2026
|
Gattinoni, Luca; Inchingolo, Gabriele; Harrer, Dennis C; Susana, Alberto; Puccio, Simone; Slavkovic-Lukic, Dragana; Natrakul, Danielle A; Strieder, Nicholas; Heuser-Loy, Christoph; Baldwin, Jeremy G; Fioravanti, Jessica; Ji, Yun; Gautam, Sanjivan; Suriano, Chiara; Martín-Santos, Azucena; Schelker, Roland C; Patel, Nisha; Mann, Jennifer; Goff, Stephanie; Mikkilineni, Lekha; Yang, James C; Kwong, Mei Li M; Patel, Rashmika; Rehli, Michael; Highfill, Steven L; Stroncek, David F; Rosenberg, Steven A; Biasco, Luca; Lugli, Enrico; Brudno, Jennifer N; Kochenderfer, James N: Distinct in vivo dynamics of donor-derived stem cell memory CAR T cells post-allogeneic HSCT relapse. In: Cell, vol. 189, no. 12, pp. 3686–3700.e10, 2026, ISSN: 1097-4172. @article{pmid42066750,
title = {Distinct in vivo dynamics of donor-derived stem cell memory CAR T cells post-allogeneic HSCT relapse},
author = {Luca Gattinoni and Gabriele Inchingolo and Dennis C Harrer and Alberto Susana and Simone Puccio and Dragana Slavkovic-Lukic and Danielle A Natrakul and Nicholas Strieder and Christoph Heuser-Loy and Jeremy G Baldwin and Jessica Fioravanti and Yun Ji and Sanjivan Gautam and Chiara Suriano and Azucena Martín-Santos and Roland C Schelker and Nisha Patel and Jennifer Mann and Stephanie Goff and Lekha Mikkilineni and James C Yang and Mei Li M Kwong and Rashmika Patel and Michael Rehli and Steven L Highfill and David F Stroncek and Steven A Rosenberg and Luca Biasco and Enrico Lugli and Jennifer N Brudno and James N Kochenderfer},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2026.03.047},
issn = {1097-4172},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-06-01},
journal = {Cell},
volume = {189},
number = {12},
pages = {3686--3700.e10},
abstract = {Donor-derived CD19-CAR T cells offer a therapeutic option for B cell malignancies relapsing after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation but are often constrained by poor engraftment, expansion, and persistence. In a first-in-human study (NCT01087294), we found that CAR-modified stem-cell memory T (T) cells exhibited greater expansion and persistence than standard CAR T cells, enabling complete responses at low doses in the absence of lymphodepletion. CAR T cells induced mild cytokine-release syndrome, dominated by IFN-γ. Both products differentiated into effectors; however, only CAR T cells robustly reconstituted the stem-like compartment over time. CAR T cells were sustained through clonal succession, whereas persisting standard CAR T cells resulted from maintenance or contraction of early-expanded clones. While poor expansion limited standard CAR T cell activity, resistance to CAR T cells was driven primarily by tumor- and host-related factors. These findings establish CAR T cells as a promising platform for next-generation CAR T cell therapies.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Donor-derived CD19-CAR T cells offer a therapeutic option for B cell malignancies relapsing after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation but are often constrained by poor engraftment, expansion, and persistence. In a first-in-human study (NCT01087294), we found that CAR-modified stem-cell memory T (T) cells exhibited greater expansion and persistence than standard CAR T cells, enabling complete responses at low doses in the absence of lymphodepletion. CAR T cells induced mild cytokine-release syndrome, dominated by IFN-γ. Both products differentiated into effectors; however, only CAR T cells robustly reconstituted the stem-like compartment over time. CAR T cells were sustained through clonal succession, whereas persisting standard CAR T cells resulted from maintenance or contraction of early-expanded clones. While poor expansion limited standard CAR T cell activity, resistance to CAR T cells was driven primarily by tumor- and host-related factors. These findings establish CAR T cells as a promising platform for next-generation CAR T cell therapies. |
Persico, Ivana; Doro, Maria Grazia; Frogheri, Laura; Sini, Maria Cristina; Maestrale, Giovanni Battista; Manca, Antonella; Mallardo, Domenico; Ascierto, Paolo Antonio; Palmieri, Giuseppe: How Deeply Can mRNA Vaccines Affect the Responsiveness to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Through Changes in the Tumor Microenvironment? Evidence from Melanoma. In: Cells, vol. 15, no. 11, 2026, ISSN: 2073-4409. @article{Persico2026,
title = {How Deeply Can mRNA Vaccines Affect the Responsiveness to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Through Changes in the Tumor Microenvironment? Evidence from Melanoma},
author = {Ivana Persico and Maria Grazia Doro and Laura Frogheri and Maria Cristina Sini and Giovanni Battista Maestrale and Antonella Manca and Domenico Mallardo and Paolo Antonio Ascierto and Giuseppe Palmieri},
doi = {10.3390/cells15110986},
issn = {2073-4409},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-06-00},
journal = {Cells},
volume = {15},
number = {11},
publisher = {MDPI AG},
abstract = {Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are emerging as promising tools capable of reshaping how cancer interacts with the immune system and responds to immunotherapy. These vaccines not only act as platforms for antigen delivery but can also influence the tumor microenvironment (TME), fostering a shift from immunologically “cold’’ conditions toward “hotter’’ and treatment-responsive states. In melanoma, this capability has been found to enhance the efficacy of the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), as mRNA-based priming can provide the robust antitumor activation needed for more effective checkpoint blockade. Early clinical studies with personalized or off-the-shelf vaccines showed benefits in patients with high-risk resected melanoma or refractory to PD-1 inhibition. Combining mRNA vaccines with ICIs, along with other immunomodulatory strategies, may be helpful to overcome resistance arising from the TME and achieve more durable clinical benefits. Besides these advances, computational and in silico modeling are providing new insights into how mRNA vaccines modulate the TME, helping to identify factors such as antigen-presenting cell (APC) density, CD8+ T-cell infiltration, and macrophage polarization that may predict treatment success and guide personalized strategies. Together, these developments indicate that combining mRNA vaccination with ICIs, supported by computational tools, may improve clinical outcomes in melanoma and, potentially, in selected tumor types with favorable immunological features, although important biological constraints limit direct extrapolation to less immunogenic malignancies.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are emerging as promising tools capable of reshaping how cancer interacts with the immune system and responds to immunotherapy. These vaccines not only act as platforms for antigen delivery but can also influence the tumor microenvironment (TME), fostering a shift from immunologically “cold’’ conditions toward “hotter’’ and treatment-responsive states. In melanoma, this capability has been found to enhance the efficacy of the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), as mRNA-based priming can provide the robust antitumor activation needed for more effective checkpoint blockade. Early clinical studies with personalized or off-the-shelf vaccines showed benefits in patients with high-risk resected melanoma or refractory to PD-1 inhibition. Combining mRNA vaccines with ICIs, along with other immunomodulatory strategies, may be helpful to overcome resistance arising from the TME and achieve more durable clinical benefits. Besides these advances, computational and in silico modeling are providing new insights into how mRNA vaccines modulate the TME, helping to identify factors such as antigen-presenting cell (APC) density, CD8+ T-cell infiltration, and macrophage polarization that may predict treatment success and guide personalized strategies. Together, these developments indicate that combining mRNA vaccination with ICIs, supported by computational tools, may improve clinical outcomes in melanoma and, potentially, in selected tumor types with favorable immunological features, although important biological constraints limit direct extrapolation to less immunogenic malignancies. |
Incollu, Simona; Asunis, Isadora; Satta, Stefania; Savasta, Salvatore; Loudianos, Georgios: Allelic variation in the ATP7B gene promoter. Implications for phenotype variability, neurodegeneration and Pt resistance in tumor diseases. In: J. Hum. Genet., 2026. @article{Incollu2026-ce,
title = {Allelic variation in the ATP7B gene promoter. Implications for phenotype variability, neurodegeneration and Pt resistance in tumor diseases},
author = {Simona Incollu and Isadora Asunis and Stefania Satta and Salvatore Savasta and Georgios Loudianos},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-03-01},
urldate = {2026-03-01},
journal = {J. Hum. Genet.},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare genetic disorder of copper
transport due to mutations in the ATP7B gene. This results in
copper overload and tissue damage that is most evident in the
liver and brain. Over 1000 pathogenic mutations have been found
in WD patients, and of these, mutations within the ATP7B coding
region predominate. In this study, we perform functional
analyses of 7 rare sequence variations in the promoter region of
the ATP7B gene. We performed dual luciferase reporter assays in
HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cell lines under basal conditions and after
the addition of 10 $mu$M or 40 $mu$M concentrations of CuSO4.
The results showed that promoter activity varied both according
to the haplotype and the cell line used. Our results suggest a
potential role of promoter polymorphisms in the variation of
ATP7B gene expression with probable implications in copper
accumulation in the organism and consequent phenotype variation
in WD. In addition, given the association of copper
concentration and ATP7B expression in the brain, promoter
polymorphisms could act as susceptibility determinants of
neurodegeneration in the most common late-onset nervous system
diseases. Finally, promoter involvement in ATP7B overexpression
and platinum resistance presents new mechanisms of great
importance that need to be better understood. Further
experimental and clinical studies are necessary to further
explore the role of the ATP7B promoter in copper and platinum
management. These studies will offer new insights for the
development of molecular therapies for brain degenerative and
tumor diseases.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare genetic disorder of copper
transport due to mutations in the ATP7B gene. This results in
copper overload and tissue damage that is most evident in the
liver and brain. Over 1000 pathogenic mutations have been found
in WD patients, and of these, mutations within the ATP7B coding
region predominate. In this study, we perform functional
analyses of 7 rare sequence variations in the promoter region of
the ATP7B gene. We performed dual luciferase reporter assays in
HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cell lines under basal conditions and after
the addition of 10 $mu$M or 40 $mu$M concentrations of CuSO4.
The results showed that promoter activity varied both according
to the haplotype and the cell line used. Our results suggest a
potential role of promoter polymorphisms in the variation of
ATP7B gene expression with probable implications in copper
accumulation in the organism and consequent phenotype variation
in WD. In addition, given the association of copper
concentration and ATP7B expression in the brain, promoter
polymorphisms could act as susceptibility determinants of
neurodegeneration in the most common late-onset nervous system
diseases. Finally, promoter involvement in ATP7B overexpression
and platinum resistance presents new mechanisms of great
importance that need to be better understood. Further
experimental and clinical studies are necessary to further
explore the role of the ATP7B promoter in copper and platinum
management. These studies will offer new insights for the
development of molecular therapies for brain degenerative and
tumor diseases. |
Wu, Jiafei; Andreu-Sánchez, Sergio; Peng, Haoran; Gacesa, Ranko; ao Gois, Milla Brand; Brushett, Siobhan; Weersma, Rinse; Wang, Daoming; Kurilshikov, Alexander; Zhernakova, Alexandra; Fu, Jingyuan; Zhernakova, Daria V: The interplay of sleep characteristics with health factors and
gut microbiome. In: Nat. Commun., vol. 17, no. 1, 2026. @article{Wu2026-wl,
title = {The interplay of sleep characteristics with health factors and
gut microbiome},
author = {Jiafei Wu and Sergio Andreu-Sánchez and Haoran Peng and Ranko Gacesa and Milla Brand ao Gois and Siobhan Brushett and Rinse Weersma and Daoming Wang and Alexander Kurilshikov and Alexandra Zhernakova and Jingyuan Fu and Daria V Zhernakova},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-02-01},
journal = {Nat. Commun.},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between
sleep and the gut microbiome. In this study, we explore the
associations of sleep characteristics with lifestyle factors and
gut microbiome composition in 6941 participants from the
Lifelines Dutch Microbiome Project. We show that lower alpha
diversity is associated with poorer sleep quality, later
chronotype, and greater social jet lag, while beta diversity is
linked to both sleep quality and social jet lag. Of the 137
bacterial species associated with sleep, 35.6% are validated in
an independent cohort. Mediation analyses indicate that, while
changes in species abundance are largely a consequence of sleep
behavior, certain species may mediate diet's influence on sleep.
For example, we find that Clostridia species UC5_1_1E11 and
SGB14844 mediate the effect of coffee intake on social jet lag.
These findings highlight the intricate relationship between
diet, the gut microbiome, and sleep, suggesting the potential
for microbiome-targeted interventions to improve sleep health.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between
sleep and the gut microbiome. In this study, we explore the
associations of sleep characteristics with lifestyle factors and
gut microbiome composition in 6941 participants from the
Lifelines Dutch Microbiome Project. We show that lower alpha
diversity is associated with poorer sleep quality, later
chronotype, and greater social jet lag, while beta diversity is
linked to both sleep quality and social jet lag. Of the 137
bacterial species associated with sleep, 35.6% are validated in
an independent cohort. Mediation analyses indicate that, while
changes in species abundance are largely a consequence of sleep
behavior, certain species may mediate diet's influence on sleep.
For example, we find that Clostridia species UC5_1_1E11 and
SGB14844 mediate the effect of coffee intake on social jet lag.
These findings highlight the intricate relationship between
diet, the gut microbiome, and sleep, suggesting the potential
for microbiome-targeted interventions to improve sleep health. |
Gacem, Nadjet; Bezukladova, Svetlana; Windener, Farina; Karam, Tala; Ottoboni, Linda; Brambilla, Elena; Ruffini, Francesca; Soman, Karthik; Garcia-Diaz, Beatriz; Levy, Marion J F; Cui, Qiao-Ling; Formato, Alessia; Deboux, Cyrille; Chazot, Jeremy; Panic, Radmila; Albrecht, Stefanie; Yilmaz, Elif Nur; González, Raquel Guerrero; Eberini, Ivano; Olla, Stefania; Bresciani, Alberto; Goebels, Norbert; Zipp, Frauke; Agresti, Cristina; Antel, Jack; Evercooren, Anne Baron-Van; Kuhlmann, Tanja; Baranzini, Sergio E; Panina-Bordignon, Paola; Nait-Oumesmar, Brahim; Martino, Gianvito: In silico screening and preclinical validation identify bavisant
as a therapeutic candidate for multiple sclerosis. In: Sci. Transl. Med., vol. 18, no. 833, pp. eads0633, 2026. @article{Gacem2026-sl,
title = {In silico screening and preclinical validation identify bavisant
as a therapeutic candidate for multiple sclerosis},
author = {Nadjet Gacem and Svetlana Bezukladova and Farina Windener and Tala Karam and Linda Ottoboni and Elena Brambilla and Francesca Ruffini and Karthik Soman and Beatriz Garcia-Diaz and Marion J F Levy and Qiao-Ling Cui and Alessia Formato and Cyrille Deboux and Jeremy Chazot and Radmila Panic and Stefanie Albrecht and Elif Nur Yilmaz and Raquel Guerrero González and Ivano Eberini and Stefania Olla and Alberto Bresciani and Norbert Goebels and Frauke Zipp and Cristina Agresti and Jack Antel and Anne Baron-Van Evercooren and Tanja Kuhlmann and Sergio E Baranzini and Paola Panina-Bordignon and Brahim Nait-Oumesmar and Gianvito Martino},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Sci. Transl. Med.},
volume = {18},
number = {833},
pages = {eads0633},
abstract = {Current treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) are insufficient
to delay the neurodegenerative process that is the main cause of
disability progression in patients with MS. Therapeutics aimed at
supporting myelin regeneration and neuroprotection are thus a
major unmet medical need for the progressive forms of MS. To
address this, we developed a strategy combining in silico
screening of more than 1500 repurposed compounds with a
validation pipeline of models, encompassing rodent and human in
vitro assays as well as mouse models of
demyelination/remyelination. From the initial library, 273 drugs
were prioritized in silico on the basis of the predicted effects
on myelination and neuroprotection, and among them, 160 were
potentially nontoxic. We identified 32 molecules that exerted a
promyelinating and a neuroprotective action on rodent and human
oligodendroglia and neurons. Our data identified classes of
compounds with potentially distinct mechanisms of action that may
foster remyelination and neuroprotection. The therapeutic
activity of one selected drug, the histamine receptor H3
antagonist bavisant, was further validated in mouse models of
demyelination and axonal injury reproducing some key pathological
features occurring in MS. Our in vivo studies demonstrated that
bavisant promoted remyelination and neuroprotection when
administered to LPC-treated, cuprizone-fed, or MOG-induced EAE
mice, as well as in a human oligodendroglia chimeric mouse model
of demyelination/remyelination. These findings provide
proof-of-concept validation for bavisant as a candidate for
neuroprotective clinical trials in MS.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Current treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) are insufficient
to delay the neurodegenerative process that is the main cause of
disability progression in patients with MS. Therapeutics aimed at
supporting myelin regeneration and neuroprotection are thus a
major unmet medical need for the progressive forms of MS. To
address this, we developed a strategy combining in silico
screening of more than 1500 repurposed compounds with a
validation pipeline of models, encompassing rodent and human in
vitro assays as well as mouse models of
demyelination/remyelination. From the initial library, 273 drugs
were prioritized in silico on the basis of the predicted effects
on myelination and neuroprotection, and among them, 160 were
potentially nontoxic. We identified 32 molecules that exerted a
promyelinating and a neuroprotective action on rodent and human
oligodendroglia and neurons. Our data identified classes of
compounds with potentially distinct mechanisms of action that may
foster remyelination and neuroprotection. The therapeutic
activity of one selected drug, the histamine receptor H3
antagonist bavisant, was further validated in mouse models of
demyelination and axonal injury reproducing some key pathological
features occurring in MS. Our in vivo studies demonstrated that
bavisant promoted remyelination and neuroprotection when
administered to LPC-treated, cuprizone-fed, or MOG-induced EAE
mice, as well as in a human oligodendroglia chimeric mouse model
of demyelination/remyelination. These findings provide
proof-of-concept validation for bavisant as a candidate for
neuroprotective clinical trials in MS. |
Ferrando, Maria Laura; Busonero, Fabio; Crobu, Francesca; Sanna, Serena: Aging in women - The microbiome perspective. In: Ägeing Res. Rev., vol. 113, no. 102950, pp. 102950, 2026. @article{Ferrando2026-fp,
title = {Aging in women - The microbiome perspective},
author = {Maria Laura Ferrando and Fabio Busonero and Francesca Crobu and Serena Sanna},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-01-01},
urldate = {2026-01-01},
journal = {Ägeing Res. Rev.},
volume = {113},
number = {102950},
pages = {102950},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Menopause is a hallmark of women's aging and is frequently
portrayed as a medical issue. It also encompasses social and
biological aspects often neglected and not well-understood,
leaving women with insufficient support and attention. With the
decline in estrogen levels, starting years before menopause is
fully established, women experience various physical symptoms,
and the risk of many age-related diseases increases sharply soon
after these hormonal changes occur. Notably, these hormonal
shifts also significantly impact the vaginal and gut
microbiomes, contributing to dysbiosis and influencing the onset
and progression of several diseases. Here, we examined the
complex and dynamic relationship among aging, menopause, and
microbiome changes with a particular focus on the vaginal and
gut ecosystems. Emerging research highlights diet as a potential
modulator for maintaining microbiome health during menopause. A
deeper understanding of microbiome changes across life stages
suggests the potential for microbiome-targeted strategies to
support well-aging in women.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Menopause is a hallmark of women's aging and is frequently
portrayed as a medical issue. It also encompasses social and
biological aspects often neglected and not well-understood,
leaving women with insufficient support and attention. With the
decline in estrogen levels, starting years before menopause is
fully established, women experience various physical symptoms,
and the risk of many age-related diseases increases sharply soon
after these hormonal changes occur. Notably, these hormonal
shifts also significantly impact the vaginal and gut
microbiomes, contributing to dysbiosis and influencing the onset
and progression of several diseases. Here, we examined the
complex and dynamic relationship among aging, menopause, and
microbiome changes with a particular focus on the vaginal and
gut ecosystems. Emerging research highlights diet as a potential
modulator for maintaining microbiome health during menopause. A
deeper understanding of microbiome changes across life stages
suggests the potential for microbiome-targeted strategies to
support well-aging in women. |
2025
|
Ölla, Stefania; Colombarolli, Stella Garcia; Siguri, Chiara; Murrau, Davide; Vitali, Alberto": Phage display selection and in silico characterization of
peptides as potential GroEL modulators. In: Pharmaceutics, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 46, 2025. @article{Olla2025-lv,
title = {Phage display selection and in silico characterization of
peptides as potential GroEL modulators},
author = {Stefania Ölla and Stella Garcia Colombarolli and Chiara Siguri and Davide Murrau and Alberto" Vitali},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-12-01},
journal = {Pharmaceutics},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {46},
publisher = {MDPI AG},
abstract = {Background/Objectives. Antibiotic resistance is an escalating
global health concern, highlighting the need for innovative
antibacterial strategies beyond traditional drugs. GroEL, a
highly conserved bacterial chaperonin essential for protein
folding and stress tolerance, represents a promising but
underexplored therapeutic target. This study aimed to identify
short peptides capable of binding GroEL monomers and potentially
altering their function, with the long-term goal of disrupting
bacterial survival mechanisms. Methods. A phage display
screening of a 12-mer peptide library was performed against
purified GroEL monomers, yielding five candidate peptides
(G1-G5). Their interactions with GroEL were analyzed through
molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations using
three-dimensional GroEL structures (1MNF, 1XCK, 8S32). Stability
of binding and interaction profiles were assessed through
molecular dynamics-based analyses and MM/GBSA free energy
calculations. Results. Peptides G4 and G5 displayed the most
stable and energetically favorable interactions, with G4-8S32
showing the strongest binding (-116.68 kcal/mol). These peptides
localized near inter-subunit interfaces, suggesting potential
interference with GroEL oligomerization or allosteric
transitions, which are critical for its biological function.
Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate that short peptides can
stably bind GroEL and potentially modulate its activity.
Peptides G4 and G5 represent at our knowledge the first
promising scaffolds for developing a novel class of
peptide-based antibacterial agents targeting conserved
chaperonin systems. This work introduces a new avenue that
warrants further experimental validation.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background/Objectives. Antibiotic resistance is an escalating
global health concern, highlighting the need for innovative
antibacterial strategies beyond traditional drugs. GroEL, a
highly conserved bacterial chaperonin essential for protein
folding and stress tolerance, represents a promising but
underexplored therapeutic target. This study aimed to identify
short peptides capable of binding GroEL monomers and potentially
altering their function, with the long-term goal of disrupting
bacterial survival mechanisms. Methods. A phage display
screening of a 12-mer peptide library was performed against
purified GroEL monomers, yielding five candidate peptides
(G1-G5). Their interactions with GroEL were analyzed through
molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations using
three-dimensional GroEL structures (1MNF, 1XCK, 8S32). Stability
of binding and interaction profiles were assessed through
molecular dynamics-based analyses and MM/GBSA free energy
calculations. Results. Peptides G4 and G5 displayed the most
stable and energetically favorable interactions, with G4-8S32
showing the strongest binding (-116.68 kcal/mol). These peptides
localized near inter-subunit interfaces, suggesting potential
interference with GroEL oligomerization or allosteric
transitions, which are critical for its biological function.
Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate that short peptides can
stably bind GroEL and potentially modulate its activity.
Peptides G4 and G5 represent at our knowledge the first
promising scaffolds for developing a novel class of
peptide-based antibacterial agents targeting conserved
chaperonin systems. This work introduces a new avenue that
warrants further experimental validation. |
Ölla, Stefania; Idda, Maria Laura; Deiana, Manila; Lodde, Valeria; Delogu, Giuseppe; Caria, Antonio Cristian; Floris, Matteo; Cucca, Francesco": Substituted 2-pyrrolinone compounds as inhibitors of B-cell
activating factor (BAFF) for autoimmune diseases treatment. In: Life Sci., vol. 380, no. 123938, pp. 123938, 2025. @article{Olla2025-or,
title = {Substituted 2-pyrrolinone compounds as inhibitors of B-cell
activating factor (BAFF) for autoimmune diseases treatment},
author = {Stefania Ölla and Maria Laura Idda and Manila Deiana and Valeria Lodde and Giuseppe Delogu and Antonio Cristian Caria and Matteo Floris and Francesco" Cucca},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-11-01},
journal = {Life Sci.},
volume = {380},
number = {123938},
pages = {123938},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a cytokine that plays a
critical role in the proliferation and differentiation of B
cells. We have previously demonstrated that its inherited
overexpression is associated with increased circulating B cell
and immunoglobulin levels, correlating with increased risk of
multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. These
findings suggest that enhanced BAFF expression may be involved
in the causal biology of these disorders, thus supporting the
rationale for therapeutic inhibition of this cytokine. However,
to date, no small-molecule modulator capable of inhibiting BAFF
is available. We therefore employed a virtual screening approach
to analyze a library of 275,561 small molecules, followed by in
vitro validation of 218 selected compounds with potential to
disrupt the interaction between BAFF and its receptor BAFFR. Our
results identified two promising small molecules, C45 and C145,
belonging to the substituted 2-pyrrolinone family, which
effectively inhibited BAFF activity. These compounds warrant
further investigation as potential therapeutic agents for
BAFF-driven autoimmune diseases.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a cytokine that plays a
critical role in the proliferation and differentiation of B
cells. We have previously demonstrated that its inherited
overexpression is associated with increased circulating B cell
and immunoglobulin levels, correlating with increased risk of
multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. These
findings suggest that enhanced BAFF expression may be involved
in the causal biology of these disorders, thus supporting the
rationale for therapeutic inhibition of this cytokine. However,
to date, no small-molecule modulator capable of inhibiting BAFF
is available. We therefore employed a virtual screening approach
to analyze a library of 275,561 small molecules, followed by in
vitro validation of 218 selected compounds with potential to
disrupt the interaction between BAFF and its receptor BAFFR. Our
results identified two promising small molecules, C45 and C145,
belonging to the substituted 2-pyrrolinone family, which
effectively inhibited BAFF activity. These compounds warrant
further investigation as potential therapeutic agents for
BAFF-driven autoimmune diseases. |
Vinerbi, E; Chillotti, F; Maschio, A; Lenarduzzi, S; Camarda, S; Crobu, F; Zhernakova, D V; Faro, V Lo; Vriz, G Beltrame; Incollu, S; Spreckels, J; Kuzub, N; Kadric, A; Gacesa, R; Zhernakova, A; Seta, F De; Mazz`a, D; Busonero, F; Ferrando, M L; Girotto, G; Sanna, S: Lactobacillus iners dominates the vaginal microbiota of healthy
Italian women of reproductive age. In: mSystems, no. e00983-25, pp. e0098325, 2025. @article{Vinerbi2025-yc,
title = {Lactobacillus iners dominates the vaginal microbiota of healthy
Italian women of reproductive age},
author = {E Vinerbi and F Chillotti and A Maschio and S Lenarduzzi and S Camarda and F Crobu and D V Zhernakova and V Lo Faro and G Beltrame Vriz and S Incollu and J Spreckels and N Kuzub and A Kadric and R Gacesa and A Zhernakova and F De Seta and D Mazz`a and F Busonero and M L Ferrando and G Girotto and S Sanna},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-11-01},
journal = {mSystems},
number = {e00983-25},
pages = {e0098325},
publisher = {Ämerican Society for Microbiology"},
abstract = {Large sex hormonal fluctuations are thought to influence vaginal
microbiota, but little is known about the impact of small,
physiological variations. Here, we tracked changes in vaginal
microbiota during four key menstrual cycle phases in 61 healthy,
naturally menstruating Italian women from the Women4Health
cohort. The microbiota, characterized using a high-depth 16S
rRNA amplicon sequencing approach covering four hypervariable
regions, was primarily composed of Lactobacillus species, with
Lactobacillus iners being the most abundant (average relative
abundance: 40%) and the most prevalent (prevalence: 98%).
Individual microbiota were generally stable, but beta diversity was higher during the follicular phase (P = 0.007). Only 11
women exhibited compositional shifts, mostly occurring between
the follicular and ovulatory phases. Finally, using linear mixed
models, we assessed the association between taxa relative
abundance and five sex hormones along the menstrual cycle. Among
these, 17-beta estradiol showed the largest number of
significant associations, linking its increase to a decrease in
the relative abundance of taxa that are more common after
menopause. Our study highlights specific features of the Italian
population and points to the resilience of the vaginal
microbiota to physiological hormonal changes. Noteworthy, the
observed high abundance of L. iners contrasts with previous
studies in European populations, challenging its proposed
pathogenic role and suggesting distinct microbiota profiles
within Europe.IMPORTANCEThe vaginal microbiota plays an
important role in women's health, yet we know little about how
it responds to normal hormonal fluctuations. In this study, we
followed 61 healthy Italian women over a natural menstrual cycle
to explore microbiota changes across different hormonal phases.
We found that Lactobacillus iners was the most common species,
unlike previous findings in Northern Europe, suggesting
population-specific patterns. The common hypothesis that L.
iners is invariably linked with poor health is called into
question by our findings. They emphasize the importance of
considering population context and hormonal status when
assessing vaginal health. The vaginal microbiota was generally
stable, with only a few changes observed between the follicular
and ovulatory phases. When evaluating the association between
five sex hormones and taxa abundances, we found that 17-beta
estradiol levels had the largest number of significant
associations. These highlight an association between increased
levels of 17-beta estradiol and increased relative abundance of
rare bacterial taxa rather than dominant species like
Lactobacillus. Our findings help define what constitutes a
``healthy microbiota'' in generally healthy Italian women of
reproductive age and may inform future strategies for diagnosing
or preventing women's health conditions.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Large sex hormonal fluctuations are thought to influence vaginal
microbiota, but little is known about the impact of small,
physiological variations. Here, we tracked changes in vaginal
microbiota during four key menstrual cycle phases in 61 healthy,
naturally menstruating Italian women from the Women4Health
cohort. The microbiota, characterized using a high-depth 16S
rRNA amplicon sequencing approach covering four hypervariable
regions, was primarily composed of Lactobacillus species, with
Lactobacillus iners being the most abundant (average relative
abundance: 40%) and the most prevalent (prevalence: 98%).
Individual microbiota were generally stable, but beta diversity was higher during the follicular phase (P = 0.007). Only 11
women exhibited compositional shifts, mostly occurring between
the follicular and ovulatory phases. Finally, using linear mixed
models, we assessed the association between taxa relative
abundance and five sex hormones along the menstrual cycle. Among
these, 17-beta estradiol showed the largest number of
significant associations, linking its increase to a decrease in
the relative abundance of taxa that are more common after
menopause. Our study highlights specific features of the Italian
population and points to the resilience of the vaginal
microbiota to physiological hormonal changes. Noteworthy, the
observed high abundance of L. iners contrasts with previous
studies in European populations, challenging its proposed
pathogenic role and suggesting distinct microbiota profiles
within Europe.IMPORTANCEThe vaginal microbiota plays an
important role in women's health, yet we know little about how
it responds to normal hormonal fluctuations. In this study, we
followed 61 healthy Italian women over a natural menstrual cycle
to explore microbiota changes across different hormonal phases.
We found that Lactobacillus iners was the most common species,
unlike previous findings in Northern Europe, suggesting
population-specific patterns. The common hypothesis that L.
iners is invariably linked with poor health is called into
question by our findings. They emphasize the importance of
considering population context and hormonal status when
assessing vaginal health. The vaginal microbiota was generally
stable, with only a few changes observed between the follicular
and ovulatory phases. When evaluating the association between
five sex hormones and taxa abundances, we found that 17-beta
estradiol levels had the largest number of significant
associations. These highlight an association between increased
levels of 17-beta estradiol and increased relative abundance of
rare bacterial taxa rather than dominant species like
Lactobacillus. Our findings help define what constitutes a
``healthy microbiota'' in generally healthy Italian women of
reproductive age and may inform future strategies for diagnosing
or preventing women's health conditions. |
Mingoia, Maura; Meloni, Alessandra; Sedda, Silvia; Choufani, Sanaa; Asunis, Isadora; Gemma, Giorgia; Ammendola, Antonio; Torabi-Marashi, Arteen; Venere, Eleonora; Squeo, Gabriella Maria; Rallo, Vincenzo; Marini, Maria Giuseppina; Moi, Paolo; Savasta, Salvatore; Weksberg, Rosanna; Merla, Giuseppe; Angius, Andrea: A novel intronic variant in the KH3 domain of HNRNPK leads to a mild form of Au-Kline syndrome. In: Clin. Genet., vol. 108, no. 5, pp. 576–581, 2025. @article{Mingoia2025-rn,
title = {A novel intronic variant in the KH3 domain of HNRNPK leads to a mild form of Au-Kline syndrome},
author = {Maura Mingoia and Alessandra Meloni and Silvia Sedda and Sanaa Choufani and Isadora Asunis and Giorgia Gemma and Antonio Ammendola and Arteen Torabi-Marashi and Eleonora Venere and Gabriella Maria Squeo and Vincenzo Rallo and Maria Giuseppina Marini and Paolo Moi and Salvatore Savasta and Rosanna Weksberg and Giuseppe Merla and Andrea Angius},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-11-01},
urldate = {2025-11-01},
journal = {Clin. Genet.},
volume = {108},
number = {5},
pages = {576--581},
publisher = {Wiley},
abstract = {Despite the massive adoption of sequencing technologies,
disease-specific diagnosis remains challenging, particularly for
genes with highly homologous pseudogenes like HNRNPK. Pathogenic
HNRNPK variants cause Au-Kline syndrome (AKS), a
neurodevelopmental disorder with malformations and distinctive
facial features. We validated a novel de novo HNRNPK intronic
variant (c.1192-3 C>A, p.Leu398ValfsTer21) in a patient
previously misdiagnosed with Kabuki Syndrome (KS). By combining
sequencing, in vitro splicing assays, molecular modelling, and
protein function analysis, we characterised the molecular
defect. A unique DNA methylation (DNAm) signature was recently
identified in AKS, with missense variants showing an
intermediate DNAm pattern, suggesting an epi-genotype-phenotype
correlation linked to milder clinical features. The DNAm
signature is a valuable tool for variant interpretation,
especially in unclear AKS cases. We demonstrate that two
independent approaches-functional characterisation and DNAm
evaluation-confirmed a partial loss of HNRNPK function and
validated an AKS diagnosis with a mild phenotype. Our findings
highlight that a multidisciplinary approach integrating genomic
and epigenomic analyses with functional studies and clinical
assessment significantly improves rare disease diagnosis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Despite the massive adoption of sequencing technologies,
disease-specific diagnosis remains challenging, particularly for
genes with highly homologous pseudogenes like HNRNPK. Pathogenic
HNRNPK variants cause Au-Kline syndrome (AKS), a
neurodevelopmental disorder with malformations and distinctive
facial features. We validated a novel de novo HNRNPK intronic
variant (c.1192-3 C>A, p.Leu398ValfsTer21) in a patient
previously misdiagnosed with Kabuki Syndrome (KS). By combining
sequencing, in vitro splicing assays, molecular modelling, and
protein function analysis, we characterised the molecular
defect. A unique DNA methylation (DNAm) signature was recently
identified in AKS, with missense variants showing an
intermediate DNAm pattern, suggesting an epi-genotype-phenotype
correlation linked to milder clinical features. The DNAm
signature is a valuable tool for variant interpretation,
especially in unclear AKS cases. We demonstrate that two
independent approaches-functional characterisation and DNAm
evaluation-confirmed a partial loss of HNRNPK function and
validated an AKS diagnosis with a mild phenotype. Our findings
highlight that a multidisciplinary approach integrating genomic
and epigenomic analyses with functional studies and clinical
assessment significantly improves rare disease diagnosis. |
Colombino, Maria; Palomba, Grazia; Casula, Milena; Pisano, Marina; Tore, Silvia; Serra, Riccardo; Putzu, Carlo; Fadda, Giovanni Maria; Maestrale, Giovanni Battista; Casula, Stefania; Paliogiannis, Panagiotis; Cossu, Antonio; Palmieri, Giuseppe: KRAS mutations in non-small cell lung cancer: Translational aspects, current therapies and challenges for future research. In: Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, vol. 215, 2025, ISSN: 1040-8428. @article{Colombino2025,
title = {KRAS mutations in non-small cell lung cancer: Translational aspects, current therapies and challenges for future research},
author = {Maria Colombino and Grazia Palomba and Milena Casula and Marina Pisano and Silvia Tore and Riccardo Serra and Carlo Putzu and Giovanni Maria Fadda and Giovanni Battista Maestrale and Stefania Casula and Panagiotis Paliogiannis and Antonio Cossu and Giuseppe Palmieri},
doi = {10.1016/j.critrevonc.2025.104925},
issn = {1040-8428},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-11-00},
journal = {Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology},
volume = {215},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
|
Marelli, Giulia; Morina, Nicolò; Puccio, Simone; Iovino, Marta; Pandini, Marta; Portale, Federica; Carvetta, Mattia; Mishra, Divya; Diana, Elisabetta; Meregalli, Greta; Paraboschi, Elvezia; Cibella, Javier; Peano, Clelia; Basso, Gianluca; Simone, Gabriele De; Camisaschi, Chiara; Magrini, Elena; Sartori, Giulio; Karimi, Elham; Colombo, Piergiuseppe; Lazzeri, Massimo; Casale, Paolo; Morosi, Lavinia; Martano, Giuseppe; Asselta, Rosanna; Bonavita, Eduardo; Matsunami, Hiro; Bertoni, Francesco; Walsh, Logan; Lugli, Enrico; Mitri, Diletta Di: Chemosensor receptors are lipid-detecting regulators of macrophage function in cancer. In: Nat Immunol, vol. 26, no. 7, pp. 1182–1197, 2025, ISSN: 1529-2916. @article{pmid40588561,
title = {Chemosensor receptors are lipid-detecting regulators of macrophage function in cancer},
author = {Giulia Marelli and Nicolò Morina and Simone Puccio and Marta Iovino and Marta Pandini and Federica Portale and Mattia Carvetta and Divya Mishra and Elisabetta Diana and Greta Meregalli and Elvezia Paraboschi and Javier Cibella and Clelia Peano and Gianluca Basso and Gabriele De Simone and Chiara Camisaschi and Elena Magrini and Giulio Sartori and Elham Karimi and Piergiuseppe Colombo and Massimo Lazzeri and Paolo Casale and Lavinia Morosi and Giuseppe Martano and Rosanna Asselta and Eduardo Bonavita and Hiro Matsunami and Francesco Bertoni and Logan Walsh and Enrico Lugli and Diletta Di Mitri},
doi = {10.1038/s41590-025-02191-x},
issn = {1529-2916},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Nat Immunol},
volume = {26},
number = {7},
pages = {1182--1197},
abstract = {Infiltration of macrophages into tumors is a hallmark of cancer progression, and re-educating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) toward an antitumor status is a promising immunotherapy strategy. However, the mechanisms through which cancer cells affect macrophage education are unclear, limiting the therapeutic potential of this approach. Here we conducted an unbiased genome-wide CRISPR screen of primary macrophages. Our study confirms the function of known regulators in TAM responses and reveals new insights into the behavior of these cells. We identify olfactory and vomeronasal receptors, or chemosensors, as important drivers of a tumor-supportive macrophage phenotype across multiple cancers. In vivo deletion of selected chemosensors in TAMs resulted in cancer regression and increased infiltration of tumor-reactive CD8 T cells. In human prostate cancer tissues, palmitic acid bound to olfactory receptor 51E2 (OR51E2) expressed by TAMs, enhancing their protumor phenotype. Spatial lipidomics analysis further confirmed the presence of palmitic acid in close proximity to TAMs in prostate cancer, supporting the function of this lipid mediator in the tumor microenvironment. Overall, these data implicate chemosensors in macrophage sensing of the lipid-enriched milieu and highlight these receptors as possible therapeutic targets for enhancing antitumor immunity.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Infiltration of macrophages into tumors is a hallmark of cancer progression, and re-educating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) toward an antitumor status is a promising immunotherapy strategy. However, the mechanisms through which cancer cells affect macrophage education are unclear, limiting the therapeutic potential of this approach. Here we conducted an unbiased genome-wide CRISPR screen of primary macrophages. Our study confirms the function of known regulators in TAM responses and reveals new insights into the behavior of these cells. We identify olfactory and vomeronasal receptors, or chemosensors, as important drivers of a tumor-supportive macrophage phenotype across multiple cancers. In vivo deletion of selected chemosensors in TAMs resulted in cancer regression and increased infiltration of tumor-reactive CD8 T cells. In human prostate cancer tissues, palmitic acid bound to olfactory receptor 51E2 (OR51E2) expressed by TAMs, enhancing their protumor phenotype. Spatial lipidomics analysis further confirmed the presence of palmitic acid in close proximity to TAMs in prostate cancer, supporting the function of this lipid mediator in the tumor microenvironment. Overall, these data implicate chemosensors in macrophage sensing of the lipid-enriched milieu and highlight these receptors as possible therapeutic targets for enhancing antitumor immunity. |
Cacciola, Anna; DÁngelo, Valeria; Gaetano, Federica De; Fais, Antonella; German`o, Maria Paola; Masala, Valentina; Olla, Stefania; Pistar`a, Venerando; Stancanelli, Rosanna; Tuberoso, Carlo Ignazio Giovanni; Ventura, Cinzia Anna: The Anti-Angiogenic Effect of Cynara cardunculus L. subsp.
cardunculus Waste Product. In: Foods, vol. 14, no. 15, pp. 2656, 2025. @article{Cacciola2025-ix,
title = {The Anti-Angiogenic Effect of Cynara cardunculus L. subsp.
cardunculus Waste Product},
author = {Anna Cacciola and Valeria DÁngelo and Federica De Gaetano and Antonella Fais and Maria Paola German`o and Valentina Masala and Stefania Olla and Venerando Pistar`a and Rosanna Stancanelli and Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso and Cinzia Anna Ventura},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-07-01},
journal = {Foods},
volume = {14},
number = {15},
pages = {2656},
publisher = {MDPI AG},
abstract = {Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. cardunculus (Cynara cardunculus L.
var. sylvestris (Lam.) Fiori), the wild cardoon, is known for
its culinary applications and potential health benefits. Due to
this, and given the growing interest in circular economies,
deepening our under-standing of the effects of wild cardoon leaf
waste on angiogenesis and collagenase activity represents a
valuable opportunity to valorise agricultural byproducts as
health-promoting ingredients. In this study, the waste product
of wild cardoon leaves was extracted to examine its chemical
composition and biological activities. Analytical techniques
identified several bioactive compounds, including flavonoids,
hydroxycinnamic acids such as dicaffeoyl-succinoylquinic acids,
and luteolin-7-O-rutinoside. In vivo tests in zebrafish embryos
and the chick chorioallantoic membrane demonstrated
dose-dependent antiangiogenic effects, particularly enhanced by
the complexation with hydroxypropyl-$beta$-cyclodextrin
(HP-$beta$-CD). Considering the link between angiogenesis and
collagenase, the potential effects of the extract on collagenase
activity was investigated. The extract alone inhibited
collagenase with an IC50 value comparable to that of the
standard inhibitor while its complexed form exhibited a 4.5-fold
greater inhibitory activity. A molecular docking study examined
the interaction between the main compounds and collagenase. In
conclusion, wild cardoon leaves can represent a valuable source
of bioactive compounds. This study demonstrated that the
complexation of the extract with cyclodextrin determines an
increase in its biological activity.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. cardunculus (Cynara cardunculus L.
