24 results on '"Cristini, S"'
Search Results
2. Human microvascular endothelial cells from different fetal organs demonstrate organ-specific CAM expression
- Author
-
Invernici, G., Ponti, D., Corsini, E., Cristini, S., Frigerio, S., Colombo, A., Parati, E., and Alessandri, G.
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Immunohistochemical investigation of growth factors in cholesteatoma
- Author
-
Antonelli, Ar, Molinari Tosatti MP, Cristini, S, REDAELLI DE ZINIS, Luca Oscar, and Zanetti, D.
- Published
- 1996
4. Fluxes of soluble and insoluble metals and nutrients from the atmosphere to the Central Mediterranean Sea
- Author
-
Guerzoni, S., Landuzzi, W., Lenaz, R., Quarantotto, G., Rampazzo, Giancarlo, Molinaroli, Emanuela, Turetta, C., Visin, Flavia, Cesari, G., and Cristini, S.
- Published
- 1993
5. Role of desert aerosol in metal fluxes in the Mediterranean area
- Author
-
Guerzoni, S., primary, Molinaroli, E., additional, Rossini, P., additional, Rampazzo, G., additional, Quarantotto, G., additional, de Falco, G., additional, and Cristini, S., additional
- Published
- 1999
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Up-regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in squamous cell carcinoma of human larynx
- Author
-
Parolini, S, primary, Flagiello, D, additional, Cinquetti, A, additional, Gozzi, R, additional, Cristini, S, additional, Cappiello, J, additional, Nicolai, P, additional, Rusnati, M, additional, Presta, M, additional, and Tosatti, MM, additional
- Published
- 1996
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Impiego dell'associazione 'Isoflurano-buprenorfina' in anestesia clinica
- Author
-
Fierro, Giovanni, Cristini, S, and Favaro, Roberto
- Published
- 1986
8. Trattamento della retinopatia diabetica con vitamina E
- Author
-
Pescosolido, Nicola, BOZZONI PANTALEONI, F., Bastioli, G., and Cristini, S.
- Published
- 1983
9. An innovative treatment for cardiac failure: Autologous stem cell transplantation
- Author
-
Invernici, G., Cristini, S., Navone, S., Canzi, L., and Eugenio Agostino Parati
10. Human Fetal Aorta Contains Vascular Progenitor Cells Capable of Inducing Vasculogenesis, Angiogenesis, and Myogenesis in Vitro and in a Murine Model of Peripheral Ischemia
- Author
-
Cesare Peschle, Gloria Invernici, Tommaso Rizzuti, Giulio Alessandri, Umberto Fascio, Eugenio Parati, Mauro Siragusa, Costanza Emanueli, Silvia Cristini, Paolo Madeddu, Anna Benetti, Roberto F. Nicosia, Sergio Domenico Gadau, Emilio Ciusani, Giorgio Stassi, Augusto Colombo, INVERNICI G, EMANUELI C, MADEDDU P, CRISTINI S, GADAU S, BENETTI A, CIUSANI E, STASSI G, SIRAGUSA M, NICOSIA R, PESCHLE C, FASCIO U, COLOMBO A, RIZZUTI T, PARATI E, and ALESSANDRI G
- Subjects
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ,Angiogenesis ,Becaplermin ,Neovascularization, Physiologic ,Antigens, CD34 ,Biology ,Muscle Development ,Mural cell ,Pathology and Forensic Medicine ,Angiopoietin-2 ,Mice ,Fetus ,Vasculogenesis ,Antigens, CD ,Ischemia ,Animals ,Humans ,Cell Lineage ,AC133 Antigen ,Progenitor cell ,Aorta ,Cells, Cultured ,Glycoproteins ,Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ,Stem Cells ,Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ,Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ,Cell biology ,Endothelial stem cell ,Vascular endothelial growth factor B ,Vascular endothelial growth factor A ,Vascular endothelial growth factor C ,Immunology ,Blood Vessels ,Peptides ,Biomarkers ,Regular Articles - Abstract
Vasculogenesis, the formation of blood vessels in embryonic or fetal tissue mediated by immature vascular cells (ie, angioblasts), is poorly understood. We report the identification of a population of vascular progenitor cells (hVPCs) in the human fetal aorta composed of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells that coexpress endothelial and myogenic markers. Under culture conditions that promoted cell differentiation, hVPCs gave rise to a mixed population of mature endothelial and mural cells when progenitor cells were stimulated with vascular endothelial growth factor-A or platelet-derived growth factor-betabeta. hVPCs grew as nonadherent cells and, when embedded in a three-dimensional collagen gel, reorganized into cohesive cellular cords that resembled mature vascular structures. hVPC-conditioned medium contained angiogenic substances (vascular endothelial growth factor-A and angiopoietin-2) and strongly stimulated the proliferation of endothelial cells. We also demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of a small number of hVPCs transplanted into ischemic limb muscle of immunodeficient mice. hVPCs markedly improved neovascularization and inhibited the loss of endogenous endothelial cells and myocytes, thus ameliorating the clinical outcome from ischemia. We conclude that fetal aorta represents an important source for the investigation of the phenotypic and functional features of human vascular progenitor cells.
