Federica Corana

Profiling the Proteome of Exhaled Breath Condensate in Healthy Smokers and COPD Patients by LC-MS/MS

Three pools of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) from non-smokers plus healthy smokers (NS + HS, n = 45); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) without emphysema (COPD, n = 15) and subjects with pulmonary emphysema associated with α1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD, n = 23) were used for an exploratory proteomic study aimed at generating fingerprints of these groups that can be used in future pathophysiological and perhaps even clinical research. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was the platform applied for this hypothesis-free investigation. Analysis of pooled specimens resulted in the production of a “fingerprint” made of 44 proteins for NS/HS; 17 for COPD and 15 for the group of AATD subjects. Several inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2; IL-12, α and β subunits, IL-15, interferon α and γ, tumor necrosis factor α); Type I and II cytokeratins; two SP-A isoforms; Calgranulin A and B and α1-antitrypsin were detected and validated through the use of surface enhanced laser-desorption ionization mass spectrometry (SELDI-MS) and/or by Western blot (WB) analysis. These results are the prelude of quantitative studies aimed at identifying which of these proteins hold promise as identifiers of differences that could distinguish healthy subjects from patients.

Patterns of traffic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution in mountain areas can be revealed by lichen biomonitoring: A case study in the Dolomites (Eastern Italian Alps)

In mountain areas of touristic interest the evaluation of the impact of human activities is crucial for ensuring long-term conservation of ecosystem biodiversity, functions and services. This study aimed at verifying the biological impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions due to traffic along the roads leading to seven passes of the Dolomites (SE Alps), which were recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thalli of the epiphytic lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, collected at increasing distances from the roads, were used as biomonitors. Our study revealed a gradient of decreasing PAH pollution within 300 m from the roads. Differences among passes were evident mainly for samples collected nearest to the roads, but PAH concentrations at 300 m were almost always higher than those of undisturbed reference sites, indicating that traffic PAH pollution may impact natural ecosystems and lichen diversity at relatively long distances from the emission source.

Terpenoids from Russula lepida and R. amarissima (Basidiomycota, Russulaceae)

Four aristolane sesquiterpenes were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Russula lepida and R. amarissima, namely (1R,2S)-1,2-dihydroxyaristolone (6), (2S,11S)-2,12-dihydroxy-aristolone (7), (1R,2S,11S)-1,2,12-trihydroxyaristolone (8), (1S,2S,11S)-1,2,12-trihydroxy-aristolone (9). In addition, a seco-cucurbitane triterpene, i.e. 3,4-secocucurbita-4,24E-diene-3-hydroxy-26-carboxylic acid (14) was isolated from both species. The configuration at C-2 of the already known rulepidol (2-hydroxyaristolone, 5) was corrected as S instead of R. Several more aristolane and nardosinane sesquiterpenes, as well as cucurbitane triterpenes, already reported both from European and Chinese samples of R. lepida, were also isolated. Compound 14 showed moderate cell growth inhibitory activity.

Resveratrol analogue 4,4′-dihydroxy- trans -stilbene potently inhibits cancer invasion and metastasis

We investigated the preventive effects of resveratrol analogue 4,4′-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene (DHS) on cancer invasion and metastasis. Two different in vivo approaches of mouse and zebrafish lung cancer invasion models were employed in our study. The in vitro results showed that DHS displays potent inhibition on anchorage-dependent or -independent cell growth of LLC cells, leading to impairment of the cell cycle progression with reduction of cell numbers arresting at the G1 phase, an evident accumulation of pre-G1 events correlated with apoptotic behaviour. In addition, DHS induces a marked inhibition of LLC cell migration and matrigel invasion. In a murine lung cancer model, tumour volume, cell proliferation, and tumour angiogenesis were significantly inhibited by DHS. Importantly, liver metastatic lesions were significantly reduced in DHS-treated mice. Similarly, DHS significantly inhibits lung cancer cell dissemination, invasion and metastasis in a zebrafish tumour model. These findings demonstrate that DHS could potentially be developed as a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of cancer and metastasis.

Deciphering the proteomic profile of rice (Oryza sativa) bran: A pilot study

The exact knowledge of the qualitative and quantitative protein components of rice bran is an essential aspect to be considered for a better understanding of the functional properties of this resource. Aim of the present investigation was to extract the largest number of rice bran proteins and to obtain their qualitative characterization. For this purpose, three different extraction protocols have been applied either on full‐fat or on defatted rice bran. Likewise, to identify the highest number of proteins, MS data collected from 1‐DE, 2‐DE and gel‐free procedures have been combined. These approaches allowed to unambiguously identify 43 proteins that were classified as signalling/regulation proteins (30%), proteins with enzymatic activity (30%), storage proteins (30%), transfer (5%) and structural (5%) proteins. The fact that all extraction and identification procedures have been performed in triplicate with an excellent reproducibility provides a rationale for considering the platform of proteins shown in this study as the potential proteome profile of rice bran. It also represents a source of information to evaluate better the qualities of rice bran as food resource.