var. sylvestris (Lam.) Fiori), the wild cardoon, is known for
its culinary applications and potential health benefits. Due to
this, and given the growing interest in circular economies,
deepening our under-standing of the effects of wild cardoon leaf
waste on angiogenesis and collagenase activity represents a
valuable opportunity to valorise agricultural byproducts as
health-promoting ingredients. In this study, the waste product
of wild cardoon leaves was extracted to examine its chemical
composition and biological activities. Analytical techniques
identified several bioactive compounds, including flavonoids,
hydroxycinnamic acids such as dicaffeoyl-succinoylquinic acids,
and luteolin-7-O-rutinoside. In vivo tests in zebrafish embryos
and the chick chorioallantoic membrane demonstrated
dose-dependent antiangiogenic effects, particularly enhanced by
the complexation with hydroxypropyl-$beta$-cyclodextrin
(HP-$beta$-CD). Considering the link between angiogenesis and
collagenase, the potential effects of the extract on collagenase
activity was investigated. The extract alone inhibited
collagenase with an IC50 value comparable to that of the
standard inhibitor while its complexed form exhibited a 4.5-fold
greater inhibitory activity. A molecular docking study examined
the interaction between the main compounds and collagenase. In
conclusion, wild cardoon leaves can represent a valuable source
of bioactive compounds. This study demonstrated that the
complexation of the extract with cyclodextrin determines an
increase in its biological activity. |
Yang, Jie; Yamashita-Kanemaru, Yumi; Morris, Benjamin I; Contursi, Annalisa; Trajkovski, Daniel; Xu, Jingru; Patrascan, Ilinca; Benson, Jayme; Evans, Alexander C; Conti, Alberto G; Al-Deka, Aws; Dahmani, Layla; Avdic-Belltheus, Adnan; Zhang, Baojie; Okkenhaug, Hanneke; Whiteside, Sarah K; Imianowski, Charlotte J; Wesolowski, Alexander J; Webb, Louise V; Puccio, Simone; Tacconelli, Stefania; Bruno, Annalisa; Berardino, Sara Di; Michele, Alessandra De; Welch, Heidi C E; Yu, I-Shing; Lin, Shu-Wha; Mitra, Suman; Lugli, Enrico; van der Weyden, Louise; Okkenhaug, Klaus; Saeb-Parsy, Kourosh; Patrignani, Paola; Adams, David J; Roychoudhuri, Rahul: Aspirin prevents metastasis by limiting platelet TXA suppression of T cell immunity. In: Nature, vol. 640, no. 8060, pp. 1052–1061, 2025, ISSN: 1476-4687. @article{pmid40044852,
title = {Aspirin prevents metastasis by limiting platelet TXA suppression of T cell immunity},
author = {Jie Yang and Yumi Yamashita-Kanemaru and Benjamin I Morris and Annalisa Contursi and Daniel Trajkovski and Jingru Xu and Ilinca Patrascan and Jayme Benson and Alexander C Evans and Alberto G Conti and Aws Al-Deka and Layla Dahmani and Adnan Avdic-Belltheus and Baojie Zhang and Hanneke Okkenhaug and Sarah K Whiteside and Charlotte J Imianowski and Alexander J Wesolowski and Louise V Webb and Simone Puccio and Stefania Tacconelli and Annalisa Bruno and Sara Di Berardino and Alessandra De Michele and Heidi C E Welch and I-Shing Yu and Shu-Wha Lin and Suman Mitra and Enrico Lugli and Louise van der Weyden and Klaus Okkenhaug and Kourosh Saeb-Parsy and Paola Patrignani and David J Adams and Rahul Roychoudhuri},
doi = {10.1038/s41586-025-08626-7},
issn = {1476-4687},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {640},
number = {8060},
pages = {1052--1061},
abstract = {Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from primary tumours to distant organs and is the cause of 90% of cancer deaths globally. Metastasizing cancer cells are uniquely vulnerable to immune attack, as they are initially deprived of the immunosuppressive microenvironment found within established tumours. There is interest in therapeutically exploiting this immune vulnerability to prevent recurrence in patients with early cancer at risk of metastasis. Here we show that inhibitors of cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), including aspirin, enhance immunity to cancer metastasis by releasing T cells from suppression by platelet-derived thromboxane A (TXA). TXA acts on T cells to trigger an immunosuppressive pathway that is dependent on the guanine exchange factor ARHGEF1, suppressing T cell receptor-driven kinase signalling, proliferation and effector functions. T cell-specific conditional deletion of Arhgef1 in mice increases T cell activation at the metastatic site, provoking immune-mediated rejection of lung and liver metastases. Consequently, restricting the availability of TXA using aspirin, selective COX-1 inhibitors or platelet-specific deletion of COX-1 reduces the rate of metastasis in a manner that is dependent on T cell-intrinsic expression of ARHGEF1 and signalling by TXA in vivo. These findings reveal a novel immunosuppressive pathway that limits T cell immunity to cancer metastasis, providing mechanistic insights into the anti-metastatic activity of aspirin and paving the way for more effective anti-metastatic immunotherapies.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from primary tumours to distant organs and is the cause of 90% of cancer deaths globally. Metastasizing cancer cells are uniquely vulnerable to immune attack, as they are initially deprived of the immunosuppressive microenvironment found within established tumours. There is interest in therapeutically exploiting this immune vulnerability to prevent recurrence in patients with early cancer at risk of metastasis. Here we show that inhibitors of cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), including aspirin, enhance immunity to cancer metastasis by releasing T cells from suppression by platelet-derived thromboxane A (TXA). TXA acts on T cells to trigger an immunosuppressive pathway that is dependent on the guanine exchange factor ARHGEF1, suppressing T cell receptor-driven kinase signalling, proliferation and effector functions. T cell-specific conditional deletion of Arhgef1 in mice increases T cell activation at the metastatic site, provoking immune-mediated rejection of lung and liver metastases. Consequently, restricting the availability of TXA using aspirin, selective COX-1 inhibitors or platelet-specific deletion of COX-1 reduces the rate of metastasis in a manner that is dependent on T cell-intrinsic expression of ARHGEF1 and signalling by TXA in vivo. These findings reveal a novel immunosuppressive pathway that limits T cell immunity to cancer metastasis, providing mechanistic insights into the anti-metastatic activity of aspirin and paving the way for more effective anti-metastatic immunotherapies. |
Simbula, Michela; Manchinu, Maria Francesca; Olla, Stefania; Congiu, Michela; Vaccargiu, Simona; Caria, Cristian Antonio; Poddie, Daniela; Ristaldi, Maria Serafina: Drugs repurposing of molecules modulating human delta globin
gene expression via a model of transgenic foetal liver cells:
Implications for beta-hemoglobinopathy therapeutics. In: Biomolecules, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 565, 2025. @article{Simbula2025-nd,
title = {Drugs repurposing of molecules modulating human delta globin
gene expression via a model of transgenic foetal liver cells:
Implications for beta-hemoglobinopathy therapeutics},
author = {Michela Simbula and Maria Francesca Manchinu and Stefania Olla and Michela Congiu and Simona Vaccargiu and Cristian Antonio Caria and Daniela Poddie and Maria Serafina Ristaldi},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {565},
publisher = {MDPI AG},
abstract = {Beta-hemoglobinopathies such as beta-thalassemia and sickle cell
disease are severe genetic blood disorders affecting the beta
globin chain of haemoglobin A ($alpha$2$beta$2). Activation of
delta globin, the non-alpha globin of HbA2 ($alpha$2$delta$2),
could represent a possible approach to improve the clinical
severity of these pathologies. Notably, the therapeutic
potential of delta globin has been demonstrated in previous
studies using a mouse model of beta-thalassemia and sickle cell
disease. The present study evaluated delta globin gene
activation by small molecules in erythroid cells isolated from
transgenic murine foetal liver. A screening of 119 molecules,
selected for their potential in drug repurposing, was performed
without prior selection based on specific pathways of interest.
Three candidates-Nexturastat, Stattic and Palbociclib-were found
to have high efficacy on delta globin expression. Palbociclib
also proved effective in increasing gamma globin expression. All
of these compounds have pharmacokinetic profiles that are
beneficial for clinical application, providing potential inducer
agents of HbA2 that could have therapeutic effects in the
treatment of beta-hemoglobinopathies.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Beta-hemoglobinopathies such as beta-thalassemia and sickle cell
disease are severe genetic blood disorders affecting the beta
globin chain of haemoglobin A ($alpha$2$beta$2). Activation of
delta globin, the non-alpha globin of HbA2 ($alpha$2$delta$2),
could represent a possible approach to improve the clinical
severity of these pathologies. Notably, the therapeutic
potential of delta globin has been demonstrated in previous
studies using a mouse model of beta-thalassemia and sickle cell
disease. The present study evaluated delta globin gene
activation by small molecules in erythroid cells isolated from
transgenic murine foetal liver. A screening of 119 molecules,
selected for their potential in drug repurposing, was performed
without prior selection based on specific pathways of interest.
Three candidates-Nexturastat, Stattic and Palbociclib-were found
to have high efficacy on delta globin expression. Palbociclib
also proved effective in increasing gamma globin expression. All
of these compounds have pharmacokinetic profiles that are
beneficial for clinical application, providing potential inducer
agents of HbA2 that could have therapeutic effects in the
treatment of beta-hemoglobinopathies. |
Sanna, Daniele; Fadda, Angela; Casula, Milena; Palomba, Grazia; Sini, Maria Cristina; Colombino, Maria; Rozzo, Carla; Palmieri, Giuseppe; Gallo, Carmela; Carbone, Dalila; Siracusa, Laura; Pulvirenti, Luana; Ugone, Valeria: Antidiabetic potential of vanadium complexes combined with olive leaf extracts: a viable approach to reduce metal toxicity. In: Biometals, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 683–698, 2025, ISSN: 1572-8773. @article{Sanna2025,
title = {Antidiabetic potential of vanadium complexes combined with olive leaf extracts: a viable approach to reduce metal toxicity},
author = {Daniele Sanna and Angela Fadda and Milena Casula and Grazia Palomba and Maria Cristina Sini and Maria Colombino and Carla Rozzo and Giuseppe Palmieri and Carmela Gallo and Dalila Carbone and Laura Siracusa and Luana Pulvirenti and Valeria Ugone},
doi = {10.1007/s10534-025-00673-x},
issn = {1572-8773},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-00},
journal = {Biometals},
volume = {38},
number = {2},
pages = {683--698},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Abstract
Vanadium compounds are known for their antidiabetic properties due to their ability to interfere with numerous mechanisms that lead to the decrease of blood glucose levels. Although some of these compounds have reached clinical trials and have the advantage of being orally administrable, no vanadium-containing drugs are currently available on the market, primarily due to the high doses required, which can lead intestinal and renal problems in case of long-term treatments. In this study, plant extracts obtained from olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) were combined with vanadium complexes with established antidiabetic activity with the aim of reducing their metal toxicity and, at the same time, amplifying their hypoglycemic action. The extracts were characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods showing a composition rich in polyphenols and a high antioxidant activity. Formulations containing a vanadium complex (bis(maltolato)oxidovanadium(IV), BMOV, or bis(picolinato)oxidovanadium(IV), BPOV) mixed with different amount of olive leaves extract were tested in vitro to evaluate intestinal toxicity and hypoglycemic activity. The results demonstrated that the plant extracts are generally non-toxic toward human colon fibroblast in the whole range of tested concentrations and some of them are particularly effective in reducing the toxicity of the two vanadium compounds. Further in vitro tests conducted on differentiated human adipocyte cell lines revealed a significant increase in glucose uptake following treatment with the mixed formulations, compared to the effect of the individual components, indicating a synergistic effect. Immunocytochemical assays suggested that the translocation of GLUT4 transporter can be involved in the mechanism of action.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Abstract
Vanadium compounds are known for their antidiabetic properties due to their ability to interfere with numerous mechanisms that lead to the decrease of blood glucose levels. Although some of these compounds have reached clinical trials and have the advantage of being orally administrable, no vanadium-containing drugs are currently available on the market, primarily due to the high doses required, which can lead intestinal and renal problems in case of long-term treatments. In this study, plant extracts obtained from olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) were combined with vanadium complexes with established antidiabetic activity with the aim of reducing their metal toxicity and, at the same time, amplifying their hypoglycemic action. The extracts were characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods showing a composition rich in polyphenols and a high antioxidant activity. Formulations containing a vanadium complex (bis(maltolato)oxidovanadium(IV), BMOV, or bis(picolinato)oxidovanadium(IV), BPOV) mixed with different amount of olive leaves extract were tested in vitro to evaluate intestinal toxicity and hypoglycemic activity. The results demonstrated that the plant extracts are generally non-toxic toward human colon fibroblast in the whole range of tested concentrations and some of them are particularly effective in reducing the toxicity of the two vanadium compounds. Further in vitro tests conducted on differentiated human adipocyte cell lines revealed a significant increase in glucose uptake following treatment with the mixed formulations, compared to the effect of the individual components, indicating a synergistic effect. Immunocytochemical assays suggested that the translocation of GLUT4 transporter can be involved in the mechanism of action. |
Martini, Elisa; Cremonesi, Marco; Felicetta, Arianna; Serio, Simone; Puccio, Simone; Pelamatti, Erica; van Beek, Jasper J P; Papadopoulou, Vasiliki; Catalano, Chiara; Fanuele, Francesca; Giuliano, Desirée; Basso, Gianluca; Bonfiglio, Cecilia Assunta; Panico, Cristina; Vacchiano, Marco; Carullo, Pierluigi; Papa, Laura; D'Andrea, Carla; Tuzger, Naz; Marchini, Sergio; Magistroni, Paola; Deaglio, Silvia; Amoroso, Antonio; Lugli, Enrico; Condorelli, Gianluigi; Kallikourdis, Marinos: Autoimmune-Like Mechanism in Heart Failure Enables Preventive Vaccine Therapy. In: Circ Res, vol. 136, no. 1, pp. 4–25, 2025, ISSN: 1524-4571. @article{pmid39629560,
title = {Autoimmune-Like Mechanism in Heart Failure Enables Preventive Vaccine Therapy},
author = {Elisa Martini and Marco Cremonesi and Arianna Felicetta and Simone Serio and Simone Puccio and Erica Pelamatti and Jasper J P van Beek and Vasiliki Papadopoulou and Chiara Catalano and Francesca Fanuele and Desirée Giuliano and Gianluca Basso and Cecilia Assunta Bonfiglio and Cristina Panico and Marco Vacchiano and Pierluigi Carullo and Laura Papa and Carla D'Andrea and Naz Tuzger and Sergio Marchini and Paola Magistroni and Silvia Deaglio and Antonio Amoroso and Enrico Lugli and Gianluigi Condorelli and Marinos Kallikourdis},
doi = {10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.324999},
issn = {1524-4571},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
journal = {Circ Res},
volume = {136},
number = {1},
pages = {4--25},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is strongly associated with inflammation. In pressure overload (PO)-induced HF, cardiac stress triggers adaptive immunity, ablation or inhibition of which blocks disease progression. We hypothesized that PO-HF might fulfill the often-used criteria of autoimmunity: if so, the associated adaptive immune response would be not only necessary but also sufficient to induce HF; it should also be possible to identify self-antigens driving the autoimmune response. Finally, we hypothesized that such an antigen-specific response can be manipulated to preventively reduce the severity of PO-HF in a tolerizing vaccine.nnMETHODS: We used the transfer of lymphocytes or serum from PO-HF mice into healthy recipients to assess whether the adaptive response is sufficient to induce disease. We devised a novel pipeline to identify self-antigens driving the response. We immunized healthy mice with novel antigens to assess whether they induce disease. To determine whether these antigens could be present in human patients, we sought to detect existing responses against these antigens in patients with HF. Finally, we used the antigens in an oral tolerance protocol to preventively protect mice from subsequently induced PO-HF, analyzing the results with next-generation sequencing.nnRESULTS: We found that PO-HF fulfills the criteria of an autoimmune disease, albeit partially, and identified novel cardiac self-antigens, capable of inducing cardiac dysfunction. The novel antigens in a tolerizing vaccine formulation preemptively reduced the severity of disease triggered by subsequent application of PO, via induction of effector regulatory T cells, enabling a potent reduction of PO-driven loss of systolic function, cardiac inflammation, and proinflammatory CD4 T-cell clonal expansion.nnCONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that PO-HF is triggered by hemodynamic stress and then sets off an autoimmune-like response against cardiac self-antigens. The antigens can be used to reduce the severity of future-onset disease, via oral tolerization, effectively acting as a protective vaccine.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is strongly associated with inflammation. In pressure overload (PO)-induced HF, cardiac stress triggers adaptive immunity, ablation or inhibition of which blocks disease progression. We hypothesized that PO-HF might fulfill the often-used criteria of autoimmunity: if so, the associated adaptive immune response would be not only necessary but also sufficient to induce HF; it should also be possible to identify self-antigens driving the autoimmune response. Finally, we hypothesized that such an antigen-specific response can be manipulated to preventively reduce the severity of PO-HF in a tolerizing vaccine.nnMETHODS: We used the transfer of lymphocytes or serum from PO-HF mice into healthy recipients to assess whether the adaptive response is sufficient to induce disease. We devised a novel pipeline to identify self-antigens driving the response. We immunized healthy mice with novel antigens to assess whether they induce disease. To determine whether these antigens could be present in human patients, we sought to detect existing responses against these antigens in patients with HF. Finally, we used the antigens in an oral tolerance protocol to preventively protect mice from subsequently induced PO-HF, analyzing the results with next-generation sequencing.nnRESULTS: We found that PO-HF fulfills the criteria of an autoimmune disease, albeit partially, and identified novel cardiac self-antigens, capable of inducing cardiac dysfunction. The novel antigens in a tolerizing vaccine formulation preemptively reduced the severity of disease triggered by subsequent application of PO, via induction of effector regulatory T cells, enabling a potent reduction of PO-driven loss of systolic function, cardiac inflammation, and proinflammatory CD4 T-cell clonal expansion.nnCONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that PO-HF is triggered by hemodynamic stress and then sets off an autoimmune-like response against cardiac self-antigens. The antigens can be used to reduce the severity of future-onset disease, via oral tolerization, effectively acting as a protective vaccine. |
2024
|
Floris, Sonia; Pintus, Francesca; Fais, Antonella; Era, Benedetta; Raho, Nicola; Siguri, Chiara; Orr`u, Germano; Fais, Sara; Tuberoso, Carlo Ignazio Giovanni; Olla, Stefania; Petrillo, Amalia Di: Biological potential of Asphodelus microcarpus extracts:
$A$-glucosidase and antibiofilm activities in vitro. In: Molecules, vol. 29, no. 21, pp. 5063, 2024. @article{Floris2024-lf,
title = {Biological potential of Asphodelus microcarpus extracts:
$A$-glucosidase and antibiofilm activities in vitro},
author = {Sonia Floris and Francesca Pintus and Antonella Fais and Benedetta Era and Nicola Raho and Chiara Siguri and Germano Orr`u and Sara Fais and Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso and Stefania Olla and Amalia Di Petrillo},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-10-01},
journal = {Molecules},
volume = {29},
number = {21},
pages = {5063},
publisher = {MDPI AG},
abstract = {Type 2 diabetes (T2D), characterized by insulin resistance and
$beta$-cell dysfunction, requires continuous advancements in
management strategies, particularly in controlling postprandial
hyperglycemia to prevent complications. Current antidiabetics,
which have $alpha$-amylase and $alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory
activities, have side effects, prompting the search for better
alternatives. In addition, diabetes patients are particularly
vulnerable to yeast infections because an unusual sugar
concentration promotes the growth of Candida spp. in areas like
the mouth and genitalia. Asphodelus microcarpus contains
bioactive flavonoids with potential enzyme inhibitory
properties. This study investigates $alpha$-amylase and
$alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activities and antioxidant and
antimycotic capacity of ethanolic extracts from different parts
of A. microcarpus. Results show that extracts significantly
inhibit $alpha$-glucosidase, with the IC50 value being up to 25
times higher than for acarbose, while exerting low
$alpha$-amylase activity. The extracts also demonstrated strong
antioxidant properties and low cytotoxicity. The presence of
phenolic compounds is likely responsible for the observed
biological activities. Molecular docking analysis of 11 selected
compounds identified emodin and luteolin as significant
inhibitors of $alpha$-glucosidase. Additionally, the extracts
demonstrated significant antibiofilm action against an MDR
strain of Candida albicans. These findings suggest that A.
microcarpus is a promising source of natural compounds for T2D
management.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Type 2 diabetes (T2D), characterized by insulin resistance and
$beta$-cell dysfunction, requires continuous advancements in
management strategies, particularly in controlling postprandial
hyperglycemia to prevent complications. Current antidiabetics,
which have $alpha$-amylase and $alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory
activities, have side effects, prompting the search for better
alternatives. In addition, diabetes patients are particularly
vulnerable to yeast infections because an unusual sugar
concentration promotes the growth of Candida spp. in areas like
the mouth and genitalia. Asphodelus microcarpus contains
bioactive flavonoids with potential enzyme inhibitory
properties. This study investigates $alpha$-amylase and
$alpha$-glucosidase inhibitory activities and antioxidant and
antimycotic capacity of ethanolic extracts from different parts
of A. microcarpus. Results show that extracts significantly
inhibit $alpha$-glucosidase, with the IC50 value being up to 25
times higher than for acarbose, while exerting low
$alpha$-amylase activity. The extracts also demonstrated strong
antioxidant properties and low cytotoxicity. The presence of
phenolic compounds is likely responsible for the observed
biological activities. Molecular docking analysis of 11 selected
compounds identified emodin and luteolin as significant
inhibitors of $alpha$-glucosidase. Additionally, the extracts
demonstrated significant antibiofilm action against an MDR
strain of Candida albicans. These findings suggest that A.
