0000000000986436

AUTHOR

Francesca Zimetti

showing 6 related works from this author

Cyclosporine A Impairs the Macrophage Reverse Cholesterol Transport in Mice by Reducing Sterol Fecal Excretion

2012

Despite the efficacy in reducing acute rejection events in organ transplanted subjects, long term therapy with cyclosporine A is associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular morbidity. We studied whether this drug affects the antiatherogenic process of the reverse cholesterol transport from macrophages in vivo. Cyclosporine A 50 mg/kg/d was administered to C57BL/6 mice by subcutaneous injection for 14 days. Macrophage reverse cholesterol transport was assessed by following [(3)H]-cholesterol mobilization from pre-labeled intraperitoneally injected macrophages, expressing or not apolipoprotein E, to plasma, liver and feces. The pharmacological treatment significantly reduced the …

MaleApolipoprotein EMouselcsh:MedicineCardiovascularBiochemistryFecesMiceSubcutaneous injectionchemistry.chemical_compoundIntestinal Mucosalcsh:ScienceCholesterol 7-alpha-HydroxylaseMultidisciplinaryReverse cholesterol transportAnimal ModelsLipidsIntestinesCholesterolLiverCyclosporineMedicinelipids (amino acids peptides and proteins)Research Articlemedicine.medical_specialtyLipoproteinsTritiumCholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylaseCardiovascular PharmacologyExcretionApolipoproteins EModel OrganismsIn vivoInternal medicinemedicineAnimalsBiologyCholesterollcsh:RProteinsBiological TransportLipid MetabolismAtherosclerosisSitosterolsSterolMice Inbred C57BLKineticsEndocrinologyGene Expression RegulationchemistryMacrophages Peritoneallcsh:QATP-Binding Cassette TransportersPLoS ONE
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The Gut Microbial Metabolite Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Is Present in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid

2017

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a small organic molecule, derived from the intestinal and hepatic metabolism of dietary choline and carnitine. Although the involvement of TMAO in the framework of many chronic diseases has been recently described, no evidence on its putative role in the central nervous system has been provided. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether TMAO is present at detectable levels in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF was collected for diagnostic purposes from 58 subjects by lumbar puncture and TMAO was quantified by using liquid chromatography coupled with multiple-reaction monitoring mass spectrometry. The molecule was detected in all samples, at concentrati…

0301 basic medicineMalemedicine.medical_specialtyMetaboliteCentral nervous systemTrimethylamine N-oxidelcsh:TX341-641Gut floraSpinal Puncturetrimethylamine-N-oxideMass Spectrometry03 medical and health scienceschemistry.chemical_compoundMethylamines0302 clinical medicineCerebrospinal fluidAlzheimer DiseasePredictive Value of TestsInternal medicinemedicineCholineHumansCarnitineAgedAged 80 and overNutrition and DieteticsbiologyBacteriagut microbiotaCommunicationMiddle Agedbiology.organism_classificationcentral nervous systemGastrointestinal MicrobiomeIntestines030104 developmental biologyEndocrinologymedicine.anatomical_structurechemistryBiochemistryDementiaFemalelcsh:Nutrition. Foods and food supply030217 neurology & neurosurgeryDrug metabolismFood Sciencemedicine.drugChromatography LiquidNutrients
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Lomitapide affects HDL composition and function

2016

Abstract Background Lomitapide reduces low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) but also high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. The latter may reduce the clinical efficacy of lomitapide. We investigated the effect of lomitapide on HDL-C levels and on cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) of HDL in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Methods and results Four HoFH patients were treated with increasing dosages of lomitapide. Lomitapide decreased LDL-C (range −34 to −89%). Total HDL-C levels decreased (range −16 to −34%) with a shift to buoyant HDL. ABCA1-mediated CEC decreased in all patients (range −39 to −99%). The changes of total, ABCG1- and SR-BI-me…

