to gather data for each school-age child in the family. After verifying the validity of the engagement construct through confirmatory factor analysis, two structural equation models were used to analyze the students' engagement. The main findings reveal how the impact of the ERE on the families has had a significant role in predicting students' level of engagement observed by parents with respect to different predictor variables. Finally, we argue that it is necessary to follow a holistic approach to observe the challenges imposed by the switch of the process of deferring teaching from presence to distance, imposed by the pandemic emergency on families. In fact, a holistic approach can promote student engagement and prevent the onset of cognitive-behavioral and affective problems linked to disengagement in ERE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Chifari
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Genova, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Genova, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenza Benigno
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Genova, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Caruso
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Genova, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Fulantelli
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Genova, Palermo, Italy
| | - Manuel Gentile
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Genova, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lucia Ferlino
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Genova, Palermo, Italy
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Allegra M, Tutone M, Tesoriere L, Attanzio A, Culletta G, Almerico AM. Evaluation of the IKKβ Binding of Indicaxanthin by Induced-Fit Docking, Binding Pose Metadynamics, and Molecular Dynamics. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:701568. [PMID: 34566634 PMCID: PMC8461089 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.701568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Indicaxanthin, a betaxanthin belonging to the betalain class of compounds, has been recently demonstrated to exert significant antiproliferative effects inducing apoptosis of human melanoma cells through the inhibition of NF-κB as the predominant pathway. Specifically, Indicaxanthin inhibited IκBα degradation in A375 cells. In resting cells, NF-κB is arrested in the cytoplasm by binding to its inhibitor protein IκBα. Upon stimulation, IκBα is phosphorylated by the IKK complex, and degraded by the proteasome, liberating free NF-κB into the nucleus to initiate target gene transcription. Inhibition of the IKK complex leads to the arrest of the NF-κB pathway. Methods: To acquire details at the molecular level of Indicaxanthin’s inhibitory activity against hIKKβ, molecular modeling and simulation techniques including induced-fit docking (IFD), binding pose metadynamics (BPMD), molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA (molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area continuum solvation) have been performed. Results: The computational calculations performed on the active and inactive form, and the allosteric binding site of hIKKβ, revealed that Indicaxanthin inhibits prevalently the active form of the hIKKβ. MM-GBSA computations provide further evidence of Indicaxanthin’s stability inside the active binding pocket with a binding free energy of −22.2 ± 4.3 kcal/mol with respect to the inactive binding pocket with a binding free energy of −20.7 ± 4.7 kcal/mol. BPMD and MD simulation revealed that Indicaxanthin is likely not an allosteric inhibitor of hIKKβ. Conclusion: As a whole, these in silico pieces of evidence show that Indicaxanthin can inhibit the active form of the hIKKβ adding novel mechanistic insights on its recently discovered ability to impair NF-κB signaling in melanoma A375 cells. Moreover, our results suggest the phytochemical as a new lead compound for novel, more potent IKKβ inhibitors to be employed in the treatment of cancer and inflammation-related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Allegra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Tutone
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Culletta
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Almerico
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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17
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Rossi I, D'Ardes D, Bucciarelli B, Allegra M, Guagnano M, Santilli F, Bianco F, Marchioni M, Di Nicola M, Cipollone F, Bucci M. Cholesterol and COVID-19: Findings from lipid profile of patients with SARS-COV-2 infection. Atherosclerosis 2021. [PMCID: PMC8415859 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.06.393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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18
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Messineo L, Seta L, Allegra M. The relationship between empathy and altruistic motivations in nursing studies: a multi-method study. BMC Nurs 2021; 20:124. [PMID: 34233674 PMCID: PMC8262004 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-021-00620-4] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficient management of relational competences in healthcare professionals is crucial to ensuring that a patient's treatment and care process is conducted positively. Empathy is a major component of the relational skills expected of health professionals. Knowledge of undergraduate healthcare students' empathic abilities is important for educators in designing specific and efficient educational programmes aimed at supporting or enhancing such competences. In this study, we measured first-year undergraduate nursing students' attitudes towards professional empathy in clinical encounters. The students' motivations for entering nursing education were also evaluated. This study takes a multi-method approach based on the use of qualitative and quantitative tools to examine the association between students' positive attitudes towards the value of empathy in health professionals and their prosocial and altruistic motivations in choosing to engage in nursing studies. METHODS A multi-method study was performed with 77 first-year nursing students. The Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) - Health Professions Student Version was administered. Students' motivations for choosing nursing studies were detected through an open question and thematically analysed. Using explorative factor analysis and principal component analysis, a dimensional reduction was conducted to identify subjects with prosocial and altruistic motivations. Finally, linear models were tested to examine specific associations between motivation and empathy. RESULTS Seven distinct themes distinguishing internal and external motivational factors were identified through a thematic analysis of students' answers regarding their decision to enter a nursing degree course. Female students gained higher scores on the empathy scale than male ones. When students' age was considered, this difference was only observed for younger students, with young females' total scores being higher than young males'. High empathy scores were positively associated with altruistic motivational factors. A negative correlation was found between external motivational factors and the scores of the Compassionate Care subscale of the JSE. CONCLUSIONS Knowing the level of nursing students' empathy and their motivational factors for entering nursing studies is important for educators to implement training paths that enhance students' relational attitudes and skills and promote the positive motivational aspects that are central to this profession.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Messineo
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Luciano Seta
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo La Malfa 153, 90146, Palermo, Italy
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Allegra M. Redox Regulation of Metabolic Syndrome: From Biochemical Mechanisms to Nutritional Interventions. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10050638. [PMID: 33921926 PMCID: PMC8143482 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10050638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
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Restivo I, Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Allegra M. Suicidal Erythrocyte Death in Metabolic Syndrome. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10020154. [PMID: 33494379 PMCID: PMC7911029 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10020154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Eryptosis is a coordinated, programmed cell death culminating with the disposal of cells without disruption of the cell membrane and the release of endocellular oxidative and pro-inflammatory milieu. While providing a convenient form of death for erythrocytes, dysregulated eryptosis may result in a series of detrimental and harmful pathological consequences highly related to the endothelial dysfunction (ED). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is described as a cluster of cardiometabolic factors (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) that increases the risk of cardiovascular complications such as those related to diabetes and atherosclerosis. In the light of the crucial role exerted by the eryptotic process in the ED, the focus of the present review is to report and discuss the involvement of eryptosis within MetS, where vascular complications are utterly relevant. Current knowledge on the mechanisms leading to eryptosis in MetS-related conditions (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) will be analyzed. Moreover, clinical evidence supporting or proposing a role for eryptosis in the ED, associated to MetS cardiovascular complications, will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Correspondence: (L.T.); (M.A.); Tel.: +39-091-238-96803 (L.T. & M.A.)
| | - Mario Allegra
- Correspondence: (L.T.); (M.A.); Tel.: +39-091-238-96803 (L.T. & M.A.)
