Papers by Anna Rita Taddei
Cell Death & Disease, 2018
Autophagy occurs at a basal level in all eukaryotic cells and may support cell survival or activa... more Autophagy occurs at a basal level in all eukaryotic cells and may support cell survival or activate death pathways. Due to its pathophysiologic significance, the autophagic machinery is a promising target for the development of multiple approaches for anti-neoplastic agents. We have recently described the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic mechanisms, targeting the tumour suppressor p53, of climacostol, a natural product of the ciliated protozoan Climacostomum virens. We report here on how climacostol regulates autophagy and the involvement of p53-dependent mechanisms. Using both in vitro and in vivo techniques, we show that climacostol potently and selectively impairs autophagy in multiple tumour cells that are committed to die by apoptosis. In particular, in B16-F10 mouse melanomas climacostol exerts a marked and sustained accumulation of autophagosomes as the result of dysfunctional autophagic degradation. We also provide mechanistic insights showing that climacostol affects autophagoso...
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Scientific Reports
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Viral particles of the endogenous retrovirus ZAM from Drosophila melanogaster use a pre-existing ... more Viral particles of the endogenous retrovirus ZAM from Drosophila melanogaster use a pre-existing endosome/exosome pathway for transfer to the oocyte
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MTT assays showed an intense antiproliferative activity (80%) of Aloe arborescens leaf skin extra... more MTT assays showed an intense antiproliferative activity (80%) of Aloe arborescens leaf skin extracts tested on murine myeloma cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation carried out by TLC allowed the identification of a spot showing antiproliferative activity; HPLC and NMR investigations showed that the TLC spot consisted of aloenin A and aloins A and B. The effects of the leaf extract and of the TLC spot were evaluated both by immunofluorescence techniques in order to test the microtubular array and at the morphological level by SEM and TEM observations. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Aberrant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common feature of damaged retinal neuro... more Aberrant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common feature of damaged retinal neurons in diabetic retinopathy, and antioxidants may exert both preventive and therapeutic action. To evaluate the beneficial and antioxidant properties of food supplementation with Lisosan G, a powder of bran and germ of grain (Triticum aestivum) obtained by fermentation with selected lactobacillus and natural yeast strains, we used an in vivo model of hyperglycemia-induced retinal damage, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster fed with high-sucrose diet. Lisosan G positively affected the visual system of hyperglycemic flies at structural/functional level, decreased apoptosis, and reactivated protective autophagy at the retina internal network. Also, in high sucrose-fed Drosophila, Lisosan G reduced the levels of brain ROS and retina peroxynitrite. The analysis of oxidative stress-related metabolites suggested 7,8-dihydrofolate, uric acid, dihydroorotate, γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine, allantoin, ...
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Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
Dystrophin (dys) mutations predispose Duchenne muscular disease (DMD) patients to brain and retin... more Dystrophin (dys) mutations predispose Duchenne muscular disease (DMD) patients to brain and retinal complications. Although different dys variants, including long dys products, are expressed in the retina, their function is largely unknown. We investigated the putative role of full-length dystrophin in the homeostasis of neuro-retina and its impact on synapsis stabilization and cell fate. Retinas of mdx mice, the most used DMD model which does not express the 427-KDa dys protein (Dp427), showed overlapped cell death and impaired autophagy. Apoptotic neurons in the outer plexiform/inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer had an impaired autophagy with accumulated autophagosomes. The autophagy dysfunction localized at photoreceptor axonal terminals and bipolar, amacrine, and ganglion cells. The absence of Dp427 does not cause a severe phenotype but alters the neuronal architecture, compromising mainly the pre-synaptic photoreceptor terminals and their post-synaptic sites. The a...
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Pharmaceuticals
Lavandin essential oil (LEO), a natural sterile hybrid obtained by crossbreeding L. angustifolia ... more Lavandin essential oil (LEO), a natural sterile hybrid obtained by crossbreeding L. angustifolia × L. latifolia, is mainly composed by active components belonging to the family of terpenes endowed with relevant anti-proliferative activity, which can be enhanced by proper application of nanotechnology. In particular, this study reports the chemical characterization and the screening of the anti-proliferative activity on different human cell lines of pure and nano-formulated lavandin essential oil (EO). LEO and its formulation (NanoLEO) were analyzed by HS/GC-MS (Headspace/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) to describe and compare their chemical volatile composition. The most abundant compounds were linalool and 1,8-cineole (LEO: 28.6%; 27.4%) (NanoLEO: 60.4%; 12.6%) followed by α-pinene (LEO: 9.6%; NanoLEO: 4.5%), camphor (LEO: 6.5%; NanoLEO: 7.0%) and linalyl acetate (LEO: 6.5%; NanoLEO: 3.6%). The cytotoxic effects of LEO and NanoLEO were investigated on human neuroblastoma cell...
