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Gianluigi Zona

Publications and source records attributed to Gianluigi Zona.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

CXCR4 and SDF1 expression in human meningiomas: a proliferative role in tumoral meningothelial cells in vitro.

Chemokines participate in cellular processes associated with tumor proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. We previously demonstrated that stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) exerts a mitogenic activity in glioblastomas through the activation of its receptor CXCR4. Here we studied the expression of this chemokine in human meningiomas and its possible role in cell proliferation. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis for CXCR4 and SDF1 was performed on 55 human meningiomas (47 WHO grade I, 5 WHO II, and 3 WHO III). Immunolabeling for CXCR4 and SDF1 was performed on paraffin-embedded sections of these tumors. [(3)H]Thymidine uptake and Western blot analyses were performed on primary meningeal cell cultures of tumors to evaluate the proliferative activity of human SDF1alpha (hSDF1alpha) in vitro and the involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation in this process. CXCR4 mRNA was expressed by 78% of the tumor specimens and SDF1 mRNA by 53%. CXCR4 and SDF1 were often detected in the same tumor tissues and colocalized with epithelial membrane antigen immunostaining. In 9 of 12 primary cultures from meningiomas, hSDF1alpha induced significant cell proliferation that was strongly reduced by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059, involving ERK1/2 activation in the proliferative signal of hSDF1alpha. In fact, CXCR4 stimulation led to ERK1/2 phosphorylation/activation. In addition, the hSDF1alpha-induced cell proliferation was significantly correlated with the MIB1 staining index in the corresponding surgical specimen. In conclusion, we found that human meningiomas express CXCR4 and SDF1 and that hSDF1alpha induces proliferation in primary meningioma cell cultures through the activation of ERK1/2.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Expression of CXC chemokine receptors 1-5 and their ligands in human glioma tissues: role of CXCR4 and SDF1 in glioma cell proliferation and migration.

Chemokines have been involved in cellular processes associated to malignant transformation such as proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. The expression of five CXC chemokine receptors and their main ligands was analysed by RT-PCR in 31 human astrocytic neoplasms. The mRNAs for all the receptors analysed were identified in a high percentage of tumours, while their ligands showed lower expression. CXCR4 and SDF1 were the most frequently mRNA identified (29/31 and 13/31 of the gliomas studied, respectively). Thus, we further analysed the cell localization of CXCR4 and SDF1 in immunohistochemistry experiments. We show a marked co-localization of CXCR4 and SDF1 in tumour cells, mainly evident in psudolpalisade and microcystic degeneration areas and in the vascular endothelium. In addition, hSDF1alpha induced a significant increase of DNA synthesis in primary human glioblastoma cell cultures and chemotaxis in a glioblastoma cell line. These results provide evidence of the expression of multiple CXC chemokines and their receptors in brain tumours and that in particular CXCR4 and SDF1 sustain proliferation and migration of glioma cells to promote malignant progression.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Management of cystic craniopharyngiomas in childhood by a transsphenoidal approach.

The transsphenoidal approach has specific indications in the management of craniopharyngiomas. Usually, it is best reserved for patients with preferably cystic extra-arachnoid-infradiaphragmatic tumors with small suprasellar extension. Moreover, it is definitely less traumatic than transcranial approaches and it has been proven to be feasible also in paediatric patients. When possible, radical removal of these tumours must be the goal of surgery, but this attitude, which reduces but not eliminates the risk of relapse, has to be counterbalanced by heavy morbidity and even mortality, especially in children. In this view, many neurosurgeons favour a more 'conservative' approach with subtotal removal followed by radiotherapy whose dramatic efficacy on craniopharyngiomas is well known. With these premises, a transsphenoidal approach is realistically applicable to a greater number of large cystic craniopharyngiomas if the aim is not radical removal, but is to drain them into the sphenoid sinus to relieve mass effect symptoms (cystosphenoidostomy), and delay radiotherapy and its detrimental effects on visual and pituitary function, especially in younger patients, to a more suitable time after surgery.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha induces proliferation and growth hormone release in GH4C1 rat pituitary adenoma cell line through multiple intracellular signals.

