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Carla PALUMBO
Professore Ordinario
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze,sede Istituti Anatomici (area Policlinico)
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Pubblicazioni
2024
- Piezosurgery versus Reciprocating Saw: Qualitative Comparison of the Morphology of Cutting Surfaces in Ex Vivo Human Bone
[Articolo su rivista]
Anesi, Alexandre; Negrello, Sara; Checchi, Marta; Di Bartolomeo, Mattia; Salvatori, Roberta; Cavani, Francesco; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
The aim of this study was to morphologically evaluate the differences in the cutting surfaces of bone segments obtained by reciprocating saw (RS) and two piezosurgical devices (Piezosurgery Medical—PM—and Piezosurgery Plus—PP) in ex vivo human fibulae. The ultimate goal was to identify the presence of debris, scratches, and microcracks on the cutting surface that might affect bone healing, a key aspect in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Ten patients who underwent a microsurgical reconstruction of the mandible with a free fibula flap were enrolled. The fibula segments usually discarded after surgery were cut using RS, PM, and PP, obtaining transverse sections to analyze under an environmental scanning electron microscope to perform a histomorphological qualitative evaluation. Bone surfaces cut with the RS presented several scratches, and haversian canals were frequently filled with bone debris/chips. On the contrary, PM and PP devices produced smoother and sharper cutting surfaces, with lower production of bone debris/chips, preventing vascular spaces’ closure. Microcracks were found in both PM and PP cut specimens, and they could be associated with the triggering of bone remodeling, thus improving the formation of new bone, while their presence was rarely observable in RS cut samples. The use of piezosurgical devices showed superior performance, providing cleaner and smoother cutting surfaces that favor vascularization and bone remodeling; altogether, these processes could lead to accelerated bone healing, a fundamental goal in all surgical procedures that involve bone cutting.
2024
- Specific subcellular localization of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C enzymes in different human osteosarcoma cell lines
[Articolo su rivista]
Corradini, M; Checchi, M; Benincasa, M; Ferretti, M; Cavani, F; Palumbo, C; LO VASCO, VINCENZA RITA
abstract
The role of signal transduction in cancer progression is well established and actively studied, including in osteosarcoma. The signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of calcium metabolism are being intensively studied, with particular regard to phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) signaling. This family of enzymes helps to modulate calcium metabolism and is interconnected with additional signaling molecules belonging to different pathways. The expression and subcellular localization of PLCs have been shown to differ in normal cells compared to their neoplastic counterpart in different types of cancer. We now describe the localization of the PLC enzyme family in 4 human osteosarcoma cells different in origin and malignancy (MG63, U2OS, HOS and 143B cell lines). We identified cell line-specific differences and discussed possible meaning and implications.
2023
- CAM Model: Intriguing Natural Bioreactor for Sustainable Research and Reliable/Versatile Testing
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Sisi, Federica; Checchi, Marta
abstract
We are witnessing the revival of the CAM model, which has already used been in the past by several researchers studying angiogenesis and anti-cancer drugs and now offers a refined model to fill, in the translational meaning, the gap between in vitro and in vivo studies. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, from testing cytotoxicity, pharmacokinetics, tumorigenesis, and invasion to the action mechanisms of molecules and validation of new materials from tissue engineering research. The CAM model is easy to use, with a fast outcome, and makes experimental research more sustainable since it allows us to replace, reduce, and refine pre-clinical experimentation (“3Rs” rules). This review aims to highlight some unique potential that the CAM-assay presents; in particular, the authors intend to use the CAM model in the future to verify, in a microenvironment comparable to in vivo conditions, albeit simplified, the angiogenic ability of functionalized 3D constructs to be used in regenerative medicine strategies in the recovery of skeletal injuries of critical size (CSD) that do not repair spontaneously. For this purpose, organotypic cultures will be planned on several CAMs set up in temporal sequences, and a sort of organ model for assessing CSD will be utilized in the CAM bioreactor rather than in vivo.
2023
- Eco‐Sustainable Approaches in Bone Tissue Engineering: Evaluating the Angiogenic Potential of Different Poly(3‐Hydroxybutyrate‐Co‐3‐Hydroxyhexanoate)–Nanocellulose Composites with the Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay
[Articolo su rivista]
Stanzani, Virginia; Giubilini, Alberto; Checchi, Marta; Bondioli, Federica; Messori, Massimo; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
2023
- Endoplasmic reticulum localization of phosphoinositide specific phospholipase C enzymes in U73122 cultured human osteoblasts
[Articolo su rivista]
Corradini, Matteo; Checchi, Marta; Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Palumbo, Carla; LO VASCO, VINCENZA RITA
abstract
Different signal transduction pathways contribute to the differentiation and metabolic activities of osteoblasts, with special regard to the calcium-related pathway of phosphoinositide specific phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes family. PLC enzymes were demonstrated to be involved in the differentiation of osteoblasts, and differently localize in the nucleus, cytoplasm or both depending on the isoform. The amino-steroid molecule U-73122 inhibits the enzymes belonging to the PLC family. Beside the temporary block of the enzymatic activity, U-73122 promotes off-target effects, including modulation of the expression of selected PLC genes and different localization of PLC enzymes depending on the cell line in different cell lines.
In order to evaluate possible off-target effects of the molecule in human osteoblasts, we investigated the expression of PLC genes and the localization of PLC enzymes in cultured human osteoblasts (hOBs) in the presence of low dose U-73122.
Our results confirm that all PLC genes are transcribed in hOBs, that probably splicing variants of selected PLC genes are expressed, and that all PLC enzymes are present in hOBs, excepting for PLC 3 in quiescent hOBs at seeding. Our results confirm literature data excluding toxicity of U-73122 upon cell survival. Our results indicate that U-73122 did not significantly affect the transcription of PLC genes. It acts upon the localization of PLC enzymes, as PLC enzymes are detected in cell protrusions or pseudopodia-like structures, at the nuclear or the plasma membrane, in membrane ruffles, and/or in the endoplasmic reticulum.
2023
- Human Neuromuscular Junction on a Chip: Impact of Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Extracellular Vesicles on Muscle Atrophy and NMJ Integrity
[Articolo su rivista]
Gatti, Martina; Dittlau, Katarina Stoklund; Beretti, Francesca; Yedigaryan, Laura; Zavatti, Manuela; Cortelli, Pietro; Palumbo, Carla; Bertucci, Emma; Van Den Bosch, Ludo; Sampaolesi, Maurilio; Maraldi, Tullia
abstract
: Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are specialized synapses, crucial for the communication between spinal motor neurons (MNs) and skeletal muscle. NMJs become vulnerable in degenerative diseases, such as muscle atrophy, where the crosstalk between the different cell populations fails, and the regenerative ability of the entire tissue is hampered. How skeletal muscle sends retrograde signals to MNs through NMJs represents an intriguing field of research, and the role of oxidative stress and its sources remain poorly understood. Recent works demonstrate the myofiber regeneration potential of stem cells, including amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC), and secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) as cell-free therapy. To study NMJ perturbations during muscle atrophy, we generated an MN/myotube co-culture system through XonaTM microfluidic devices, and muscle atrophy was induced in vitro by Dexamethasone (Dexa). After atrophy induction, we treated muscle and MN compartments with AFSC-derived EVs (AFSC-EVs) to investigate their regenerative and anti-oxidative potential in counteracting NMJ alterations. We found that the presence of EVs reduced morphological and functional in vitro defects induced by Dexa. Interestingly, oxidative stress, occurring in atrophic myotubes and thus involving neurites as well, was prevented by EV treatment. Here, we provided and validated a fluidically isolated system represented by microfluidic devices for studying human MN and myotube interactions in healthy and Dexa-induced atrophic conditions-allowing the isolation of subcellular compartments for region-specific analyses-and demonstrated the efficacy of AFSC-EVs in counteracting NMJ perturbations.
2023
- In Vitro and in Vivo Bone Remodeling Models: Complementary Pieces of the same Puzzle
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
: The present letter to editor comments on the manuscript entitled "Assembling the Puzzle Pieces. Insights for in Vitro Bone Remodeling" by O. Krasnova & I. Neganova; in this context, we underlie the importance of in vivo models to corroborate in vitro bone remodeling systems.
2023
- In-vivo evaluations of bone regenerative potential of two novel bioactive glasses
[Articolo su rivista]
Anesi, A.; Ferretti, M.; Salvatori, R.; Bellucci, D.; Cavani, F.; Di Bartolomeo, M.; Palumbo, C.; Cannillo, V.
abstract
: Due to the aging of population, materials able to repair damaged tissues are needed. Among others, bioactive glasses (BGs) have attracted a lot of interest due to their outstanding properties both for hard and soft tissues. Here, for the first time, two new BGs, which gave very promising results in preliminary in vitro-tests, were implanted in animals in order to evaluate their regenerative potential. The new BGs, named BGMS10 and Bio_MS and containing specific therapeutic ions, were produced in granules and implanted in rabbits' femurs for up to 60 days, to test their biocompatibility and osteoconduction. Additionally, granules of 45S5 Bioglass® were employed and used as a standard reference for comparison. The results showed that, after 30 days, the two novel BGs and 45S5 displayed a similar behavior, in terms of bone amount, thickness of new bone trabeculae and affinity index. On the contrary, after 60 days, 45S5 granules were mainly surrounded by wide and scattered bone trabeculae, separated by large amounts of soft tissue, while in BGMS10 and Bio_MS the trabeculae were thin and uniformly distributed around the BG granules. This latter scenario could be considered as more advantageous, since the features of the two novel BG granules allowed for the neo-formation of a uniformly distributed bony trabeculae, predictive of more favorable mechanical behavior, compared to the less uniform coarse trabeculae, separated by large areas of soft tissue in 45S5 granules. Thus, BGMS10 and Bio_MS could be considered suitable products for tissue regeneration in the orthopedic and dental fields.
2023
- Morphology and cell biology - two sides of the same coin: Importance of morphology in choosing
Cre experimental models for targeting osteoblasts vs osteocytes
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
The present letter to editor comments the manuscript entitled “Targeting osteocytes vs osteoblasts” by Y. Kitase and M. Prideaux, where we underlie the importance of morphology in choosing Cre experimental models for targeting osteoblasts vs osteocytes.
2023
- Sex and Gender Differences in Medical Education: The Impact on Scientific Reports
[Articolo su rivista]
Mattioli, A. V.; Coppi, F.; Bucciarelli, V.; Nasi, M.; Pinti, M.; Palumbo, C.; Gallina, S.
abstract
This commentary explores the reasons why sex and gender differences must be included in medical education and the impact on healthcare outcomes for patients. Understanding sex and gender differences could be useful in making more accurate diagnoses and to develop more effective treatment plans. Sex and gender medicine take into consideration both the genetic basis and the effects of exposure to environmental and socio-economic factors.
2023
- Understanding the Roles of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway during T-Cell Lymphopoiesis and in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL)
[Articolo su rivista]
Martelli, A. M.; Paganelli, F.; Truocchio, S.; Palumbo, C.; Chiarini, F.; Mccubrey, J. A.
abstract
: The Hedgehog (HH) signaling network is one of the main regulators of invertebrate and vertebrate embryonic development. Along with other networks, such as NOTCH and WNT, HH signaling specifies both the early patterning and the polarity events as well as the subsequent organ formation via the temporal and spatial regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. However, aberrant activation of HH signaling has been identified in a broad range of malignant disorders, where it positively influences proliferation, survival, and therapeutic resistance of neoplastic cells. Inhibitors targeting the HH pathway have been tested in preclinical cancer models. The HH pathway is also overactive in other blood malignancies, including T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). This review is intended to summarize our knowledge of the biological roles and pathophysiology of the HH pathway during normal T-cell lymphopoiesis and in T-ALL. In addition, we will discuss potential therapeutic strategies that might expand the clinical usefulness of drugs targeting the HH pathway in T-ALL.
2023
- Unexpected Absence of Skeletal Responses to Dietary Magnesium Depletion: Basis for Future Perspectives?
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Lo Vasco, Vincenza Rita; Checchi, Marta; Truocchio, Serena; Davalli, Pierpaola; Frassineti, Chiara; Rizzi, Federica; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
2022
- Exosomes Derived from Human Amniotic Fluid Mesenchymal Stem Cells Preserve Microglia and Neuron Cells from Aβ
[Articolo su rivista]
Zavatti, M.; Gatti, M.; Beretti, F.; Palumbo, C.; Maraldi, T.
abstract
Background: Neuroinflammation is involved in neuronal cell death that occurs in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Microglia play important roles in regulating the brain amyloid beta (Aβ) levels, so immunomodulatory properties exerted by mesenchymal stem cells may be exploited to treat this pathology. The evidence suggests that the mechanism of action of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) is through their secretome, which includes exosomes (exo). Methods: We examined the effect of exosomes derived from human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs-exo) on activated BV-2 microglia cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a neuroinflammation model. To investigate the exo effect on the interplay between AD neurons and microglia, SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells treated with Aβ were exposed to a conditioned medium (CM) obtained from activated BV-2 or co-culture systems. Results: We found that the upregulation of the markers of pro-inflammatory microglia was prevented when exposed to hAFSC-exo whereas the markers of the anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype were not affected. Interestingly, the hAFSC-exo pretreatment significantly inhibited the oxidative stress rise and apoptosis occurring in the neurons in presence of both microglia and Aβ. Conclusion: We demonstrated that hAFSC-exo mitigated an inflammatory injury caused by microglia and significantly recovered the neurotoxicity, suggesting that hAFSC-exo may be a potential therapeutic agent for inflammation-related neurological conditions, including AD.
2022
- Expression and localization of Phosphoinositide-specific Phospholipases C in cultured, differentiating and stimulated human osteoblasts
[Articolo su rivista]
Casoni Sara, Daisy; Romanelli, Alessia; Checchi, Marta; Truocchio, Serena; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; LO VASCO, VINCENZA RITA
abstract
The osteoblasts contribute to bone homeostasis maintaining the bone mass, and intervene in bone injuries repair. The limited number of available therapeutic agents promoting osteogenesis aroused the greatest interest in the control of osteoblasts’ activity. Insights in the events leading to the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts might allow uncover potential molecular targets to control the complex mechanisms underlying bone remodeling. Oscillations of calcium act crucially during this remodeling, affecting both the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts. Signal transduction pathways contribute to the differentiation and metabolic activities of osteoblasts, with special regard to calcium-related signaling, including the Phosphoinositide (PI) pathway and related Phospholipases C (PLCs).
In order to evaluate the role of PLC enzymes’ family in human osteoblasts (HOBs), we analyzed the expression of PLC genes and the localization of PLC enzymes in cultured HOBs and in in vitro differentiating HOBs after 3, 10, 17 and 23 days, and in HOBs stimulated with Lipopolysaccharide, which affects the differentiation of osteoblasts, after 3, 6, 24 and 48 hours. Our results confirm the transcription of most PLC genes and the presence of a number of PLC enzymes in HOBs, differently localized in the nucleus, in the cytoplasm or both, as well as in cell protrusions. The localization of PLC enzymes within the cell suggests the activation of both the PI nuclear and of the cytoplasmic cycle in HOBs. Depending on the experimental conditions, transcripts of splicing variants of selected PLC genes were detected and the localization of most PLC enzymes varied, with special regard to enzymes belonging to the PLC , and sub-families. Further studies addressed to elucidate the complex network involving the signal transduction of PLCs might provide further insights into the complex signal transduction network in bone remodeling, also offering the opportunity to identify promising molecular targets.
2022
- From morphological basic research to proposals for regenerative medicine through a translational
perspective
[Articolo su rivista]
Checchi, Marta; Stanzani, Virginia; Truocchio, Serena; Corradini, Matteo; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
2022
- Insegnare le differenze di genere alla facoltà di medicina: uno strumento per migliorare la sicurezza e l'efficacia della prescrizione dell’attività fisica personalizzata
[Articolo su rivista]
Pinti, Marcello; Mattioli, Anna Vittoria; Nasi, Milena; Selleri, Valentina; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
ender medicine is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the study of the influence of biological differences, defined by sex, and socioeconomic and cultural differences, defined by gender, on each person's health and disease status. Since gender bias is still strongly present and entrenched in medicine, recent studies indicate how crucial the teaching of gender medicine is in the training of doctors and health professionals to create not only a positive learning environment, but also a more equitable and organized healthcare system. Therefore, the aim of the following article is to highlight the importance of systematic teaching of gender medicine to improve the safety and effectiveness of prescribing personalized physical activity and sports.
2022
- Marchio d'impresa "PAL-OS"
[Altro]
Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Deposito marchio d'impresa 'PAL-OS' n. 302022000001046
2022
- Teaching Gender Differences at Medical School Could Improve the Safety and Efficacy of Personalized Physical Activity Prescription
[Articolo su rivista]
Mattioli, Anna Vittoria; Nasi, Milena; Pinti, Marcello; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
2022
- The need to teach gender medicine in medical school
[Articolo su rivista]
Mattioli, Anna Vittoria; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
..
2021
- Amniotic fluid stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles counteract steroid-induced osteoporosis in vitro
[Articolo su rivista]
Gatti, M.; Beretti, F.; Zavatti, M.; Bertucci, E.; Luz, S. R.; Palumbo, C.; Maraldi, T.
abstract
Background—Osteoporosis is characterized by defects in both quality and quantity of bone tissue, which imply high susceptibility to fractures with limitations of autonomy. Current therapies for osteoporosis are mostly concentrated on how to inhibit bone resorption but give serious adverse effects. Therefore, more effective and safer therapies are needed that even encourage bone formation. Here we examined the effect of extracellular vesicles secreted by human amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSC) (AFSC-EV) on a model of osteoporosis in vitro. Methods—human AFSC-EV were added to the culture medium of a human pre-osteoblast cell line (HOB) induced to differentiate, and then treated with dexamethasone as osteoporosis inducer. Aspects of differentiation and viability were assessed by immunofluorescence, Western blot, mass spectrometry, and histological as-says. Since steroids induce oxidative stress, the levels of reactive oxygen species and of redox related proteins were evaluated. Results—AFSC-EV were able to ameliorate the differentiation ability of HOB both in the case of pre-osteoblasts and when the differentiation process was affected by dexa-methasone. Moreover, the viability was increased and parallelly apoptotic markers were reduced. The presence of EV positively modulated the redox unbalance due to dexamethasone. Conclusion— these findings demonstrated that EV from hAFSC have the ability to recover precursor cell potential and delay local bone loss in steroid-related osteoporosis.
2021
- Expression and localization of Phosphoinositide-specific Phospholipases C
in cultured and differentiating human osteoblasts
[Relazione in Atti di Convegno]
Lo Vasco, V; Casoni, S; Romanelli, Alessia; Checchi, Marta; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Homeostasis in the bone tissue primarily depends on the balance of the activities of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, primarily involved in bone formation
and turnover (Zaidi 2007; Khosla et al 2005). Osteoblasts maintain the bone
mass, and intervene in bone injuries repair. The limited number of therapeutic agents able to promote osteogenesis ingenerated great interest addressed
to manipulate the activity of osteoblasts. Insights in the events leading to the
differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts might allow uncover potential
molecular therapy targets to control the complex mechanisms underlying the
skeletal remodeling (Marie 2015; Kawai et al 2011). Oscillations of calcium
act crucially during the remodeling of bone, affecting both the differentiation
and proliferation of osteoblasts. Signal transduction pathways contribute to
the differentiation and metabolic activities of osteoblasts, with special regard
to calcium-related signaling (Kimple et al 2011, Keinan et al 2014), including
the Phosphoinositide (PI) pathway and related Phospholipases C (PLCs).
In order to evaluate the role of PLC enzymes’ family in human osteoblasts
(HOBs), we analyzed the expression of PLC genes and the localization of
PLC enzymes both in cultured HOBs and in in vitro differentiating HOBs
after 3, 10, 17 and 23 days. Our results confirm the transcription of most PLC
genes and the presence of a number of PLC enzymes in HOBs, differently
localized in the nucleus, in the cytoplasm or both, as well as in cell protrusions. The presence of PLC enzymes within the HOBs suggests the activation
of the PI nuclear cycle in HOBs. Along both the culture and differentiation
culture periods, transcripts of splicing variants of selected PLC genes were
detected and the localization of most PLC enzymes varied, with special regard to enzymes belonging to the PLC , and sub-families. The behavior
of selected PLC enzymes will be discussed more in detail. The presented
results overall suggest that PLC signaling might provide further insights into
the complex signal transduction network in bone remodeling, also representing promising molecular targets.
2021
- Identification of Sclerostin as a Putative New Myokine Involved in the Muscle-to-Bone Crosstalk
[Articolo su rivista]
Magarò, Maria Sara; Bertacchini, Jessika; Florio, Francesca; Zavatti, Manuela; Potì, Francesco; Cavani, Francesco; Amore, Emanuela; De Santis, Ilaria; Bevilacqua, Alessandro; Reggiani Bonetti, Luca; Torricelli, Pietro; Maurel, Delphine B.; Biressi, Stefano; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Bone and muscle have been recognized as endocrine organs since they produce and
secrete “hormone-like factors” that can mutually influence each other and other tissues, giving rise
to a “bone–muscle crosstalk”. In our study, we made use of myogenic (C2C12 cells) and osteogenic
(2T3 cells) cell lines to investigate the effects of muscle cell-produced factors on the maturation
process of osteoblasts. We found that the myogenic medium has inhibitory effects on bone cell
differentiation and we identified sclerostin as one of the myokines produced by muscle cells.
Sclerostin is a secreted glycoprotein reportedly expressed by bone/cartilage cells and is considered
a negative regulator of bone growth due to its role as an antagonist of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Given the inhibitory role of sclerostin in bone, we analyzed its expression by muscle cells and how
it affects bone formation and homeostasis. Firstly, we characterized and quantified sclerostin
synthesis by a myoblast cell line (C2C12) and by murine primary muscle cells by Western blotting,
real-time PCR, immunofluorescence, and ELISA assay. Next, we investigated in vivo production of
sclerostin in distinct muscle groups with different metabolic and mechanical loading characteristics.
This analysis was done in mice of different ages (6 weeks, 5 and 18 months after birth) and revealed
that sclerostin expression is dynamically modulated in a muscle-specific way during the lifespan.
Finally, we transiently expressed sclerostin in the hind limb muscles of young mice (2 weeks of age)
via in vivo electro-transfer of a plasmid containing the SOST gene in order to investigate the effects
of muscle-specific overproduction of the protein. Our data disclosed an inhibitory role of the
muscular sclerostin on the bones adjacent to the electroporated muscles. This observation suggests
that sclerostin released by skeletal muscle might synergistically interact with osseous sclerostin and
potentiate negative regulation of osteogenesis possibly by acting in a paracrine/local fashion. Our
data point out a role for muscle as a new source of sclerostin.
2021
- Static Osteogenesis versus Dynamic Osteogenesis: A Comparison between Two Different Types of Bone Formation
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
In contrary to what has traditionally been believed, bone formation can occur through two
different types of osteogenesis: static (SO) and dynamic (DO) osteogenesis, which are thus named
because the former is characterized by pluristratified cords of unexpectedly stationary osteoblasts
which differentiate at a fairly constant distance from the blood capillaries and transform into
osteocytes without moving from the onset site, while the latter is distinguished by the well-known
typical monostratified laminae of movable osteoblasts. The two types of osteogenesis differ in
multiple aspects from both structural and functional viewpoints. Besides osteoblast arrangement,
polarization, and motion, SO and DO differ in terms of time of occurrence (first SO and later DO),
conditioning factors to which they are sensitive (endothelial-derived cytokines or mechanical
loading, respectively), distribution of osteocytes to which they give rise (haphazard or ordered in
planes, respectively), the collagen texture resulting from the different deposition types (woven or
lamellar, respectively), the mechanical properties of the bone they form (poor for SO due to the high
cellularity and woven texture and good for DO since osteocytes are located in more suitable
conditions to perceive loading), and finally the functions of each, i.e., SO provides a preliminary
rigid scaffold on which DO can take place, while DO produces bone tissue according to
mechanical/metabolic needs.