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CEN Case Reports
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an abrupt and usually reversible decline in the glomerular filtratio... more Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an abrupt and usually reversible decline in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Patients with AKI must be evaluated promptly to determine cause. Different disorders can BE associated with AKI, and biopsy is the most accurate instrument for diagnosis of different types of diseases. We report a case of 69-year-old woman. In history, type II diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension admitted to our hospital for the evaluation of leg pain, asthenia, diarrhea, and malaise. She was in the treatment with metformin and ARB. Laboratory data revealed renal failure: serum creatinine (Scr 16.5 mg/dl, BUN 280 mg/dl) hyperkalemia and severe anemia (Hb 7.8 g/dl). Renal ultrasound displayed preserved kidneys size. An X-ray of backbone showed fracture. She underwent hemodialysis in urgency regimen. After some days, urine output began to improve up to 1200 cc/24 h. we find proteinuria in nephrotic range. Renal function remained compromised (sCr 8.5 mg/dl, BUN 150 mg/dl). For the evaluation of renal disease, the patient underwent a kidney biopsy. Histological examination findings showed overlapping changes composed of three concurrent pathologic findings: cast nephropathy, diabetes, and light chain deposition disease. After the renal biopsy, therapy with bortezomib, thalidomide, and steroid were administered. At the same time, plasma exchange was carried out. Clinical response occurred with partial recovery of renal function (Scr 3.5 mg/dl eGFR), and dialysis treatment was stopped.
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Journal of Nephropathology
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is a clinical syndrome manifested by progressive lo... more Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) is a clinical syndrome manifested by progressive loss of renal function in a short period. At renal biopsy, it is characterized by crescent formation. RPGN may be associated with the presence of circulating antibodies. We report a case of type IV RPGN [ANCA and Anti–glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody disease], a severe disease causing a difficult to treat picture. Our case was complicated by severe thrombocytopenia due to the use of heparin and later on by thrombotic microangiopathy. These events occurred rapidly, making the clinical framing and management decisions very hard.
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Journal of Nephropathology, Mar 6, 2020
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Molecules
Recent scientific investigations have reported a number of essential oils to interfere with intra... more Recent scientific investigations have reported a number of essential oils to interfere with intracellular signalling pathways and to induce apoptosis in different cancer cell types. In this paper, Lavandin Essential Oil (LEO), a natural sterile hybrid obtained by cross-breeding L. angustifolia × L. latifolia, was tested on human leukaemia cells (HL60). Based on the MTT results, the reduced cell viability of HL60 cells was further investigated to determine whether cell death was related to the apoptotic process. HL60 cells treated for 24 h with LEO were processed by flow cytometry, and the presence of Annexin V was measured. The activation of caspases-3 was evaluated by western blot and immunofluorescence techniques. Treated cells were also examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy to establish the possible occurrence of morphological alterations during the apoptotic process. LEO main compounds, such as linalool, linalyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, and terpinen-4-ol, were a...
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Alternatives to Laboratory Animals
Flavonols are phytochemicals widely found in commonly consumed foods. In spite of their beneficia... more Flavonols are phytochemicals widely found in commonly consumed foods. In spite of their beneficial effects on human health, however, cytotoxicity and even suspected genotoxicity have also been reported for the flavonol, quercetin. This points to the need for preventive studies to identify any cytotoxic effects associated with pure flavonol intake. This work was performed with the aim of verifying whether a plant-based in vitro system, the pollen tube, could be used to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of exogenous flavonols. Increasing concentrations of the aglycone, quercetin, and its glycoside, rutin, were assayed with regard to tube growth of kiwifruit pollen, determined by applying the pollen tube growth test protocol. This test, based on the photometric quantification of pollen tube mass production in suspension cultures, has already been applied in the sensitive and reliable toxicological evaluation of a wide range of chemicals. Whereas 60–800μM rutin promoted kiwifruit pollen ...
