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Mosca N, Pezzullo M, De Leo I, Truda A, Marchese G, Russo A, Potenza N. A Novel ceRNET Relying on the lncRNA JPX, miR-378a-3p, and Its mRNA Targets in Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1526. [PMID: 38672608 PMCID: PMC11049386 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081526] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Non-coding RNAs are emerging as critical players for the onset and progression of cancer. Analyses of three different datasets revealed that the lncRNA JPX was overexpressed in adenocarcinoma tissues in comparison to normal lungs, as expected for an oncogene. Intriguingly, the predicted binding miR-378a-3p showed a significant inverse correlation with JPX expression. The lncRNA/miRNA physical interaction was validated by reporter vectors. Then, the oncogenic activity of JPX, the tumor-suppressive role of miR-378a-3p, and the contribution of their functional interaction to cancer hallmarks were demonstrated using assays for cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and 3D-spheroid formation. Finally, molecular circuits were investigated by boosting the expression of both JPX and miR-378a-3p, singularly and in combination, demonstrating that JPX counteracted miR-378a-3p silencing activity toward its oncogenic targets GLUT1, NRP1, YY1, and Wnt5a. Overall, the data unveil a novel ceRNET (competing endogenous RNA network), wherein JPX acts as a ceRNA by binding to miR-378a-3p, thus reducing the miRNA silencing activity toward its downstream targets, and eliciting oncogenic pathways driving lung cancer. The knowledge of the network may pave the way to develop new diagnostic panels, and innovative RNA-targeted and RNA-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (N.M.); (M.P.); (I.D.L.); (A.T.); (A.R.)
| | - Mariaceleste Pezzullo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (N.M.); (M.P.); (I.D.L.); (A.T.); (A.R.)
| | - Ilenia De Leo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (N.M.); (M.P.); (I.D.L.); (A.T.); (A.R.)
- Genomix4Life S.r.l., 84081 Baronissi, Italy;
| | - Anna Truda
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (N.M.); (M.P.); (I.D.L.); (A.T.); (A.R.)
- Genomix4Life S.r.l., 84081 Baronissi, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Marchese
- Genomix4Life S.r.l., 84081 Baronissi, Italy;
- Genome Research Center for Health—CRGS, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (N.M.); (M.P.); (I.D.L.); (A.T.); (A.R.)
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (N.M.); (M.P.); (I.D.L.); (A.T.); (A.R.)
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2
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Senese R, Petito G, Silvestri E, Ventriglia M, Mosca N, Potenza N, Russo A, Manfrevola F, Cobellis G, Chioccarelli T, Porreca V, Mele VG, Chianese R, de Lange P, Ricci G, Cioffi F, Lanni A. Effect of CB1 Receptor Deficiency on Mitochondrial Quality Control Pathways in Gastrocnemius Muscle. Biology (Basel) 2024; 13:116. [PMID: 38392333 PMCID: PMC10886598 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020116] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the complex role of cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1) signaling in the gastrocnemius muscle, assessing physiological processes in both CB1+/+ and CB1-/- mice. The primary focus is to enhance our understanding of how CB1 contributes to mitochondrial homeostasis. At the tissue level, CB1-/- mice exhibit a substantial miRNA-related alteration in muscle fiber composition, characterized by an enrichment of oxidative fibers. CB1 absence induces a significant increase in the oxidative capacity of muscle, supported by elevated in-gel activity of Complex I and Complex IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The increased oxidative capacity is associated with elevated oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defense systems. Analysis of mitochondrial biogenesis markers indicates an enhanced capacity for new mitochondria production in CB1-/- mice, possibly adapting to altered muscle fiber composition. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy response, and unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways reveal a dynamic interplay in response to CB1 absence. The interconnected mitochondrial network, influenced by increased fusion and mitochondrial UPR components, underlines the dual role of CB1 in regulating both protein quality control and the generation of new mitochondria. These findings deepen our comprehension of the CB1 impact on muscle physiology, oxidative stress, and MQC processes, highlighting cellular adaptability to CB1-/-. This study paves the way for further exploration of intricate signaling cascades and cross-talk between cellular compartments in the context of CB1 and mitochondrial homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalba Senese
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Petito
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Elena Silvestri
- Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
| | - Maria Ventriglia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Francesco Manfrevola
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Gilda Cobellis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Chioccarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Veronica Porreca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenza Grazia Mele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosanna Chianese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Pieter de Lange
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Giulia Ricci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Cioffi
- Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
| | - Antonia Lanni
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
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3
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Siniscalchi C, Di Palo A, Petito G, Senese R, Manfrevola F, Leo ID, Mosca N, Chioccarelli T, Porreca V, Marchese G, Ravo M, Chianese R, Cobellis G, Lanni A, Russo A, Potenza N. A landscape of mouse mitochondrial small non-coding RNAs. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293644. [PMID: 38165955 PMCID: PMC10760717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293644] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly miRNAs, play key roles in a plethora of biological processes both in health and disease. Although largely operative in the cytoplasm, emerging data indicate their shuttling in different subcellular compartments. Given the central role of mitochondria in cellular homeostasis, here we systematically profiled their small ncRNAs content across mouse tissues that largely rely on mitochondria functioning. The ubiquitous presence of piRNAs in mitochondria (mitopiRNA) of somatic tissues is reported for the first time, supporting the idea of a strong and general connection between mitochondria biology and piRNA pathways. Then, we found groups of tissue-shared and tissue-specific mitochondrial miRNAs (mitomiRs), potentially related to the "basic" or "cell context dependent" biology of mitochondria. Overall, this large data platform will be useful to deepen the knowledge about small ncRNAs processing and their governed regulatory networks contributing to mitochondria functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Siniscalchi
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Armando Di Palo
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Petito
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosalba Senese
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Francesco Manfrevola
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Ilenia De Leo
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
- Genomix4Life S.r.l., Baronissi (SA), Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Teresa Chioccarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Veronica Porreca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanna Marchese
- Genomix4Life S.r.l., Baronissi (SA), Italy
- Genome Research Center for Health, CRGS, Baronissi, Italy
| | - Maria Ravo
- Genomix4Life S.r.l., Baronissi (SA), Italy
- Genome Research Center for Health, CRGS, Baronissi, Italy
| | - Rosanna Chianese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Gilda Cobellis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonia Lanni
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
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Mosca N, Russo A, Potenza N. Making Sense of Antisense lncRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8886. [PMID: 37240232 PMCID: PMC10219390 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptome complexity is emerging as an unprecedented and fascinating domain, especially by high-throughput sequencing technologies that have unveiled a plethora of new non-coding RNA biotypes. This review covers antisense long non-coding RNAs, i.e., lncRNAs transcribed from the opposite strand of other known genes, and their role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several sense-antisense transcript pairs have been recently annotated, especially from mammalian genomes, and an understanding of their evolutionary sense and functional role for human health and diseases is only beginning. Antisense lncRNAs dysregulation is significantly involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, where they can act as oncogenes or oncosuppressors, thus playing a key role in tumor onset, progression, and chemoradiotherapy response, as deduced from many studies discussed here. Mechanistically, antisense lncRNAs regulate gene expression by exploiting various molecular mechanisms shared with other ncRNA molecules, and exploit special mechanisms on their corresponding sense gene due to sequence complementarity, thus exerting epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational controls. The next challenges will be piecing together the complex RNA regulatory networks driven by antisense lncRNAs and, ultimately, assigning them a function in physiological and pathological contexts, in addition to defining prospective novel therapeutic targets and innovative diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (N.M.); (A.R.)
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5
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Di Palo A, Siniscalchi C, Crescente G, De Leo I, Fiorentino A, Pacifico S, Russo A, Potenza N. Effect of Cannabidiolic Acid, N- Trans-Caffeoyltyramine and Cannabisin B from Hemp Seeds on microRNA Expression in Human Neural Cells. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:5106-5116. [PMID: 36286061 PMCID: PMC9600072 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44100347] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the increasing interest in bioactive dietary components that can modulate gene expression enhancing human health, three metabolites isolated from hemp seeds-cannabidiolic acid, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, and cannabisin B-were examined for their ability to change the expression levels of microRNAs in human neural cells. To this end, cultured SH-SY5Y cells were treated with the three compounds and their microRNA content was characterized by next-generation small RNA sequencing. As a result, 31 microRNAs underwent major expression changes, being at least doubled or halved by the treatments. A computational analysis of the biological pathways affected by these microRNAs then showed that some are implicated in neural functions, such as axon guidance, hippocampal signaling, and neurotrophin signaling. Of these, miR-708-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-190a-5p, miR-199a-5p, and miR-143-3p are known to be involved in Alzheimer's disease and their expression changes are expected to ameliorate neural function. Overall, these results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of hemp seed metabolites and encourage further studies to gain a better understanding of their biological effects on the central nervous system.
