Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica De Angelis, Valentina Vacca, Jessica Tofanicchio, Georgios Strimpakos, Giacomo Giacovazzo, Flaminia Pavone, Roberto Coccurello, Sara Marinelli
Summary: This study investigates the role of metformin in gender differences in pain processing and discovers sex-dependent differences in immune and inflammatory responses, potentially explaining the disparity in recovery from Neuropathic Pain between male and female animals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Wisam Toma, Jason J. Paris, Urszula O. Warncke, Sara R. Nass, Martial Caillaud, Bryan McKiver, Olivia Ondo, Deniz Bagdas, John Bigbee, Pamela E. Knapp, Kurt F. Hauser, M. Imad Damaj
Summary: This study aims to investigate the role of chronic HIV-1 Tat exposure in the development of neuropathy in mice. The results show that Tat induces mechanical and cold hypersensitivity, with females exhibiting more severe hypersensitivity. Current therapeutics have limited effectiveness in alleviating symptoms in female mice.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shahrzad Ghazisaeidi, Milind M. Muley, Michael W. Salter
Summary: The study of chronic pain has been increasing, but effective treatments are still lacking. Recent studies have focused on sex-specific mechanisms, but many cellular mechanisms and gene expressions are similar between sexes. This review examines the similarities and differences in cellular and molecular signals related to neuropathic pain. The findings suggest the potential development of broadly applicable analgesic strategies. However, more targeted therapies are needed to increase the options for safe and effective pain relief.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Jacqueline A. Quigley, Molly K. Logsdon, Christopher A. Turner, Ivette L. Gonzalez, N. B. Leonardo, Jill B. Becker
Summary: This article reviews the evidence for sex differences in vulnerability to addiction, focusing on the neural mechanisms underlying these differences. The interactions between estradiol and the dopamine system in the brain result in differences in motivated behaviors and drug-seeking between males and females. Estradiol increases females' motivation for psychostimulants and enhances the value of drug-related cues, ultimately increasing their susceptibility to relapse.
Article
Anesthesiology
Camille Fauchon, Junseok A. Kim, Rima El-Sayed, Natalie R. Osborne, Anton Rogachov, Joshua C. Cheng, Kasey S. Hemington, Rachael L. Bosma, Benjamin T. Dunkley, Jiwon Oh, Anuj Bhatia, Robert D. Inman, Karen D. Davis
Summary: This study found alpha oscillatory activity abnormalities and sex differences in individuals with neuropathic pain. Chronic neuropathic pain led to increased alpha power in the dynamic pain connectome, while women with neuropathic pain exhibited decreased alpha power in certain brain regions compared to men. These findings provide important insights into aberrant neuronal communication and sex differences in neuropathic pain.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kelly F. Paton, Dan Luo, Anne C. La Flamme, Thomas E. Prisinzano, Bronwyn M. Kivell
Summary: This study investigated the effects of Salvinorin A analogues in a preclinical model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. The results showed that these analogues were effective in reducing pain and could be potential drugs for treating this condition.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Peyton Presto, Volker Neugebauer
Summary: The amygdala plays a crucial role in the emotional response to pain and pain modulation. The lateral and capsular regions of the central nucleus of the amygdala are important areas for processing pain-related information. The CGRP1 receptor is involved in neuropathic pain-related amygdala activity, with a more significant impact on females.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giada Amodeo, Benedetta Verduci, Patrizia Sartori, Patrizia Procacci, Vincenzo Conte, Gianfranco Balboni, Paola Sacerdote, Silvia Franchi
Summary: The study indicates that mice treated with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib may develop anxiety and depression, which are related to neuroinflammation and prokineticin system activation. Treatment with the prokineticin system antagonist PC1, which has anti-pain and anti-neuroinflammation effects, can prevent mood alterations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jeffery D. Foss, Daniel J. Farkas, Lana M. Huynh, William A. Kinney, Douglas E. Brenneman, Sara Jane Ward
Summary: KLS-13019, like CBD, prevents the development of CIPN and uniquely attenuates established CIPN. Furthermore, KLS-13019 may possess the ability to attenuate reinforced behavior, an effect not observed in CBD studies.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Sang-Min Jeon, Dennis Chang, Aleksander Geske, David D. Ginty, Michael J. Caterina
Summary: The study identified that Merkel cell-A beta afferent complexes partially contribute to mechanical allodynia produced by peripheral nerve injury, with this effect being sex-dependent in mice. This finding will help in understanding the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jason J. d McDougall, Allison R. Reid
Summary: Joint pain is a complex phenomenon involving multiple endogenous mediators and pathophysiological events. In this study, intra-articular injection of LPA was used to mimic neuropathic osteoarthritis and it was found that LPA caused joint degeneration and neuropathic pain.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Peter Shih-Ping Hung, Alana G. Byeon, Alborz Noorani, Matthew R. Walker, Gianni R. Lorello, Mojgan Hodaie
Summary: This study investigated sex differences in patients' journeys to diagnosis, referral, and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and found that females experienced significantly longer referral timelines and reported higher pain intensity at referral than males. The study also revealed that the referral time for medically tolerant females was significantly longer than that for medically tolerant males. These findings highlight the presence of unconscious bias and discrimination against females in TN treatment referral, emphasizing the need for expedited referral for female TN patients.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Magali Millecamps, Susana G. Sotocinal, Jean-Sebastien Austin, Laura S. Stone, Jeffrey S. Mogil
Summary: Human epidemiological studies indicate that chronic pain may increase the risk of mortality. This study on mice reveals sex-specific patterns in pain behavior and suggests that the biology of chronic pain in humans is not adequately represented in current preclinical pain research.