microcarpus is a promising source of natural compounds for T2D
management. |
Caballero-Oteyza, Andrés; Crisponi, Laura; Peng, Xiao P; Wang, Hongying; Mrovecova, Pavla; Olla, Stefania; Siguri, Chiara; Marnissi, Farida; Jouhadi, Zineb; Aksentijevich, Ivona; Grimbacher, Bodo; Proietti, Michele: OTULIN-related conditions: Report of a new case and review of
the literature using GenIA. In: Clin. Immunol., vol. 265, no. 110292, pp. 110292, 2024. @article{Caballero-Oteyza2024-rg,
title = {OTULIN-related conditions: Report of a new case and review of
the literature using GenIA},
author = {Andrés Caballero-Oteyza and Laura Crisponi and Xiao P Peng and Hongying Wang and Pavla Mrovecova and Stefania Olla and Chiara Siguri and Farida Marnissi and Zineb Jouhadi and Ivona Aksentijevich and Bodo Grimbacher and Michele Proietti},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-08-01},
journal = {Clin. Immunol.},
volume = {265},
number = {110292},
pages = {110292},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {ÖTULIN encodes an eponymous linear deubiquitinase (DUB)
essential for controlling inflammation as a negative regulator
of the canonical NF-$kappa$B signaling pathway via the
regulation of M1-Ub dynamics. Biallelic loss-of-function (LOF)
mutations in OTULIN cause an autosomal recessive condition named
Otulin-Related Autoinflammatory Syndrome (ORAS), also known as
Otulipenia or AutoInflammation, Panniculitis, and Dermatosis
Syndrome (AIPDS). Monoallelic OTULIN LOF, also known as OTULIN
Haploinsufficiency (OHI) or Immunodeficiency 107 (IMD107), has
been linked to an incompletely penetrant, dominantly inherited
susceptibility to invasive Staphylococcal infections. At the
same time, a recent novel ORAS-like inflammatory syndrome was
described in association with a heterozygous missense mutation
that appears to exert dominant negative (DN) effects. In this
manuscript, we report the identification of a novel homozygous
missense mutation, c.595 T > A; p.(Trp199Arg), in a Moroccan
infant with an ORAS phenotype and provide experimental evidence
for its pathogenicity. We go on to systematically review the
literature for OTULIN-associated conditions by using the GenIA
database (www.geniadb.net) to collect, extract and harmonize all
clinical, laboratory and functional data for published patients
and variants. Our comprehensive synthesis of genotypic,
phenotypic, and mechanistic data enables a more in-depth view of
the diverse mechanisms and pathways by which the OTULIN
pathogenic variants may lead to human immune disease. This
review may help variant classification activities and inform
future variant evaluation, as well as the development of
diagnostic and management guidelines. It also identifies current
knowledge gaps and raises additional questions warranting future
investigation."},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
ÖTULIN encodes an eponymous linear deubiquitinase (DUB)
essential for controlling inflammation as a negative regulator
of the canonical NF-$kappa$B signaling pathway via the
regulation of M1-Ub dynamics. Biallelic loss-of-function (LOF)
mutations in OTULIN cause an autosomal recessive condition named
Otulin-Related Autoinflammatory Syndrome (ORAS), also known as
Otulipenia or AutoInflammation, Panniculitis, and Dermatosis
Syndrome (AIPDS). Monoallelic OTULIN LOF, also known as OTULIN
Haploinsufficiency (OHI) or Immunodeficiency 107 (IMD107), has
been linked to an incompletely penetrant, dominantly inherited
susceptibility to invasive Staphylococcal infections. At the
same time, a recent novel ORAS-like inflammatory syndrome was
described in association with a heterozygous missense mutation
that appears to exert dominant negative (DN) effects. In this
manuscript, we report the identification of a novel homozygous
missense mutation, c.595 T > A; p.(Trp199Arg), in a Moroccan
infant with an ORAS phenotype and provide experimental evidence
for its pathogenicity. We go on to systematically review the
literature for OTULIN-associated conditions by using the GenIA
database (www.geniadb.net) to collect, extract and harmonize all
clinical, laboratory and functional data for published patients
and variants. Our comprehensive synthesis of genotypic,
phenotypic, and mechanistic data enables a more in-depth view of
the diverse mechanisms and pathways by which the OTULIN
pathogenic variants may lead to human immune disease. This
review may help variant classification activities and inform
future variant evaluation, as well as the development of
diagnostic and management guidelines. It also identifies current
knowledge gaps and raises additional questions warranting future
investigation." |
Piperni, Elisa; Nguyen, Long H; Manghi, Paolo; Kim, Hanseul; Pasolli, Edoardo; Andreu-Sánchez, Sergio; Arr`e, Alberto; Bermingham, Kate M; Blanco-M'iguez, Aitor; Manara, Serena; Valles-Colomer, Mireia; Bakker, Elco; Busonero, Fabio; Davies, Richard; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Giordano, Francesca; Hadjigeorgiou, George; Leeming, Emily R; Lobina, Monia; Masala, Marco; Maschio, Andrea; McIver, Lauren J; Pala, Mauro; Pitzalis, Maristella; Wolf, Jonathan; Fu, Jingyuan; Zhernakova, Alexandra; Cacci`o, Simone M; Cucca, Francesco; Berry, Sarah E; Ercolini, Danilo; Chan, Andrew T; Huttenhower, Curtis; Spector, Tim D; Segata, Nicola; Asnicar, Francesco: Intestinal Blastocystis is linked to healthier diets and more favorable cardiometabolic outcomes in 56,989 individuals from 32 countries. In: Cell, vol. 187, no. 17, pp. 4554–4570.e18, 2024. @article{Piperni2024-av,
title = {Intestinal Blastocystis is linked to healthier diets and more favorable cardiometabolic outcomes in 56,989 individuals from 32 countries},
author = {Elisa Piperni and Long H Nguyen and Paolo Manghi and Hanseul Kim and Edoardo Pasolli and Sergio Andreu-Sánchez and Alberto Arr`e and Kate M Bermingham and Aitor Blanco-M'iguez and Serena Manara and Mireia Valles-Colomer and Elco Bakker and Fabio Busonero and Richard Davies and Edoardo Fiorillo and Francesca Giordano and George Hadjigeorgiou and Emily R Leeming and Monia Lobina and Marco Masala and Andrea Maschio and Lauren J McIver and Mauro Pala and Maristella Pitzalis and Jonathan Wolf and Jingyuan Fu and Alexandra Zhernakova and Simone M Cacci`o and Francesco Cucca and Sarah E Berry and Danilo Ercolini and Andrew T Chan and Curtis Huttenhower and Tim D Spector and Nicola Segata and Francesco Asnicar},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.018},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-08-01},
urldate = {2024-08-01},
journal = {Cell},
volume = {187},
number = {17},
pages = {4554--4570.e18},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Diet impacts human health, influencing body adiposity and the
risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. The gut microbiome
is a key player in the diet-health axis, but while its bacterial
fraction is widely studied, the role of micro-eukaryotes,
including Blastocystis, is underexplored. We performed a
global-scale analysis on 56,989 metagenomes and showed that
human Blastocystis exhibits distinct prevalence patterns linked
to geography, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Blastocystis
presence defined a specific bacterial signature and was
positively associated with more favorable cardiometabolic
profiles and negatively with obesity (p < 1e-16) and disorders
linked to altered gut ecology (p < 1e-8). In a diet intervention
study involving 1,124 individuals, improvements in dietary
quality were linked to weight loss and increases in Blastocystis prevalence (p = 0.003) and abundance (p < 1e-7). Our findings
suggest a potentially beneficial role for Blastocystis, which
may help explain personalized host responses to diet and
downstream disease etiopathogenesis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Diet impacts human health, influencing body adiposity and the
risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. The gut microbiome
is a key player in the diet-health axis, but while its bacterial
fraction is widely studied, the role of micro-eukaryotes,
including Blastocystis, is underexplored. We performed a
global-scale analysis on 56,989 metagenomes and showed that
human Blastocystis exhibits distinct prevalence patterns linked
to geography, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Blastocystis
presence defined a specific bacterial signature and was
positively associated with more favorable cardiometabolic
profiles and negatively with obesity (p < 1e-16) and disorders
linked to altered gut ecology (p < 1e-8). In a diet intervention
study involving 1,124 individuals, improvements in dietary
quality were linked to weight loss and increases in Blastocystis prevalence (p = 0.003) and abundance (p < 1e-7). Our findings
suggest a potentially beneficial role for Blastocystis, which
may help explain personalized host responses to diet and
downstream disease etiopathogenesis. |
Piperni, Elisa; Nguyen, Long H; Manghi, Paolo; Kim, Hanseul; Pasolli, Edoardo; Andreu-Sánchez, Sergio; Arr`e, Alberto; Bermingham, Kate M; Blanco-M'iguez, Aitor; Manara, Serena; Valles-Colomer, Mireia; Bakker, Elco; Busonero, Fabio; Davies, Richard; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Giordano, Francesca; Hadjigeorgiou, George; Leeming, Emily R; Lobina, Monia; Masala, Marco; Maschio, Andrea; McIver, Lauren J; Pala, Mauro; Pitzalis, Maristella; Wolf, Jonathan; Fu, Jingyuan; Zhernakova, Alexandra; Cacci`o, Simone M; Cucca, Francesco; Berry, Sarah E; Ercolini, Danilo; Chan, Andrew T; Huttenhower, Curtis; Spector, Tim D; Segata, Nicola; Asnicar, Francesco: Intestinal Blastocystis is linked to healthier diets and more favorable cardiometabolic outcomes in 56,989 individuals from 32 countries. In: Cell, vol. 187, no. 17, pp. 4554–4570.e18, 2024. @article{Piperni2024-ph,
title = {Intestinal Blastocystis is linked to healthier diets and more favorable cardiometabolic outcomes in 56,989 individuals from 32 countries},
author = {Elisa Piperni and Long H Nguyen and Paolo Manghi and Hanseul Kim and Edoardo Pasolli and Sergio Andreu-Sánchez and Alberto Arr`e and Kate M Bermingham and Aitor Blanco-M'iguez and Serena Manara and Mireia Valles-Colomer and Elco Bakker and Fabio Busonero and Richard Davies and Edoardo Fiorillo and Francesca Giordano and George Hadjigeorgiou and Emily R Leeming and Monia Lobina and Marco Masala and Andrea Maschio and Lauren J McIver and Mauro Pala and Maristella Pitzalis and Jonathan Wolf and Jingyuan Fu and Alexandra Zhernakova and Simone M Cacci`o and Francesco Cucca and Sarah E Berry and Danilo Ercolini and Andrew T Chan and Curtis Huttenhower and Tim D Spector and Nicola Segata and Francesco Asnicar},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.018},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-08-01},
urldate = {2024-08-01},
journal = {Cell},
volume = {187},
number = {17},
pages = {4554--4570.e18},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Diet impacts human health, influencing body adiposity and the
risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. The gut microbiome
is a key player in the diet-health axis, but while its bacterial
fraction is widely studied, the role of micro-eukaryotes,
including Blastocystis, is underexplored. We performed a
global-scale analysis on 56,989 metagenomes and showed that
human Blastocystis exhibits distinct prevalence patterns linked
to geography, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Blastocystis
presence defined a specific bacterial signature and was
positively associated with more favorable cardiometabolic
profiles and negatively with obesity (p < 1e-16) and disorders
linked to altered gut ecology (p < 1e-8). In a diet intervention
study involving 1,124 individuals, improvements in dietary
quality were linked to weight loss and increases in Blastocystis prevalence (p = 0.003) and abundance (p < 1e-7). Our findings
suggest a potentially beneficial role for Blastocystis, which
may help explain personalized host responses to diet and
downstream disease etiopathogenesis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Diet impacts human health, influencing body adiposity and the
risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. The gut microbiome
is a key player in the diet-health axis, but while its bacterial
fraction is widely studied, the role of micro-eukaryotes,
including Blastocystis, is underexplored. We performed a
global-scale analysis on 56,989 metagenomes and showed that
human Blastocystis exhibits distinct prevalence patterns linked
to geography, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Blastocystis
presence defined a specific bacterial signature and was
positively associated with more favorable cardiometabolic
profiles and negatively with obesity (p < 1e-16) and disorders
linked to altered gut ecology (p < 1e-8). In a diet intervention
study involving 1,124 individuals, improvements in dietary
quality were linked to weight loss and increases in Blastocystis prevalence (p = 0.003) and abundance (p < 1e-7). Our findings
suggest a potentially beneficial role for Blastocystis, which
may help explain personalized host responses to diet and
downstream disease etiopathogenesis. |
Serra, Rita; Rallo, Vincenzo; Steri, Maristella; Olla, Stefania; Piras, Maria Grazia; Marongiu, Michele; Gorospe, Myriam; Schlessinger, David; Pinna, Antonio; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Cucca, Francesco; Angius, Andrea: Ä large-scale screening identified in USH2A gene the P3272L
founder pathogenic variant explaining familial Usher syndrome in
Sardinia, Italy". In: BMC Ophthalmol., vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 306, 2024. @article{Serra2024-ps,
title = {Ä large-scale screening identified in USH2A gene the P3272L
founder pathogenic variant explaining familial Usher syndrome in
Sardinia, Italy"},
author = {Rita Serra and Vincenzo Rallo and Maristella Steri and Stefania Olla and Maria Grazia Piras and Michele Marongiu and Myriam Gorospe and David Schlessinger and Antonio Pinna and Edoardo Fiorillo and Francesco Cucca and Andrea Angius},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
journal = {BMC Ophthalmol.},
volume = {24},
number = {1},
pages = {306},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Usher syndrome (USH) encompasses a group of
disorders characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss
(SNHL) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We described the clinical
findings, natural history, and molecular analyses of USH
patients identified during a large-scale screening to identify
quantitative traits related to ocular disorders in the SardiNIA
project cohort. METHODS: We identified 3 USH-affected families
out of a cohort of 6,148 healthy subjects. 9 subjects presented
a pathological phenotype, with SNHL and RP. All patients and
their family members underwent a complete ophthalmic examination
including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy,
fundoscopy, fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical
coherence tomography, and electrophysiological testing.
Audiological evaluation was performed with a clinical
audiometer. Genotyping was performed using several arrays
integrated with whole genome sequence data providing
approximately 22 million markers equally distributed for each
subject analyzed. Molecular diagnostics focused on analysis of
the following candidate genes: MYO7A, USH1C, CDH23, PCDH15,
USH1G, CIB2, USH2A, GPR98, DFNB31, CLRN1, and PDZD7. RESULTS: A
single missense causal variant in USH2A gene was identified in
homozygous status in all patients and in heterozygous status in
unaffected parents. The presence of multiple homozygous patients
with the same phenotypic severity of the syndromic form suggests
that the Sardinian USH phenotype is the result of a founder
effect on a specific pathogenic variant related haplotype. The
frequency of heterozygotes in general Sardinian population is
1.89. Additionally, to provide new insights into the structure
of usherin and the pathological mechanisms caused by small
pathogenic in-frame variants, like p.Pro3272Leu, molecular
dynamics simulations of native and mutant protein-protein and
protein-ligand complexes were performed that predicted a
destabilization of the protein with a decrease in the free
energy change. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that our
approach is effective for the genetic diagnosis of USH. Based on
the heterozygous frequency, targeted screening of this variant
in the general population and in families at risk or with
familial USH can be suggested. This can lead to more accurate
molecular diagnosis, better genetic counseling, and improved
molecular epidemiology data that are critical for future
intervention plans. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We did not perform any
health-related interventions for the participants.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
BACKGROUND: Usher syndrome (USH) encompasses a group of
disorders characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss
(SNHL) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We described the clinical
findings, natural history, and molecular analyses of USH
patients identified during a large-scale screening to identify
quantitative traits related to ocular disorders in the SardiNIA
project cohort. METHODS: We identified 3 USH-affected families
out of a cohort of 6,148 healthy subjects. 9 subjects presented
a pathological phenotype, with SNHL and RP. All patients and
their family members underwent a complete ophthalmic examination
including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy,
fundoscopy, fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical
coherence tomography, and electrophysiological testing.
Audiological evaluation was performed with a clinical
audiometer. Genotyping was performed using several arrays
integrated with whole genome sequence data providing
approximately 22 million markers equally distributed for each
subject analyzed. Molecular diagnostics focused on analysis of
the following candidate genes: MYO7A, USH1C, CDH23, PCDH15,
USH1G, CIB2, USH2A, GPR98, DFNB31, CLRN1, and PDZD7. RESULTS: A
single missense causal variant in USH2A gene was identified in
homozygous status in all patients and in heterozygous status in
unaffected parents. The presence of multiple homozygous patients
with the same phenotypic severity of the syndromic form suggests
that the Sardinian USH phenotype is the result of a founder
effect on a specific pathogenic variant related haplotype. The
frequency of heterozygotes in general Sardinian population is
1.89. Additionally, to provide new insights into the structure
of usherin and the pathological mechanisms caused by small
pathogenic in-frame variants, like p.Pro3272Leu, molecular
dynamics simulations of native and mutant protein-protein and
protein-ligand complexes were performed that predicted a
destabilization of the protein with a decrease in the free
energy change. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that our
approach is effective for the genetic diagnosis of USH. Based on
the heterozygous frequency, targeted screening of this variant
in the general population and in families at risk or with
familial USH can be suggested. This can lead to more accurate
molecular diagnosis, better genetic counseling, and improved
molecular epidemiology data that are critical for future
intervention plans. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We did not perform any
health-related interventions for the participants. |
Petrillo, Amalia Di; Siguri, Chiara; Delogu, Giovanna L; Fais, Antonella; Era, Benedetta; Floris, Sonia; Pintus, Francesca; Kumar, Amit; Fantini, Massimo Claudio; Olla, Stefania: Exploring Asphodelus microcarpus as a source of xanthine oxidase
inhibitors: Insights from in silico and in vitro studies. In: Chem. Biol. Interact., vol. 397, no. 111087, pp. 111087, 2024. @article{Di_Petrillo2024-ac,
title = {Exploring Asphodelus microcarpus as a source of xanthine oxidase
inhibitors: Insights from in silico and in vitro studies},
author = {Amalia Di Petrillo and Chiara Siguri and Giovanna L Delogu and Antonella Fais and Benedetta Era and Sonia Floris and Francesca Pintus and Amit Kumar and Massimo Claudio Fantini and Stefania Olla},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
journal = {Chem. Biol. Interact.},
volume = {397},
number = {111087},
pages = {111087},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Xanthine oxidase (XO) plays a critical role in purine
catabolism, catalyzing the conversion of hypoxanthine to
xanthine and xanthine to uric acid, contributing to superoxide
anion production. This process is implicated in various human
diseases, particularly gout. Traditional XO inhibitors, such as
allopurinol and febuxostat, while effective, may present side
effects. Our study focuses on Asphodelus microcarpus, a plant
renowned for traditional anti-inflammatory uses. Recent
investigations into its phenolic-rich flowers, notably abundant
in luteolin derivatives, reveal its potential as a natural
source of XO inhibitors. In the present research, XO inhibition
by an ethanolic flowers extract from A. microcarpus is reported.
In silico docking studies have highlighted luteolin derivatives
as potential XO inhibitors, and molecular dynamics support that
luteolin 7-O-glucoside has the highest binding stability
compared to other compounds and controls. In vitro studies
confirm that luteolin 7-O-glucoside inhibits XO more effectively
than the standard inhibitor allopurinol, with an IC50 value of
4.8 $mu$g/mL compared to 11.5 $mu$g/mL, respectively. These
findings underscore the potential therapeutic significance of A.
microcarpus in managing conditions related to XO activity. The
research contributes valuable insights into the health-promoting
properties of A. microcarpus and its potential application in
natural medicine, presenting a promising avenue for further
exploration in disease management.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Xanthine oxidase (XO) plays a critical role in purine
catabolism, catalyzing the conversion of hypoxanthine to
xanthine and xanthine to uric acid, contributing to superoxide
anion production. This process is implicated in various human
diseases, particularly gout. Traditional XO inhibitors, such as
allopurinol and febuxostat, while effective, may present side
effects. Our study focuses on Asphodelus microcarpus, a plant
renowned for traditional anti-inflammatory uses. Recent
investigations into its phenolic-rich flowers, notably abundant
in luteolin derivatives, reveal its potential as a natural
source of XO inhibitors. In the present research, XO inhibition
by an ethanolic flowers extract from A. microcarpus is reported.
In silico docking studies have highlighted luteolin derivatives
as potential XO inhibitors, and molecular dynamics support that
luteolin 7-O-glucoside has the highest binding stability
compared to other compounds and controls. In vitro studies
confirm that luteolin 7-O-glucoside inhibits XO more effectively
than the standard inhibitor allopurinol, with an IC50 value of
4.8 $mu$g/mL compared to 11.5 $mu$g/mL, respectively. These
findings underscore the potential therapeutic significance of A.
microcarpus in managing conditions related to XO activity. The
research contributes valuable insights into the health-promoting
properties of A. microcarpus and its potential application in
natural medicine, presenting a promising avenue for further
exploration in disease management. |
Atzeni, Rossano; Massidda, Matteo; Pieroni, Enrico; Rallo, Vincenzo; Pisu, Massimo; Angius, Andrea: A novel affordable and reliable framework for accurate detection and comprehensive analysis of somatic mutations in cancer. In: Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 25, no. 15, pp. 8044, 2024. @article{Atzeni2024-tj,
title = {A novel affordable and reliable framework for accurate detection and comprehensive analysis of somatic mutations in cancer},
author = {Rossano Atzeni and Matteo Massidda and Enrico Pieroni and Vincenzo Rallo and Massimo Pisu and Andrea Angius},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
urldate = {2024-07-01},
journal = {Int. J. Mol. Sci.},
volume = {25},
number = {15},
pages = {8044},
publisher = {MDPI AG},
abstract = {Äccurate detection and analysis of somatic variants in cancer
involve multiple third-party tools with complex dependencies and
configurations, leading to laborious, error-prone, and
time-consuming data conversions. This approach lacks accuracy,
reproducibility, and portability, limiting clinical application.
Musta was developed to address these issues as an end-to-end
pipeline for detecting, classifying, and interpreting cancer
mutations. Musta is based on a Python command-line tool designed
to manage tumor-normal samples for precise somatic mutation
analysis. The core is a Snakemake-based workflow that covers all
key cancer genomics steps, including variant calling, mutational
signature deconvolution, variant annotation, driver gene
detection, pathway analysis, and tumor heterogeneity estimation.
Musta is easy to install on any system via Docker, with a
Makefile handling installation, configuration, and execution,
allowing for full or partial pipeline runs. Musta has been
validated at the CRS4-NGS Core facility and tested on large
datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Beijing Institute
of Genomics. Musta has proven robust and flexible for somatic
variant analysis in cancer. It is user-friendly, requiring no
specialized programming skills, and enables data processing with
a single command line. Its reproducibility ensures consistent
results across users following the same protocol."},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Äccurate detection and analysis of somatic variants in cancer
involve multiple third-party tools with complex dependencies and
configurations, leading to laborious, error-prone, and
time-consuming data conversions. This approach lacks accuracy,
reproducibility, and portability, limiting clinical application.
Musta was developed to address these issues as an end-to-end
pipeline for detecting, classifying, and interpreting cancer
mutations. Musta is based on a Python command-line tool designed
to manage tumor-normal samples for precise somatic mutation
analysis. The core is a Snakemake-based workflow that covers all
key cancer genomics steps, including variant calling, mutational
signature deconvolution, variant annotation, driver gene
detection, pathway analysis, and tumor heterogeneity estimation.
Musta is easy to install on any system via Docker, with a
Makefile handling installation, configuration, and execution,
allowing for full or partial pipeline runs. Musta has been
validated at the CRS4-NGS Core facility and tested on large
datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Beijing Institute
of Genomics. Musta has proven robust and flexible for somatic
variant analysis in cancer. It is user-friendly, requiring no
specialized programming skills, and enables data processing with
a single command line. Its reproducibility ensures consistent
results across users following the same protocol." |
Orrù, Valeria; Serra, Valentina; Marongiu, Michele; Lai, Sandra; Lodde, Valeria; Zoledziewska, Magdalena; Steri, Maristella; Loizedda, Annalisa; Lobina, Monia; Piras, Maria Grazia; Virdis, Francesca; Delogu, Giuseppe; Marini, Maria Giuseppina; Mingoia, Maura; Floris, Matteo; Masala, Marco; Castelli, M Paola; Mostallino, Rafaela; Frau, Jessica; Lorefice, Lorena; Farina, Gabriele; Fronza, Marzia; Carmagnini, Daniele; Carta, Elisa; Pilotto, Silvy; Chessa, Paola; Devoto, Marcella; Castiglia, Paolo; Solla, Paolo; Zarbo, Roberto Ignazio; Idda, Maria Laura; Pitzalis, Maristella; Cocco, Eleonora; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Cucca, Francesco: Implications of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis on immune cells and response to COVID-19 vaccination. In: Front. Immunol., vol. 15, pp. 1416464, 2024. @article{Orru2024-ec,
title = {Implications of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis on immune cells and response to COVID-19 vaccination},
author = {Valeria Orrù and Valentina Serra and Michele Marongiu and Sandra Lai and Valeria Lodde and Magdalena Zoledziewska and Maristella Steri and Annalisa Loizedda and Monia Lobina and Maria Grazia Piras and Francesca Virdis and Giuseppe Delogu and Maria Giuseppina Marini and Maura Mingoia and Matteo Floris and Marco Masala and M Paola Castelli and Rafaela Mostallino and Jessica Frau and Lorena Lorefice and Gabriele Farina and Marzia Fronza and Daniele Carmagnini and Elisa Carta and Silvy Pilotto and Paola Chessa and Marcella Devoto and Paolo Castiglia and Paolo Solla and Roberto Ignazio Zarbo and Maria Laura Idda and Maristella Pitzalis and Eleonora Cocco and Edoardo Fiorillo and Francesco Cucca},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
urldate = {2024-07-01},
journal = {Front. Immunol.},
volume = {15},
pages = {1416464},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
abstract = {Introduction: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have been shown
to improve disease outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
They may also impair the immune response to vaccines, including
the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. However, available data on both the
intrinsic immune effects of DMTs and their influence on cellular
response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are still incomplete.