We used GH4C1 cells as a model to study the effects of the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) in pituitary functions. In these cells, SDF1alpha induced proliferation and growth hormone secretion, suggesting a possible regulatory role for this chemokine at pituitary level. We evaluated the intracellular signaling involved in these effects: SDF1alpha increased cytosolic [Ca(2+)] and activated Pyk2, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), and large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (BK(Ca)) channels. To correlate these intracellular effectors with the proliferative and secretory effects, we inhibited their activity using BAPTA-AM (Ca(2+) chelator), 2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone (PD98059; a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor), salicylate (Pyk2 inhibitor), and tetraethyl ammonium (K(+) channel blocker). All of these compounds reverted SDF1alpha-induced proliferation, suggesting the involvement of multiple intracellular pathways. Conversely, only BAPTA-AM reverted growth hormone secretion. To identify a possible cross-talk and a molecular ordering among these pathways, we tested these antagonists on SDF1alpha-dependent activation of ERK1/2, Pyk2, and BK(Ca) channels. From these experiments, we observed that the inhibition of [Ca(2+)](i) increase or BK(Ca) channel activity did not affect ERK1/2 activation by SDF1alpha; Pyk2 activation was purely Ca(2+)-dependent, not involving ERK1/2 or BK(Ca) channels; and BK(Ca) channel activity was antagonized by Pyk2 but not by ERK1/2 inhibitors. These data suggest that an SDF1alpha-dependent increase of [Ca(2+)](i) activates Pyk2, which in turn regulates BK(Ca) channel activity. Conversely, ERK1/2 activation is an independent phenomenon. In conclusion, we demonstrate that SDF1alpha causes both proliferation and growth hormone release from pituitary adenoma cells, suggesting that the activation of CXCR4 may represent a novel regulatory mechanism for growth hormone secretion and pituitary cell proliferation, which may contribute to pituitary adenoma development.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2004

The expression of the phosphotyrosine phosphatase DEP-1/PTPeta dictates the responsivity of glioma cells to somatostatin inhibition of cell proliferation.

Here we characterize the intracellular effectors of the antiproliferative activity of somatostatin in glioma cell lines and post-surgical specimens. The responsiveness to somatostatin correlated with the expression of the phosphotyrosine phosphatase DEP-1/PTPeta, identified in C6 and U87MG cells, in which somatostatin inhibited cell growth. The expression of a dominant negative mutant of DEP-1/PTPeta in C6 cells abolished somatostatin effects, confirming the involvement of this phosphotyrosine phosphatase in such effects. Somatostatin treatment increased the activity of DEP-1/PTPeta and inhibited ERK1/2 activation. Conversely, basic fibroblast growth factor-dependent MEK phosphorylation was not affected, suggesting a direct effect on ERK1/2. In vitro experiments showed that PTPeta was able to interact and dephosphorylate ERK1/2 activated by basic fibroblast growth factor. Furthermore, by transfecting PTPeta in the somatostatin-unresponsive, DEP-1/PTPeta-deficient U373MG cells, the somatostatin-dependent control of cell proliferation was recovered. Finally we evaluated the requirement for DEP-1/PTPeta in somatostatin inhibition of cell proliferation in post-surgical specimens derived from different grade human gliomas. Although all of the glioma analyzed expressed somatostatin receptor mRNA, DEP-1/PTPeta expression was limited to 8 of 22 of the tumors. Culturing seven gliomas, a correlation between the expression of DEP-1/PTPeta and the somatostatin antiproliferative effects was identified. In conclusion we propose that the expression and activation of DEP-1/PTPeta is required for somatostatin inhibition of glioma proliferation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The phosphotyrosine phosphatase eta mediates somatostatin inhibition of glioma proliferation via the dephosphorylation of ERK1/2.