Article
Cell Biology
Kanae Murata, Kenya Nozawa, Mayumi Matsushita, Aozora Yamashita, Rintaro Fujii, Yuji Awaga, Aldric Hama, Takahiro Natsume, Go Yoshida, Yukihiro Matsuyama, Hiroyuki Takamatsu
Summary: This study examined stimulus-evoked brain activation in male and female cynomolgus macaques following spinal nerve ligation and the effects of analgesics on brain activation. The results showed differential brain activation depending on sex after peripheral nerve injury, which may underlie qualitative sexual dimorphism in chronic pain perception and responses to analgesics. Future neuropathic pain management approaches should consider potential sex differences in pain mechanism and treatment efficacy.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Sydney E. Lee, Emily K. Greenough, Paul Oancea, Ashley R. Scheinfeld, Apsaline M. Douglas, Andrew D. Gaudet
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently causes chronic pain in humans, with females being more susceptible to worse pain than males. However, there is a lack of pre-clinical studies on sex differences in SCI pain in rodents. This study used a large cohort of mice to investigate the pain symptoms and hypersensitivity after contusion SCI, and found that both female and male mice showed hypersensitivity compared to sham controls, with females exhibiting amplified sensitivity. These findings have important implications for understanding and treating neuropathic pain after SCI.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Daisy Proietti, Lorenzo Giordani, Marco De Bardi, Chiara D'Ercole, Biliana Lozanoska-Ochser, Susanna Amadio, Cinzia Volonte, Sara Marinelli, Antoine Muchir, Marina Bouche, Giovanna Borsellino, Alessandra Sacco, Pier Lorenzo Puri, Luca Madaro
Summary: Activation of Itga7-expressing muscle-resident glial cells, distinct from muscle satellite cells, occurs in response to muscle nerve lesion and involves expression of neurotrophic genes and potential involvement in extracellular matrix remodeling at NMJs. In an ALS mouse model, the progressive increase in muscle-glial cells with impaired neurotrophic activity suggests their involvement in disease progression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentina Vacca, Sara Marinelli, Federica De Angelis, Daniela F. Angelini, Eleonora Piras, Luca Battistini, Flaminia Pavone, Roberto Coccurello
Summary: This study identified gender differences in immune responses to neuropathic pain, with females showing higher infiltration of T cells in nerves and males showing higher infiltration of macrophages. Additionally, cytokine and chemokine levels were differently regulated in blood and nerve lysates from female mice compared to male mice. These findings provide insights into gender-associated inflammatory profiles in neuropathy and could contribute to the development of differential biomarkers and personalized medicine.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Silvia Scaricamazza, Illari Salvatori, Susanna Amadio, Valentina Nesci, Alessio Torcinaro, Giacomo Giacovazzo, Aniello Primiano, Michela Gloriani, Niccolo Candelise, Luisa Pieroni, Jean-Philippe Loeffler, Frederique Rene, Cyril Quessada, Tesfaye W. Tefera, Hao Wang, Frederik J. Steyn, Shyuan T. Ngo, Gabriella Dobrowolny, Elisa Lepore, Andrea Urbani, Antonio Musaro, Cinzia Volonte, Elisabetta Ferraro, Roberto Coccurello, Cristiana Valle, Alberto Ferri
Summary: The therapeutic potential of the multi-target drug trimetazidine was evaluated in SOD1(G93A) mice. The results showed that trimetazidine delayed disease progression, improved motor function and metabolism, and increased overall survival of the mice.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Lualdi, Adeena Shafique, Edoardo Pedrini, Luisa Pieroni, Viviana Greco, Massimo Castagnola, Giorgia Cucina, Lucia Corrado, Alice Di Pierro, Fabiola De Marchi, Lara Camillo, Claudia Colombrita, Marianna D'Anca, Tiziana Alberio, Sandra D'Alfonso, Mauro Fasano
Summary: This study quantitatively analyzed the proteome of ALS patients with C9ORF72 mutation, revealing differentially expressed proteins and molecular pathways. The research also compared ALS patients with frontotemporal dementia patients carrying the C9ORF72 repeat expansion to further understand the pathogenesis mechanisms specific to C9ORF72 mutation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexia Tsakaneli, Victor Corasolla Carregari, Martina Morini, Alessandra Eva, Giuliana Cangemi, Olesya Chayka, Evgeny Makarov, Sandra Bibbo, Emily Capone, Gianluca Sala, Vincenzo De Laurenzi, Evon Poon, Louis Chesler, Luisa Pieroni, Martin R. Larsen, Giuseppe Palmisano, Arturo Sala
