Biology subjects

Moggio, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Moggio, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Artificial intelligence as a ploy to delve into the intricate relationship between genetics and mitochondria in MASLD patients

Background and AimsMitochondrial (mt-) dysfunction is a hallmark of progressive MASLD. MtDNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and cell-free circulating mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA), which reflect mt-mass and mt-dysfunction, respectively, are gaining attention as non-invasive disease biomarkers. We previously demonstrated that PNPLA3/MBOAT7/TM6SF2 deficiency in HepG2 cells increased mt-mass, mtDNA-CN and ccf-mtDNA. This study furtherly explored mt-biogenesis, function and mt-biomarkers in biopsied MASLD patients from a Discovery (n=28) and a Validation (n=824) cohort, stratified by the number of risk variants (NRV=3). We took advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop new risk scores, predicting MASLD evolution by integrating anthropometric and genetic data (Age, BMI, NRV) with mt-biomarkers. MethodsHepatic mt-morphology and dynamics were assessed by TEM, IHC and gene expression. mtDNA-CN and ccf-mtDNA were measured in PBMCs and serum samples. GPT-4 was employed as AI tool to support the construction of novel risk scores for MASLD progressive forms (MASH, fibrosis and HCC). ResultsIn the Discovery cohort, NRV=3 patients showed the highest mt-mass and significant mt-morphological changes (i.e. membranes rupture). An elevated PGC-1, OPA1, DRP1 and PINK1, markers of mt-biogenesis, fusion and fission were found in these patients, supporting an enhanced mt-dynamics. However, PRKN protein levels were reduced, suggesting a premature block of mitophagy. In the Validation cohort, PGC-1 mRNA levels and mtDNA-CN were significantly higher in NRV=3 compared to patients with 1,2 or no variants. Circulating mtDNA-CN and ccf-mtDNA were augmented in NRV=3 patients and correlated with genetics and MASLD severity at multivariate analysis, supporting that both may independently modulate mt-dynamics and activity. By exploiting rsGPT-4 we then optimized the combination of non-invasive variables to get prediction models named Mitochondrial, Anthropometric, and Genetic Integration with Computational intelligence ("MAGIC-") for assessing MASH, fibrosis, and HCC, respectively. The MAGIC-MASH and MAGIC-Fib models showed AUCs of 73% and 76% in detecting MASH and fibrosis >1. Of note, MAGIC-HCC achieved an AUC of 86% (95% CI: 0.823-0.885), with 78.6% sensitivity and 81.5% specificity thus resulting the best score for the desired outcome. ConclusionsmtDNA-CN and ccf-mtDNA may have pathological and prognostic significance in MASLD patients, especially in those genetically-predisposed.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2021

Cell environment shapes TDP-43 function: implications in neuronal and muscle disease

TDP-43 aggregation and redistribution have been recognised as a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia and other neurological disorders. While TDP-43 has been studied extensively in neuronal tissues, TDP-43 inclusions have also been described in the muscle of inclusion body myositis patients, highlighting the need to understand the role of TDP-43 beyond the central nervous system. Using RNA-seq we performed the first direct comparison of TDP-43-mediated transcription and alternative splicing in muscle (C2C12) and neuronal (NSC34) mouse cells. Our results clearly show that TDP-43 displays a tissue-characteristic behaviour targeting unique transcripts in each cell type. This is not due to variable transcript abundance but rather due to cell-specific expression of RNA-binding proteins, which influences TDP-43 performance. Among splicing events commonly dysregulated in both cell lines, we identified some that are TDP-43-dependent also in human cells and show that inclusion levels of these alternative exons appear to be differentially altered in affected tissues of FTLD and IBM patients. We therefore propose that TDP-43 dysfunction, reflected in aberrant splicing, contributes to disease development but it does so in a tissue- and disease-specific manner.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Impairments in contractility and cytoskeletal organisation cause nuclear defects in nemaline myopathy

Nemaline myopathy (NM) is a genetically heterogeneous skeletal muscle disorder caused by mutations predominately affecting contractile filaments, in particular thin filament structure and/or regulation. The underlying cellular pathophysiology of this disease remains largely unclear. Here, we report novel pathological defects in skeletal muscle fibres of mice and patients with NM, including disrupted nuclear envelope, altered chromatin arrangement, and disorganisation of the cortical cytoskeleton. We demonstrate that such nuclear defects are caused by impairment of muscle fibre contractility, and that cytoskeletal organisation determines nuclear morphology. Our results overlap with findings in diseases caused by mutations in nuclear envelope or cytoskeletal proteins. Given the important role of nuclear shape and envelope in regulating gene expression, and the cytoskeleton in maintaining muscle fibre integrity, our findings are likely to underlie some of the hallmarks of NM, which include broad transcriptional alterations, arrested muscle fibre growth, contractile filament disarray and altered mechanical properties.

cell biology↗