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6
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Manfrevola F, Potenza N, Chioccarelli T, Di Palo A, Siniscalchi C, Porreca V, Scialla A, Mele VG, Petito G, Russo A, Lanni A, Senese R, Ricci G, Pierantoni R, Chianese R, Cobellis G. Actin remodeling driven by circLIMA1: sperm cell as an intriguing cellular model. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:5136-5153. [PMID: 35982890 PMCID: PMC9379403 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.76261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
CircRNA cargo in spermatozoa (SPZ) participates in setting cell quality, in terms of morphology and motility. Cannabinoid receptor CB1 activity is correlated with a proper spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm maturation. Despite CB1 promotes endogenous skill to circularize mRNAs in SPZ, few notions are reported regarding the functional link between endocannabinoids and spermatic circRNA cargo. In CB1 knock-out male mice, we performed a complete dataset of spermatic circRNA content by microarray strategy. Differentially expressed (DE)-circRNAs, as a function of genotype, were identified. Within DE-circRNAs, we focused the attention on circLIMA1, as putative actin-cytoskeleton architecture regulator. The validation of circLIMA1 dependent-competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network (ceRNET) in in vitro cell line confirmed its activity in the regulation of the cytoskeletal actin. Interestingly, a dynamic actin regulation in SPZ nuclei was found during their epididymal maturation. In this scenario, we showed for the first time an intriguing sperm nuclear actin remodeling, regulated via a ceRNET-independent pathway, consisting in the nuclear shuttling of circLIMA1-QKI interactome and downstream in Gelsolin regulation. In particular, the increased levels of circLIMA1 in CB1 knock-out SPZ, associated with an inefficient depolymerization of nuclear actin, specifically illustrate how endocannabinoids, by regulating circRNA cargo, may contribute to sperm morpho-cellular maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Manfrevola
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Teresa Chioccarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Armando Di Palo
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Chiara Siniscalchi
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Veronica Porreca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Arcangelo Scialla
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenza Grazia Mele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Petito
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Antonia Lanni
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosalba Senese
- Department of Environmental, Biological, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Giulia Ricci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pierantoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosanna Chianese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Gilda Cobellis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy
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7
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Siniscalchi C, Di Palo A, Russo A, Potenza N. Human MicroRNAs Interacting With SARS-CoV-2 RNA Sequences: Computational Analysis and Experimental Target Validation. Front Genet 2021; 12:678994. [PMID: 34163530 PMCID: PMC8215607 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.678994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel RNA virus affecting humans, causing a form of acute pulmonary respiratory disorder named COVID-19, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. MicroRNAs (miRNA) play an emerging and important role in the interplay between viruses and host cells. Although the impact of host miRNAs on SARS-CoV-2 infection has been predicted, experimental data are still missing. This study started by a bioinformatics prediction of cellular miRNAs potentially targeting viral RNAs; then, a number of criteria also based on experimental evidence and virus biology were applied, giving rise to eight promising binding miRNAs. Their interaction with viral sequences was experimentally validated by transfecting luciferase-based reporter plasmids carrying viral target sequences or their inverted sequences into the lung A549 cell line. Transfection of the reporter plasmids resulted in a reduction of luciferase activity for five out of the eight potential binding sites, suggesting responsiveness to endogenously expressed miRNAs. Co-transfection of the reporter plasmids along with miRNA mimics led to a further and strong reduction of luciferase activity, validating the interaction between miR-219a-2-3p, miR-30c-5p, miR-378d, miR-29a-3p, miR-15b-5p, and viral sequences. miR-15b was also able to repress plasmid-driven Spike expression. Intriguingly, the viral target sequences are fully conserved in more recent variants such as United Kingdom variant B.1.1.7 and South Africa 501Y.V2. Overall, this study provides a first experimental evidence of the interaction between specific cellular miRNAs and SARS-CoV-2 sequences, thus contributing to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying virus infection and pathogenesis to envisage innovative therapeutic interventions and diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Siniscalchi
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Armando Di Palo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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8
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Graziani V, Potenza N, D’Abrosca B, Troiani T, Napolitano S, Fiorentino A, Scognamiglio M. NMR Profiling of Ononis diffusa Identifies Cytotoxic Compounds against Cetuximab-Resistant Colon Cancer Cell Lines. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113266. [PMID: 34071597 PMCID: PMC8198399 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the search of new natural products to be explored as possible anticancer drugs, two plant species, namely Ononis diffusa and Ononis variegata, were screened against colorectal cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic activity of the crude extracts was tested on a panel of colon cancer cell models including cetuximab-sensitive (Caco-2, GEO, SW48), intrinsic (HT-29 and HCT-116), and acquired (GEO-CR, SW48-CR) cetuximab-resistant cell lines. Ononis diffusa showed remarkable cytotoxic activity, especially on the cetuximab-resistant cell lines. The active extract composition was determined by NMR analysis. Given its complexity, a partial purification was then carried out. The fractions obtained were again tested for their biological activity and their metabolite content was determined by 1D and 2D NMR analysis. The study led to the identification of a fraction enriched in oxylipins that showed a 92% growth inhibition of the HT-29 cell line at a concentration of 50 µg/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Graziani
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (V.G.); (N.P.); (B.D.)
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (V.G.); (N.P.); (B.D.)
| | - Brigida D’Abrosca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (V.G.); (N.P.); (B.D.)
| | - Teresa Troiani
- Oncologia medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, S. Andrea delle Dame, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (T.T.); (S.N.)
| | - Stefania Napolitano
- Oncologia medica, Dipartimento di Medicina di precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, S. Andrea delle Dame, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (T.T.); (S.N.)
| | - Antonio Fiorentino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (V.G.); (N.P.); (B.D.)
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (M.S.); Tel.: +39-0823274576 (A.F.)
| | - Monica Scognamiglio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (V.G.); (N.P.); (B.D.)
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (M.S.); Tel.: +39-0823274576 (A.F.)
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9
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Di Palo A, Siniscalchi C, Polito R, Nigro E, Russo A, Daniele A, Potenza N. microRNA-377-3p downregulates the oncosuppressor T-cadherin in colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Cell Biol Int 2021; 45:1797-1803. [PMID: 33818827 PMCID: PMC8360034 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death of malignant tumors worldwide. Recent studies point to a role for the adiponectin‐receptor axis in colorectal carcinogenesis, and in particular to the oncosuppressive properties of the T‐cadherin receptor. In addition, the loss of T‐cadherin expression in tumor tissues has been linked to cancer progression and attributed to aberrant methylation of its promoter. Recognizing the pivotal role of microRNAs in CRC, this study explores their possible contribution to the downregulation of T‐cadherin. A systematic bioinformatics analysis, restricted by microRNA expression data in the colon or in cultured colorectal cell lines, predicted twelve top‐ranking target miRNA sites within the 3ʹ UTR of T‐cadherin. Experimental validation analyses based on luciferase reporter constructs and miRNA mimic or miRNA inhibitor transfections toward colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines indicated that miR‐377‐3p was able to directly bind to the T‐cadherin sequence, and thus downregulating its expression. Given the oncogenic activity of miR‐377 and the oncosuppressive activity of T‐cadherin in CRC, the regulatory circuit highlighted in this study may add new insights into molecular mechanisms driving colorectal carcinogenesis, and perspectively it could be exploited to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Di Palo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Chiara Siniscalchi
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Rita Polito
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie avanzate, Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Aurora Daniele
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.,CEINGE-Biotecnologie avanzate, Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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Di Palo A, Siniscalchi C, Salerno M, Russo A, Gravholt CH, Potenza N. Correction to: What microRNAs could tell us about the human X chromosome. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:4067. [PMID: 33507329 PMCID: PMC8106575 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03743-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Armando Di Palo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Chiara Siniscalchi
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Mariacarolina Salerno
- Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Claus Højbjerg Gravholt
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
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11
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Di Palo A, Siniscalchi C, Salerno M, Russo A, Gravholt CH, Potenza N. What microRNAs could tell us about the human X chromosome. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:4069-4080. [PMID: 32356180 PMCID: PMC7854456 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03526-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small-non coding RNAs endowed with great regulatory power, thus playing key roles not only in almost all physiological pathways, but also in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Surprisingly, genomic distribution analysis revealed the highest density of miRNA sequences on the X chromosome; this evolutionary conserved mammalian feature equips females with a larger miRNA machinery than males. However, miRNAs contribution to some X-related conditions, properties or functions is still poorly explored. With the aim to support and focus research in the field, this review analyzes the literature and databases about X-linked miRNAs, trying to understand how miRNAs could contribute to emerging gender-biased functions and pathological mechanisms, such as immunity and cancer. A fine map of miRNA sequences on the X chromosome is reported, and their known functions are discussed; in addition, bioinformatics functional analyses of the whole X-linked miRNA targetome (predicted and validated) were performed. The emerging scenario points to different gaps in the knowledge that should be filled with future experimental investigations, also in terms of possible implications and pathological perspectives for X chromosome aneuploidy syndromes, such as Turner and Klinefelter syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Di Palo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Chiara Siniscalchi
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Mariacarolina Salerno
- Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Claus Højbjerg Gravholt
- Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
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12
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Di Palo A, Siniscalchi C, Mosca N, Russo A, Potenza N. A Novel ceRNA Regulatory Network Involving the Long Non-Coding Antisense RNA SPACA6P-AS, miR-125a and its mRNA Targets in Hepatocarcinoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145068. [PMID: 32709089 PMCID: PMC7404396 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNA), and more recently long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), are emerging as a driving force for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. In this work, we investigated a possible RNA regulatory network involving two oncosuppressive miRNAs, miR-125a and let-7e, and a long non-coding antisense RNA, SPACA6P-AS (SP-AS), all transcribed from the same locus, with SP-AS in the opposite direction and thus carrying complementary sequences to the miRNAs. In vitro experiments validated the binding of the miRNAs to SP-AS. Then, the boosting of either the miRNAs or SP-AS levels demonstrated their reciprocal inhibition. In addition, overexpression of SP-AS resulted in a reduced silencing activity of miR-125a and let-7e toward their key oncogenic targets, i.e., Lin28b, MMP11, SIRT7, Zbtb7a, Cyclin D1, CDC25B, HMGA2, that resulted significantly upregulated. Finally, the analysis of 374 HCC samples in comparison to 50 normal liver tissues showed an upregulation of SP-AS and a reverse expression of miR-125a, not observed for let-7e; consistently, miR-125a oncogenic targets were upregulated. Overall, the data depict a novel competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, ceRNET, whereby miR-125a can regulate the expression of SP-AS, which in turn regulates the miRNA by competing with the binding to the mRNA targets. We speculate that the unbalancing of any network component may contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Di Palo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.P.); (C.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Chiara Siniscalchi
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.P.); (C.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Inserm, BMGIC, U1035, University of Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France;
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.P.); (C.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (A.D.P.); (C.S.); (A.R.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Zappavigna S, Vanacore D, Lama S, Potenza N, Russo A, Ferranti P, Dallio M, Federico A, Loguercio C, Sperlongano P, Caraglia M, Stiuso P. Silybin-Induced Apoptosis Occurs in Parallel to the Increase of Ceramides Synthesis and miRNAs Secretion in Human Hepatocarcinoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20092190. [PMID: 31058823 PMCID: PMC6539179 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Silybin is a flavonolignan extracted from Silybum marianum (milk thistle) with hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity. Several studies have shown that silybin is highly effective to prevent and treat different types of cancer and that its antitumor mechanisms involve the arrest of the cell cycle and/or apoptosis. An MTT assay was performed to study cell viability, lipid peroxidation, extracellular NO production, and scavenger enzyme activity were studied by Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Species (TBARS) assay, NO assay, and MnSOD assay, respectively. Cell cycle and apoptosis analysis were performed by FACS. miRNA profiling were evaluated by real time PCR. In this study, we demonstrated that Silybin induced growth inhibition blocking the Hepg2 cells in G1 phase of cell cycle and activating the process of programmed cell death. Moreover, the antiproliferative effects of silybin were paralleled by a strong increase of the number of ceramides involved in the modulation of miRNA secretion. In particular, after treatment with silybin, miR223-3p and miR16-5p were upregulated, while miR-92-3p was downregulated (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that silybin-Induced apoptosis occurs in parallel to the increase of ceramides synthesis and miRNAs secretion in HepG2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Zappavigna
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Daniela Vanacore
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Stefania Lama
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", viale Lincoln, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", viale Lincoln, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Ferranti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università, 100, 80055 Portici, NA, Italy.