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Messineo L, Allegra M. PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ MOTIVATIONS FOR CHOOSING TEACHING AS A PROFESSION. ICERI Proceedings 2020. [DOI: 10.21125/iceri.2020.1198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
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22
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Restivo I, Tesoriere L, Frazzitta A, Livrea MA, Attanzio A, Allegra M. Anti-Proliferative Activity of A Hydrophilic Extract of Manna from Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl through Mitochondrial Pathway-Mediated Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Colon Cancer Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:E5055. [PMID: 33143282 PMCID: PMC7663425 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25215055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Manna is produced from the spontaneous solidification of the sap of some Fraxinus species, and, owing its content in mannitol, is used in medicine as a mild laxative. Manna is also a rich source of characteristic bio-phenols with reducing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study assesses the activity of a hydrophilic extract of manna (HME) on cellular and molecular events in human colon-rectal cancer cells. HME showed a time- and concentration-dependent anti-proliferative activity, measured by MTT assay, in all the cell lines examined, namely Caco-2, HCT-116 and HT-29. The amounts of HME that caused 50% of cell death after a 24 h treatment were 8.51 ± 0.77, 10.73 ± 1.22 and 28.92 ± 1.99 mg manna equivalents/mL, respectively; no toxicity was observed in normally differentiated Caco-2 intestinal cells. Hydroxytyrosol, a component of HME known for its cytotoxic effects on colon cancer cells, was ineffective, at least at the concentration occurring in the extract. Through flow-cytometric techniques and Western blot analysis, we show that HME treatment causes apoptosis, assessed by phosphatidylserine exposure, as well as a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, an intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increases in the levels of cleaved PARP-1, caspase 3 and Bax, and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, HME interferes with cell cycle progression, with a block at the G1/S transition. In conclusion, the phytocomplex extracted from manna exerts an anti-proliferative activity on human colon cancer cells through the activation of mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Our data may suggest that manna could have the potential to exert chemo-preventive effects for the intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (L.T.); (A.F.); (M.A.L.)
| | - Mario Allegra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (I.R.); (L.T.); (A.F.); (M.A.L.)
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23
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De Cicco P, Busà R, Ercolano G, Formisano C, Allegra M, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Ianaro A. Inhibitory effects of cynaropicrin on human melanoma progression by targeting MAPK, NF-κB, and Nrf-2 signaling pathways in vitro. Phytother Res 2020; 35:1432-1442. [PMID: 33058354 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, due to its propensity to metastasize. MAPKs and NF-κB pathways are constitutively activated in melanoma and promote cell proliferation, cell invasion, metastasis formation, and resistance to therapeutic regimens. Thus, they represent potential targets for melanoma prevention and treatment. Phytochemicals are gaining considerable attention for the management of melanoma because of their several cellular and molecular targets. A screening of a small library of sesquiterpenes lactones selected cynaropicrin, isolated from the aerial parts of Centaurea drabifolia subsp. detonsa, for its potential anticancer effect against melanoma cells. Treatment of human melanoma cells A375 with cynaropicrin resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, cynaropicrin reduced several cellular malignant features such migration, invasion, and colonies formation through the inhibition of ERK1/2 and NF-κB activity. Cynaropicrin was able to reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, which are involved in all the stages of carcinogenesis. Indeed, cynaropicrin increased the expression of several antioxidant genes, such as glutamate-cysteine ligase and heme oxygenase-1, by promoting the activation of the transcription factor Nrf-2. In conclusion, our results individuate cynaropicrin as a potential adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent for melanoma by targeting several protumorigenic signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola De Cicco
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosalia Busà
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Research Department, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (IRCCS ISMETT), Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ercolano
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Formisano
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Angela Ianaro
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Allegra M, Restivo I, Fucarino A, Pitruzzella A, Vasto S, Livrea MA, Tesoriere L, Attanzio A. Proeryptotic Activity of 4-Hydroxynonenal: A New Potential Physiopathological Role for Lipid Peroxidation Products. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10050770. [PMID: 32429353 PMCID: PMC7277761 DOI: 10.3390/biom10050770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Eryptosis is a physiological, apoptosis-like death of injured erythrocytes crucial to prevent premature haemolysis and the pathological sequalae generated by cell-free haemoglobin. When dysregulated, the process is associated to several inflammatory-based pathologies. 4-Hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE) is an endogenous signalling molecule at physiological levels and, at higher concentrations, is involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory-based diseases. This work evaluated whether HNE could induce eryptosis in human erythrocytes. Methods: Measurements of phosphatidylserine, cell volume, intracellular oxidants, Ca++, glutathione, ICAM-1, and ceramide were assessed by flow cytometry. Scanning electron microscopy evaluated morphological alterations of erythrocytes. Western blotting assessed caspases. PGE2 was measured by ELISA. Adhesion of erythrocytes on endothelial cells was evaluated by gravity adherence assay. Results: HNE in the concentration range between 10–100 µM induces eryptosis, morphological alterations correlated to caspase-3 activation, and increased Ca++ levels. The process is not mediated by redox-dependent mechanisms; rather, it strongly depends on PGE2 and ceramide. Interestingly, HNE induces significant increase of erythrocytes adhesion to endothelial cells (ECs) that are in turn dysfunctionated as evident by overexpression of ICAM-1. Conclusions: Our results unveil a new physiopathological role for HNE, provide mechanistic details of the HNE-induced eryptosis, and suggest a novel mechanism through which HNE could exert pro-inflammatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Allegra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (I.R.); (S.V.); (M.A.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Ignazio Restivo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (I.R.); (S.V.); (M.A.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Alberto Fucarino
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.F.); (A.P.)
| | - Alessandro Pitruzzella
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (A.F.); (A.P.)
