A5065351864- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- RNA regulation and disease
- Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
- Lysosomal Storage Disorders Research
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Calcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Immune cells in cancer
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
- Trace Elements in Health
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
2013-2023
University of Milan
1984-2011
University of Ferrara
1990-2008
University of Cagliari
2008
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
2005
University of Florida
1989-1990
University of Florence
1986-1990
Florida College
1989
Abstract To gain insights into the role of purinergic receptors in oligodendrocyte development, we characterized expression and functional activity P2 cultured rat progenitors investigated effects ATP its breakdown products on migration proliferation this immature glial cell population. Using Western blot analysis, show that express several P2X (P2X 1,2,3,4,7 ) P2Y (P2Y 1,2,4 receptors. Intracellular Ca 2+ recording by Fura‐2 video imaging allowed to determine rank potency order agonists...
J. Neurochem. (2010) 115 , 450–459. Abstract Nucleotides act as early signals for microglial recruitment to sites of CNS injury. As motility and activation can be influenced by several local factors at the site lesion, we investigated effects interferon‐gamma, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) addition mixed glial cell cultures, on migration in response ADP, P2Y12 P2Y1 mRNA expression well an array genes associated with process activation. First, demonstrated,...
Abstract Microglial activation is a dynamic process, central to neuroinflammation, which can have beneficial or pathogenic effects human health. Mitochondria are key players in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes, common most brain diseases. To the best of our knowledge on role mitochondria modulation we focused mitochondrial uncoupling protein‐2 ( UCP 2), known control functions be implicated variety physiological pathological processes. In primary microglial cultures, M1...
Curcumin is a compound found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric) with large repertoire pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. The current study aims to assess effects this natural on oligodendrocyte progenitor (OP) differentiation, particularly inflammatory conditions. We that curcumin can promote differentiation OPs counteract maturation arrest induced by TNF-α mechanism involving PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor),...
Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC), a rare leukodystrophy characterized by macrocephaly, fluid and myelin vacuolation, has been linked to mutations in the MLC1 gene. This gene encodes membrane protein that is highly expressed astrocytes. Based on MLC pathological features, it was proposed astrocyte-mediated defects ion homeostasis could account for alterations observed MLC-affected brains. However, role of effects astrocyte osmoregulatory functions have still be...
1 Our aim was to assess whether ATP-induced inward currents in microglia are due a single or more than one purinergic receptor. The ATP dose-response curve showed two components, whose presence might be the activation of high and low affinity receptors. 2 P2Z/P2X7 specific receptor agonist benzoylbenzoyl-ATP (Bz-ATP) some P2 agonists were tested. rank order potency Bz-ATP >> = 2-methylthio-ATP (2-MeSATP) > α,β-methylene (α,β-meATP) ≥ ADP. β,γ-MethyleneATP (β,γ-meATP), UTP adenosine...
Curcumin, a phenolic compound extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, was found to attenuate NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in primary retinal cultures. This study conducted further characterize curcumin neuroprotective ability and analyze its effects on NMDA receptor (NMDAr).NMDAr modifications were analyzed cell cultures using immunocytochemistry, whole-cell patch-clamp recording western blot analysis. Cell death evaluated with TUNEL assay hippocampal Optical fluorometric recordings Fura...
On the basis of a Janssen's patent, we approached new synthesis some 1,3,5-triazin-4,6-diones as potential non peptidic prokineticin receptor antagonists, containing following substitutions: (N1 and N5 link 4-methoxybenzyl 4-ethylbenzyl, respectively; C2 can an amino-ethyl-guanidine (reference compound 1) or ethylendiamine (2) amino-ethyl-amino-2-imidazoline (3). New compounds were assessed for PKR1 PKR2 affinity. Antagonist properties evaluated inhibition 1 nM Bv8-induced intracellular Ca2+...
Abstract In order to study the voltage‐dependent ion channels in microglia, and their possible modulation by proinflammatory substances like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) we employed patch‐clamp technique on purified rat microglial cell subcultures grown for 1–5 days control condition or after a 24 hour treatment with those agents. Regardless of culture condition, almost 100% cells presented inward‐rectifying (IR) K + currents identified following features: (a) extracellular...
We have previously shown that natural (15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2) and synthetic (pioglitazone) agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) strengthen the intrinsic cellular mechanisms protecting oligodendrocyte (OL) progenitors (OPs) from oxidative insults promote their differentiation. Here, we demonstrate repeated administrations PPAR-γ to OP cultures accelerate differentiation OLs, as indicated by increased numbers O4- O1-positive cells show myelin basic...
Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) disease is a rare neurovisceral disorder characterized by intracellular accumulation of unesterified cholesterol, sphingolipids, and other lipids in the lysosomal compartment. A deregulation calcium has been identified as one earliest steps degenerative process. Since adenosine 2A receptors (A Rs) control lysosome trafficking pH, which closely regulates calcium, we hypothesized role for these NPC1. The aim this study was to evaluate effects R agonist CGS21680 on...
Mutations in the MLC1 gene, which encodes a protein expressed brain astrocytes, are leading cause of MLC, rare leukodystrophy characterized by macrocephaly, edema, subcortical cysts, myelin and astrocyte vacuolation. Although recent studies indicate that is implicated regulation cell volume changes, exact role physiology pathogenesis MLC disease remains to be clarified. In preliminary experiments, we observed was poorly highly proliferating astrocytoma cells when compared with primary...
An adequate protection from oxidative and inflammatory reactions, together with the promotion of oligodendrocyte progenitor (OP) differentiation, is needed to recover myelin damage in demyelinating diseases. Mitochondria are targets insults essential differentiation. It known that nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor/antioxidant responsive element (NRF2/ARE) peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma/PPAR-γ response (PPAR-γ/PPRE) pathways control inflammation overcome...
The fast transient inward current elicited by depolarizations above about –60 mV in calf Purkinje fibres was found to be depressed Cd concentrations less than 1 mm. Cd-sensitive current, which strongly depended on external Na, recorded the presence of 2 mm MnCl and blocked TTX , indicating that a contamination from slow Ca-dependent currents could discounted. reduction caused also observed nominally Ca-free solutions. Cd-induced depression Na not accompanied changes kinetic parameters, as...
Abstract Niemann Pick type C (NPC) disease is a rare neurovisceral disorder. Mutations in npc1 gene induce an intracellular accumulation of unesterified cholesterol the endosomal/lysosomal system causing cell death. We recently showed that stimulation adenosine A 2A receptors (A R) restores late endosomes/lysosomes human NPC fibroblasts and neural lines transiently transfected with NPC1 siRNA, suggesting these might be targeted to contrast disease. Since characterized by dysmyelination...
In this study, we examined the relative contribution of increase in acetylcholine-regulated potassium current (IK ACh) and decrease calcium (ICa) to adenosine (Ado)-induced shortening action potential duration (APD). isolated guinea pig atrial myocytes, membrane potentials currents were measured by whole cell patch-clamp technique. ICa IK ACh individualized blocking K with Cs+ Cd2+. The effects Ado on concentration dependent. (10 microM) shortened APD at 0 mV 90% repolarization (APD0,90) 7...
Abstract The expression of different muscarinic receptor subtypes was analyzed in immature Schwann cells obtained from sciatic nerve 2‐day neonatal rats. By using RT‐PCR analysis, we demonstrated the presence M1, M2, M3, and M4 cultured cells, with M2 displaying highest levels. Muscarinic were also quantified by immunoprecipitation [ 3 H]QNB binding. With this approach, found levels to be > M3 M1. is expressed at very low levels, M5 not detectable. Moreover, that stimulation receptors...