| | - Marcello Dallio
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Federico
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Carmelina Loguercio
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Sperlongano
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Michele Caraglia
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
| | - Paola Stiuso
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy.
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Graziani V, Esposito A, Scognamiglio M, Chambery A, Russo R, Ciardiello F, Troiani T, Potenza N, Fiorentino A, D'Abrosca B. Spectroscopic Characterization and Cytotoxicity Assessment towards Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines of Acylated Cycloartane Glycosides from Astragalus boeticus L. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24091725. [PMID: 31058835 PMCID: PMC6539726 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24091725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In several European countries, especially in Sweden, the seeds of the species Astragalus boeticus L. were widely used as coffee substitutes during the 19th century. Nonetheless, data regarding the phytochemistry and the pharmacological properties of this species are currently extremely limited. Conversely, other species belonging to the Astragalus genus have already been extensively investigated, as they were used for millennia for treating various diseases, including cancer. The current work was addressed to characterize cycloartane glycosides from A. boeticus, and to evaluate their cytotoxicity towards human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. The isolation of the metabolites was performed by using different chromatographic techniques, while their chemical structures were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (1D and 2D techniques) and electrospray-ionization quadrupole time-of-flight (ESI-QTOF) mass spectrometry. The cytotoxic assessment was performed in vitro by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays in Caco-2, HT-29 and HCT-116 CRC cells. As a result, the targeted phytochemical study of A. boeticus enabled the isolation of three new cycloartane glycosides, 6-O-acetyl-3-O-(4-O-malonyl)-β-d-xylopyranosylcycloastragenol (1), 3-O-(4-O-malonyl)-β-d-xylopyranosylcycloastragenol (2), 6-O-acetyl-25-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-d-xylopyranosylcycloastragenol (3) along with two known compounds, 6-O-acetyl-3-O-β-d-xylopyranosylcycloastragenol (4) and 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosylcycloastragenol (5). Importantly, this work demonstrated that the acetylated cycloartane glycosides 1 and 4 might preferentially inhibit cell growth in the CRC cell model resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Graziani
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Assunta Esposito
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Monica Scognamiglio
- Department of Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology-Beutenberg Campus, Hans-Knöll-Straße, 8 D-07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Angela Chambery
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Rosita Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Via Pansini, 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Teresa Troiani
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Via Pansini, 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Antonio Fiorentino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologia Marina, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
| | - Brigida D'Abrosca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologia Marina, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.
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D'Abrosca B, Ciaramella V, Graziani V, Papaccio F, Della Corte CM, Potenza N, Fiorentino A, Ciardiello F, Morgillo F. Urtica dioica L. inhibits proliferation and enhances cisplatin cytotoxicity in NSCLC cells via Endoplasmic Reticulum-stress mediated apoptosis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4986. [PMID: 30899059 PMCID: PMC6428841 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41372-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and the ineffectiveness of the current therapies seriously limits the survival rate of NSCLC patients. In the search for new antitumor agents, nature has played a pivotal role providing a variety of molecules, which are likely to exert selective anti-tumour properties. Herein, we investigated the antiproliferative potential of Urtica dioica L. extract (UD) against NSCLC cell models with low sensitivity to cisplatin, a cytotoxic agent largely employed to cure NSCLCs. UD inhibited cell proliferation in the selected cells, while no toxic effects were observed in normal lung cells. Furthermore, the co-treatment of UD and cisplatin notably sensitised NSCLC cells to cisplatin. Mechanistically, we discovered that UD-promoted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via activation of the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene 153 (GADD153) triggering apoptosis. We also performed an extensive NMR analysis of UD, identifying rutin and oxylipins as the main secondary metabolites present in the mixture. Additionally, we discovered that an oxylipins' enriched fraction contributes to the antiproliferative activity of the plant extract. In the future, this study may provide new chemical scaffolds for the design of anti-cancer agents that target NSCLCs with low sensitivity to cisplatinum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigida D'Abrosca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche -DiSTABiF, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Vincenza Ciaramella
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Vittoria Graziani
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche -DiSTABiF, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Federica Papaccio
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Carminia Maria Della Corte
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche -DiSTABiF, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Antonio Fiorentino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche -DiSTABiF, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43, I-81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Floriana Morgillo
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
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Russo A, Potenza N. Antiproliferative Activity of microRNA-125a and its Molecular Targets. Microrna 2018; 8:173-179. [PMID: 30394225 DOI: 10.2174/2211536608666181105114739] [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: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNA-125a is present in all animals with bilateral symmetry and displays a conserved nucleotide sequence with a section of 11 bases including the seed region that is identical in all considered species. It primarily downregulates the expression of LIN28, thereby promoting cell differentiation and larval phase transitions in nematodes, mammals and insects. OBJECTIVE In this review, we focus on the cellular control of miR-125a expression and its antiproliferative activity. RESULTS In mammalians, microRNA-125a is present in most adult organs and tissues in which it targets proteins involved in the mitogenic response, such as membrane receptors, intracellular signal transducers, or transcription factors, with the overall effect of inhibiting cell proliferation. Tissue levels of miR-125a generally raise during differentiation but it is often downregulated in cancers, e.g. colon, cervical, gastric, ovarian, lung, and breast cancers, osteosarcoma, neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, retinoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION The antiproliferative activity of miR-125a, demonstrated in many cell types, together with the notion that this miRNA is downregulated in several kinds of cancers, give a substantial support to the concept that miR-125a plays an oncosuppressive role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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17
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Sagnelli E, Potenza N, Onorato L, Sagnelli C, Coppola N, Russo A. Micro-RNAs in hepatitis B virus-related chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Hepatol 2018; 10:558-570. [PMID: 30310534 PMCID: PMC6177563 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v10.i9.558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by affecting both the stability and translation of complementary mRNAs. Several studies have shown that miRNAs are important regulators in the conflicting efforts between the virus (to manipulate the host for its successful propagation) and the host (to inhibit the virus), culminating in either the elimination of the virus or its persistence. An increasing number of studies report a role of miRNAs in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and pathogenesis. In fact, HBV is able to modulate different host miRNAs, particularly through the transcriptional transactivator HBx protein and, conversely, different cellular miRNAs can regulate HBV gene expression and replication by a direct binding to HBV transcripts or indirectly targeting host factors. The present review will discuss the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of HBV-related diseases and their role as a biomarker in the management of patients with HBV-related disease and as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelista Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80135, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- DISTABIF, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples 80100, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Onorato
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80135, Italy
| | - Caterina Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80135, Italy
| | - Nicola Coppola
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80135, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- DISTABIF, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples 80100, Italy
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18
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Coppola N, Onorato L, Panella M, de Stefano G, Mosca N, Minichini C, Messina V, Potenza N, Starace M, Alessio L, Farella N, Sagnelli E, Russo A. Correlation Between the Hepatic Expression of Human MicroRNA hsa-miR-125a-5p and the Progression of Fibrosis in Patients With Overt and Occult HBV Infection. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1334. [PMID: 29951066 PMCID: PMC6008383 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01334] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims To evaluate the correlation between the hepatic expression pattern of hsa-miR-125a-5p and HBV-DNA and the progression of fibrosis in patients with overt or occult HBV infection. Methods We enrolled all the HBsAg-positive treatment naive patients (overt HBV group) and all the HBsAg-negative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and with a positive HBV-DNA in their hepatic tissue (occult HBV group), who underwent a diagnostic liver biopsy between April 2007 and April 2015. Tissue concentrations of HBV-DNA and hsa-miR-125a-5p were then analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR. Necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis were evaluated according to the Ishak score. Results During the study period, we enrolled 64 patients with overt and 10 patients with occult HBV infection. In the overt HBV group, 35 of 64 (54.7%) showed a mild fibrosis (staging 0–2), 17 (26.6%) a moderate fibrosis (staging 3–4), while the remaining 12 (18.7%) had a cirrhosis. All patients in the occult HBV group were cirrhotic. Patients with more advanced fibrosis stage showed a higher mean age when compared with those with mild (p < 0.00001) or moderate fibrosis (p < 0.00001) and were more frequently male than patients with staging 0–2 (p = 0.04). Similarly, patients with occult B infection were older than HBsAg-positive patients. Liver concentrations of miR-125a-5p were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis (9.75 ± 4.42 AU) when compared with patients with mild (1.39 ± 0.94, p = 0.0002) or moderate fibrosis (2.43 ± 2.18, p = 0.0006) and were moderately higher in occult than in overt HBV infection (p = 0.09). Moreover, we found an inverse correlation, although not statistically significant, between the tissue HBV-DNA levels and the staging of fibrosis. Conclusion This study suggests a correlation between the tissue expression of hsa-miR-125a-5p and the progression of liver damage in a group of patients with occult or overt HBV infection. If confirmed, these data suggest the hsa-miR-125a-5p may be a novel biomarker of hepatic damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Coppola
