129 research outputs found
Cellular response to physical exercise: analysis of serum proteins modulation and expression profiles in circulating progenitor cells
No full textPhysical activity plays an important role against pathological degenerative conditions and metabolic diseases. In particular, it works as a modulator of the mutually exclusive osteogenic or adipogenic fates of mesenchymal stem cells through a direct action on differentiation-related gene expression. On the other hand, it has also been reported that oxidative stress generated by strenous physical efforts (e.g. marathon running) can affect cell functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects induced by a half marathon in male amateur runners. In particular the investigation focused on: i) serum proteins modulation in response to the oxidative environment, ii) the modulation of circulating progenitor cells commitment, monitored in terms of gene expression; iii) progenitor cells proliferation and homeostasis, monitored through the expression levels of genes related to telomerase activity and autophagic induction, respectively; iv) the effects of soluble factors present in runners’ sera on differentiation process in an in vitro cellular model. The shotgun proteomic approach applied to runners’ sera confirmed the production of reactive oxygen species, counteracted by an increased production of detoxifying and scavenger proteins. Overall, the proteome modulation profile suggests a consequent positive effect of the trained condition. Gene expression analyses showed an upregulation of osteogenesis related genes in Circulating Progenitor cells (CPs) after training, in particular RUNX2 and BMPs. In addition, chondrogenesis related genes such as SOX9, COMP and COL2A1 were upregulated after the run. At the same time, the higher expression of BMP3 suggests a stimulation of CPs proliferation which justifies as well the increased expression of telomerase-related genes, TERT and TERF1. The enhanced expression of autophagyrelated genes (ATG3 and ULK1) correlates positively with the induction of MSCs differentition. Data based on an in vitro model (i.e. Bone Marrow-derived MSCs supplemented with pre- and post-run sera), suggest that intense physical exercise enhances BM-MSC potential for osteo-chondrogenic commitment at the expense of the mutually exclusive adipogenesis. The in vitro deposition of calcium salts demonstrates mineralization, i.e. complete maturation of osteoblasts promoted by soluble factors in runners’ sera. In conclusion, changes induced by physical activity may be considered positive in terms of: i) oxidative stress management during oxigen reactive species production; ii) progenitor cells proliferation, under autophagy-mediated positive selection; iii) osteochondrogenic induction of CPs; iv) production of circulating soluble factors which support complete maturation of committed osteoblasts. All data seem to suggest that physical activity has positive effects on overall health
Clones of aging: When better fitness can be dangerous
No full textThe biological and clinical significance of aberrant clonal expansions in aged tissues is being intensely discussed. Evidence is accruing that these clones often result from the normal dynamics of cell turnover in our tissues. The aged tissue microenvironment is prone to favour the emergence of specific clones with higher fitness partly because of an overall decline in cell intrinsic regenerative potential of surrounding counterparts. Thus, expanding clones in aged tissues need not to be mechanistically associated with the development of cancer, albeit this is a possibility. We suggest that growth pattern is a critical phenotypic attribute that impacts on the fate of such clonal proliferations. The acquisition of a better proliferative fitness, coupled with a defect in tissue pattern formation, could represent a dangerous mix setting the stage for their evolution towards neoplasia
Samuele R. Bacchiocchi and Family
No full textSeventh-day Adventist author and theologian, Samuele R. Bacchiocchi and his wife and their children at a graduation ceremony at Pontifical University
sd920/FIJI-macros-for-IHC-and-SHG-analysis: Batch Split Channels (3 channels)
No full textThis macro allows to split channels for Z-stack .tiff files and save them in a new folder in batch mode.
Author: Samuele Di Carmine, [email protected]
Version 1.0
July 13, 2021
//License: BSD3
Copyright 2021 Samuele Di Carmine, Imperial College Londo
Effects of intense physical exercise on osteogenic commitment of mesenchymal progenitors
No full textMultipotent human bone ma rrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) can dif ferentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocyte and adipocytes. MSC commitment toward a s pecif ic cell type is influenced by a multitude of stimuli and inhibitors acting on specif ic transcription factors. RUNX2, SOX9, PPARgamma2 control MSC dif ferentiation toward osteoblast, chondrocyte, adipocyte, respectively. MSCs can also be isola ted from peripheral blood [1]. Circulating MSCs represent an excellent tool for the ex vivo investigation of gene expression patterns in dif ferentiating precur sors. We have investigated how the ex pression levels of ma ster dif ferentiation genes ma y be influenced by intense physical exercise in competitive runners. Eleven ma le subjects were enrolled for collection of peripheral blood samples before and after the Run for Science 42 km ma ra thon. The samples were used to perform i) biochemical, ii) proteomic and iii) molecular analyses in order to evaluate the ef fects of intense physical exercise on bone ma ss and, in particular, on osteogenic commitment of MSC. Comparing pre and post run data we observed a 2fold increase in RUNX2 gene expression and a 2fold decrease in PPA Rga mma2 gene ex pression. Interestingly, we also observed an increased ex pression of S OX9. These preliminary data indicate how intense physica l activity eff ectively favors MSCs osteocondrogen ic commitment at the expense of the mutually exclusive adipogenic commitment. Further investigations at the molecular and biochemical level will clarif y which players trigger the observed cellular response. [1] Valenti MT et al., B one 43 (2008) 10
Effects of oral anticoagulant therapy on gene expression in crosstalk between osteogenic progenitor cells and endothelial cells
