A5015698223- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Graphene and Nanomaterials Applications
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Renin-Angiotensin System Studies
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Mast cells and histamine
- Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Biochemical effects in animals
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
2013-2025
Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic
2018-2025
Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico
2018-2024
PreCyte (United States)
2024
Catholic University of America
1999-2010
Pennsylvania State University
2008
University of Pennsylvania
2006-2007
University of Urbino
1995-1998
High-fat diet (HFD) and metabolic diseases cause detrimental effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity, learning, memory through molecular mechanisms still poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that HFD increases palmitic acid deposition in the hippocampus induces insulin resistance leading to FoxO3a-mediated overexpression of palmitoyltransferase zDHHC3. The excess along with higher zDHHC3 levels causes hyper-palmitoylation AMPA glutamate receptor subunit GluA1, hindering its...
Protein/protein interactions (PPI) play crucial roles in neuronal functions. Yet, their potential as drug targets for brain disorders remains underexplored. The fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14)/voltage-gated Na+ channel 1.6 (Nav1.6) complex regulates excitability of medium spiny neurons (MSN) the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a central hub reward circuitry that controls motivated behaviors. Here, we identified compound 1028 (IUPAC: ethyl...
Although metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is essential for cocaine self-administration and drug-seeking behavior, there limited knowledge of the cellular actions this in nucleus accumbens (NAc). mGluR5 has potential to regulate neurons directly, recent studies have shown importance regulating Ca(2+) signaling astrocytes and, as a consequence, Ca(2+)-dependent release excitatory transmitters from these glia. In study, we demonstrate that activation induces oscillations NAc with...
Intracellular accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein has been proposed as an early event in AD pathogenesis. In patients with mild cognitive impairment, intraneuronal Aβ immunoreactivity was found especially brain regions critically involved the deficits AD. Although a large body evidence demonstrates that Aβ42 accumulates intraneuronally ((in)Aβ), action and role buildup on synaptic function have poorly investigated. Here, we demonstrate basal transmission LTP were markedly depressed...
Abstract Ca 2+ influx through voltage‐gated channels, especially the L‐type (Ca v 1), activates downstream signaling to nucleus that affects gene expression and, consequently, cell fate. We hypothesized these signals may also influence neuronal differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) derived from brain cortex postnatal mice. first studied transients induced by membrane depolarization in Fluo 4‐AM‐loaded NSCs using confocal microscopy. Undifferentiated (nestin + ) exhibited no...
Cocaine seeking behaviour and relapse have been linked to impaired potentiation depression at excitatory synapses in the nucleus accumbens, but mechanism underlying this process is poorly understood. We show that, rat accumbens core, d-serine endogenous coagonist of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, its presence essential for receptor-dependent synaptic transmission. Nucleus core slices obtained from cocaine-treated rats after 1 day abstinence presented significantly reduced concentrations,...
A new procedure for the encapsulation of non-diffusible drugs into human erythrocytes was developed. With as little 50 ml blood and by using a apparatus, it possible to encapsulate variety biologically active compounds in 2 h at room temperature under blood-banking conditions. The process, which is based on two sequential hypotonic dilutions washed red cells followed concentration with haemofilter resealing cells, allows 35-50% cell recovery approx. 30% added drugs. resulting processed have...
Recent evidence has shown that graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier, barrier reduces cancer therapy efficacy. Here, we tested three alternative GQDs’ surface chemistries on two neural lineages (glioblastoma cells and mouse cortical neurons). We showed chemistry modulates biocompatibility. When used in combination with chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, GDQs exerted a synergistic effect tumor cells, but not neurons. This appears to be mediated by...
Changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels are an important signal underlying neuron-glia cross-talk, but little is known about the possible role of voltage-gated channels (VGCCs) controlling glial cell influx. We investigated pharmacological and biophysical features VGCCs cultured rat cortical astrocytes. In whole-cell patch-clamp experiments, L-channel blockade (5 microM nifedipine) reduced Ba2+ current amplitude by 28% controls, further decrease (32%) was produced N-channel (3...
Resilience and vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders are linked molecular changes underlying excitability that still poorly understood. Here, we identify glycogen-synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) voltage-gated Na+ channel Nav1.6 as regulators of neuroplasticity induced by environmentally enriched (EC) or isolated (IC) conditions-models for resilience vulnerability. Transcriptomic studies in the nucleus accumbens from EC IC rats predicted low levels GSK3β SCN8A mRNA a protective phenotype...
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and lethal brain cancer. Current treatments involve surgical resection, radiotherapy chemotherapy. However, life expectancy of patients with this disease remains short chemotherapy leads to severe adverse effects. Furthermore, presence blood–brain barrier (BBB) makes it difficult for drugs effectively reach brain. A promising strategy lies in use graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are light-responsive nanoparticles that have shown capability crossing BBB....
Significance GSK3β is a serine/threonine kinase highly expressed in the brain that regulates several ion channels and receptors. Our study uncovers increased levels of active nucleus accumbens (NAc) mice with depressive-like phenotype induced by chronic stress. We clarify within NAc these lead to altered synaptic plasticity through phosphorylation Kv4.2 subunit, molecular determinant A-type K + currents. Moreover, selective silencing prevents maladaptive depression-related behavior, paving...
Hippocampal plasticity is triggered by a variety of stimuli including sensory inputs, neurotrophins and inflammation. Leptin, whose primary function to regulate food intake energy expenditure, has been recently shown affect hippocampal neurogenesis plasticity. Interestingly, mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) exhibit impaired function, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. To address this issue, we compared leptin responsiveness neurons in control HFD-fed combining single-cell...
Nitric oxide (NO) regulates the release of catecholamines from adrenal medulla but molecular targets its action are not yet well identified. Here we show that NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 200 microM) causes a marked depression single Ca(V)1 L-channel activity in cell-attached patches bovine chromaffin cells. SNP was complete within 3-5 min cell superfusion. In multichannel open probability (NP(o)) decreased by approximately 60 % between 0 and +20 mV. Averaged currents over number...
The involvement of metabotropic glutamate receptors type 5 (mGluR5) in drug-induced behaviours is well-established but limited information available on their functional roles addiction-relevant brain areas like the nucleus accumbens (NAc). This study demonstrates that pharmacological and synaptic activation mGluR5 increases spike discharge medium spiny neurons (MSNs) NAc. effect was associated with appearance a slow afterdepolarization (ADP) which, voltage-clamp experiments, recorded as...
It has been recently established that GPR158, a class C orphan G protein-coupled receptor, serves as metabotropic glycine receptor. GPR158 is highly expressed in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), major input structure of basal ganglia integrates information from cortical and subcortical structures to mediate goal-directed behaviors. However, whether modulates neuronal activity NAc through activation not investigated yet. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, we found glycine-dependent...
Although data from our laboratory and others suggest that nitric oxide (NO) exerts an overall inhibitory action on high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels, conflicting observations have been reported regarding its effects N-type channels. We performed whole-cell cell-attached patch-clamp recordings in IMR32 cells to clarify the functional role of NO modulation N channels human neuronal cells. During depolarizing steps +10 mV V(h) = -90 mV, donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 200 microm), reduced...