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.,Infectious Diseases Unit, AORN Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano, Caserta, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Onorato
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Marta Panella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Giorgio de Stefano
- IX Interventional Ultrasound Unit for Infectious Diseases, AORN dei Colli, P.O. Cotugno, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Carmine Minichini
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Messina
- Infectious Diseases Unit, AORN Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Mario Starace
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Loredana Alessio
- Infectious Diseases Unit, AORN Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nunzia Farella
- IX Interventional Ultrasound Unit for Infectious Diseases, AORN dei Colli, P.O. Cotugno, Naples, Italy
| | - Evangelista Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
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19
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Panella M, Mosca N, Di Palo A, Potenza N, Russo A. Mutual suppression of miR-125a and Lin28b in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 500:824-827. [PMID: 29689270 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.04.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA-125a exhibits an antiproliferative activity and is downregulated in several types of tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma where it targets sirtuin-7, matrix metalloproteinase-11, and c-Raf. Another target of miR-125a is Lin28, a pluripotency factor that is generally undetectable in differentiated cells but is often upregulated/reactivated in tumors where it acts as an oncogenic factor promoting cell proliferation and tumor progression. In this study we show that downregulation of Lin28b by miR-125a partially accounts for its antiproliferative activity toward hepatocellular carcinoma cells. We also found that Lin28b is able to bind a conserved GGAG motif of pre-miR-125a and to inhibit its maturation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Reciprocal inhibition between miR-125a and Lin28b reasonably generates a positive feedback loop where reactivation of Lin-28b inhibits the expression of both miR-125a and let-7, reinforcing its own expression and leading to a marked overexpression of the mitogenic targets of the two miRNAs. On the other hand, perturbation of these circuits by overexpression of miR-125a suppresses Lin28b leading to a decreased cell proliferation. Overall, these data support a tumor suppressive role for miR-125a and contribute to the elucidation of its molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Panella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Armando Di Palo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
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20
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Coppola N, de Stefano G, Panella M, Onorato L, Iodice V, Minichini C, Mosca N, Desiato L, Farella N, Starace M, Liorre G, Potenza N, Sagnelli E, Russo A. Lowered expression of microRNA-125a-5p in human hepatocellular carcinoma and up-regulation of its oncogenic targets sirtuin-7, matrix metalloproteinase-11, and c-Raf. Oncotarget 2018; 8:25289-25299. [PMID: 28445974 PMCID: PMC5421930 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human microRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a) is expressed in most tissues where it downregulates the expression of membrane receptors or intracellular transductors of mitogenic signals, thus limiting cell proliferation. Expression of this miRNA generally increases with cell differentiation whereas it is downregulated in several types of tumors, such as breast, lung, ovarian, gastric, colon, and cervical cancers, neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, glioblastoma, and retinoblastoma. In this study, we focused on hepatocellular carcinoma and used real-time quantitative PCR to measure miR-125a expression in 55 tumor biopsies and in matched adjacent non-tumor liver tissues. This analysis showed a downregulation of miR-125a in 80 % of patients, with a mean decrease of 4.7-fold. Comparison of miRNA downregulation with clinicopathological parameters of patients didn't yield significant correlations except for serum bilirubin. We then evaluated the expression of known targets of miR-125a and found that sirtuin-7, matrix metalloproteinase-11, and c-Raf were up-regulated in tumor tissue by 2.2-, 3-, and 1.7-fold, respectively. Overall, these data support a tumor suppressor role for miR-125a and encourage further studies aimed at the comprehension of the molecular mechanisms governing its expression, eventually leading to treatments to restore its expression in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Coppola
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giorgio de Stefano
- IX Interventional Ultrasound Unit for Infectious Diseases, AORN dei Colli, P.O. Cotugno, Naples, Italy
| | - Marta Panella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Onorato
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Iodice
- IX Interventional Ultrasound Unit for Infectious Diseases, AORN dei Colli, P.O. Cotugno, Naples, Italy
| | - Carmine Minichini
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Luisa Desiato
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Nunzia Farella
- IX Interventional Ultrasound Unit for Infectious Diseases, AORN dei Colli, P.O. Cotugno, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario Starace
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giulia Liorre
- IX Interventional Ultrasound Unit for Infectious Diseases, AORN dei Colli, P.O. Cotugno, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Evangelista Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
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21
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Graziani V, Scognamiglio M, Belli V, Esposito A, D'Abrosca B, Chambery A, Russo R, Panella M, Russo A, Ciardiello F, Troiani T, Potenza N, Fiorentino A. Metabolomic approach for a rapid identification of natural products with cytotoxic activity against human colorectal cancer cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5309. [PMID: 29593231 PMCID: PMC5871890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23704-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of bioactive compounds from natural sources entails an extremely lengthy process due to the timescale and complexity of traditional methodologies. In our study, we used a rapid NMR based metabolomic approach as tool to identify secondary metabolites with anti-proliferative activity against a panel of human colorectal cancer cell lines with different mutation profiles. For this purpose, fourteen Fabaceae species of Mediterranean vegetation were investigated using a double screening method: 1H NMR profiling enabled the identification of the main compounds present in the mixtures, whilst parallel biological assays allowed the selection of two plant extracts based on their strong anti-proliferative properties. Using high-resolution 2D NMR spectroscopy, putative active constituents were identified in the mixture and isolated by performing a bio-guided fractionation of the selected plant extracts. As a result, we found two active principles: a cycloartane glycoside and protodioscin derivative. Interestingly, these metabolites displayed a preferential anti-proliferative effect on colon cancer cell lines with an intrinsic resistance to anti-EGFR therapies. Our work provides an NMR-based metabolomic approach as a powerful and efficient tool to discover natural products with anticancer activities circumventing time-consuming procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Graziani
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Monica Scognamiglio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy.,Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology - Beutenberg Campus, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8 D-, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Valentina Belli
- Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale "Flaviano Magrassi", Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Pansini, 5 -, I-80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Assunta Esposito
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Brigida D'Abrosca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Angela Chambery
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosita Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Marta Panella
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale "Flaviano Magrassi", Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Pansini, 5 -, I-80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Teresa Troiani
- Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale "Flaviano Magrassi", Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" Via Pansini, 5 -, I-80131, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
| | - Antonio Fiorentino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali Biologiche e Farmaceutiche (DiSTABiF), Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Vivaldi 43 I-, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
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22
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Potenza N, Panella M, Castiello F, Mosca N, Amendola E, Russo A. Molecular mechanisms governing microRNA-125a expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10712. [PMID: 28878257 PMCID: PMC5587745 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11418-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a) is a vertebrate homolog of lin-4, the first discovered microRNA, and plays a fundamental role in embryo development by downregulating Lin-28 protein. MiR-125a is also expressed in differentiated cells where it generally acts as an antiproliferative factor by targeting membrane receptors or intracellular transductors of mitogenic signals. MiR-125a expression is downregulated in several tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) where it targets sirtuin-7, matrix metalloproteinase-11, VEGF-A, Zbtb7a, and c-Raf. In this study, we have isolated the transcription promoter of human miR-125a and characterized its activity in HCC cells. It is a TATA-less Pol II promoter provided with an initiator element and a downstream promoter element, located 3939 bp upstream the genomic sequence of the miRNA. The activity of the promoter is increased by the transcription factor NF-kB, a master regulator of inflammatory response, and miR-125a itself was found to strengthen this activation through inhibition of TNFAIP3, a negative regulator of NF-kB. This finding contributes to explain the increased levels of miR-125a observed in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Marta Panella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Filomena Castiello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Elena Amendola
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy.