- Consorzio Universitario di Caltanissetta, Università di Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Sonya Vasto
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (I.R.); (S.V.); (M.A.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Maria Antonia Livrea
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (I.R.); (S.V.); (M.A.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (I.R.); (S.V.); (M.A.L.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-091-2389-6824
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy; (M.A.); (I.R.); (S.V.); (M.A.L.); (A.A.)
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Attanzio A, Diana P, Barraja P, Carbone A, Spanò V, Parrino B, Cascioferro SM, Allegra M, Cirrincione G, Tesoriere L, Montalbano A. Quality, functional and sensory evaluation of pasta fortified with extracts from Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. J Sci Food Agric 2019; 99:4242-4247. [PMID: 30801716 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The stems of Opuntia ficus-indica, known as cladodes, are a rich source of soluble fibers, which makes them an important candidate for the production of functional foods. Tagliatelle of durum wheat fortified with Opuntia cladode extract (OCE) at different levels of addition (10-30%, v/w) was prepared on a laboratory scale and quality characteristics and sensory acceptability were assessed. RESULTS The main quality parameters (optimal cooking time, swelling index, cooking loss, dry matter) and sensory analysis on a nine-point hedonic scale were comparable with those of the control pasta sample (no added OCE) when durum wheat was supplemented with OCE at up to 20% (v/w). An in vitro human simulated gastrointestinal digestion in the presence of cholesterol or its main dietary oxidized derivative, 7-ketocholesterol, showed that OCE-fortified pasta strongly reduced the bioaccessibility of both the sterols (the higher the incorporated OCE level, the higher the effect). Moreover the extent of starch digestion decreased with increasing levels of OCE. CONCLUSION The results of the present study indicate that OCE-fortified pasta comprises a food with healthy properties, such as blood cholesterol- and glucose-lowering capabilities. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Attanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Patrizia Diana
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paola Barraja
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Carbone
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Virginia Spanò
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Barbara Parrino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Stella M Cascioferro
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Girolamo Cirrincione
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Montalbano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Messineo L, Allegra M, Seta L. Self-reported motivation for choosing nursing studies: a self-determination theory perspective. BMC Med Educ 2019; 19:192. [PMID: 31182080 PMCID: PMC6558786 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-019-1568-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nursing shortage is of worldwide concern, with nursing student retention acknowledged as a priority. As a fundamental step towards exploring factors that can guide the implementation of strategic approaches to retain undergraduate nursing students and prevent their attrition, the aim of this study is to examine the motivation for choosing nursing studies of first-year nursing students within the theoretical framework of self-determination theory. METHODS We conducted a study at the Medical School of the University of Palermo. A total of 133 first-year nursing students completed a two-part questionnaire: a measure of socio-demographic aspects and an open question about their motivation for choosing nursing studies. Students' responses were analysed using thematic analysis. Dimensional analysis was performed in order to verify an organization along one dimension, in agreement with the differentiation of the autonomous and controlled types of motivation of self-determination theory. A person-centred approach was utilised to define motivational profiles able to characterize clusters of students according to both quality and quantity of motivation. RESULTS A set of 18 categories was developed. The factor analysis has shown that nursing students' motivations can be organized along one dimension, in alignment with the differentiation of the autonomous and controlled forms of motivation of self-determination theory. Through adoption of a person-centred approach, four motivational profiles were identified: a) students with good quality motivation profile (high autonomous and low controlled); b) students with poor quality motivation profile (low autonomous and high controlled); c) students with low quantity motivation profile (low autonomous and low controlled); d) students with low quantity and poor quality motivation profile (i.e. prevalence of controlled motivation). CONCLUSIONS Importance of this research includes the possibility to interpret nursing students' reasons within the theoretical framework of self-determination theory, a well-grounded model able to offer useful information to academic nursing schools, in order to promote effective strategies to foster and support student motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Messineo
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, 90146 Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, 90146 Italy
| | - Luciano Seta
- Istituto per le Tecnologie Didattiche, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, 90146 Italy
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Montalbano L, Ferrante G, Cilluffo G, Gentile M, Arrigo M, La Guardia D, Allegra M, Malizia V, Gagliardo RP, Bonini M, La Grutta S. Targeting quality of life in asthmatic children: The MyTEP pilot randomized trial. Respir Med 2019; 153:14-19. [PMID: 31136927 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2019.05.008] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome in the management of children with asthma. Mobile Health (m-Health) and Therapeutic Education Programs (TEPs) are increasingly recognized as essential components of pediatric asthma management to improve disease outcomes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of an education program (MyTherapeutic Education Program, MyTEP) that couples multidisciplinary TEP intervention with an m-Health Program (mHP) in improving QoL in asthmatic children. METHODS This single-center study employed a nonblinded randomized clinical trial design. Italian-speaking children (6-11 years) with mild-moderate asthma were eligible for participation. Participants were randomly paired 1:1 with a control group that received mHP (smartphone app) or an intervention group that received MyTEP (TEP plus a smartphone app). Patients were followed up for 3 months. Descriptive statistics, Least Square (LS) mean change and Generalized Linear Mixed model were used for analysis. RESULTS Fifty patients were enrolled. The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) score improved in both MyTEP (p = 0.014) and mHP (p = 0.046) with the minimally clinically significant difference of ⩾0.5 points reached in 23% of MyTEP and in 16% of mHP. Changes in PAQLQ scores were significantly greater in MyTEP than in mHP (LS mean difference: 0.269 p = 0.05). PAQLQ score was: positively associated with MyTEP (p = 0.023) and study time (p = 0.002); and inversely associated with current passive smoke exposure (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION Despite the small sample size and short observation period, this study demonstrated that implementing a multidisciplinary TEP with an m-Health program results in gains in QoL of children with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Montalbano
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology (IBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuliana Ferrante
- Dipartimento di Scienze per la Promozione della Salute, Materno-Infantile, di Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cilluffo
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology (IBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy.