No full textDirect oral anti-coagulants (DOACs) are employed in clinical practice for the prevention and treatment of recurrent venous thromboembolism and for the prevention of stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. DOACs directly and reversibly inhibit activated factor X or thrombin and can interfere with other pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, lipid metabolism, and bone turnover. We aimed to evaluate the possible effects of DOACs on osteogenesis and angiogenesis. We treated 34 patients affected by cardiovascular disorders with DOACs; biochemical and molecular analyses were performed before and after three months of treatment. Circulating progenitors (CPs; CD34-, CD45-, CD14-, CD73+, CD105+), which share typical bone marrow stem cell (MSCs) features, were harvested from peripheral blood of the study subjects to monitor the expression of osteogenesis-related genes RUNX2 and SPARC. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to probe angiogenesis-related VEGF, CD31, and CD105 gene expression. We performed co-culture experiments using a commercial human mesenchymal stem cells line (hMSCs) obtained from bone marrow and HUVECs. Clinical parameters related to bone metabolism, coagulation, renal and liver function, and the lipid profile were evaluated. Values of the C-terminal telopeptide type I collagen (CTX) increased after the treatment. We found a significant increase in osteogenesis marker gene expression in CPs after three months of anticoagulant therapy. An increase in the RUNX2 expression determinant alone was detected instead in hMSCs co-cultured with HUVECs in the presence of treated patients' sera. The VEGF, CD31, and CD105 marker genes appeared to be significantly upregulated in HUVECs co-cultured with hMSCs in the presence of treated patients' sera. Under these conditions, new vessel formation increased as well. Our results highlight an unexpected influence of DOAC therapy on osteogenic commitment and vascular endothelial function promotion
Samuele R. Bacchiocchi
No full textSamuele R. Bacchiocchi was a Seventh-day Adventist author and theologian best known for his work on the Sabbath in Christianity, particularly in the historical work "From Sabbath to Sunday," based on his doctoral thesis from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Bacchiocchi defended the validity of the Feasts of the Lord, situated in Leviticus 23. He wrote two books on the subject. He was also known within the Seventh-day Adventist church for his opposition to rock and contemporary Christian music, jewelry, the celebration of Christmas and Easter, certain dress standards, and alcohol. This photograph was taken during a graduation ceremony from Pontifical University
The Impact of the COVID-19 Emergency on Local Vehicular Traffic and Its Consequences for the Environment: The Case of the City of Reggio Emilia (Italy)
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Open AccessArticle
The Impact of the COVID-19 Emergency on Local Vehicular Traffic and Its Consequences for the Environment: The Case of the City of Reggio Emilia (Italy)
by Samuele Marinello 1,*OrcID,Francesco Lolli 1,2 andRita Gamberini 1,2OrcID
1
En&Tech Interdepartmental Center, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42124 Reggio Emilia, Italy
2
Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010118
Received: 3 December 2020 / Revised: 21 December 2020 / Accepted: 22 December 2020 / Published: 24 December 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 8th World Sustainability Forum—Selected Papers)
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Abstract
The COVID-19 health emergency has imposed the need to limit and/or stop non-essential economic and commercial activities and movement of people. The objective of this work is to report an assessment of the change in vehicle flows and in air quality of a specific study area in the north of Italy, comparing the periods February–May 2020 and February–May 2019. Circulating vehicles have been measured at nine characteristic points of the local road network of the city of Reggio Emilia (Italy), while atmospheric pollutant concentrations have been analysed using data extracted from the regional air quality monitoring network. The results highlight a rapid decline in the number of vehicles circulating in 2020 (with values of up to −82%). This has contributed to a reduction in air concentrations of pollutants, in particular for NO2 and CO (over 30% and over 22%, respectively). On the other hand, O3 has increased (by about +13%), but this is expected. Finally, the particulate matter grew (about 30%), with a behaviour similar to the whole regional territory. The empirical findings of this study provide some indications and useful information to assist in understanding the effects of traffic blocking in urban areas on air quality
Physical Exercise Modulates miR-21-5p, miR-129-5p, miR-378-5p, and miR-188-5p Expression in Progenitor Cells Promoting Osteogenesis
No full textPhysical exercise is known to promote beneficial effects on overall health, counteracting risks related to degenerative diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), short non-coding RNAs affecting the expression of a cell's transcriptome, can be modulated by different stimuli. Yet, the molecular effects on osteogenic differentiation triggered by miRNAs upon physical exercise are not completely understood. In this study, we recruited 20 male amateur runners participating in a half marathon. Runners' sera, collected before (PRE RUN) and after (POST RUN) the run, were added to cultured human mesenchymal stromal cells. We then investigated their effects on the modulation of selected miRNAs and the consequential effects on osteogenic differentiation. Our results showed an increased expression of miRNAs promoting osteogenic differentiation (miR-21-5p, miR-129-5p, and miR-378-5p) and a reduced expression of miRNAs involved in the adipogenic differentiation of progenitor cells (miR-188-5p). In addition, we observed the downregulation of PTEN and SMAD7 expression along with increased AKT/pAKT and SMAD4 protein levels in MSCs treated with POST RUN sera. The consequent upregulation of RUNX2 expression was also proven, highlighting the molecular mechanisms by which miR-21-5p promotes osteogenic differentiation. In conclusion, our work proposes novel data, which demonstrate how miRNAs may regulate the osteogenic commitment of progenitor cells in response to physical exercise
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