Antonietta Rizzo

Palmitoylethanolamide induces microglia changes associated with increased migration and phagocytic activity: involvement of the CB2 receptor

The endogenous fatty acid amide palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory actions mainly through inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory molecules from mast cells, monocytes and macrophages. Indirect activation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system is among the several mechanisms of action that have been proposed to underlie the different effects of PEA in vivo. In this study, we used cultured rat microglia and human macrophages to evaluate whether PEA affects eCB signaling. PEA was found to increase CB2 mRNA and protein expression through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) activation. This novel gene regulation mechanism was demonstrated through: (i) pharmacological PPAR-α manipulation, (ii) PPAR-α mRNA silencing, (iii) chromatin immunoprecipitation. Moreover, exposure to PEA induced morphological changes associated with a reactive microglial phenotype, including increased phagocytosis and migratory activity. Our findings suggest indirect regulation of microglial CB2R expression as a new possible mechanism underlying the effects of PEA. PEA can be explored as a useful tool for preventing/treating the symptoms associated with neuroinflammation in CNS disorders.

Optimisation of radioxenon measurement for comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty

ABSTRACT The international monitoring system (IMS) has been developed to verify compliance with the comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty (CTBT) and radionuclide monitoring stations are the smoking gun for underground nuclear explosions identification. One of the main objectives of the verification regime is to improve the sensitivity of measurements providing background reduction and, as a result, decrease the minimum detectable activity (MDA) values. At this ENEA laboratory an anticoincidence system has been developed: the system is comprised of a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector surrounded by a low–background shield and two plastic scintillators able to detect coincident cosmic-ray interactions. Tests conducted with the anticoincidence system have shown a reduction of the Compton continuum that contributes to the spectrum background and the measured MDA values, compared to those obtained using the standard system, decreased for all the four radioxenon isotopes.