In the longtime challenge of identifying specific, easily detectable and reliable biomarkers of I... more In the longtime challenge of identifying specific, easily detectable and reliable biomarkers of IPF, BALF proteomics is providing interesting new insights into its pathogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first shotgun proteomic investigation of EVs isolated from BALF of IPF patients. Our main aim was to characterize the proteome of the vesicular component of BALF and to explore its individual impact on the pathogenesis of IPF. To this purpose, ultracentrifugation was chosen as the EVs isolation technique, and their purification was assessed by TEM, 2DE and LC-MS/MS. Our 2DE data and scatter plots showed considerable differences between the proteome of EVs and that of whole BALF and of its fluid component. Analysis of protein content and protein functions evidenced that EV proteins are predominantly involved in cytoskeleton remodeling, adenosine signaling, adrenergic signaling, C-peptide signaling and lipid metabolism. Our findings may suggest a wider sys...
In condizioni fisiologiche, i globuli rossi - cellule dalle dimensioni di 7-8 m (millesimo di mm)... more In condizioni fisiologiche, i globuli rossi - cellule dalle dimensioni di 7-8 m (millesimo di mm) - mostrano una caratteristica forma a disco biconcavo (discociti), di importanza chiave per tutte le loro funzioni, quali la deformabilità (per adattarsi alle sinuosità della rete circolatoria), e lo scambio di ossigeno (O2), ma sono molto suscettibili a cambiamenti morfologici, con conseguente perdita della loro funzionalità. Tra i fattori che causano alterazioni morfologiche ci possono essere i cambiamenti di osmolarità, di pH, condizioni di ipossia e presenza di ossidanti (sostanze o molecole che possono indurre stress ossidativo) [1-5]. I globuli rossi a causa degli alti livelli di ferro cellulare e della proprietà dell’emoglobina ad auto-ossidarsi, sono una costante sorgente di produzione di ossidanti (radicali liberi dell’ossigeno come l’anione superossido) [6,7] e di ferro in forma libera (NPBI), cioè non legato a proteine, redox attivo. Stress ossidativo (SO) e ipossia possono portare ad alterazioni nella forma dei globuli rossi in pazienti adulti con malattia polmonare cronica ostruttiva (COPD) [7,8]. Nella forma tipica della sindrome di Rett (RTT ) il nostro gruppo ha dimostrato la presenza di ipossia cronica, alterati scambi di gas a livello polmonare, aumentato SO e lesioni morfologiche polmonari, simili a quelle evidenziabili nella malattia polmonare interstiziale associata a bronchiolite respiratoria dei fumatori (RB-ILD) [9,10]. Nonostante i globuli rossi svolgano un ruolo fondamentale nel trasporto e scambio di O2 nei mammiferi, finora non esistevano informazioni sulla morfologia dei globuli rossi nelle bimbe e ragazze affette da RTT . In particolare, nei nostri precedenti studi avevamo dimostrato che lo SO è in grado di indurre nei globuli rossi rilascio di NPBI, formazione di metemoglobina (Met-Hb) e alterazioni ossidative dei lipidi (perossidazione lipidica) e delle proteine di membrana [11]. Quindi nel presente studio abbiamo valutato se lo SO possa indurre cambiamenti morfologici e danno ossidativo nei globuli rossi di pazienti Rett con forma classica. La forma dei globuli rossi in pazienti RTT e in soggetti sani è stata correlata ai marker di SO, stato di ossigenazione, scambi gassosi polmonari e vari parametri cardiorespiratori
Embryo implantation has been defined as the “black box” of human reproduction. Most of the knowle... more Embryo implantation has been defined as the “black box” of human reproduction. Most of the knowledge on mechanisms underlining this process derives from animal models, but they cannot always be translated to humans. Therefore, the development of an in vitro/ex vivo model recapitulating as closely and precisely as possible the fundamental functional features of the human endometrial tissue is very much desirable. Here, we have validated endometrial organoids as a suitable 3D-model to studying epithelial endometrial interface for embryo implantation. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy analyses showed that organoids preserve the glandular organization and cell ultrastructural characteristics. They also retain the responsiveness to hormonal treatment specific to the corresponding phase of the menstrual cycle, mimicking the in vivo glandular-like aspect and functions. Noteworthy, organoids mirroring the early secretive phase show the development of pinopodes, large cytoplasmic...