Methods: Here, we evaluated the immune cell effects of 3 DMTs on
the response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by comparing MS
patients treated with one specific therapy (fingolimod, dimethyl
fumarate, or natalizumab) with both healthy controls and
untreated patients. We profiled 23 B-cell traits, 57 T-cell
traits, and 10 cytokines, both at basal level and after
stimulation with a pool of SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides, in 79 MS
patients, treated with DMTs or untreated, and 32 healthy
controls. Measurements were made before vaccination and at three
time points after immunization. Results and Discussion: MS
patients treated with fingolimod showed the strongest immune
cell dysregulation characterized by a reduction in all measured
lymphocyte cell classes; the patients also had increased immune
cell activation at baseline, accompanied by reduced specific
immune cell response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Also, anti-spike
specific B cells progressively increased over the three time
points after vaccination, even when antibodies measured from the
same samples instead showed a decline. Our findings demonstrate
that repeated booster vaccinations in MS patients are crucial to
overcoming the immune cell impairment caused by DMTs and
achieving an immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
comparable to that of healthy controls.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Introduction: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have been shown
to improve disease outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
They may also impair the immune response to vaccines, including
the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. However, available data on both the
intrinsic immune effects of DMTs and their influence on cellular
response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are still incomplete.
Methods: Here, we evaluated the immune cell effects of 3 DMTs on
the response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by comparing MS
patients treated with one specific therapy (fingolimod, dimethyl
fumarate, or natalizumab) with both healthy controls and
untreated patients. We profiled 23 B-cell traits, 57 T-cell
traits, and 10 cytokines, both at basal level and after
stimulation with a pool of SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides, in 79 MS
patients, treated with DMTs or untreated, and 32 healthy
controls. Measurements were made before vaccination and at three
time points after immunization. Results and Discussion: MS
patients treated with fingolimod showed the strongest immune
cell dysregulation characterized by a reduction in all measured
lymphocyte cell classes; the patients also had increased immune
cell activation at baseline, accompanied by reduced specific
immune cell response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Also, anti-spike
specific B cells progressively increased over the three time
points after vaccination, even when antibodies measured from the
same samples instead showed a decline. Our findings demonstrate
that repeated booster vaccinations in MS patients are crucial to
overcoming the immune cell impairment caused by DMTs and
achieving an immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
comparable to that of healthy controls. |
Örr`u, Valeria; Serra, Valentina; Marongiu, Michele; Lai, Sandra; Lodde, Valeria; Zoledziewska, Magdalena; Steri, Maristella; Loizedda, Annalisa; Lobina, Monia; Piras, Maria Grazia; Virdis, Francesca; Delogu, Giuseppe; Marini, Maria Giuseppina; Mingoia, Maura; Floris, Matteo; Masala, Marco; Castelli, M Paola; Mostallino, Rafaela; Frau, Jessica; Lorefice, Lorena; Farina, Gabriele; Fronza, Marzia; Carmagnini, Daniele; Carta, Elisa; Pilotto, Silvy; Chessa, Paola; Devoto, Marcella; Castiglia, Paolo; Solla, Paolo; Zarbo, Roberto Ignazio; Idda, Maria Laura; Pitzalis, Maristella; Cocco, Eleonora; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Cucca, Francesco": Implications of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis on immune cells and response to COVID-19 vaccination. In: Front. Immunol., vol. 15, pp. 1416464, 2024. @article{Orru2024-hd,
title = {Implications of disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis on immune cells and response to COVID-19 vaccination},
author = {Valeria Örr`u and Valentina Serra and Michele Marongiu and Sandra Lai and Valeria Lodde and Magdalena Zoledziewska and Maristella Steri and Annalisa Loizedda and Monia Lobina and Maria Grazia Piras and Francesca Virdis and Giuseppe Delogu and Maria Giuseppina Marini and Maura Mingoia and Matteo Floris and Marco Masala and M Paola Castelli and Rafaela Mostallino and Jessica Frau and Lorena Lorefice and Gabriele Farina and Marzia Fronza and Daniele Carmagnini and Elisa Carta and Silvy Pilotto and Paola Chessa and Marcella Devoto and Paolo Castiglia and Paolo Solla and Roberto Ignazio Zarbo and Maria Laura Idda and Maristella Pitzalis and Eleonora Cocco and Edoardo Fiorillo and Francesco" Cucca},
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2024.1416464},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
urldate = {2024-07-01},
journal = {Front. Immunol.},
volume = {15},
pages = {1416464},
publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},
abstract = {Introduction: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have been shown
to improve disease outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
They may also impair the immune response to vaccines, including
the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. However, available data on both the
intrinsic immune effects of DMTs and their influence on cellular
response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are still incomplete.
Methods: Here, we evaluated the immune cell effects of 3 DMTs on
the response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by comparing MS
patients treated with one specific therapy (fingolimod, dimethyl
fumarate, or natalizumab) with both healthy controls and
untreated patients. We profiled 23 B-cell traits, 57 T-cell
traits, and 10 cytokines, both at basal level and after
stimulation with a pool of SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides, in 79 MS
patients, treated with DMTs or untreated, and 32 healthy
controls. Measurements were made before vaccination and at three
time points after immunization. Results and Discussion: MS
patients treated with fingolimod showed the strongest immune
cell dysregulation characterized by a reduction in all measured
lymphocyte cell classes; the patients also had increased immune
cell activation at baseline, accompanied by reduced specific
immune cell response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Also, anti-spike
specific B cells progressively increased over the three time
points after vaccination, even when antibodies measured from the
same samples instead showed a decline. Our findings demonstrate
that repeated booster vaccinations in MS patients are crucial to
overcoming the immune cell impairment caused by DMTs and
achieving an immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
comparable to that of healthy controls.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Introduction: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have been shown
to improve disease outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
They may also impair the immune response to vaccines, including
the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. However, available data on both the
intrinsic immune effects of DMTs and their influence on cellular
response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are still incomplete.
Methods: Here, we evaluated the immune cell effects of 3 DMTs on
the response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by comparing MS
patients treated with one specific therapy (fingolimod, dimethyl
fumarate, or natalizumab) with both healthy controls and
untreated patients. We profiled 23 B-cell traits, 57 T-cell
traits, and 10 cytokines, both at basal level and after
stimulation with a pool of SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides, in 79 MS
patients, treated with DMTs or untreated, and 32 healthy
controls. Measurements were made before vaccination and at three
time points after immunization. Results and Discussion: MS
patients treated with fingolimod showed the strongest immune
cell dysregulation characterized by a reduction in all measured
lymphocyte cell classes; the patients also had increased immune
cell activation at baseline, accompanied by reduced specific
immune cell response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Also, anti-spike
specific B cells progressively increased over the three time
points after vaccination, even when antibodies measured from the
same samples instead showed a decline. Our findings demonstrate
that repeated booster vaccinations in MS patients are crucial to
overcoming the immune cell impairment caused by DMTs and
achieving an immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
comparable to that of healthy controls. |
Serra, Rita; Rallo, Vincenzo; Steri, Maristella; Olla, Stefania; Piras, Maria Grazia; Marongiu, Michele; Gorospe, Myriam; Schlessinger, David; Pinna, Antonio; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Cucca, Francesco; Angius, Andrea: A large-scale screening identified in USH2A gene the P3272L founder pathogenic variant explaining familial Usher syndrome in Sardinia, Italy. In: BMC Ophthalmol., vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 306, 2024. @article{Serra2024-gb,
title = {A large-scale screening identified in USH2A gene the P3272L founder pathogenic variant explaining familial Usher syndrome in Sardinia, Italy},
author = {Rita Serra and Vincenzo Rallo and Maristella Steri and Stefania Olla and Maria Grazia Piras and Michele Marongiu and Myriam Gorospe and David Schlessinger and Antonio Pinna and Edoardo Fiorillo and Francesco Cucca and Andrea Angius},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
urldate = {2024-07-01},
journal = {BMC Ophthalmol.},
volume = {24},
number = {1},
pages = {306},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Usher syndrome (USH) encompasses a group of
disorders characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss
(SNHL) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We described the clinical
findings, natural history, and molecular analyses of USH
patients identified during a large-scale screening to identify
quantitative traits related to ocular disorders in the SardiNIA
project cohort. METHODS: We identified 3 USH-affected families
out of a cohort of 6,148 healthy subjects. 9 subjects presented
a pathological phenotype, with SNHL and RP. All patients and
their family members underwent a complete ophthalmic examination
including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy,
fundoscopy, fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical
coherence tomography, and electrophysiological testing.
Audiological evaluation was performed with a clinical
audiometer. Genotyping was performed using several arrays
integrated with whole genome sequence data providing
approximately 22 million markers equally distributed for each
subject analyzed. Molecular diagnostics focused on analysis of
the following candidate genes: MYO7A, USH1C, CDH23, PCDH15,
USH1G, CIB2, USH2A, GPR98, DFNB31, CLRN1, and PDZD7. RESULTS: A
single missense causal variant in USH2A gene was identified in
homozygous status in all patients and in heterozygous status in
unaffected parents. The presence of multiple homozygous patients
with the same phenotypic severity of the syndromic form suggests
that the Sardinian USH phenotype is the result of a founder
effect on a specific pathogenic variant related haplotype. The
frequency of heterozygotes in general Sardinian population is
1.89. Additionally, to provide new insights into the structure
of usherin and the pathological mechanisms caused by small
pathogenic in-frame variants, like p.Pro3272Leu, molecular
dynamics simulations of native and mutant protein-protein and
protein-ligand complexes were performed that predicted a
destabilization of the protein with a decrease in the free
energy change. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that our
approach is effective for the genetic diagnosis of USH. Based on
the heterozygous frequency, targeted screening of this variant
in the general population and in families at risk or with
familial USH can be suggested. This can lead to more accurate
molecular diagnosis, better genetic counseling, and improved
molecular epidemiology data that are critical for future
intervention plans. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We did not perform any
health-related interventions for the participants.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
BACKGROUND: Usher syndrome (USH) encompasses a group of
disorders characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss
(SNHL) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We described the clinical
findings, natural history, and molecular analyses of USH
patients identified during a large-scale screening to identify
quantitative traits related to ocular disorders in the SardiNIA
project cohort. METHODS: We identified 3 USH-affected families
out of a cohort of 6,148 healthy subjects. 9 subjects presented
a pathological phenotype, with SNHL and RP. All patients and
their family members underwent a complete ophthalmic examination
including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy,
fundoscopy, fundus autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical
coherence tomography, and electrophysiological testing.
Audiological evaluation was performed with a clinical
audiometer. Genotyping was performed using several arrays
integrated with whole genome sequence data providing
approximately 22 million markers equally distributed for each
subject analyzed. Molecular diagnostics focused on analysis of
the following candidate genes: MYO7A, USH1C, CDH23, PCDH15,
USH1G, CIB2, USH2A, GPR98, DFNB31, CLRN1, and PDZD7. RESULTS: A
single missense causal variant in USH2A gene was identified in
homozygous status in all patients and in heterozygous status in
unaffected parents. The presence of multiple homozygous patients
with the same phenotypic severity of the syndromic form suggests
that the Sardinian USH phenotype is the result of a founder
effect on a specific pathogenic variant related haplotype. The
frequency of heterozygotes in general Sardinian population is
1.89. Additionally, to provide new insights into the structure
of usherin and the pathological mechanisms caused by small
pathogenic in-frame variants, like p.Pro3272Leu, molecular
dynamics simulations of native and mutant protein-protein and
protein-ligand complexes were performed that predicted a
destabilization of the protein with a decrease in the free
energy change. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that our
approach is effective for the genetic diagnosis of USH. Based on
the heterozygous frequency, targeted screening of this variant
in the general population and in families at risk or with
familial USH can be suggested. This can lead to more accurate
molecular diagnosis, better genetic counseling, and improved
molecular epidemiology data that are critical for future
intervention plans. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We did not perform any
health-related interventions for the participants. |
Veroni, C.; Olla, S.; Brignone, M. S.; Siguri, C.; Formato, A.; Marra, M.; Manzoli, R.; Macario, M. C.; Ambrosini, E.; Moro, E.; Agresti, C.: The Antioxidant Drug Edaravone Binds to the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) and Promotes the Downstream Signaling Pathway Activation. In: Biomolecules, vol. 14, no. 4, 2024, ([PubMed Central:hrefhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2948512PMC2948512] [DOI:hrefhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.001312810.1371/journal.pone.0013128] [PubMed:hrefhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2095704620957046]). @article{pmid38672460,
title = {The Antioxidant Drug Edaravone Binds to the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) and Promotes the Downstream Signaling Pathway Activation},
author = {C. Veroni and S. Olla and M. S. Brignone and C. Siguri and A. Formato and M. Marra and R. Manzoli and M. C. Macario and E. Ambrosini and E. Moro and C. Agresti},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-04-04},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
abstract = {A considerable effort has been spent in the past decades to develop targeted therapies for the treatment of demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Among drugs with free radical scavenging activity and oligodendrocyte protecting effects, Edaravone (Radicava) has recently received increasing attention because of being able to enhance remyelination in experimental in vitro and in vivo disease models. While its beneficial effects are greatly supported by experimental evidence, there is a current paucity of information regarding its mechanism of action and main molecular targets. By using high-throughput RNA-seq and biochemical experiments in murine oligodendrocyte progenitors and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells combined with molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation, we here provide evidence that Edaravone triggers the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling by eliciting AHR nuclear translocation and the transcriptional-mediated induction of key cytoprotective gene expression. We also show that an Edaravone-dependent AHR signaling transduction occurs in the zebrafish experimental model, associated with a downstream upregulation of the NRF2 signaling pathway. We finally demonstrate that its rapid cytoprotective and antioxidant actions boost increased expression of the promyelinating Olig2 protein as well as of an Olig2:GFP transgene in vivo. We therefore shed light on a still undescribed potential mechanism of action for this drug, providing further support to its therapeutic potential in the context of debilitating demyelinating conditions.},
note = {[PubMed Central:hrefhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2948512PMC2948512] [DOI:hrefhttps://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.001312810.1371/journal.pone.0013128] [PubMed:hrefhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2095704620957046]},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A considerable effort has been spent in the past decades to develop targeted therapies for the treatment of demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Among drugs with free radical scavenging activity and oligodendrocyte protecting effects, Edaravone (Radicava) has recently received increasing attention because of being able to enhance remyelination in experimental in vitro and in vivo disease models. While its beneficial effects are greatly supported by experimental evidence, there is a current paucity of information regarding its mechanism of action and main molecular targets. By using high-throughput RNA-seq and biochemical experiments in murine oligodendrocyte progenitors and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells combined with molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation, we here provide evidence that Edaravone triggers the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling by eliciting AHR nuclear translocation and the transcriptional-mediated induction of key cytoprotective gene expression. We also show that an Edaravone-dependent AHR signaling transduction occurs in the zebrafish experimental model, associated with a downstream upregulation of the NRF2 signaling pathway. We finally demonstrate that its rapid cytoprotective and antioxidant actions boost increased expression of the promyelinating Olig2 protein as well as of an Olig2:GFP transgene in vivo. We therefore shed light on a still undescribed potential mechanism of action for this drug, providing further support to its therapeutic potential in the context of debilitating demyelinating conditions. |
Pintori, Nicholas; Mostallino, Rafaela; Spano, Enrica; Orr`u, Valeria; Piras, Maria Grazia; Castelli, Maria Paola; Luca, Maria Antonietta De: Immune and glial cell alterations in the rat brain after repeated exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018. In: J. Neuroimmunol., vol. 389, no. 578325, pp. 578325, 2024. @article{Pintori2024-na,
title = {Immune and glial cell alterations in the rat brain after repeated exposure to the synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018},
author = {Nicholas Pintori and Rafaela Mostallino and Enrica Spano and Valeria Orr`u and Maria Grazia Piras and Maria Paola Castelli and Maria Antonietta De Luca},
doi = {10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578325},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-04-01},
urldate = {2024-04-01},
journal = {J. Neuroimmunol.},
volume = {389},
number = {578325},
pages = {578325},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {The use of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) poses
major psychiatric risks. We previously showed that repeated
exposure to the prototypical SCRA JWH-018 induces alterations in
dopamine (DA) transmission, abnormalities in the emotional
state, and glial cell activation in the mesocorticolimbic DA
circuits of rats. Despite growing evidence suggesting the
relationship between substance use disorders (SUD) and
neuroinflammation, little is known about the impact of SCRAs on
the neuroimmune system. Here, we investigated whether repeated
JWH-018 exposure altered neuroimmune signaling, which could be
linked with previously reported central effects. Adult male
Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to JWH-018 (0.25 mg/kg,
i.p.) for fourteen consecutive days, and the expression of
cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors was measured seven
days after treatment discontinuation in the striatum, cortex,
and hippocampus. Moreover, microglial (ionized calcium-binding
adaptor molecule 1, IBA-1) and astrocyte (glial fibrillary
acidic protein, GFAP) activation markers were evaluated in the
caudate-putamen (CPu). Repeated JWH-018 exposure induces a
perturbation of neuroimmune signaling specifically in the
striatum, as shown by increased levels of cytokines
[interleukins (IL) -2, -4, -12p70, -13, interferon (IFN)
$gamma$], chemokines [macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)
-1$alpha$, -3$alpha$], and growth factors [macrophage
colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF)], together with increased IBA-1 and GFAP
expression in the CPu. JWH-018 exposure induces persistant brain
region-specific immune alterations up to seven days after drug
discontinuation, which may contribute to the behavioral and
neurochemical dysregulations in striatal areas that play a role
in the reward-related processes that are frequently impaired in
SUD.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The use of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) poses
major psychiatric risks. We previously showed that repeated
exposure to the prototypical SCRA JWH-018 induces alterations in
dopamine (DA) transmission, abnormalities in the emotional
state, and glial cell activation in the mesocorticolimbic DA
circuits of rats. Despite growing evidence suggesting the
relationship between substance use disorders (SUD) and
neuroinflammation, little is known about the impact of SCRAs on
the neuroimmune system. Here, we investigated whether repeated
JWH-018 exposure altered neuroimmune signaling, which could be
linked with previously reported central effects. Adult male
Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to JWH-018 (0.25 mg/kg,
i.p.) for fourteen consecutive days, and the expression of
cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors was measured seven
days after treatment discontinuation in the striatum, cortex,
and hippocampus. Moreover, microglial (ionized calcium-binding
adaptor molecule 1, IBA-1) and astrocyte (glial fibrillary
acidic protein, GFAP) activation markers were evaluated in the
caudate-putamen (CPu). Repeated JWH-018 exposure induces a
perturbation of neuroimmune signaling specifically in the
striatum, as shown by increased levels of cytokines
[interleukins (IL) -2, -4, -12p70, -13, interferon (IFN)
$gamma$], chemokines [macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)
-1$alpha$, -3$alpha$], and growth factors [macrophage
colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF)], together with increased IBA-1 and GFAP
expression in the CPu. JWH-018 exposure induces persistant brain
region-specific immune alterations up to seven days after drug
discontinuation, which may contribute to the behavioral and
neurochemical dysregulations in striatal areas that play a role
in the reward-related processes that are frequently impaired in
SUD. |
Forabosco, Paola; Pala, Mauro; Crobu, Francesca; Diana, Maria Antonietta; Marongiu, Mara; Cusano, Roberto; Angius, Andrea; Steri, Maristella; Orr`u, Valeria; Schlessinger, David; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Devoto, Marcella; Cucca, Francesco: Transcriptome organization of white blood cells through gene co-expression network analysis in a large RNA-seq dataset. In: Front. Immunol., vol. 15, pp. 1350111, 2024. @article{Forabosco2024-jt,
title = {Transcriptome organization of white blood cells through gene co-expression network analysis in a large RNA-seq dataset},
author = {Paola Forabosco and Mauro Pala and Francesca Crobu and Maria Antonietta Diana and Mara Marongiu and Roberto Cusano and Andrea Angius and Maristella Steri and Valeria Orr`u and David Schlessinger and Edoardo Fiorillo and Marcella Devoto and Francesco Cucca},
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2024.1350111},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-04-01},
urldate = {2024-04-01},
journal = {Front. Immunol.},
volume = {15},
pages = {1350111},
abstract = {Gene co-expression network analysis enables identification of
biologically meaningful clusters of co-regulated genes (modules)
in an unsupervised manner. We present here the largest study
conducted thus far of co-expression networks in white blood cells
(WBC) based on RNA-seq data from 624 individuals. We identify 41
modules, 13 of them related to specific immune-related functions
and cell types (e.g. neutrophils, B and T cells, NK cells, and
plasmacytoid dendritic cells); we highlight biologically relevant
lncRNAs for each annotated module of co-expressed genes. We
further characterize with unprecedented resolution the modules in
T cell sub-types, through the availability of 95 immune
phenotypes obtained by flow cytometry in the same individuals.
This study provides novel insights into the transcriptional
architecture of human leukocytes, showing how network analysis
can advance our understanding of coding and non-coding gene
interactions in immune system cells.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Gene co-expression network analysis enables identification of
biologically meaningful clusters of co-regulated genes (modules)
in an unsupervised manner. We present here the largest study
conducted thus far of co-expression networks in white blood cells
(WBC) based on RNA-seq data from 624 individuals. We identify 41
modules, 13 of them related to specific immune-related functions
and cell types (e.g. neutrophils, B and T cells, NK cells, and
plasmacytoid dendritic cells); we highlight biologically relevant
lncRNAs for each annotated module of co-expressed genes. We
further characterize with unprecedented resolution the modules in
T cell sub-types, through the availability of 95 immune
phenotypes obtained by flow cytometry in the same individuals.
This study provides novel insights into the transcriptional
architecture of human leukocytes, showing how network analysis
can advance our understanding of coding and non-coding gene
interactions in immune system cells. |
Sterzi, Lodovico; Nodari, Riccardo; Marco, Federico Di; Ferrando, Maria Laura; Saluzzo, Francesca; Spitaleri, Andrea; Allahverdi, Hamed; Papaleo, Stella; Panelli, Simona; Rimoldi, Sara Giordana; Biffignandi, Gherard Batisti; Corbella, Marta; Cavallero, Annalisa; Prati, Paola; Farina, Claudio; Cirillo, Daniela Maria; Zuccotti, Gianvincenzo; Bandi, Claudio; Comandatore, Francesco: Genetic barriers more than environmental associations explain
Serratia marcescens population structure. In: Commun. Biol., vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 468, 2024. @article{Sterzi2024-xo,
title = {Genetic barriers more than environmental associations explain
Serratia marcescens population structure},
author = {Lodovico Sterzi and Riccardo Nodari and Federico Di Marco and Maria Laura Ferrando and Francesca Saluzzo and Andrea Spitaleri and Hamed Allahverdi and Stella Papaleo and Simona Panelli and Sara Giordana Rimoldi and Gherard Batisti Biffignandi and Marta Corbella and Annalisa Cavallero and Paola Prati and Claudio Farina and Daniela Maria Cirillo and Gianvincenzo Zuccotti and Claudio Bandi and Francesco Comandatore},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-04-01},
journal = {Commun. Biol.},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {468},
abstract = {Bacterial species often comprise well-separated lineages, likely
emerged and maintained by genetic isolation and/or ecological
divergence. How these two evolutionary actors interact in the
shaping of bacterial population structure is currently not fully
understood. In this study, we investigate the genetic and
ecological drivers underlying the evolution of Serratia
marcescens, an opportunistic pathogen with high genomic
flexibility and able to colonise diverse environments.
