Publications (36) View all
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Article: Nanomedicine boosts neurogenesis: new strategies for brain repair.
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ABSTRACT: The subventricular zone (SVZ) and the hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ) comprise two main germinal niches in the adult mammalian brain. Within these regions there are self-renewing and multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) which can ultimately give rise to new neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Understanding how to efficiently trigger NSCs differentiation is crucial to devise new cellular therapies aimed to repair the damaged brain. A large amount of data ranging from epigenetic alterations, chromatin remodelling and signalling pathways involved in NSCs differentiation are now within reach. Furthermore, a vast array of proteins and molecules have been described to modulate NSCs fate and tested in innovative therapeutic applications, however with little success so far. Nowadays, the main focus is on how to manipulate these factors to our full advantage. Unfortunately, concerns related to solubility, stability, concentration or spatial and temporal positioning can hinder their desirable effects. Biomaterials emerge as the ideal support to overcome these limitations and consequently boost NSCs differentiation towards desired phenotypes. However, the balance between biomaterials and differentiating factors must be well established, since the bioaccumulation and concomitant toxicity can be an undesired side-effect. Currently, innovative materials and formulations including more degradable carriers allow a controlled and efficient release of bioactive factors with minimal side-effects. Recently, micro- and nanoparticles have been successfully used to deliver molecules able to induce neurogenesis. This review presents recent research that highlights the role of both extracellular environmental factors as well as molecular remodelling mechanisms in the control of NSCs differentiation processes. Appropriate biomaterials that may trigger an efficient delivery of therapeutic molecules will be also discussed. Therefore, the interface between NSCs biology and tissue engineering may offer great potential in future therapeutics for treatment or amelioration of neurodegenerative diseases or brain injury.Integrative Biology 07/2012; 4(9):973-81. · 4.51 Impact Factor -
Article: Histamine modulates microglia function.
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ABSTRACT: Histamine is commonly acknowledged as an inflammatory mediator in peripheral tissues, leaving its role in brain immune responses scarcely studied. Therefore, our aim was to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms elicited by this molecule and its receptors in microglia-induced inflammation by evaluating cell migration and inflammatory mediator release. Firstly, we detected the expression of all known histamine receptor subtypes (H1R, H2R, H3R and H4R), using a murine microglial cell line and primary microglia cell cultures from rat cortex, by real-time PCR analysis, immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. Then, we evaluated the role of histamine in microglial cell motility by performing scratch wound assays. Results were further confirmed using murine cortex explants. Finally, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were evaluated by ELISA measurements to determine the role of histamine on the release of these inflammatory mediators. After 12 h of treatment, 100 μM histamine and 10 μg/ml histamine-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles significantly stimulated microglia motility via H4R activation. In addition, migration involves α5β1 integrins, and p38 and Akt signaling pathways. Migration of microglial cells was also enhanced in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 ng/ml), used as a positive control. Importantly, histamine inhibited LPS-stimulated migration via H4R activation. Histamine or H4R agonist also inhibited LPS-induced IL-1β release in both N9 microglia cell line and hippocampal organotypic slice cultures. To our knowledge, we are the first to show a dual role of histamine in the modulation of microglial inflammatory responses. Altogether, our data suggest that histamine per se triggers microglia motility, whereas histamine impedes LPS-induced microglia migration and IL-1β release. This last datum assigns a new putative anti-inflammatory role for histamine, acting via H4R to restrain exacerbated microglial responses under inflammatory challenge, which could have strong repercussions in the treatment of CNS disorders accompanied by microglia-derived inflammation.Journal of Neuroinflammation 05/2012; 9:90. · 3.83 Impact Factor -
Article: Histamine stimulates neurogenesis in the rodent subventricular zone.
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ABSTRACT: Neural stem/progenitor cells present in the subventricular zone (SVZ) are a potential source of repairing cells after injury. Therefore, the identification of novel players that modulate neural stem cells differentiation can have a huge impact in stem cell-based therapies. Herein, we describe a unique role of histamine in inducing functional neuronal differentiation from cultured mouse SVZ stem/progenitor cells. This proneurogenic effect depends on histamine 1 receptor activation and involves epigenetic modifications and increased expression of Mash1, Dlx2, and Ngn1 genes. Biocompatible poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles, engineered to release histamine in a controlled and prolonged manner, also triggered robust neuronal differentiation in vitro. Preconditioning with histamine-loaded microparticles facilitated neuronal differentiation of SVZ-GFP cells grafted in hippocampal slices and in in vivo rodent brain. We propose that neuronal commitment triggered by histamine per se or released from biomaterial-derived vehicles may represent a new tool for brain repair strategies.Stem Cells 04/2012; 30(4):773-84. · 7.78 Impact Factor -
Article: Histamine Stimulates Neurogenesis in the Rodent Subventricular Zone
Stem cells 04/2012; · 7.75 Impact Factor -
Article: Controlling the neuronal differentiation of stem cells by the intracellular delivery of retinoic acid-loaded nanoparticles.
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ABSTRACT: The manipulation of endogenous stem cell populations from the subventricular zone (SVZ), a neurogenic niche, creates an opportunity to induce neurogenesis and influence brain regenerative capacities in the adult brain. Herein, we demonstrate the ability of polyelectrolyte nanoparticles to induce neurogenesis exclusively after being internalized by SVZ stem cells. The nanoparticles are not cytotoxic for concentrations equal or below 10 μg/mL. The internalization process is rapid, and nanoparticles escape endosomal fate in a few hours. Retinoic acid-loaded nanoparticles increase the number of neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN)-positive neurons and functional neurons responding to depolarization with KCl and expressing NMDA receptor subunit type 1 (NR1). These nanoparticles offer an opportunity for in vivo delivery of proneurogenic factors and neurodegenerative disease treatment.ACS Nano 01/2011; 5(1):97-106. · 10.77 Impact Factor