| | - Manuel Gentile
- Istituto di Tecnologie Didattiche (ITD), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Arrigo
- Istituto di Tecnologie Didattiche (ITD), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Dario La Guardia
- Istituto di Tecnologie Didattiche (ITD), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Istituto di Tecnologie Didattiche (ITD), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Velia Malizia
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology (IBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosalia Paola Gagliardo
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology (IBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
| | - Matteo Bonini
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania La Grutta
- Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology (IBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy
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Città G, Gentile M, Augello A, Ottaviano S, Allegra M, Dignum F. Analyzing Creativity in the Light of Social Practice Theory. Front Psychol 2019; 9:2752. [PMID: 30692955 PMCID: PMC6340098 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, starting from the social practice theory, we identified two kinds of creativity: a situational creativity that takes place when, starting from a defined situation, a social practice is played; and a creativity of habit that concerns the agents' capacity for generating new practices from habit when the situation is not defined or is unexpected. To test this hypothesis, the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (Verbal Form A) was analyzed in the light of praxeology, and the results are analyzed in a computational creativity perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Città
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuel Gentile
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Augello
- Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking, National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Ottaviano
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Institute for Educational Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Frank Dignum
- Department of Information and Computing Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Computer Science, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
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Allegra M, De Cicco P, Ercolano G, Attanzio A, Busà R, Cirino G, Tesoriere L, Livrea MA, Ianaro A. Indicaxanthin from Opuntia Ficus Indica (L. Mill) impairs melanoma cell proliferation, invasiveness, and tumor progression. Phytomedicine 2018; 50:19-24. [PMID: 30466978 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A strong, reciprocal crosstalk between inflammation and melanoma has rigorously been demonstrated in recent years, showing how crucial is a pro-inflammatory microenvironment to drive therapy resistance and metastasis. PURPOSE We investigated on the effects of Indicaxanthin, a novel, anti-inflammatory and bioavailable phytochemical from Opuntia Ficus Indica fruits, against human melanoma both in vitro and in vivo. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The effects of indicaxanthin were evaluated against the proliferation of A375 human melanoma cell line and in a mice model of cutaneous melanoma. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay, apoptosis by Annexin V-Fluorescein Isothiocyanate/Propidium Iodide staining, protein expression by western blotting, melanoma lesions were subcutaneously injected in mice with B16/F10 cells, chemokine release was quantified by ELISA. RESULTS Data herein presented demonstrate that indicaxanthin effectively inhibits the proliferation of the highly metastatic and invasive A375 cells as shown by growth inhibition, apoptosis induction and cell invasiveness reduction. More interestingly, in vitro data were paralleled by those in vivo showing that indicaxanthin significantly reduced tumor development when orally administered to mice. The results of our study also clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the antiproliferative effect of indicaxanthin, individuating the inhibition of NF-κB pathway as predominant. CONCLUSION In conclusion, we demonstrated that indicaxanthin represents a novel phytochemical able to significantly inhibit human melanoma cell proliferation in vitro and to impair tumor progression in vivo. When considering the resistance of melanoma to the current therapeutical approach and the very limited number of phytochemicals able to partially counteract it, our findings may be of interest to explore indicaxanthin potential in further and more complex melanoma studies in combo therapy, i.e. where different check points of melanoma development are targeted.
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Key Words
- Apoptosis
- Bcl-2, B cell lymphoma gene-2 (Bcl-2)
- CXCL1, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1
- Indicaxanthin
- Inflammation
- List of Abbrevations: AxV-FITC, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate
- MTT, 3-[4,5-dimethyltiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide
- Melanoma
- NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa B
- NHEM, normal human epidermal melanocytes
- Opuntia Ficus Indica (L.Mill)
- PI, propidium iodide PI
- PhC, phytochemicals
- Phytochemical
- c-FLIP, FLICE-inhibitory protein
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Allegra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Paola De Cicco
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Scuola di Medicina, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ercolano
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Scuola di Medicina, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosalia Busà
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cirino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Scuola di Medicina, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria A Livrea
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Angela Ianaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
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Attanzio A, Frazzitta A, Vasto S, Tesoriere L, Pintaudi AM, Livrea MA, Cilla A, Allegra M. Increased eryptosis in smokers is associated with the antioxidant status and C-reactive protein levels. Toxicology 2018; 411:43-48. [PMID: 30385265 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2018.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette smoking has been linked with oxidative stress and inflammation. In turn, eryptosis, the suicidal erythrocyte death similar to apoptosis that can be triggered by oxidative stress, has been associated with chronic inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis. However, the link between smoking and eryptosis has not been explored so far. The aim of the present study was to determine the level of eryptotic erythrocytes in healthy male smokers (n = 21) compared to non-smokers (n = 21) and assess its relationship with systemic inflammation (CRP) as well as with antioxidant defense (GSH) and their resistance to ex-vivo induced hemolysis. Smoking caused an increase in phosphatidylserine translocation outside the erythrocyte membrane (hallmark of eryptosis), significantly correlated to the plasma level of CRP (r = 0.546) and GSH concentration in erythrocytes (r=-0.475). With respect to non-smokers, smokers show a marginal increase of total leucocytes and erythrocyte volume, no modifications of the RBC resistance to oxidative stress-induced hemolysis and hematological and lipid parameters unvaried. We conclude that the inflammatory status (high CRP levels) and RBC oxidative stress (low GSH levels) caused by cigarette smoking are associated with an increase of eryptotic erythrocytes, a yet unknown relationship potentially involved with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Frazzitta
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sonya Vasto
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Pintaudi
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Antonia Livrea
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Cilla
- Nutrition and Food Science Area, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjassot (Valencia), Spain.
