Publications by authors named "Alessandra Pistolesi"
Drugs able to efficiently counteract the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) are still an unmet need. Numerous preclinical evidence indicates that reactive oxygen-generating enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO), expressed by neutrophils and microglia, might play a key role in neurodegenerative disorders. Then, the MPO inhibition has been evaluated in clinical trials in Parkinson's and multiple system atrophy patients, and a clinical trial for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is underway.
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- The study investigates the relationship between autoimmunity and mitochondrial dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in its progressive form (PMS), using a mouse model.
- It compares the effects of traditional immunosuppressants (dexamethasone and fingolimod) with mTOR inhibitors (rapamycin and everolimus), finding that mTOR inhibitors significantly delayed disease progression and extended survival in mice.
- The research highlights the importance of enhancing mitochondrial function as a promising therapeutic approach for PMS, suggesting that mTOR inhibitors could be beneficial in treating this condition.
Introduction: Derangement of axonal mitochondrial bioenergetics occurs during progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS). However, whether this is a delayed epiphenomenon or an early causative event of disease progression waits to be understood. Answering this question might further our knowledge of mechanisms underlying neurobiology of PMS and related therapy.
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- Chronic exposure to triptans, a type of medication, in rodents leads to medication overuse headache (MOH), increasing pain sensitivity and the overexpression of certain pain-related proteins.
- In a study, two drugs (panobinostat and givinostat), which inhibit histone deacetylase (HDAC), were tested on rats that had been exposed to eletriptan for a month, showing they could reduce the overexpression of pain-related genes like CGRP and RAMP1.
- The findings suggest that HDACs play a significant role in the mechanisms behind MOH, indicating that HDAC inhibitors may offer a new way to prevent the worsening of migraines.
Objective: To investigate how cluster headache preventatives verapamil, lithium and prednisone affect expression of hypothalamic genes involved in chronobiology.
Methods: C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to daily, oral treatment with verapamil, lithium, prednisone or amitriptyline (as negative control), and transcripts of multiple genes quantified in the anterior, lateral and posterior hypothalamus.
Results: Verapamil, lithium or prednisone did not affect expression of clock genes of the anterior hypothalamus (, , and ).