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23
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Potenza N, Mosca N, Zappavigna S, Castiello F, Panella M, Ferri C, Vanacore D, Giordano A, Stiuso P, Caraglia M, Russo A. MicroRNA-125a-5p Is a Downstream Effector of Sorafenib in Its Antiproliferative Activity Toward Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. J Cell Physiol 2017; 232:1907-1913. [PMID: 27982429 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sorafenib is an antitumor drug for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It acts as a multikinase inhibitor suppressing cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Human microRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a) is endowed with similar activities and is frequently downregulated in HCC. Looking for a potential microRNA-based mechanism of action of the drug, we found that sorafenib increases cellular expression of miR-125a in cultured HuH-7 and HepG2 HCC cells. Upregulation of the microRNA inhibited cell proliferation by suppression of sirtuin-7, a NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase, and p21/p27-dependent cell cycle arrest in G1. Later, recruitment of miR-125a in the antiproliferative activity of sorafenib was inquired by modulating its expression in combination with the drug treatment. This analysis showed that intracellular delivery of miR-125a had no additive effect on the antiproliferative activity of sorafenib, whereas a miR-125a inhibitor could counteract it. Finally, evaluation of other oncogenic targets of miR-125a revealed its ability to interfere with the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-11, Zbtb7a proto-oncogene, and c-Raf, possibly contributing to the antiproliferative activity of the drug. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 1907-1913, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Silvia Zappavigna
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Filomena Castiello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Marta Panella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Carmela Ferri
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Vanacore
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine & Center for Biotechnology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Paola Stiuso
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Michele Caraglia
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
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24
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Drosten M, Simón-Carrasco L, Hernández-Porras I, Lechuga CG, Blasco MT, Jacob HKC, Fabbiano S, Potenza N, Bustelo XR, Guerra C, Barbacid M. H-Ras and K-Ras Oncoproteins Induce Different Tumor Spectra When Driven by the Same Regulatory Sequences. Cancer Res 2016; 77:707-718. [PMID: 27872088 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-2925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Genetic studies in mice have provided evidence that H-Ras and K-Ras proteins are bioequivalent. However, human tumors display marked differences in the association of RAS oncogenes with tumor type. Thus, to further assess the bioequivalence of oncogenic H-Ras and K-Ras, we replaced the coding region of the murine K-Ras locus with H-RasG12V oncogene sequences. Germline expression of H-RasG12V or K-RasG12V from the K-Ras locus resulted in embryonic lethality. However, expression of these genes in adult mice led to different tumor phenotypes. Whereas H-RasG12V elicited papillomas and hematopoietic tumors, K-RasG12V induced lung tumors and gastric lesions. Pulmonary expression of H-RasG12V created a senescence-like state caused by excessive MAPK signaling. Likewise, H-RasG12V but not K-RasG12V induced senescence in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Label-free quantitative analysis revealed that minor differences in H-RasG12V expression levels led to drastically different biological outputs, suggesting that subtle differences in MAPK signaling confer nonequivalent functions that influence tumor spectra induced by RAS oncoproteins. Cancer Res; 77(3); 707-18. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Drosten
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lucía Simón-Carrasco
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Hernández-Porras
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen G Lechuga
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - María T Blasco
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Harrys K C Jacob
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvatore Fabbiano
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer and Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
| | - Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer and Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carmen Guerra
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariano Barbacid
- Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
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25
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Potenza N, Castiello F, Panella M, Colonna G, Ciliberto G, Russo A, Costantini S. Human MiR-544a Modulates SELK Expression in Hepatocarcinoma Cell Lines. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156908. [PMID: 27275761 PMCID: PMC4898719 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multi-factorial cancer with a very poor prognosis; therefore, there are several investigations aimed at the comprehension of the molecular mechanisms leading to development and progression of HCC and at the definition of new therapeutic strategies. We have recently evaluated the expression of selenoproteins in HCC cell lines in comparison with normal hepatocytes. Recent results have shown that some of them are down- and others up-regulated, including the selenoprotein K (SELK), whose expression was also induced by sodium selenite treatment on cells. However, so far very few studies have been dedicated to a possible effect of microRNAs on the expression of selenoproteins and their implication in HCC. In this study, the analysis of SELK 3'UTR by bioinformatics tools led to the identification of eight sites potentially targeted by human microRNAs. They were then subjected to a validation test based on luciferase reporter constructs transfected in HCC cell lines. In this functional screening, miR-544a was able to interact with SELK 3'UTR suppressing the reporter activity. Transfection of a miR-544a mimic or inhibitor was then shown to decrease or increase, respectively, the translation of the endogenous SELK mRNA. Intriguingly, miR-544a expression was found to be modulated by selenium treatment, suggesting a possible role in SELK induction by selenium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Caserta, Italia
| | - Filomena Castiello
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Caserta, Italia
| | - Marta Panella
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Caserta, Italia
| | - Giovanni Colonna
- Servizio di Informatica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italia
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Direttore Scientifico, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”- IRCCS, Napoli, Italia
| | - Aniello Russo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Caserta, Italia
| | - Susan Costantini
- CROM, Istituto Nazionale Tumori “Fondazione G. Pascale”—IRCCS, Napoli, Italia
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26
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Capone F, Guerriero E, Colonna G, Maio P, Mangia A, Marfella R, Paolisso G, Izzo F, Potenza N, Tomeo L, Castello G, Costantini S. The Cytokinome Profile in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Type 2 Diabetes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134594. [PMID: 26226632 PMCID: PMC4520685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of the complex interaction network of cytokines, defined as ‘‘cytokinome’’, can be useful to follow progression and evolution of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from its early stages as well as to define therapeutic strategies. Recently we have evaluated the cytokinome profile in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and/or chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection and/or cirrhosis suggesting specific markers for the different stages of the diseases. Since T2D has been identified as one of the contributory cause of HCC, in this paper we examined the serum levels of cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, as well as of other cancer and diabetes biomarkers in a discovery cohort of patients with T2D, chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and/or CHC-related HCC comparing them with a healthy control group to define a profile of proteins able to characterize these patients, and to recognize the association between diabetes and HCC. The results have evidenced that the serum levels of some proteins are significantly and differently up-regulated in all the patients but they increased still more when HCC develops on the background of T2D. Our results were verified also using a separate validation cohort. Furthermore, significant correlations between clinical and laboratory data characterizing the various stages of this complex disease, have been found. In overall, our results highlighted that a large and simple omics approach, such as that of the cytokinome analysis, supplemented by common biochemical and clinical data, can give a complete picture able to improve the prognosis of the various stages of the disease progression. We have also demonstrated by means of interactomic analysis that our experimental results correlate positively with the general metabolic picture that is emerging in the literature for this complex multifactorial disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Capone
- CROM, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale"-IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Eliana Guerriero
- CROM, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale"-IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Colonna
- Center of Medical Informatics-SIM/AOU-Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Patrizia Maio
- Unita`Operativa Malattie Infettive, Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilievo Nazionale ''San Giuseppe Moscati", Avellino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Mangia
- Liver Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Raffaele Marfella
- Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Paolisso
- Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Izzo
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale"-IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Castello
- CROM, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale"-IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - Susan Costantini
- CROM, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale"-IRCCS, Naples, Italy
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Mosca N, Starega-Roslan J, Castiello F, Russo A, Krzyzosiak WJ, Potenza N. Characterization of a naturally occurring truncated Dicer. Mol Biol Rep 2015; 42:1333-40. [PMID: 25911188 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-015-3878-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dicer is central to small RNA silencing pathways, thus playing an important role in physiological and pathological states. Recently, a number of mutations in dicer gene have been identified in diverse types of cancer, implicating Dicer in oncogenic cooperation. Here we report on the properties of a rare splice variant of the human dicer gene, occurring in neuroblastoma cells, and not detectable in normal tissues. Due to the skipping of one exon, the alternatively spliced transcript encodes a putative truncated protein, t-Dicer, lacking the dsRNA-binding domain and bearing altered one of the two RNase III catalytic centers. The ability of the exon-depleted t-dicer transcript to be translated in vitro was first investigated by the expression of flagged t-Dicer in human cells. We found that t-dicer transcript could be translated in vitro, albeit not as efficiently as full-length dicer transcript. Then, the possible enzymatic activity of t-Dicer was analyzed by an in vitro dicing assay able to distinguish the enzymatic activity of the individual RNase III domains. We showed that t-Dicer preserved partial dicing activity. Overall, the results indicate that t-dicer transcript could produce a protein still able to bind the substrate and to cleave only one of the two pre-miRNA strands. Given the increasing number of mutations reported for dicer gene in tumours, our experimental approach could be useful to characterize the activity of these mutants, which may dictate changes in selected classes of small RNAs and/or lead to their aberrant maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
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Romanucci V, Gaglione M, Messere A, Potenza N, Zarrelli A, Noppen S, Liekens S, Balzarini J, Di Fabio G. Hairpin oligonucleotides forming G-quadruplexes: new aptamers with anti-HIV activity. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 89:51-8. [PMID: 25462225 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 09/20/2014] [Accepted: 10/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We describe the facile syntheses of new modified oligonucleotides based on d(TG3AG) that form bimolecular G-quadruplexes and possess a HEG loop as an inversion of polarity site 3'-3' or 5'-5' and aromatic residues conjugated to the 5'-end through phosphodiester bonds. The conjugated hairpin G-quadruplexes exhibited parallel orientation, high thermal stability, elevated resistance in human serum and high or moderate anti-HIV-1 activity with low cytotoxicity. Further, these molecules showed significant binding to HIV envelope glycoproteins gp120, gp41 and HSA, as revealed by SPR assays. As a result, these conjugated hairpins represent the first active anti-HIV-1 bimolecular G-quadruplexes based on the d(TG3AG) sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Romanucci
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli 'Federico II', Via Cintia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria Gaglione
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università̀ di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Anna Messere
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università̀ di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università̀ di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Armando Zarrelli
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli 'Federico II', Via Cintia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Sam Noppen
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 10 Minderbroedersstraat, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandra Liekens
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 10 Minderbroedersstraat, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Balzarini
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 10 Minderbroedersstraat, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Di Fabio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli 'Federico II', Via Cintia 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy.