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90123, Palermo, Italy
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Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Vasto S, Pintaudi AM, Livrea MA, Allegra M. Short-term cactus pear [ Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill] fruit supplementation ameliorates the inflammatory profile and is associated with improved antioxidant status among healthy humans. Food Nutr Res 2018; 62:1262. [PMID: 30150921 PMCID: PMC6104507 DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v62.1262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dietary ingredients and food components are major modifiable factors protecting immune system and preventing the progression of a low-grade chronic inflammation responsible for age-related diseases. Objective Our study explored whether cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica, Surfarina cultivar) fruit supplementation modulates plasma inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adults. Correlations between inflammatory parameters and antioxidant status were also assessed in parallel. Design In a randomised, 2-period (2 weeks/period), crossover, controlled-feeding study, conducted in 28 healthy volunteers [mean age 39.96 (±9.15) years, BMI 23.1 (±1.5) kg/m2], the effects of a diet supplemented with cactus pear fruit pulp (200 g, twice a day) were compared with those of an equivalent diet with isocaloric fresh fruit substitution. Results With respect to control, cactus pear diet decreased ( p < 0.05) the pro-inflammatory markers such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon-γ (INF)-γ, IL-8, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), whereas it increased ( p < 0.05) the anti-inflammatory marker IL-10. Moreover, the diet decreased ratios between pro-inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory biomarker (IL-10) ( p < 0.05). Cactus pear supplementation caused an increase ( p < 0.05) in dermal carotenoids (skin carotenoid score, SCS), a biomarker of the body antioxidant status, with correlations between SCS and CRP (r = −0.905, p < 0.0001), IL-8 (r = −0.835, p < 0.0001) and IL-10 (r = 0.889, p < 0.0001). Conclusions The presently observed modulation of both inflammatory markers and antioxidant balance suggests cactus pear fruit as a novel and beneficial component to be incorporated into current healthy dietary habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Attanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sonya Vasto
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Pintaudi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria A Livrea
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Fiorica C, Palumbo FS, Pitarresi G, Allegra M, Puleio R, Giammona G. Hyaluronic acid and α-elastin based hydrogel for three dimensional culture of vascular endothelial cells. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2018.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Gambino G, Allegra M, Sardo P, Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Livrea MA, Ferraro G, Carletti F. Brain Distribution and Modulation of Neuronal Excitability by Indicaxanthin From Opuntia Ficus Indica Administered at Nutritionally-Relevant Amounts. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:133. [PMID: 29867444 PMCID: PMC5954040 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have recently investigated the role of nutraceuticals in complex pathophysiological processes such as oxidative damages, inflammatory conditions and excitotoxicity. In this regard, the effects of nutraceuticals on basic functions of neuronal cells, such as excitability, are still poorly investigated. For this reason, the possible modulation of neuronal excitability by phytochemicals (PhC) could represent an interesting field of research given that excitotoxicity phenomena are involved in neurodegenerative alterations leading, for example, to Alzheimer’s disease. The present study was focused on indicaxanthin from Opuntia ficus indica, a bioactive betalain pigment, with a proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, previously found to cross blood-brain barrier (BBB) and to modulate the bioelectric activity of hippocampal neurons. On this basis, we aimed at detecting the specific brain areas where indicaxanthin localizes after oral administration at dietary-achievable amounts and highlighting eventual local effects on the excitability of single neuronal units. HPLC analysis of brain tissue 1 h after ingestion of 2 μmol/kg indicaxanthin indicated that the phytochemical accumulates in cortex, hippocampus, diencephalon, brainstem and cerebellum, but not in the striato-pallidal complex. Then, electrophysiological recordings, applying the microiontophoretic technique, were carried out with different amounts of indicaxanthin (0.34, 0.17, 0.085 ng/neuron) to assess whether indicaxanthin influenced the neuronal firing rate. The data showed that the bioelectric activity of neurons belonging to different brain areas was modulated after local injection of indicaxanthin, mainly with dose-related responses. A predominating inhibitory effect was observed, suggesting a possible novel beneficial effect of indicaxanthin in reducing cell excitability. These findings can constitute a new rationale for exploring biological mechanisms through which PhC could modulate neuronal function with a relapse on complex cognitive brain process and related neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuditta Gambino
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience (Bio.Ne.C.), Sezione di Fisiologia Umana G. Pagano, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Post-graduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Sardo
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience (Bio.Ne.C.), Sezione di Fisiologia Umana G. Pagano, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Post-graduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria A Livrea
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ferraro
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience (Bio.Ne.C.), Sezione di Fisiologia Umana G. Pagano, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,Post-graduate School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Carletti
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience (Bio.Ne.C.), Sezione di Fisiologia Umana G. Pagano, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Livrea MA. Monofloral honeys by Sicilian black honeybee ( Apis mellifera ssp. sicula) have high reducing power and antioxidant capacity. Heliyon 2016; 2:e00193. [PMID: 27882358 PMCID: PMC5113258 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2016.e00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty samples from thirteen Sicilian monofloral honeys by the local black honeybee, and two honeydew honeys, were studied to assess phenol content, reducing power and antioxidant capacity as well as correlations among these parameters. Honeys from Apiaceae showed the highest phenol amount and capacity to reduce ferric ion and stable chemical radicals, whereas honeys from Leguminosae the lowest. All honeys were active against myoglobin-derived radicals usually formed in red meat after storage and/or heating and significant correlation (p = 0.023) was found between flavonoid content and deactivation rate of this radical. Dill > almond > tangerine > thistle > sulla honeys inhibited formation of lipoperoxides in either iron/ascorbate or azoinitiator -induced membrane lipid oxidation, whereas eucalyptus honey was mostly effective in the metal-dependent model. Honeys by black honeybee possess remarkable reducing power and antioxidant potential against radicals of interest in dietary foodstuffs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Attanzio
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria A Livrea
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 28, 90123 Palermo, Italy
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Falk A, Ilié M, Long E, Tanga V, Lespinet V, Bordone O, Allegra M, Ribeyre C, Otto J, Poudenx M, Marquette CH, Hofman V, Hofman P. Liquid biopsy testing in routine clinical management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: clinical validation in a single biopathology laboratory. Ann Oncol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdw363.12] [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: 11/13/2022] Open