- Published
- 2007
11. Human and mouse brain-derived endothelial cells require high levels of growth factors medium for their isolation, in vitro maintenance and survival
- Author
-
Eugenio Parati, Giulio Alessandri, Silvia Cristini, Stefania Elena Navone, S. Sangiorgi, Gloria Invernici, Emilio Ciusani, Sara Nava, Sergio Balbi, Alessandra Bosutti, Mark Slevin, Giovanni Marfia, Navone, Se, Marfia, G, Nava, S, Invernici, G, Cristini, S, Balbi, S, Sangiorgi, S, Ciusani, E, Bosutti, Alessandra, Alessandri, G, Slevin, M, and Parati, E. A.
- Subjects
CD31 ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Proliferation index ,Computer Networks and Communications ,Brain microvascular endothelial cell ,Blood–brain barrier ,Brain microvascular endothelial cells ,Developmental Neuroscience ,In vivo ,Endothelial permeability ,medicine ,ITGAV ,Endothelial junction ,business.industry ,Research ,Endothelial junctions ,Blood brain barrier ,Cell Biology ,Endoglin ,In vitro ,Cell biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Neurology ,CD146 ,business - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) constitute the primary limitation for passage of ions and molecules from the blood into the brain through the blood brain barrier. Numerous multi-step procedures for isolating and culturing BMVECs have been described. However, each one demonstrates major limitations in purity of culture and/or low proliferation rate. Our goal was to study the efficiency of our pending patent medium, Endothelial Proliferation Medium (EndoPM), on the isolation and purification of human and murine BMVECs. METHODS: BMVECs, cultured in EndoPM were compared to those cultured in a commercial medium EBM. Cultures were characterized by flow cytometric analysis, lineage differentiation, the ability to form tube-like structure, immunofluorescence, molecular analyses and also in an in vivo model assay. Moreover permeability was assayed by monitoring the passage of Dextran-FITC through a tight monolayer of BMVECs grown to confluence in Boyden chambers. One way Anova two-tailed test was utilized for all statistical analyses. RESULTS: The properties of ECs in human and murine BMVECs is confirmed by the expression of endothelial markers (CD31, CD105, CD146, Tie-2 and vWF), of representative proangiogenic genes (ICAM1, VCAM1 and integrin ITGAV), of considerable tube-forming ability, with low-density lipoprotein uptake, eNOS and GLUT-1 expression. Furthermore cells are able to express markers of the junctional architecture as VE-cadherin, β-catenin and Claudin-5 and greatly reduce dextran permeability as barrier functional test. Moreover BMVECs spontaneously organize in vascular-like structures and maintain the expression of endothelial markers in an in vivo xenograft model assay. The significant effect of EndoPM is confirmed by the study of proliferation index, survival index and the behaviour of BMVECs and fibroblasts in co-culture conditions. CONCLUSION: Herein we describe a simple and reproducible method for the isolation and expansion of human and mouse BMVECs, based on a newly formulated medium (EndoPM) with optimized concentration of growth factors (EGF, FGF-2 and Bovine Brain Extract-BBE). This procedure should facilitate the isolation and expansion of human and mouse BMVECs with extended lifetime, good viability and purity. This approach may provide an effective strategy to aid phenotypical and functional studies of brain vessels under physiological and pathological conditions.
- Published
- 2013
12. Decellularized silk fibroin scaffold primed with adipose mesenchymal stromal cells improves wound healing in diabetic mice.