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Zapata W, Aguilar-Jimenez W, Feng Z, Weinberg A, Russo A, Potenza N, Estrada H, Rugeles MT. Human Beta Defensins and RNases: Antiviral Effect during Sexual Exposure to HIV-1. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2014. [DOI: 10.1089/aid.2014.5254.abstract] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wildeman Zapata
- Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Facultad de Medicina, Grupo Inmunovirología, Medellin, Colombia
- Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Facultad de Medicina, Grupo Infettare, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Wbeimar Aguilar-Jimenez
- Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Facultad de Medicina, Grupo Inmunovirología, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Zhimin Feng
- Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine, Department of Biological Sciences, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Aaron Weinberg
- Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine, Department of Biological Sciences, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Aniello Russo
- Second University of Naples, Department of Life Sciences, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Second University of Naples, Department of Life Sciences, Naples, Italy
| | - Hernando Estrada
- HERES Health, Lending Institution of Health, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Maria Teresa Rugeles
- Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Facultad de Medicina, Grupo Inmunovirología, Medellin, Colombia
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Mosca N, Castiello F, Coppola N, Trotta MC, Sagnelli C, Pisaturo M, Sagnelli E, Russo A, Potenza N. Functional interplay between hepatitis B virus X protein and human miR-125a in HBV infection. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 449:141-5. [PMID: 24824183 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a widespread human pathogen and chronic HBV infection is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Some cellular microRNAs are emerging as important regulators of virus-host interaction, indirectly or directly modulating HBV replication and pathogenesis. miR-125a binds the viral transcript encoding the surface antigen and interferes with its expression, thus inhibiting viral replication. Intriguingly, liver miR-125a expression has been found increased in patients with high levels of hepatic HBV-DNA. The present study investigates the mechanism by which liver exposure to HBV induces the expression of miR-125a. The analyses were first performed on liver biopsies from HBV patients, showing that the expression of the viral transactivator X protein (HBx) paralleled the increase of miR-125a expression. Then, transfection of HCC cell lines with an HBx-expressing vector showed a substantial increase of miR-125a expression. Overall, the available data depict a self-inhibitory feedback loop in which HBV, through HBx, increases the expression of miR-125a, that in turn interferes with expression of HBV surface antigen, thus repressing viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Mosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Filomena Castiello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Nicola Coppola
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, via L. Armanni 5, 80135 Naples, Italy.
| | - Maria Consiglia Trotta
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Caterina Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, via L. Armanni 5, 80135 Naples, Italy.
| | - Mariantonietta Pisaturo
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, via L. Armanni 5, 80135 Naples, Italy.
| | - Evangelista Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, via L. Armanni 5, 80135 Naples, Italy.
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
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Pacifico S, Gallicchio M, Lorenz P, Duckstein SM, Potenza N, Galasso S, Marciano S, Fiorentino A, Stintzing FC, Monaco P. Neuroprotective potential of Laurus nobilis antioxidant polyphenol-enriched leaf extracts. Chem Res Toxicol 2014; 27:611-26. [PMID: 24547959 DOI: 10.1021/tx5000415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress has been proposed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), playing a central role in amyloid β-protein (Aβ) generation and neuronal apoptosis. Oxidative damage directly correlates with the presence of Aβ deposits. Aβ and oxidative stress jointly induce neuronal death, Aβ deposits, gliosis, and memory impairment in AD. In order to counteract AD neurodegeneration, the inhibition of the vicious cycle of Aβ generation and oxidation is an attractive therapeutic strategy, and antiamyloidogenic and antioxidant herbal drugs could represent an alternative and valid approach. In this context, an alcoholic extract from Laurus nobilis leaves (LnM) and seven fractions obtained therefrom were of interest. All extracts prepared through extractive and chromatographic techniques were phytochemically studied by chromatographic techniques including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS(n)). The potential antioxidant efficacy of the obtained fractions was screened by DPPH(•) and ABTS(•+) assays, as well as specific assay media characterized from the presence of highly reactive ROS and RNS species (ROO(•), OH(•), O2(•-), and NO). In order to evaluate the preparation of safe and nontoxic extracts, MTT, SRB, and LDH assays toward SH-5YSY and SK-N-BE(2)-C human neuronal cell lines, as well as on C6 mouse glial cell line, were performed. The apoptosis-inducing properties by spectroscopic evaluation of the extracts' ability to activate caspase-3 and by a DNA fragmentation assay were also investigated. Data thus obtained allowed us to state the absence of toxic effects induced by phenolic-rich fractions (LnM, LnM-1, LnM-1a, LnM-1b, and LnM-2c), which at the same time exerted significant cytoprotective and antioxidant responses in hydrogen peroxide and Aβ(25-35)-fragment-oxidized cell systems. The potential antiamyloidogenic efficacy of Laurus nobilis leaf polar extracts in the Aβ(25-35) fragment oxidized cell systems was further analyzed by Congo red staining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severina Pacifico
- Department of Environmental Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples , Via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta Italy
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Pacifico S, Gallicchio M, Lorenz P, Potenza N, Galasso S, Marciano S, Fiorentino A, Stintzing FC, Monaco P. Apolar Laurus nobilis leaf extracts induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis towards three nervous system cell lines. Food Chem Toxicol 2013; 62:628-37. [PMID: 24095960 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Revised: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In the course of a bioactivity screening of Mediterranean plants, the assessment of neuroprotective properties of Laurus nobilis L. was of interest. Dried leaves were extracted by sonication using CHCl3 as solvent. The CHCl3 parental extract (CHCl3-pe) was fractionated to yield CHCl3 (LnC-1), EtOAc (LnC-2), MeOH (LnC-3) fractions. Each fraction underwent an extensive screening towards human neuroblastoma (SK-N-BE(2)-C, and SH-SY5Y) and rat glioma (C6) cell lines. MTT and SRB cytotoxicity tests were performed. The effect on the plasma membrane integrity was evaluated by assessment of LDH release. The caspase-3 activation enzyme and DNA fragmentation were also evaluated. The oxidant/antioxidant ability of all the extracts were evaluated using different methods. Furthermore, a metabolite profiling of the investigated extracts was carried out by GC-EI-MS. CHCl3-pe contained terpenes, allylphenols, and α-tocopherol. Dehydrocostus lactone was the main constituent. As result of the fractionation technique, the LnC-1 extract was mainly composed of α-tocopherol, whereas the LnC-2 fraction was enriched in guaiane and eudesmane terpenes. The most cytotoxic LnC-2 fraction induced apoptosis; it was ineffective in preventing in vitro free radicals production. Overall, the experimental results support a possible role of LnC-2 preparation as a chemopreventive agent for neuronal cells or other cells of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severina Pacifico
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy.
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33
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Coppola N, Potenza N, Pisaturo M, Mosca N, Tonziello G, Signoriello G, Messina V, Sagnelli C, Russo A, Sagnelli E. Liver microRNA hsa-miR-125a-5p in HBV chronic infection: correlation with HBV replication and disease progression. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65336. [PMID: 23843939 PMCID: PMC3701058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To study in HBsAg chronic carriers the expression of liver hsa-miR-125a-5p and its correlation with liver HBV-DNA values and clinical presentation, 27 consecutive Caucasian, HBsAg/anti-HBe/HBV-DNA-positive patients who were naive to nucleos(t)ide analogues and interferon therapy and had no marker of HCV, HDV or HIV infection and no history of alcohol intake were enrolled. For each patient, liver HBV DNA and liver hsa-miR-125a-5p were quantified by real-time PCR in relation to β-globin DNA or RNU6B, respectively. Liver fibrosis and necroinflammation were graded by applying Ishak's scoring system. Liver hsa-miR-125a-5p was detected in all patients enrolled and a correlation between its concentration and liver HBV DNA was demonstrated (p<0.0001). Higher liver hsa-miR-125a-5p concentrations were observed in patients with HBV-DNA plasma level >103 IU/ml (p<0.02), in those with HAI >6 (p = 0.02) and those with fibrosis score >2 (p<0.02) than in patients with lower scores. Higher HBV-DNA liver concentrations were found in patients with abnormal AST (p = 0.005) and ALT serum levels (p = 0.05), in those with serum HBV DNA higher than 10E3 IU/mL (p = 0.001) and those with fibrosis score >2 (p = 0.02) than in patients with a lower load. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, liver hsa-miR-125a-5p was identified as an independent predictor of disease progression: O.R. = 4.21, C.I. 95% = 1.08–16.43, p<0.05, for HAI >6; O.R. = 3.12, C.I. 95% = 1.17–8.27, p<0.05, for fibrosis score >2. In conclusion, in HBsAg/anti-HBe-positive patients, the liver hsa-miR-125a-5p level correlated with liver and plasma HBV-DNA values and was associated to a more severe disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Coppola
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
| | - Mariantonietta Pisaturo
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
| | - Gilda Tonziello
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Signoriello
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Statistics, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Messina
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, AORN Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano di Caserta, Caserta, Italy
| | - Caterina Sagnelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara", Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
| | - Evangelista Sagnelli
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, AORN Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano di Caserta, Caserta, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Potenza N, Russo A. Biogenesis, evolution and functional targets of microRNA-125a. Mol Genet Genomics 2013; 288:381-9. [PMID: 23783428 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-013-0757-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level by inhibiting translation of complementary mRNAs and/or targeting them for degradation. MicroRNAs play crucial roles in development, cell differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition, recent studies indicate that they are important regulators of virus-host interactions. MicroRNA-125a is a homolog of C. elegans lin-4, the first discovered microRNA, shown to dictate the onset of larval stages in the nematode. In this review, we focus on the gene structure of microRNA-125a, its evolution, its expression pattern in mammalian organs and tissues, and its functional targets. Overall, the available data indicate that microRNA-125a plays crucial roles both in development and in the adult tissues. In fact, it (1) contributes to the control of phase transitions in development and/or cell differentiation; (2) regulates the expression of several target proteins that are involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration; (3) interferes with the expression of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen in liver cells, thus counteracting viral replication. These findings suggest that delivery of microRNA-125a mimics or treatments that modulate its cellular expression may be valuable tools for the development of new therapeutic strategies for human diseases, including cancer and viral hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy,
