0000000000139687

AUTHOR

Alessandro Rubinacci

Inhibition of Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF-23) Rescues Bone and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niche Defects in Beta-Thalassemia, Uncovering the Missing Link between Hematopoiesis and Bone

Abstract The bone marrow (BM) niche regulation and interactions with hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) have been extensively studied in steady state conditions and malignancies, but are still underexplored in hematological inherited disorders. We provided the first demonstration of impaired HSC function caused by an altered BM niche in a non-malignant disease, beta-thalassemia (BT) (Aprile et al., Blood 2020). BT is a globally widespread congenital hemoglobin disorder, resulting in severe anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis and multi-organ secondary complications, including bone alterations. Correction of the genetic defect is achieved by transplantation of HSC from healthy donors or autologous…

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Hematopoietic stem cell function in b-thalassemia is impaired and is rescued by targeting the bone marrow niche

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are regulated by signals from the bone marrow (BM) niche that tune hematopoiesis at steady state and in hematologic disorders. To understand HSC-niche interactions in altered nonmalignant homeostasis, we selected β-thalassemia, a hemoglobin disorder, as a paradigm. In this severe congenital anemia, alterations secondary to the primary hemoglobin defect have a potential impact on HSC-niche cross talk. We report that HSCs in thalassemic mice (th3) have an impaired function, caused by the interaction with an altered BM niche. The HSC self-renewal defect is rescued after cell transplantation into a normal microenvironment, thus proving the active role of…

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The Italian observational study on severe osteoporosis (ISSO): 24-month results on incidence of fractures and adherence to treatment

Objective To estimate the proportion of patients with very severe osteoporosis (those covered by the reimbursement criteria of the Italian National Health Service) experiencing new vertebral and non-vertebral fragility fractures in the first 24 months of a new anti-osteoporosis treatment. Methods Prospective observational study in men and post-menopausal women (aged > 21 years) initiating anti-osteoporosis treatment for very severe osteoporosis. Eligibility was based on teriparatide (TPD) reimbursement criteria in Italy: Incident of vertebral or hip fracture during anti-resorptive treatment (minimum 1 year), or at least three prevalent severe vertebral fractures, or two prevalent severe ver…

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