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36
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De Donatis GM, Le Pape E, Pierron A, Cheli Y, Hofman V, Hofman P, Allegra M, Zahaf K, Bahadoran P, Rocchi S, Bertolotto C, Ballotti R, Passeron T. NF-kB2 induces senescence bypass in melanoma via a direct transcriptional activation of EZH2. Oncogene 2016; 35:2813. [PMID: 27225420 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Ricci FL, Consorti F, Gentile M, Messineo L, La Guardia D, Arrigo M, Allegra M. Case-Based Learning: A Formal Approach to Generate Health Case Studies from Electronic Healthcare Records. Stud Health Technol Inform 2016; 221:107-111. [PMID: 27071887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing social pressure to train medical students with a level of competency sufficient to face clinical practice already at the end of their curriculum. The case-based learning (CBL) is an efficient teaching method to prepare students for clinical practice through the use of real or realistic clinical cases. In this regard, the Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) could be a good source of real patient stories that can be transformed into educative cases. In this paper a formal approach to generate Health Case Studies from EHR is defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio L Ricci
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science and Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council of Italy, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Consorti
- Dept. Surgical Sciences, University Sapienza of Rome and SIPeM, Italy
| | - Manuel Gentile
- Institute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council of Italy, Italy
| | - Linda Messineo
- Institute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council of Italy, Italy
| | - Dario La Guardia
- Institute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council of Italy, Italy
| | - Marco Arrigo
- Institute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council of Italy, Italy
| | - Mario Allegra
- Institute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council of Italy, Italy
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Messineo L, Gentile M, Allegra M. Test-enhanced learning: analysis of an experience with undergraduate nursing students. BMC Med Educ 2015; 15:182. [PMID: 26498207 PMCID: PMC4619564 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-015-0464-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study is based on the evidence that tests can be used as an educational tool to enhance learning, not just as an evaluation tool. There is a growing body of research that shows that participating in repeated testing improves learning, a phenomenon defined as Test-Enhanced Learning. The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of the use of a test enhanced learning program integrated into a general psychology course for undergraduate nursing students and its interaction with the students' test anxiety. METHODS 161 undergraduate nursing students attending a General Psychology course followed an educational program based on Test-Enhanced Learning methodology. Students were divided into two groups, an experimental group (TEL group) and a control group (Re-study group). TEL students took a multiple-choice test on the lecture topics. The Re-study group just read study material. Testing and re-study occurred at intervals of about a week after each lesson. TEL students received feedback immediately after each test. About two weeks after the end of the lessons, all the students took a final cumulative test on all the topics. Statistical analysis was used to analyse students' performances. After the administration of the cumulative unit test, all the students took a graded examination. RESULTS Students in the TEL group performed better than the controls, both in the final cumulative test and in a graded examination. TEL participants experienced better final cumulative test results than students not tested (M TEL = 23.11, M Re-study = 20.47, t(109.86) = -2.57, p < 0.05, r = 0.24). Test-Enhanced Learning program participation has a positive impact on exam performance (βG_Step1 = 0.46, p < 0.001). Finally, the analysis performed shows a slight moderating effect of test anxiety on Test-Enhanced Learning (βGxTA_Step3 = 0.15, p < 0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Test-Enhanced Learning can be an effective tool for promoting and enhancing learning. In fact, taking tests after studying produced better long-term retention and then better final test performance than re-reading without testing. Both students in the TEL group and the Re-study group with a high test anxiety level perform less well than colleagues with lower test anxiety. Nevertheless, students with higher test anxiety may obtain more benefits from participating in a Test-Enhanced Learning process than people with lower test anxiety. Further studies on larger and more representative samples are necessary in order to investigate the effect of test anxiety on Test-Enhanced Learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Messineo
- Institute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council, CNR-ITD, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, 90146, Italy.
| | - Manuel Gentile
- Institute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council, CNR-ITD, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, 90146, Italy.
| | - Mario Allegra
- Institute for Educational Technologies, National Research Council, CNR-ITD, Via Ugo La Malfa 153, Palermo, 90146, Italy.
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Allegra M, Carletti F, Gambino G, Tutone M, Attanzio A, Tesoriere L, Ferraro G, Sardo P, Almerico AM, Livrea MA. Indicaxanthin from Opuntia ficus-indica Crosses the Blood-Brain Barrier and Modulates Neuronal Bioelectric Activity in Rat Hippocampus at Dietary-Consistent Amounts. J Agric Food Chem 2015; 63:7353-7360. [PMID: 26227670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b02612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Indicaxanthin is a bioactive and bioavailable betalain pigment from the Opuntia ficus-indica fruits. In this in vivo study, kinetic measurements showed that indicaxanthin is revealed in the rat brain within 1 h from oral administration of 2 μmol/kg, an amount compatible with a dietary consumption of cactus pear fruits in humans. A peak (20 ± 2.4 ng of indicaxanthin per whole brain) was measured after 2.5 h; thereafter the molecule disappeared with first order kinetics within 4 h. The potential of indicaxanthin to affect neural activities was in vivo investigated by a microiontophoretic approach. Indicaxanthin, administered in a range between 0.085 ng and 0.34 ng per neuron, dose-dependently modulated the rate of discharge of spontaneously active neurons of the hippocampus, with reduction of the discharge and related changes of latency and duration of the effect. Indicaxanthin (0.34 ng/neuron) showed inhibitory effects on glutamate-induced excitation, indicating activity at the level of glutamatergic synapses. A molecular target of indicaxanthin is suggested by in silico molecular modeling of indicaxanthin with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), the most represented of the glutamate receptor family in hippocampus. Therefore, at nutritionally compatible amounts indicaxanthin (i) crosses the rat BBB and accumulates in brain; (ii) can affect the bioelectric activity of hippocampal neurons locally treated with amounts comparable with those measured in the brain; and (iii) modulates glutamate-induced neuronal excitation. The potential of dietary indicaxanthin as a natural neuromodulatory agent deserves further mechanistic and neurophysiologic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Allegra
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo , Via M. Cipolla 74, 90121 Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Carletti
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche, Sezione di Fisiologia Umana "G. Pagano", University of Palermo , Corso Tukory 129, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuditta Gambino
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche, Sezione di Fisiologia Umana "G. Pagano", University of Palermo , Corso Tukory 129, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Tutone