- Author
-
Navone SE, Pascucci L, Dossena M, Ferri A, Invernici G, Acerbi F, Cristini S, Bedini G, Tosetti V, Ceserani V, Bonomi A, Pessina A, Freddi G, Alessandrino A, Ceccarelli P, Campanella R, Marfia G, Alessandri G, and Parati EA
- Subjects
- Adipose Tissue cytology, Animals, Cell Adhesion, Cell Movement, Cell Proliferation, Cells, Cultured, Fibroblasts physiology, Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells physiology, Humans, Keratinocytes physiology, Mesenchymal Stem Cells drug effects, Mesenchymal Stem Cells physiology, Mice, Mice, Obese, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Leptin genetics, Fibroins pharmacology, Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation methods, Mesenchymal Stem Cells cytology, Re-Epithelialization, Tissue Scaffolds chemistry
- Abstract
Introduction: Silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds have been shown to be a suitable substrate for tissue engineering and to improve tissue regeneration when cellularized with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We here demonstrate, for the first time, that electrospun nanofibrous SF patches cellularized with human adipose-derived MSCs (Ad-MSCs-SF), or decellularized (D-Ad-MSCs-SF), are effective in the treatment of skin wounds, improving skin regeneration in db/db diabetic mice., Methods: The conformational and structural analyses of SF and D-Ad-MSCs-SF patches were performed by scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Wounds were performed by a 5 mm punch biopsy tool on the mouse's back. Ad-MSCs-SF and D-Ad-MSCs-SF patches were transplanted and the efficacy of treatments was assessed by measuring the wound closure area, by histological examination and by gene expression profile. We further investigated the in vitro angiogenic properties of Ad-MSCs-SF and D-Ad-MSCs-SF patches by affecting migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), keratinocytes (KCs) and dermal fibroblasts (DFs), through the aortic ring assay and, finally, by evaluating the release of angiogenic factors., Results: We found that Ad-MSCs adhere and grow on SF, maintaining their phenotypic mesenchymal profile and differentiation capacity. Conformational and structural analyses on SF and D-Ad-MSCs-SF samples, showed that sterilization, decellularization, freezing and storing did not affect the SF structure. When grafted in wounds of diabetic mice, both Ad-MSCs-SF and D-Ad-MSCs-SF significantly improved tissue regeneration, reducing the wound area respectively by 40% and 35%, within three days, completing the process in around 10 days compared to 15-17 days of controls. RT2 gene profile analysis of the wounds treated with Ad-MSCs-SF and D-Ad-MSCs-SF showed an increment of genes involved in angiogenesis and matrix remodeling. Finally, Ad-MSCs-SF and D-Ad-MSCs-SF co-cultured with HUVECs, DFs and KCs, preferentially enhanced the HUVECs' migration and the release of angiogenic factors stimulating microvessel outgrowth in the aortic ring assay., Conclusions: Our results highlight for the first time that D-Ad-MSCs-SF patches are almost as effective as Ad-MSCs-SF patches in the treatment of diabetic wounds, acting through a complex mechanism that involves stimulation of angiogenesis. Our data suggest a potential use of D-Ad-MSCs-SF patches in chronic diabetic ulcers in humans.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. Isolation and expansion of human and mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells.
- Author
-
Navone SE, Marfia G, Invernici G, Cristini S, Nava S, Balbi S, Sangiorgi S, Ciusani E, Bosutti A, Alessandri G, Slevin M, and Parati EA
- Subjects
- Animals, Cell Survival, Coculture Techniques, Flow Cytometry, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Humans, Mice, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Cell Culture Techniques, Endothelial Cells cytology, Microvessels cytology
- Abstract
Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) have an important role in the constitution of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is involved in the disease processes of a number of neurological disorders in which its permeability increases. Isolation of BMVECs could elucidate the mechanism involved in these processes. This protocol describes how to isolate and expand human and mouse BMVECs. The procedure covers brain-tissue dissociation, digestion and cell selection. Cells are selected on the basis of time-responsive differential adhesiveness to a collagen type I-precoated surface. The protocol also describes immunophenotypic characterization, cord formation and functional assays to confirm that these cells in endothelial proliferation medium (EndoPM) have an endothelial origin. The entire technique requires ∼7 h of active time. Endothelial cell clusters are readily visible after 48 h, and expansion of BMVECs occurs over the course of ∼60 d.
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. Human and mouse brain-derived endothelial cells require high levels of growth factors medium for their isolation, in vitro maintenance and survival.