2021
- Surface properties modulate protein corona formation and determine cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles
[Articolo su rivista]
Barbalinardo, M.; Bertacchini, J.; Bergamini, L.; Magaro, M. S.; Ortolani, L.; Sanson, A.; Palumbo, C.; Cavallini, M.; Gentili, D.
abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) have been studied for biomedical applications, ranging from prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. However, the lack of the basic understanding of how NPs interact with the biological environment has severely limited their delivery efficiency to the target tissue and clinical translation. Here, we show the effective regulation of the surface properties of NPs, by controlling the surface ligand density, and their effect on serum protein adsorption, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity. The surface properties of NPs are tuned through the controlled replacement of native ligands, which favor protein adsorption, with ligands capable of increasing protein adsorption resistance. The extent and composition of the protein layer adsorbed on NPs are strongly correlated to the degree of ligands replaced on their surface and, while BSA is the most abundant protein detected, ApoE is the one whose amount is most affected by surface properties. On increasing the protein resistance, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in mouse embryonic fibroblasts of NPs are drastically reduced, but the surface coating has no effect on the process by which NPs mainly induce cell death. Overall, this study reveals that the tuning of the surface properties of NPs allows us to regulate their biological outcomes by controlling their ability to adsorb serum proteins. This journal is
2021
- Synergistic cytotoxicity of dual PI3K/mTOR and FLT3 inhibition in FLT3-ITD AML cells
[Articolo su rivista]
Darici, S.; Zavatti, M.; Braglia, L.; Accordi, B.; Serafin, V.; Horne, G. A.; Manzoli, L.; Palumbo, C.; Huang, X.; Jorgensen, H. G.; Marmiroli, S.
abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematopoietic malignancy, characterized by a heterogeneous genetic landscape and complex clonal evolution, with poor outcomes. Mutation at the internal tandem duplication of FLT3 (FLT3-ITD) is one of the most common somatic alterations in AML, associated with high relapse rates and poor survival due to the constitutive activation of the FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase and its downstream effectors, such as PI3K signaling. Thus, aberrantly activated FLT3-kinase is regarded as an attractive target for therapy for this AML subtype, and a number of small molecule inhibitors of this kinase have been identified, some of which are approved for clinical practice. Nevertheless, acquired resistance to these molecules is often observed, leading to severe clinical outcomes. Therapeutic strategies to tackle resistance include combining FLT3 inhibitors with other antileukemic agents. Here, we report on the preclinical activity of the combination of the FLT3 inhibitor quizartinib with the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor PF-04691502 in FLT3-ITD cells. Briefly, we show that the association of these two molecules displays synergistic cytotoxicity in vitro in FLT3-ITD AML cells, triggering 90% cell death at nanomolar concentrations after 48 h.
2021
- The Italian law on body donation: A position paper of the Italian College of Anatomists
[Articolo su rivista]
De Caro, Raffaele; Boscolo-Berto, Rafael; Artico, Marco; Bertelli, Eugenio; Cannas, Mario; Cappello, Francesco; Carpino, Guido; Castorina, Sergio; Cataldi, Amelia; Cavaletti, Guido Angelo; Cinti, Saverio; Cocco, Lucio Ildebrando; Cremona, Ottavio; Crivellato, Enrico; De Luca, Antonio; Falconi, Mirella; Familiari, Giuseppe; Ferri, Gian Luca; Fornai, Francesco; Gesi, Marco; Geuna, Stefano; Gibelli, Daniele Maria; Giordano, Antonio; Gobbi, Pietro; Guerra, Germano; Gulisano, Massimo; Macchi, Veronica; Macchiarelli, Guido; Manzoli, Lucia; Michetti, Fabrizio; Miscia, Sebastiano; Montagnani, Stefania; Montella, Andrea Costantino Mario; Morini, Sergio; Onori, Paolo; Palumbo, Carla; Papa, Michele; Porzionato, Andrea; Quacci, Daniela Elena; Raspanti, Mario; Rende, Mario; Rezzani, Rita; Ribatti, Domenico; Ripani, Maurizio; Rodella, Luigi Fabrizio; Rossi, Pellegrino; Sbarbati, Andrea; Secchiero, Paola; Sforza, Chiarella; Stecco, Carla; Toni, Roberto; Vercelli, Alessandro; Vitale, Marco; Zancanaro, Carlo; Zauli, Giorgio; Zecchi, Sandra; Anastasi, Giuseppe Pio; Gaudio, Eugenio
abstract
In Italy, recent legislation (Law No. 10/2020) has tuned regulations concerning the donation of one's postmortem body and tissues for study, training, and scientific research purposes. This study discusses several specific issues to optimise the applicability and effectiveness of such an important, novel regulatory setting. Some of these unsolved issues may involve the grantees of teaching and training activities, the role of academic anatomical institutes, the role of family members in the donation process, the universal time limit indicated for any donation, the handling of corpses, and the limited body donation and its subordination to the donation of organs and tissues. Critical issues arise concerning the learners, the type of training and teaching activities that can be planned, the position of academic anatomy institutes, the role of family members in the donation process, the time frame of the donation process, the eligibility of partial donation, or the simultaneous donation of organs and tissues to patients awaiting transplantation. In particular, a universal time limit for donations (i.e., one year) makes it impossible to plan the long-term use of specific body parts, which could be effectively preserved for the advanced teaching and training of medical students and surgeons. The abovementioned conditions lead to the limited use of corpses, thus resulting in the inefficiency of the whole system of body donation. Overall, the donors' scope for the donation of their body could be best honoured by a more flexible and tuneable approach that can be used on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, it is deemed necessary to closely monitor the events scheduled for corpses in public nonacademic institutions or private enterprises. This paper presents useful insights from Italian anatomists with the hope of providing inspiration for drafting the regulations. In conclusion, this paper focuses on the critical issues derived from the recently introduced Italian law on the donation and use of the body after death and provides suggestions to lawmakers for future implementations.
2021
- The Osteocyte: From “Prisoner” to “Orchestrator”
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
Osteocytes are the most abundant bone cells, entrapped inside the mineralized bone matrix.
They derive from osteoblasts through a complex series of morpho-functional modifications; such
modifications not only concern the cell shape (from prismatic to dendritic) and location (along the
vascular bone surfaces or enclosed inside the lacuno-canalicular cavities, respectively) but also their
role in bone processes (secretion/mineralization of preosseous matrix and/or regulation of bone
remodeling). Osteocytes are connected with each other by means of different types of junctions,
among which the gap junctions enable osteocytes inside the matrix to act in a neuronal-like manner,
as a functional syncytium together with the cells placed on the vascular bone surfaces (osteoblasts
or bone lining cells), the stromal cells and the endothelial cells, i.e., the bone basic cellular system
(BBCS).Within the BBCS, osteocytes can communicate in two ways: by means of volume transmission
and wiring transmission, depending on the type of signals (metabolic or mechanical, respectively)
received and/or to be forwarded. The capability of osteocytes in maintaining skeletal and mineral
homeostasis is due to the fact that it acts as a mechano-sensor, able to transduce mechanical strains
into biological signals and to trigger/modulate the bone remodeling, also because of the relevant
role of sclerostin secreted by osteocytes, thus regulating different bone cell signaling pathways. The
authors want to emphasize that the present review is centered on the morphological aspects of the
osteocytes that clearly explain their functional implications and their role as bone orchestrators.
2021
- The anatomy and its variants
[Capitolo/Saggio]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; LO VASCO, VINCENZA RITA
abstract
Visceral and renal artery aneurysms are rare but life-threatening pathologies. Many techniques have been proposed for their treatment, and both open surgery and endovascular strategies have proven to be safe and effective. Many specialists can be involved in the treatment of these aneurysms, from vascular surgeons to interventional radiologists, and the knowledge of every different possible approach is fundamental to offer the patient the best outcome. In this book, all the aspects of visceral and renal artery aneurysms have been widely discussed, from epidemiology and anatomical variations to surgical approaches and materials. To conclude, the authors reported a large series of case reports from different experts in order to obtain a better vision of the real-world practice on this topic.
2021
- Three-Punch Alveolar Ridge Reconstruction Technique: A Novel Flapless Approach in Eight Consecutive Cases
[Articolo su rivista]
Grassi, A; Bernardello, F; Cavani, F; Palumbo, C; Spinato, S
abstract
This clinical and histologic case series aims to evaluate a novel flapless approach to alveolar ridge reconstruction (ARR) of compromised extraction sockets by means of collagenated xenograft sealed with three resorbable layers of hole punched membrane. Eight postextraction sockets without buccal and/or palatal bone walls and with adjacent natural teeth from eight consecutive patients were included. Pretreatment CBCT scanning was performed. After debridement of the selected sites, a flapless grafting procedure was carried out, and the three membrane protection was applied. After 6 to 17 months, at implant placement, a posttreatment alveolar ridge CBCT was taken, and a bone core biopsy sample was harvested for histologic and morphometric analyses. Clinical outcomes showed predictable horizontal bone regeneration in all postextraction sockets with good preservation of soft tissue architecture. Pretreatment ridge CBCT measurements showed limited bone width (2.6 +/- 1.08 mm). Posttreatment measurements revealed adequate bone width (9.05 +/- 1.29 mm) with a mean bone gain of 6.4 +/- 1.34 mm. Histologic and morphometric analyses revealed the absence of inflammatory cells and the presence of 25.4% +/- 8.7% of new bone and 31.8% +/- 8.3% of graft particles inside the biopsy samples. Many graft particles were surrounded and interconnected by new bone, thus demonstrating the formation of a bone-graft network. Rare osteoclasts were found. This novel technique seems to be effective in treating alveolar sockets prior to implant placement, preventing inflammation and bone resorption and promoting bone regeneration. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2021;41:875-884. doi: 10.11607/prd.4913
2020
- Bone Healing Evaluation Following Different Osteotomic Techniques in Animal Models: A Suitable Method for Clinical Insights
[Articolo su rivista]
Anesi, Alexandre; Di Bartolomeo, Mattia; Pellacani, Arrigo; Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Salvatori, Roberta; Nocini, Riccardo; Palumbo, Carla; Chiarini, Luigi
abstract
Osteotomy is a common step in oncological, reconstructive, and trauma surgery. Drilling and elevated temperature during osteotomy produce thermal osteonecrosis. Heat and associated mechanical damage during osteotomy can impair bone healing, with consequent failure of fracture fixation or dental implants. Several ex vivo studies on animal bone were recently focused on heating production during osteotomy with conventional drill and piezoelectric devices, particularly in endosseous dental implant sites. The current literature on bone drilling and osteotomic surface analysis is here reviewed and the dynamics of bone healing after osteotomy with traditional and piezoelectric devices are discussed. Moreover, the methodologies involved in the experimental osteotomy and clinical studies are compared, focusing on ex vivo and in vivo findings.
2020
- Scleral ossicles: Angiogenic scaffolds, a novel biomaterial for regenerative medicine applications
[Articolo su rivista]
Checchi, M.; Bertacchini, J.; Cavani, F.; Magaro, M. S.; Reggiani Bonetti, L.; Pugliese, G. R.; Tamma, R.; Ribatti, D.; Maurel, D. B.; Palumbo, C.
abstract
Given the current prolonged life expectancy, various pathologies affect increasingly the aging subjects. Regarding the musculoskeletal apparatus, bone fragility induces more susceptibility to fractures, often not accompanied by good ability of self-repairing, in particular when critical-size defects (CSD) occur. Currently orthopedic surgery makes use of allografting and autografting which, however, have limitations due to the scarce amount of tissue that can be taken from the donor, the possibility of disease transmission and donor site morbidity. The need to develop new solutions has pushed the field of tissue engineering (TE) research to study new scaffolds to be functionalized in order to obtain constructs capable of promoting tissue regeneration and achieve stable bone recovery over time. This investigation focuses on the most important aspect related to bone tissue regeneration: the angiogenic properties of the scaffold to be used. As an innovative solution, scleral ossicles (SOs), previously characterized as natural, biocompatible and spontaneously decellularized scaffolds used for bone repair, were tested for angiogenic potential and biocompatibility. To reach this purpose, in ovo Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay (CAM) was firstly used to test the angiogenic potential; secondly, in vivo subcutaneous implantation of SOs (in a rat model) was performed in order to assess the biocompatibility and the inflammatory response. Finally, thanks to the analysis of mass spectrometry (LCMSQE), the putative proteins responsible for the SO angiogenic properties were identified. Thus, a novel natural biomaterial is proposed, which is (i) able to induce an angiogenic response in vivo by subcutaneous implantation in a non-immunodeficient animal model, (ii) which does not induce any inflammatory response, and (iii) is useful for regenerative medicine application for the healing of bone CSD.
2020
- Uso di ossicini sclerali e materiale naturalmente decellularizzato costituito da ossicini sclerali per la rigenerazione del tessuto osseo in ambito sanitario e veterinario e procedimento di preparazione di ossicini sclerali per un tale uso
[Brevetto]
Palumbo, C
abstract
2020
- WISP-2 expression induced by Teriparatide treatment affects in vitro osteoblast differentiation and improves in vivo osteogenesis
[Articolo su rivista]
Smargiassi, A.; Bertacchini, J.; Checchi, M.; Poti, F.; Tenedini, E.; Montosi, G.; Magaro, M. S.; Amore, E.; Cavani, F.; Ferretti, M.; Grisendi, G.; Maurel, D. B.; Palumbo, C.
abstract
The Osteocyte, recognized as a major orchestrator of osteoblast and osteoclast activity, is the most important key player during bone remodeling processes. Imbalances occurring during bone remodeling, caused by hormone perturbations or by mechanical loading alterations, can induce bone pathologies such as osteoporosis. Recently, the active fraction of parathormone, PTH (1-34) or Teriparatide (TPTD), was chosen as election treatment for osteoporosis. The effect of such therapy is dependent on the temporal manner of administration. The molecular reasons why the type of administration regimen is so critical for the fate of bone remodeling are numerous and not yet well known. Our study attempts to analyze diverse signaling pathways directly activated in osteocytes upon TPTD treatment. By means of gene array analysis, we found many molecules upregulated or downregulated in osteocytes. Later, we paid attention to Wisp-2, a protein involved in the Wnt pathway, that is secreted by MLO-Y4 cells and increases upon TPTD treatment and that is able to positively influence the early phases of osteogenic differentiation. We also confirmed the pro osteogenic property of Wisp-2 during mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into the preliminary osteoblast phenotype. The same results were confirmed with an in vivo approach confirming a remarkable Wisp-2 expression in metaphyseal trabecular bone. These results highlighted the anabolic roles unrolled by osteocytes in controlling the action of neighboring cells, suggesting that the perturbation of certain signaling cascades, such as the Wnt pathway, is crucial for the positive regulation of bone formation.
2019
- Assessing the ability of zebrafish scales to contribute to the short-term homeostatic regulation of [Ca2+] in the extracellular fluid during calcemic challenges
[Articolo su rivista]
Hung, Jacky T.; Webb, Sarah E.; Palumbo, Carla; Lesniak, Agnieszka M.; Shipley, Alan M.; Rubinacci, Alessandro; Kunkel, Joseph G.; Miller, Andrew L.
abstract
The elasmoid scales of fish represent a significant internal reservoir of calcium ions (Ca2+), but little is known about the contribution of these scales to the short-term regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis in the extracellular fluid (ECF). This gap in our knowledge is partly due to the technical challenges involved in measuring small Ca2+ fluxes around the scales of live fish in real time. Here, we describe a technique for exfoliating, mounting, and culturing intact living zebrafish Danio rerio scales, then subjecting them to examination using an extracellular, non-invasive, surface-scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET). In a Ca2+-sensitive configuration, the SIET can resolve Ca2+ flux values in the low-to-sub picomole/square centimeter/second range, with a spatial resolution of approximately 5 μm. We quantified the Ca2+ fluxes into and out of scales under different extracellular calcemic challenges set to mimic a variety of Ca2+ concentrations in the ECF and showed that the results were similar to those previously reported from isolated mouse metatarsal bone. Our new data extend our current understanding of the role played by fish scales in the short-term homeostatic regulation of Ca2+ concentration in the ECF. They also support the suggestion that scales might provide an inexpensive and complementary model for studying the fundamentals of bone-mediated homeostatic Ca2+ regulation and the diseases that result from its dysregulation.
2019
- Bi-layered collagen nano-structured membrane prototype collagen matrix CM-10826 for oral soft tissue regeneration: an in vivo ultrastructural study on 13 patients
[Articolo su rivista]
De Santis, D.; Gelpi, F.; Castellani, R.; Palumbo, C.; Ferretti, M.; Zanotti, G.; Zotti, F.; Montagna, L.; Luciano, U.; Marconcini, S.; Tacchino, U.; Manuelli, M.; Nocini, R.; Nocini, P. F.; Albanese, Maria Cristina Nicoletta
abstract
A new developed collagen matrix CM-10826 (CM) of porcine origin designed to be used as oral soft tissue substitute was investigated before and after implantation by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In a case series biopsy specimens were harvested from thirteen patients at 10, 20, 30, 43 days after abutment surgery for uncovering dental implants. The in vivo histological evaluations of each patient were performed via micro-coring of newly formed oral mucosa in the area covered by CM (test side) or left uncovered (control). Results showed that CM can be integrated in connective and epithelial tissues within 10 days, can be completely resorbed within 20 days and it is able to reduce inflammatory infiltrates and to stimulate both fibroblast/epithelial cell proliferation and neo-angiogenesis. Generally it seems to be superior in promoting soft tissue healing compared to that induced by secondary intention healing. Furthermore, it is able to act as a scaffold for soft-tissue regeneration, allowing the proliferation of keratinocytes from the wound edges and favoring neovascularization and growth of connective tissue in the mesh of porous layer. It appears that a CM might function in oral surgery as a substitute for autologous grafts and to avoid secondary intention healing in soft tissue defects.
2019
- Gnrh antagonists produce differential modulation of the signaling pathways mediated by gnrh receptors
[Articolo su rivista]
Sperduti, S.; Limoncella, S.; Lazzaretti, C.; Paradiso, E.; Riccetti, L.; Turchi, S.; Ferrigno, I.; Bertacchini, J.; Palumbo, C.; Poti, F.; Longobardi, S.; Millar, R. P.; Simoni, M.; Newton, C. L.; Casarini, L.
abstract
Commercial gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists differ by 1–2 amino acids and are used to inhibit gonadotropin production during assisted reproduction technologies (ART). In this study, potencies of three GnRH antagonists, Cetrorelix, Ganirelix and Teverelix, in inhibiting GnRH-mediated intracellular signaling, were compared in vitro. GnRH receptor (GnRHR)-transfected HEK293 and neuroblastoma-derived SH-SY5Y cell lines, as well as mouse pituitary LβT2 cells endogenously expressing the murine GnRHR, were treated with GnRH in the presence or absence of the antagonist. We evaluated intracellular calcium (Ca2+) and cAMP increases, cAMP-responsive element binding-protein (CREB) and extracellular-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, β-catenin activation and mouse luteinizing-hormone β-encoding gene (Lhb) transcription by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), Western blotting, immunostaining and real-time PCR as appropriate. The kinetics of GnRH-induced Ca2+ rapid increase revealed dose-response accumulation with potency (EC50) of 23 nM in transfected HEK293 cells, transfected SH-SY5Y and LβT2 cells. Cetrorelix inhibited the 3 × EC50 GnRH-activated calcium signaling at concentrations of 1 nM–1 µM, demonstrating higher potency than Ganirelix and Teverelix,.
2019
- Interaction among Calcium Diet Content, PTH (1-34) Treatment and Balance of Bone Homeostasis in Rat Model: The Trabecular Bone as Keystone
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Roli, Laura; Checchi, Marta; Magarò, Maria Sara; Bertacchini, Jessika; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The present study is the second step (concerning normal diet restoration) of the our previous study (concerning the calcium-free diet) to determine whether normal diet restoration, with/without concomitant PTH (1-34) administration, can influence amounts and deposition sites of the total bone mass. Histomorphometric evaluations and immunohistochemical analysis for Sclerostin expression were conducted on the vertebral bodies and femurs in the rat model. The final goals are (i) to define timing and manners of bone mass changes when calcium is restored to the diet, (ii) to analyze the different involvement of the two bony architectures having different metabolism (i.e., trabecular versus cortical bone), and (iii) to verify the eventual role of PTH (1-34) administration. Results evidenced the greater involvement of the trabecular bone with respect to the cortical bone, in response to different levels of calcium content in the diet, and the effect of PTH, mostly in the recovery of trabecular bony architecture. The main findings emerged from the present study are (i) the importance of the interplay between mineral homeostasis and skeletal homeostasis in modulating and guiding bone's response to dietary/metabolic alterations and (ii) the evidence that the more involved bony architecture is the trabecular bone, the most susceptible to the dynamical balance of the two homeostases.
2019
- Trabecular Bone as Keystone for the Interplay Among Calcium Diet Content, PTH(1-34) Treatment and Balance of Bone Homeostases in Rat Model
[Capitolo/Saggio]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Checchi, Marta; Magaro', MARIA SARA; Amore, Emanuela; Bertacchini, Jessika; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The present study aims to determine whether normal-diet restoration, with/without concomitant PTH(1-34) administration, can influence amounts and
deposition sites of the total bone mass. Histomorphometric evaluations and immunohistochemical analysis for Sclerostin expression were conducted on the vertebral bodies and femurs in the rat model.
Final goals 1) to define timing and manners of bone mass changes when calcium is restored to the diet; 2) to analyze the different involvement of the two bony architectures having different metabolism (i.e. trabecular versus cortical bone); 3) to verify the eventual role of PTH(1-34) administration. Results evidenced the greater involvement of the trabecular bone with respect to the cortical bone, in response to differing levels of calcium content in the diet, and the effect of PTH, mostly in the recovery of trabecular bony architecture.
The main findings emerged are: i) the importance of the interplay between mineral homeostasis and skeletal homeostasis in modulating and guiding bone’s response to dietary/metabolic alterations and ii) the evidence that the more involved bony architecture is trabecular bones, the most susceptible to the dynamical balance of mineral and skeletal homeostasis.
2018
- Angiogenic and inflammatory potential of Scleral Ossicles, novel natural biomaterials for bone regeneration
[Abstract in Rivista]
Checchi, Marta; Bertacchini, Jessika; Magaro', MARIA SARA; Ferretti, Marzia; Sola, Antonella; Bisi, Francesca; Messori, Massimo; Ribatti, Domenico; Maurel, Delphine; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The aim of this work is the analysis of the angiogenic and inflammatory potential of the Scleral Ossicles (SOs), already analysed by the structural viewpoint, and the development of a functionalized-SOs-construct. The final goal is to improve the healing of critical-size bone fractures.
2018
- Interaction between mineral and skeletal homeostasis in rats fed different calcium content diets with/without PTH (1-34)
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Bertacchini, Jessika; Checchi, Marta; Magaro', MARIA SARA; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Aim of the study is to analyze how mineral and skeletal homeostases influence both the bone loss due to calcium-diet deprivation and the successive bone mass recovery after calcium-diet restoration, with/without concomitant PTH(1-34) administration.
2018
- Metformin induces apoptosis and alters cellular responses to oxidative stress in Ht29 colon cancer cells: Preliminary findings
[Articolo su rivista]
Sena, P; Mancini, S; Benincasa, M; Mariani, Francesco; Palumbo, C; Roncucci, L
abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that metformin, used as an antidiabetic drug, possesses anti-cancer properties. Metformin reduced the incidence and growth of experimental tumors in vivo. In a randomized clinical trial among nondiabetic patients, metformin treatment significantly decreased the number of aberrant crypt foci compared to the untreated group with a follow-up of 1 month. In our study, HT29 cells were treated with graded concentrations of metformin, 10 mM/25 mM/50 mM for 24/48 h. We performed immunofluorescence experiments by means of confocal microscopy and western blot analysis to evaluate a panel of factors involved in apoptotic/autophagic processes and oxidative stress response. Moreover, HT29 cells treated with metformin were analyzed by a flow cytometry assay to detect the cell apoptotic rate. The results demonstrate that metformin exerts growth inhibitory effects on cultured HT29 cells by increasing both apoptosis and autophagy; moreover, it affects the survival of cultured cells inhibiting the transcriptional activation of Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). The effects of metformin on HT29 cells were dose- and time-dependent. These results are very intriguing since metformin is emerging as a multi-faceted drug: It has a good safety profile and is associated with low cost and might be a promising candidate for the prevention or the treatment of colorectal cancer.
2018
- Muscle-to-bone crosstalk: the Wnt/-catenin pathway is a candidate mechanism mediating the signalling between C2C12 muscle cells and 2T3 osteoblasts
[Abstract in Rivista]
Magaro', MARIA SARA; Bertacchini, Jessika; Poti', Francesco; Checchi, Marta; Benincasa, Marta; Sena, Paola; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The study aims to determine whether myokines can potentially regulate osteogenesis,
2018
- Osteocytes Specific GSK3 Inhibition Affects In Vitro Osteogenic Differentiation.
[Articolo su rivista]
Bertacchini, J; Magaro', MARIA SARA; Potì, F; Palumbo, C
abstract
Osteocytes, the most important regulators of bone processes, are producers of molecules (usually proteins) that act as signals in order to communicate with nearby cells. These factors control cell division (proliferation), differentiation, and survival. Substantial evidence showed different signaling pathways activated by osteocytes and involved in osteoblast differentiation, in particular in the last decade, when the Wingless-related integration site (WNT) pathway assumed a critical large importance. WNT activation by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) causes bone anabolism, making GSK3 a potential therapeutic target for bone diseases. In our study, we hypothesized an important role of the osteocyte MLO-Y4 conditioned medium in controlling the differentiation process of osteoblast cell line 2T3. We found an effect of diminished differentiation capability of 2T3 upon conditioning with medium from murine long bone osteocyte-Y4 cells (MLO-Y4) pre-treated with GSK3 inhibitor CHIR2201. The novel observations of this study provide knowledge about the inhibition of GSK3 in MLO-Y4 cells. This strategy could be used as a plausible target in osteocytes in order to regulate bone resorption mediated by a loss of osteoblasts activity through a paracrine loop.
