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L Manzoli

Publications and source records attributed to L Manzoli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Further considerations on the thermal stabilization of the nuclear matrix in mouse erythroleukemia cells.

The morphology and the polypeptide composition of the nuclear matrix obtained from 37 degrees C incubated nuclei has been studied in mouse erythroleukemia cells. From a structural point of view, in the absence of heat treatment, the matrix lacked identifiable nucleolar remnants and the internal fibrogranular meshwork whereas a peripheral lamina was seen. On the contrary, the matrix obtained from heat exposed nuclei displayed very electrondense nucleolar remnants and an abundant inner network. These results were obtained irrespective of the type of extracting agent (2M NaCl or 0.2 M (NH4)2SO4) used to remove histones and other soluble proteins. The heat stabilization of the matrix could not be prevented by sulfhydryl blocking chemicals such as iodoacetamide and n-ethylmaleimide, thus suggesting that heat does not stabilize the matrix by inducing the formation of disulfide bonds. Only limited differences in the polypeptide pattern of matrix isolated under different conditions were seen using one-dimensional pore gradient polyacrylamide gels stained with both Coomassie Brilliant Blue and silver despite the fact that the matrix fraction from heat treated nuclei retained about three fold more protein in comparison with controls. The same results were obtained also by means of two-dimensional non-equilibrium gel electrophoresis.

Ammonium Sulfate↗

Mitogen-stimulated events in nuclei of Swiss 3T3 cells. Evidence for a direct link between changes of inositol lipids, protein kinase C requirement and the onset of DNA synthesis.

Two different clones of Swiss 3T3 cells belonging to the same original cell line have been obtained, one of which was unresponsive to mitogenic stimulation (e.g. insulin-like growth factor-I, bombesin, insulin-like growth factor-I + bombesin), while the other clone showed a very high rate of DNA synthesis under identical conditions as demonstrated by 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Both types of cells expressed the IGF-I receptor and showed high contact inhibition. When highly purified nuclei from responsive cells, treated for a short time with bombesin and insulin-like growth factor-I or insulin-like growth factor-I alone, were incubated with [gamma-32P]adenosine triphosphate, the labelling of phosphatidylinositol-mono- and diphosphate decreased when compared to controls, while this transient effect did not appear in the nuclei from unresponsive cells. Similarly nuclear protein kinase C is activated only in responsive cells. Therefore, it seems that a direct link exists between polyphosphoinositide metabolism, protein kinase C activation and the early events leading to cell division, since the rapid changes in the labelling of both phosphatidylinositol mono- and di-phosphate occur only in nuclei from Swiss 3T3 cells, which respond to the mitogenic stimulus determined by insulin-like growth factor-I on its own, or in combination with bombesin.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Natural killer function in flow cytometry: identification of human lymphoid subsets able to bind to the NK sensitive target K562.

NK cells are a phenotypically, morphologically and functionally heterogeneous population. This has led to the current thought that the non-MHC restricted cytotoxicity is a cellular function that can be associated to different phenotypes. The recognition of the target cell and the conjugate formation is always the first step that eventually leads to the lysis of target. Characterization of the phenotypical pattern of the cells able to bind to K562 targets is the purpose of this study. A multi-parametric flow cytometry binding assay has been employed to identify the different K562-bound lymphocyte subsets. In particular, cells that coexpress the CD16 and CD8 antigens (CD16+8dim+) showed a significantly higher binding capacity than their CD16+8- counterpart. Moreover, the highest binding values have been found in cells that did not express the CD16 antigen at all, but still expressed the CD8dim antigen, such as the small CD8dim+3+ population. These data show that, the NK lytic function being dependent on binding, minor subpopulations must be considered among effector cells, which might correspond to different lytic activities. None of the previously published methodologies that analyze conjugates by flow cytometry or fluorescence microscopy were able to measure the binding capacity of small, double stained, lymphocyte subsets.

Adult↗

Heat-induced stabilization of the nuclear matrix: a morphological and biochemical analysis in murine erythroleukemia cells.