- Author
-
Navone SE, Marfia G, Nava S, Invernici G, Cristini S, Balbi S, Sangiorgi S, Ciusani E, Bosutti A, Alessandri G, Slevin M, and Parati EA
- Abstract
Background: Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) constitute the primary limitation for passage of ions and molecules from the blood into the brain through the blood brain barrier. Numerous multi-step procedures for isolating and culturing BMVECs have been described. However, each one demonstrates major limitations in purity of culture and/or low proliferation rate. Our goal was to study the efficiency of our pending patent medium, Endothelial Proliferation Medium (EndoPM), on the isolation and purification of human and murine BMVECs., Methods: BMVECs, cultured in EndoPM were compared to those cultured in a commercial medium EBM. Cultures were characterized by flow cytometric analysis, lineage differentiation, the ability to form tube-like structure, immunofluorescence, molecular analyses and also in an in vivo model assay. Moreover permeability was assayed by monitoring the passage of Dextran-FITC through a tight monolayer of BMVECs grown to confluence in Boyden chambers. One way Anova two-tailed test was utilized for all statistical analyses., Results: The properties of ECs in human and murine BMVECs is confirmed by the expression of endothelial markers (CD31, CD105, CD146, Tie-2 and vWF), of representative proangiogenic genes (ICAM1, VCAM1 and integrin ITGAV), of considerable tube-forming ability, with low-density lipoprotein uptake, eNOS and GLUT-1 expression. Furthermore cells are able to express markers of the junctional architecture as VE-cadherin, β-catenin and Claudin-5 and greatly reduce dextran permeability as barrier functional test. Moreover BMVECs spontaneously organize in vascular-like structures and maintain the expression of endothelial markers in an in vivo xenograft model assay. The significant effect of EndoPM is confirmed by the study of proliferation index, survival index and the behaviour of BMVECs and fibroblasts in co-culture conditions., Conclusion: Herein we describe a simple and reproducible method for the isolation and expansion of human and mouse BMVECs, based on a newly formulated medium (EndoPM) with optimized concentration of growth factors (EGF, FGF-2 and Bovine Brain Extract-BBE). This procedure should facilitate the isolation and expansion of human and mouse BMVECs with extended lifetime, good viability and purity. This approach may provide an effective strategy to aid phenotypical and functional studies of brain vessels under physiological and pathological conditions.
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
15. Transforming growth factor-beta1 induces microvascular abnormalities through a down-modulation of neural cell adhesion molecule in human hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Author
-
Balzarini P, Benetti A, Invernici G, Cristini S, Zicari S, Caruso A, Gatta LB, Berenzi A, Imberti L, Zanotti C, Portolani N, Giulini SM, Ferrari M, Ciusani E, Navone SE, Canazza A, Parati EA, and Alessandri G
- Subjects
- Biomarkers metabolism, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular blood supply, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular pathology, Cell Line, Tumor, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Flow Cytometry, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Liver Neoplasms blood supply, Liver Neoplasms pathology, Neovascularization, Pathologic, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular metabolism, Down-Regulation, Liver Neoplasms metabolism, Microvessels abnormalities, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules physiology, Transforming Growth Factor beta1 physiology
- Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very angiogenic and malignant cancer. Conventional chemotherapy is poorly effective because of the abnormal structural organization of HCC-infiltrating vessels. In previous work, we demonstrated that HCC angiogenesis is driven by transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-β1)/CD105 axis, stimulating liver-derived microvascular endothelial cells (Ld-MECs) migration. As TGF-β1 also affects mural cells (MCs) recruitment and maturation, we asked whether it may contribute to HCC-induced vascular abnormalities. HCC and adjacent non-neoplastic liver (nNL) biopsies obtained from 12 patients were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for angiogenic markers CD105, TGF-β1, CD44 and vascular endothelial growth factor-a (VEGFa) and for MC markers NG2, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). The same markers were also investigated by immunocytochemistry on cultured HCC-derived stromal cells (HCC-StCs) and nNL-derived StCs (nNL-StCs) isolated from the same liver biopsies. Angiogenic factors released by StCs were analyzed by ELISA and the interaction between StCs and Ld-MECs by adhesion assay. Compared with nNL, HCC biopsies showed increased angiogenic markers and αSMA that was localized in vessels. By contrast, NG2 and NCAM were substantially localized in tumor cells but absent in vessels and stroma. Cultured HCC-StCs showed less expression of NG2, αSMA and NCAM. They also demonstrated a lower capacity to release angiogenic factors and adhered on Ld-MECs. HCC-StCs and nNL-StCs treated with TGF-β1 or with of HepG2 (a human hepatoma cell line) derived conditioned medium (CM), down-modulated NCAM expression, whereas anti-NCAM antibodies significantly reduced the adhesion of StCs to Ld-MECs. By further blocking TGF-β1 with anti-TGF-β1 antibodies or with Ly-364947 (a specific inhibitor TGF-β1-receptor) adhesion to Ld-MECs and NCAM expression respectively was partially restored. TGF-β1 contributes to HCC-induced vascular alterations by affecting the interaction between HCC-StCs and Ld-MECs through a down-modulation of NCAM expression.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
16. Three-dimensional self-organizing neural architectures: a neural stem cells reservoir and a system for neurodevelopmental studies.
