TY - JOUR T1 - Geranylgeraniol and Neurological Impairment: Involvement of Apoptosis and Mitochondrial Morphology. JF - Int J Mol Sci Y1 - 2016 A1 - Marcuzzi, Annalisa A1 - Piscianz, Elisa A1 - Zweyer, Marina A1 - Bortul, Roberta A1 - Loganes, Claudia A1 - Girardelli, Martina A1 - Baj, Gabriele A1 - Monasta, Lorenzo A1 - Celeghini, Claudio AB -

Deregulation of the cholesterol pathway is an anomaly observed in human diseases, many of which have in common neurological involvement and unknown pathogenesis. In this study we have used Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD) as a disease-model in order to investigate the link between the deregulation of the mevalonate pathway and the consequent neurodegeneration. The blocking of the mevalonate pathway in a neuronal cell line (Daoy), using statins or mevalonate, induced an increase in the expression of the inflammasome gene (NLRP3) and programmed cell death related to mitochondrial dysfunction. The morphology of the mitochondria changed, clearly showing the damage induced by oxidative stress and the decreased membrane potential associated with the alterations of the mitochondrial function. The co-administration of geranylgeraniol (GGOH) reduced the inflammatory marker and the damage of the mitochondria, maintaining its shape and components. Our data allow us to speculate about the mechanism by which isoprenoids are able to rescue the inflammatory marker in neuronal cells, independently from the block of the mevalonate pathway, and about the fact that cell death is mitochondria-related.

VL - 17 IS - 3 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26978350?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - ACTN1-related thrombocytopenia: identification of novel families for phenotypic characterization. JF - Blood Y1 - 2015 A1 - Bottega, Roberta A1 - Marconi, Caterina A1 - Faleschini, Michela A1 - Baj, Gabriele A1 - Cagioni, Claudia A1 - Pecci, Alessandro A1 - Pippucci, Tommaso A1 - Ramenghi, Ugo A1 - Pardini, Simonetta A1 - Ngu, Loretta A1 - Baronci, Carlo A1 - Kunishima, Shinji A1 - Balduini, Carlo L A1 - Seri, Marco A1 - Savoia, Anna A1 - Noris, Patrizia KW - Actinin KW - Adolescent KW - Adult KW - Aged KW - Aged, 80 and over KW - Blood Platelets KW - Case-Control Studies KW - Child KW - Child, Preschool KW - Female KW - Gene Expression KW - Genotype KW - Heterozygote KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Mutation, Missense KW - Pedigree KW - Phenotype KW - Platelet Count KW - Severity of Illness Index KW - Thrombocytopenia KW - Thrombopoiesis KW - Thrombopoietin AB -

Inherited thrombocytopenias (ITs) are a heterogeneous group of syndromic and nonsyndromic diseases caused by mutations affecting different genes. Alterations of ACTN1, the gene encoding for α-actinin 1, have recently been identified in a few families as being responsible for a mild form of IT (ACTN1-related thrombocytopenia; ACTN1-RT). To better characterize this disease, we screened ACTN1 in 128 probands and found 10 (8 novel) missense heterozygous variants in 11 families. Combining bioinformatics, segregation, and functional studies, we demonstrated that all but 1 amino acid substitution had deleterious effects. The clinical and laboratory findings of 31 affected individuals confirmed that ACTN1-RT is a mild macrothrombocytopenia with low risk for bleeding. Low reticulated platelet counts and only slightly increased serum thrombopoietin levels indicated that the latest phases of megakaryopoiesis were affected. Given its relatively high frequency in our cohort (4.2%), ACTN1-RT has to be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of ITs.

VL - 125 IS - 5 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25361813?dopt=Abstract ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum levels in genetically isolated populations: gender-specific association with anxiety disorder subtypes but not with anxiety levels or Val66Met polymorphism. JF - PeerJ Y1 - 2015 A1 - Carlino, Davide A1 - Francavilla, Ruggiero A1 - Baj, Gabriele A1 - Kulak, Karolina A1 - d'Adamo, Pio A1 - Ulivi, Sheila A1 - Cappellani, Stefania A1 - Gasparini, Paolo A1 - Tongiorgi, Enrico AB -

Anxiety disorders (ADs) are disabling chronic disorders with exaggerated behavioral response to threats. This study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that ADs may be associated with reduced neurotrophic activity, particularly of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and determining possible effects of genetics on serum BDNF concentrations. In 672 adult subjects from six isolated villages in North-Eastern Italy with high inbreeding, we determined serum BDNF levels and identified subjects with different ADs subtypes such as Social and Specific Phobias (PHSOC, PHSP), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and Panic Disorder (PAD). Analysis of the population as a whole or individual village showed no significant correlation between serum BDNF levels and Val66Met polymorphism and no association with anxiety levels. Stratification of subjects highlighted a significant decrease in serum BDNF in females with GAD and males with PHSP. This study indicates low heritability and absence of any impact of the Val66Met polymorphism on circulating concentrations of BDNF. Our results show that BDNF is not a general biomarker of anxiety but serum BDNF levels correlate in a gender-specific manner with ADs subtypes.

VL - 3 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26539329?dopt=Abstract ER -