Using mouse erythroleukemia cells we performed a comprehensive morphological and biochemical study of the nuclear matrix obtained after exposure of isolated nuclei to 37 degrees C or from cells heat shocked in vivo at 43 or 45 degrees C. At the ultrastructural level it was possible to see that in the absence of a 37 degrees C incubation of purified nuclei, the final matrix lacked well-defined nucleolar remnants but a peripheral lamina was clearly visible, as well as a sparse fibrogranular network which was located at the periphery of the structures. On the contrary, after a 37 degrees C nuclear incubation, very electron-dense nucleolar remnants were observed along with an abundant meshwork dispersed throughout the interior of the structures. When intact cells were heat shocked in vivo, electron-dense residual nucleoli were present only when isolated nuclei had been exposed to 37 degrees C in vitro, whereas without such an incubation, they were not as easily distinguishable and appeared less electron-dense. In the latter case the inner network was more evenly distributed. After purified nuclei were incubated at 37 degrees C for 45 min, the high salt and DNase I resistant fraction retained about 18% of the nuclear protein whereas if the heating was omitted protein recovery dropped to 6%. An increase in the recovery of intact structures in the matrix fraction was the main reason for the higher protein recovery. Heating nuclei in vitro further increased the amount of nuclear protein present in the matrix fraction even if intact cells had been heat shocked in vivo. No major qualitative differences were seen when the polypeptide pattern of the various types of nuclear matrices was analyzed on one-dimensional polyacrylamide gels and this finding was further supported by Western blot analysis with a monoclonal antibody to lamins A and C. These results show that heating mainly stabilizes the nucleolar remnants of the matrix and to a lesser extent the inner network, but the morphology of the final structures is different depending on whether the stabilization is performed in vivo or in vitro.

Animals↗

Characterization and cell cycle kinetics of hepatocytes during rat liver regeneration: in vivo BrdUrd incorporation analysed by flow cytometry and electron microscopy.

The incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) into newly synthesized DNA has been analysed during hepatocellular regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy in young rats. The kinetic state of the liver has been studied by flow cytometric analysis of the incorporated BrdUrd, while the fine localization of DNA replication sites through the cell cycle has been investigated at the ultrastructural level by the immunogold technique. Eighteen hours after partial hepatectomy flow cytometry revealed an early S phase distribution which corresponded to a specific staining of the interchromatin domains of the hepatocyte nucleus. Thirty-four hours after hepatectomy, on the other hand, when most cells were in late S, a specific staining of heterochromatin domains was observed. The effect of the BrdUrd technique on nuclear aggregation has also been analysed and discussed. The results demonstrate that specific patterns of DNA replication can be recognized during the cell cycle and that flow cytometry and electron microscopy appear to be complementary in the kinetic study of liver regeneration.

Animals↗

Image analysis of the chromatin organization in the nuclear domains of freeze fractured hepatocytes and lymphocytes.

The complex organization of the interphase nucleus can be analyzed, by way of thin sectioning and also freeze-fracture. This approach has previously been utilized in association with image analysis to quantitatively describe the organization of isolated rat liver nuclei and nuclear matrices. The main nuclear domains which, in section, present marked differences due to their electron-density, can be identified in replicas with more complex procedures, based on the quantitative evaluation of the number of particles per unit area and mainly by using image analysis. A quantitative analysis of the nuclear substructures has been performed by way of image analysis on in situ nuclei of freeze-fractured cells presenting marked differences in the heterochromatin quantity, such as hepatocytes and lymphocytes. The replicated nuclear particles have been classified according to their diameter and the obtained histograms have been quantitatively evaluated. The nuclear domains, heterochromatin, interchromatin, nucleolus, present characteristic ratios among the three main classes of particles; that is, ribonucleoproteins, solenoid filaments and solenoid fibre aggregates. The typical patterns of the nuclear domains can be further stressed by selecting a single class of particles and by examining its topographic localization. While interchromatin and nucleolar domains present a similar quantitative pattern in hepatocytes and lymphocytes, the heterochromatin of lymphocytes contains a significative higher percentage of solenoid aggregates than that of hepatocytes.

Animals↗

Probing the sulfhydryl groups of nuclear matrix proteins with 6-iodoacetamidofluorescein.