- Author
-
Cristini S, Alessandri G, Acerbi F, Ciusani E, Colombo A, Fascio U, Nicosia RF, Invernizzi RW, Gelati M, Parati EA, and Invernici G
- Subjects
- AC133 Antigen, Antigens, CD metabolism, Axons drug effects, Axons metabolism, Axons ultrastructure, Brain cytology, Brain embryology, CD146 Antigen metabolism, Calcium metabolism, Cell Differentiation drug effects, Cell Proliferation drug effects, Cell Separation, Cells, Cultured, Extracellular Matrix drug effects, Extracellular Matrix metabolism, Fetus cytology, Glutamates pharmacology, Glycoproteins metabolism, Humans, Immunomagnetic Separation, Neural Stem Cells drug effects, Neural Stem Cells metabolism, Neurons drug effects, Neurons ultrastructure, Peptides metabolism, Nervous System cytology, Nervous System growth & development, Neural Stem Cells cytology, Neurons cytology
- Abstract
Complex microenvironmental stimuli influence neural cell properties. To study this, we developed a three-dimensional (3-D) neural culture system, composed of different populations including neurons, astrocytes, and neural stem cells (NSCs). In particular, these last-mentioned cells represent a source potentially exploitable to test drugs, to study neurodevelopment and cell-therapies for neuroregenerations. On seeding on matrigel in a medium supplemented with serum and mitogens, cells obtained from human fetal brain tissue formed 3-D self-organizing neural architectures. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of undifferentiated nestin+ and CD133+ cells, surrounded by β-tub-III+ and GFAP+ cells, suggesting the formation of niches containing potential human NSCs (hNSCs). The presence of hNSCs was confirmed by both neurosphere assay and RT-PCR, and their multipotentiality was demonstrated by both immunofluorescent staining and RT-PCR. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that neurosphere forming cells originating from at least two different subsets expressing, respectively, CD133 and CD146 markers were endowed with different proliferative and differentiation potential. Our data implicate that the complexity of environment within niches and aggregates of heterogeneous neural cell subsets may represent an innovative platform for neurobiological and neurodevelopmental investigations and a reservoir for a rapid expansion of hNSCs.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
17. Dermal fibroblasts display similar phenotypic and differentiation capacity to fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells, but differ in anti-inflammatory and angiogenic potential.
- Author
-
Blasi A, Martino C, Balducci L, Saldarelli M, Soleti A, Navone SE, Canzi L, Cristini S, Invernici G, Parati EA, and Alessandri G
- Abstract
Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells able to differentiate into different cell lineages. However, MSCs represent a subpopulation of a more complex cell composition of stroma cells contained in mesenchymal tissue. Due to a lack of specific markers, it is difficult to distinguish MSCs from other more mature stromal cells such as fibroblasts, which, conversely, are abundant in mesenchymal tissue. In order to find more distinguishing features between MSCs and fibroblasts, we studied the phenotypic and functional features of human adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) side by side with normal human dermal fibroblasts (HNDFs) in vitro, Methods: AD-MSCs and HNDFs were cultured, expanded and phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry (FC). Immunofluorescence was used to investigate cell differentiation. ELISA assay was used to quantify angiogenic factors and chemokines release. Cultures of endothelial cells (ECs) and a monocyte cell line, U937, were used to test angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties., Results: Cultured AD-MSCs and HNDFs display similar morphological appearance, growth rate, and phenotypic profile. They both expressed typical mesenchymal markers-CD90, CD29, CD44, CD105 and to a minor extent, the adhesion molecules CD54, CD56, CD106 and CD166. They were negative for the stem cell markers CD34, CD146, CD133, CD117. Only aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) was expressed. Neither AD-MSCs nor HNDFs differed in their multi-lineage differentiation capacity; they both differentiated into osteoblast, adipocyte, and also into cardiomyocyte-like cells. In contrast, AD-MSCs, but not HNDFs, displayed strong angiogenic and anti-inflammatory activity. AD-MSCs released significant amounts of VEGF, HGF and Angiopoietins and their conditioned medium (CM) stimulated ECs proliferation and tube formations. In addition, CM-derived AD-MSCs (AD-MSCs-CM) inhibited adhesion molecules expression on U937 and release of RANTES and MCP-1. Finally, after priming with TNFα, AD-MSCs enhanced their anti-inflammatory potential; while HNDFs acquired pro-inflammatory activity., Conclusions: AD-MSCs cannot be distinguished from HNDFs in vitro by evaluating their phenotypic profile or differentiation potential, but only through the analysis of their anti-inflammatory and angiogenic properties. These results underline the importance of evaluating the angiogenic and anti-inflammatory features of MSCs preparation. Their priming with inflammatory cytokines prior to transplantation may improve their efficacy in cell-based therapies for tissue regeneration.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
