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Motor neuron diseases are neurodegenerative diseases that predominantly affect the neuromuscular system. To date, there are no valid therapeutic treatments for such diseases, and the classical experimental models fail in faithfully reproducing the pathological mechanisms behind them. In this regard, the use of three-dimensional (3D) culture systems, which more closely reproduce the native

The three-dimensional complexity of the native extracellular matrix (ECM) suggests switching from 2D to 3D culture systems for providing the cells with an architecture more similar to the physiological environment. Reproducing the three-dimensionality in vitro can guarantee beneficial effects in terms of cell growth, adhesion, proliferation, and/or their differentiation. Hydrogels have the same tailorable physico-chemical and biological characteristics as ECM materials. In this study, we propose a thermoresponsive chitosan-based hydrogel that gels thanks to the addition of organic and inorganic salt solutions (beta-glycerolphosphate and sodium hydrogen carbonate) and is suitable for cell encapsulation allowing obtaining 3D culture systems. Physico-chemical analyses showed that the hydrogel formulations jellify at physiological conditions (37 &deg, C, pH 7.4), are stable in vitro up to three weeks, have high swelling ratios and mechanical stiffness suitable for cellular encapsulation. Moreover, preliminary biological tests underlined the pronounced biocompatibility of the system. Therefore, these chitosan-based hydrogels are proposed as valid biomaterials for cell encapsulation.

A fast and simple isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-HT) in homogenate samples of mouse striatum employing the direct fluorescence of the neurotransmitters is described. The method has been optimized and validated. The analytes were separated in 15min on a reversed-phase column (C18) with acetate buffer (pH 4.0, 12mM)-methanol (86:14, v/v) as mobile phase; the flow rate was 1ml/min. The fluorescence measurements were carried out at 320nm with excitation at 279nm. The calibration curve for DA was linear up to about 2.5μg/ml, with a coefficient of determination (r(2)) of 0.9995 with a lower limit of quantification of 0.031μg/ml. Since the procedure does not involve sample pre-purification or derivatisation, the recovery ranged from 97% to 102% and relative standard deviation (RSD) was better than 2.9%, the use of the internal standard is not mandatory, further simplifying the method. Similar performance was obtained for the other analytes. As a result, thanks to its simplicity, rapidity and adequate working range, the method can be used for the determination of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in animal tissues. An experimental 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model of Parkinson-like disease has been used to demonstrate the method is fit-for-purpose.

International audience; Peripheral nerve regeneration is regulated through the coordinated spatio-temporal activation of multiple cellular pathways. In this work, an integrated proteomics and bioinformatics approach was employed to identify differentially expressed proteins at the injury-site of rat sciatic nerve at 20 days after damage. By a label-free liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach, we identified 201 differentially proteins that were assigned to specific canonical and disease and function pathways. These include proteins involved in cytoskeleton signaling and remodeling, acute phase response, and cellular metabolism. Metabolic proteins were significantly modulated after nerve injury to support a specific metabolic demand. In particular, we identified a group of proteins involved in lipid uptake and lipid storage metabolism. Immunofluorescent staining for acyl-CoA diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) and DAGT2 expression provided evidence for the expression and localization of these two isoforms in Schwann cells at the injury site in the sciatic nerve. This further supports a specific local regulation of lipid metabolism in peripheral nerve after damage.

In this study, the effects of Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC), a non-invasive physical treatment, on neuroinflammatory responses in a mouse model of parkinsonism induced by intoxication with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), were investigated in vivo. We found that the REAC tissue optimization treatment specific for neuro-regenerative purposes (REAC TO-RGN-N) attenuated the inflammatory picture evoked by MPTP-induced nigro-striatal damage in mice, decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory molecules and increasing anti-inflammatory mediators. Besides, there was a significant reduction of both astrocyte and microglial activation in MPTP-treated mice exposed to REAC TO-RGN-N. These results indicated that REAC TO-RGN-N treatment modulates the pro-inflammatory responses and reduces neuronal damage in MPTP-induced parkinsonism.