Rat liver nuclear matrices were reacted with the fluorescent dye 6-iodoacetamidofluorescein and the matrix proteins were then separated by one and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Upon transillumination with U.V. light it was possible to see that several proteins had reacted with the dy, thus indicating the presence of free -SH groups. This labelling technique allowed the detection of a large number of proteins, being several folds more sensitive than conventional Coomassie Blue staining, as demonstrated by two-dimensional electrophoretical separation. If nuclear matrices were treated with reducing agents before being reacted with 6-iodoacetamidofluorescein, the fluorescence increased with about the same intensity in all the protein bands. It is proposed that 6-iodoacetamidofluorescein can be used as a specific and very sensitive probe to study the -SH groups of nuclear matrix proteins.

Animals↗

Nuclear lipids in Friend cells. Shifted profile of diacylglycerol during erythroid differentiation induced by DMSO.

Friend cells were labelled for 90 min. with [3H]-Glycerol and the radioactivity in DAG# and TG was measured. The relative percentage of radiolabelled DAG differs in isolated nuclei as compared to intact cells. Moreover the level of newly synthesized DAG decreases in nuclei isolated from cells treated with DMSO for 24 hrs. as well as in nuclei from cells treated for 96 hrs. and terminally differentiated in the erythroid pathway. Since these changes are not seen in intact cells, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that nuclear lipids and namely the products of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis, such as DAG, are involved in the regulation of the processes leading to cell differentiation.

Animals↗

Radiosensitivity of human natural killer cells: binding and cytotoxic activities of natural killer cell subsets.

The sensitivity of human natural killer (NK) cell activities (both binding and killing) after exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to different doses of gamma radiation was studied. A panel of monoclonal antibodies was used to identify the NK and T-lymphocyte subsets and to evaluate their radiosensitivity. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were irradiated with low (2-6 Gy) and high (10-30 Gy) doses and NK cell binding and cytotoxic activity against K562 target cells were studied after 3 h and 48 h in culture. The primary damage to NK cell activity was identified at the postbinding level and affected mainly the lytic machinery. After 48 h culture postirradiation, an overall depression of cytotoxic activity was observed, but ionizing radiation produced either a selection of the more cytotoxic NK cell subsets, which therefore might be considered more resistant to radiation damage than the less cytotoxic NK cells, or a long-term stimulation of cytotoxic activity in surviving cells.

Cesium Radioisotopes↗

Liposome-nucleus interactions. Flow cytometric study on the role of the nuclear surface.

The water-soluble probe carboxyfluorescein (CF), contained in the internal aqueous phase of liposomes, was used to investigate the interaction of phospholipid vesicles with isolated nuclei. Ultrastructural analysis indicated that adherent liposomes coated the nuclear surface, and fluorescence microscopy showed that they contained quenching concentrations of the dye. Flow cytometry revealed that the transfer of the entrapped dye from the adhering liposomes to nuclei was blocked by chilling at 0 degrees C. Chase experiments demonstrated that the most reliable mechanism of dye transfer involved fusion phenomena between the liposomal and the nuclear membranes. After the release of the fluorophore into the nucleus, empty liposomes could withdraw the intranuclear soluble fraction of the dye.

Animals↗

Improved bromodeoxyuridine/DNA analysis by anti-BudR monoclonal antibody versus right angle light scatter.

Dynamic cell cycle analysis is based on the incorporation of labelled precursors into DNA. Although antibodies to BrdU are very useful for analysing in flow cells which synthesize DNA, this approach has two main limitations. First, the detection of low incorporating cells is often difficult; second, four parameter flow cytometry is not able to correlate cell cycle to any other cellular marker. We have developed a methodology that, employing an IgGH + L as a second antibody and side scatter instead of propidium iodide fluorescence, allows a better discrimination of BudR+ cells. This approach allows the collection of an extra-fluorescent signal, and the analysis of specific cellular markers within the cell cycle.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Evidence for a reduction of the replicative activity of matrix-bound DNA polymerase alpha following treatment with phospholipase C.

Since phospholipids have been suggested to play some role in the molecular organisation of the nuclear matrix, the effect of their removal by means of phospholipase C has been investigated in regenerating rat liver nuclear matrix. The matrix-bound DNA polymerase alpha shows an almost complete loss of activity following the digestion with phospholipase C. Since the polymerase activity is restored by adding exogenous DNA, we suggest that the effect is due to the removal of matrix residual DNA, which is in some way linked to the nuclear matrix by means of hydrophobic interactions.

