| 1. |
- Di Stazio, Mariateresa, et al.
(author)
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TBL1Y : a new gene involved in syndromic hearing loss
- 2019
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In: European Journal of Human Genetics. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 1018-4813 .- 1476-5438. ; 27:3, s. 466-474
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hereditary hearing loss (HHL) is an extremely heterogeneous disorder with autosomal dominant, recessive, and X-linked forms. Here, we described an Italian pedigree affected by HHL but also prostate hyperplasia and increased ratio of the free/ total PSA levels, with the unusual and extremely rare Y-linked pattern of inheritance. Using exome sequencing we found a missense variant (r.206A>T leading to p.Asp69Val) in the TBL1Y gene. TBL1Y is homologous of TBL1X, whose partial deletion has described to be involved in X-linked hearing loss. Here, we demonstrate that it has a restricted expression in adult human cochlea and prostate and the variant identified induces a lower protein stability caused by misfolded mutated protein that impairs its cellular function. These findings indicate that TBL1Y could be considered a novel candidate for HHL.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Murgia, Sergio, et al.
(author)
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Nanoparticles from Lipid-Based Liquid Crystals: Emulsifier Influence on Morphology and Cytotoxicity.
- 2010
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In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part B. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5207 .- 1520-6106. ; 114:10, s. 3518-3525
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Here, monoolein-based nanoparticles (NPs), obtained through fragmentation of bulk liquid crystalline phases, and stabilized by two different emulsifiers, namely, Pluronic F127 (PF127) and lauroylcholine chloride (LCh), are investigated for structural features and for short-term in vitro cytotoxicity. Depending on the emulsifiers, different morphologies of the lipid NPs (cubosomes and liposomes) are obtained, as demonstrated by cryo-TEM images. Although NPs offer many advantages in medical applications and various chemicals used for their preparation are under investigation, so far there are no standardized procedures to evaluate cell biocompatibility. Two different protocols to evaluate the impact of these lipid NPs on biological systems are presented. Results show that nanoparticles stabilized by PF127 (cubosomes) display a relevant toxicity toward different cell lines, whereas those stabilized by LCh (liposomes) affect cell viability at a much lesser extent.
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| 4. |
- Testini, Chiara
(author)
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Regulation of VEGFR2 signaling in angiogenesis and vascular permeability
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Angiogenesis and vascular permeability occur in physiological and pathological conditions. Angiogenesis denotes the process of blood vessel formation from preexisting quiescent vessels. Angiogenesis is initiated by proangiogenic factors, inducing endothelial cell sprouting, migration and anastomosis, followed by regression of the new vessels or maturation into a quiescent status. Vascular permeability is the process where blood vessels exchange nutrients, solutes and inflammatory cells with the surrounding tissue. Small molecules freely cross the endothelial wall, however macromolecules and cells leak out from the vasculature only after stimulation by certain factors, including VEGF. Angiogenesis and vascular permeability are tightly regulated physiological processes, but uncontrolled angiogenesis and excessive leakage lead to pathological conditions and the progression of several diseases.VEGF and its receptor VEGFR2 are critical players in angiogenesis and in vascular permeability. The binding of the ligand to the receptor is not the only event involved in the activation and regulation of the signaling cascade. Coreceptors, kinases, phosphatases, and other proteins involved in the trafficking of the complex modulate the signal amplitude and duration.VEGF/VEGFR2 complex combined with the coreceptor NRP1 has a strong pro-angiogenic action and a critical role in angiogenesis. Both VEGFR2 and NRP1 bind VEGF and can present VEGF in cis, when both VEGFR2 and NRP1 are expressed on the same endothelial cell or in trans, when NRP1 is expressed on an adjacent endothelial cell or another type of cell.Y949 and Y1212 are two of the main phosphorylation sites of VEGFR2 induced by VEGFA. The binding of phosphorylated Y949 to the SH2 domain of TSAd regulates vascular permeability leading to Src activation and adherens junction opening in vitro. Phospho-Y1212 is implicated in actin stress fiber remodeling via the adapter Nck, affecting the actin cytoskeleton and endothelial cell migration in vitro.Paladin is a vascular-enriched phosphatase-domain containing protein without reported phosphatase activity and is a negative regulator of insulin receptor and Toll-like receptor 9 signaling.In this thesis work, I have investigated the spatial dynamics of NRP1/VEGFR2 complex formation (in cis and in trans) for coordinating VEGF-mediated angiogenesis in physiological and in pathological conditions (Paper I). I have studied, in vivo, the role of VEGFR2 Y949 in vascular permeability and metastatic spread (Paper II) and the role of VEGFR2 Y1212 in angiogenic remodeling and vessel stability (Paper III). Furthermore, I have examined paladin’s role in regulating VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling and VE-cadherin junction stability, in angiogenic sprouting and vascular permeability (Paper IV).In conclusion, VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling is regulated by a multifactor system and each individual regulatory mechanism leads to a specific outcome in angiogenesis, vascular permeability and vessel stability.
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| 5. |
- Van de Veire, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Further pharmacological and genetic evidence for the efficacy of PlGF inhibition in cancer and eye disease
- 2010
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In: Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 0092-8674 .- 1097-4172. ; 141:1, s. 178-190
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Our findings that PlGF is a cancer target and anti-PlGF is useful for anticancer treatment have been challenged by Bais et al. Here we take advantage of carcinogen-induced and transgenic tumor models as well as ocular neovascularization to report further evidence in support of our original findings of PlGF as a promising target for anticancer therapies. We present evidence for the efficacy of additional anti-PlGF antibodies and their ability to phenocopy genetic deficiency or silencing of PlGF in cancer and ocular disease but also show that not all anti-PlGF antibodies are effective. We also provide additional evidence for the specificity of our anti-PlGF antibody and experiments to suggest that anti-PlGF treatment will not be effective for all tumors and why. Further, we show that PlGF blockage inhibits vessel abnormalization rather than density in certain tumors while enhancing VEGF-targeted inhibition in ocular disease. Our findings warrant further testing of anti-PlGF therapies.
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