Marrubium vulgare L. Leave Extract: Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Wound Healing Properties

Several factors contribute in wound generation, e.g., accidental traumas or surgery, and in certain cases, this dermal injury may have a devastating outcome. When skin damage occurs, the human body puts in place a sophisticated choreography, which involves numerous repairing processes to restore physiological conditions. Nevertheless, natural healing mechanisms are ineffective towards chronic or non-healing wounds and thus, therapeutic strategies may represent the only beneficial alternative to counteract these tissue insults. Over the years, numerous studies showed the great potential of plants in promoting wound healing, by virtue of their high contents in antioxidant species. These compounds trigger a molecular cascade that collimate into the promotion of reparative processes. In this article, we report on the potential effect on wound healing of Marrubium vulgare L., a medicinal plant well known for several pharmaceutical activities. To this aim, the methanolic extract was prepared and subjected to a phytochemical investigation, quantifying the amount of marrubiin via NMR and drawing the phytochemical fingerprint via high performance liquid chromatography—ultra violet/photodiode-array detection-electrospray/mass (HPLC-UV/PAD-ESI/MS) analysis. Lastly, the antioxidant properties and wound healing potential have been evaluated.

(R)-(-)-Aloesaponol III 8-methyl ether from eremurus persicus: A novel compound against leishmaniosis

Leishmaniosis is a neglected tropical disease which affects several millions of people worldwide. The current drug therapies are expensive and often lack efficacy, mainly due to the development of parasite resistance. Hence, there is an urgent need for new drugs effective against Leishmania infections. As a part of our ongoing study on the phytochemical characterization and biological investigation of plants used in the traditional medicine of western and central Asia, in the present study, we focused on Eremurus persicus root extract in order to evaluate its potential in the treatment of leishmaniosis. As a result of our study, aloesaponol III 8-methyl ether (ASME) was isolated for the first time from Eremurus persicus root extract, its chemical structure elucidated by means of IR and NMR experiments and the (R) configuration assigned by optical activity measurements: chiroptical aspects were investigated with vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopies and DFT (density functional theory) quantum mechanical calculations. Concerning biological investigations, our results clearly proved that (R)-ASME inhibits Leishmania infantum promastigotes viability (IC50 73 µg/mL), inducing morphological alterations and mitochondrial potential deregulation. Moreover, it is not toxic on macrophages at the concentration tested, thus representing a promising molecule against Leishmania infections.

Correctness of Protein Identifications of Bacillus subtilis Proteome with the Indication on Potential False Positive Peptides Supported by Predictions of Their Retention Times

The predictive capability of the retention time prediction model based on quantitative structure-retention relationships (QSRR) was tested. QSRR model was derived with the use of set of peptides identified with the highest scores and originated from 8 known proteins annotated as model ones. The predictive ability of the QSRR model was verified with the use of a Bacillus subtilis proteome digest after separation and identification of the peptides by LC-ESI-MS/MS. That ability was tested with three sets of testing peptides assigned to the proteins identified with different levels of confidence. First, the set of peptides identified with the highest scores achieved in the search were considered. Hence, proteins identified on the basis of more than one peptide were taken into account. Furthermore, proteins identified on the basis of just one peptide were also considered and, depending on the possessed scores, both above and below the assumed threshold, were analyzed in two separated sets. The QSRR approach was applied as the additional constraint in proteomic research verifying results of MS/MS ion search and confirming the correctness of the peptides identifications along with the indication of the potential false positives.

Development of easy‐to‐use reverse‐phase liquid chromatographic methods for determining PRE‐084, RC‐33 and RC‐34 in biological matrices. The first step for in vivo analysis of sigma1 receptor agonists

Over the years there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic potential for central nervous system pathologies of sigma receptor modulators. The widely studied PRE-084 and our compounds RC-33 and RC-34 are very potent and selective sigma 1 receptor agonists that could represent promising drug candidates for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Herein, we develop and validate robust and easy-to-use reverse-phase chromatographic methods suitable for detecting and quantifying PRE-084, RC-33 and RC-34 in mouse blood, brain and spinal cord. An HPLC/UV/ESI-MS system was employed for analyzing PRE-084 and an HPLC/UV-PDA system for determining RC-33 and RC-34. Chromatographic separations were achieved on Waters Symmetry RP18 column (150 × 3.9 mm, 5 µm), eluting with water and acetonitrile (both containing 0.1% formic acid) in gradient conditions. The recovery of PRE-084, RC-33 and RC-34 was >95% in all the considered matrices. Their limits of quantitation and detection were also determined. Validation proved the methods be suitable for separating tested compounds from endogenous interferences, being characterized by good sensitivity, linearity, precision and accuracy. A preliminary central nervous system distribution study showed a high distribution of RC-33 in brain and spinal cord, with concentration values well above the determined limit of quantitation. The proposed methods will be used in future preclinical investigations.

Quality Evaluation and High Throughput Analysis of Aromatic Italian Rice Varieties Through HS-SPME/GC-MS Analysis

ABSTRACT Headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was assessed as a technique to analyze the volatile aroma profile of Italian aromatic rice varieties. The HS-SPME/GC-MS technique gives data comparable to data obtained with conventional extraction methods but produces samples with higher compound concentration, lower levels of contamination, and shorter sample preparation time. The technique might prove useful in helping to assess the commercial potential of aromatic rice varieties on the international market.