Animals↗

Phospholipids as components of the nuclear matrix: their possible biological significance.

The phospholipid involvement in the regulation of the functional and structural properties of the nuclear matrix is discussed analysing the results obtained with the enzymic removal of these molecules. Namely phospholipids seem to mediate hydrophobic interactions between nucleic acids and matrix fibrils either directly or indirectly through an association with the non-histone proteins of the matrix.

Animals↗

Nuclear phospholipase C: a novel aspect of phosphoinositide signalling.

The role of polyphosphoinositides in cellular signalling is well known and recently it has also been shown that the nucleus is a site for both synthesis and hydrolysis of the phosphorylated forms of phosphatidylinositol. It has been demonstrated that phospholipase C specific for inositol lipids (PLC) is one of the main steps of the inositol lipid cycle. The PLC beta family, and especially type beta 1, has given rise to considerable interest since, due to their common COOH-terminus they show nuclear localisation in addition to that at the plasma membrane. It is well established that an autonomous intranuclear inositide cycle exists, and that this cycle is endowed with conventional lipid kinases, phosphatases and PLCs. Among this latter the beta 1 type undergoes stimulation or inhibition under different stimuli and this implicates the beta 1 isoform as a key enzyme for mitogen-activated cell growth as well as for differentiation. Indeed, both the overexpression and the down-regulation of PLC beta 1, by means of antisense mRNA, have demonstrated that PLC plays a role in the nuclear compartment.

Animals↗

[Epidemiology of hospital loads in patients with multiple hospitalizations due to diabetes].

This study describes the results of a retrospective study carried out to evaluate the hospitalizations of patients with type 2 diabetes admitted from January to June 2001 in the teaching hospital "SS. Annunziata" of Chieti. This research evaluates the generic appropriateness using the PRUO manual and the specific appropriateness using the guidelines approved by Italian Diabetes Association, Italian Diabetes Society and Italian College of General Practitioners. A sample of 196 medical charts was examined. The percentage of inappropriate admission was 21.9%. The "critical" clinical conditions of patients were responsible for only 23.7% of inappropriate admissions. The first reason of the inappropriateness of the admission was the execution of diagnostic examinations (60.5%), followed by the execution of medical therapy (23.2%) and waiting for surgical intervention (16.3%). 46.5% of inappropriate hospitalization was prescribed by specialists. Concerning specific appropriateness, 42.3% of hospitalization was inappropriate. These findings suggest that a system for the assessment of disease management of diabetes should be started up in the Abruzzo region. Moreover, guidelines utilization should be implemented in order to get a more correct utilization of acute hospital by specialists and GPs.

Age Factors↗

[Prevalence of obesity, overweight and hypertension in children and adolescents from Abruzzo, Italy].

The present survey was aimed at determining the prevalence of overweight, obesity, hypertension, their correlation and the association with gender, age and provenience, in the pediatric population of Pescara province, Italy. During the academic year 2001-2002, the body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure of 15.612 scholars aged 6-14 years (mean age 9.9), coming from all province schools, have been measured. Two scales have been used to define obesity and overweight status (one developed by the National Center for Health Statistics--NCHS--the other by Cacciari et al.); while hypertension has been attributed using National Institute of Health curves. Several multiple logistic regression models have been fitted to analyze data. According to NCHS standards, the prevalence of childhood and adolescence overweight and obesity was, respectively, 40.6% and 19.5%. Using curves by Cacciari, the prevalence were 33.3% and 7.7%. Hypertensive subjects were 11.1%. With both scales, the prevalence of weight problems widely decreased after 12 years of age, and either obesity or overweight were significantly related with male sex, hypertension and rural area residence. A strong independent association was found between living inside the city and hypertension. Although the differences in the dimension of the problem "overweight" according to the used scale, and a potential overestimation of hypertension must be taken into account, the overall data suggest an urgent need, especially for primary school children, of preventive interventions aimed at reducing both overweight and blood pressure.

Adolescent↗