18. Nanotechnology advances in brain tumors: the state of the art.
- Author
-
Invernici G, Cristini S, Alessandri G, Navone SE, Canzi L, Tavian D, Redaelli C, Acerbi F, and Parati EA
- Subjects
- Animals, Brain Neoplasms diagnosis, Carcinoma diagnosis, Diagnostic Imaging methods, Diagnostic Imaging trends, Drug Carriers chemical synthesis, Drug Carriers chemistry, Drug Delivery Systems methods, Drug Delivery Systems trends, Genetic Therapy methods, Humans, Molecular Targeted Therapy methods, Molecular Targeted Therapy trends, Nanoparticles therapeutic use, Nanotechnology methods, Brain Neoplasms therapy, Carcinoma therapy, Nanotechnology trends
- Abstract
Primary malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors only represent about 2% of all cancers. However, they are very often associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite current standard-of-care therapy, such as surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy, neither cure nor any toxic therapy against malignant CNS tumors has been developed so far. Nanotechnology may alter this situation. It offers a new promise for cancer diagnosis and treatment. This emerging technology, by developing and manufacturing materials using atomic and molecular elements, can provide a platform for the combination of diagnostics, therapeutics and delivery to the tumor, with subsequent monitoring of the response. This review focuses on recent developments in cancer nanotechnology with particular attention to nanoparticle systems, important tools for the improvement of drug delivery in brain tumor. The latest advances in both the research sector and in recent patents for cancer imaging and therapy are discussed.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
19. Omentum-derived stromal cells improve myocardial regeneration in pig post-infarcted heart through a potent paracrine mechanism.
- Author
-
De Siena R, Balducci L, Blasi A, Montanaro MG, Saldarelli M, Saponaro V, Martino C, Logrieco G, Soleti A, Fiobellot S, Madeddu P, Rossi G, Ribatti D, Crovace A, Cristini S, Invernici G, Parati EA, and Alessandri G
- Subjects
- Animals, Apoptosis, Cell Differentiation, Cell Proliferation, Cells, Cultured, Endothelial Cells pathology, Endothelial Cells physiology, Female, Heart physiology, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Mice, Myocardial Infarction pathology, Myocardial Infarction physiopathology, Myocytes, Cardiac pathology, Myocytes, Cardiac physiology, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Paracrine Communication, Stromal Cells cytology, Swine, Myocardial Infarction therapy, Omentum cytology, Regeneration physiology, Stromal Cells physiology, Stromal Cells transplantation
- Abstract
Cell-based therapy could be a valid option to treat myocardial infarct (MI). Adipose-derived stromal cells (ADStCs) have demonstrated tissue regenerative potential including cardiomyogenesis. Omentum is an extremely rich source of visceral fat and its accumulation seems to correlate with cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the capacity of human fat Omentum-derived StCs (FOStCs) to affect heart function upon acute infarct in pigs induced by permanent ligation of the anterior interventricular artery (IVA). We demonstrated for the first time that the local injection of 50x10(6) of FOStCs ameliorates the functional parameters of post-infarct heart. Most importantly, histology of FOStCs treated hearts demonstrated a substantial improvement of cardiomyogenesis. In culture, FOStCs produced an impressive number and amount of angiogenic factors and cytokines. Moreover, the conditioned medium of FOStCs (FOStCs-CM) stimulates in vitro cardiac endothelial cells (ECs) proliferation and vascular morphogenesis and inhibits monocytes, EC activation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Since FOStCs in vivo did not trans-differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells, we conclude that FOStCs efficacy was presumably mediated by a potent paracrine mechanism involving molecules that concomitantly improved angiogenesis, reduced inflammation and prevented cardiomyocytes death. Our results highlight for the first time the important role that human FOStCs may have in cardiac regeneration.