2018
- Proposal of a Novel Natural Biomaterial, the Scleral Ossicle, for the Development of Vascularized Bone Tissue In Vitro
[Articolo su rivista]
Checchi, Marta; Bertacchini, Jessika; Grisendi, Giulia; Smargiassi, Alberto; Sola, Antonella; Messori, Massimo; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Recovering of significant skeletal defects could be partially abortive due to the perturbations that affect the regenerative process when defects reach a critical size, thus resulting in a non-healed bone. The current standard treatments include allografting, autografting, and other bone implant techniques. However, although they are commonly used in orthopedic surgery, these treatments have some limitations concerning their costs and their side effects such as potential infections or malunions. On this account, the need for suitable constructs to fill the gap in wide fractures is still urgent. As an innovative solution, scleral ossicles (SOs) can be put forward as natural scaffolds for bone repair. SOs are peculiar bony plates forming a ring at the scleral-corneal border of the eyeball of lower vertebrates. In the preliminary phases of the study, these ossicles were structurally and functionally characterized. The morphological characterization was performed by SEM analysis, MicroCT analysis and optical profilometry. Then, UV sterilization was carried out to obtain a clean support, without neither contaminations nor modifications of the bone architecture. Subsequently, the SO biocompatibility was tested in culture with different cell lines, focusing the attention to the differentiation capability of endothelial and osteoblastic cells on the SO surface. The results obtained by the above mentioned analysis strongly suggest that SOs can be used as bio-scaffolds for functionalization processes, useful in regenerative medicine.
2018
- Role of osteocytes in myeloma bone disease: Anti-sclerostin antibody as new therapeutic strategy
[Articolo su rivista]
Toscani, Denise; Bolzoni, Marina; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Giuliani, Nicola
abstract
Osteocytes are terminally differentiated cells of the osteoblast lineage. They are involved in the regulation of bone remodeling by increasing osteoclast formation or decreasing bone formation by the secretion of the osteoblast inhibitor sclerostin. Monoclonal antibody anti-sclerostin, Romosozumab, has been developed and tested in clinical trials in patients with osteoporosis. In the last years, the role of osteocytes in the development of osteolytic bone lesions that occurs in multiple myeloma, have been underlined. Myeloma cells increase osteocyte death through the up-regulation of both apoptosis and autophagy that, in turn, triggers osteoclast formation, and activity. When compared to healthy controls, myeloma patients with bone disease have higher osteocyte cell death, but the treatment with proteasome inhibitor bortezomib has been shown to maintain osteocyte viability. In preclinical mouse models of multiple myeloma, treatment with blocking anti-sclerostin antibody increased osteoblast numbers and bone formation rate reducing osteolytic bone lesions. Moreover, the combination of anti-sclerostin antibody and the osteoclast inhibitor zoledronic acid increased bone mass and fracture resistance synergistically. However, anti-sclerostin antibody did not affect tumor burden in vivo or the efficacy of antimyeloma drugs in vitro. Nevertheless, the combination therapy of antisclerostin antibody and the proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib, displayed potent anti-myeloma activity as well as positive effects on bone disease in vivo. In conclusion, all these data suggest that osteocytes are involved in myeloma bone disease and may be considered a novel target for the use of antibody-mediated anti-sclerostin therapy also in multiple myeloma patients.
2018
- Structural and ultrastructural analyses of bone regeneration in rabbit cranial osteotomy: Piezosurgery versus traditional osteotomes.
[Articolo su rivista]
Anesi, Alexandre; Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Salvatori, Roberta; Bianchi, Michele; Alessandro, Russo; Chiarini, Luigi; Palumbo, Carla; Bianchi, Michele
abstract
Clinical advantages of piezosurgery have been already proved. However, few investigations have focused on the dynamics of bone healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in adult rabbits, bone regeneration after cranial linear osteotomies with two piezoelectrical devices (Piezosurgery® Medical - PM and Piezosurgery® Plus - PP), comparing them with conventional rotary osteotomes (RO). PP was characterized by an output power three times higher than PM. Fifteen days after surgery, histomorphometric analyses showed that the osteotomy gap produced with PM and PP was about half the size of that produced by RO, and in a more advanced stage of recovery. Values of regenerated bone area with respect to the total osteotomy area were about double in PM and PP samples compared with RO ones, while the number of TRAP-positive (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive) osteoclasts per linear surface showed a significant increase, suggesting greater bone remodelling. Under scanning electron microscopy, regenerated bone displayed higher cell density and less mineralized matrix compared with pre-existent bone for all devices used. Nanoindentation tests showed no changes in elastic modulus. In conclusion, PM/PP osteotomies can be considered equivalent to each other, and result in more rapid healing compared with those using RO.
2018
- Wisp2 overexpression induced by short Teriparatide treatment affects IDG-SW3 osteogenic differentiation.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Bertacchini, Jessika; Smargiassi, Alberto; Checchi, Marta; Magaro', MARIA SARA; Poti', Francesco; Tenedini, Elena; Montosi, Giuliana; Magaro', MARIA SARA; Vinet, Jonathan; Maurel, Delphine; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The study supports the importance of osteocytes in controlling the action of the other bone cells and suggests that the perturbation of certain signaling cascades, such as the Wnt pathway, is crucial for the positive regulation of bone formation.
2017
- Bi-layered collagen nano-structured membrane prototype collagen matrix 10826® for soft tissue regeneration in rabbits: an in vivo ultra-structural study of the early healing phase.
[Articolo su rivista]
De Santis, D; Menchini Fabris, Gb; Lotti, J; Palumbo, C; Ferretti, M; Castellani, R; Lotti, T; Zanotti, G; Gelpi, F; Covani, C; Nocini, Pf
abstract
Collagen Matrix (CM) 10826 is a nanostructured bi-layered collagen membrane obtained from type I and III porcine collagen, which in vitro has shown to have the potential to be a substitute and/or stimulant for soft oral tissue regeneration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vivo potential and safety of this membrane for soft tissue regeneration in the early stage of wound healing. Two soft tissue wounds (test and control) were created on the back skin of 5 rabbits (female New Zealand White Rabbits specific pathogen free). All wounds were protected by a special poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene (PTFE) healing camera. On each rabbit on the test side CM-10826 was used, while on the control side conventional treatment (an autologous pedicle graft) was performed. The healing process was observed clinically after 2 and 6 days, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed after this period. After 7 days, animals were sacrificed and specimens were analyzed with light optic microscopy (LM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). These in vivo trials on rabbits confirmed that CM-10826 is well tolerated, without signs of histological inflammatory reaction and proved to be able to accelerate the spontaneous repair of the skin defect taken as the control. The light-optic and ultra-microscopy of serial biopsies showed that the new matrix is biocompatible and is able to function as a scaffold inducing soft tissue regeneration. In conclusion this study demonstrates that CM-10826 promote early soft tissue regeneration and suggests it is a potential constituent for human autologous keratinocytes seeded derma bioequivalent. It protects the wound from injuries and bacterial contamination accelerating healing process. As a clinical relevance, we consider that the quality of life of patients will be improved avoiding the use of major autologous grafts, reducing the hospitalization time and morbidity.
2017
- Biocompatibility Analyses of Al₂O₃-Treated Titanium Plates Tested with Osteocyte and Fibroblast Cell Lines
[Articolo su rivista]
Smargiassi, Alberto; Bertacchini, Jessika; Checchi, Marta; Cavani, Francesco; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Osseointegration of a titanium implant is still an issue in dental/orthopedic implants durable over time. The good integration of these implants is mainly due to their surface and topography. We obtained an innovative titanium surface by shooting different-in-size particles of Al₂O₃ against the titanium scaffolds which seems to be ideal for bone integration. To corroborate that, we used two different cell lines: MLO-Y4 (murine osteocytes) and 293 (human fibroblasts) and tested the titanium scaffolds untreated and treated (i.e., Al₂O₃ shot-peened titanium surfaces). Distribution, density, and expression of adhesion molecules (fibronectin and vitronectin) were evaluated under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal microscope (CM). DAPI and fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies were used to highlight nuclei, fibronectin, and vitronectin, under CM; cell distribution was analyzed after gold-palladium sputtering of samples by SEM. The engineered biomaterial surfaces showed under SEM irregular morphology displaying variously-shaped spicules. Both SEM and CM observations showed better outcome in terms of cell adhesion and distribution in treated titanium surfaces with respect to the untreated ones. The results obtained clearly showed that this kind of surface-treated titanium, used to manufacture devices for dental implantology: (i) is very suitable for cell colonization, essential prerequisite for the best osseointegration, and (ii) represents an excellent solution for the development of further engineered implants with the target to obtain recovery of stable dental function over time.
2017
- Clusterin enhances migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells through an isoform-specific Akt2/miR-190/PHLPP1 circuit.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Jessika Bertacchini, Marianna Guida; Mediani, Laura; Aram, Ghalali; Poti', Francesco; Arioli, Jessica; Federica, Brugnoli; Valeria, Bertagnolo; Beretti, Francesca; Lucio, Cocco; Capitani, Silvano; Palumbo, Carla; Marmiroli, Sandra
abstract
During prostate cancer progression cancer cells undergo a variety of molecular alterations that lead to the acquisition of uncontrolled growth properties. One such set of molecular alterations is mediated by the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Here, we describe a regulatory system that modulates the phosphoinosited 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway downstream of secreted Clusterin (sCLU) in normal and cancer prostate cells. The overexpression of sCLU is very frequent in prostate cancer, and can lead to Akt-activation. This prompted us to investigate how sCLU overexpression influences PI3K/Akt signaling network in a study model represented by human epithelial prostate PNT1A cells stably transfected with sCLU or with empty vector alone. We found that CLU cells show a marked differential phosphorylation of several members of the PI3K/Akt cascade, and in particular of Akt2. Moreover, we found that the phosphatase PHLPP1, known to dephosphorylate Akt2 at S473, is severely downregulated in CLU compared to MOCK cells. We thus investigated whether sCLU alters PHLPP1 protein stability or expression. Our results indicate that sCLU indeed stimulates PHLPP1 degradation by β-TrCP. Interestingly, we further demonstrated that sCLU alters also PHLPP1 through the negative regulator miR-190. Next, because sCLU has been reported to inhibit or to stimulate the aggressive behavior of cancer cells depending on the cell model, we investigated the effects of CLU overexpression or addition of recombinant Clusterin to the medium on cell migration and invasion in PNT1A cell line, which is not expected to display an invasive phenotype, and in the cancer prostate epithelial cell lines LNCaP and PC3. The result was extremely clear: not only CLU overexpression gives PNT1A cells the same behavior of wild-type PC3 cells, but also increases the migration and invasion index of all the above cell models by two to four times, compared to controls. As a confirmation, in the same model silencing of Clusterin abrogates migration of CLU cells. Next, the effect of Akt single-isoform silencing on cell migration was explored. While silencing of Akt1 affected migration only slightly, silencing of Akt2 prevented migration of both MOCK and CLU cells completely. The same result was obtained by pharmacological inhibition of Akt2. All together our results, clearly demonstrate for the first time that Clusterin can switch the low migration phenotype of normal prostate cells towards a high migration phenotype through the modulation of the expression of the PHLPP1 and, in turn, the activity of Akt2.
2017
- Expression and functional proteomic analyses of osteocytes from Xenopus laevis tested under mechanical stress conditions: preliminary observations on an appropriate new animal model
[Articolo su rivista]
Bertacchini, Jessika; Benincasa, Marta; Checchi, Marta; Cavani, Francesco; Smargiassi, Alberto; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Hitherto, the role of the osteocyte as transducer of mechanical stimuli into biological signals is far from settled. In this study, we used an appropriate model represented by the cortex of Xenopus laevis long bone diaphysis lacking (unlike the mammalian one) of vascular structures and containing only osteocytes inside the bone matrix. These structural features allow any change of protein profile that might be observed upon different experimental conditions, such as bone adaptation to stress/mechanical loading, to be ascribed specifically to osteocytes. The study was conducted by combining ultrastructural observations and two-dimensional electrophoresis for proteomic analysis. The osteocyte population was extracted from long bones of lower limbs of amphibian skeletons after different protocols (free and forced swimming). The experiments were performed on 210 frogs subdivided into five trials, each including free swimming frogs (controls) and frogs submitted to forced swimming (stressed). The stressed groups were obliged to swim (on movable spheres covering the bottom of a pool on a vibrating plate) continuously for 8 h, and killed 24 h later along with the control groups. Long bones free of soft tissues (periosteum, endosteum and bone marrow), as well as muscles of posterior limbs, were processed and analyzed for proteins differentially expressed or phosphorylated between the two sample groups. The comparative analysis showed that protein phosphorylation profiles differ between control and stressed groups. In particular, we found in long bones of stressed samples that both Erk1/2 and Akt are hyperphosphorylated; moreover, the different phosphorylation of putative Akt substrates (recognized by specific Akt phosphosubstrates-antibody) in stressed vs. control samples clearly demonstrated that Akt signaling is boosted by forced swimming (leading to an increase of mechanical stress) of amphibian long bones. In parallel, we found in posterior limb muscles that the expression of heat shock protein HSP27 and HSP70 stress markers increased upon the forced swimming condition. Because the cortexes of frog long bones are characterized by the presence of only osteocytes, all our results establish the suitability of the X. laevis animal model to study the bone response to stress conditions mediated by this cell type and pave the way for further analysis of the signaling pathways involved in these signal transduction mechanisms.
2017
- Morphological Study: Ultrastructural Aspects of Articular Cartilage and Subchondral Bone in Patients Affected by Post-Traumatic Shoulder Instability
[Articolo su rivista]
Baudi, Paolo; Catani, Fabio; Rebuzzi, Manuela; Ferretti, Marzia; Smargiassi, Alberto; Campochiaro, Gabriele; Serafini, Fabio; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Post-traumatic shoulder instability is a frequent condition in active population, representing one of most disabling pathologies, due to altered balance involving joints. No data are so far available on early ultrastructural osteo-chondral damages, associated with the onset of invalidating pathologies, like osteoarthritis-OA. Biopsies of glenoid articular cartilage and sub-chondral bone were taken from 10 adult patients underwent arthroscopic stabilization. Observations were performed under Transmission Electron Microscopy-TEM in tangential, arcuate and radial layers of the articular cartilage and in the sub-chondral bone. In tangential and arcuate layers chondrocytes display normal and very well preserved ultrastructure, probably due to the synovial liquid supply; otherwise, throughout the radial layer (un-calcified and calcified) chondrocytes show various degrees of degeneration; occasionally, in the radial layer evidences of apoptosis/autophagy were also observed. Concerning sub-chondral bone, osteocytes next to the calcified cartilage also show signs of degeneration, while osteocytes farther from the osteo-chondral border display normal ultrastructure, probably due to the bone vascular supply. The ultrastructural features of the osteo-chondral complex are not age-dependent. This study represents the first complete ultrastructural investigation of the articular osteo-chondral complex in shoulder instability, evaluating the state of preservation/viability of both chondrocytes and osteocytes throughout the successive layers of articular cartilage and sub-chondral bone. Preliminary observations here collected represent the morphological basis for further deepening of pathogenesis related to shoulder instability, enhancing the relationship between cell shape and microenvironment; in particular, they could be useful in understanding if the early surgical treatment in shoulder instability could avoid the onset of OA.
2017
- Osteocytes signaling events induced by intermittent vs continuous Teriparatide treatment affect in vitro osteoblast differentiation and mineralization
[Abstract in Rivista]
Bertacchini, Jessika; Smargiassi, Alberto; Checchi, Marta; Tenedini, Elena; Montosi, Giuliana; Vinet, Jonathan; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
PTH(1-34), also known as Teriparatide, is an active anabolic drug used in the treatment of some forms of osteoporosis and occasionally exploited to speed fracture healing. The effect of such therapies are dependent on the type of administration, in fact it has been largely demonstrated that a short administration of Teriparatide (also called intermittent) increases the bone mass, meanwhile a long administration of the same agent (known as continuous) leads to an increased resorption. The molecular reason why the type of administration is so critical for the fate of the bone remodeling is still largely unknown but it is probably due to the fact that it affects several signaling pathways and alters the biological activity of a cohort of cells: osteoblasts, lining cells, osteoclasts, and osteocytes. In the present work, we firstly focused the attention on molecular events induced by intermittent vs continuous Teriparatide treatment in a well-known osteocytes in vitro model, the MLO-Y4 cells. By the use of a gene array platform, we found many molecules upregulated or downregulated depending on the the temporal administration modes, suggesting that the drug affects in diverse manner the osteocytes related signaling pathways. In particular, we paid attention to Wisp-2, a protein of the Wnt pathway that has been demonstrated to be able to interact and influence the differentiation of osteoblasts into osteocytes and their mineralization. Secondly, through the mineralization assay, we analyzed the functional effects, involving the differentiation of osteoblast IDG-SW3 cell line, upon the conditioning culture with MLO-Y4 medium, that were pre-treated with short and long time administration of Teriparatide. These findings, consistent with the crucial role performed by osteocytes on osteoblast differentiation, clarify the molecular events downstream the short treatment with Teriparatide, suggesting that the perturbation of certain signaling patwhays, such as the Wnt pathway, is crucial for the positive regulation of bone formation.
2017
- PTH(1-34) effects on repairing experimentally drilled holes in rat femur: novel aspects – qualitative vs. quantitative improvement of osteogenesis
[Articolo su rivista]
Cavani, Francesco; Ferretti, Marzia; Smargiassi, Alberto; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The timetable of effects on bone repair of the active fraction-parathyroid hormone, PTH(1-34), was analytically investigated from the morphometric viewpoint in 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, whose femurs were drilled at mid-diaphyseal level (transcortical holes). The animals were divided into groups with/without PTH(1-34) administration, and sacrificed at different times (10, 28, 45 days after surgery). The observations reported here need to be framed in the context of our previous investigations regarding bone histogenesis (Ferretti et al. Anat Embryol. 2002; 206: 21–29) in which we demonstrated the occurrence of two successive bone-forming processes during both skeletal organogenesis and bone repair, i.e. static and dynamic osteogenesis: the former (due to stationary osteoblasts, haphazardly grouped in cords) producing preliminary bad quality trabecular bone, the latter (due to typical polarized osteoblasts organized in ordered movable laminae) producing mechanically valid bone tissue. The primary function of static osteogenesis is to provide a rigid scaffold containing osteocytes (i.e. mechano-sensors) for osteoblast laminae acting in dynamic osteogenesis. In the present work, histomorphometric analysis revealed that, already 10 days after drilling, despite the holes being temporarily filled by the same amount of newly formed trabecular bone by static osteogenesis independently of the treatment, the extent of the surface of movable osteoblast-laminae (covering the trabecular surface) was statistically higher in animals submitted to PTH(1-34) administration than in control ones; this datum strongly suggests the effect of PTH(1-34) alone in anticipating the occurrence of dynamic osteogenesis involved in the production of good quality bone (with more ordered collagen texture) more suitable for loading. This study could be crucial in further translational clinical research in humans for defining the best therapeutic strategies to be applied in recovering severe skeletal lesions, particularly as regards the time of PTH(1-34) administration.
2017
- Scleral ossicles as natural biomaterials on which vascular-like network is promoted from Mouse Aortic Endothelial cells (MAECs): preliminary results
[Abstract in Rivista]
Checchi, Marta; Grisendi, Giulia; Bertacchini, Jessika; Magaro', MARIA SARA; Ferretti, Marzia; Benincasa, Marta; Sena, Paola; Cavani, Francesco; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
When a severe fracture is difficult to self-recovered, it is defined as “critical-size” bone
defect. Till now, many efforts have been made by the tissue engineering (TE) to generate
scaffolds suitable for recovering of this type of fracture, but the main obstacle remains
the lack of an appropriate vascularization of the scaffolds. In the field of the regenerative
medicine, the TE has developed many different biomaterials, with various features and
peculiar functions, to be used in combination with cells and growth factors, in the generation
of specialized constructs. Our proposal of natural scaffolds useful to obtain complex
constructs concerns peculiar bony chips extracted from the eye bulb of adult chickens:
the scleral ossicles (SOs). This proposed model is interesting because once SOs reach the
definitive size in the adult animal, they are devoted only to mechanical stereotyped stress
for their lifetime so that the activation of the bone remodelling should be avoided and, to
do this, the osteocytes undergo massive apoptosis, making the ossicles like decellularized
bones [1]. The novelty of our proposal is that the scaffolds do not require surface treatment
(like further matrix deposition on the SO surface) since they are characterized, like
all bones, by the well-known organic components such as type I-collagen fibres, proteoglycans
and glycoproteins. The latter, for example, play the role of adhesion proteins and
therefore can mediate the adhesion of the endothelial cells that should develop the vascular
network. Our final goal is to obtain an in vitro 3D-vascularized natural constructs,
from scaffolds easily available in nature to use in vivo for the healing of “critical-size”
bone defeats. Previously [2] we identified the best preparation methods to obtain suitable
SO surface for cell culture. Recently, we have performed a series of in vitro experiments to
test the biocompatibility properties of the support; then, cell adhesion tests, viability and
proliferation assay were carried out. Further, we tried to induce a vascular-like network
organization of Mouse Aortic Endothelial Cells (MAECs) directly on the SOs surface, stimulating
the cells with a known angiogenic factor, the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
(VEGF), getting encouraging preliminary results.
2017
- Understanding the endocrine crosstalk between bone and muscle: molecular investigation of the impact of myokines on osteogenesis using C2C12 myoblast and 2T3 osteoblast cell lines
[Abstract in Rivista]
Magaro', MARIA SARA; Bertacchini, Jessika; Checchi, Marta; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Bones and skeletal muscles interact mechanically to allow locomotion in vertebrate and even invertebrate organisms. Until the last decade of research, the interactions between them had been gathered under the umbrella of the “mechanical coupling” theory, where muscles are the load suppliers and bones provide the attachment sites [1]. However, bone and skeletal muscle have recently been identified as endocrine organs, that secrete cytokines and chemokines, through which they interact to promote locomotion. This molecular and biochemical interplay has been named “bone-muscle crosstalk”. The bi-directional flow of signals between bone and muscle has been investigated experimentally by differentiating bone or skeletal muscle progenitor cells in a medium conditioned by myotubes or osteocytes respectively [2][3]. These studies have demonstrated that osteocyte (osteokines) and myotube (myokines) secreted factors have an inhibitory influence on myogenesis and osteogenesis respectively, since they reduce the majority of the mRNA levels of genes associated with differentiation. We propose to study the effects of myokines on osteogenesis by differentiating 2T3 osteoblastic cells in a medium conditioned by either early (3-5 days) or late (7-10 days) myo-tubes. We will then analyze mRNA and protein levels of marker genes of differentia-tion, to establish the effect of early and late patterns of myokines. Besides, we will characterize the differentiation process from a functional point of view by studying alkaline phosphatase activity and the deposition of mineralized matrix. As expected results, early and late myotube-conditioned media should affect differently the osteoblast lineage in the course of differentiation. If this is the case, we will proceed with a metabolomic profiling of the conditioned medium, to identify the cytokines most abundantly expressed. This first set of results will pave the way for further experiments of myoblast and osteoblast co-culture aimed at a real-time tracking of the bi-directional signaling betweeen these tissues and its impact on all stages of differentiation. The results of this study will deepen our understanding of how the muscle secretome protects osteocytes and preserve their function and vice versa how bone factors maintain muscle function. Such knowledge will help identify potential new therapies for bone and muscle diseases, especially when they co-exist, as is the case of the twin syndrome of osteoporosis and sarcopenia.