Chronic exposure to solar UVB radiation damages skin, increasing the risk to develop cancer. Hence the identification of compounds with a photoprotective efficacy is essential. This study examined the role of saponins derived from Tribulus terrestris L. (TT) on the modulation of apoptosis in normal human keratinocytes (NHEK) exposed to physiological doses of UVB and to evaluate their antitumoral properties. In NHEK, TT saponins attenuate UVB-induced programmed cell death through inhibition of intrinsic apoptotic pathway. In squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) TT saponins do not make the malignant keratinocytes more resistant to UVB and determine an enhanced apoptotic response. The photoprotective effect of TT saponins is tightly correlated to the enhancement of NER genes expression and the block of UVB-mediated NF-κB activation. Collectively, our study shows experimental evidence that TT has a preventive efficacy against UVB-induced carcinogenesis and the molecular knowledge on the mechanisms through which TT saponins regulate cell death suggests great potential for TT to be developed into a new medicine for cancer patients.

Background/Aims: Gastrointestinal damage (GD) is commonly associated with the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, one of the two known COXs, by traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. More recent evidences have proven that GD is caused by the simultaneous inhibition of the two COXs. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the selective COX-1 inhibition on gastric integrity. Methods: GD was evaluated in male CD1 mice. Drugs were administered by gastric gavage at a dose of 50 mg/kg (injection volume of 100 µl). Control mice received an equal volume of the vehicle (10% ethanol). Each mouse, in groups of at least 6 mice, received one dose/day for 5 days. Results: In Western blot analysis, COX-1 expression levels were found to be significantly reduced in mice treated with 3-(5-chlorofuran-2-yl)-5-methyl-4-phenylisoxazole (P6) in comparison to mice pretreated with aspirin (ASA), which exhibited higher levels of COX-1, thus confirming the high selectivity of P6 towards COX-1 enzyme inhibition. Mucosal sections obtained from ASA-treated mice showed breaks in the epithelial barrier and a marked alteration of foveolae and gastric glands, whereas stomachs isolated from mice sacrificed after 5 days of chronic administration of P6 (at a dose of up to 50 mg/kg/day) showed sporadic transient mucosal hyperemia and did not seem to display any significant gastric damage. Conclusions: The selective COX-1 inhibition by P6 does not cause gastric damage in mice but preserves mucosal integrity.

In the present study we used a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model to analyze resveratrol neuroprotective effects. The MPTP-induced PD model is characterized by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and loss of the dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). We observed that resveratrol treatment significantly reduced glial activation, decreasing the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as their respective receptors in the SNpc of MPTP-treated mice, as demonstrated by Western blotting, RT-PCR and quantitative PCR analysis. This reduction is related to possible neuroprotection as we also observed that resveratrol administration limited the decline of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactivity induced in the striatum and SNpc by MPTP injection. Consistent with these data, resveratrol treatment up-regulated the expression of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1), supporting the hypothesis that resveratrol protects DA neurons of the SNpc against MPTP-induced cell loss by regulating inflammatory reactions, possibly through SOCS-1 induction.

In valinomycin induced stimulation of mitochondrial energy dependent reversible swelling, supported by succinate oxidation, cytochrome c (cyto-c) and sulfite oxidase (Sox) [both present in the mitochondrial intermembrane space (MIS)] are released outside. This effect can be observed at a valinomycin concentration as low as 1 nM. The rate of cytosolic NADH/cyto-c electron transport pathway is also greatly stimulated. The test on the permeability of mitochondrial outer membrane to exogenous cyto-c rules out the possibility that the increased rate of exogenous NADH oxidation could be ascribed either to extensively damaged or broken mitochondria. Accumulation of potassium inside the mitochondria, mediated by the highly specific ionophore valinomycin, promotes an increase in the volume of matrix (evidenced by swelling) and the interaction points between the two mitochondrial membranes are expected to increase. The data reported and those previously published are consistent with the view that ‘‘respiratory contact sites’’ are involved in the transfer of reducing equivalents from cytosol to inside the mitochondria both in the absence and the presence of valinomycin. Magnesium ions prevent at least in part the valinomycin effects. Rather than to the dissipation of membrane potential, the pro-apoptotic property of valinomycin can be ascribed to both the release of cyto-c from mitochondria to cytosol and the increased rate of cytosolic NADH coupled with an increased availability of energy in the form of glycolytic ATP, useful for the correct execution of apoptotic program.