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. Human neural stem cells: a model system for the study of Lesch-Nyhan disease neurological aspects.
- Author
-
Cristini S, Navone S, Canzi L, Acerbi F, Ciusani E, Hladnik U, de Gemmis P, Alessandri G, Colombo A, Parati E, and Invernici G
- Subjects
- Biomarkers metabolism, Cell Differentiation genetics, Dopamine metabolism, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome genetics, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome pathology, Models, Biological, Neurons metabolism, Stem Cells metabolism
- Abstract
The study of Lesch-Nyhan-diseased (LND) human brain is crucial for understanding how mutant hypoxanthine-phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) might lead to neuronal dysfunction. Since LND is a rare, inherited disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme HPRT, human neural stem cells (hNSCs) that carry this mutation are a precious source for delineating the consequences of HPRT deficiency and for developing new treatments. In our study we have examined the effect of HPRT deficiency on the differentiation of neurons in hNSCs isolated from human LND fetal brain. We have examined the expression of a number of transcription factors essential for neuronal differentiation and marker genes involved in dopamine (DA) biosynthetic pathway. LND hNSCs demonstrate aberrant expression of several transcription factors and DA markers. HPRT-deficient dopaminergic neurons also demonstrate a striking deficit in neurite outgrowth. These results represent direct experimental evidence for aberrant neurogenesis in LND hNSCs and suggest developmental roles for other housekeeping genes in neurodevelopmental disease. Moreover, exposure of the LND hNSCs to retinoic acid medium elicited the generation of dopaminergic neurons. The lack of precise understanding of the neurological dysfunction in LND has precluded development of useful therapies. These results evidence aberrant neurogenesis in LND hNSCs and suggest a role for HPRT gene in neurodevelopment. These cells combine the peculiarity of a neurodevelopmental model and a human, neural origin to provide an important tool to investigate the pathophysiology of HPRT deficiency and more broadly demonstrate the utility of human neural stem cells for studying the disease and identifying potential therapeutics.
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Stem cell patents: an innovative approach to anti-cancer drug discovery.
- Author
-
Navone S, Cristini S, Canzi L, Parati EA, and Invernici G
- Subjects
- Animals, Humans, Neoplasms drug therapy, Neoplastic Stem Cells metabolism, Stem Cell Transplantation methods, Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use, Drug Discovery ethics, Drug Discovery legislation & jurisprudence, Neoplasms therapy, Patents as Topic, Stem Cell Transplantation legislation & jurisprudence, Stem Cells physiology
- Abstract
Over the last decade, improvements in cancer therapies have prolonged the lives of cancer patients. Despite dramatic advances in imaging technology, surgical techniques, and adjuvant radio- and chemotherapy, the overall prognosis of this disease remains dismal. In light of this, there is an urgent need for the development of more effective therapies that can target residual disseminated tumor burden. Given the heterogeneity of tumors in general, no one strategy is likely to provide a satisfactory treatment regimen. Until the middle of the 20th century, medical treatments were limited to options like drugs, surgery, antibiotics, and radiation, but in the last years stem cells, due to their pathotropism, have become particularly attractive candidates not only to replace damaged tissue in degenerative pathologies, but also to deliver therapeutic molecules in patients with disseminated metastatic cancer. Worldwide there have been over 2000 patent applications involving human and non-human stem cells, of which one quarter refer to embryonic stem cells. Over one third of all stem cell applications and one quarter of all embryonic stem cell applications have been granted. The aim of this review is primarily to focus on the recent development of stem cell patents in cancer treatments.