2016
- Bone texture modifications during bone regeneration and osteocyte cell-signaling changes in response to treatment with Teriparatide
[Abstract in Rivista]
Smargiassi, Alberto; Checchi, Marta; Cavani, Francesco; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Bone texture modifications during bone regeneration and osteocyte cell-signaling changes in response to treatment with Teriparatide
2016
- COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF BONE REGENERATION IN DIFFERENT RABBIT CRANIAL OSTEOMOMIES: TRADITIONAL VERSUS NEW GENERATION OSTEOTOMES
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Checchi, Marta; Smargiassi, Alberto; Anesi, Alexandre; Salvatori, Roberta; Chiarini, Luigi; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF BONE REGENERATION IN DIFFERENT RABBIT CRANIAL OSTEOMOMIES: TRADITIONAL VERSUS NEW GENERATION OSTEOTOMES
2016
- PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON SCLERAL OSSICLES IN PERFORMING FUNCTIONALIZED 3D VASCULARIZED SCAFFOLDS FOR "CRITICAL_SIZE" BONE DEFECT HEALING
[Abstract in Rivista]
Checchi, Marta; Smargiassi, Alberto; Ferretti, Marzia; Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Cavani, Francesco; Sola, Marco; Ranieri, Antonio; Stefania, Mitola; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON SCLERAL OSSICLES IN PERFORMING FUNCTIONALIZED 3D VASCULARIZED SCAFFOLDS FOR "CRITICAL_SIZE" BONE DEFECT HEALING
2016
- The Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib Maintains Osteocyte Viability in Multiple Myeloma Patients by Reducing Both Apoptosis and Autophagy: A New Function for Proteasome Inhibitors
[Articolo su rivista]
Toscani, Denise; Palumbo, Carla; Dalla Palma, Benedetta; Ferretti, Marzia; Bolzoni, Marina; Marchica, Valentina; Sena, Paola; Martella, Eugenia; Mancini, Cristina; Ferri, Valentina; Costa, Federica; Accardi, Fabrizio; Craviotto, Luisa; Aversa, Franco; Giuliani, Nicola
abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by severely imbalanced bone remodeling. In this study, we investigated the potential effect
of proteasome inhibitors (PIs), a class of drugs known to stimulate bone formation, on the mechanisms involved in osteocyte death
induced byMMcells. First, we performed a histological analysis of osteocyte viability on bone biopsies on a cohort of 37MMpatients
with symptomatic disease. A significantly higher number of viable osteocytes was detected in patients treated with a bortezomib
(BOR)-based regimen compared with those treated without BOR. Interestingly, both osteocyte autophagy and apoptosis were
affected in vivo by BOR treatment. Thereafter, we checked the in vitro effect of BOR to understand the mechanisms whereby BOR
maintains osteocyte viability in bone fromMM patients. We found that osteocyte and preosteocyte autophagic death was triggered
during coculturing with MM cells. Our evaluation was conducted by analyzing either autophagy markers microtubule-associated
protein light chain 3 beta (LC3B) and SQSTM1/sequestome 1 (p62) levels, or the cell ultrastructure by transmission electron
microscopy. PIs were found to increase the basal levels of LC3 expression in the osteocytes while blunting the myeloma-induced
osteocyte death. PIs also reduced the autophagic death of osteocytes induced by high-dose dexamethasone (DEX) and potentiated
the anabolic effect of PTH(1-34). Our data identify osteocyte autophagy as a new potential target in MM bone disease and support
the use of PIs to maintain osteocyte viability and improve bone integrity in MM patients.
2016
- ULTRASTRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE AND SUB-CHONDRAL BONE IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY POST-TRAUMATIC SHOULDER INSTABILITY
[Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Rebuzzi, Manuela; Paolo, Baudi; Ferretti, Marzia; Campochiaro, Gabriele; Gialdini, Mauro; Corradini, Alessandro; Palumbo, Carla; Catani, Fabio
abstract
ULTRASTRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE AND SUB-CHONDRAL BONE IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY POST-TRAUMATIC SHOULDER INSTABILITY
2015
- Autophagy is upregulated during colorectal carcinogenesis, and in DNA microsatellite stable carcinomas
[Articolo su rivista]
Sena, Paola; Mariani, Francesco; Mancini, Stefano; Benincasa, Marta; Magnani, Giulia; Pedroni, Monica; Palumbo, Carla; Roncucci, Luca
abstract
Cancer cells are exposed to a wide range of stress sources, such as nutrient deprivation and hypoxia, as well as cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Certain forms of stress can also promote survival activating the metabolic autophagy pathway in cancer cells. Autophagy is dramatically increased in cancer cells. In these conditions, it is becoming evident that autophagy protects cells, by providing an alternative energy source and by eliminating dysfunctional organelles or proteins. Its role in tumorigenesis is more controversial and both the presence and the absence of autophagy have been implicated. Autophagy is known to be associated with the poor outcome of patients with various types of cancers, and its effectiveness as a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer was demonstrated by several studies. The inhibition of autophagy may be a potential therapeutic target in colorectal cancer. In vitro experiments have shown that the inhibition of autophagy increases 5-FU-induced apoptosis. There are two trials currently investigating the addition of chloroquine to 5-FU-based chemotherapy and bevacizumab. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of LC3B-II in samples of human colorectal microadenomas (i.e., dysplastic aberrant crypt foci) and carcinomas compared to normal mucosa. Furthermore, the expression pattern of LC3B-II was assessed in carcinomas classified as DNA microsatellite stable (MSS) and unstable (MSI). Thus, immunofluorescence techniques coupled with confocal microscopy and immunoblot experiments were performed. The results clearly showed a significant increase in expression of the autophagic key factor in microadenomas and carcinomas with respect to normal mucosa. In MSS carcinomas, the level of LC3B-II expression was higher than that in the MSI carcinomas.
2015
- Effects of PTH(1-34) during fracture healing after experimental bone drilling in rat femur: novel aspects
[Abstract in Rivista]
Smargiassi, Alberto; Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The study concerns the role of PTH(1-34) during bone lesion repair. 3-month-old
male Sprague-Dawley rats, in which trans-cortical holes were drilled at femur middiaphysis,
were divided in groups with/without Teriparatide administration (40g/
Kg/day), and sacrificed at different times (10, 28, 45 days). In 2002 (1) we demonstrated
the occurrence of two successive bone forming processes during both skeletal
organogenesis and bone repair, i.e. static (SO) and dynamic (DO) osteogenesis: the
former (due to stationary osteoblasts, haphazardly grouped in cords) producing preliminary
bad quality trabecular bone, the latter (due to typical polarized osteoblasts
organized in ordered movable laminae) producing mechanically valid bone tissue.
In brief, the primary function of SO is to provide a rigid scaffold, containing osteocytes
(i.e. mechano-sensors), to DO-osteoblastic laminae; therefore, in DO mechanical
factors can play a crucial role in transduction of mechanical stresses into biological
signals. In the present work, histomorphometric analysis showed that, already after
10 days from drilling, notwithstanding the holes are temporarily filled by the same
amount of newly-formed trabecular bone (produced by SO) independently from the
treatment, the number of movable osteoblast laminae (typical of DO), covering the
trabecular surface, is statistically higher in animals submitted to PTH(1-34) administration
than in the control ones; this suggests that the mere effect of Teriparatide is
to anticipate the occurrence of dynamic osteogenesis involved in the production of
good quality bone more suitable to loading. These findings are also supported by the
higher values of microhardness as well as the more ordered-fibered texture (observed
by polarized light) in treated animals with respect to control ones that strongly indicates
the qualitative (instead of quantitative) effect of PTH (1-34) in improving bone
healing. The present investigation could be of crucial importance in further translational
clinical research in humans to define the best therapeutic strategies in recovering
skeletal lesions, particularly in terms of time of administration of PTH(1-34).
2015
- Mineral and Skeletal Homeostasis Influence the Manner of Bone Loss in Metabolic Osteoporosis due to Calcium-Deprived Diet in Different Sites of Rat Vertebra and Femur
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Smargiassi, Alberto; Roli, Laura; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Rats fed calcium-deprived diet develop osteoporosis due to enhanced bone resorption, secondary to parathyroid overactivity
resulting from nutritional hypocalcemia.Therefore, rats provide a good experimental animal model for studying bone modelling
alterations during biochemical osteoporosis.Three-month-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) baseline,
(2) normal diet for 4 weeks, (3) calcium-deprived diet for 4 weeks, and (4) calcium-deprived diet for 4 weeks and concomitant
administration of PTH (1-34) 40 g/Kg/day. Histomorphometrical analyses were made on cortical and trabecular bone of lumbar
vertebral body as well as of mid-diaphysis and distal metaphysis of femur. In all rats fed calcium-deprived diet, despite the reduction
of trabecular number (due to themaintenance of mineral homeostasis), an intense activity of bone deposition occurs on the surface
of the few remaining trabeculae (in answering to mechanical stresses and, consequently, to maintain the skeletal homeostasis).
Different responses were detected in different sites of cortical bone, depending on their main function in answering mineral or
skeletal homeostasis. This study represents the starting point for work-in-progress researches, with the aim of defining in detail
timing and manners of evolution and recovery of biochemical osteoporosis.
2015
- Ultrastructural aspects of articular cartilage and subchondral bone in patients affected by post-traumatic shoulder instability: preliminary observations
[Abstract in Rivista]
Baudi, Paolo; Campochiaro, Gabriele; Rebuzzi, Manuela; Ferretti, Marzia; Serafini, Fabio; Catani, Fabio; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Post traumatic shoulder instability is a frequent condition in young active population.
Notwithstanding a lot of data have been collected on capsular-legament lesions
and gleno-humeral defects, no data are available on early ultrastructural ostheo-condral
damages that are known to be highly associated with the onset of invalidating
pathologies, like osteoarthritis (OA). Thus, the mechanisms of joint instability and the
identification of which components in the articular complex are primarily affected in
instability are of clinical significance, particularly in the light of deepening knowledge
on the onset/development of OA. In the present study, biopsies of the articular
cartilage and sub-chondral bone were taken from 10 patients (aged 26-40) underwent
surgery in Policlinico of Modena. The withdrawals were immediately fixed and
embedded for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The observations were performed
in tangential, arcuate, and radial layers of the articular cartilage as well as
in sub-chondral bone. TEM observations showed that chondrocytes in the superficial
layers (i.e. tangential and arcuate) display normal and very well preserved ultrastructure,
probably due to synovial liquid supply; otherwise, chondrocytes in the radial
layer (not only in calcified but also in the un-calcified one) show various degrees of
degeneration, with cytoplasm partially coerced and variously-sized vacuoles, both
signs of suffering; occasionally, in the radial layer, chondrocytes with morphological
signs of apoptosis or autophagy were also observed. As far as sub-chondral bone is
concerned, osteocytes next the deeper calcified cartilage (within 80-100 micra from
the cement line) also show evidences of degeneration, while osteocytes more distant
from the osteo-chondral border display normal ultrastructure probably due to
the vascular bone supply. In all patients of the study, the ultrastructural features of
osteo-chondral complex are not depending on age. The present study represents the
first ultrastructural investigation of the articular osteo-chondral complex in shoulder
instability, evaluating the state of preservation/viability of both chondrocytes and
osteocytes throughout the successive layers of the articular cartilage and sub-chondral
bone. These preliminary observations are the basis to understand if the early surgical
treatment in shoulder instability could avoid the onset of OA.
2014
- Effect of PTH (1-34) on trabecular bone of rat vertebral body in induced-biochemical osteoporosis by calcium- deprived diet
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Smargiassi, Alberto; Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Rats fed calcium-deprived diet were used as experimental model for studying bone modelling alterations during biochemical osteoporosis and recovery of bone loss. Such model is suitable to evaluate the possible effects exerted by PTH(1-34) in preventing as well as in recovering metabolic osteoporosis. Three-month-old Sprague Dawley male rats were divided in different groups: some fed normal diet or calcium-deprived diet with/without 40µg/Kg/day PTH(1-34), provided by Eli Lilly-USA, for 4 weeks and some with restoration of normal diet with/without PTH (1-34) for further 4 weeks. To evaluate the occurrence of osteogenesis during the first 4 weeks of the experimental period, rats received three labels of bone deposition at 1st, 20th and 27th day (and then were sacrificed); during the successive 4 weeks (in which those rats previously fed with calcium-deprived diet had restoration of normal diet), animals received three labels of bone deposition at 1st, 7th and 14th day. Histomorphometrical analyses were performed on cortical and trabecular bone taken from the central level of the 5th lumbar vertebral body, transversely sectioned. The results showed that differences among the groups were observed mainly in trabecular bone with respect to cortical one, thus underlining the different role of the two types of bone architecture in mineral and skeletal homeostasis. Concerning trabecular bone, the observations showed that administration of PTH (1-34) during calcium-deprived diet and/or during the restoration of normal diet induces higher deposition of trabecular bone with respect to that recorded in rats that never received PTH(1-34), neither during calcium-deprived diet nor during restoration of normal diet. Since increments of trabecular bone are detectable only after the period of diet restoration (but not before), the authors suggest that a chronic administration of PTH (1-34) is necessary to achieve appreciable results on bone mass recovery.
2014
- Ferutinin dose-dependent effects on uterus and mammary gland in ovariectomized rats
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Manni, Paola; Carnevale, Gianluca; Bertoni, Laura; Zavatti, Manuela; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The present paper completes our recent study
on the effects of phytoestrogen ferutinin in preventing
osteoporosis and demonstrating the superior
osteoprotective effect of a 2 mg/kg/day dose in
ovariectomized (OVX) rats, compared to both estrogens
and lower (0.5, 1 mg/kg/day) ferutinin doses.
Morphological and morphometrical analyses were
performed on the effects of different doses of ferutinin
administrated for one month on uterus and on mammary
gland of Sprague-Dawley OVX rats, evaluated in
comparison with the results for estradiol benzoate. To
verify whether ferutinin provides protection against
uterine and breast cancer, estimations were made of both
the amount of cell proliferation (by Ki-67), and the
occurrence of apoptosis (by TUNEL), two processes that
in unbalanced ratio form the basis for cancer onset. The
results suggest that the effects of ferutinin are dose
dependent and that a 2 mg/kg/day dose might offer a
better protective action against the onset of both breast
and uterine carcinoma compared to ferutinin in lower
doses or estradiol benzoate, increasing cellular apoptosis
in glandular epithelia.
2014
- Morphological and quantitative analysis of BCL6 expression in human colorectal carcinogenesis.
[Articolo su rivista]
Sena, Paola; Mariani, Francesco; Benincasa, Marta; PONZ DE LEON, Maurizio; Di Gregorio, C; Mancini, Stefano; Cavani, Francesco; Smargiassi, Alberto; Palumbo, Carla; Roncucci, Luca
abstract
The aim of the present study was to determine whether BCL6 is expressed during malignant transformation of the large bowel and to assess whether, and to what extent, immunoreactivity is related to the different stages of neoplastic progression. Samples of normal colorectal mucosa (n=22), microadenomas (n=22) and colorectal cancer (n=22), were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence coupled with confocal microscopy and western blotting. Our results clearly outlined the marked increase occurring in both intensity and density of BCL6 protein expression in the normal mucosa-microadenoma-carcinoma sequence. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses showed that BCL6 is expressed at low levels in normal mucosa and increases in microadenoma and in cancer with statistical significance. These results were confirmed by western blotting data. The increasing expression of BCL6 in human colorectal cancer development suggests the involvement of BCL6 in tumor progression, from the earliest stages of carcinogenesis with significant increase in cancer. The enhanced understanding of the biological role of BCL6, previously shown to exert a key role in lymphomagenesis, may lead to a re-evaluation of this protein and may highlight the importance of performing further studies in order to identify novel therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer.
2014
- Oral surgery biomaterials: analyses of Al2O3-treated titanium surfaces tested with fibroblast and osteocyte cell lines
[Abstract in Rivista]
Smargiassi, Alberto; Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Zaffe, Davide; Facciani, Valentino; Gabrel, Ivano; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Two different cell lines - MLO-Y4 (murine osteocytes) and 293 (human fibroblasts) - cultured for 48 hours in standard media were used to analyse engineered bio-materials (i.e. Al2O3 shot-peened titanium surfaces). Distribution, density and expression of adhesion molecules (fibronectin and vitronectin) were evaluated under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal microscope (CM) as previously described [1]. The engineered biomaterial surfaces showed under SEM irregular morphology displaying variously-shaped spicules, obtained by shooting different-in-size particles of Al2O3 against the scaffolds of biomaterial. DAPI and fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies were used to highlight nuclei, fibronectin and vitronectin, under CM; cell distribution was analysed after Gold-Palladium sputtering of samples by SEM. Both SEM and CM observations showed better outcome in terms of cell adhesion and distribution in treated titanium surfaces with respect to the untreated ones. The results obtained clearly showed that this kind of surface-treated titanium, used to manufacture devices for dental implantology: i) is very suitable for cell colonization, essential prerequisite for the best osseointegration, and ii) represents an excellent solution for the development of further engineered implants with the target to obtain recovery of dental function stable over time.
Further studies on these Al2O3 shot-peened-titanium surfaces, both in vitro and in vivo, will be needed to obtain accurate definition of better biomaterial outcome, also after additional treatments.
References
[1] Palumbo et al. (2013) Immunocytochemical and structural comparative study of committed versus multipotent stem cells cultured with different biomaterials. Micron 47: 1–9.
2014
- PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF A POTENZIATED PIEZOSURGERGICAL DEVICE AT THE RABBIT SKULL
[Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Anesi, Alexandre; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Salvatori, Roberta; Cavani, Francesco; Chiarini, Luigi
abstract
The number of available ultrasonic osteotomes has remarkably increased. In vitro and in vivo studies
have revealed differences between conventional osteotomes, such as rotating or sawing devices, and
ultrasound-supported osteotomes (Piezosurgery®) regarding the micromorphology and roughness
values of osteotomized bone surfaces.
Objective: the present study compares the micro-morphologies and roughness values of
osteotomized bone surfaces after the application of rotating and sawing devices, Piezosurgery
Medical® and Piezosurgery Medical New Generation Powerful Handpiece.
Methods: Fresh, standard-sized bony samples were taken from a rabbit skull using the following
osteotomes: rotating and sawing devices, Piezosurgery Medical® and a Piezosurgery Medical New
Generation Powerful Handpiece. The required duration of time for each osteotomy was recorded.
Micromorphologies and roughness values to characterize the bone surfaces following the different
osteotomy methods were described. The prepared surfaces were examined via light microscopy,
environmental surface electron microscopy (ESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal
laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and atomic force microscopy. The selective cutting of mineralized
tissues while preserving adjacent soft tissue (dura mater and nervous tissue) was studied. Bone
necrosis of the osteotomy sites and the vitality of the osteocytes near the sectional plane were
investigated, as well as the proportion of apoptosis or cell degeneration.
Results and Conclusions: The potential positive effects on bone healing and reossification
associated with different devices were evaluated and the comparative analysis among the different
devices used was performed, in order to determine the best osteotomes to be employed during
cranio-facial surgery.
2014
- PROTEASOME INHIBITORS MODULATE OSTEOCYTE DEATH AND AUTOPHAGY IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Toscani, Denise; Palumbo, Carla; Ciullo, Alessandra; Ferretti, Marzia; Bolzoni, Marina; Guasco, Daniela; Palma, Benedetta Dalla; Aversa, Franco; Giuliani, Nicola
abstract
Background: Cell death and autophagy are the main cellular processes involved in the regulation of bone remodeling by osteocytes.
Recently we have demonstrated that an increased osteocyte death is involved in multiple myeloma (MM)-induced osteolysis through
the upregulation of osteoclast recruitment.
Aims: Because proteasome inhibitors including Bortezomib (BOR) are known to be able to target osteoblasts in this study we have
investigated the potential effect of these drugs on osteocytes and their cell death and autophagy.
Methods: Firstly the effect of the proteasome inhibitors BOR and MG262 on osteocyte viability was evaluated in vitro in murine
osteocytic cell line MLO-Y4 and in the human pre-osteocytic one HOB-01. Both cell lines were co-coltured for 48 hours in the
presence or absence of the human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) RPMI8226 and JJN3, placed in a transwell insert in the presence or
the absence of BOR or MG262. Moreover the effect of proteasome inhibitors on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced MLO-Y4 death,
obtained at high doses (10-5-10-6M), was checked in combination with PTH(1-34). To evaluate the presence of autophagy and
apoptosis in osteocytes, we checked the expression of both autophagic marker LC3 and apoptotic marker APAF-1 by confocal
microscopy in the co-colture system with MLO-Y4 and RPMI-8226. Finally we performed a retrospective histological evaluation on
bone biopsies of a cohort of 31 newly diagnosis MM underwent to different treatments including BOR-based regimen. Bone biopsies
were obtained at the diagnosis and after an average time of 12 months of treatment. Osteocyte viability was evaluated in a total of 500
lacunae per histological sections.
Results: The in vitro treatment with BOR or MG262 significantly blunted MLO-Y4 and HOB-01 cell death. Similarly, DEXinduced
MLO-Y4 death was reduced by proteasome inhibitors. Interestingly, we found that both proteasome inhibitors potentiated the
PTH (1-34) short-term effects on DEX-induced osteocyte death. Prevalence of autophagic cell death compared to apoptosis was
observed in this system. In line with these data, we showed that neither the HMCLs nor treatment with DEX increase the apoptotic
death and caspase 3 activation in both MLO-Y4 and HOB-01 cell lines. BOR treatment increased the basal level of LC3 indicating a
pro-survival and protective function of autophagy against the BOR-induce stress. On the contrary, when the cells undergo to a
stronger stress such as in the presence of HMCLs or by treatment with high dose of DEX we found that both proteasome inhibitors
blocked autophagic cell death in osteocytes. In the in vivo study we found a significant increase of the number of viable osteocytes in
MM patients treated with BOR-based regimen as compared to those treated without BOR (% median increase: +6% vs. +1.30%;
p=0.017). Patients treated with BOR alone showed the highest increase of osteocyte viability, as compared to those either treated
without BOR (+11.6% vs. +1.3%, p=0.0019) or treated with BOR plus DEX (+11.6% vs. +4.4%, p=0.01). On the other hand, any
significant difference was not observed in patients treated with Thalidomide (THAL) or Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) than in
those untreated with these drugs (p= 0.7). A multiple regression non-parametric analysis showed that BOR had a significant positive
impact on osteocyte viability (p=0.042) whereas THAL/IMiDs as well as Zoledronic acid (ZOL) treatments have not (p=0.2). BOR
also counterbalanced the negative effect of DEX treatment (p=0.035).
Summary/Conclusion: Our data suggest that proteasome inhibitors blunted osteocyte cell death induced by MM cells and DEX
through the modulation of the autophagy and potentiated the effect of PTH. Overall our in vitro and in vivo data support the use of
BOR to improve bone integrity in MM patients.
2014
- Up-regulation of the chemo-attractive receptor ChemR23 and occurrence of apoptosis in human chondrocytes isolated from fractured calcaneal osteochondral fragments
[Articolo su rivista]
Sena, Paola; Manfredini, Giuseppe; Benincasa, Marta; Mariani, Francesco; Smargiassi, Alberto; Catani, Fabio; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
To study the expression level of a panel of pro/anti-apoptotic factors and inflammation-related receptors in
chondral fragments from patients undergoing surgical treatment for intra-articular calcaneal fractures, cartilage
fragments were retrieved from calcaneal fractures of 20 patients subjected to surgical treatment. Primary
cultures were performed using chondral fragments from fractured and control patients. Chondrocyte cultures
from each patient of the fractured and control groups were subjected to immunofluorescence staining and
quantitatively analyzed under confocal microscopy. Proteins extracted from the cultured chondrocytes taken
from the fractured and control groups were processed for Western blot experiments and densitometric analysis.
The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined using the cleaved PARP-1 antibody. The proportion of
labelled cells was 35% for fractured specimens, compared with 7% for control samples. Quantification of
caspase-3 active and Bcl-2 proteins in chondrocyte cultures showed a significant increase of the apoptotic
process in fractured specimens compared with control ones. Fractured chondrocytes were positively stained for
ChemR23 with statistically significant differences with respect to control samples. Densitometric evaluation of
the immunoreactive bands confirmed these observations. Human articular chondrocytes obtained from patients
with intra-articular calcaneal fractures express higher levels of pivotal pro-apoptotic factors, and of the chemoattractive
receptor ChemR23, compared with control cultures. On the basis of these observations, the authors
hypothesize that consistent prolonged chondrocyte death, associated with the persistence of high levels of proinflammatory
factors, could enhance the deterioration of cartilage tissue with consequent development of
post-traumatic arthritis following intra-articular bone fracture.
2013
- Chondrocyte expression of apoptotic and pro-inflammatory factors in the development of post- traumatic arthritis in humans
[Abstract in Rivista]
Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Cavani, Francesco; Ferretti, Marzia; Smargiassi, Alberto; Manfredini, Giuseppe; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The development of post-traumatic arthritis following intra-articular fracture remains an important unsolved clinical problem. The possibility that extensive chondrocyte apoptosis occurs following intra-articular fracture, thus contributing to the development of post-traumatic arthritis, has received increasing attention [1]. It has been demonstrated the existence of a direct correlation between the rate of apoptosis and the severity of osteoarthritis [2]. Pharmacologic inhibitors of enzymes involved in apoptosis have been explored as potential therapeutic agents [3]. In the present study we aimed to deepen the characterization of apoptotic mediators, expressed by chondrocytes, involved in human post-traumatic arthritis following intra-articular fracture and the possible implication of pro-inflammatory receptors in arthritis. The expression of a panel of pro/anti apoptotic factors (Caspase-3, PARP-1, BCL2) and inflammation-related receptors (ChemR23) were analysed in chondrocytes from patients undergoing surgery for intra-articular calcaneal fractures. The factors were investigated by immunofluorescence coupled with confocal analysis and western blotting, followed by densitometric evaluation of chondrocyte cultures harvested from patients with intra-articular fractures compared with control ones. The results clearly demonstrated that a statistically significant difference exists in the expression of pro/anti apoptotic factors and ChemR23 between fractured and control patients. In conclusion our data suggest that increased chondrocyte death, occurring after cartilage injury together with inflammatory process, could play a pivotal role in the onset of arthritic disease.