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Plant physiology, 2018
Saffron is the dried stigmas of and is the most expensive spice in the world. Its red color is du... more Saffron is the dried stigmas of and is the most expensive spice in the world. Its red color is due to crocins, which are apocarotenoid glycosides that accumulate in the vacuole to a level up to 10% of the stigma dry weight. Previously, we characterized the first dedicated enzyme in the crocin biosynthetic pathway, carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase2 (CsCCD2), which cleaves zeaxanthin to yield crocetin dialdehyde. In this work, we identified six putative () genes expressed in stigmas. Heterologous expression in showed that only one of corresponding proteins (CsALDH3I1) was able to convert crocetin dialdehyde into the crocin precursor crocetin. CsALDH3I1 carries a carboxyl-terminal hydrophobic domain, similar to that of the membrane-associated apocarotenoid dehydrogenase YLO-1. We also characterized the UDP-glycosyltransferase CsUGT74AD1, which converts crocetin to crocins 1 and 2'. In vitro assays revealed high specificity of CsALDH3I1 for crocetin dialdehyde and long-chain apocarot...
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Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland), Jan 10, 2018
Iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) supported multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) derivatives have been pre... more Iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) supported multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) derivatives have been prepared as easily recyclable solid reagents. These compounds have been shown to be able to mimic the alcohol dehydrogenases and monooxygenases promoted oxidation of aromatic alcohols to corresponding aldehydes. Their reactivity was found to be dependent on the degree of functionalization of MWCNTs as well as from the chemical properties of the spacers used to bind IBX on the surface of the support. Au-decorated MWCNTs and the presence of longer spacers resulted in the optimal experimental conditions. A high conversion of the substrates and yield of desired products were obtained.
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Iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) supported multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) derivatives have been pre... more Iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) supported multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) derivatives have been prepared as easily recyclable solid reagents. These compounds have been shown to be able to mimic the alcohol dehydrogenases and monooxygenases promoted oxidation of aromatic alcohols to corresponding aldehydes. Their reactivity was found to be dependent on the degree of functionalization of MWCNTs as well as from the chemical properties of the spacers used to bind IBX on the surface of the support. Au-decorated MWCNTs and the presence of longer spacers resulted in the optimal experimental conditions. A high conversion of the substrates and yield of desired products were obtained.
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mBio, 2016
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mBio, Jan 17, 2015
The ability to adhere and adapt to the human respiratory tract mucosa plays a pivotal role in the... more The ability to adhere and adapt to the human respiratory tract mucosa plays a pivotal role in the pathogenic lifestyle of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). However, the temporal events associated with a successful colonization have not been fully characterized. In this study, by reconstituting the ciliated human bronchial epithelium in vitro, we monitored the global transcriptional changes in NTHi and infected mucosal epithelium simultaneously for up to 72 h by dual RNA sequencing. The initial stage of colonization was characterized by the binding of NTHi to ciliated cells. Temporal profiling of host mRNA signatures revealed significant dysregulation of the target cell cytoskeleton elicited by bacterial infection, with a profound effect on the intermediate filament network and junctional complexes. In response to environmental stimuli of the host epithelium, NTHi downregulated its central metabolism and increased the expression of transporters, indicating a change in the me...
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Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 2015
The secretory region of the salivary glands in Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Glossinidae) ... more The secretory region of the salivary glands in Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Glossinidae) is characterized by an external muscle layer. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy investigations provide a detailed description of the longitudinal muscle fibres and a comparison of their structure when affected by salivary gland hypertrophy virus. The virus is responsible for hypertrophy of the salivary glands in symptomatic flies, specifically of the muscle fibres, the cytoarchitecture of which is completely altered. Although observations did not reveal viral particles in the muscle cells of either asymptomatic or symptomatic flies, muscle fibres were enlarged and detached from one another and their associated basement membrane only in symptomatic flies. A decrease in type IV collagen labelling in the basement membrane of the muscles in symptomatic flies is reported and is considered a potential cause of the salivary gland muscle alteration and, possibly, myopathy. The maintenance of an organized muscular layer is essential for the normal secretion of saliva and hence its pathology in symptomatic tsetse flies could affect the normal transmission of the trypanosome that develops inside the salivary gland epithelium. Therefore, a better understanding of the possible role of the virus is essential in order to elucidate its impact on salivary deployment in symptomatic flies.
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Tissue Engineering Part A, 2015
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PLOS ONE, 2015
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Papers by Anna Rita Taddei