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
22. Human adult skeletal muscle stem cells differentiate into cardiomyocyte phenotype in vitro.
- Author
-
Invernici G, Cristini S, Madeddu P, Brock S, Spillmann F, Bernasconi P, Cappelletti C, Calatozzolo C, Fascio U, Bisleri G, Muneretto C, Alessandri G, and Parati EA
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Animals, Becaplermin, Humans, Mice, Mice, Inbred Strains, Middle Aged, Muscle, Skeletal metabolism, Myocardial Ischemia metabolism, Myocytes, Cardiac metabolism, Phenotype, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor pharmacology, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis, Stem Cells metabolism, Tretinoin pharmacology, Cell Differentiation, Muscle, Skeletal cytology, Myocytes, Cardiac cytology, Stem Cells cytology
- Abstract
Cell transplantation to repair or regenerate injured myocardium is a new frontier in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Most studies on stem cell transplantation therapy in both experimental heart infarct and in phase-I human clinical trials have focused on the use of undifferentiated stem cells. Based on our previous observations demonstrating the presence of multipotent progenitor cells in human adult skeletal muscle, in this study we investigated the capacity of these progenitors to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Here we show an efficient protocol for the cardiomyogenic differentiation of human adult skeletal muscle stem cells in vitro. We found that treatment with Retinoic Acid directed cardiomyogenic differentiation of skeletal muscle stem cells in vitro. After Retinoic Acid treatment, cells expressed cardiomyocyte markers and acquired spontaneous contraction. Functional assays exhibited cardiac-like response to increased extracellular calcium. When cocultured with mouse cardiomyocytes, Retinoic Acid-treated skeletal muscle stem cells expressed connexin43 and when transplanted into ischemic heart were detectable even 5 weeks after injection. Based on these results, we can conclude that human adult skeletal muscle stem cells, if opportunely treated, can transdifferentiate into cells of cardiac lineage and once injected into infarcted heart can integrate, survive in cardiac tissue and improve the cardiac function.
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Human fetal aorta contains vascular progenitor cells capable of inducing vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and myogenesis in vitro and in a murine model of peripheral ischemia.
- Author
-
Invernici G, Emanueli C, Madeddu P, Cristini S, Gadau S, Benetti A, Ciusani E, Stassi G, Siragusa M, Nicosia R, Peschle C, Fascio U, Colombo A, Rizzuti T, Parati E, and Alessandri G
- Subjects
- AC133 Antigen, Angiopoietin-2 genetics, Angiopoietin-2 metabolism, Animals, Antigens, CD metabolism, Antigens, CD34 metabolism, Aorta metabolism, Becaplermin, Biomarkers metabolism, Blood Vessels cytology, Blood Vessels embryology, Cell Lineage, Cells, Cultured, Glycoproteins metabolism, Humans, Mice, Peptides metabolism, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor metabolism, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A genetics, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A metabolism, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 metabolism, Aorta cytology, Aorta embryology, Fetus anatomy & histology, Ischemia, Muscle Development physiology, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Stem Cells physiology
- Abstract
Vasculogenesis, the formation of blood vessels in embryonic or fetal tissue mediated by immature vascular cells (ie, angioblasts), is poorly understood. We report the identification of a population of vascular progenitor cells (hVPCs) in the human fetal aorta composed of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells that coexpress endothelial and myogenic markers. Under culture conditions that promoted cell differentiation, hVPCs gave rise to a mixed population of mature endothelial and mural cells when progenitor cells were stimulated with vascular endothelial growth factor-A or platelet-derived growth factor-betabeta. hVPCs grew as nonadherent cells and, when embedded in a three-dimensional collagen gel, reorganized into cohesive cellular cords that resembled mature vascular structures. hVPC-conditioned medium contained angiogenic substances (vascular endothelial growth factor-A and angiopoietin-2) and strongly stimulated the proliferation of endothelial cells. We also demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of a small number of hVPCs transplanted into ischemic limb muscle of immunodeficient mice. hVPCs markedly improved neovascularization and inhibited the loss of endogenous endothelial cells and myocytes, thus ameliorating the clinical outcome from ischemia. We conclude that fetal aorta represents an important source for the investigation of the phenotypic and functional features of human vascular progenitor cells.
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. [Evaluation of the effectiveness of sodium piperacillin in the treatment of surgical infections in children].
- Author
-
Inserra A, Serventi P, Ciprandi G, Spagnoli A, Cristini S, and Boglino C
- Subjects
- Child, Child, Preschool, Clinical Trials as Topic, Drug Administration Schedule, Drug Evaluation, Female, Humans, Male, Piperacillin administration & dosage, Bacterial Infections drug therapy, Piperacillin therapeutic use, Postoperative Complications drug therapy
- Abstract
A clinical trial has been carried out in 40 children (age ranging from 2 to 12 years) with postsurgical infections caused by aerobic, anaerobic and facultative bacteria. All have been treated by monotherapy with sodium piperacillin, with doses of 150-200 mg/kg daily in 3 administrations. The drug was administered for a mean period of 7 days, by intravenous infusion or intramuscular route. The causative organism was eradicated in all but 4 cases (90%). Side effects observed were all of mild intensity, and in no case it was necessary to discontinue the treatment with the drug. Both bacterial and clinical results indicate a high tolerability and a very rapid effectiveness of this antibiotic.
- Published
- 1990
Catalog
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.