References
[1]. Hembree W.C. et al. (2007) Viability and apoptosis of human chondrocytes in osteochon-dral fragments following joint trauma. J Bone Joint Surg Br 89(10): 1388-95.
[2] Kim H.A. et al. (2000) Apoptotic chondrocyte death in human osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol 27: 455–462.
[3] D'Lima D. et al. (2006) Caspase inhibitors reduce severity of cartilage lesions in experi-mental osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum 54(6): 1814-1821.
2013
- Immunocytochemical and structural comparative study of committed versus multipotent stem cells cultured with different biomaterials.
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Baldini, Andrea; Cavani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Ferretti, Marzia; Zaffe, Davide
abstract
The aim of this work was the comparison of the behavior of committed (human osteoblast cells - hOB - from bone biopsies) versus multipotent (human dental pulp stem cells - hDPSC - from extracted teeth) cells, cultured on shot-peened titanium surfaces, since the kind of cell model considered has been shown to be relevant in techniques widely used in studies on composition/morphology of biomaterial surfaces. The titanium surface morphology, with different roughness, and the behavior of cells were analyzed by confocal microscope (CM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis. The best results, in terms of hOB adhesion/distribution, were highlighted by both CM and SEM in cultured plates having 20-mum-depth cavities. On the contrary, CM and SEM results highlighted the hDPSC growth regardless the different surface morphology, arranged in overlapped layers due to their high proliferation rate, showing their unfitness in biomaterial surface test. Nevertheless, hDPSC cultured inside 3D-matrices reproduced an osteocyte-like three-dimensional network, potentially useful in the repair of critical size bone defects. The behavior of the two cell models suggests a different use in biomaterial cell cultures: committed osteoblast cells could be appropriate in selecting the best surfaces to improve osseointegration, while multipotent cells could be suitable to obtain in vitro osteocyte-like network for regenerative medicine. The originality of the present work consists in studying for the first time two different cell models (committed versus multipotent) compared in parallel different biomaterial cultures, thus suggesting distinct targets for each cellular model. Copyright 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
2013
- Induced Biochemical osteoporosis: Effects of 1-month calcium–deprived diet on rat bone remodelling with/without contemporary administration of PTH(1-34)
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Smargiassi, Alberto; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
It is known that rats fed calcium-deprived diet develop osteoporosis due to en-hanced bone resorption secondary to parathyroid overactivity resulting from nutritional hypocalcemia. Therefore, rats provide a good experimental animal model for studying bone remodelling alterations during biochemical osteoporosis. This preliminary study is performed in 3 month-old Sprague Dawley male rats, divided into 4 groups (5 rats each): 1) base line, 2) normal diet for 4 weeks, 3) calcium-deprived diet for 4 weeks; 4) calcium-deprived diet for 4 weeks plus contemporary administration of PTH(1-34) 40µg/kg/day. Three labels of osteogenesis were performed at 1st , 20th and 27th day of experimental period in order to evaluate bone formation during animal treatment. His-tomorphometrical analyses were performed on cortical bone of femoral diaphyses, as well as on trabecular bone of distal femoral metaphyses, both transversely sectioned. The preliminary results showed that at femur mid-diaphyseal level the diet induced a reduction of cortical bone area (even if not significant) with enlargement of the medul-lary canal due to endosteal resorption, while periosteal neo-deposition is similar in all groups and particularly abundant in those periosteal regions mainly devoted in answering the mechanical demands. PTH(1-34) treatment seems to reduce endosteal resorption only in those surfaces where periosteal mechanical loading are less consistent. Conversely, PTH(1-34) treatment doesn't seem to affect osteoblast activity. Moreover, in distal femoral metaphyses, diet induced osteoclast activity, with a decrease in the amount of trabecular bone volume, confirming that this architecture is mainly devoted in answering the metabolic demands. The novelty of the proposed model Is the contemporary administration of PTH(1-34) together with calcium deprived diet to evaluate induced-biochemical osteoporosis. This model seems a good starting point for successive studies in order to study bone alterations during unbalanced calcium metabolism frequently occurring in aging and to define time and manner of bone mass recovery.
2013
- Myeloma-Induced Osteocyte Death Was Blunted By Proteasome Inhibitors Through The Modulation Of Autophagy
[Poster]
Toscani, Denise; Palumbo, Carla; Palma, Benedetta Dalla; Bolzon, Marina; Ferretti, Marzia; Sena, Paola; Guasco, Daniela; Martella, Eugenia; Aversa, Franco; Giuliani, Nicola
abstract
Osteocytes are critical in the maintenance of bone integrity regulating bone remodeling through the cell death and autophagy, a cellular process stress-induced to prolong cell survival but when induced excessively can cause cell death. Recently we have demonstrated that an increased osteocyte death is involved in multiple myeloma (MM)-induced osteolysis. However the mechanisms involved in this process as well as the effect of the proteasome inhibitors able to stimulate bone formation are not known and have been investigated in this study.
Firstly the effect of the proteasome inhibitors BOR and MG262 on osteocyte viability was evaluated in vitro in murine osteocytic cell line MLO-Y4 and in the human pre-osteocytic one HOB-01. Both cell lines were co-coltured for 48 hours in the presence or absence of the human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) RPMI8226 and JJN3, placed in a traswell insert. The treatment for 12-24 hours with (BOR) (2nM) and MG262 (10nM) significantly blunted MLO-Y4 and HOB-01 cell death. In addition, dexamethasone (DEX)-induced MLO-Y4 apoptosis, obtained at high doses (10-5-10-6 M), was reduced by the treatment with proteasome inhibitors. Interestingly, we found that PTH short-term treatment potentiated the in vitro effects of proteasome inhibitors on DEX-induced osteocyte death. To evaluate the presence of autophagy in osteocytes, we checked the expression of the autophagic marker LC3 both by confocal microscopy and western blot analysis in the co-colture system with MLO-Y4 and RPMI-8226. Prevalence of autophagic cell death and in a lesser extent apoptosis was observed in this system. BOR increased the basal level of LC3 indicating a pro-survival and protective function of autophagy against the BOR-induce stress. On the contrary, when cells undergo to a stronger stress such as in the presence of HMCLs or by treatment with high dose of DEX we found that both proteasome inhibitors BOR and MG262 blocked autophagic cell death in osteocytes.
To translate our in vitro evidence in a clinical perspective, thereafter we performed a histological evaluation on bone biopsies of a cohort of 37 newly diagnosis MM patients 31 of them with symptomatic MM and 6 with smoldering MM (SMM). The 55% of patients with MM have evidence of osteolytic lesions at the X-rays survey. Bone biopsies were obtained at the diagnosis and after an average time of 12 months of treatment or observation. Osteocyte viability was evaluated in a total of 500 lacunae per histological sections. A significant increase of the number of viable osteocytes was demonstrated in MM patients treated with BOR-based regimen as compared to those treated without BOR (% median increase: +6% vs. +1.30%; p=0.017). Patients treated with BOR alone showed the highest increase of osteocyte viability, as compared to those either treated without BOR (+11.6% vs. +1.3%, p=0.0019) or treated with BOR plus DEX (+11.6% vs. +4.4%, p=0.01). A reduction of both osteocyte apoptosis and autophagy was demonstrated by TUNEL assays and confocal microscopy. On the other hand, any significant difference was not observed in patients treated with Thalidomide (THAL) or Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) than in those untreated with these drugs (p= 0.7). A multiple regression non-parametric analysis showed that BOR had a significant positive impact on osteocyte viability (p=0.042) whereas THAL/IMiDs as well as Zoledronic acid (ZOL) treatments have not (p=0.2). BOR also counterbalanced the negative effect of DEX treatment (p=0.035).
Our data suggest that proteasome inhibitors blunted osteocyte cell death induced by MM cells and DEX through the modulation of the autophagy supporting their use to improve bone integrity in MM patients.
2013
- PLZF expression during colorectal cancer development and in normal colorectal mucosa according to body size, as marker of colorectal cancer risk.
[Articolo su rivista]
Mariani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Magnani, Giulia; Mancini, Stefano; Palumbo, Carla; PONZ DE LEON, Maurizio; Roncucci, Luca
abstract
Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (PLZF) is a protein involved in various signaling, growth regulatory, and differentiation pathways, including development/function of some T cells. Here, we aimed at the detection of PLZF during colorectal carcinogenesis, using immunofluorescence, and at the evaluation of the colocalization of PLZF with CD2 and CD56 positive cells (T, γδ, NK, and NKT cells), using confocal-microscopy, along colorectal carcinogenesis, since its earliest stages, that is, dysplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Furthermore, we analyzed PLZF in the normal colonic mucosa (NM) according to anthropometric parameters of the subject. NM exhibited strong CD56 fluorescent staining. This infiltration was lost in both ACF and colorectal carcinoma (CRC), while PLZF presence increased from NM to ACF and CRC. Strong association was found between CD56+ colonic mucosa cell infiltration and body mass index. Interestingly, an increased stromal PLZF-reactivity was present in NM of obese subjects. This study shows that overexpression of PLZF and exclusion of NK cells in dysplastic microenvironment are very early events in the stepwise sequence leading to CRC and that lower levels of CD56+ cells in NM, together with increased levels of PLZF+ cells, can be a reflection of colon cancer risk due to obesity.
2013
- Th Inducing POZ-Kruppel Factor (ThPOK) Is a Key
Regulator of the Immune Response since the Early Steps
of Colorectal Carcinogenesis
[Articolo su rivista]
Mariani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Pedroni, Monica; Benatti, Piero; Manni, Paola; Di Gregorio, C; Manenti, Antonio; Palumbo, Carla; PONZ DE LEON, Maurizio; Roncucci, Luca
abstract
We purposed to evaluate the role of Th inducing POZ-Kruppel Factor (ThPOK), a transcriptional regulator of T cell fate, in tumour-induced immune system plasticity in colorectal carcinogenesis. The amounts of CD4+, CD8+ and CD56+ and ThPOK+ cells infiltrate in normal colorectal mucosa (NM), in dysplastic aberrant crypt foci (microadenomas, MA), the earliest detectable lesions in colorectal carcinogenesis, and in colorectal carcinomas (CRC), were measured, and the colocalization of ThPOK with the above-mentioned markers of immune cells was evaluated using confocal microscopy. Interestingly, ThPOK showed a prominent increase since MA. A strong colocalization of ThPOK with CD4 both in NM and in MA was observed, weaker in carcinomas. Surprisingly, there was a peak in the colocalization levels of ThPOK with CD8 in MA, which was evident, although to a lesser extent, in carcinomas, too. In conclusion, according to the data of the present study, ThPOK may be considered a central regulator of the earliest events in the immune system during colorectal cancer development, decreasing the immune response against cancer cells.
2013
- The problem of bone lamellation: An attempt to explain different proposed models
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Collagen texture and osteocyte distribution
were analyzed in human woven- and lamellar-bone
using scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
We provide data substantiating the concept that lamellar
bone is made up of an alternation of dense-acellular
lamellae and loose-cellular lamellae, all exhibiting an
interwoven texture of collagen fibers. An attempt is also
made to explain how the present findings might conform
to those of authors whose models propose orderly, geometric
arrangements of collagen fibers inside bony
lamellae. Such a comparison is possible because the
present investigation analyzes split loose lamellae and
tangentially-sectioned dense lamellae. It emerged that
only loose lamellae can be dissected, revealing a loose
interwoven collagen texture and halved osteocyte lacunae.
Dense lamellae cannot be split because of their
compactness. The analysis of tangentially sectioned
dense lamellae demonstrates that they consist of a network
of interwoven collagen fiber bundles. Inside each
bundle, collagen fibers run parallel to each other but
change direction where they enter adjacent bundles, at
angles as described by other authors whose TEM investigations
were performed at a much higher magnification
than those of the present study. Consequently, what
these authors consider to be a lamella are, instead,
bundles of collagen fibers inside a lamella. There is
discussion of the role played by the manner of osteocyterecruitment
in the deposition of lamellar- and wovenbone
and how the presence of these cells is crucial for collagen
spatial arrangement in bone tissues.
2012
- APPLICATION OF POLY-L-LACTIDE SCREWS IN FLAT FOOT SURGERY: HISTOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF BIO-ABSORPTION OF DEGRADABLE DEVICES.
[Articolo su rivista]
Sena, Paola; Manfredini, G.; Barbieri, Claudia; Mariani, Francesco; Tosi, Giovanni; Ruozi, Barbara; Ferretti, Marzia; Marzona, Laura; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The flat foot in childhood is a condition frequently observed in orthopedic practice but it is still debated when and in which patients surgical corrective treatment is appropriate; recently, the application of poly-L-lactic-acid (PLLA) screws was proposed. The present study investigates a group of 33 patients treated with PLLA expansion endorthesis in order to evaluate the deformity correction. Clinical and radiological outcomes in patients were correlated with: a) morphological characterization of screws both before and after being removed from patients, when necessary; b) histological and bio-molecular evaluation of degradation processes of the implants, focusing attention on the correlation between the cellular cohort involved in inflammatory reaction and the bio-absorption degree of PLLA screws. Deformity correction was mostly achieved, with minimal need of screw removal; the results obtained clearly show the occurrence of chronic rather than acute inflammation in removed screw specimens.At the histological level, after biomaterial implantation, the sequence of events occurring in the surrounding tissues ultimately ends in the formation of foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) at the tissue/material interface; but the mechanisms which influence the fate of screw implants, i.e. the resolution of acute inflammation rather than the progression towards chronic inflammation, are of crucial importance for biodegradable materials like “polylactic acid”. In fact, the FBGC response ensures a long-term mechanism which eliminates the foreign material from the body, but at the same time the implications of prolonged FBGC responses, which generate negative side effects, could significantly impede the healing progress.
2012
- Effects of different doses of ferutinin on bone formation/resorption in ovariectomized rats.
[Articolo su rivista]
Cavani, Francesco; Ferretti, Marzia; Carnevale, Gianluca; Bertoni, Laura; Zavatti, Manuela; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
This study analyzes the effects of different doses of ferutinin on bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency in ovariectomized rats, in comparison with estradiol benzoate. Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and treated for 30 days from the day after ovariectomy. Static/dynamic histomorphometric analyses were performed on trabecular and cortical bone of lumbar vertebrae and femurs. Very low weight increments were recorded only in all F-OVX groups, with respect to the others. Although the great differences in weight, that could imply a decrease of bone mass in F-OVX groups compared to the control ovariectomized group (C-OVX), trabecular bone in lumbar vertebrae did not show significant differences, suggesting that ferutinin, opposing estrogen deficiency, inhibits bone resorption. Newly formed cortical bone was always low in all F-OVX groups and high in C-OVX, suggesting that it is mainly devoted in answering mechanical demands. In contrast, in distal femoral metaphyses, trabecular bone was reduced and the number of osteoclasts was increased in C-OVX with respect to all other groups, suggesting that it is mainly devoted in answering metabolic demands; moreover, ferutinin dose of 2 mg/kg seemed to be more effective than the lower doses used and estrogens, particularly in those skeletal regions with higher metabolic activity. Our results suggest that the role of ferutinin in preventing osteoporosis caused by estrogen deficiency is expressed in decreasing bone erosion; moreover, in all F-OVX groups bone turnover is very low and seems correlated to the trivial body weight increase, which, in turn, depends on ferutinin treatment.
2012
- Increased osteocyte death in multiple myeloma patients: role in myeloma-induced osteoclast formation
[Articolo su rivista]
Giuliani, N; Ferretti, Marzia; Bolzoni, M; Storti, P; Lazzaretti, M; DALLA PALMA, B; Bonomini, S; Martella, E; Agnelli, L; Neri, A; Ceccarelli, F; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The involvement of osteocytes in multiple myeloma (MM)-induced osteoclast (OCL) formation and bone lesions is still unknown. Osteocytes regulate bone remodelling at least partially, as a result of their cell death triggering OCL recruitment. In this study, we found that the number of viable osteocytes was significantly smaller in MM patients than in healthy controls, and negatively correlated with the number of OCLs. Moreover, the MM patients with bone lesions had a significantly smaller number of viable osteocytes than those without, partly because of increased apoptosis. These findings were further confirmed by ultrastructural in vitro analyses of human preosteocyte cells cocultured with MM cells, which showed that MM cells increased preosteocyte death and apoptosis. A micro-array analysis showed that MM cells affect the transcriptional profiles of preosteocytes by upregulating the production of osteoclastogenic cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-11, and increasing their pro-osteoclastogenic properties. Finally, the osteocyte expression of IL-11 was higher in the MM patients with than in those without bone lesions. Our data suggest that MM patients are characterized by a reduced number of viable osteocytes related to the presence of bone lesions, and that this is involved in MM-induced OCL formation.
2012
- Matrix metalloproteinases 15 and 19 are stromal regulators of colorectal cancer development from the early stages
[Articolo su rivista]
Sena, Paola; Mariani, Francesco; Marzona, Laura; Benincasa, Marta; PONZ DE LEON, Maurizio; Palumbo, Carla; Roncucci, Luca
abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been well characterized for their ability to degrade extracellular matrix proteins and, thus, they have been studied to elucidate their involvement in both tumor development and progression. In the present study, attention was focused on MMP-15 and MMP-19, two less known members of the MMP family. The expression profile of MMP-15 and -19 was assayed in samples of normal colorectal mucosa, microadenomas and cancer using confocal analysis, western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Both qRT-PCR and western blotting showed that MMP-15 and MMP-19 appeared to be upregulated during colorectal tumorigenesis, with different expression patterns: MMP-15 expression level increases from normal mucosa to microadenomas, with a reduced level in cancer with respect to microadenomas; the semiquantitative immunofluorescence analysis showed a stromal localization of this protein in the early phases of neoplastic transformation. Increasing amount of MMP-19 mRNA and protein levels were observed in the progression of colonic lesions; MMP-19 staining increased in the normal mucosa-microadenoma-carcinoma sequence. Such different expression patterns, are probably due to the different roles played in colorectal tumorigenesis by these two molecules. Conflicting data on the role of these proteins in tumor progression have been reported, thus, an improved understandingof the biological roles of MMPs, in particular the lesser known members such as MMP-15 and 19, in colorectal cancer may lead to a re-evaluation of the use of MMP inhibitors and suggests the need of integrated translational studies on MMP expression patterns.
2012
- Osteocyte apoptosis and absence of bone remodeling in human auditory ossicles and scleral ossicles of lower vertebrates: a mere coincidence or linked processes?
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Cavani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
Considering the pivotal role as bone mechanosensors ascribed to osteocytes in bone adaptation to mechanical strains, the present study analyzed whether a correlation exists between osteocyte apoptosis and bone remodeling in peculiar bones, such as human auditory ossicles and scleral ossicles of lower vertebrates, which have been shown to undergo substantial osteocyte death and trivial or no bone turnover after cessation of growth. The investigation was performed with a morphological approach under LM (by means of an in situ end-labeling technique) and TEM. The results show that a large amount of osteocyte apoptosis takes place in both auditory and scleral ossicles after they reach their final size. Additionally, no morphological signs of bone remodeling were observed. These facts suggest that (1) bone remodeling is not necessarily triggered by osteocyte death, at least in these ossicles, and (2) bone remodeling does not need to mechanically adapt auditory and scleral ossicles since they appear to be continuously submitted to stereotyped stresses and strains; on the contrary, during the resorption phase, bone remodeling might severely impair the mechanical resistance of extremely small bony segments. Thus, osteocyte apoptosis could represent a programmed process devoted to make stable, when needed, bone structure and mechanical resistance.
2012
- Overweight, inflammation of normal colorectal mucosa, and cancer risk
[Abstract in Rivista]
Roncucci, Luca; Mariani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Palumbo, Carla; Pedroni, Monica
abstract
Myeloperoxidase-positive cell infiltration of normal colorectal mucosa is related to body fatness and colorectal cancer risk.
2012
- Proposed roles of the immune response regulator-ThPOK in human colorectal cancer progression
[Abstract in Rivista]
Sena, Paola; Mariani, Francesco; Roncucci, Luca; Benincasa, Marta; PONZ DE LEON, Maurizio; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Solid tumours are commonly infiltrated by several immune cells [1-3]. In cancer, immune cells play conflicting roles with both the potentials to eliminate or to promote malignancy. In contrast to infiltration of cells responsible for chronic inflammation, the presence of high numbers of lymphocytes, especially T cells, has been reported to be important as indicator of good prognosis in many types of cancer [4-7]. The thorough knowledge of both manners and pathways with which tumors are able to evade immune-mediated attack, once established, is therefore of crucial importance. The strategies to escape anti-tumor immune responses include the limited priming or differentiation of antitumor T cells and the role of tumor microenvironment in order to prevent infiltration or activation of effector phase functions.
We proposed to evaluate the role of Th inducing POZ-Kruppel Factor (ThPOK), a transcriptional regulator of T cell fate, in tumour-induced immune system plasticity during colorectal carcinogenesis. Data were collected on the amounts of CD4+, CD8+ and CD56+ as well as on ThPOK+ cells infiltrated in normal colorectal mucosa (NM), in dysplastic aberrant crypt foci (microadenomas, MA, the earliest detectable lesions in colorectal carcinogenesis) and in colorectal carcinomas (CRC); moreover, the colocalization of ThPOK with the above-mentioned markers of immune cells was evaluated using confocal microscopy. Interestingly, ThPOK showed a prominent increase since MA. A strong colocalization of ThPOK with CD4 both in NM and in MA was observed, weaker in carcinomas. Surprisingly, there was a peak in the colocalization levels of ThPOK with CD8 in MA, which was evident, although to a lesser extent, also in carcinomas. In conclusion, according to the data of the present study, ThPOK may be considered a central regulator of the earliest events in the immune system during colorectal cancer development.
The novelty of the present study is the proposed role of ThPOK in influencing the immune response against cancer cells.
References
[1] Dunn et al. (2004) The immunobiology of cancer immunosurveillance and immunoediting. Immunity 21: 137-148.
[2] Knaapen et al. (2006) Neutrophils and respiratory tract DNA damage and mutagenesis: a review. Muta-genesis 21: 225-236.
[3] Coussens and Werb (2002) Inflammation and cancer. Nature 420: 860-867.
[4] Watt and House (1978) Colonic carcinoma: a quantitative assessment of lymphocyte infiltration at the periphery of colonic tumors related to prognosis. Cancer 41: 279-282.
[5] Galon et al. (2006) Type, density, and location of immune cells within human colorectal tumors predict clinical outcome. Science 313: 1960-1964.
[6] Pagès et al. (2009) In situ cytotoxic and memory T cells predict outcome in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer. J Clin Oncol 27: 5944-5951.
[7] Mlecnik et al. (2010) Biomolecular network reconstruction identifies T-cell homing factors associated with survival in colorectal. Gastroenterology 138: 1429-1434.
2012
- Proteasome Inhibitors Block Myeloma-Induced Osteocyte Death in Vitro and in Vivo in Multiple Myeloma Patients
[Abstract in Rivista]
Toscani, Denise; Palma, Benedetta Dalla; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Bolzoni, Marina; Guasco, Daniela; Mancini, Cristina; Martella, Eugenia; Lazzaretti, Mirca; Pedrazzoni, Mario; Aversa, Franco; Giuliani, Nicola
abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by a severe unbalanced and uncoupling bone remodeling leading to osteolysis. We have recently shown that osteocytes are involved in MM-induced osteolysis through an increased cell death. Accordingly MM patients are characterized by a reduced number of viable osteocytes related to the presence of bone lesions. Proteasome inhibitors currently used in the treatment of MM are able to stimulate osteoblast formation but their potential effects on osteocyte death are not known and have been investigated in this study both in vitro and in vivo.