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Marfella R, Di Filippo C, Potenza N, Sardu C, Rizzo MR, Siniscalchi M, Musacchio E, Barbieri M, Mauro C, Mosca N, Solimene F, Mottola MT, Russo A, Rossi F, Paolisso G, D'Amico M. Circulating microRNA changes in heart failure patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy: responders vs. non-responders. Eur J Heart Fail 2013; 15:1277-88. [PMID: 23736534 DOI: 10.1093/eurjhf/hft088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of structural alterations of the failing heart through their ability to regulate negatively the expression levels of genes that govern the process of adaptive and maladaptive cardiac remodelling. We studied whether LV reverse remodelling after CRT was associated with changes of circulating miRNAs in patients with heart failure (HF) and dyssynchrony. METHODS AND RESULTS A prospective, non-randomized self-control trial was performed in 81 patients with HF eligible for CRT. At baseline, to select the HF miRNA profile, we evaluated the expression of 84 miRNAs (implicated in the pathogenesis of structural alterations of the failing heart) in three groups of patients: healthy subjects (healthy group, n = 15); patients with HF (HF group, n = 81); and patients without HF matched for age, sex, and concomitant disease with HF patients (control group, n = 60). At 12 months, the selected miRNA profile was evaluated in plasma from responder (n = 55) and non-responder HF patients (n = 26) to CRT. In the test cohort, the HF patients were characterized by lower expression of 48 miRNAs (all P < 0.04) as compared with healthy subjects. In the validation cohort, the HF patients were characterized by lower expression of 24 miRNAs (all P < 0.03) as compared with control patients. At 12 months, 55 patients (68%) were considered responders and 26 non-responders to CRT (32%). Responders showed an increase in expression of 19 miRNAs (all P < 0.03) compared with baseline expression, whereas in the non-responders we observed an increase of six miRNAs (all P < 0.05) compared with baseline expression. At follow-up, miRNAs were differentially expressed between responders and non-responders. The responders were characterized by higher expression of five miRNAs (miRNA-26b-5p, miRNA-145-5p, miRNA-92a-3p, miRNA-30e-5p, and miRNA-29a-3p; P < 0.01 for all) as compared with non-responders. CONCLUSIONS In responders, reverse remodelling is associated with favourable changes in miRNAs that regulate cardiac fibrosis, apoptosis, and hypertrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Marfella
- Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Italy
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Gaglione M, Potenza N, Di Fabio G, Romanucci V, Mosca N, Russo A, Novellino E, Cosconati S, Messere A. Tuning RNA Interference by Enhancing siRNA/PAZ Recognition. ACS Med Chem Lett 2013; 4:75-8. [PMID: 24900566 DOI: 10.1021/ml300284b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2012] [Accepted: 11/16/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemically modified siRNAs were synthesized to enhance the corresponding silencing activities. The introduced modifications endowed siRNAs with high silencing effect, long RNAi persistence, and better serum resistance. Theoretical data allowed us to correlate the observed siRNAs interfering performance with the peculiar interactions with PAZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gaglione
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43,
81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Potenza
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43,
81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Fabio
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte
S. Angelo, via Cintia, 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Valeria Romanucci
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte
S. Angelo, via Cintia, 4, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Mosca
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43,
81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Aniello Russo
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43,
81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università “Federico II”, Via
D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43,
81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Anna Messere
- Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Ambientali, Biologiche e Farmaceutiche, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43,
81100 Caserta, Italy
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Pacifico S, D'Abrosca B, Scognamiglio M, Gallicchio M, Potenza N, Piccolella S, Russo A, Monaco P, Fiorentino A. Metabolic profiling of strawberry grape ( Vitis × labruscana cv. 'Isabella') components by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and evaluation of their antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. J Agric Food Chem 2011; 59:7679-7687. [PMID: 21657255 DOI: 10.1021/jf200926t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In the assessment of the antioxidant properties of edible plants, the widely consumed Vitis × labruscana cv. 'Isabella', known in Italy as "fragola" (strawberry) grape, was of interest. Phenol and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extracts of peel, pulp, seed, leaf, and stalk components of the plant were determined. The metabolic profile of the extracts was performed by 1D and 2D NMR. Quantitative analysis, obtained in the presence of 0.01% of internal standard trimethylsilyl propionate, evidenced the presence of catechins in both stalk and seed extracts, whereas caffeic acid and quercetin were the main metabolites of the leaf extract. Furthermore, the extracts were tested for their radical scavenging and reducing capacities by measuring their capacity to scavenge DPPH(•) and ABTS(•+) and to reduce Fe(III) and Mo(VI) salts. The antioxidant efficacy of the extracts in cell-free systems and their antiproliferative activity toward HepG2 and A549 cells were also evaluated. Seed and stalk components are able to reduce by 39.6 and 40.6%, respectively, the amount of the metabolically active HepG2 cells after only 24 h of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severina Pacifico
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Caserta, Italy.
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38
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Russo A, Potenza N. Antiviral effects of human microRNAs and conservation of their target sites. FEBS Lett 2011; 585:2551-5. [PMID: 21784072 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2011] [Revised: 07/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level, playing a crucial role in cell differentiation and development. Recently, some reports have shown that a limited number of mammalian microRNAs also display antiviral effects. This article summarizes the data in the field paying a special attention to the conservation of the microRNA target sequences in the viral populations. This issue is relevant both for the evaluation of the biological significance of the antiviral effects and for the development of microRNA-based strategies for antiviral intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniello Russo
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.
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Potenza N, Papa U, Mosca N, Zerbini F, Nobile V, Russo A. Human microRNA hsa-miR-125a-5p interferes with expression of hepatitis B virus surface antigen. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39:5157-63. [PMID: 21317190 PMCID: PMC3130258 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level, playing a crucial role in cell differentiation and development. Recently, some reports have shown that a limited number of mammalian microRNAs are also involved in anti-viral defense. In this study, the analysis of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome by the computer program MiRanda led to the identification of seven sites that are potential targets for human liver microRNAs. These sites were found to be clustered in a 995-bp segment within the viral polymerase ORF and the overlapping surface antigen ORF, and conserved among the most common HBV subtypes. The HBV genomic targets were then subjected to a validation test based on cultured hepatic cells (HepG2, HuH-7 and PLC/PRF/5) and luciferase reporter genes. In this test, one of the selected microRNAs, hsa-miR-125a-5p, was found to interact with the viral sequence and to suppress the reporter activity markedly. The microRNA was then shown to interfere with the viral translation, down-regulating the expression of the surface antigen. Overall, these results support the emerging concept that some mammalian microRNAs play a role in virus-host interaction. Furthermore, they provide the basis for the development of new strategies for anti-HBV intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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40
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Potenza N, Papa U, Scaruffi P, Mosca N, Tonini GP, Russo A. A novel splice variant of the human dicer gene is expressed in neuroblastoma cells. FEBS Lett 2010; 584:3452-7. [PMID: 20615407 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2010] [Revised: 06/23/2010] [Accepted: 06/25/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dicer is a ribonuclease playing a key role in the biogenesis of microRNAs and small interfering RNAs. Here we report the identification of a novel splice variant of human dicer gene, the first one bearing a modified coding sequence. It encodes a truncated protein, t-Dicer that lacks the dsRNA-binding domain and is defective in one of the two RNase III catalytic centers. The splice variant was found in neuroblastoma cells and in cells induced to neuronal differentiation, whereas it was not detectable in other cell lines or in normal tissues. Interestingly, it occurred in primary neuroblastic tumors, mainly in stroma poor neuroblastomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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41
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Salvatore V, Potenza N, Papa U, Nobile V, Russo A. Bacterial expression of mouse argonaute 2 for functional and mutational studies. Int J Mol Sci 2010; 11:745-53. [PMID: 20386665 PMCID: PMC2852865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms11020745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2010] [Accepted: 02/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a post-transcriptional gene-silencing process that occurs in many eukaryotic organisms upon intracellular exposure to double-stranded RNA. Argonaute 2 (Ago2) protein is the catalytic engine of mammalian RNAi. It contains a PIWI domain that is structurally related to RNases H and possibly shares with them a two-metal-ion catalysis mechanism. Here we describe the expression in E. coli of mouse Ago2 and testing of its enzymatic activity in a RISC assay, i.e., for the ability to cleave a target RNA in a single position specified by a complementary small interfering RNA (siRNA). The results show that the enzyme can load the siRNA and cleave the complementary RNA in absence of other cellular factors, as described for human Ago2. It was also found that mutation of Arg669, a residue previously proposed to be involved in substrate and/or B metal ion binding, doesn’t affect the enzymatic activity, suggesting that this residue doesn’t belong to the active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Salvatore
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy.
