Publications by authors named "Giorgia Catarinella"

Age-related reduction in muscle stem cell (MuSC) regenerative capacity is associated with cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous changes caused by alterations in systemic and skeletal muscle environments, ultimately leading to a decline in MuSC number and function. Previous studies demonstrated that STAT3 plays a key role in driving MuSC expansion and differentiation after injury-activated regeneration, by regulating autophagy in activated MuSCs. However, autophagy gradually declines in MuSCs during lifespan and contributes to the impairment of MuSC-mediated regeneration of aged muscles.

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Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare, fatal disease caused by Lamin A mutation, leading to altered nuclear architecture, loss of peripheral heterochromatin and deregulated gene expression. HGPS patients eventually die by coronary artery disease and cardiovascular alterations. Yet, how deregulated transcriptional networks at the cellular level impact on the systemic disease phenotype is currently unclear.

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Skeletal muscle is a very dynamic and plastic tissue, being essential for posture, locomotion and respiratory movement. Muscle atrophy or genetic muscle disorders, such as muscular dystrophies, are characterized by myofiber degeneration and replacement with fibrotic tissue. Recent studies suggest that changes in muscle metabolism such as mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulation of intracellular Ca homeostasis are implicated in many adverse conditions affecting skeletal muscle.

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Article Synopsis
  • Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) leads to muscle wasting and early death, but advancements in genetic therapies and addressing secondary issues like blood flow and fibrosis are crucial for better treatment outcomes.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction is an early sign of DMD, with two phases of damage: initial loss of mitochondrial mass, followed by an accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, affecting muscle fiber types in mdx mice.
  • Givinostat has been shown to improve mitochondrial function by inhibiting deacetylation of the PGC-1α promoter, enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and promoting healthier muscle fiber types in dystrophic muscles.
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