Somatostatin (SST) controls the proliferation of a variety of cell types. Its effects are mediated by five G protein-coupled receptors (SSTR1-SSTR5), variably expressed in normal and cancer tissues. SST inhibition of cell proliferation can be exploited by both direct and indirect mechanisms: the main direct pathway involves the modulation of phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity. Here we show that SST cytostatic activity is mediated by the activation of a receptor-like PTP, named PTPeta. The role of this PTP in the antiproliferative activity of SST in five glioma cell lines (C6, U87MG, U373MG, DBTRG05MG, and CAS1) and in four postsurgical human glioblastoma specimens, has been studied. SST inhibited growth only in C6 and U87MG that express PTPeta. In C6 cells, SST antiproliferative effects were reverted by pretreatment with pertussis toxin and vanadate, indicating the involvement of G proteins and PTPs. The role of PTPeta in the SST inhibitory effects was demonstrated by testing the PTPeta activity: it was increased by SST treatment and paralleled by inhibition of ERK1/2 activation. Since basic fibroblast growth factor-dependent MEK phosphorylation was not affected by SST, we propose a direct effect of SST-activated PTPeta on ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Finally, the SSTR mRNAs were identified in all of the 36 gliomas analyzed, whereas PTPeta expression was found in 33% of cases. Culturing four gliomas, a precise correlation between the expression of PTPeta and the SST antiproliferative effects was identified. In conclusion, in glioma cells, SST antiproliferative activity requires the expression and activation of PTPeta, which directly dephosphorylates ERK1/2.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

Transsphenoidal treatment of empty sella by means of a silastic coil: technical note.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Several methods have been proposed to achieve transsphenoidal arachnoid mobilization and chiasmapexy in symptomatic empty sella (primary or secondary empty sella syndrome). These procedures are often difficult to perform and have not always had satisfactory long-term outcomes because of the difficulty of achieving adequate and long-lasting sellar filling over time. The volume of fat or muscle packing decreases over time as a result of scar retraction. The same problem may occur with intrasellar balloon placement because of deflation of the balloon. TECHNIQUE: We propose extradural packing accomplished through a transsphenoidal approach, using a Silastic (Dow Corning, Auburn, MI) coil, fashioned by means of a ventricular catheter arranged as a spiral. RESULTS: This technique was used in four patients with satisfactory and long-lasting clinical results. It presents several advantages over previous methods: it can be tailored to each patient; Silastic is an inert substance, and therefore scarring, with consequent shrinkage, does not occur; and because the coil is very elastic, it presents few risks of inflammatory complications or of excessive compression of sellar, parasellar, and suprasellar structures. Furthermore, this technique does not require a supplementary skin incision to harvest autologous tissues (fat, muscle, or fascia lata). A skilled neurosurgeon can perform the procedure in a few minutes with more ease and less expense than other techniques. CONCLUSION: The reported technique is a valid alternative to classic transsphenoidal extradural packing.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand stromal cell-derived factor 1 in human brain tumors and their involvement in glial proliferation in vitro.

Chemokines are a family of proteins that chemoattract and activate cells by interacting with specific receptors on the surface of their targets. They are grouped into four classes based on the position of key cysteine residues: C, CC, CXC, and CX3C. Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1), the ligand of the CXCR4 receptor, is a CXC chemokine involved in chemotaxis and brain development that also acts as coreceptor for HIV-1 infection. It has been proposed that CXCR4 is overexpressed and required for proliferation in human brain tumor cells. We previously demonstrated that CXCR4 and SDF1 are expressed in culture of cortical type I rat astrocytes, cortical neurons, and cerebellar granule cells. In this study, we analyzed the expression of CXCR4 and SDF1 in four human brain tumor tissues, showing that CXCR4 is expressed in all tumors analyzed, whereas SDF1 is expressed only in two tumor tissues. We also investigated the possible functions of CXCR4 expressed in rat type I cortical astrocytes, demonstrating that SDF1alpha stimulates the proliferation of these cells in vitro. Moreover, we studied by western blot the intracellular pathway involved in cell proliferation, demonstrating that SDF1alpha induces the ERK1/2 phosphorylation that is reduced by the PD98059 compound, an MEK inhibitor.

Animals↗