Comparative genomic analyses reveal a population structure
composed of five deeply-demarcated genetic clusters with open
pan-genome but limited inter-cluster gene flow, partially
explained by Restriction-Modification (R-M) systems
incompatibility. Furthermore, a large-scale research on
hundred-thousands metagenomic datasets reveals only a partial
habitat separation of the clusters. Globally, two clusters only
show a separate gene composition coherent with ecological
adaptations. These results suggest that genetic isolation has
preceded ecological adaptations in the shaping of the species
diversity, an evolutionary scenario coherent with the
Evolutionary Extended Synthesis.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Bacterial species often comprise well-separated lineages, likely
emerged and maintained by genetic isolation and/or ecological
divergence. How these two evolutionary actors interact in the
shaping of bacterial population structure is currently not fully
understood. In this study, we investigate the genetic and
ecological drivers underlying the evolution of Serratia
marcescens, an opportunistic pathogen with high genomic
flexibility and able to colonise diverse environments.
Comparative genomic analyses reveal a population structure
composed of five deeply-demarcated genetic clusters with open
pan-genome but limited inter-cluster gene flow, partially
explained by Restriction-Modification (R-M) systems
incompatibility. Furthermore, a large-scale research on
hundred-thousands metagenomic datasets reveals only a partial
habitat separation of the clusters. Globally, two clusters only
show a separate gene composition coherent with ecological
adaptations. These results suggest that genetic isolation has
preceded ecological adaptations in the shaping of the species
diversity, an evolutionary scenario coherent with the
Evolutionary Extended Synthesis. |
Paola, Peluso; Victor, Mamane; Ylenia, Spissu; Giuseppina, Casu; Alessandro, Dessì; Roberto, Dallocchio; Barbara, Sechi; Giuseppe, Palmieri; Carla., Rozzo: Iodinated 4,4’-Bipyridines with Antiproliferative Activity Against Melanoma Cell Lines. In: Chemical Medicinal Chemistry, no. e202300662, pp. 1-12, 2024, ISSN: 1860-7187. @article{,
title = {Iodinated 4,4’-Bipyridines with Antiproliferative Activity Against Melanoma Cell Lines},
author = {Peluso Paola and Mamane Victor and Spissu Ylenia and Casu Giuseppina and Dessì Alessandro and Dallocchio Roberto and Sechi Barbara and Palmieri Giuseppe and Rozzo Carla. },
url = {https://irgb.cnr.it/chemmedchem-2024-peluso-et-al-2024-2/},
doi = {doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.202300662},
issn = {1860-7187},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-03-15},
urldate = {2024-03-15},
journal = {Chemical Medicinal Chemistry},
number = {e202300662},
pages = {1-12},
abstract = {In the last decade, biological processes involving halogen bond (HaB) as a leading interaction attracted great interest. Iodinated 4,4’-bipyridines showed interesting properties as HaB donors in solution and in the solid state. This study represents a proof-of-principle exploration aiming to investigate the effectiveness of new iodinated compounds against melanoma cells. The authors investigated on the inhibition activity exerted by seven halogenated 4,4’-bipyridines on malignant melanoma cell proliferation. The 3,3’,5,5’-tetrachloro-2-iodo-4,4’-bipyridine showed significant antiproliferation activity against the A375 cell line, and lower toxicity on BJ fibroblasts. The results suggested that the antiproliferative activity, at molecular level, may be correlated with the electrophilic properties of iodine. Through in silico studies, the stereoelectronic features of possible sites determining the bioactivity were explored. The obtained results confirmed the high potential of iodinated compounds in designing novel anti-melanoma therapeutics strategies considering the utilization of iodinated 4,4’-bipyridines as templates to design new promising HaB-enabled inhibitors of MM cell proliferation, paving the way for a new perspective in this field.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
In the last decade, biological processes involving halogen bond (HaB) as a leading interaction attracted great interest. Iodinated 4,4’-bipyridines showed interesting properties as HaB donors in solution and in the solid state. This study represents a proof-of-principle exploration aiming to investigate the effectiveness of new iodinated compounds against melanoma cells. The authors investigated on the inhibition activity exerted by seven halogenated 4,4’-bipyridines on malignant melanoma cell proliferation. The 3,3’,5,5’-tetrachloro-2-iodo-4,4’-bipyridine showed significant antiproliferation activity against the A375 cell line, and lower toxicity on BJ fibroblasts. The results suggested that the antiproliferative activity, at molecular level, may be correlated with the electrophilic properties of iodine. Through in silico studies, the stereoelectronic features of possible sites determining the bioactivity were explored. The obtained results confirmed the high potential of iodinated compounds in designing novel anti-melanoma therapeutics strategies considering the utilization of iodinated 4,4’-bipyridines as templates to design new promising HaB-enabled inhibitors of MM cell proliferation, paving the way for a new perspective in this field. |
Busonero, Fabio; Lenarduzzi, Stefania; Crobu, Francesca; Gentile, Roberta Marie; Carta, Andrea; Cracco, Francesco; Maschio, Andrea; Camarda, Silvia; Marongiu, Michele; Zanetti, Daniela; Conversano, Claudio; Lorenzo, Giovanni Di; Mazz`a, Daniela; Seta, Francesco De; Girotto, Giorgia; Sanna, Serena: The Women4Health cohort: a unique cohort to study
women-specific mechanisms of cardio-metabolic regulation. In: Eur. Heart J. Open, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. öeae012", 2024. @article{Busonero2024-ks,
title = {The Women4Health cohort: a unique cohort to study
women-specific mechanisms of cardio-metabolic regulation},
author = {Fabio Busonero and Stefania Lenarduzzi and Francesca Crobu and Roberta Marie Gentile and Andrea Carta and Francesco Cracco and Andrea Maschio and Silvia Camarda and Michele Marongiu and Daniela Zanetti and Claudio Conversano and Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Daniela Mazz`a and Francesco De Seta and Giorgia Girotto and Serena Sanna},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-03-01},
journal = {Eur. Heart J. Open},
volume = {4},
number = {2},
pages = {öeae012"},
publisher = {Öxford University Press (OUP)"},
abstract = {Äims: Epidemiological research has shown relevant differences
between sexes in clinical manifestations, severity, and
progression of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. To date,
the mechanisms underlying these differences remain unknown.
Given the rising incidence of such diseases, gender-specific
research on established and emerging risk factors, such as
dysfunction of glycaemic and/or lipid metabolism, of sex
hormones and of gut microbiome, is of paramount importance. The
relationships between sex hormones, gut microbiome, and host
glycaemic and/or lipid metabolism are largely unknown even in
the homoeostasis status. Yet this knowledge gap would be pivotal
to pinpoint to key mechanisms that are likely to be disrupted in
disease context. Methods and results: Here we present the
Women4Health (W4H) cohort, a unique cohort comprising up to 300
healthy women followed up during a natural menstrual cycle, set
up with the primary goal to investigate the combined role of sex
hormones and gut microbiota variations in regulating host lipid
and glucose metabolism during homoeostasis, using a multi-omics
strategy. Additionally, the W4H cohort will take into
consideration another ecosystem that is unique to women, the
vaginal microbiome, investigating its interaction with gut
microbiome and exploring-for the first time-its role in
cardiometabolic disorders. Conclusion: The W4H cohort study lays
a foundation for improving current knowledge of women-specific
mechanisms in cardiometabolic regulation. It aspires to
transform insights on host-microbiota interactions into
prevention and therapeutic approaches for personalized health
care."},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Äims: Epidemiological research has shown relevant differences
between sexes in clinical manifestations, severity, and
progression of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. To date,
the mechanisms underlying these differences remain unknown.
Given the rising incidence of such diseases, gender-specific
research on established and emerging risk factors, such as
dysfunction of glycaemic and/or lipid metabolism, of sex
hormones and of gut microbiome, is of paramount importance. The
relationships between sex hormones, gut microbiome, and host
glycaemic and/or lipid metabolism are largely unknown even in
the homoeostasis status. Yet this knowledge gap would be pivotal
to pinpoint to key mechanisms that are likely to be disrupted in
disease context. Methods and results: Here we present the
Women4Health (W4H) cohort, a unique cohort comprising up to 300
healthy women followed up during a natural menstrual cycle, set
up with the primary goal to investigate the combined role of sex
hormones and gut microbiota variations in regulating host lipid
and glucose metabolism during homoeostasis, using a multi-omics
strategy. Additionally, the W4H cohort will take into
consideration another ecosystem that is unique to women, the
vaginal microbiome, investigating its interaction with gut
microbiome and exploring-for the first time-its role in
cardiometabolic disorders. Conclusion: The W4H cohort study lays
a foundation for improving current knowledge of women-specific
mechanisms in cardiometabolic regulation. It aspires to
transform insights on host-microbiota interactions into
prevention and therapeutic approaches for personalized health
care." |
Busonero, Fabio; Lenarduzzi, Stefania; Crobu, Francesca; Gentile, Roberta Marie; Carta, Andrea; Cracco, Francesco; Maschio, Andrea; Camarda, Silvia; Marongiu, Michele; Zanetti, Daniela; Conversano, Claudio; Lorenzo, Giovanni Di; Mazz`a, Daniela; Seta, Francesco De; Girotto, Giorgia; Sanna, Serena: The Women4Health cohort: a unique cohort to study
women-specific mechanisms of cardio-metabolic regulation. In: Eur. Heart J. Open, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. öeae012", 2024. @article{Busonero2024-et,
title = {The Women4Health cohort: a unique cohort to study
women-specific mechanisms of cardio-metabolic regulation},
author = {Fabio Busonero and Stefania Lenarduzzi and Francesca Crobu and Roberta Marie Gentile and Andrea Carta and Francesco Cracco and Andrea Maschio and Silvia Camarda and Michele Marongiu and Daniela Zanetti and Claudio Conversano and Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Daniela Mazz`a and Francesco De Seta and Giorgia Girotto and Serena Sanna},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-03-01},
journal = {Eur. Heart J. Open},
volume = {4},
number = {2},
pages = {öeae012"},
publisher = {Öxford University Press (OUP)"},
abstract = {Äims: Epidemiological research has shown relevant differences
between sexes in clinical manifestations, severity, and
progression of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. To date,
the mechanisms underlying these differences remain unknown.
Given the rising incidence of such diseases, gender-specific
research on established and emerging risk factors, such as
dysfunction of glycaemic and/or lipid metabolism, of sex
hormones and of gut microbiome, is of paramount importance. The
relationships between sex hormones, gut microbiome, and host
glycaemic and/or lipid metabolism are largely unknown even in
the homoeostasis status. Yet this knowledge gap would be pivotal
to pinpoint to key mechanisms that are likely to be disrupted in
disease context. Methods and results: Here we present the
Women4Health (W4H) cohort, a unique cohort comprising up to 300
healthy women followed up during a natural menstrual cycle, set
up with the primary goal to investigate the combined role of sex
hormones and gut microbiota variations in regulating host lipid
and glucose metabolism during homoeostasis, using a multi-omics
strategy. Additionally, the W4H cohort will take into
consideration another ecosystem that is unique to women, the
vaginal microbiome, investigating its interaction with gut
microbiome and exploring-for the first time-its role in
cardiometabolic disorders. Conclusion: The W4H cohort study lays
a foundation for improving current knowledge of women-specific
mechanisms in cardiometabolic regulation. It aspires to
transform insights on host-microbiota interactions into
prevention and therapeutic approaches for personalized health
care."},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Äims: Epidemiological research has shown relevant differences
between sexes in clinical manifestations, severity, and
progression of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. To date,
the mechanisms underlying these differences remain unknown.
Given the rising incidence of such diseases, gender-specific
research on established and emerging risk factors, such as
dysfunction of glycaemic and/or lipid metabolism, of sex
hormones and of gut microbiome, is of paramount importance. The
relationships between sex hormones, gut microbiome, and host
glycaemic and/or lipid metabolism are largely unknown even in
the homoeostasis status. Yet this knowledge gap would be pivotal
to pinpoint to key mechanisms that are likely to be disrupted in
disease context. Methods and results: Here we present the
Women4Health (W4H) cohort, a unique cohort comprising up to 300
healthy women followed up during a natural menstrual cycle, set
up with the primary goal to investigate the combined role of sex
hormones and gut microbiota variations in regulating host lipid
and glucose metabolism during homoeostasis, using a multi-omics
strategy. Additionally, the W4H cohort will take into
consideration another ecosystem that is unique to women, the
vaginal microbiome, investigating its interaction with gut
microbiome and exploring-for the first time-its role in
cardiometabolic disorders. Conclusion: The W4H cohort study lays
a foundation for improving current knowledge of women-specific
mechanisms in cardiometabolic regulation. It aspires to
transform insights on host-microbiota interactions into
prevention and therapeutic approaches for personalized health
care." |
Sini, Maria Cristina; Doro, Maria Grazia; Frogheri, Laura; Zinellu, Angelo; Paliogiannis, Panagiotis; Porcu, Alberto; Scognamillo, Fabrizio; Delogu, Daniele; Santeufemia, Davide Adriano; Persico, Ivana; Palomba, Grazia; Maestrale, Giovanni Battista; Cossu, Antonio; Palmieri, Giuseppe: Combination of mutations in genes controlling DNA repair and high mutational load plays a prognostic role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): a retrospective real-life study in Sardinian population. In: J Transl Med, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 108, 2024, ISSN: 1479-5876. @article{pmid38280995,
title = {Combination of mutations in genes controlling DNA repair and high mutational load plays a prognostic role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): a retrospective real-life study in Sardinian population},
author = {Maria Cristina Sini and Maria Grazia Doro and Laura Frogheri and Angelo Zinellu and Panagiotis Paliogiannis and Alberto Porcu and Fabrizio Scognamillo and Daniele Delogu and Davide Adriano Santeufemia and Ivana Persico and Grazia Palomba and Giovanni Battista Maestrale and Antonio Cossu and Giuseppe Palmieri},
doi = {10.1186/s12967-024-04923-3},
issn = {1479-5876},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-27},
urldate = {2024-01-27},
journal = {J Transl Med},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {108},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDCA) carrying impaired mismatch repair mechanisms seem to have an outcome advantage under treatment with conventional chemotherapy, whereas the role for the tumor mutation burden on prognosis is controversial. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic role of the mutated genes involved in genome damage repair in a real-life series of PDAC patients in a hospital-based manner from the main Institution deputed to surgically treat such a disease in North Sardinia.
METHODS: A cohort of fifty-five consecutive PDAC patients with potentially resectable/border line resectable PDAC (stage IIB-III) or oligometastatic disease (stage IV) and tumor tissue availability underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based analysis using a panel containing driver oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes as well as genes controlling DNA repair mechanisms.
RESULTS: Genes involved in the both genome damage repair (DR) and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) were found mutated in 17 (31%) and 15 (27%) cases, respectively. One fourth of PDAC cases (14/55; 25.5%) carried tumors presenting a combination of mutations in repair genes (DR and MMR) and the highest mutation load rates (MLR-H). After correction for confounders (surgery, adjuvant therapy, stage T, and metastasis), multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that mutations in DR genes (HR = 3.0126, 95% CI 1.0707 to 8.4764, p = 0.0367) and the MLR (HR = 1.0018, 95%CI 1.0005 to 1.0032, p = 0.009) were significantly related to worse survival.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of mutated repair genes and MLR-H, which is associated with a worse survival in our series of PDAC patients treated with conventional chemotherapy protocols, might become a predictive biomarker of response to immunotherapy in addition to its prognostic role in predicting survival.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
BACKGROUND: Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDCA) carrying impaired mismatch repair mechanisms seem to have an outcome advantage under treatment with conventional chemotherapy, whereas the role for the tumor mutation burden on prognosis is controversial. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic role of the mutated genes involved in genome damage repair in a real-life series of PDAC patients in a hospital-based manner from the main Institution deputed to surgically treat such a disease in North Sardinia.
METHODS: A cohort of fifty-five consecutive PDAC patients with potentially resectable/border line resectable PDAC (stage IIB-III) or oligometastatic disease (stage IV) and tumor tissue availability underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based analysis using a panel containing driver oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes as well as genes controlling DNA repair mechanisms.
RESULTS: Genes involved in the both genome damage repair (DR) and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) were found mutated in 17 (31%) and 15 (27%) cases, respectively. One fourth of PDAC cases (14/55; 25.5%) carried tumors presenting a combination of mutations in repair genes (DR and MMR) and the highest mutation load rates (MLR-H). After correction for confounders (surgery, adjuvant therapy, stage T, and metastasis), multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that mutations in DR genes (HR = 3.0126, 95% CI 1.0707 to 8.4764, p = 0.0367) and the MLR (HR = 1.0018, 95%CI 1.0005 to 1.0032, p = 0.009) were significantly related to worse survival.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of mutated repair genes and MLR-H, which is associated with a worse survival in our series of PDAC patients treated with conventional chemotherapy protocols, might become a predictive biomarker of response to immunotherapy in addition to its prognostic role in predicting survival. |
Ascierto, Paolo A.; Casula, Milena; Bulgarelli, Jenny; Pisano, Marina; Piccinini, Claudia; Piccin, Luisa; Cossu, Antonio; Mandalà, Mario; Ferrucci, Pier Francesco; Guidoboni, Massimo; Rutkowski, Piotr; Ferraresi, Virginia; Arance, Ana; Guida, Michele; Maiello, Evaristo; Gogas, Helen; Richtig, Erika; Fierro, Maria Teresa; Lebbe, Celeste; Helgadottir, Hildur; Queirolo, Paola; Spagnolo, Francesco; Tucci, Marco; Vecchio, Michele Del; Cao, Maria Gonzales; Minisini, Alessandro Marco; Placido, Sabino De; Sanmamed, Miguel F.; Mallardo, Domenico; Paone, Miriam; Vitale, Maria Grazia; Melero, Ignacio; Grimaldi, Antonio M.; Giannarelli, Diana; Dummer, Reinhard; Sileni, Vanna Chiarion; Palmieri., Giuseppe: Sequential immunotherapy and targeted therapy for metastatic BRAF V600 mutated melanoma: 4-year survival and biomarkers evaluation from the phase II SECOMBIT trial. In: Nature Communications, vol. 15, no. 146, 2024. @article{nokey,
title = {Sequential immunotherapy and targeted therapy for metastatic BRAF V600 mutated melanoma: 4-year survival and biomarkers evaluation from the phase II SECOMBIT trial},
author = {Paolo A. Ascierto and Milena Casula and Jenny Bulgarelli and Marina Pisano and Claudia Piccinini and Luisa Piccin and Antonio Cossu and Mario Mandalà and Pier Francesco Ferrucci and Massimo Guidoboni and Piotr Rutkowski and Virginia Ferraresi and Ana Arance and Michele Guida and Evaristo Maiello and Helen Gogas and Erika Richtig and Maria Teresa Fierro and Celeste Lebbe and Hildur Helgadottir and Paola Queirolo and Francesco Spagnolo and Marco Tucci and Michele Del Vecchio and Maria Gonzales Cao and Alessandro Marco Minisini and Sabino De Placido and Miguel F. Sanmamed and Domenico Mallardo and Miriam Paone and Maria Grazia Vitale and Ignacio Melero and Antonio M. Grimaldi and Diana Giannarelli and Reinhard Dummer and Vanna Chiarion Sileni and Giuseppe Palmieri.},
url = {https://irgb.cnr.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ascierto-et-al-2024-Nat-Comm.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44475-6},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-15},
urldate = {2024-01-15},
journal = {Nature Communications},
volume = {15},
number = {146},
abstract = {No prospective data were available prior to 2021 to inform selection between combination BRAF and MEK inhibition versus dual blockade of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) as first-line treatment options for BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. SECOMBIT (NCT02631447) was a randomized, three-arm, non comparative phase II trial in which patients were randomized to one of two sequences with immunotherapy or targeted therapy first, with a third arm in which an 8-week induction course of targeted therapy followed by a planned switch to immunotherapy was the first treatment. BRAF/MEK inhibitors were encorafenib plus binimetinib and checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab plus nivolumab. Primary outcome of overall survival was previously reported, demonstrating improved survival with immunotherapy administered until progression and followed by BRAF/MEK inhibition. Here we report 4-year survival outcomes, confirming long term benefit with first-line immunotherapy. We also describe preliminary results of predefined biomarkers analyses that identify a trend toward improved 4-year overall survival and total progression-free survival in patients
with loss-of-function mutations affecting JAK or low baseline levels of serum interferon gamma (IFNy). These long-term survival outcomes confirm immunotherapy as the preferred first-line treatment approach for most patients with BRAFV600-mutant metastatic melanoma, and the biomarker analyses are hypothesis-generating for future investigations of predictors of durable benefit with dual checkpoint blockade and targeted therapy.