AdultMale0301 basic medicinemedicine.medical_specialtySettore MED/09 - Medicina InternaHDLHomozygous familial hypercholesterolemiaFamilial hypercholesterolemia030204 cardiovascular system & hematologyHyperlipoproteinemia Type IIYoung Adult03 medical and health scienceschemistry.chemical_compound0302 clinical medicineInternal medicineHumansMedicineIn patientClinical efficacyHyperlipoproteinemia Type IICholesterolbusiness.industryCholesterol HDLHomozygotenutritional and metabolic diseasesCholesterol LDLCholesterol efflux capacityAtherosclerosismedicine.diseaseCholesterol lowering drugsLomitapideLomitapideCholesterolPhenotypeTreatment Outcome030104 developmental biologyEndocrinologychemistryBenzimidazolesFemalelipids (amino acids peptides and proteins)Composition (visual arts)Cholesterol lowering drugHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsLipoproteins HDLCardiology and Cardiovascular MedicinebusinessATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1Atherosclerosis
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PCSK9 Confers Inflammatory Properties to Extracellular Vesicles Released by Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

2022

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are key participants in both early- and late-stage atherosclerosis and influence neighbouring cells possibly by means of bioactive molecules, some of which are packed into extracellular vesicles (EVs). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is expressed and secreted by VSMCs. This study aimed to unravel the role of PCSK9 on VSMCs-derived EVs in terms of content and functionality. EVs were isolated from human VSMCs overexpressing human PCSK9 (VSMCPCSK9-EVs) and tested on endothelial cells, monocytes, macrophages and in a model of zebrafish embryos. Compared to EVs released from wild-type VSMCs, VSMCPCSK9-EVs caused a rise in the expression …

Myocytes Smooth MusclePCSK9; atherosclerosis; extracellular vesicles; inflammation; vascular smooth muscle cellsPCSK9; atherosclerosis; extracellular vesicles; inflammation; vascular smooth muscle cells.Muscle Smooth VascularCatalysisPCSK9Inorganic ChemistryExtracellular VesiclesSettore BIO/13 - Biologia ApplicataSettore MED/44 - Medicina del Lavorovascular smooth muscle cellsAnimalsHumansPhysical and Theoretical ChemistryMolecular BiologyZebrafishSpectroscopySettore MED/04 - Patologia GeneraleOrganic ChemistryEndothelial CellsGeneral MedicineComputer Science Applicationsinflammationextracellular vesicles; PCSK9; atherosclerosis; inflammation; vascular smooth muscle cellsSettore BIO/14 - FarmacologiaatherosclerosisProprotein Convertase 9International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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Lomitapide treatment highly affects lipoprotein profile and HDL functionality in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

2015

medicine.medical_specialtybusiness.industryFamilial hypercholesterolemiamedicine.diseaseLomitapidechemistry.chemical_compoundEndocrinologychemistryInternal medicinemedicineIn patientHdl functionalityCardiology and Cardiovascular MedicinebusinessLipoproteinAtherosclerosis
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Effects of PCSK9 inhibitors on HDL cholesterol efflux and serum cholesterol loading capacity in familial hypercholesterolemia subjects: a multi-lipid…

2022

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), beyond regulating LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) plasma levels, exerts several pleiotropic effects by modulating lipid metabolism in extrahepatic cells such as macrophages. Macrophage cholesterol homeostasis depends on serum lipoprotein functions, including the HDL capacity to promote cell cholesterol efflux (CEC) and the serum capacity to promote cell cholesterol loading (CLC). The aim of this observational study was to investigate the effect of PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9-i) treatment on HDL-CEC and serum CLC in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). 31 genetically confirmed FH patients were recruited. Blood was collected and serum is…

cardiovascular riskSettore MED/09 - Medicina Internafamilial hypercholesterolemiaPCSK9 inhibitors cardiovascular risk cholesterol efflux capacity cholesterol loading capacity familial hypercholesterolemiaPCSK9 inhibitorsSettore BIO/14 - Farmacologiacholesterol loading capacityBiochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)Molecular BiologyBiochemistrycholesterol efflux capacityPCSK9 inhibitors; cardiovascular risk; cholesterol efflux capacity; cholesterol loading capacity; familial hypercholesterolemiaFrontiers in molecular biosciences
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