Summary: Amplification of the proto-oncogene MYCN is a key molecular aberration in high-risk neuroblastoma, affecting the protein cargo of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by tumour cells and influencing the Warburg effect, proliferation, and c-MYC expression in recipient cells. The cancer-promoting activity of EVs was linked to the glycolytic kinase pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) enriched in EVs secreted by MYC-expressing neuroblastoma cells. Glycolytic enzymes PKM2 and hexokinase II were detected in EVs circulating in neuroblastoma patients but not in non-cancer children, indicating potential spread of oncogenic signals via EVs from MYC-activated cancers.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Mozghan Boroumand, Barbara Manconi, Simone Serrao, Federica Iavarone, Alessandra Olianas, Tiziana Cabras, Cristina Contini, Luisa Pieroni, Maria Teresa Sanna, Giovanni Vento, Chiara Tirone, Claudia Desiderio, Antonella Fiorita, Gavino Faa, Irene Messana, Massimo Castagnola
Summary: Glutathionylation and cysteinylation can protect critical cysteines from oxidative damages. Levels of S100A9 long and cystatin B in saliva were determined in preterm and at-term newborns, showing that the percentage of S-thiolated derivatives increased with postconceptional age, with the most significant variation occurring around 280 days. Differences in S-thiolated derivatives levels were found to be dependent on postconceptional age, not on preterm or at-term birth.
SEPARATION SCIENCE PLUS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Christian Barbato, Paola Frisone, Laura Braccini, Simona D'Aguanno, Luisa Pieroni, Maria Teresa Ciotti, Caterina Catalanotto, Carlo Cogoni, Francesca Ruberti
Summary: RNA-binding proteins play important roles in miRNA-mediated gene silencing. This study discovered that SERBP1 is a partner protein of Argonaute2, and it participates in miR-92-mediated gene silencing by regulating the 3' UTR of KCC2. These findings advance our understanding of KCC2 translational regulation in neuronal cells and highlight the key role of SERBP1 in this gene regulation.
Article
Cell Biology
Patrizia Bottoni, Alessandro Pontoglio, Salvatore Scara, Luisa Pieroni, Andrea Urbani, Roberto Scatena
Summary: Mitochondrial bioenergetics play an important role in pathophysiology, especially as unintended targets of different drugs. PPAR ligands, a class of drugs that activate Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors, were found to inhibit NADH coenzyme Q reductase and induce complex mitochondrial oxidative metabolism damage. This damage affects not only ATP synthesis but also respiratory control ratio, spare respiratory capacity, coupling efficiency, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial structural damage.
Article
Neurosciences
Sara Marinelli, Maria Cristina Marrone, Marina Di Domenico, Silvia Marinelli
Summary: Microglia are innate immune cells in the central nervous system that perform various functions through the expression of genes, receptors, and cytokines. The endocannabinoid system has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect on microglia, but the therapeutic effects of endocannabinoid compounds in microglia-mediated functions are not well understood.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Siro Luvisetto
Summary: In recent years, studies have shown the significant therapeutic use of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) in various motor and autonomic disorders. BoNTs exert their therapeutic effects by selectively cleaving specific sites of the SNARE protein complex, interfering with neural transmission. They can block the release of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators and affect glial cell function. The exact mechanisms are not fully understood, but BoNTs can inhibit spinal glial cell activation and promote peripheral regeneration. Overall, BoNTs have important therapeutic implications for conditions involving glial cell activation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathan Isacco Battistini, Valentina Mastrorilli, Vittoria Nicolis di Robilant, Daniele Saraulli, Sara Marinelli, Stefano Farioli Vecchioli
Summary: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of death and disability worldwide, with no effective treatments available. Recent studies have suggested that adult neurogenesis may be a new approach to counteract post-traumatic neurodegeneration. It has been shown that long-term running can enhance adult neurogenesis and promote neuroregeneration and functional recovery after injury. These findings suggest that running could be a promising method to increase neural stem cells and improve endogenous neuroregenerative responses following brain trauma.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Marinelli, Roberto Coccurello
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Marinelli, Roberto Coccurello
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Food Science & Technology
Siro Luvisetto
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica De Angelis, Valentina Vacca, Jessica Tofanicchio, Georgios Strimpakos, Giacomo Giacovazzo, Flaminia Pavone, Roberto Coccurello, Sara Marinelli
Summary: This study investigates the role of metformin in gender differences in pain processing and discovers sex-dependent differences in immune and inflammatory responses, potentially explaining the disparity in recovery from Neuropathic Pain between male and female animals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