Osteocytic MLO-Y4 cells or human pre-osteocytic HOB-01 cells were co-cultured for 48 hours in the presence or absence of the human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) JJN3 or RPMI-8226 placed in a transwell insert. A significantly reduction of ostecyte viability was observed (median percent reduction of MLO-Y4 viability: -16% and -30%, respectively). The treatment for 12–24 hours with Bortezomib (BOR) (2nM) or other proteasome inhibitors such as MG262 (10nM) or MG132 (100nM) significantly blunted MLO-Y4 and HOB-01 cell death. Similarly, Dexamethasone (DEX)-induced MLO-Y4 apoptosis, obtained at pharmacological doses (10–4–10–5 M), was significantly reduced by the treatment with proteasome inhibitors. To translate our in vitro data into a clinical perspective we performed a retrospective histological evaluation on bone biopsies of a cohort of 40 newly diagnosis MM patients (24 male and 16 female, median age: 68 years) 34 of them with symptomatic MM and 6 with smoldering MM (SMM). The 58% of patients with symptomatic MM have evidence of osteolytic lesions at the X-rays survey. Bone biopsies were obtained in both symptomatic MM and SMM at diagnosis and after an average time of 12 months of treatment or observation, respectively. The 68% of patients with symptomatic MM were treated with a BOR-based regimen while 42% do not. Moreover the 58% of MM patients received DEX and the 59% Thalidomide (TAL). Zoledronic acid (ZOL) was infused monthly in the 60% of MM patients. Osteocyte viability was evaluated in a total of 500 lacunae per histological sections, corresponds to the total number of osteocyte lacunae in the bone biopsies. The number of viable osteocytes and the number of degenerated or apoptotic osteocytes and empty lacunae have been evaluated. In patients with SMM no significant change was observed in the number of viable osteocytes in the two histological evaluations carried out (median percent change: +1.2, p=0.68, NS). In symptomatic MM patients the mean percent change of the osteocyte viability was not correlated with the response rate to treatment (R2 0.01, p=NS). A significant increase of the number of viable osteocytes was demonstrated in MM patients treated with BOR-based regimen as compared to those treated without BOR (% median increase of osteocyte viability: +6% vs. +1.30%, Mann-Whitney test: p=0.017). Patients treated with BOR alone showed the highest increase of osteocyte viability that was statistical significant in comparison with that observed either in patients treated without BOR (+11.6% vs. +1.3%, p=0.0019) or in those treated with BOR plus DEX (+11.6% vs. +4.4%, p=0.01). On the contrary, no significant difference was observed in patients treated with TAL than in those treated without TAL (p= 0.7, NS) as well as patients treated with ZOL compared to those untreated showed no significant difference in the number of viable osteocytes (p=0.18, NS). To confirm the role of the different drug treatment on the osteocyte viability we perform a multiple regression non-parametric analysis showing that BOR had a significant positive impact on osteocyte viability (p=0.042) whereas ZOL and TAL have not (p>0.2,NS) and it counterbalanced the negative effect of DEX treatment (p=0.035).
In conclusion our in vitro and in vivo data suggest the proteasome inhibitors block osteocyte death induced by MM cells
2012
- ROLE OF PHYTOESTROGEN FERUTININ IN PREVENTING/RECOVERING BONE LOSS: RESULTS FROM EXPERIMENTAL OVARIECTOMIZED RAT MODEL
[Capitolo/Saggio]
Palumbo, Carla; Cavani, Francesco; Bertoni, Laura; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
In the Chapter 35 of the book are reported observations of recent pubblications on the effect of ferutinin in preventing/recovering severe osteoporosis secondary to ovariectomy in rats. On the basis of the results so far obtained, the authors suggest to enumerate ferutinin among the osteoprotective substances. This fact acquires a more relevant importance in the light of recent tenable evidences reported from various authors concerning the absence of negative side effects by some phytoestrogens (particularly genistein, 8-prenylnaringenin, reveratrol and red clover extract) on the tropism of various organs commonly targeted by estrogens. In conclusion, the results reported not only provide evidence that ferutinin can significantly prevent/recover ovariectomy-induced bone loss in rats, but also that it could protect against the onset of uterus cancer. Although the putative undesired estrogenic-like side effects on uterus of such phytoestrogen have not yet been fully investigated, ferutinin could be an interesting safer alternative new candidate for HRT in treatment of post-menopausal symptoms, since it seems to protect from bone loss induced by ovariectomy (Palumbo et al., 2009; Ferretti et al., 2010) and in part to mime the ovarian endocrine function during menopause.
2012
- Role of osteocyte apoptosis in peculiar ossicles of the hearing sense organ: preliminary observations on hearing loss and osteoporosis
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Presutti, Livio; Genovese, Elisabetta; Cavani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Benincasa, Marta; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
Starting point of the present study is the osteocyte role in bone remodelling that allows bone adaptation to mechanical load [1-3]. Bone remodelling has been investigated in relation to the occurrence of apoptosis [4] to understand if and how the process of programmed cell death interferes with bone turnover.
In 1998, in a study on human middle ear, Marotti et al. [5] demonstrated that: 1) over 40% of osteo-cytes are dead within the 2nd year of age (but the authors were not able to demonstrate if osteocyte death occurred by degeneration or apoptosis); 2) bone remodelling occurs only occasionally. Recently [6], we showed that: 1) osteocytes of human auditory ossicles die by apoptosis; 2) also osteocytes located inside scleral ossicles of lower vertebrate eye (reptiles and birds) phylogenetically so far from human auditory ossicles are widely affected by apoptosis (about 60%); 3) in scleral ossicles bone turnover never occur.
It is to be noted that both auditory ossicles of human ear and scleral ossicles of vertebrate eye are peculiar bony segments continuously submitted to stereotyped stresses and strains, with specialized func-tions: the first are involved in sound wave transmission and the latter protect the eyeball against deformation during the movement and have a role in visual accomodation, providing attachment for the ciliary muscles. In both cases, bone remodelling might severely impair, by resorption, the mechanical resistance of these extremely small specialized bony segments. Thus, we suggested that in auditory and scleral ossicles, submitted to stereotyped loading for all life, bone mechanical adaptation is not needed and osteocyte programmed death could represent the mechanism to avoid bone remodelling and to make stable, when necessary, bone structure and mechanical resistance.
More recently, to confirm this hypothesis, clinical data were collected from a cohort of patients aged 55-85 years affected by hearing loss. The main target of the present study is to exclude any correlation between hearing loss and osteoporosis. During osteoporosis, unbalanced bone turnover causes the bone depletion in skeletal segments; such condition, in the peculiar ossicles of human middle ear, should imply hearing impairment. Our preliminary observations indicate, instead, that osteoporotic patients do not show higher percentage of hearing loss with respect to non osteoporotic ones. This evidence is ascribable to osteocyte apoptosis of auditory ossicles that avoid bone remodelling, thus assuring the integrity of such bony segments also in osteoporotic conditions.
References
[1] Turner (1991) Omeostatic control of bone structure: an application of feed-bach theory. Bone 12: 203-217.
[2] Turner and Forwood (1995) What role does the osteocyte network play in bone adaptation? Bone 16: 283-285.
[3] Marotti (1996) The structure of bone tissue and the cellular control oftheir deposition. IJAE 101(4): 26-79.
[4] Noble et al. (1997) Identification of apoptotic changes in osteocytes in normal and pathological human bone. Bone 20: 273-282.
[5] Marotti et al. (1998) Morphometric investigation on osteocytes in human auditory ossicles. Ann Anat 180: 449-453.
[6] Palumbo et al. (2012) Osteocyte apoptosis in human auditory ossicles and scleral ossicles of lower ver-tebrates: a mere coincidence or linked processes? Calcif. Tissue Int. 90: 211-218.
2012
- Striated muscle fiber apoptosis after experimental tendon lesion in a rat model
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Rovesta, Claudio; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
Tendon lesions induce muscular atrophy, the nature of which has not yet been clearly related to lesion etiology
and entity. In the present study, tendon and muscle alterations were assessed after experimental tendon lesion
of the Infraspinatus muscle in young rats. The consequences of lesions differed on the basis of both extension
and injured tissue vascularization, that is apoptosis and/or degeneration, differing mainly by energy demands:
apoptosis requires high energy levels (proportional to vascular supply), but degeneration does not. It is well
known that tendons are poorly supplied with blood compared with muscular masses, which are abundantly
vascularized. Five weeks after tendon surgical section, tendon/muscle samples were taken for TUNEL and
transmission electron microscopy. The structural results reported here identified different tendon/muscle
alterations: degeneration of tendon without signs of apoptosis, and atrophy of muscle fibers due only to
apoptosis. This led to the formulation of the following hypothetical sequence of events: a tendon lesion, not
recovering quickly due to the poor tendon blood supply, results in degeneration of the injured tendon, which,
in turn, induces a partial disuse of the muscle mass, which consequently atrophies (proportionally to the
severity of tendon lesion) by striated muscular fiber apoptosis. The authors suggest that the different behavior
of the two tissues depends on the marked difference in their vascularization.
2012
- Structural and histomorphometric evaluations of ferutinin effects on the uterus of ovariectomized rats during osteoporosis treatment
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Benincasa, Marta; Sena, Paola; Carnevale, Gianluca; Zavatti, Manuela; Vittoria Di, Viesti; Zanoli, Paola; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Aims: The effects of chronic administration of Ferutinin (phytoestrogen found in the plants of genus Ferula),compared with those elicited by estradiol benzoate, were evaluated, following ovariectomy, on the uterus ofovariectomized rats as regard weight, size, structure and histomorphometry.Main methods: The experimental study included 40 female Sprague–Dawley rats, assigned to two different protocols,i.e. preventive and recovering. In the preventive protocol, ferutinin (2 mg/kg/day)was orally administeredfor 30 days, starting from the day after ovariectomy; in the recovering protocol, ferutinin was administered, atthe same dosage, for 30 days starting fromthe 60th day after ovariectomy, when osteoporosiswas clearly established.Its effects were compared with those of estradiol benzoate (1.5 μg per rat twice a week, subcutaneouslyinjected) vs. vehicle-treated ovariectomized controls and vehicle-treated sham-operated controls. Uteri were removed,weighed and analysed under both the structural and histomorphometrical points of view.Key findings: Our data show that ferutinin acts, similarly to estradiol benzoate, on the uterus stimulating endometrialand myometrial hypertrophy; this notwithstanding, the phytoestrogen ferutinin, in contrast to estrogentreatment, appears to increase apoptosis in uterine luminal and glandular epithelia.Significance: Ferutinin, used in osteoporosis treatment primarily for bonemass recovering, seems in linewith aneventual protective function against uterine carcinoma, unlike estrogens so far employed in hormone replacementtherapy (HRT).
2011
- EXPRESSION PROFILES OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES 15 AND 19 IN HUMAN COLORECTAL CARCINOGENESIS
[Abstract in Rivista]
Sena, Paola; Mariani, Francesco; Marzona, Laura; Roncucci, Luca; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
INTRODUCTION: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been well characterized for their ability to degrade extracellular matrix proteins and thus they have been extensively studied to elucidate their involvement in both tumour development and progression. In the present study the attention were focused on two members of MMP family, i.e. MMP-15 and MMP-19.METHODS: The expression profile of MMP-15 and 19 were assayed from samples of normal mucosa, microadenomas and cancer using confocal analysis, Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR).RESULTS: The semiquantitative immunofluorescence analysis showed that MMP-15 expression level increases from normal mucosa to microadenomas, with a reduced level in cancer respect to microadenomas, while MMP-19 staining increases in normal mucosa-microadenoma-carcinoma sequence.Both Q-PCR and Western blot methods correlate with immunofluorescence behaviour of MMP-15 and 19, showing a significantly higher expression of MMP-15 in microadenomas compared to normal mucosa, and indicating an increasingly amount of MMP-19 levels in the progression of colon lesions.CONCLUSIONS: MMP-15 and 19 appear to be up-regulated during tumorigenesis, with different expression patterns, that are probably due to the different roles played by these two molecules. The literature up to now reported show conflicting data regarding the role of these proteins in tumor progression so that the improved understanding of the biological roles of MMPs in colorectal cancer should lead to a re-evaluation of the use of MMP inhibitors and highlight the importance of integrated translational studies on the MMP expression patterns.
2011
- Effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on condrogenic phenotype maintenance of MSCs in presence of pro-inflammatory cytochines: preliminary results
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Benincasa, Marta; Sena, Paola; Gian Luigi, Sacchetti; Stefania, Setti; Cadossi, Ruggero
abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro the effects of PEMFs on maintenance over time of chondrocyte phenotype of conditioned Mesenchimal Stem Cells (MSCs), in presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-ß1). MSCs, taken from bone marrow, were pellet-cultured in medium conditioning towards the chondrogenic lineage. Two targets were pursued: the first was to standardize the method to obtain chondrocyte pellets in terms of type/amount of withdrawal, time/degree of differentiation and amount of extracellular matrix production; the second was to extend over time chondrocyte differentiation, checking the phenotype maintenance, after adding pro-inflammatory IL-ß1 cytokine in culture medium with/without the application of PEMFs (device provided by IGEA-Carpi). The pellets obtained were coltured for different times (21, 28, 34 days), verifying the presence of type-II collagen (as index of chondrocyte differentiation) both by means of TEM analysis and immunoreaction. The best differentiation was obtained after 28 days of culture; in such pellets the studies were performed in triplicate for 15 days, identifying four experimental conditions: 1) without IL-b1 and PEMFs; 2) with IL-b1, without PEMFs; 3) without IL-b1 and with PEMFs; 4) with IL-b1 and PEMFs. The parameters of applied PEMFs were 1.7mT and 75Hz, and the time of application was 4 hours/day. Medium was changed every 3-4 days and stored for the evaluations of PGE2 (indicative of inflammation) and proteoglycans (indicative of chondrogenic differentiation). At the end of the experiment, each pellet was fixed with paraformaldehyde 4% and embedded in paraffin; sections (5 µm thick) were obtained and stained with Toluidin Blue in order to evaluate metachromasia. The results indicate that: 1) only the pellets treated with IL-b1 without PEMFs did not show metachromasia, indicanting a chondrocyte de-differentiation towards fibroblastic phenotype; 2) only in pellets treated with IL-b1 and with PEMF application, after about 12 days of treatment the amount of PGE2 in medium decreases (31%) while the proteoglycan production slightly increases (2%).In conclusion, if the results will be confirmed, pulsed electromagnetic fields could be proposed in preventing chondrocyte de-differentiation due to inflammation induced by IL-ß1; this with the final aim to integrate regenerative medicine techniques to apply in the healing of joint cartilage lesions with bio-physic energy devices, in order to obtain a stable-in-time recovery of physiologic function of articular surfaces that suffered a severe injury.
2011
- Guida alla lettura dell'atlante di anatomia umana di Frank Netter
[Edizione critica]
Palumbo, Carla
abstract
L'idea di affiancare un commento all'ormai famoso Atlante di Anatomia Umana di Netter è stata pensata per rendere più facile la lettura delle tavole stesse, sia per lo studente che si accinge ad affrontare lo studio dell'anatomia, sia per il medico che può trovare in modo più rapido e immediato buona parte delle risposte che cerca, rimandando maggiori approfondimenti ai testi classici.
2011
- INTERACTION OF BIOPHYSIC STIMULI ON CONDROGENIC DIFFERENTIATION OF MSCs: PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Benincasa, Marta; Taronna, ANGELO PIO; Sena, Paola; Setti, S.; Cadossi, Ruggero
abstract
The aim of the present study is to investigate in vitro chondrocyte-like cells treated with electromagnetic fields to evaluate over time maintenance of chondrocyte phenotype, in presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß). Mesenchimal Stem Cells taken from bone marrow were cultured (in pellet) in medium conditioning towards the chondrogenic lineage. The targets are firstly to standardize the method to obtain chondrocyte pellets in terms of a) type/amount of withdrawal, b) time/degree of differentiation, and c) amount of extracellular matrix production; secondly, to extend over time chondrocyte differentiation, checking the phenotype maintenance, after adding pro-inflammatory cytokines in culture medium with/without the application of electromagnetic fields (device provided by IGEA-Carpi). The pellets obtained were coltured for different times (21, 28, 34 days), verifying the presence of type 2 collagen (index of chondrocyte differentiation). The best differentiation was obtained after 28 days of culture. In such pellets, after inflammatory induction and application of electromagnetic field (1.7mT, 75Hz) for 15 days, the observations showed that after about 12 days of treatment the amount of PGE2 in medium decreases (31%) while the proteoglycan production slightly increases (2%). In conclusion, electromagnetic fields could be proposed (if the results will be confirmed) in preventing chondrocyte de-differentiation due to inflammation induced by IL-1ß, to integrate regenerative medicine techniques in the healing of cartilage lesions.
2011
- Quantification and localization of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP15 and MMP19) in human colorectal carcinogenesis.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Sena, Paola; Mariani, Francesco; Marzona, Laura; Roncucci, Luca; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are capable of degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins, but they also can process a number of other bioactive molecules. They are well known to be involved in the cleavage of cell surface receptors, the release of apoptotic ligands (as FAS ligand) and chemokine/cytokine activation/de-activation. MMPs are also thought to play a pivotal role on cell processes like proliferation, migration (adhesion/dispersion), differentiation, apoptosis and host defence; thus they have been extensively studied to elucidate their involvement in both tumour development and progression. In the present study the attention was focused on two members of MMP family, i.e. MMP-15 and MMP-19, not jet well investigated as far as their role is concerned in the onset of colorectal neoplastic pathologies.The expression profile of MMP-15 and MMP-19 was assayed from samples of: a) normal mucosa, b) microadenomas and c) cancer, using confocal analysis, Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blot and qRT-PCR showed that MMP-15 expression level increases from normal mucosa to microadenomas, with a reduced level in cancer respect to microadenomas. The semiquantitative immunofluorescence analysis correlate with these data showing a localization exclusively at the stromal level of this protein, suggestive of an important role of stromal compartment, especially in the early phases of neoplastic transformation.Increasingly amount of MMP-19 mRNA and protein levels were instead recorded in the progression of colon lesions both in epithelial and stromal compartments. MMP-19 staining increases in parallel to normal mucosa ® microadenoma® carcinoma sequence; in particular this protein was showed to be expressed at the epithelial level only at the end of the sequence, indicating an intriguing epithelial involvement of MMP-19 production only in the late stages of carcinogenesis.In conclusion, MMP-15 and MMP-19 appear to be up-regulated during tumorogenesis, with different expression patterns, which in turn are probably due to the different roles played by these two molecules. The results reported up to now in literature show conflicting data regarding the specific role of these proteins in tumour progression so that the improved understanding of the biological roles of MMPs in colorectal cancer suggests a re-evaluation of the use of MMP inhibitors and highlights the importance of integrated translational studies on the MMP expression patterns.
2011
- RGB method in immunofluorescence investigations on stem cells
[Articolo su rivista]
Riccio, Massimo; E., Resca; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Sena, Paola; Ferretti, Marzia; Baldini, Andrea; Palumbo, Carla; DE POL, Anto
abstract
Colour is not related to a particular discipline, but it is transversely present in many circles and inalmost all the aspects of life. It has a special value in art, but also as far as other disciplines areconcerned, like the sciences, the colour is at the basis of some of their intrinsic significances and it oftenneeded to allow the interpretation of some of their phenomena as well. As regards the development ofcell biology knowledge, colour acquired more and more importance in revealing the observations of theresearchers. A field in which the methods based on the colours are particularly employed is theimmunofluorescence, used to identify specific proteins in cells and tissues. These techniques combinethe fluorochrome properties with specific molecules, i.e. antibodies, directed against particularsubstances to investigate, for example a specific protein. In single immunofluorescence analysis, thesignal from an excited fluorochrome corresponds to a particular protein. In multiple immunofluorescenceanalysis, two or more signals are simultaneously detected to show the localization of differentproteins on the same sample. The three primary colours red, green and blue were currently assigned tothe signals from immunofluorescence-processed samples and visualized by the RGB method. In thepresent work, different examples of RGB applications in immunocytochemical investigations areshowed: the first concerns the multiple analysis of three markers, localized in different loci of the cellplasma membrane; the second is related to the co-localization of two signals in the same site of specificsubcellular structures. In this case the secondary colours, obtained by overlapping the primary ones,demonstrate the specific co-presence of two proteins in the same site. With the present paper, theauthors wish to underline the relevant role of colours also in those areas in which colours are the meansnot the end.
2010
- Decreased osteocyte viability in multiple myeloma patients: osteolytic bone lesions, apoptosis and their potential role in bone remodeling alterations.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Benincasa, Marta; Lazzaretti, Mirca; M., Abeltino; M., Bolzoni; C., Mancini; E., Martella; P., Storti; N., Giuliani
abstract
Osteocytes seem to regulate bone remodelling by different manners including apoptosis. A reduction of osteocyte viability (OC-V) was shown in osteoporotic bone. Osteolysis/osteoporosis, induced by multiple myeloma (MM), are characterized by severely imbalanced uncoupled bone remodelling due to increased osteoclastogenesis and suppressed osteoblast differentiation occurring close to MM cell infiltration. The aim of this study is to investigate the eventual involvement of osteocytes in bone remodelling alterations occurring in MM patients. Iliac crest biopsies were taken from 34 patients with MM (52% of which displayed osteolytic bone lesions), 10 with monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS) and 10 without haematological malignancies/osteoporosis/metabolic bone diseases. Viable osteocytes and degenerated or apoptotic osteocytes/empty lacunae were evaluated on 500 lacunae per histological section. Significant reductions of OC-V in MM patients were found compared to healthy controls, whereas not statistical significance in OC-V was observed between MM and MGUS. Death osteocytes/empty lacunae number was significantly increased in MM vs. controls but not as compared to MGUS. Concerning the skeletal involvement, in MM patients either OC-V percentage was significantly lower in osteolytic vs. non-osteolytic patients or the number of dead osteocytes/empty lacunae was higher in osteolytic vs. non-osteolytic patients. Monolayers were also performed of human preosteocytes incubated with/without conditioned media (CM) taken from human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) or co-cultured with them, and TEM observations showed dead cells in those monolayers treated with HMCL-CM or co-cultured with HMCLs as compared to non treated cells. In CM of preosteocytes co-cultured with HMCLs significantly increased CD14+-derived osteoclastogenesis occurs, evaluated by TRAP staining and pit-forming assay. Our data demonstrate that MM bone is characterized by reduction of OC-V; the increase of osteocyte death (apoptosis/degeneration) in relation to the presence of bone lesions may represent a triggering event to osteoclast recruitment.
2010
- Fondamenti di Anatomia, Lineamenti di Istologia e Fisiologia
[Monografia/Trattato scientifico]
Palumbo, Carla; Rezzani, R.; DE POL, Anto; Bigiani, Albertino
abstract
Il volume è rivolto agli Studenti delle Professioni Sanitarie e contiene la trattazione omnicomprensiva dell'Anatomia umana normale, dell'Istologia (ad essa propedeutica) e della Fisiologia (ad essa conseguente). E' un testo di Anatomia e Istologia funzionale adatto allo studio di tre discipline fondamentali che offre, nell'ambito della formazione nelle Professioni Sanitarie, un quadro complessivo dei livelli organizzativi e funzionali del corpo umano, nella spiegazione dell'espletamento delle complesse e sofisticate funzioni dell'organismo.
2010
- Influence of ferutinin on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. II: Role in recovering osteoporosis.
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Zavatti, Manuela; Resca, Elisa; Carnevale, Gianluca; Benelli, Augusta; Zanoli, Paola; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The study investigates the influence of ferutinin (a phytoestrogen extracted from Ferula Hermanis root) on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. The study represent the complection of previous investigations (published in 2009, concerning the ferutinine role in preventing osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency). The present investigation concerns the role of Ferutinine in recovering osteoporosis.
2010
- New aspects of Ferutinin effect in preventing osteoporosis
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Bertoni, Laura; Zavatti, Manuela; Taronna, ANGELO PIO; Carnevale, Gianluca; Benelli, Augusta; Zanoli, Paola; Marotti, Gastone; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The results of the study suggest that ferutinin role, in preventing osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency, is expressed in inhibiting osteoclast erosion rather than in enhancing osteoblast deposition (as previously suggested); moreover, in all F-OVX groups the bone turnover is very low and seems correlated to the trivial body weight increase, which, in turn, depends on ferutinin treatment.
2010
- STATIC OSTEOGENESIS AND DYNAMIC OSTEOGENESIS: THEIR RELEVANCE IN DENTAL BONE IMPLANTS AND BIOMATERIAL OSSEOINTEGRATION
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Zaffe, Davide; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The present report summarizes the results of a series of investigations carried out in our laboratory on intramembranous ossification occurring under normal condition during skeletal organogenesis and osseointegrations of dental implants and biomaterials. No morphological differences were observed between normal and pathological conditions, since the same following sequence of events were found. Inside the embryonic mesenchyme or the connective tissue formed after bleeding, due to surgery, cords of plum cells, displaying the typical osteoblastic structure, differentiate in between the blood capillaries. These osteoblasts appear to be stationary since they do not move, but transform into osteocytes in the same site where they differentiated, thus giving origin to a trabecular woven-bone framework laid down by static osteogenesis (SO). Soon after, typical movable osteoblastic laminae differentiate along the surface of this SO-trabeculae and thicken them with lamellar bone formed by dynamic osteogenesis (DO). SO seems to depend on inductive stimuli and appears to be mechanically independent, whereas DO mainly depend on mechanical strains. Additionally SO-bone is a bad quality bone because of its woven texture and high microporosity, due to the many osteocyte lacunae it contains, whereas DO-bone generally is a lamellar bone and thus mechanically much more resistant.The clinical implication of these findings, as regards the time of load application after prostheses/biomaterials implantation, is discussed.