},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
No prospective data were available prior to 2021 to inform selection between combination BRAF and MEK inhibition versus dual blockade of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) as first-line treatment options for BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. SECOMBIT (NCT02631447) was a randomized, three-arm, non comparative phase II trial in which patients were randomized to one of two sequences with immunotherapy or targeted therapy first, with a third arm in which an 8-week induction course of targeted therapy followed by a planned switch to immunotherapy was the first treatment. BRAF/MEK inhibitors were encorafenib plus binimetinib and checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab plus nivolumab. Primary outcome of overall survival was previously reported, demonstrating improved survival with immunotherapy administered until progression and followed by BRAF/MEK inhibition. Here we report 4-year survival outcomes, confirming long term benefit with first-line immunotherapy. We also describe preliminary results of predefined biomarkers analyses that identify a trend toward improved 4-year overall survival and total progression-free survival in patients
with loss-of-function mutations affecting JAK or low baseline levels of serum interferon gamma (IFNy). These long-term survival outcomes confirm immunotherapy as the preferred first-line treatment approach for most patients with BRAFV600-mutant metastatic melanoma, and the biomarker analyses are hypothesis-generating for future investigations of predictors of durable benefit with dual checkpoint blockade and targeted therapy.
|
Zhernakova, Daria V; Wang, Daoming; Liu, Lei; Andreu-Sánchez, Sergio; Zhang, Yue; Ruiz-Moreno, Angel J; Peng, Haoran; Plomp, Niels; Castillo-Izquierdo, Ángela Del; Gacesa, Ranko; Lopera-Maya, Esteban A; Temba, Godfrey S; Kullaya, Vesla I; Leeuwen, Sander S; Study, Lifelines Cohort; Xavier, Ramnik J; Mast, Quirijn; Joosten, Leo A B; Riksen, Niels P; Rutten, Joost H W; Netea, Mihai G; Sanna, Serena; Wijmenga, Cisca; Weersma, Rinse K; Zhernakova, Alexandra; Harmsen, Hermie J M; Fu, Jingyuan: Host genetic regulation of human gut microbial structural
variation. In: Nature, vol. 625, no. 7996, pp. 813–821, 2024. @article{Zhernakova2024-gv,
title = {Host genetic regulation of human gut microbial structural
variation},
author = {Daria V Zhernakova and Daoming Wang and Lei Liu and Sergio Andreu-Sánchez and Yue Zhang and Angel J Ruiz-Moreno and Haoran Peng and Niels Plomp and Ángela Del Castillo-Izquierdo and Ranko Gacesa and Esteban A Lopera-Maya and Godfrey S Temba and Vesla I Kullaya and Sander S Leeuwen and Lifelines Cohort Study and Ramnik J Xavier and Quirijn Mast and Leo A B Joosten and Niels P Riksen and Joost H W Rutten and Mihai G Netea and Serena Sanna and Cisca Wijmenga and Rinse K Weersma and Alexandra Zhernakova and Hermie J M Harmsen and Jingyuan Fu},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {625},
number = {7996},
pages = {813--821},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {Älthough the impact of host genetics on gut microbial diversity
and the abundance of specific taxa is well established1-6,
little is known about how host genetics regulates the genetic
diversity of gut microorganisms. Here we conducted a
meta-analysis of associations between human genetic variation
and gut microbial structural variation in 9,015 individuals from
four Dutch cohorts. Strikingly, the presence rate of a
structural variation segment in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
that harbours an N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) utilization gene
cluster is higher in individuals who secrete the type A
oligosaccharide antigen terminating in GalNAc, a feature that is
jointly determined by human ABO and FUT2 genotypes, and we could
replicate this association in a Tanzanian cohort. In vitro
experiments demonstrated that GalNAc can be used as the sole
carbohydrate source for F. prausnitzii strains that carry the
GalNAc-metabolizing pathway. Further in silico and in vitro
studies demonstrated that other ABO-associated species can also
utilize GalNAc, particularly Collinsella aerofaciens. The GalNAc
utilization genes are also associated with the host's
cardiometabolic health, particularly in individuals with mucosal
A-antigen. Together, the findings of our study demonstrate that
genetic associations across the human genome and bacterial
metagenome can provide functional insights into the reciprocal
host-microbiome relationship."},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Älthough the impact of host genetics on gut microbial diversity
and the abundance of specific taxa is well established1-6,
little is known about how host genetics regulates the genetic
diversity of gut microorganisms. Here we conducted a
meta-analysis of associations between human genetic variation
and gut microbial structural variation in 9,015 individuals from
four Dutch cohorts. Strikingly, the presence rate of a
structural variation segment in Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
that harbours an N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) utilization gene
cluster is higher in individuals who secrete the type A
oligosaccharide antigen terminating in GalNAc, a feature that is
jointly determined by human ABO and FUT2 genotypes, and we could
replicate this association in a Tanzanian cohort. In vitro
experiments demonstrated that GalNAc can be used as the sole
carbohydrate source for F. prausnitzii strains that carry the
GalNAc-metabolizing pathway. Further in silico and in vitro
studies demonstrated that other ABO-associated species can also
utilize GalNAc, particularly Collinsella aerofaciens. The GalNAc
utilization genes are also associated with the host's
cardiometabolic health, particularly in individuals with mucosal
A-antigen. Together, the findings of our study demonstrate that
genetic associations across the human genome and bacterial
metagenome can provide functional insights into the reciprocal
host-microbiome relationship." |
2023
|
Simbula, Michela; Manchinu, Maria Francesca; Mingoia, Maura; Pala, Mauro; Asunis, Isadora; Caria, Cristian Antonio; Perseu, Lucia; Shah, Manan; Crossley, Merlin; Moi, Paolo; Ristaldi, Maria Serafina: miR-365-3p mediates BCL11A and SOX6 erythroid-specific
coregulation: A new player in HbF activation. In: Mol. Ther. Nucleic Acids, vol. 34, no. 102025, pp. 102025, 2023. @article{Simbula2023-rj,
title = {miR-365-3p mediates BCL11A and SOX6 erythroid-specific
coregulation: A new player in HbF activation},
author = {Michela Simbula and Maria Francesca Manchinu and Maura Mingoia and Mauro Pala and Isadora Asunis and Cristian Antonio Caria and Lucia Perseu and Manan Shah and Merlin Crossley and Paolo Moi and Maria Serafina Ristaldi},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-12-01},
journal = {Mol. Ther. Nucleic Acids},
volume = {34},
number = {102025},
pages = {102025},
publisher = {Elsevier BV},
abstract = {Hemoglobin switching is a complex biological process not yet
fully elucidated. The mechanism regulating the suppression of
fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression is of particular interest
because of the positive impact of HbF on the course of diseases
such as $beta$-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, hereditary
hemoglobin disorders that affect the health of countless
individuals worldwide. Several transcription factors have been
implicated in the control of HbF, of which BCL11A has emerged as
a major player in HbF silencing. SOX6 has also been implicated
in silencing HbF and is critical to the silencing of the mouse
embryonic hemoglobins. BCL11A and SOX6 are co-expressed and
physically interact in the erythroid compartment during
differentiation. In this study, we observe that BCL11A knockout
leads to post-transcriptional downregulation of SOX6 through
activation of microRNA (miR)-365-3p. Downregulating SOX6 by
transient ectopic expression of miR-365-3p or gene editing
activates embryonic and fetal $beta$-like globin gene
expression in erythroid cells. The synchronized expression of
BCL11A and SOX6 is crucial for hemoglobin switching. In this
study, we identified a BCL11A/miR-365-3p/SOX6 evolutionarily
conserved pathway, providing insights into the regulation of the
embryonic and fetal globin genes suggesting new targets for
treating $beta$-hemoglobinopathies.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hemoglobin switching is a complex biological process not yet
fully elucidated. The mechanism regulating the suppression of
fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression is of particular interest
because of the positive impact of HbF on the course of diseases
such as $beta$-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, hereditary
hemoglobin disorders that affect the health of countless
individuals worldwide. Several transcription factors have been
implicated in the control of HbF, of which BCL11A has emerged as
a major player in HbF silencing. SOX6 has also been implicated
in silencing HbF and is critical to the silencing of the mouse
embryonic hemoglobins. BCL11A and SOX6 are co-expressed and
physically interact in the erythroid compartment during
differentiation. In this study, we observe that BCL11A knockout
leads to post-transcriptional downregulation of SOX6 through
activation of microRNA (miR)-365-3p. Downregulating SOX6 by
transient ectopic expression of miR-365-3p or gene editing
activates embryonic and fetal $beta$-like globin gene
expression in erythroid cells. The synchronized expression of
BCL11A and SOX6 is crucial for hemoglobin switching. In this
study, we identified a BCL11A/miR-365-3p/SOX6 evolutionarily
conserved pathway, providing insights into the regulation of the
embryonic and fetal globin genes suggesting new targets for
treating $beta$-hemoglobinopathies. |
Olla, S.; Siguri, C.; Fais, A.; Era, B.; Fantini, M. C.; "Di Petrillo, A.: Inhibitory Effect of Quercetin on Oxidative Endogen Enzymes: A Focus on Putative Binding Modes. In: Int J Mol Sci, vol. 24, no. 20, 2023. @article{pmid37895071,
title = {Inhibitory Effect of Quercetin on Oxidative Endogen Enzymes: A Focus on Putative Binding Modes},
author = {S. Olla and C. Siguri and A. Fais and B. Era and M. C. Fantini and A. "Di Petrillo},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-10-20},
urldate = {2023-10-20},
journal = {Int J Mol Sci},
volume = {24},
number = {20},
abstract = {Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between the production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability of the body to neutralize them by anti-oxidant defense systems. Cells can produce ROS during physiological processes, but excessive ROS can lead to non-specific and irreversible damage to biological molecules, such as DNA, lipids, and proteins. Mitochondria mainly produce endogenous ROS during both physiological and pathological conditions. Enzymes like nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX), xanthine oxidase (XO), lipoxygenase (LOX), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and monoamine oxidase (MAO) contribute to this process. The body has enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense systems to neutralize ROS. The intake of bioactive phenols, like quercetin (Que), can protect against pro-oxidative damage by quenching ROS through a non-enzymatic system. In this study, we evaluate the ability of Que to target endogenous oxidant enzymes involved in ROS production and explore the mechanisms of action underlying its anti-oxidant properties. Que can act as a free radical scavenger by donating electrons through the negative charges in its phenolic and ketone groups. Additionally, it can effectively inhibit the activity of several endogenous oxidative enzymes by binding them with high affinity and specificity. Que had the best molecular docking results with XO, followed by MAO-A, 5-LOX, NOX, and MPO. Que's binding to these enzymes was confirmed by subsequent molecular dynamics, revealing different stability phases depending on the enzyme bound. The 500 ns simulation showed a net evolution of binding for NOX and MPO. These findings suggest that Que has potential as a natural therapy for diseases related to oxidative stress.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between the production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability of the body to neutralize them by anti-oxidant defense systems. Cells can produce ROS during physiological processes, but excessive ROS can lead to non-specific and irreversible damage to biological molecules, such as DNA, lipids, and proteins. Mitochondria mainly produce endogenous ROS during both physiological and pathological conditions. Enzymes like nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX), xanthine oxidase (XO), lipoxygenase (LOX), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and monoamine oxidase (MAO) contribute to this process. The body has enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense systems to neutralize ROS. The intake of bioactive phenols, like quercetin (Que), can protect against pro-oxidative damage by quenching ROS through a non-enzymatic system. In this study, we evaluate the ability of Que to target endogenous oxidant enzymes involved in ROS production and explore the mechanisms of action underlying its anti-oxidant properties. Que can act as a free radical scavenger by donating electrons through the negative charges in its phenolic and ketone groups. Additionally, it can effectively inhibit the activity of several endogenous oxidative enzymes by binding them with high affinity and specificity. Que had the best molecular docking results with XO, followed by MAO-A, 5-LOX, NOX, and MPO. Que's binding to these enzymes was confirmed by subsequent molecular dynamics, revealing different stability phases depending on the enzyme bound. The 500 ns simulation showed a net evolution of binding for NOX and MPO. These findings suggest that Que has potential as a natural therapy for diseases related to oxidative stress. |
Colombo, E.; Olla, S.; Minnelli, C.; Formato, A.; Veroni, C.; Corbisiero, S.; Pericolo, M.; Siguri, C.; Mobbili, G.; Agresti, C.; Seneci, P.: Synthesis and Characterization of Edaravone Analogues as Remyelinating Agents and Putative Mechanistic Probes. In: vol. 28, no. 19, 2023. @article{pmid37836771,
title = {Synthesis and Characterization of Edaravone Analogues as Remyelinating Agents and Putative Mechanistic Probes},
author = {E. Colombo and S. Olla and C. Minnelli and A. Formato and C. Veroni and S. Corbisiero and M. Pericolo and C. Siguri and G. Mobbili and C. Agresti and P. Seneci},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-10-04},
volume = {28},
number = {19},
abstract = {as a putative EDA 1 prodrug suitable for in vivo testing.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
as a putative EDA 1 prodrug suitable for in vivo testing. |
Puccio, Simone; Grillo, Giorgio; Alvisi, Giorgia; Scirgolea, Caterina; Galletti, Giovanni; Mazza, Emilia Maria Cristina; Consiglio, Arianna; Simone, Gabriele De; Licciulli, Flavio; Lugli, Enrico: CRUSTY: a versatile web platform for the rapid analysis and visualization of high-dimensional flow cytometry data. In: Nat Commun, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 5102, 2023, ISSN: 2041-1723. @article{pmid37666818,
title = {CRUSTY: a versatile web platform for the rapid analysis and visualization of high-dimensional flow cytometry data},
author = {Simone Puccio and Giorgio Grillo and Giorgia Alvisi and Caterina Scirgolea and Giovanni Galletti and Emilia Maria Cristina Mazza and Arianna Consiglio and Gabriele De Simone and Flavio Licciulli and Enrico Lugli},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-023-40790-0},
issn = {2041-1723},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-01},
journal = {Nat Commun},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {5102},
abstract = {Flow cytometry (FCM) can investigate dozens of parameters from millions of cells and hundreds of specimens in a short time and at a reasonable cost, but the amount of data that is generated is considerable. Computational approaches are useful to identify novel subpopulations and molecular biomarkers, but generally require deep expertize in bioinformatics and the use of different platforms. To overcome these limitations, we introduce CRUSTY, an interactive, user-friendly webtool incorporating the most popular algorithms for FCM data analysis, and capable of visualizing graphical and tabular results and automatically generating publication-quality figures within minutes. CRUSTY also hosts an interactive interface for the exploration of results in real time. Thus, CRUSTY enables a large number of users to mine complex datasets and reduce the time required for data exploration and interpretation. CRUSTY is accessible at https://crusty.humanitas.it/ .},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Flow cytometry (FCM) can investigate dozens of parameters from millions of cells and hundreds of specimens in a short time and at a reasonable cost, but the amount of data that is generated is considerable. Computational approaches are useful to identify novel subpopulations and molecular biomarkers, but generally require deep expertize in bioinformatics and the use of different platforms. To overcome these limitations, we introduce CRUSTY, an interactive, user-friendly webtool incorporating the most popular algorithms for FCM data analysis, and capable of visualizing graphical and tabular results and automatically generating publication-quality figures within minutes. CRUSTY also hosts an interactive interface for the exploration of results in real time. Thus, CRUSTY enables a large number of users to mine complex datasets and reduce the time required for data exploration and interpretation. CRUSTY is accessible at https://crusty.humanitas.it/ . |
Gussak, Alex; Ferrando, Maria Laura; Schrama, Mels; Baarlen, Peter; Wells, Jerry Mark: Precision genome engineering in streptococcus suis based on a
broad-host-range vector and CRISPR-Cas9 technology. In: ÄCS Synth. Biol.", vol. 12, no. 9, pp. 2546–2560, 2023. @article{Gussak2023-rj,
title = {Precision genome engineering in streptococcus suis based on a
broad-host-range vector and CRISPR-Cas9 technology},
author = {Alex Gussak and Maria Laura Ferrando and Mels Schrama and Peter Baarlen and Jerry Mark Wells},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-01},
journal = {ÄCS Synth. Biol."},
volume = {12},
number = {9},
pages = {2546--2560},
abstract = {Streptococcussuis is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes
severe invasive disease in pigs and humans. Current methods for
genome engineering of S. suis rely on the insertion of antibiotic
resistance markers, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive
and does not allow the precise introduction of small genomic
mutations. Here we developed a system for CRISPR-based genome
editing in S. suis, utilizing linear DNA fragments for homologous
recombination (HR) and a plasmid-based negative selection system
for bacteria not edited by HR. To enable the use of this system
in other bacteria, we engineered a broad-host-range replicon in
the CRISPR plasmid. We demonstrated the utility of this system to
rapidly introduce multiple gene deletions in successive rounds of
genome editing and to make precise nucleotide changes in
essential genes. Furthermore, we characterized a mechanism by
which S. suis can escape killing by a targeted Cas9-sgRNA complex
in the absence of HR. A characteristic of this new mechanism is
the presence of very slow-growing colonies in a persister-like
state that may allow for DNA repair or the introduction of
mutations, alleviating Cas9 pressure. This does not impact the
utility of CRISPR-based genome editing because the escape
colonies are easily distinguished from genetically edited clones
due to their small colony size. Our CRISPR-based editing system
is a valuable addition to the genetic toolbox for engineering of
S. suis, as it accelerates the process of mutant construction and
simplifies the removal of antibiotic markers between successive
rounds of genome editing.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Streptococcussuis is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes
severe invasive disease in pigs and humans. Current methods for
genome engineering of S. suis rely on the insertion of antibiotic
resistance markers, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive
and does not allow the precise introduction of small genomic
mutations. Here we developed a system for CRISPR-based genome
editing in S. suis, utilizing linear DNA fragments for homologous
recombination (HR) and a plasmid-based negative selection system
for bacteria not edited by HR. To enable the use of this system
in other bacteria, we engineered a broad-host-range replicon in
the CRISPR plasmid. We demonstrated the utility of this system to
rapidly introduce multiple gene deletions in successive rounds of
genome editing and to make precise nucleotide changes in
essential genes. Furthermore, we characterized a mechanism by
which S. suis can escape killing by a targeted Cas9-sgRNA complex
in the absence of HR. A characteristic of this new mechanism is
the presence of very slow-growing colonies in a persister-like
state that may allow for DNA repair or the introduction of
mutations, alleviating Cas9 pressure. This does not impact the
utility of CRISPR-based genome editing because the escape
colonies are easily distinguished from genetically edited clones
due to their small colony size. Our CRISPR-based editing system
is a valuable addition to the genetic toolbox for engineering of
S. suis, as it accelerates the process of mutant construction and
simplifies the removal of antibiotic markers between successive
rounds of genome editing. |
Örr`u, Sandra; Pascariello, Emanuele; Pes, Barbara; Rallo, Vincenzo; Barbara, Raffaele; Muntoni, Marta; Notari, Francesca; Fancello, Gianfranco; Mocci, Cristina; Muroni, Maria Rosaria; Cossu-Rocca, Paolo; Angius, Andrea; Miglio, Maria Rosaria" De: Biomarker dynamics affecting neoadjuvant therapy response and
outcome of HER2-positive breast cancer subtype. In: Sci. Rep., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 12869, 2023. @article{Orru2023-vp,
title = {Biomarker dynamics affecting neoadjuvant therapy response and
outcome of HER2-positive breast cancer subtype},
author = {Sandra Örr`u and Emanuele Pascariello and Barbara Pes and Vincenzo Rallo and Raffaele Barbara and Marta Muntoni and Francesca Notari and Gianfranco Fancello and Cristina Mocci and Maria Rosaria Muroni and Paolo Cossu-Rocca and Andrea Angius and Maria Rosaria" De Miglio},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-08-01},
journal = {Sci. Rep.},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {12869},
publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
abstract = {HER2+ breast cancer (BC) is an aggressive subtype genetically
and biologically heterogeneous. We evaluate the predictive and
prognostic role of HER2 protein/gene expression levels combined
with clinico-pathologic features in 154 HER2+ BCs patients who
received trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). The
tumoral pathological complete response (pCR) rate was 40.9%.
High tumoral pCR show a scarce mortality rate vs subjects with a
lower response. 93.7% of ypT0 were HER2 IHC3+ BC, 6.3% were
HER2 IHC 2+/SISH+ and 86.7% of ypN0 were HER2 IHC3+, the
remaining were HER2 IHC2+/SISH+. Better pCR rate correlate with
a high percentage of infiltrating immune cells and right-sided
tumors, that reduce distant metastasis and improve survival, but
no incidence difference. HER2 IHC score and laterality emerge as
strong predictors of tumoral pCR after NACT from machine
learning analysis. HER2 IHC3+ and G3 are poor prognostic factors
for HER2+ BC patients, and could be considered in the
application of neoadjuvant therapy. Increasing TILs
concentrations, lower lymph node ratio and lower residual tumor
cellularity are associated with a better outcome. The immune
microenvironment and scarce lymph node involvement have crucial
role in clinical outcomes. The combination of all predictors
might offer new options for NACT effectiveness prediction and
stratification of HER2+ BC during clinical decision-making.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
HER2+ breast cancer (BC) is an aggressive subtype genetically
and biologically heterogeneous. We evaluate the predictive and
prognostic role of HER2 protein/gene expression levels combined
with clinico-pathologic features in 154 HER2+ BCs patients who
received trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). The
tumoral pathological complete response (pCR) rate was 40.9%.