Despite the significant advances in the last decades, low implantation rate per transferred embry... more Despite the significant advances in the last decades, low implantation rate per transferred embryo still remains a major concern in assisted reproductive techniques, highlighting a need to better characterize endometrial receptivity also by mean of specific biomarkers. Based on physiology and on the intimate contact with endometrium as the tissue of interest, in this study we developed and validated an optimized protocol that uses extracellular vesicles (EVs) recovered from uterine flushings and from a cervical brush, the latter never used until now as an EVs source, as surrogates for endometrial biopsies. This method combines the safety of sampling with the ability to study the expression profile across the uterine cycle. We have compared the yield and composition of EVs recovered from different biofluids samples and fractions thereof, opting for chemical precipitation as the EV isolation procedure, assuring the highest yield without introducing any bias in specific EV recovery. Mo...
The technique of grafting side chains onto a linear polymeric backbone is commonly used to confer... more The technique of grafting side chains onto a linear polymeric backbone is commonly used to confer to the new polymeric material with desired properties, such as tunable solubility, ionic charge, biocompatibility, or specific interactions with biological systems. In this paper, two new polybenzofulvene backbones were assembled by spontaneous polymerization of the appropriate benzofulvene monomers (4,6-PO-BF3k and 4’,6-PO-BF3k) bearing two clickable propargyloxy groups in different positions of the 3-phenylindene scaffold. Poly-4,6-PO-BF3k and poly-4’,6-PO-BF3k were grafted with monomethyl oligo(ethylene glycol) (MOEG) to prepare two new polybenzofulvene brushes (i.e., poly-4,6-MOEG-9-TM-BF3k and poly-4’,6-MOEG-9-TM-BF3k) by means of a “grafting onto” approach, that were characterized from the point of view of their macromolecular features, aggregation liability, and in a preliminary evaluation of biocompatibility. The obtained results make these PEGylated polybenzofulvene brushes (PP...
Two cases of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, one with a nodular appearance and the other with an ery... more Two cases of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, one with a nodular appearance and the other with an erythematous infiltrating patch, are reported in immunocompromised patients. Diagnosis was based on histological examination, which revealed hyphae and round-shaped fungal cells in a granulomatous dermal infiltrate, and on identification of the moulds when biopsy fragments were cultured on Sabouraud-dextrose agar without cycloheximide. The pathogens were
In the longtime challenge of identifying specific, easily detectable and reliable biomarkers of I... more In the longtime challenge of identifying specific, easily detectable and reliable biomarkers of IPF, BALF proteomics is providing interesting new insights into its pathogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first shotgun proteomic investigation of EVs isolated from BALF of IPF patients. Our main aim was to characterize the proteome of the vesicular component of BALF and to explore its individual impact on the pathogenesis of IPF. To this purpose, ultracentrifugation was chosen as the EVs isolation technique, and their purification was assessed by TEM, 2DE and LC-MS/MS. Our 2DE data and scatter plots showed considerable differences between the proteome of EVs and that of whole BALF and of its fluid component. Analysis of protein content and protein functions evidenced that EV proteins are predominantly involved in cytoskeleton remodeling, adenosine signaling, adrenergic signaling, C-peptide signaling and lipid metabolism. Our findings may suggest a wider sys...