2009
- Effect of leptin on the development of primary ossification centers in mouse fetuses.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Zavatti, Manuela; Benelli, A.; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Leptin may be considered a significat cartilage/bone growth factor.
2009
- Influence of ferutinin on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. I: role in preventing osteoporosis
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Resca, Elisa; Casolari, Barbara; Carnevale, Gianluca; Zavatti, Manuela; C., Montanari; Benelli, Augusta; Zanoli, Paola
abstract
Phytoestrogens play a role in maintaining bone mass in the post-menopausal period for their putative function as osteoprotective agents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of Ferutinin, a phytoestrogen found in the plants of Ferula genus, on bone loss in ovariectomized rats. Such an animal model can simulate the various clinical syndromes deriving from osteoporosis. The effect of the daily oral administration of ferutinin to ovariectomized rats (dosed at 2 mg/kg per day for 30 and 60 days) was compared to that of estradiol benzoate (subcutaneously administered at the dose of 1.5 microg/rat twice a week). After the sacrifice, histomorphometrical analyses were performed on trabecular bone of L4-L5 vertebrae and distal femoral metaphysis, as well as on cortical bone of femoral diaphysis; biochemical parameters (bone mineral components and markers) were also evaluated from the rat serum. The histomorphometrical analyses of trabecular and cortical bone from lumbar vertebrae and femur showed that ferutinin has the same antiosteoporotic effect of estradiol benzoate on bone mass, and in some cases is even stronger. This fact suggests that it could prevent osteoporosis caused by severe estrogen deficiency in ovariectomized rats. The possibility of using ferutinin as an alternative to the commonly employed hormonal replacing therapy in post-menopausal women is discussed.
2009
- Leptin increases growth of primary ossification centers in fetal mice
[Articolo su rivista]
Bertoni, Laura; Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Zavatti, Manuela; Resca, Elisa; Benelli, Augusta; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The effect of peripheral leptin on fetal primary ossification centers during the early phases of bone histogenesis was investigated by administration of leptin to pregnant mice. Fourteen pregnant mice were divided into two groups. The treated pregnant group was subcutaneously injected in the intrascapular region with supraphysiologic doses (2 mg kg(-1)) of leptin (Vinci Biochem, Firenze, Italy) in a volume of 0.1 mL per 10 g body weight, at the 7th, 9th and 11th day of gestation. The control group was treated with physiological solution in the same manner and same times as the treated group. The new-born mice were killed 1 day after birth and the primary ossification centers were stained with Alizarin Red S after diaphanizing the soft tissues in 1% potassium hydroxide. The development of both endochondral and intramembranous ossification centers was morphometrically analysed in long bones. The results showed that the ossification centers of mice born by mothers treated with leptin grow more rapidly in both length and cross-sectional area compared with mice born by the untreated mothers. As the development of long bones depends on endochondral ossification occurring at proximal and distal epiphyseal plates as well as on intramembranous ossification along the periosteal surface, it appears that leptin activates the differentiation and proliferation of both chondrocytes and osteoblasts. The role of leptin as a growth factor of cartilage and bone is discussed in the light of the data reported in the literature.
2009
- Multipotent stem cells in vitro differentiation on 3-D scaffolds.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Riccio, M.; Resca, E.; Maraldi, Tullia; Bertoni, Laura; Sena, Paola; DE POL, Anto
abstract
Goal of the study is to obtain cell/scaffold complexes to use in regenerative medicine.
2009
- OSTEOGENIC DIFFERENTIATION OF DENTAL PULP STEM CELLS (DPSC) IN 3D-MATRICES TO USE IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
[Abstract in Rivista]
Resca, Elisa; Riccio, Massimo; Bertoni, Laura; Maraldi, Tullia; Palumbo, Carla; DE POL, Anto
abstract
The investigation concerns the selection of mesenchymal stem cells, derived from adult human dental pulp (DPSC), to commit towards osteogenic differentiation in order to perform new strategies for the regenerative medicine. The final aim of this study is to use DPSC in regenerative medicine approaches for recovering wide gaps of bone tissue due to post-traumatic locomotor apparatus damages.
2008
- Bisphosphonate-associated jawbone osteonecrosis: a correlation between imaging techniques and histopathology.
[Articolo su rivista]
Alberto, Bedogni; Stella, Blandamura; Zerina, Lokmic; Palumbo, Carla; Mirko, Ragazzo; Francesca, Ferrari; Alberto, Tregnaghi; Francesco, Pietrogrande; Olindo, Procopio; Giorgia, Saia; Ferretti, Marzia; Giorgio, Bedogni; Chiarini, Luigi; Giuseppe, Ferronato; Vito, Ninfo; Lucio Lo, Russo; Lorenzo Lo, Muzio; Pier Francesco, Nocini
abstract
Objectives. Recently, jawbone osteonecrosis has been reported as a potential adverse effect of bisphosphonates administration. This paper considers and highlights histopathologic and radiologic features of this condition. Study design. Eleven patients, owing to unresponsiveness to conservative treatment and uncontrollable pain, underwent surgical resection of diseased jawbone after extensive hyperbaric oxygen therapy. A thorough clinical, laboratory, and imaging study was performed. Surgical specimens underwent histopathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation. Results. Computerized tomography (CT) scans showed increased bone density, periosteal reaction, and bone sequestration in advanced stages. With magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), exposed areas showed a low signal in T1-and T2-weighted and inversion recovery images, which suggests low water content and is histopathologically correlated with paucity in cells and vessels (osteonecrotic pattern). Unexposed diseased bone was characterized by T1 hypointensity and T2 and IR hyperintensity, which suggests high water content and inflammation, associated with hypercellularity, osteogenesis, and hypervascularity (osteomyelitic pattern). Conclusions. Diseased bone extends beyond the limits of the bone exposed in the oral cavity. Histopathologic examination correlated well with CT and MRI, which are the choice for the evaluation of bisphosphonate-associated jawbone osteonecrosis.
2008
- Effect of the phytoestrogen ferutinin in preventing and recovering osteoporosis: histomorphometric analysis of bone mass in ovariectomized rats.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Resca, Elisa; Carnevale, Gianluca; Zavatti, Manuela; Benelli, A.; Zanoli, P.; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Ferutinin seems to display the same effects on bone mass obtained with estradiol in OVX rats.
2008
- Embryology and Anatomy of the Thymus Gland
[Capitolo/Saggio]
Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Anatomical situation and structure, and embryological development of thymus.
2008
- Human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSC) versus osteoblast-like cells: comparison for capability of adhesion, growth and bone matrix formation on differently-shaped surfaces of biomaterials.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Riccio, M.; Resca, E.; Bretoni, L.; Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Bruzzesi, G.; Baldini, Andrea; DE POL, Anto
abstract
Comparisons between HDPSC and osteoblast-like cells are made in regards to bone matrix production as well as distribution, density and adhesion to the biomaterial surfaces.
2008
- Influence of ferutinin on bone mass and its side effects in ovariectomized rats.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Bretoni, L.; Cavani, Francesco; Resca, E.; Benincasa, Marta; Carnevale, Gianluca; Zavatti, Manuela; Montanari, C.; Benelli, A.; Zanoli, P.; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Ferutinin seems to display the same effects on bone mass recorded with estradiol, but with respect to estrogens it seems to extert a protection against uterine carcinoma.
2008
- Sympathectomy alters bone architecture in adult growing rats
[Articolo su rivista]
F., Pagani; V., Sibilia; Cavani, Francesco; Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Palumbo, Carla; N., Lattuada; E., De Luca; A., Rubinacci; F., Guidobono
abstract
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) fibres and alpha- and beta-receptors are present in bone, indicating that the SNS may participate in bone metabolism. The importance of these observations is controversial because stimulation or inhibition of the SNS has had various effects upon both anabolic and catabolic activity in this tissue. In this study we evaluated the effects of pharmacological sympathectomy, using chronic treatment of maturing male rats with 40 mg of guanethidine/kg i.p., upon various parameters in bone. Double labelling with tetracycline injection was also performed 20 and 2 days before sacrifice. Bone mass, mineral content, density and histomorphometric characteristics in different skeletal regions were determined. Bone metabolic markers included urinary deoxypyridinoline and serum osteocalcin measurements. Guanethidine significantly reduced the accretion of lumbar vertebral bone and of mineral content and density, compared to controls. Femoral bone mineral content and density were also significantly reduced, compared to controls. Histomorphometric analyses indicated these effects were related to a reduction of cortical bone and mineral apposition rate at femoral diaphysials level. Both markers of bone metabolism were reduced in controls as they approached maturity. Guanethidine significantly decreased serum osteocalcin compared to controls, while urinary deoxypyridinoline was unchanged. These data indicate that guanethidine-induced sympathectomy caused a negative balance of bone metabolism, leading to decreased mass by regulating deposition rather than resorption during modeling and remodeling of bone.
2008
- Two peculiar conditions following a coma: A clinical case of heterotopic ossification concomitant with keloid formation
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Pierluigi, Bonucci; Sena, Paola; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Andrea, Celli; Rovesta, Claudio
abstract
The etiology and formation pattern of heterotopic ossifications (HO) are still unknown. They occur in soft tissues in which bone does not normally form, near one or more proximal joints. In this article, the authors report a peculiar case of a 31-year-old patient affected by scapulo-humeral ankylosis that occurred about 6 months after a coma, in which two unusual concomitant conditions were observed: HO formation in the scapulo-humeral region and the development of keloids during wound repair. The scapulo-humeral ankylosis was resolved surgically with the removal of the HO, which was then studied morphologically to understand its formation pattern. By light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, it was observed that heterotopic bone displays the normal microscopic structure of primary bone, in which two types of bone tissue were recognized, i.e., woven-fibered bone, deeply located and produced first, and lamellar bone. This suggests that the pattern of HO formation retraces the ontogenetic steps that normally occur during intramembranous ossification. The authors also discuss the peculiar concomitance of HO formation and keloid development, speculating that, although they are different conditions localized in dissimilar regions, they might be hypothetically triggered by a common event, such as the release of factors likely issued during the coma status.
2007
- Adult human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC): preliminary observations for selecting and conditioning DPSC according osteogenic aims.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Riccio, Massimo; Resca, Elisa; Bertoni, Laura; Baldini, Andrea; Strozzi, Antonio; G., Bruzzesi; DE POL, Anto
abstract
The previlinary observations have shown the possibility to obtain in vitro bone formation to apply in regenerative medicine.
2007
- Phytoestrogen effects on bone mass in ovariectomized rats: preliminary histomorphometric analysis.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Cavani, Francesco; Bertoni, Laura; Resca, E.; Carnevale, Gianluca; Zavatti, Manuela; Montanari, C.; Benelli, A.; Zanoli, P.; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Phytoestrogens ferutinine could prevent in rats the risk of osteoporosis in estrogen deficient conditions and it could enhance the recover of bone mass in osteoporotic OVX rats.
2007
- The mechanism of transduction of mechanical strains into biological signals at the bone cellular level
[Articolo su rivista]
MAROTTI, Gastone; PALUMBO, Carla
abstract
As appears from the literature, the majority of bone researchers consider osteoblasts and osteoclasts the only very important bony cells. In the present report we provide evidence, based on personal morphofunctional investigations, that such a view is incorrect and misleading. Indeed osteoblasts and osteoclasts undoubtedly are the only bone forming and bone reabsorbing cells, but they are transient cells, thus they cannot be the first to be involved in sensing both mechanical and non-mechanical agents which control bone modeling and remodeling processes. Briefly, according to our view, osteoblasts and osteoclasts represent the arms of a worker; the actual operation center is constituted by the cells of the osteogenic lineage in the resting state. Such a resting phase is characterized by osteocytes, bone lining cells and stromal cells, all connected in a functional syncytium by gap junctions, which extends from the bone to the vessels. We named this syncytium the Bone Basic Cellular System (BBCS), because it represents the only permanent cellular background capable first of sensing mechanical strains and biochemical factors and then of triggering and driving both processes of bone formation and bone resorption. As shown by our studies, signalling throughout BBCS can occur by volume transmission (VT) and/or wiring transmission (WT). VT corresponds to the routes followed by soluble substances (hormones, cytokines etc.), whereas WT represents the diffusion of ionic currents along cytoplasmic processes in a neuron-like manner. It is likely that non-mechanical agents first affect stromal cells and diffuse by VT to reach the other cells of BBCS, whereas mechanical agents are first sensed by osteocytes and then issued throughout
2006
- Different skeletal regional response to continuous brain infusion of leptin in the rat.
[Articolo su rivista]
F., Guidobono; F., Pagani; V., Sibila; C., Netti; N., Lattuada; D., Rapetti; E., Mrak; I., Villa; Cavani, Francesco; Bertoni, Laura; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Marotti, Gastone; A., Rubinacci
abstract
This study was designed to evaluate whether or not continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of leptin (1.5 mu g/rat/24 h, for 28 days) produced different regional response on the skeleton of growing rats. Leptin reduce the accretion of total femoral bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD). This effect was related to a reduction of metaphyseal femur as no changes were detected in the diaphysis. Despite the reduced accretion in the volumetric of both femur and tibia compared to controls, leptin had no significant effects on the lumbar vertebrae. Urine deoxypyrydincline and serum osteocalcin remained more elevated in the leptin-treated group as compared to controls. The results demonstrate that long-term central infusion of leptin activates bone remodeling with a negative balance. Leptin induces distinct responses in the different structure of bone and in the axial and appendicular skeleton. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
2006
- Does Static precede dynamic osteogenesis in endochondral ossification as occurs in intramembranous ossification?
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Endochondral ossification takes place with calcified cartilage cores providing a rigid scaffold for new bone formation. Intramembranous ossification begins in connective tissue and new bone formed by a process of static ossification (SO) followed by dynamic ossification (DO) as previously described. The aim of the present study was to determine if the process of endochondral ossification is similar to that of intramembranous ossification with both a static and a dynamic phase of osteogenesis. Endochondral ossification centers of the tibiae and humeri of newborn and young growing rabbits were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. The observations clearly showed that in endochondral ossification, the calcified trabeculae appeared to be lined first by osteoclasts. The osteoclasts were then replaced by flattened cells (likely cells of the reversal phase) and finally by irregularly arranged osteoblastic laminae, typical of DO. This cellular sequence did not include osteoblasts seen in the phase of SO. These findings clearly support our working hypothesis that SO only forms in soft tissues to provide a rigid framework for DO, and that DO requires a rigid mineralized surface. The presence of osteocytes in contact with the calcified cartilage also suggests the existence of stationary osteoblasts in endochondral ossification. Stationary osteoblasts did not appear to be a unique feature of SO. The presence of stationary osteoblasts may appear to provide the initial osteocytes during osteogenesis that may function as mechanosensors throughout the bone tissue. If this is the case, then bone would be capable of sensing mechanical strains from its inception.
2006
- Leptin effect on rat primary ossification centers during bone histogenesis.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Benincasa, Marta; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Rivasi, M.; Benelli, A.
abstract
During the early phases of endochondral ossification, Leptin positive effects are shown in growith of rat ossification centers.
2006
- Preliminary observations on transplants of vascularized bone scaffolds: an experimental and morphological study.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Bertoni, Laura; Cavani, Francesco; Carbonara, A.; DE SANTIS, Giorgio; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Bone formation occurring inside and around dead bone implanted scaffolds seems to follow the same sequence of events that are observed during normal intramembranous ossification.
2005
- Endochordral versus intramembranous ossification: analogies and differences.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Bertoni, Laura; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Stationary osteoblasts are not a typical finding of static osteogenesis; they may also exist in the earòly stage of dynamic osteogenesis.
2005
- Heterotopic human bone: mechanism of deposition and structure.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Bertoni, Laura; Rovesta, Claudio
abstract
Heterotopic human bone is a pathologic bone that needs to degenerate rather than to be preserved, and for this reason rapidly osteocyte death occurs.
2004
- Bone growth, modeling and remodeling in a supernumerary metatarsal bone associated with segmental gigantism in cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Francesca; Mf, Bertolani; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Skeletal structure and processes of bone growth, modeling and remodeling were studied in a supernumerary metatarsal surgically removed from a 3-year-old boy affected by Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita (CMTC), associated with hypertrophy of the right upper and lower limbs and postaxial hexadactylism of the homolateral hand and foot. No other anomalies were observed. The excess of periosteal growth, due to congenital anomaly, induced an abnormal development of both modeling and remodeling processes. In bone modeling, osteoblast activity on the periosteal surface was not paralleled by osteoclast resorption along the wall of the medullary canal, and this enormously increased the cortical thickness. In bone remodeling, osteoclastic resorption cavities were not refilled by secondary Haversian systems, thus inducing a severe bone loss. While the alteration of bone growth and modeling can be ascribed to the congenital disease, the unbalanced bone remodeling appears mainly to depend on mechanical disuse of the supernumerary metatarsal.
2004
- Developmental expression and subcellular localization of mouse MATER, an oocyte-specific protein essential for early development
[Articolo su rivista]
Zb, Tong; L., Gold; DE POL, Anto; K., Vanevski; H., Dorward; Sena, Paola; Palumbo, Carla; Ca, Bondy; Lm, Nelson
abstract
We reported previously that Mater is a maternal effect gene that is required for early embryonic development beyond the two-cell stage in mice. Here we show the expressional profile of Mater and its protein during oogenesis and embryogenesis as well as its subcellular localization in oocytes. Mater mRNA was detectable earliest in oocytes of type 2 follicles, whereas MATER protein appeared earliest in oocytes of type 3a primary follicles. Both mRNA and protein accumulated during oocyte growth. In situ hybridization showed that Mater mRNA appeared progressively less abundant in oocytes beyond type 5a primary follicles. By ribonuclease protection assay, Mater mRNA was abundant in germinal vesicle oocytes, but was undetectable in all stages of preimplantation embryos. In contrast, the protein persisted throughout preimplantation development. Immunogold electron microscopic analysis revealed that MATER was located in oocyte mitochondria and nucleoli, and close to nuclear pores. Taken together, our data indicate that Mater gene transcription and protein translation are active during oogenesis, but appear inactive during early embryogenesis. Thus, Mater and its protein are expressed in a manner typical of maternal effect genes. The presence of MATER protein in mitochondria and nucleoli suggests that it may participate in both cytoplasmic and nuclear events during early development.
2004
- Endotendinous ossification and static osteogenesis: analogies and differences.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palazzini, S.; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Zaffe, Davide; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
In endotendinous ossification and in the early phase (SO) of intramembranous ossification the first trabecular framework fiorms in a different manner.
2004
- In vivo leptin expression in cartilage and bone cells of growing rats and adult humans
[Articolo su rivista]
M., Morroni; R., De Matteis; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; I., Villa; A., Rubinacci; S., Cinti; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
The present investigation was carried out to analyse, immunohistochemically, in vivo leptin expression in cartilage and bone cells, the latter restricted to the elements of the osteogenic system (stromal cells, osteoblasts, osteocytes, bone lining cells). Observations were performed on the first lumbar vertebra, tibia and femur of four rats and on the humerus, femur and acromion of four patients. Histological sections of paraffin-embedded bone samples were immunostained using antibody to leptin. The results showed that, in growing rat bone, leptin is expressed in chondrocytes and stromal cells, but not in osteoblasts; bone lining cells were not found in the microscopic fields examined. In adult human bone, leptin is expressed in chondrocytes, stromal cells and bone lining cells; osteoblasts were not found in the microscopic fields examined. Osteocytes were found to be leptin positive only occasionally and focally in both rat and human bone. The in vivo findings reported show, for the first time, that leptin appears to be expressed only in the cells of the osteogenic lineage (stromal cells, bone lining cells, osteocytes) that, with respect to osteoblasts, are permanent and inactive, i.e. in those cells that according to our terminology constitute the bone basic cellular system (BBCS). Because the BBCS seems to be primarily involved in sensing and integrating mechanical strains and biochemical factors and then in triggering and driving bone formation and/or bone resorption, it appears that leptin seems to be mainly involved in modulating the initial phases of bone modelling and remodelling processes.
2004
- Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in immune-mediated demyelination and Wallerian degeneration of the rat peripheral nervous system
[Articolo su rivista]
G., Conti; A., Rostami; E., Scarpini; P., Baron; D., Galimberti; N., Bresolin; Contri, Miranda; Palumbo, Carla; DE POL, Anto
abstract
The inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), produces nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine in response to inflammatory stimuli. NO sub-serves different functions from cytotoxicity to neuroprotection and triggers either necrosis or apoptosis. This study shows by Northern blot analysis that during experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), at the beginning of clinical signs, there is a transient extensive iNOS mRNA induction in nerve roots, in which morphology is mainly characterized by severe demyelination, but not in sciatic nerve, where scattered axonal degeneration is evident. Immunocytochemistry performed on teased nerve fibers and ultrastructural analysis showed that iNOS was localized in both inflammatory and Schwann cells, and the study of cell membrane permeability detected with fluorescent dyes showed a diffuse necrotic phenotype in the whole peripheral nervous system (PNS). With EAN clinical progression toward spontaneous recovery, endoneurial iNOS was rapidly down-regulated and in nerve roots almost all cells shifted their membrane permeability to an apoptotic phenotype, while necrosis persisted in sciatic nerve, until complete clinical recovery, when both root and nerve returned to normal. During wallerian degeneration following sciatic nerve transection, iNOS was undetectable in PNS, while endoneurial cell membrane had a diffuse necrotic phenotype. These data support the hypothesis that, during cell-mediated demyelination, iNOS may influence Schwann cell-axon relationship causing axonal damage and regulating endoneurial cell life and death.
2004
- Leptin expression in the cells of the osteogenic lineage of growing rat and adult human bones.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; De Matteis, R.; Morroni, M.; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Leptin seems to be involved in modulating the initial phases of bone modeling and remodeling processes.
2004
- Osteocyte dendrogenesis in static and dynamic bone formation: An ultrastructural study
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
The present ultrastructural investigation into osteocyte dendrogenesis represents a continuation of a previous study (Ferretti et al., Anat. Embryol., 2002; 206:21-29), in which we pointed out that, during intramembranous ossification, the well-known dynamic bone formation (DBF), performed by migrating osteoblast laminae, is preceded by static bone formation (SBF), in which cords of stationary osteoblasts transform into osteocytes in the same site where they differentiated. The research was carried out on the perichondral center of ossification surrounding the mid shaft level of various long bones of chick embryos and newborn rabbits. Transmission electron microscope observations showed that the formation of osteocyte dendrites is quite different in the two types of osteogenesis, mainly depending on whether or not osteoblast movement occurs. In DBF, osteoblasts transform into small ovoidal/ellipsoidal osteocytes and their dentrites form in an asynchronous and asymmetrical manner in concomitance with, and depending on, the advancing mineralizing surface and the receding osteogenic laminae. In SBF, stationary osteoblasts give rise to big globous osteocytes, located inside confluent lacunae, with short and symmetrical dendrites that can radiate simultaneously all around their cell body because they are completely surrounded by unmineralized matrix. Contacts and gap junctions were observed between all osteocytes (both SBF- and DBF-derived) and between osteocytes and osteoblast's. Finally, a continuous osteocyte network extends throughout the bone, regardless of its static or dynamic origin. This network has the characteristic of a functional syncytium, potentially capable of modulating, by wiring transmission, the cells of the osteogenic lineage covering the bone surfaces. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
2004
- Static and dynamic osteogenesis in bone regeneration and repair.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Cavani, Francesco; Botti, P.; Cadossi, Ruggero; Cane, V.
abstract
Static osteogenesis probably depends on inductive factors, whereas dynamic osteogenesis more likely is mailly conditioned by mechanical signals.
2003
- Apoptosis during intramernbranous ossification
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; DE POL, Anto
abstract
This paper concerns the role of apoptosis during the onset of bone histogenesis. Previous investigations by us performed on intramembranous ossification revealed the existence of two types of osteogenesis: static (SBF) and dynamic bone formation (DBF). During SBF, the first to occur, stationary osteoblasts transform into osteocytes in the same location where they differentiated, forming the primary spongiosa. DBF takes place later, when movable osteoblastic laminae differentiate along the surface of the primary trabeculae. The main distinctive feature between SBF and DBF is that the latter involves the invasion of pre-existing adjacent tissue, whereas the former does not. To ascertain whether programmed cell death during the invasive DBF process determines the fate of surrounding pre-existing mesenchyme differently from that occurring during the non-invasive SBF process, we studied apoptosis in ossification centres of tibial diaphysis in chick embryos and newborn rabbits with TUNEL and TEM. It emerged that, in both SBF and DBF, apoptosis affects mesenchymal cells located between the forming trabeculae and capillaries. However, apoptotic cells were observed more frequently during DBF than during SBF. This suggests that, during bone histogenesis, apoptosis, which is mostly associated with the invasive process of DBF, is probably dedicated to making space for advancing bone growth.
