Biomedical subjects

Francesca Bosetti

Publications and source records attributed to Francesca Bosetti.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Analysis of gene expression with cDNA microarrays in rat brain after 7 and 42 days of oral lithium administration.

The gene expression profile in rat brain was examined using microarrays in rats fed lithium chloride for 7 days (subacute) or 42 days (chronic). Brain lithium concentrations were 0.39 mM and 0.79 mM (therapeutically relevant), at 7 and 42 days, respectively. Of the 4132 genes represented in the microarrays, 25 genes were downregulated by at least twofold and none was upregulated after 7 days of treatment. Expression of 50 genes was downregulated by at least two-fold at 42 days, without any being upregulated. Lithium treatment for 7 days did not affect at a measurable extent expression of 37 of the 50 genes that were downregulated at 42 days. Genes whose expression was changed at 42 days coded for a number of receptors, protein kinases, transcription and translation factors, markers of energy metabolism, and signal transduction. Thus, chronic lithium at a therapeutically relevant concentration reduced expression of a large number of genes involved in multiple signaling and other pathways, without increasing expression at a comparable extent.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2002

Do lithium and anticonvulsants target the brain arachidonic acid cascade in bipolar disorder?

BACKGROUND: Lithium and certain anticonvulsants, including carbamazepine and valproic acid, are effective antimanic drugs for treating bipolar disorder, but their mechanisms of action remain uncertain. EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS: Feeding rats lithium chloride for 6 weeks, to produce a brain lithium concentration of 0.7mM, reduced arachidonic acid turnover within brain phospholipids by 75%. The effect was highly specific, as turnover rates of docosahexaenoic acid and palmitic acid were unaffected. Arachidonate turnover in rat brain also was reduced by long-term valproic acid administration. Lithium's reduction of arachidonate turnover corresponded to its down-regulating gene expression and enzyme activity of cytosolic phospholipase A(2), an enzyme that selectively liberates arachidonic but not docosahexaenoic acid from phospholipids. Lithium also reduced the brain protein level and activity of cyclooxygenase 2, as well as the brain concentration of prostaglandin E(2), an arachidonate metabolite produced via cyclooxygenase 2. CONCLUSIONS: These results give rise to the hypothesis that lithium and antimanic anticonvulsants act by targeting parts of the "arachidonic acid cascade," which may be functionally hyperactive in mania. Thus, drugs that target enzymes in the cascade, such as cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors, might be candidate treatments for mania. Also, in view of competition between arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in a number of functional processes, docosahexaenoic acid or its precursors would be expected to be therapeutic. Neither of these predictions is evident from other current hypotheses for the antimanic action of lithium and anticonvulsant drugs.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Ginkgo biloba extracts EGb 761 and bilobalide increase NADH dehydrogenase mRNA level and mitochondrial respiratory control ratio in PC12 cells.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb 761, and one of its components, bilobalide, on gene expression of subunit 1 of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase (ND1) in PC12 cells. By Northern blot analysis we found a approximately 2-fold significant increase in NDI mRNA level, after 48 and 72 h exposure to 100 microg/ml EGb 761 and to 10 microg/ml bilobalide. We also evaluated, by oxygraphy measurements, mitochondrial respiration during state 3 and state 4. In cells treated with EGb 761 and bilobalide for 48 and 72 h, state 4 respiration was significantly decreased, and the respiratory control ratio was increased. These results provide evidence that EGb 761 and bilobalide exert their protective effects by up-regulating mitochondrial ND1 gene expression and by decreasing state 4 respiration, whose increase is thought to be responsible for oxidative damage.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Quenching of intracellular ROS generation as a mechanism for oleate-induced reduction of endothelial activation and early atherogenesis.

We previously showed that the exposure of vascular endothelium to oleate results in reduced endothelial activation. We now investigate possible mechanisms for this effect in relation to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We stimulated several types of endothelial cells with cytokines or lipopolysaccharide, with or without preincubation with 10-100 mumol/L oleate. Oleate preincubation reduced VCAM-1 expression in all cell types, as well as macrophage-colony stimulating factor release. We simultaneously measured the concentration of intracellular glutathione (GSH), the activity of GSH-related antioxidant enzymes and the production of intracellular ROS. Stimulation of endothelial cells caused a decrease of GSH and an increase in intracellular ROS. The addition of oleate before stimulation, prevented the depletion of GSH and partially prevented stimuli-induced increase of intracellular ROS. This occurred without any change in the activity of GSH-related antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Furthermore, in a cell-free superoxide anion-generating system, oleate quenched the generation of ROS. These results indicate that oleate may exert direct vascular atheroprotective effects by inhibiting endothelial activation through a quenching of stimuli-induced increase in ROS.

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytochrome c oxidase and mitochondrial F1F0-ATPase (ATP synthase) activities in platelets and brain from patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction is prominent in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A failure of one or more of the mitochondrial electron transport chain enzymes or of F(1)F(0)-ATPase (ATP synthase) could compromise brain energy stores, generate damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lead to neuronal death. In the present study, cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and F(1)F(0)-ATPase activities of isolated mitochondria from platelets and postmortem motor cortex and hippocampus from AD patients and age-matched control subjects were assayed. Compared with controls, COX activity was decreased significantly in platelets (-30%, P < 0.01, n = 20) and hippocampus (-35 to -40%, P < 0.05, n = 6), but not in motor cortex from the AD patients. In contrast, in AD platelets and brain tissues, F(1)F(0)-ATP hydrolysis activity was not significantly changed. Moreover, the ATP synthesis rate was similar in mitochondria of platelets from AD patients and controls. These results demonstrate that COX but not F(1)F(0)-ATPase is a mitochondrial target in AD, in both a brain association area and in platelets. A reduced COX activity may make the tissue vulnerable to excitotoxicity or reduced oxygen availability.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