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42
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Potenza N, Papa U, Russo A. Differential expression of Dicer and Argonaute genes during the differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells. Cell Biol Int 2009; 33:734-8. [PMID: 19393748 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellbi.2009.04.002] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2008] [Revised: 03/13/2009] [Accepted: 04/14/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dicer and Argonaute 1-4 proteins are key components of the cytoplasmic enzyme machinery responsible for biogenesis and performance of microRNAs. To gain insight into the roles of these proteins in cell differentiation, we investigated possible changes in the expression levels of Dicer and Argonaute 1-4 genes during the differentiation of cultured neural and glial cells. The results show that the 5 genes are differentially expressed along the 2 differentiation pathways and suggest a prevalent role of Dicer and Argonaute 4 in neural cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Caserta, Italy
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43
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Potenza N, Salvatore V, Raimondo D, Falanga D, Nobile V, Peterson DL, Russo A. Optimized expression from a synthetic gene of an untagged RNase H domain of human hepatitis B virus polymerase which is enzymatically active. Protein Expr Purif 2007; 55:93-9. [PMID: 17507239 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2007.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2007] [Revised: 04/02/2007] [Accepted: 04/09/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The RNase H domain of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase is an attractive molecular target for the development of new anti-HBV drugs. In this study, a synthetic gene coding for HBV RNase H was assembled from 12 oligonucleotides and expressed in Escherichia coli. The encoded protein was then recovered from inclusion bodies, purified, and refolded by a dilution-dialysis procedure in the presence of a low concentration of lauroylsarcosine (0.01%). The presence of the detergent was an absolute requirement for solubility, suggesting that the untagged RNase H might have exposed hydrophobic regions that need to be shielded from the solvent. The structural identity of the protein was confirmed by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis and mass spectrometry. The enzymatic activity of HBV RNase H was then tested by a recently developed fluorometric assay and was found to be only slightly lower than that registered with the entire HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Finally, a structural model of the enzyme showed that H715, R744 and K745 may be involved in substrate recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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Potenza N, Salvatore V, Migliozzi A, Martone V, Nobile V, Russo A. Hybridase activity of human ribonuclease-1 revealed by a real-time fluorometric assay. Nucleic Acids Res 2006; 34:2906-13. [PMID: 16738129 PMCID: PMC1474055 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkl368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human ribonuclease-1 (hRNase-1) is an extracellular enzyme found in exocrine pancreas, blood, milk, saliva, urine and seminal plasma, which has been implicated in digestion of dietary RNA and in antiviral host defense. The enzyme is characterized by a high catalytic activity toward both single-stranded and double-stranded RNA. In this study, we explored the possibility that hRNase-1 may also be provided with a ribonuclease H activity, i.e. be able to digest the RNA component of RNA:DNA hybrids. For this purpose, we developed an accurate and sensitive real-time RNase H assay based on a fluorogenic substrate made of a 12 nt 5′-fluorescein-labeled RNA hybridized to a complementary 3′-quencher-modified DNA. Under physiological-like conditions, hRNase-1 was found to cleave the RNA:DNA hybrid very efficiently, as expressed by a kcat/Km of 330 000 M−1 s−1, a value that is over 180-fold higher than that obtained with the homologous bovine RNase A and only 8-fold lower than that measured with Escherichia coli RNase H. The kinetic characterization of hRNase-1 showed that its hybridase activity is maximal at neutral pH, increases with lowering ionic strength and is fully inhibited by the cytosolic RNase inhibitor. Overall, the reported data widen our knowledge of the enzymatic properties of hRNase-1 and provide new elements for the comprehension of its biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Aniello Russo
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +39 0823 274569; Fax: +39 0823 274571;
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Chiusano ML, Di Giaimo R, Potenza N, Russo GMR, Geraci G, del Gaudio R. A possible flip-flop genetic mechanism for reciprocal gene expression. FEBS Lett 2005; 579:4919-22. [PMID: 16139277 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.07.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2005] [Revised: 07/04/2005] [Accepted: 07/07/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Innexins are a family of transmembrane proteins involved in the formation of gap junctions, specific intercellular channels, in invertebrates. Analyses of the entire innexin family during Drosophila melanogaster embryonic development shows the occurrence of complex and specific patterns of expression of the different genes. Innexins inx-2 and inx-7, in general, do not appear to exhibit extensive co-expression in different D. melanogaster cellular compartments. We propose here a new and robust mechanism, based on our analysis of the genomic organization of inx-2 and inx-7, that structurally justifies the reciprocal expression of genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Chiusano
- Department of Genetics, General and Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone, 8, 80134 Naples, Italy.
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Potenza N, Vecchione C, Notte A, De Rienzo A, Rosica A, Bauer L, Affuso A, De Felice M, Russo T, Poulet R, Cifelli G, De Vita G, Lembo G, Di Lauro R. Replacement of K-Ras with H-Ras supports normal embryonic development despite inducing cardiovascular pathology in adult mice. EMBO Rep 2005; 6:432-7. [PMID: 15864294 PMCID: PMC1299307 DOI: 10.1038/sj.embor.7400397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2005] [Revised: 03/21/2005] [Accepted: 03/22/2005] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ras proteins are highly related GTPases that have key roles in regulating growth, differentiation and tumorigenesis. Gene-targeting experiments have shown that, out of the three mammalian ras genes, only K-ras is essential for normal mouse embryogenesis, and that mice deprived of H-ras and/or N-ras show no major phenotype. We generated mice (HrasKI) in which the K-ras gene had been modified to encode H-Ras protein. HrasKI mice produce undetectable amounts of K-Ras but-in contrast to mice homozygous for a null K-ras allele-they are born at the expected mendelian frequency, indicating that H-Ras can be substituted for K-Ras in embryonic development. However, adult HrasKI mice show dilated cardiomyopathy associated with arterial hypertension. Our results show that K-Ras can be replaced by H-Ras in its essential function in embryogenesis, and indicate that K-Ras has a unique role in cardiovascular homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Stazione Zoologica ‘A Dohrn', Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Villa Comunale, 1, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Carmine Vecchione
- Department of Angiocardioneurology, IRCCS ‘Neuromed', 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Antonella Notte
- Department of Angiocardioneurology, IRCCS ‘Neuromed', 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Assunta De Rienzo
- BioGeM, c/o CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy
| | - Annamaria Rosica
- BioGeM, c/o CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy
| | - Lisa Bauer
- BioGeM, c/o CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy
| | - Andrea Affuso
- BioGeM, c/o CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy
| | - Mario De Felice
- Stazione Zoologica ‘A Dohrn', Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Villa Comunale, 1, 80121 Napoli, Italy
- BioGeM, c/o CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy
| | - Tommaso Russo
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy
| | - Roberta Poulet
- Department of Angiocardioneurology, IRCCS ‘Neuromed', 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cifelli
- Department of Angiocardioneurology, IRCCS ‘Neuromed', 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Gabriella De Vita
- BioGeM, c/o CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lembo
- Department of Angiocardioneurology, IRCCS ‘Neuromed', 86077 Pozzilli (IS), Italy
| | - Roberto Di Lauro
- Stazione Zoologica ‘A Dohrn', Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Villa Comunale, 1, 80121 Napoli, Italy
- BioGeM, c/o CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate, via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Napoli, Italy
- Tel: +39 081 3722865; Fax: +39 081 3722802; E-mail:
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Life Sciences, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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48
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Selvetella G, Potenza N, Vecchione C, Notte A, Di Lauro R, Lembo G. K-Ras Isoform Deletion Induces Arterial Hypertension and Dilated Cardiomyopathy. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 2005. [DOI: 10.2165/00151642-200512030-00056] [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: 11/02/2022] Open
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Potenza N, del Gaudio R, Chiusano ML, Russo GMR, Geraci G. Specificity of Cellular Expression of C. variopedatus Polychaete Innexin in the Developing Embryo: Evolutionary Aspects of Innexins? Heterogeneous Gene Structures. J Mol Evol 2003; 57 Suppl 1:S165-73. [PMID: 15008413 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-003-0023-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Innexins are a family of membrane proteins involved in the formation of gap junctions in invertebrates. They have been found to participate in several aspects of cell differentiation and in embryonic patterning through the formation of specific intercellular communication channels. We present here data showing that the recently identified innexin of the marine worm Chaetopterus variopedatus is expressed only in particular cells of the early stage, demonstrating cell specificity of innexin expression also in polychaete annelids. Phylogenetic analysis of all known innexins results in a phylogenetic tree clearly distinguishing insect, nematode, and other invertebrate innexins. Comparative analysis of proteins and known related genes shows that the apparent similarity of protein composition, overall structural organization, and specificity of cellular expression, typical of innexins of all studied organisms, correspond to highly heterogeneous gene structures even for genes that are in close contiguity on the same chromosome. A possible evolutionary motive producing this situation is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Genetics, General and Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy
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Potenza N, del Gaudio R, Rivieccio L, Russo GMR, Geraci G. Cloning and molecular characterization of the first innexin of the phylum annelida-expression of the gene during development. J Mol Evol 2002; 54:312-21. [PMID: 11847557 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-001-0046-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2000] [Accepted: 08/27/2001] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A novel member of the innexin family (cv-inx) has been isolated from the annelid polychaete worm Chaetopterus variopedatus using a PCR approach on genomic DNA and sequence analysis on genomic DNA clones. The gene is present in a HindIII-HindIII segment of 2250 bp containing an uninterrupted open reading frame of 1196 bp encoding a protein of 399 amino acids. The predicted protein shows the typical structural features of innexins and consensus sites for phosphorylation. Analyses on genomic DNA demonstrate that cv-inx is a single copy gene with no introns in the coding region, exactly corresponding to the cDNA sequence. The gene expression is regulated during development as shown by Northern blots analyses of the RNA and by immunoreaction with antibodies against the protein at several embryonic stages. The finding of an innexin in the phylum Annelida, outside of the Ecdysozoa clade, and its peculiar gene structure suggest the necessity to reconsider the current hypothesis on the origin and evolution of gap junctional proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Potenza
- Department of Genetics, General and Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone, 8, 80134 Naples, Italy
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