Article
Microbiology
Marilena Mancino, Giancarlo Lai, Federica De Grossi, Alessandro Cuomo, Lara Manganaro, Giacomo M. Butta, Ivan Ferrari, Elisa Vicenzi, Guido Poli, Elisa Pesce, Stefania Oliveto, Stefano Biffo, Nicola Manfrini
Summary: The role of FAM46C has been extensively studied in MM, but its role outside of the tumoral environment is still not well understood. This study shows that FAM46C inhibits the production of HIV and HIV-derived lentiviruses, and this effect is related to the regulation of autophagy.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leticia de Almeida, Alexandre L. N. da Silva, Tamara S. Rodrigues, Samuel Oliveira, Adriene Y. Ishimoto, Amanda A. Seribelli, Amanda Becerra, Warrison A. Andrade, Marco A. Ataide, Camila C. S. Caetano, Keyla S. G. de Sa, Natalia Pelisson, Ronaldo B. Martins, Juliano de Paula Souza, Eurico Arruda, Sabrina S. Batah, Ricardo Castro, Fabiani G. Frantz, Fernando Q. Cunha, Thiago M. Cunha, Alexandre T. Fabro, Larissa D. Cunha, Paulo Louzada-Junior, Rene D. R. de Oliveira, Dario S. Zamboni
Summary: This study identifies niclosamide as a potential FDA-approved drug for treating COVID-19 by inhibiting inflammasome activation and SARS-CoV-2 replication. Niclosamide shows strong inhibitory effects on inflammasome activation in human monocytes and PBMCs from COVID-19 patients in vitro, as well as in an in vivo mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Article
Immunology
Xiyuan Bai, Deepshikha Verma, Cindy Garcia, Ariel Musheyev, Kevin Kim, Lorelenn Fornis, David E. Griffith, Li Li, Nicholas Whittel, Jacob Gadwa, Tamara Ohanjanyan, Matthew J. Eggleston, Manuel Galvan, Brian M. Freed, Diane Ordway, Edward D. Chan
Summary: Cigarette smoke exposure can impair the immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. In this study, it was found that cigarette smoke-exposed T regulatory cells (Tregs) can exacerbate MTB infection by impairing macrophage function and promoting immunosuppression. This was demonstrated through co-culture experiments and mouse models. These findings suggest that cigarette smoke not only directly affects immune cells, but also indirectly promotes TB infection through the modulation of Tregs.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Mariaserena Giliberto, Deepak B. Thimiri Govinda Raj, Andrea Cremaschi, Sigrid S. Skanland, Alexandra Gade, Geir E. Tjonnfjord, Fredrik Schjesvold, Ludvig A. Munthe, Kjetil Tasken
Summary: The management of multiple myeloma (MM) is challenging, and personalized testing tools are required to determine drug sensitivities. In this study, a drug testing pipeline was established to examine ex vivo drug responses in MM cells from 44 patients. Variability in drug responses and synergistic effects of certain drug combinations were observed.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Celine Leon, Marion Bouchecareilh
Summary: The maintenance of proteostasis is crucial for cellular functions, with protein degradation pathways such as UPS and autophagy playing key roles. Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency is caused by protein misfolding and aggregation, leading to liver disease, but enhancing autophagy can protect against it.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Min Zhang, Hongyan Zheng, Lian Jin, Lijuan Xing, Junjie Zou, Lan Zhang, Cuimei Liu, Jinfang Chu, Miaoyun Xu, Lei Wang
Summary: This research identifies the miRNA Zma-miR169o and the transcription factor ZmNF-YA13 as key regulators of auxin accumulation in maize seeds, playing an important role in determining seed size and yield.
Article
Zoology
Marco Sassoe-Pognetto, Sonia Acierno, Silvestro Roatta
Summary: This study explores the use of wireless ultrasonography in studying the reproductive ecology of the asp viper. The wireless probe proved to be a non-destructive and effective tool for field ultrasound investigations. Its advantages include its light and compact design, making it suitable for use in rugged terrains.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART A-ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandro Rolfo, Stefano Cosma, Anna Maria Nuzzo, Chiara Salio, Laura Moretti, Marco Sassoe-Pognetto, Andrea Roberto Carosso, Fulvio Borella, Juan Carlos Cutrin, Chiara Benedetto
Summary: This study observed oxidative stress and mitochondrial pathological changes in the placenta of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the third trimester, but the pregnant women maintained a good physiological state. This suggests that the placenta has a certain inhibitory effect on oxidative stress during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Article
Immunology
Ganesh E. Phad, Dora Pinto, Mathilde Foglierini, Murodzhon Akhmedov, Riccardo L. Rossi, Emilia Malvicini, Antonino Cassotta, Chiara Silacci Fregni, Ludovica Bruno, Federica Sallusto, Antonio Lanzavecchia
Summary: This study provides a systematic description of the structure, stability, and dynamics of the human memory B cell pool, and suggests that memory B cells play a crucial role in the generation of plasma cells.
Article
Cell Biology
Giorgia Pellavio, Simona Martinotti, Mauro Patrone, Elia Ranzato, Umberto Laforenza
Summary: This study investigates the role of aquaporins (AQPs) in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cells, specifically their involvement in chemotherapy drug resistance. The results suggest that AQP-6 plays a major role in providing MPM cells with the ability to resist oxidative stress, which underlies their resistance to chemotherapy drugs.