2003
- Apoptosis of striate muscle fibres after tendon lesions: preliminary observations.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Rovesta, Claudio; Leigheb, M.; Ferretti, Marzia; DE POL, Anto
abstract
Tendon lesions imply the degeneration of the injuried tendon that, in its turn, induces the partial disuse of the muscle mass that undergoes atrophy by apoptosis.
2002
- Apoptosis during static and dynamic bone formation.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; DE POL, Anto; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
The study shows that apoptotic phenomena occur in cells of fibroblastic type, located between the newly-forming bony trabeculae and blood capillaries; however, the number of apoptotic cells is incomparably higher during dynamic bone formation than static bone formation.
2002
- Avian scleral bones and human auditory ossicles, two different models to study osteocyte apoptosis in relation with bone remodeling.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; DE POL, Anto
abstract
Osteocyte death could represent a programmed phenomenon (apoptosis) in those skeletal segments that should not undergo bone remodeling, because are submitted to steriotyped mechanical stresses for the whole life.
2002
- Bone as an ionic exchange system: evidence for a link between mechanotransduction and metabolic needs
[Articolo su rivista]
A., Rubinacci; M., Covini; C., Bisogni; I., Villa; M., Galli; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Muglia, Maria Antonietta; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
To detect whether the mutual interaction occurring between the osteocytes-bone lining cells system (OBLCS) and the bone extracellular fluid (BECF) is affected by load through a modification of the BECF-extracellular fluid (ECF; systemic extracellular fluid) gradient, mice metatarsal bones immersed in ECF were subjected ex vivo to a 2-min cyclic axial load of different amplitudes and frequencies. The electric (ionic) currents at the bone surface were measured by a vibrating probe after having exposed BECF to ECF through a transcortical hole. The application of different loads and different frequencies increased the ionic current in a dose-dependent manner. The postload current density subsequently decayed following an exponential pattern. Postload increment's amplitude and decay were dependent on bone viability. Dummy and static loads did not induce current density modifications. Because BECF is perturbed by loading, it is conceivable that OBLCS tends to restore BECF preload conditions by controlling ion fluxes at the bone-plasma interface to fulfill metabolic needs. Because the electric current reflects the integrated activity of OBLCS, its evaluation in transgenic mice engineered to possess genetic lesions in channels or matrix constituents could be helpful in the characterization of the mechanical and metabolic functions of bone.
2002
- Morphofunctional and clinical study on mandibular alveolar distraction osteogenesis
[Articolo su rivista]
Zaffe, Davide; Bertoldi, Carlo; Palumbo, Carla; Consolo, Ugo
abstract
Alveolar Distraction Osteogenesis (ADO) is a process which forms new alveolar bone to correct alveolar deformities in ridge height and width. This work aims (a) to verify the predictability of the augmentation of height of atrophic alveolar ridges using an extra-alveolar distraction device and (b) to study the bone processes in order to optimize implantoprosthetic rehabilitation. ADO was performed on 10 patients with ridge deformities to obtain the required ridge augmentation. Clinical and radiological (OPT and CT with densitometric assay) evaluations were carried out during the following 12 weeks, before implant insertion. Biopsies at 40, 60 and 88 days were studied after general, specific and histochemical staining of slides; microradiographs were analyzed to evaluate the Trabecular Bone Volume. Forty days after the end of distraction, soft callus indicated the start of ossification. Sixty days after the end of distraction, the soft callus was largely converted into a network of trabecular woven bone; osteogenic activity was high and TBV was about 50%. Eighty-eight days after the end of distraction, the amount of bone appeared reduced, with a more ordered structure; bone formation activity and TBV also diminished, whereas osteoclast erosion was active. The densitometric assay shows values increasing from the end of distraction, particularly after implant insertion. Histological results show a regression in bone deposition processes 88 days after the end of distraction culminating in a virtual steady-state after a certain time. The results suggest that early implant insertion may be desirable to avoid bone loss due to mechanical unloading.
IDS Number: 625CN
PMID: 12453134
2002
- Osteocyte dendrogenesis in static bone formation.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; DE POL, Anto; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
All osteocytes, independently of their SBF or DBF origin, take part in the formation on the continuous osteocytic network, connected by electric synapsis (gap junctions), potentially capable of modulating by wiring transmission the cells covering the bone surfaces.
2002
- Static and dynamic osteogenesis: two different types of bone formation
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Contri, Miranda; Marotti, Gastone; Ferretti, Marzia
abstract
The onset and development of intramembranous ossification centers in the cranial vault and around the shaft of long bones in five newborn rabbits and six chick embryos were studied by light (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Two subsequent different types of bone formation were observed. We respectively named them static and dynamic osteogenesis, because the former is characterized by pluristratified cords of unexpectedly stationary osteoblasts, which differentiate at a fairly constant distance (28+/-0.4 mum) from the blood capillaries, and the latter by the well-known typical monostratified laminae of movable osteoblasts. No significant structural and ultrastructural differences were found between stationary and movable osteoblasts, all being polarized secretory cells joined by gap junctions. However, unlike in typical movable osteoblastic laminae, stationary osteoblasts inside the cords are irregularly arranged, variously polarized and transform into osteocytes, clustered within confluent lacunae, in the same place where they differentiate. Static osteogenesis is devoted to the building of the first trabecular bony frame-work having, with respect to the subsequent bone apposition by typical movable osteoblasts, the same supporting function as calcified trabeculae in endochondral ossification. In conclusion, it appears that while static osteogenesis increases the bone external size, dynamic osteogenesis is mainly involved in bone compaction, i.e., in filling primary haversian spaces with primary osteons.
2002
- TUNEL REVEALS THE ONSET OF APOPTOSIS ON MESENCHYMAL CELLS IN STATIC AND DYNAMIC BONE FORMATION.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Benincasa, Marta; DE POL, Anto
abstract
Apoptosis is mostly associated with DBF with respect SBF during intramembranous ossification.
2002
- The osteocyte-bone lining cell system as transducer of mechanical strains into biological signals.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Rubinacci, A; Covini, M; Bisogni, C; Villa, I; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
The study shows that OBLCS tends to restore BECF preload conditions by controlling ion fluxes at the bone-plasma interface, thus playing a pivotal role in mechano-transduction and mineral homeostasis.
2001
- Apoptosis during intramembranous ossification: ultrastructural observations.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Marzona, Laura; DE POL, Anto
abstract
During intramembranous ossification cell apoptosis occurs in the periosteal fibrous tissue in parallel to bone growth and in association with blood vessels.
2001
- Osteocyte-bone lining cell system responds to cyclic loading in a dose dependent manner
[Abstract in Rivista]
Rubinacci, A.; Covini, M.; Bisogni, C.; Villa, I.; Galli, M.; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Ardizzoni, Andrea; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
The mutual interaction between osteocyte-bone lining cell system (OBLCS) and the surrounding bone extracellular fluid which feels the continuous network of lacuno-canalicular microcavities plays a role in mechanotransduction. The study shows that OBLCS responds to cyclic loading depending on the applied loading parameters in a dose- dependent manner.
2001
- Osteocyte-osteoclast morphological relationships and the putative role of osteocyte in bone remodeling
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; A., Ardizzoni; Zaffe, Davide; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
An osteocyte lacunae differential count under the light microscope (LM) (1-lacunae with live osteocytes, 2-empty lacunae and lacunae with degenerating osteocytes) was carried out outside the reversal lines of osteonic lamellar bone from various mammals and man to evaluate the possibility of osteocyte survival where osteoclast resorption had occurred. The polarized light microscope (PLM) was used to establish the curvature of bony lamellae outside the convexity of reversal lines: concave lamellae indicate osteocytes reabsorbed on their vascular side where they radiate long vascular dendrites; convex lamellae indicate bone resorption on the osteocyte mineral side, radiating short dendrites. In all samples it was found that: a) about 60% of osteocytes outside the reversal lines were live; b) the percentage of alive osteocytes close to reversal lines is higher when they are attacked on their mineral side. The present data support our view that surviving osteocytes, particularly those attacked from their mineral side, might intervene in the final phase of bone resorption (osteoclast inhibition?). The fact that under the transmission electron microscope (TEM) intercellular contacts were never observed between osteocytes and osteoclasts indicates that if a modulation should occur between these two cellular types it could take place by a paracrine route only. The putative role of the cells of the osteogenic system, particularly osteocytes, in the bone remodeling cycle is also discussed.
2001
- Osteocyte-osteoclast morphological relationships and the putative role of osteocytes in bone remodeling.
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Ardizzoni, Andrea; Zaffe, Davide; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
An osteocyte lacunae differential count under the light microscope (LM) (1-lacunae with live osteocytes, 2-empty lacunae and lacunae with degenerating osteocytes) was carried out outside the reversal lines of osteonic lamellar bone from various mammals and man to evaluate the possibility of osteocyte survival where osteoclast resorption had occurred. The polarized light microscope (PLM) was used to establish the curvature of bony lamellae outside the convexity of reversal lines: concave lamellae indicate osteocytes reabsorbed on their vascular side where they radiate long vascular dendrites; convex lamellae indicate bone resorption on the osteocyte mineral side, radiating short dendrites. In all samples it was found that: a) about 60\% of osteocytes outside the reversal lines were live; b) the percentage of alive osteocytes close to reversal lines is higher when they are attacked on their mineral side. The present data support our view that surviving osteocytes, particularly those attacked from their mineral side, might intervene in the final phase of bone resorption (osteoclast inhibition?). The fact that under the transmission electron microscope (TEM) intercellular contacts were never observed between osteocytes and osteoclasts indicates that if a modulation should occur between these two cellular types it could take place by a paracrine route only. The putative role of the cells of the osteogenic system, particularly osteocytes, in the bone remodeling cycle is also discussed.
2001
- The osteocyte as transducer of mechanical strains into biological signals
[Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Marotti, G; Palumbo, C; Ferretti, M; Ardizzoni, A; Rubinacci, A; Covini, M; Dondi Benelli, F; Villa, I; Galli, E
abstract
2000
- Do osteocytes intervene in regulating osteoclast activity?.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Zaffe, Davide; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Osteocyte could intervene in the process of bone resorption.
2000
- Histomorphometric analysis of osteoclast effect on osteocyte viability
[Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Zaffe, Davide; Ardizzoni, Andrea; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
2000
- The role of osteocyte-bone lining cell system as a transducer and modulator of strain-related bone signals
[Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Rubinacci, A; Covini, M; Dondi Benelli, F; Villa, I; Galli, M; Palumbo, C; Ferretti, M; Ardizzoni, A; Marotti, G
abstract
2000
- Transduction of mechanical strain into biological message at the bone cellular level: preliminary report
[Abstract in Atti di Convegno]
Marotti, G; Palumbo, C; Ferretti, M; Ardizzoni, A; Rubinacci, A; Covini, M; Dondi Benelli, F; Villa, I; Galli, E
abstract
1999
- Histomorphometric study on the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network in animals of different species. II. Parallel-fibered and lamellar bones.
[Articolo su rivista]
Ferretti, Marzia; Muglia, M. A.; Remaggi, F.; Cane, V.; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Osteocyte shape, size and density seem to depend mainly on collagen fiber texture rather than on the animal species.
1999
- Osteocyte-osteoclast morphological and putative functional relationships
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Zaffe, Davide; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Osteocytes could intervene in the process of bone resorption.
1999
- Static and dynamic bone formation and the mechanism of collagen fiber orientation.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Benincasa, Marta
abstract
Woven bone forms by FBS, whereas the deposition of a bone tissue with orderly arranged collagen fibers (parallel-fibered and lamellar bone) may only occur by DBF, i.e. by movable osteoblasts.
1998
- Histomorphometric study on the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network in animals of different species. I. Woven-fibered and parallel-fibered bones.
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Remaggi, Francesca; Canè, Valerio
abstract
A comparative histomorphometric study was carried out on the extension of lacuna-canalicular network in two types of bone tissue, i.e. woven-fibered and parallel-fibered, in shaft bones of various animals (frog, chicken, rabbit, dog, bovine, horse and man), with the aim to understand whether the distribution of osteocyte network is mainly related to the organization of the collagen fibres or to the animal species.
1998
- Osteocyte-bone lining cell system at the origin of steady ionic current in damaged anphibian bone.
[Articolo su rivista]
A., Rubinacci; I., Villa; F. D., Benelli; E., Borgo; Ferretti, Marzia; Palumbo, Carla; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
A wound-generated steady electric current was measured by a two-dimensional vibrating probe system in the metatarsal banes of 22 adult frogs (Xenopus laevis) placed in amphibian Ringer. Inward currents were recorded entering a micrometric hole drilled through the cortex at middiaphyseal level. These steady state currents (mean +/- SD 8.50 +/- 2.77 mu A/cm(2)) last approximately 2 hours, were dependent on the presence of sodium in the incubation medium, were no more detectable after fixation, and were reduced to background level when the cell membranes were solubilized. These results agree with previous recordings of metatarsal bones of weanling mice, under identical conditions. Both results suggest that the measured ionic currents have a cellular origin. Metatarsal bones of adult amphibian were purposely selected for this study because, unlike mammalian bones, their shafts are avascular and only contain an osteocyte-bone lining fell system, as documented by scanning and transmission electron observations. Thus, unlike the data from previous investigations on mammals, the results succeeded in giving the first convincing evidence that the osteocyte-bone lining cell system is the origin of damage-generated ionic currents. As damage exposes bone ionic compartment to plasma, damage-generated ionic currents are representative of ion fluxes at bone plasma interface, and cells at the origin of the current generate the driving force of such fluxes. By demonstrating that osteocytes and bone lining cells are at the origin of the current, this study suggests that the osteocyte-bone lining cell system, though operating as a cellular membrane partition, regulates ionic flow between bone and plasma. Since strain-related adaptive remodeling could also depend on ionic characteristics and flow of the bone fluid through the osteocyte lacuno-canalicular network, the results reported here support the view that osteocyte and bone lining cells may constitute a functional syncytium involved in mineral homeostasis as well as in bone adaptation to mechanical loading.
1998
- Stromal cell structure and relationships in perimedullary spaces of chick embryo shaft bones
[Articolo su rivista]
S., Palazzini; Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
Structure and relationships of stromal cells were studied by light (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the perimedullary spaces that form the growing cortex of the chick embryo tibia. Observation under LM showed that in all perimedullary spaces the interstices between the cells carpeting the bone surface and the endothelial Lining contain stromal cells surrounded by an amorphous matrix. Two types of stromal cells were distinguished: stellate and spindle-shaped. All stromal cells are alkaline phosphatase-positive. TEM showed that both types of stromal cells have cytoplasmic processes of Various length and calibre, coming into contact with each other as well as with endothelial. cells and osteoblasts or bone lining cells. Capillaries were found to have a continuous endothelial lining; occasionally endothelial cells radiate cytoplasmic processes towards stromal cells. Along all the above-mentioned cellular contacts adherens and/or gap junctions were often observed. The results of the present study, together with our previous findings on osteoblast-osteocyte relationships, show that the cells of the osteogenic lineage form a continuous protoplasmic network that extends from the osteocytes to the vascular endothelium, passing through osteoblasts (or bone lining cells) and stromal cells. The occurrence of gap junctions among this cytoplasmic network, namely of junctions enabling metabolic and electric coupling, indicates that it forms a functional syncytium, suggesting the hypothesis that the activity of the cells pertaining to the osteogenic Lineage might be regulated not only by diffusion (volume transmission) through the intercellular fluids of systemic (hormones) and local factors (cytokines, etc.) but also by signals issued through the cytoplasmic network of the osteogenic cells (wiring transmission).
1996
- Intermittent compressive load stimulates osteogenesis and improves osteocyte viability in bone coltured “in vitro”.
[Articolo su rivista]
E., Lozupone; Palumbo, Carla; A., Favia; Ferretti, Marzia; Palazzini, Silvana; F. P., Cantatore
abstract
The paper clearly shows the effect of intermittent compressive load in stimulating osteogenesis and improving osteocyte viability in bone coltured “in vitro”.
1995
- Collagen texture and osteocyte distribution in lamellar bone.
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Muglia, Ma; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The osteocyte lacunae are only located inside loose lamellae.
1995
- Coral granules in the repair of human mandibular defects
[Capitolo/Saggio]
Zaffe, Davide; Palumbo, Carla; E., Cantoni
abstract
Book with contributes of studies on biomaterials
1995
- Morphometric study of collagen maturation in chick compact bone
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Ferretti, Marzia; Palazzini, Silvana; Zaffe, Davide
abstract
An ultrastructural-morphometric study was carried out on the process of osteoid maturation in growing surfaces of parallel-fibered chick bone. The aim was to investigate the distribution, size and amount of collagen fibrils (CFs), as well as the proteoglycan (PG) content, throughout the osteoid seam and in the adjacent bone. The results show that the organic components secreted by osteoblasts undergo complete maturation inside the osteoid seam only. Proceeding from the secreting plasma membrane of osteoblasts (osteoidogenic surface) towards the mineralizing surface, we found that CFs gradually increase in diameter but not in number per surface unit. As a consequence, the proportion of osteoid seam occupied by CF increases too, at the expense of the interfibrillar substance. PG content also decreases inversely in this direction. In the adjacent bone, CF size and density do not change significantly with respect to the mature osteoid close to the mineralizing surface.
1995
- Quantitative evaluation on osteocyte canalicular density in human secondary osteons.
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Ferretti, Marzia; Remaggi, Francesca; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Osteocyte canalicular density (OCD) was evaluated at different levels of the wall of human secondary osteons, in subjects of different ages, to find out whether any correlation exists between the extension of the canalicular network and the exponential decrement of the appositional growth rate (AGR), which has been shown to occur during osteon formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to count the number of canalicular openings per unit surface on large Haversian canals of forming osteons as well as on small canals of completed osteons. Reflected polarized light microscopy (RPL) enabled the number per unit length of canaliculi to be counted at different concentric levels of the osteons. The results of both techniques agree in showing that, in the subjects examined, OCD does not change significantly throughout the osteon wall. Since no correlation exists between OCD and AGR, it follows that osteoblast flattening, which was shown to occur in parallel to the decrement of the rate of concentric bone deposition, does not seem to depend primarily on the number of osteoblast-osteocyte contacts, but on other factors.
1994
- Structure and function of lamellar bone.
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Muglia, Maria Antonietta; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
A comparative scanning and transmission electro microscopy study was carried out on human compact lamellar bone. The results obtained fully confirm our previous findings which show that bony lamellae are not made up of parallel-arranged collagen fibers, as classically maintasined.
1994
- The microscopic determinants of bone mechanical properties
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Muglia, Maria Antonietta; Palumbo, Carla; Zaffe, Davide
abstract
Composition and structure of the bone matrix, i.e. the bony substance surrounding osteocyte microcavities, was considered in the Light of their mechanical implications. A novel classification of bone tissues was proposed, on the basis of recent comparative studies on collagen fiber texture and osteocyte lacunae distribution, performed under polarized light, scanning and transmission electron microscopies. In particular, contrary to the classical view, lamellar bone can no longer be considered a variety of parallel-fibred bone since bony lamellae are not made up of parallely arranged collagen fibers, but of highly interlaced fibers, the lamellation being due to the alternation of acellular collagen-rich and cellular collagen-poor layers, namely of dense and loose lamellae, respectively. It is postulated that the deposition of woven- and lamellar-bone depends on the manner of recruitment of the osteocyte-differentiating osteoblasts from the osteogenic laminae and not on the spatial orientation by osteoblasts of collagen fibers. The possible role played by osteocyte as mechanical sensor in selecting the type of bone tissue laid down on bone surfaces is discussed.
1992
- A quantitative evaluation of osteoblast-osteocyte relationships on growing endosteal surface of rabbit tibiae
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, G.; Ferretti, M.; Muglia, M.; Palumbo, C.; Palazzini, S.
abstract
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to quantify the intercellular relationships between osteoblasts and osteocytes on the growing endosteal surfaces of the medullary canal of the tibia in four rabbits of different ages. The area of each osteoblast was measured on the SEM micrographs by means of an Image Analyzer. The number of osteocyte cytoplasmic processes was indirectly evaluated by counting the canalicular openings present on the same microscopic fields after the removal of the osteoblasts. The metabolic activity of the osteoblasts was indirectly evaluated from their shape, and the structure was analyzed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) in sections taken from the samples studied by SEM. In all four animals, the surface area of the osteoblasts (OA) was found to vary a great deal, whereas the density of canalicular openings was fairly uniform. Moreover, although the OA mean value increases significantly with the age of the animals, the density of canalicular openings does not; it would therefore appear that the older the animal and the more flattened the osteoblasts, the greater the number of canaliculi beneath them. Since osteoblast activity has previously been shown to be inversely proportional to the area of the protoplasm in contact with the bone surface, it appears that the less active osteoblasts should contact a greater number of osteocyte cytoplasmic processes. These findings suggest that osteocytes might play an important role in modulating osteoblast activity and in recruiting osteoblasts that differentiate into osteocytes, possibly by means of inhibitory signals transmitted via gap junctions.
1992
- Quantitative aspects on osteoblast-osteocyte relationships.
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Ferretti, Marzia; Muglia, M. A.; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Osteocytes could modulate osteoblast activity by issuing inhibitory signals.
1991
- A SEM quantitative-study of osteoblast-osteocyte relationships on endosteal surface of growing rabbits.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Ferretti, Marzia; Muglia, M. A.; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The less active osteoblasts contact a greater number of osteocyte cytoplasmic processes. This fact suggest the hypothesis that osteocytes might exert an inhibitory effect on the secretory activity of osteoblasts.
1991
- Asymmetry of dendrites and alKaline phosphatase activity in preosteocytes and osteocytes of rabbit osteonic bone.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Palumbo, Carla; Palazzini, S.; Farneti, D.
abstract
Alkaline phosphatase activity in preosteocytes seem to progress in parallel with the asymmetry of their dendrogenesis, and in young osteocytes it appears polarized towards the osteoblastic lamina.
1990
- MORPHOLOGICAL-STUDY OF INTERCELLULAR-JUNCTIONS DURING OSTEOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Palazzini, S; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
The study shows, by the morphological and ultrastructural viewpoints, the persistence of intercellular junctions during all the process of osteocyte differentiation.
1990
- Osteocyte Differentiation In The Tibia Of Newborn Rabbit - An Ultrastructural-Study Of The Formation Of Cytoplasmic Processes
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Palazzini, Silvana; Marotti, Gastone; Zaffe, Davide
abstract
The morphological changes undergone by the osteoblast at the ultrastructural level, during its differentiation into osteocyte, were studied in the primary parallel-fibred bone of the newborn rabbit by means of incomplete three-dimensional reconstruction from partially serial-sectioned preosteocytes. The findings obtained suggest that the formation of osteocyte cytoplasmic processes is an asynchronous and asymmetrical phenomenon that seems to precede the mineralization of the organic matrix and to give rise to an asymmetrical mature osteocyte. The functions of cytoplasmic processes as regards bone formation, cell nutrition and osteoblast modulation are discussed. The mechanism by which the osteoblast 'enters' the bone matrix is hypothesized.
1990
- Structure-function relationships in the osteocyte.
[Articolo su rivista]
Marotti, Gastone; Cane, V.; Palazzini, S.; Palumbo, Carla
abstract
The osteocytes might perform different functions according to their age.
1987
- Early stages of osteocyte differentiation: a three-dimensional ultrastructural study.
[Abstract in Rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Zaffe, Davide; Palazzini, S.; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
The osteocyte processes emrging fron the mineral-facing side are mainly involved in matrix formation and mineralization, while those of the vascular-facing side have a trophical function and probably also modulate the activity of the adjacent osteoblasts.
1987
- Indagine morfofunzionale sul processo di differenziamento dell'osteoblasta in osteocita
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla; Zaffe, Davide; Palazzini, Silvana; Marotti, Gastone
abstract
No riassunto
1986
- A Three-dimensional ultrastructural study of osteoid-osteocytes in the tibia of chick embryos.
[Articolo su rivista]
Palumbo, Carla
abstract
Osteoid-osteocyte are active cells engaged in organic matrix secretion and calcification. Like osteoblasts, their activity seems to be polarized towards the mineralization front, as shown by the presence of cytoplasmic processes on their mineral-facing side and by the position of the nucleus toward the vascular side of the cytoplasm. Cellular processes directed towards blood vessels appear only at a later stage, i.e. when the mineralization start to spread all around the cell.The asynchrony in formation together with the observed differences in morphology suggest the hypothesis that the cellular processes of the mineral-facing side are mainly involved in bone formation and those of the vascular side in cell nutrition.