In condizioni fisiologiche, i globuli rossi - cellule dalle dimensioni di 7-8 m (millesimo di mm)... more In condizioni fisiologiche, i globuli rossi - cellule dalle dimensioni di 7-8 m (millesimo di mm) - mostrano una caratteristica forma a disco biconcavo (discociti), di importanza chiave per tutte le loro funzioni, quali la deformabilità (per adattarsi alle sinuosità della rete circolatoria), e lo scambio di ossigeno (O2), ma sono molto suscettibili a cambiamenti morfologici, con conseguente perdita della loro funzionalità. Tra i fattori che causano alterazioni morfologiche ci possono essere i cambiamenti di osmolarità, di pH, condizioni di ipossia e presenza di ossidanti (sostanze o molecole che possono indurre stress ossidativo) [1-5]. I globuli rossi a causa degli alti livelli di ferro cellulare e della proprietà dell’emoglobina ad auto-ossidarsi, sono una costante sorgente di produzione di ossidanti (radicali liberi dell’ossigeno come l’anione superossido) [6,7] e di ferro in forma libera (NPBI), cioè non legato a proteine, redox attivo. Stress ossidativo (SO) e ipossia possono portare ad alterazioni nella forma dei globuli rossi in pazienti adulti con malattia polmonare cronica ostruttiva (COPD) [7,8]. Nella forma tipica della sindrome di Rett (RTT ) il nostro gruppo ha dimostrato la presenza di ipossia cronica, alterati scambi di gas a livello polmonare, aumentato SO e lesioni morfologiche polmonari, simili a quelle evidenziabili nella malattia polmonare interstiziale associata a bronchiolite respiratoria dei fumatori (RB-ILD) [9,10]. Nonostante i globuli rossi svolgano un ruolo fondamentale nel trasporto e scambio di O2 nei mammiferi, finora non esistevano informazioni sulla morfologia dei globuli rossi nelle bimbe e ragazze affette da RTT . In particolare, nei nostri precedenti studi avevamo dimostrato che lo SO è in grado di indurre nei globuli rossi rilascio di NPBI, formazione di metemoglobina (Met-Hb) e alterazioni ossidative dei lipidi (perossidazione lipidica) e delle proteine di membrana [11]. Quindi nel presente studio abbiamo valutato se lo SO possa indurre cambiamenti morfologici e danno ossidativo nei globuli rossi di pazienti Rett con forma classica. La forma dei globuli rossi in pazienti RTT e in soggetti sani è stata correlata ai marker di SO, stato di ossigenazione, scambi gassosi polmonari e vari parametri cardiorespiratori
Embryo implantation has been defined as the “black box” of human reproduction. Most of the knowle... more Embryo implantation has been defined as the “black box” of human reproduction. Most of the knowledge on mechanisms underlining this process derives from animal models, but they cannot always be translated to humans. Therefore, the development of an in vitro/ex vivo model recapitulating as closely and precisely as possible the fundamental functional features of the human endometrial tissue is very much desirable. Here, we have validated endometrial organoids as a suitable 3D-model to studying epithelial endometrial interface for embryo implantation. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy analyses showed that organoids preserve the glandular organization and cell ultrastructural characteristics. They also retain the responsiveness to hormonal treatment specific to the corresponding phase of the menstrual cycle, mimicking the in vivo glandular-like aspect and functions. Noteworthy, organoids mirroring the early secretive phase show the development of pinopodes, large cytoplasmic...
Despite the significant advances in the last decades, low implantation rate per transferred embry... more Despite the significant advances in the last decades, low implantation rate per transferred embryo still remains a major concern in assisted reproductive techniques, highlighting a need to better characterize endometrial receptivity also by mean of specific biomarkers. Based on physiology and on the intimate contact with endometrium as the tissue of interest, in this study we developed and validated an optimized protocol that uses extracellular vesicles (EVs) recovered from uterine flushings and from a cervical brush, the latter never used until now as an EVs source, as surrogates for endometrial biopsies. This method combines the safety of sampling with the ability to study the expression profile across the uterine cycle. We have compared the yield and composition of EVs recovered from different biofluids samples and fractions thereof, opting for chemical precipitation as the EV isolation procedure, assuring the highest yield without introducing any bias in specific EV recovery. Mo...
The technique of grafting side chains onto a linear polymeric backbone is commonly used to confer... more The technique of grafting side chains onto a linear polymeric backbone is commonly used to confer to the new polymeric material with desired properties, such as tunable solubility, ionic charge, biocompatibility, or specific interactions with biological systems. In this paper, two new polybenzofulvene backbones were assembled by spontaneous polymerization of the appropriate benzofulvene monomers (4,6-PO-BF3k and 4’,6-PO-BF3k) bearing two clickable propargyloxy groups in different positions of the 3-phenylindene scaffold. Poly-4,6-PO-BF3k and poly-4’,6-PO-BF3k were grafted with monomethyl oligo(ethylene glycol) (MOEG) to prepare two new polybenzofulvene brushes (i.e., poly-4,6-MOEG-9-TM-BF3k and poly-4’,6-MOEG-9-TM-BF3k) by means of a “grafting onto” approach, that were characterized from the point of view of their macromolecular features, aggregation liability, and in a preliminary evaluation of biocompatibility. The obtained results make these PEGylated polybenzofulvene brushes (PP...
Two cases of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, one with a nodular appearance and the other with an ery... more Two cases of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, one with a nodular appearance and the other with an erythematous infiltrating patch, are reported in immunocompromised patients. Diagnosis was based on histological examination, which revealed hyphae and round-shaped fungal cells in a granulomatous dermal infiltrate, and on identification of the moulds when biopsy fragments were cultured on Sabouraud-dextrose agar without cycloheximide. The pathogens were
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