Chiara Dal Pra

Gonadotrophin receptor blocking antibodies measured by the use of cell lines stably expressing human gonadotrophin receptors are not detectable in women with 46,XX premature ovarian failure

background  Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined by cessation of ovarian function after puberty and before the age of 40. The syndrome is characterized by amenorrhoea, oestrogen deficiency and elevated levels of gonadotrophins. Autoimmunity has been proposed as a mechanism for some cases of destruction or malfunction of ovarian follicles. POF is often associated with type I and type II polyglandular autoimmune syndromes. It has also been postulated that receptors such as the LH and FSH receptors might become targets for blocking antibodies and such antibodies could be a cause of ovarian failure.

Presence of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies in obesity

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (11): 1197–1204

Weight loss reduces anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies and improves inflammatory and coagulative parameters in obese patients.

Obese patients have been described at increased risk of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a disease caused by anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies. ADAMTS13 has a structure homology with the adipokine thrombospondin-1. We previously demonstrated an increased presence of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies in obese patients. We aimed to study the changes induced by weight loss after bariatric surgery on some inflammatory and coagulative parameters and their link with anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies. We studied 100 obese patients before and after weight loss induced by bariatric surgery and 79 lean volunteers as controls. We measured anthropometric, metabolic and inflammatory parameters, thrombospondin-1, ADAMTS13 activity, anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, Von Willebrand factor. At baseline, 13 % of patients was positive for anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, while all controls were negative. Thrombospondin-1 levels were higher in obese subjects with than without antibodies, with a positive correlation between the two parameters. In multiple logistic regression analysis only thrombospondin-1 levels predicted positivity for anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies. After weight loss both anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies and thrombospondin-1 reduced significantly. Weight loss in obesity improves the inflammatory and coagulative profile, and in particular anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, ADAMTS13 activity and thrombospondin-1.

Adipogenic potential of skeletal muscle satellite cells

Abstract Satellite cells (SCs) are undifferentiated skeletal muscle cells that allow muscular growth and regeneration. Since their first description, SCs were simply considered myogenic precursors, but now it is widely accepted that SCs are a heterogeneous stem cell population characterized by plasticity and self-renewal. In this report we focus on SCs capacity to undergo adipogenic differentiation both spontaneous and induced by adipogenic factors. Understanding SC behavior is especially important because their adipogenic potential could represent a pathophysiological explanation for the intramuscular fat depots and associated insulin resistance that characterize many metabolic diseases and age-related sarcopenia. Moreover, SC are a therapeutic promise for neuromuscular diseases in the context of tissue engineering, representing an interesting cell source for implantation.