Article
Oncology
Giovanni Gambi, Gabrielle Mengus, Guillaume Davidson, Ewout Demesmaeker, Alessandro Cuomo, Tiziana Bonaldi, Vicky Katopodi, Gabriel G. Malouf, Eleonora Leucci, Irwin Davidson
Summary: LINC00518 (LENOX) is a melanoma-specific lncRNA that plays a crucial role in the survival of melanoma cells. LENOX promotes mitochondrial fusion and oxidative phosphorylation through the association of RAP2C GTPase with DRP1. Upregulation of LENOX expression is associated with resistance to MAPK inhibitors, but combined silencing of LENOX and RAP2C can enhance the efficacy of MAPK inhibitors in eradicating melanoma cells.
Article
Oncology
Elia Ranzato, Gregorio Bonsignore, Simona Martinotti
Summary: Malignant mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer strongly linked to asbestos exposure. With limited therapeutic options, novel approaches are urgently needed. Previous studies have shown the importance of GRP78 in MPM survival, and our research suggests that BOLD-100, a specific modulator of GRP78, inhibits MPM cell growth by inducing cellular stress and cell death.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gregorio Bonsignore, Simona Martinotti, Elia Ranzato
Summary: The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an adaptive response triggered by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress for re-establishing protein homeostasis. Specific ER proteins mediate UPR activation by dissociating from chaperone Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 (GRP78). UPR can decrease ER stress, produce an ER adaptive response, block UPR if ER homeostasis is restored, or regulate apoptosis. This review focuses on molecules that target ER stress and demonstrate how UPR could be a new target in cancer treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Edoardo Luigi Draetta, Dejan Lazarevic, Paolo Provero, Davide Cittaro
Summary: Through high-throughput sequencing techniques, we discovered that genes with high frequency of somatic mutations in common cancers and ancient evolutionary age are most likely to be involved in abnormal phenotypes and diseases. This provides new insights into the common origin of cancer and genetic diseases and improves the identification of new disease genes.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Unali, Giovanni Crivicich, Isabel Pagani, Monah Abou-Alezz, Filippo Folchini, Erika Valeri, Vittoria Matafora, Julie A. Reisz, Anna Maria Sole Giordano, Ivan Cuccovillo, Giacomo M. Butta, Lorena Donnici, Angelo D'Alessandro, Raffaele De Francesco, Lara Manganaro, Davide Cittaro, Ivan Merelli, Carolina Petrillo, Angela Bachi, Elisa Vicenzi, Anna Kajaste-Rudnitski
Summary: The interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITM) inhibit endocytic viral entry by binding to phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3), which plays a key role in endosomal antiviral immunity. The level of PIP3 is closely correlated with the potency of endosomal IFITM restriction, and exogenous PIP3 enhances the inhibition of endocytic viruses. These findings elucidate cell-compartment-specific antiviral mechanisms and have potential relevance for the development of broadly acting antiviral strategies.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Davide Cittaro, Dejan Lazarevic, Giovanni Tonon, Francesca Giannese
Summary: scGET-seq is a method that profiles both euchromatin and heterochromatin simultaneously. It utilizes the combined action of transposase Tn5 and its hybrid form TnH, which specifically targets H3K9me3 domains. This article provides a step-by-step protocol for performing scGET-seq on single cells using a 103 Chromium Controller, including transposome preparation and validation, nuclei preparation and transposition, encapsulation, library preparation, sequencing, and data analysis.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marco Sassoe
Summary: This report describes three cases of human envenomation by the asp viper in Piedmont, Italy. The severity of symptoms varied among the cases, with one patient experiencing severe systemic symptoms, another patient manifesting neurological symptoms, and the third patient only showing local symptoms. All patients reported prolonged functional impairment after discharge from the hospital. It highlights the importance of understanding the intraspecific variability of venoms, its clinical significance, and the factors determining snakebite severity.
Review
Cell Biology
Irene Fiorilla, Simona Martinotti, Alberto Maria Todesco, Gregorio Bonsignore, Maria Cavaletto, Mauro Patrone, Elia Ranzato, Valentina Audrito
Summary: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a lethal and rare cancer with increasing incidence worldwide. Asbestos exposure causes MPM through mechanisms including chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and aberrant signaling. The tumor microenvironment characteristics, such as chronic inflammation, hypoxia, and metabolic changes, support tumor aggressiveness and modulate immune responses. Understanding these interactions provides potential therapeutic targets in MPM.
Article
Biology
Tommaso Lanciano, Aurora Savino, Francesca Porcu, Davide Cittaro, Francesco Bonchi, Paolo Provero
Summary: Biological networks are widely used in functional genomics to describe relationships between genes and proteins. Contrast subgraphs are an effective technique for comparing networks from different conditions or techniques. This study demonstrates the utility of contrast subgraphs in comparing gene and protein networks in breast cancer subtypes, transcriptomic and proteomic data, and protein-protein interaction networks in different cell lines.
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Valentina Gambacorta, Stefano Beretta, Martina Ciccimarra, Laura Zito, Kety Giannetti, Angela Andrisani, Daniela Gnani, Lucia Zanotti, Giacomo Oliveira, Matteo G. Carrabba, Davide Cittaro, Ivan Merelli, Fabio Ciceri, Raffaella Di Micco, Luca Vago
Meeting Abstract
Urology & Nephrology
Vito Cucchiara, Luigi Nocera, Dejan Lazarevic, Davide Cittaro, Matteo Zoccolillo, Giorgio Gandaglia, Elio Mazzone, Armando Stabile, Francesco Barletta, Simone Scuderi, Daniele Robesti, Andrea Necchi, Vincenzo Mirone, Pierre I. Karakiewicz, Francesco Montorsi, Giovanni Tonon, Alberto Briganti
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2022)