High tumoral pCR show a scarce mortality rate vs subjects with a
lower response. 93.7% of ypT0 were HER2 IHC3+ BC, 6.3% were
HER2 IHC 2+/SISH+ and 86.7% of ypN0 were HER2 IHC3+, the
remaining were HER2 IHC2+/SISH+. Better pCR rate correlate with
a high percentage of infiltrating immune cells and right-sided
tumors, that reduce distant metastasis and improve survival, but
no incidence difference. HER2 IHC score and laterality emerge as
strong predictors of tumoral pCR after NACT from machine
learning analysis. HER2 IHC3+ and G3 are poor prognostic factors
for HER2+ BC patients, and could be considered in the
application of neoadjuvant therapy. Increasing TILs
concentrations, lower lymph node ratio and lower residual tumor
cellularity are associated with a better outcome. The immune
microenvironment and scarce lymph node involvement have crucial
role in clinical outcomes. The combination of all predictors
might offer new options for NACT effectiveness prediction and
stratification of HER2+ BC during clinical decision-making. |
van Beek, Jasper J P; Puccio, Simone; Vito, Clara Di; Paoli, Federica De; Zaghi, Elisa; Calvi, Michela; Scarpa, Alice; Peano, Clelia; Basso, Gianluca; Cibella, Javier; Philippis, Chiara De; Sarina, Barbara; Timofeeva, Inna; Capizzuto, Rossana; Mannina, Daniele; Mineri, Rossana; Mariotti, Jacopo; Crocchiolo, Roberto; Santoro, Armando; Castagna, Luca; Bramanti, Stefania; Mavilio, Domenico; Lugli, Enrico: Selected memory T cells infused post-haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation persist and hyperexpand. In: Blood Adv, vol. 7, no. 14, pp. 3458–3468, 2023, ISSN: 2473-9537. @article{pmid36469095,
title = {Selected memory T cells infused post-haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation persist and hyperexpand},
author = {Jasper J P van Beek and Simone Puccio and Clara Di Vito and Federica De Paoli and Elisa Zaghi and Michela Calvi and Alice Scarpa and Clelia Peano and Gianluca Basso and Javier Cibella and Chiara De Philippis and Barbara Sarina and Inna Timofeeva and Rossana Capizzuto and Daniele Mannina and Rossana Mineri and Jacopo Mariotti and Roberto Crocchiolo and Armando Santoro and Luca Castagna and Stefania Bramanti and Domenico Mavilio and Enrico Lugli},
doi = {10.1182/bloodadvances.2022007735},
issn = {2473-9537},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-07-01},
journal = {Blood Adv},
volume = {7},
number = {14},
pages = {3458--3468},
abstract = {Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide is a curative treatment for many hematological malignancies, yet a majority of patients still suffers from recurrent infections. Post-transplant infusion of memory T-cells could potentially enhance immunological protection without increasing the risk of eliciting acute graft-versus-host disease, which is mainly induced by naïve T-cells. Here, we performed longitudinal analysis of the lymphocyte compartment in 19 patients who underwent haplo-HSCT previously enrolled in a phase II prospective clinical trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04687982), in which they received post-transplant CD45RA-depleted donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI). T-cell receptor sequencing analysis showed that, surprisingly, CD45RA-depleted DLI do not increase T-cell clonal diversity, but lead to prominent expansion of a selected number of infused memory T-cell clones, suggesting recruitment of these cells in the immune response. Pathogen-specific memory T-cells, including cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cells, were engrafted and were able to persist for at least 1 month. Deep immunophenotyping revealed strong polyfunctional effector CMV-specific T-cell responses in the majority of patients, with their expansion correlating with the frequency of CMV-specific cells in the donor. These findings provide a rationale behind the suggested improved protection against viral infections in patients receiving CD45RA-depleted DLI.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide is a curative treatment for many hematological malignancies, yet a majority of patients still suffers from recurrent infections. Post-transplant infusion of memory T-cells could potentially enhance immunological protection without increasing the risk of eliciting acute graft-versus-host disease, which is mainly induced by naïve T-cells. Here, we performed longitudinal analysis of the lymphocyte compartment in 19 patients who underwent haplo-HSCT previously enrolled in a phase II prospective clinical trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04687982), in which they received post-transplant CD45RA-depleted donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI). T-cell receptor sequencing analysis showed that, surprisingly, CD45RA-depleted DLI do not increase T-cell clonal diversity, but lead to prominent expansion of a selected number of infused memory T-cell clones, suggesting recruitment of these cells in the immune response. Pathogen-specific memory T-cells, including cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cells, were engrafted and were able to persist for at least 1 month. Deep immunophenotyping revealed strong polyfunctional effector CMV-specific T-cell responses in the majority of patients, with their expansion correlating with the frequency of CMV-specific cells in the donor. These findings provide a rationale behind the suggested improved protection against viral infections in patients receiving CD45RA-depleted DLI. |
Mario, Mandalà; Giuseppe, Palmieri; Vienna, Ludovini; Sara, Baglivo; Francesca, Marasciulo; Francesca, Castiglione; Alessio, Gili; Simona, Osella Abate; Marco, Rubatto; Rebecca, Senetta; Gianluca, Avallone; Simone, Ribero; Luca, Romano; Nicola, Pimpinelli; de Giorgi Vincenzo,; Fausto, Roila; Marina, Pisano; Milena, Casula; Antonella, Manca; Cristina, Sini Maria: BRAFV600 variant allele frequency predicts outcome in metastatic melanoma patients treated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors.. In: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology, 2023. @article{nokey,
title = {BRAFV600 variant allele frequency predicts outcome in metastatic melanoma patients treated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors.},
author = {Mandalà Mario and Palmieri Giuseppe and Ludovini Vienna and Baglivo Sara and Marasciulo Francesca and Castiglione Francesca and Gili Alessio and Osella Abate Simona and Rubatto Marco and Senetta Rebecca and Avallone Gianluca and Ribero Simone and Romano Luca and Pimpinelli Nicola and de Giorgi Vincenzo and Roila Fausto and Pisano Marina and Casula Milena and Manca Antonella and Sini Maria Cristina},
doi = {10.1111/jdv.19281},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-27},
urldate = {2023-06-27},
journal = {Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology},
abstract = {Background: The prognostic impact of variant allele frequency (VAF) on clinical outcome in BRAFV600 mutated metastatic melanoma patients (MMPs) receiving BRAF (BRAFi) and MEK inhibitors (MEKi) is unclear. Materials and methods: A cohort of MMPs receiving first line BRAFi and MEKi was identified by inspecting dedicated databases of three Italian Melanoma Intergroup centres. VAF was determined by next generation sequencing in pre-treatment baseline tissue samples. Correlation between VAF and BRAF copy number variation was analysed in an ancillary study by using a training and a validation cohort of melanoma tissue samples and cell lines.Results: Overall, 107 MMPs were included in the study. The VAF cut-off determined by ROC curve was 41.3%. At multivariate analysis, progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly shorter in patients with M1c/M1d [HR 2.25 (95% CI 1.41-3.6, p < 0.01)], in those with VAF >41.3% [HR 1.62 (95% CI 1.04-2.54, p < 0.05)] and in those with ECOG PS ≥1 [HR 1.82 (95% CI 1.15-2.88, p < 0.05)]. Overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in patients with M1c/M1d [HR 2.01 (95% CI 1.25-3.25, p < 0.01)]. Furthermore, OS was shorter in patients with VAF >41.3% [HR 1.46 (95% CI 0.93-2.29, p = 0.06)] and in patients with ECOG PS ≥1 [HR 1.52 (95% CI 0.94-2.87, p = 0.14)]. BRAF gene amplification was found in 11% and 7% of samples in the training and validation cohort, respectively. Conclusions: High VAF is an independent poor prognostic factor in MMP receiving BRAFi and MEKi. High VAF and BRAF amplification coexist in 7%-11% of patients. },
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Background: The prognostic impact of variant allele frequency (VAF) on clinical outcome in BRAFV600 mutated metastatic melanoma patients (MMPs) receiving BRAF (BRAFi) and MEK inhibitors (MEKi) is unclear. Materials and methods: A cohort of MMPs receiving first line BRAFi and MEKi was identified by inspecting dedicated databases of three Italian Melanoma Intergroup centres. VAF was determined by next generation sequencing in pre-treatment baseline tissue samples. Correlation between VAF and BRAF copy number variation was analysed in an ancillary study by using a training and a validation cohort of melanoma tissue samples and cell lines.Results: Overall, 107 MMPs were included in the study. The VAF cut-off determined by ROC curve was 41.3%. At multivariate analysis, progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly shorter in patients with M1c/M1d [HR 2.25 (95% CI 1.41-3.6, p < 0.01)], in those with VAF >41.3% [HR 1.62 (95% CI 1.04-2.54, p < 0.05)] and in those with ECOG PS ≥1 [HR 1.82 (95% CI 1.15-2.88, p < 0.05)]. Overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in patients with M1c/M1d [HR 2.01 (95% CI 1.25-3.25, p < 0.01)]. Furthermore, OS was shorter in patients with VAF >41.3% [HR 1.46 (95% CI 0.93-2.29, p = 0.06)] and in patients with ECOG PS ≥1 [HR 1.52 (95% CI 0.94-2.87, p = 0.14)]. BRAF gene amplification was found in 11% and 7% of samples in the training and validation cohort, respectively. Conclusions: High VAF is an independent poor prognostic factor in MMP receiving BRAFi and MEKi. High VAF and BRAF amplification coexist in 7%-11% of patients. |
Ähuja, Sunil K; Manoharan, Muthu Saravanan; Lee, Grace C; McKinnon, Lyle R; Meunier, Justin A; Steri, Maristella; Harper, Nathan; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Smith, Alisha M; Restrepo, Marcos I; Branum, Anne P; Bottomley, Matthew J; Orr`u, Valeria; Jimenez, Fabio; Carrillo, Andrew; Pandranki, Lavanya; Winter, Caitlyn A; Winter, Lauryn A; Gaitan, Alvaro A; Moreira, Alvaro G; Walter, Elizabeth A; Silvestri, Guido; King, Christopher L; Zheng, Yong-Tang; Zheng, Hong-Yi; Kimani, Joshua; Ball, T Blake; Plummer, Francis A; Fowke, Keith R; Harden, Paul N; Wood, Kathryn J; Ferris, Martin T; Lund, Jennifer M; Heise, Mark T; Garrett, Nigel; Canady, Kristen R; Karim, Salim S Abdool; Little, Susan J; Gianella, Sara; Smith, Davey M; Letendre, Scott; Richman, Douglas D; Cucca, Francesco; Trinh, Hanh; Sanchez-Reilly, Sandra; Hecht, Joan M; Zuluaga, Jose A Cadena; Anzueto, Antonio; Pugh, Jacqueline A; team, South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19; Agan, Brian K; Root-Bernstein, Robert; Clark, Robert A; Okulicz, Jason F; He, Weijing": Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity
and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection. In: Nat. Commun., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 3286, 2023. @article{Ahuja2023-spd,
title = {Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity
and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection},
author = {Sunil K Ähuja and Muthu Saravanan Manoharan and Grace C Lee and Lyle R McKinnon and Justin A Meunier and Maristella Steri and Nathan Harper and Edoardo Fiorillo and Alisha M Smith and Marcos I Restrepo and Anne P Branum and Matthew J Bottomley and Valeria Orr`u and Fabio Jimenez and Andrew Carrillo and Lavanya Pandranki and Caitlyn A Winter and Lauryn A Winter and Alvaro A Gaitan and Alvaro G Moreira and Elizabeth A Walter and Guido Silvestri and Christopher L King and Yong-Tang Zheng and Hong-Yi Zheng and Joshua Kimani and T Blake Ball and Francis A Plummer and Keith R Fowke and Paul N Harden and Kathryn J Wood and Martin T Ferris and Jennifer M Lund and Mark T Heise and Nigel Garrett and Kristen R Canady and Salim S Abdool Karim and Susan J Little and Sara Gianella and Davey M Smith and Scott Letendre and Douglas D Richman and Francesco Cucca and Hanh Trinh and Sandra Sanchez-Reilly and Joan M Hecht and Jose A Cadena Zuluaga and Antonio Anzueto and Jacqueline A Pugh and South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19 team and Brian K Agan and Robert Root-Bernstein and Robert A Clark and Jason F Okulicz and Weijing" He},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-01},
journal = {Nat. Commun.},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {3286},
abstract = {Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes. |
Ähuja, Sunil K; Manoharan, Muthu Saravanan; Lee, Grace C; McKinnon, Lyle R; Meunier, Justin A; Steri, Maristella; Harper, Nathan; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Smith, Alisha M; Restrepo, Marcos I; Branum, Anne P; Bottomley, Matthew J; Orr`u, Valeria; Jimenez, Fabio; Carrillo, Andrew; Pandranki, Lavanya; Winter, Caitlyn A; Winter, Lauryn A; Gaitan, Alvaro A; Moreira, Alvaro G; Walter, Elizabeth A; Silvestri, Guido; King, Christopher L; Zheng, Yong-Tang; Zheng, Hong-Yi; Kimani, Joshua; Ball, T Blake; Plummer, Francis A; Fowke, Keith R; Harden, Paul N; Wood, Kathryn J; Ferris, Martin T; Lund, Jennifer M; Heise, Mark T; Garrett, Nigel; Canady, Kristen R; Karim, Salim S Abdool; Little, Susan J; Gianella, Sara; Smith, Davey M; Letendre, Scott; Richman, Douglas D; Cucca, Francesco; Trinh, Hanh; Sanchez-Reilly, Sandra; Hecht, Joan M; Zuluaga, Jose A Cadena; Anzueto, Antonio; Pugh, Jacqueline A; team, South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19; Agan, Brian K; Root-Bernstein, Robert; Clark, Robert A; Okulicz, Jason F; He, Weijing": Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity
and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection. In: Nat. Commun., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 3286, 2023. @article{Ahuja2023-spc,
title = {Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity
and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection},
author = {Sunil K Ähuja and Muthu Saravanan Manoharan and Grace C Lee and Lyle R McKinnon and Justin A Meunier and Maristella Steri and Nathan Harper and Edoardo Fiorillo and Alisha M Smith and Marcos I Restrepo and Anne P Branum and Matthew J Bottomley and Valeria Orr`u and Fabio Jimenez and Andrew Carrillo and Lavanya Pandranki and Caitlyn A Winter and Lauryn A Winter and Alvaro A Gaitan and Alvaro G Moreira and Elizabeth A Walter and Guido Silvestri and Christopher L King and Yong-Tang Zheng and Hong-Yi Zheng and Joshua Kimani and T Blake Ball and Francis A Plummer and Keith R Fowke and Paul N Harden and Kathryn J Wood and Martin T Ferris and Jennifer M Lund and Mark T Heise and Nigel Garrett and Kristen R Canady and Salim S Abdool Karim and Susan J Little and Sara Gianella and Davey M Smith and Scott Letendre and Douglas D Richman and Francesco Cucca and Hanh Trinh and Sandra Sanchez-Reilly and Joan M Hecht and Jose A Cadena Zuluaga and Antonio Anzueto and Jacqueline A Pugh and South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19 team and Brian K Agan and Robert Root-Bernstein and Robert A Clark and Jason F Okulicz and Weijing" He},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-01},
journal = {Nat. Commun.},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {3286},
abstract = {Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes. |
Ähuja, Sunil K; Manoharan, Muthu Saravanan; Lee, Grace C; McKinnon, Lyle R; Meunier, Justin A; Steri, Maristella; Harper, Nathan; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Smith, Alisha M; Restrepo, Marcos I; Branum, Anne P; Bottomley, Matthew J; Orr`u, Valeria; Jimenez, Fabio; Carrillo, Andrew; Pandranki, Lavanya; Winter, Caitlyn A; Winter, Lauryn A; Gaitan, Alvaro A; Moreira, Alvaro G; Walter, Elizabeth A; Silvestri, Guido; King, Christopher L; Zheng, Yong-Tang; Zheng, Hong-Yi; Kimani, Joshua; Ball, T Blake; Plummer, Francis A; Fowke, Keith R; Harden, Paul N; Wood, Kathryn J; Ferris, Martin T; Lund, Jennifer M; Heise, Mark T; Garrett, Nigel; Canady, Kristen R; Karim, Salim S Abdool; Little, Susan J; Gianella, Sara; Smith, Davey M; Letendre, Scott; Richman, Douglas D; Cucca, Francesco; Trinh, Hanh; Sanchez-Reilly, Sandra; Hecht, Joan M; Zuluaga, Jose A Cadena; Anzueto, Antonio; Pugh, Jacqueline A; team, South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19; Agan, Brian K; Root-Bernstein, Robert; Clark, Robert A; Okulicz, Jason F; He, Weijing": Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity
and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection. In: Nat. Commun., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 3286, 2023. @article{Ahuja2023-spb,
title = {Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity
and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection},
author = {Sunil K Ähuja and Muthu Saravanan Manoharan and Grace C Lee and Lyle R McKinnon and Justin A Meunier and Maristella Steri and Nathan Harper and Edoardo Fiorillo and Alisha M Smith and Marcos I Restrepo and Anne P Branum and Matthew J Bottomley and Valeria Orr`u and Fabio Jimenez and Andrew Carrillo and Lavanya Pandranki and Caitlyn A Winter and Lauryn A Winter and Alvaro A Gaitan and Alvaro G Moreira and Elizabeth A Walter and Guido Silvestri and Christopher L King and Yong-Tang Zheng and Hong-Yi Zheng and Joshua Kimani and T Blake Ball and Francis A Plummer and Keith R Fowke and Paul N Harden and Kathryn J Wood and Martin T Ferris and Jennifer M Lund and Mark T Heise and Nigel Garrett and Kristen R Canady and Salim S Abdool Karim and Susan J Little and Sara Gianella and Davey M Smith and Scott Letendre and Douglas D Richman and Francesco Cucca and Hanh Trinh and Sandra Sanchez-Reilly and Joan M Hecht and Jose A Cadena Zuluaga and Antonio Anzueto and Jacqueline A Pugh and South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19 team and Brian K Agan and Robert Root-Bernstein and Robert A Clark and Jason F Okulicz and Weijing" He},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-01},
journal = {Nat. Commun.},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {3286},
abstract = {Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes. |
Ähuja, Sunil K; Manoharan, Muthu Saravanan; Lee, Grace C; McKinnon, Lyle R; Meunier, Justin A; Steri, Maristella; Harper, Nathan; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Smith, Alisha M; Restrepo, Marcos I; Branum, Anne P; Bottomley, Matthew J; Orr`u, Valeria; Jimenez, Fabio; Carrillo, Andrew; Pandranki, Lavanya; Winter, Caitlyn A; Winter, Lauryn A; Gaitan, Alvaro A; Moreira, Alvaro G; Walter, Elizabeth A; Silvestri, Guido; King, Christopher L; Zheng, Yong-Tang; Zheng, Hong-Yi; Kimani, Joshua; Ball, T Blake; Plummer, Francis A; Fowke, Keith R; Harden, Paul N; Wood, Kathryn J; Ferris, Martin T; Lund, Jennifer M; Heise, Mark T; Garrett, Nigel; Canady, Kristen R; Karim, Salim S Abdool; Little, Susan J; Gianella, Sara; Smith, Davey M; Letendre, Scott; Richman, Douglas D; Cucca, Francesco; Trinh, Hanh; Sanchez-Reilly, Sandra; Hecht, Joan M; Zuluaga, Jose A Cadena; Anzueto, Antonio; Pugh, Jacqueline A; team, South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19; Agan, Brian K; Root-Bernstein, Robert; Clark, Robert A; Okulicz, Jason F; He, Weijing": Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection. In: Nat. Commun., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 3286, 2023. @article{Ahuja2023-sp,
title = {Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection},
author = {Sunil K Ähuja and Muthu Saravanan Manoharan and Grace C Lee and Lyle R McKinnon and Justin A Meunier and Maristella Steri and Nathan Harper and Edoardo Fiorillo and Alisha M Smith and Marcos I Restrepo and Anne P Branum and Matthew J Bottomley and Valeria Orr`u and Fabio Jimenez and Andrew Carrillo and Lavanya Pandranki and Caitlyn A Winter and Lauryn A Winter and Alvaro A Gaitan and Alvaro G Moreira and Elizabeth A Walter and Guido Silvestri and Christopher L King and Yong-Tang Zheng and Hong-Yi Zheng and Joshua Kimani and T Blake Ball and Francis A Plummer and Keith R Fowke and Paul N Harden and Kathryn J Wood and Martin T Ferris and Jennifer M Lund and Mark T Heise and Nigel Garrett and Kristen R Canady and Salim S Abdool Karim and Susan J Little and Sara Gianella and Davey M Smith and Scott Letendre and Douglas D Richman and Francesco Cucca and Hanh Trinh and Sandra Sanchez-Reilly and Joan M Hecht and Jose A Cadena Zuluaga and Antonio Anzueto and Jacqueline A Pugh and South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19 team and Brian K Agan and Robert Root-Bernstein and Robert A Clark and Jason F Okulicz and Weijing" He},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-023-38238-6},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-01},
urldate = {2023-06-01},
journal = {Nat. Commun.},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {3286},
abstract = {Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes. |
Ähuja, Sunil K; Manoharan, Muthu Saravanan; Lee, Grace C; McKinnon, Lyle R; Meunier, Justin A; Steri, Maristella; Harper, Nathan; Fiorillo, Edoardo; Smith, Alisha M; Restrepo, Marcos I; Branum, Anne P; Bottomley, Matthew J; Orr`u, Valeria; Jimenez, Fabio; Carrillo, Andrew; Pandranki, Lavanya; Winter, Caitlyn A; Winter, Lauryn A; Gaitan, Alvaro A; Moreira, Alvaro G; Walter, Elizabeth A; Silvestri, Guido; King, Christopher L; Zheng, Yong-Tang; Zheng, Hong-Yi; Kimani, Joshua; Ball, T Blake; Plummer, Francis A; Fowke, Keith R; Harden, Paul N; Wood, Kathryn J; Ferris, Martin T; Lund, Jennifer M; Heise, Mark T; Garrett, Nigel; Canady, Kristen R; Karim, Salim S Abdool; Little, Susan J; Gianella, Sara; Smith, Davey M; Letendre, Scott; Richman, Douglas D; Cucca, Francesco; Trinh, Hanh; Sanchez-Reilly, Sandra; Hecht, Joan M; Zuluaga, Jose A Cadena; Anzueto, Antonio; Pugh, Jacqueline A; team, South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19; Agan, Brian K; Root-Bernstein, Robert; Clark, Robert A; Okulicz, Jason F; He, Weijing": Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity
and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection. In: Nat. Commun., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 3286, 2023. @article{Ahuja2023-yn,
title = {Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity
and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection},
author = {Sunil K Ähuja and Muthu Saravanan Manoharan and Grace C Lee and Lyle R McKinnon and Justin A Meunier and Maristella Steri and Nathan Harper and Edoardo Fiorillo and Alisha M Smith and Marcos I Restrepo and Anne P Branum and Matthew J Bottomley and Valeria Orr`u and Fabio Jimenez and Andrew Carrillo and Lavanya Pandranki and Caitlyn A Winter and Lauryn A Winter and Alvaro A Gaitan and Alvaro G Moreira and Elizabeth A Walter and Guido Silvestri and Christopher L King and Yong-Tang Zheng and Hong-Yi Zheng and Joshua Kimani and T Blake Ball and Francis A Plummer and Keith R Fowke and Paul N Harden and Kathryn J Wood and Martin T Ferris and Jennifer M Lund and Mark T Heise and Nigel Garrett and Kristen R Canady and Salim S Abdool Karim and Susan J Little and Sara Gianella and Davey M Smith and Scott Letendre and Douglas D Richman and Francesco Cucca and Hanh Trinh and Sandra Sanchez-Reilly and Joan M Hecht and Jose A Cadena Zuluaga and Antonio Anzueto and Jacqueline A Pugh and South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19 team and Brian K Agan and Robert Root-Bernstein and Robert A Clark and Jason F Okulicz and Weijing" He},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-06-01},
journal = {Nat. Commun.},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {3286},
abstract = {Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Some people remain healthier throughout life than others but the
underlying reasons are poorly understood. Here we hypothesize
this advantage is attributable in part to optimal immune
resilience (IR), defined as the capacity to preserve and/or
rapidly restore immune functions that promote disease resistance
(immunocompetence) and control inflammation in infectious
diseases as well as other causes of inflammatory stress. We gauge
IR levels with two distinct peripheral blood metrics that
quantify the balance between (i) CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell levels and
(ii) gene expression signatures tracking longevity-associated
immunocompetence and mortality-associated inflammation. Profiles
of IR metrics in ~48,500 individuals collectively indicate that
some persons resist degradation of IR both during aging and when
challenged with varied inflammatory stressors. With this
resistance, preservation of optimal IR tracked (i) a lower risk
of HIV acquisition, AIDS development, symptomatic influenza
infection, and recurrent skin cancer; (ii) survival during
COVID-19 and sepsis; and (iii) longevity. IR degradation is
potentially reversible by decreasing inflammatory stress.
Overall, we show that optimal IR is a trait observed across the
age spectrum, more common in females, and aligned with a specific
immunocompetence-inflammation balance linked to favorable
immunity-dependent health outcomes. IR metrics and mechanisms
have utility both as biomarkers for measuring immune health and
for improving health outcomes. |