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo , Via M. Cipolla 74, 90121 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Attanzio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo , Via M. Cipolla 74, 90121 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luisa Tesoriere
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo , Via M. Cipolla 74, 90121 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ferraro
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche, Sezione di Fisiologia Umana "G. Pagano", University of Palermo , Corso Tukory 129, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Sardo
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche, Sezione di Fisiologia Umana "G. Pagano", University of Palermo , Corso Tukory 129, 90134 Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Almerico
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo , Via M. Cipolla 74, 90121 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Antonia Livrea
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University of Palermo , Via M. Cipolla 74, 90121 Palermo, Italy
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Tesoriere L, Attanzio A, Allegra M, Cilla A, Gentile C, Livrea MA. Oxysterol mixture in hypercholesterolemia-relevant proportion causes oxidative stress-dependent eryptosis. Cell Physiol Biochem 2014; 34:1075-89. [PMID: 25228229 DOI: 10.1159/000366322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Oxysterol activity on the erythrocyte (RBC) programmed cell death (eryptosis) had not been studied yet. Effects of an oxysterol mixture in hyper-cholesterolemic-relevant proportion, and of individual compounds, were investigated on RBCs from healthy humans. METHODS Membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, calcium entry, ROS production, amino-phospholipid translocase (APLT) activity were evaluated by cytofluorimetric assays, cell volume from forward scatter. Prostaglandin PGE2 was measured by ELISA; GSH-adducts and lipoperoxides by spectrophotometry. Involvement of protein kinase C and caspase was investigated by inhibitors staurosporin, calphostin C, and Z-DEVD-FMK, respectively. RESULTS Oxysterols caused PS externalization and cell shrinkage, associated with PGE2release, opening of PGE2-dependent calcium channels, ROS production, GSH depletion, membrane lipid oxidation. Addition of antioxidants prevented Ca(2+) influx and eryptosis. Calcium removal prevented cell shrinkage, with small effect (-20%) on the PS exposure, whereas ROS generation was unaltered. Either in the presence or absence of calcium i) oxysterols inhibited APLT, ii) staurosporin, calphostin C, Z-DEVD-FMK blunted and iii) antioxidants fully prevented the oxysterol-induced PS externalization. Only 7-ketocholesterol and cholestan-3β,5α,6β-triol were individually active. Eryptosis was observed in RBCs isolated after ex vivo spiking of human whole blood with the oxysterol mixture. CONCLUSIONS Oxysterols induce an oxidative stress-dependent eryptosis, involving calcium-independent mechanisms. Eryptotic activity of oxysterols may be relevant in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Tesoriere
- Department of Biological Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies (STEBICEF), Universita di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Tripathi P, Di Giovannantonio L, Sanguinetti E, Acampora D, Allegra M, Caleo M, Wurst W, Simeone A, Bozzi Y. Increased dopaminergic innervation in the brain of conditional mutant mice overexpressing Otx2: Effects on locomotor behavior and seizure susceptibility. Neuroscience 2014; 261:173-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.12.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Allegra M, Ianaro A, Tersigni M, Panza E, Tesoriere L, Livrea MA. Indicaxanthin from cactus pear fruit exerts anti-inflammatory effects in carrageenin-induced rat pleurisy. J Nutr 2014; 144:185-92. [PMID: 24306215 DOI: 10.3945/jn.113.183657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nutritional research has shifted recently from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention. We investigated the activity of indicaxanthin, a bioavailable phytochemical of the betalain class from the edible fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica (L. Miller) in a rat model of acute inflammation. Rat pleurisy was achieved by injection of 0.2 mL of λ-carrageenin in the pleural cavity, and rats were killed 4, 24, and 48 h later; exudates were collected to analyze inflammatory parameters, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); cells recruited in pleura were analyzed for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation. Indicaxanthin (0.5, 1, or 2 μmol/kg), given orally before carrageenin, time- and dose-dependently, reduced the exudate volume (up to 70%) and the number of leukocytes recruited in the pleural cavity (up to 95%) at 24 h. Pretreatment with indicaxanthin at 2 μmol/kg inhibited the carrageenin-induced release of PGE(2) (91.4%), NO (67.7%), IL-1β (53.6%), and TNF-α (71.1%), and caused a decrease of IL-1β (34.5%), TNF-α (81.6%), iNOS (75.2%), and COX2 (87.7%) mRNA, as well as iNOS (71.9%) and COX-2 (65.9%) protein expression, in the recruited leukocytes. Indicaxanthin inhibited time- and dose- dependently the activation of NF-κB, a key transcription factor in the whole inflammatory cascade. A pharmacokinetic study with a single 2 μmol/kg oral administration showed a maximum 0.22 ± 0.02 μmol/L (n = 15) plasma concentration of indicaxanthin, with a half-life of 1.15 ± 0.11 h. When considering the high bioavailability of indicaxanthin in humans, our findings suggest that this dietary pigment has the potential to improve health and prevent inflammation-based disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Allegra
- Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Tesoriere L, Gentile C, Angileri F, Attanzio A, Tutone M, Allegra M, Livrea MA. Trans-epithelial transport of the betalain pigments indicaxanthin and betanin across Caco-2 cell monolayers and influence of food matrix. Eur J Nutr 2012; 52:1077-87. [DOI: 10.1007/s00394-012-0414-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Cheli Y, Giuliano S, Fenouille N, Allegra M, Hofman V, Hofman P, Bahadoran P, Lacour JP, Tartare-Deckert S, Bertolotto C, Ballotti R. Hypoxia and MITF control metastatic behaviour in mouse and human melanoma cells. Oncogene 2011; 31:2461-70. [PMID: 21996743 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2011.425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Melanomas are very aggressive neoplasms with notorious resistance to therapeutics. It was recently proposed that the remarkable phenotypic plasticity of melanoma cells allows for the rapid development of both resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and invasive properties. Indeed, the capacity of melanoma cells to form distant metastases is the main cause of mortality in melanoma patients. Therefore, the identification of the mechanism controlling melanoma phenotype is of paramount importance. In the present report, we show that deletion of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), the master gene in melanocyte differentiation, is sufficient to increase the metastatic potential of mouse and human melanoma cells. MITF silencing also increases fibronectin and Snail, two mesenchymal markers that might explain the increased invasiveness in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ablation of this population by Forskolin-induced differentiation or MITF-forced expression significantly decreases tumour and metastasis formation, suggesting that eradication of low-MITF cells might improve melanoma treatment. Moreover, we demonstrate that a hypoxic microenvironment decreases MITF expression through an indirect, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1)α-dependant transcriptional mechanism, and increases the tumourigenic and metastatic properties of melanoma cells. We identified Bhlhb2, a new factor in melanoma biology, as the mediator of hypoxia/HIF1α inhibitory effect on MITF expression. Our results reveal a hypoxia-HIF1α-BHLHB2-MITF cascade controlling the phenotypic plasticity in melanoma cells and favouring metastasis development. Targeting this pathway might be helpful in the design of new anti-melanoma therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Cheli
- INSERM U895, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Equipe 1, Biology and Pathologies of Melanocytes, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Contre le Cancer, Nice, France
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Allegra M, D’Acquisto F, Tesoriere L, Livrea M, Perretti M. Cross-talk between minimally primed HL-60 cells and resting HUVEC reveals a crucial role for adhesion over extracellularly released oxidants. Biochem Pharmacol 2011; 81:396-401. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2010.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Received: 09/14/2010] [Revised: 10/27/2010] [Accepted: 10/27/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Gentile C, Livrea MA. Betacyanins as phenol antioxidants. Chemistry and mechanistic aspects of the lipoperoxyl radical-scavenging activity in solution and liposomes. Free Radic Res 2010; 43:706-17. [DOI: 10.1080/10715760903037681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Turco Liveri ML, Sciascia L, Allegra M, Tesoriere L, Livrea MA. Partition of indicaxanthin in membrane biomimetic systems. A kinetic and modeling approach. J Agric Food Chem 2009; 57:10959-10963. [PMID: 19919126 DOI: 10.1021/jf902266m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The solubilization site of indicaxanthin (Ind) in lipid bilayers was investigated by the kinetics of Ind oxidation by peroxyl radicals in water and in aqueous/L-alpha-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles, pH 7.4, and 37.0 and 48.0 degrees C, that is, in a gel-like and a crystal liquidlike bilayer state, respectively. The time-dependent Ind absorbance decay, matched with a successful simulation of the reaction kinetic mechanism by Gepasi software, supported a multistep pathway. Computer-assisted analysis allowed calculation of the rate constants associated with the reactions involved, the values of which decreased with increasing DPPC concentration. The binding constant calculated according to a pseudo two-phase distribution model did not vary with the physicochemical state of the vesicle, indicating location of Ind in a region whose state is not affected by temperature changes, at the interface between hydrophobic core and hydrophilic head groups. Other measurements carried out in the presence of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine vesicles, indicated that the phytochemical was confined to the aqueous phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Liria Turco Liveri
- Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica F. Accascina, Viale delle Scienze, Pad. 17, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Butera D, Gentile C, Livrea MA. Kinetics of the lipoperoxyl radical-scavenging activity of indicaxanthin in solution and unilamellar liposomes. Free Radic Res 2009; 41:226-33. [PMID: 17364949 DOI: 10.1080/10715760601026614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The reaction of the phytochemical indicaxanthin with lipoperoxyl radicals generated in methyl linoleate methanol solution by 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), and in aqueous soybean phosphatidylcholine unilamellar liposomes by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)hydrochloride, was studied. The molecule acts as a chain-terminating lipoperoxyl radical scavenger in solution, with a calculated inhibition constant of 3.63 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1), and a stoichiometric factor approaching 2. Indicaxanthin incorporated in liposomes prevented lipid oxidation, inducing clear-cut lag periods and decrease of the propagation rate. Both effects were concentration-dependent, but not linearly related to the phytochemical concentration. The consumption of indicaxanthin during liposome oxidation was remarkably delayed, the lower the concentration the longer the time-interval during which it remained in its native state. Indicaxanthin and alpha-tocopherol, simultaneously incorporated in liposomes, exhibited cooperative antioxidant effects and reciprocal protective interactions. The extent of synergism decreased at the increase of the ratio (indicaxanthin)/(alpha-tocopherol). A potential antioxidant mechanism of indicaxanthin is discussed in the context of the chemistry of the molecule, and of the possible reactivity of a short-lived intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Tesoriere
- Dipartimento Farmacochimico Tossicologico e Biologico, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 32, Palermo, Italy
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Tesoriere L, Allegra M, Butera D, Gentile C, Livrea MA. Cytoprotective effects of the antioxidant phytochemical indicaxanthin in β-thalassemia red blood cells. Free Radic Res 2009; 40:753-61. [PMID: 16984002 DOI: 10.1080/10715760600554228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Antioxidant phytochemicals are investigated as novel treatments for supportive therapy in beta-thalassemia. The dietary indicaxanthin was assessed for its protective effects on human beta-thalassemic RBCs submitted in vitro to oxidative haemolysis by cumene hydroperoxide. Indicaxanthin at 1.0-10 microM enhanced the resistance to haemolysis dose-dependently. In addition, it prevented lipid and haemoglobin (Hb) oxidation, and retarded vitamin E and GSH depletion. After ex vivo spiking of blood from thalassemia patients with indicaxanthin, the phytochemical was recovered in the soluble cell compartment of the RBCs. A spectrophotometric study showed that indicaxanthin can reduce perferryl-Hb generated in solution from met-Hb and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), more effectively than either Trolox or vitamin C. Collectively our results demonstrate that indicaxanthin can be incorporated into the redox machinery of beta-thalassemic RBC and defend the cell from oxidation, possibly interfering with perferryl-Hb, a reactive intermediate in the hydroperoxide-dependent Hb degradation. Opportunities of therapeutic interest for beta-thalassemia may be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Tesoriere
- Dipartimento Farmacochimico Tossicologico e Biologico, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo 90128, Italy.
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Davidovic L, Sacconi S, Bechara EG, Delplace S, Allegra M, Desnuelle C, Bardoni B. Alteration of expression of muscle specific isoforms of the fragile X related protein 1 (FXR1P) in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy patients. J Med Genet 2008; 45:679-85. [PMID: 18628314 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.2008.060541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Fragile X Mental retardation-Related 1 (FXR1) gene belongs to the fragile X related family, that also includes the Fragile X Mental Retardation (FMR1) gene involved in fragile X syndrome, the most common form of inherited mental retardation. While the absence of FMRP impairs cognitive functions, inactivation of FXR1 has been reported to have drastic effects in mouse and xenopus myogenesis. Seven alternatively spliced FXR1 mRNA variants have been identified, three of them being muscle specific. Interestingly, they encode FXR1P isoforms displaying selective RNA binding properties. METHODS AND RESULTS Since facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an inherited myopathy characterised by altered splicing of mRNAs encoding muscle specific proteins, we have studied the splicing pattern of FXR1 mRNA in myoblasts and myotubes of FSHD patients. We show here that FSHD myoblasts display an abnormal pattern of expression of FXR1P isoforms. Moreover, we provide evidence that this altered pattern of expression is due to a specific reduced stability of muscle specific FXR1 mRNA variants, leading to a reduced expression of FXR1P muscle specific isoforms. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that the molecular basis of FSHD not only involves splicing alterations, as previously proposed, but may also involve a deregulation of mRNA stability. In addition, since FXR1P is an RNA binding protein likely to regulate the metabolism of muscle specific mRNAs during myogenesis, its altered expression in FSHD myoblasts may contribute to the physiopathology of this disease.
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