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  1. Article: Molecular Mimicry and HLA Polymorphisms May Drive Autoimmunity in Recipients of the BNT-162b2 mRNA Vaccine: A Computational Analysis.

    Talotta, Rossella

    Microorganisms

    2023  Volume 11, Issue 7

    Abstract: Background: After the start of the worldwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign, there were increased reports of autoimmune diseases occurring de novo after vaccination. This in silico analysis aimed to investigate the presence of protein epitopes encoded by ...

    Abstract Background: After the start of the worldwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign, there were increased reports of autoimmune diseases occurring de novo after vaccination. This in silico analysis aimed to investigate the presence of protein epitopes encoded by the BNT-162b2 mRNA vaccine, one of the most widely administered COVID-19 vaccines, which could induce autoimmunity in predisposed individuals.
    Methods: The FASTA sequence of the protein encoded by the BNT-162b2 vaccine served as the key input to the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource. Linear peptides with 90% BLAST homology were selected, and T-cell, B-cell, and MHC-ligand assays without MHC restriction were searched and analyzed. HLA disease associations were screened on the HLA-SPREAD platform by selecting only positive markers.
    Results: By 7 May 2023, a total of 5693 epitopes corresponding to 21 viral but also human proteins were found. The latter included CHL1, ENTPD1, MEAF6, SLC35G2, and ZFHX2. Importantly, some autoepitopes may be presented by HLA alleles positively associated with various immunological diseases.
    Conclusions: The protein product of the BNT-162b2 mRNA vaccine contains immunogenic epitopes that may trigger autoimmune phenomena in predisposed individuals through a molecular mimicry mechanism. Genotyping for HLA alleles may help identify individuals at risk. However, further wet-lab studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-06-28
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2720891-6
    ISSN 2076-2607
    ISSN 2076-2607
    DOI 10.3390/microorganisms11071686
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  2. Article ; Online: Interaction between Long Noncoding RNAs and Syncytin-1/Syncytin-2 Genes and Transcripts: How Noncoding RNAs May Affect Pregnancy in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

    Talotta, Rossella

    International journal of molecular sciences

    2023  Volume 24, Issue 3

    Abstract: Background: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often suffer from obstetric complications not necessarily associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome. These events may potentially result from the reduced placental synthesis of the ... ...

    Abstract Background: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often suffer from obstetric complications not necessarily associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome. These events may potentially result from the reduced placental synthesis of the fusogenic proteins syncytin-1 and syncytin-2, observed in women with pregnancy-related disorders. SLE patients have an aberrant noncoding (nc)RNA signature that may in turn dysregulate the expression of syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 during placentation. The aim of this research is to computationally evaluate and characterize the interaction between syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 genes and human ncRNAs and to discuss the potential implications for SLE pregnancy adverse outcomes.
    Methods: The FASTA sequences of the syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 genes were used as inputs to the Ensembl.org library to find any alignments with human ncRNA genes and their transcripts, which were characterized for their tissue expression, regulatory activity on adjacent genes, biological pathways, and potential association with human disease.
    Results: BLASTN analysis revealed a total of 100 hits with human long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) for the syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 genes, with median alignment scores of 151 and 66.7, respectively. Only lncRNAs TP53TG1, TTTY14, and ENSG00000273328 were reported to be expressed in placental tissue. Dysregulated expression of lncRNAs TP53TG1, LINC01239, and LINC01320 found in this analysis has previously been described in SLE patients as well as in women with a high-risk pregnancy. In addition, some of the genes adjacent to lncRNAs aligned with syncytin-1 or syncytin-2 in a regulatory region might increase the risk of pregnancy complications or SLE.
    Conclusions: This is the first computational study showing alignments between syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 genes and human lncRNAs. Whether this mechanism affects syncytiotrophoblast morphogenesis in SLE females is unknown and requires further investigation.
    MeSH term(s) Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism ; Placenta/metabolism ; Gene Products, env/metabolism ; Placentation ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/metabolism
    Chemical Substances syncytin ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; Gene Products, env
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-01-23
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 2019364-6
    ISSN 1422-0067 ; 1422-0067 ; 1661-6596
    ISSN (online) 1422-0067
    ISSN 1422-0067 ; 1661-6596
    DOI 10.3390/ijms24032259
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  3. Article ; Online: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as hypothetical epigenetic players: Results from an in silico analysis, considerations and perspectives.

    Talotta, Rossella

    Vaccine

    2023  Volume 41, Issue 35, Page(s) 5182–5194

    Abstract: Objectives: To investigate in silico the occurrence of epigenetic crosstalk by nucleotide sequence complementarity between the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and whole human genome, including coding and noncoding (nc)RNA genes. To correlate these results with ... ...

    Abstract Objectives: To investigate in silico the occurrence of epigenetic crosstalk by nucleotide sequence complementarity between the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and whole human genome, including coding and noncoding (nc)RNA genes. To correlate these results with those obtained with the original spike (S) gene of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).
    Methods: The publicly available FASTA sequence of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and the SARS-CoV-2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1 S gene (NC_045512.2) were used separately as key input to the Ensembl.org library to evaluate base pair match to human GRCh38 genome. Human coding and noncoding genes harboring hits were assessed for functional activity and health effects using bioinformatics tools and GWAS databases.
    Results: The BLAT analysis against the human GRCh38 genome revealed a total of 37 hits for BNT162b2 mRNA and no hits for the SARS-CoV-2 S gene. More specifically, BNT162b2 mRNA matched 19 human genes whose protein products are variously involved in enzyme reactions, nucleotide or cation binding, signaling, and carrier functions. In BLASTN analysis of ncRNA genes, BNT162b2 mRNA and SARS-CoV-2 S gene matched 17 and 24 different human genomic regions, respectively. Overall, characterization of the matched noncoding sequences revealed stronger interference with epigenetic pathways for BNT162b2 mRNA compared with the original S gene.
    Conclusion: This pivotal in silico analysis shows that SARS-CoV-2 S gene and the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine exhibit Watson-Crick nucleotide complementarity with human coding or noncoding genes. Although they do not share the same complementarity pattern, both may disrupt epigenetic mechanisms in target cells, potentially leading to long-term complications.
    MeSH term(s) Humans ; COVID-19 Vaccines/genetics ; BNT162 Vaccine ; COVID-19/prevention & control ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Antibodies, Viral
    Chemical Substances COVID-19 Vaccines ; BNT162 Vaccine ; Antibodies, Viral
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-07-13
    Publishing country Netherlands
    Document type Journal Article
    ZDB-ID 605674-x
    ISSN 1873-2518 ; 0264-410X
    ISSN (online) 1873-2518
    ISSN 0264-410X
    DOI 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.07.007
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  4. Article ; Online: Interaction between Long Noncoding RNAs and Syncytin-1/Syncytin-2 Genes and Transcripts

    Rossella Talotta

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 24, Iss 2259, p

    How Noncoding RNAs May Affect Pregnancy in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

    2023  Volume 2259

    Abstract: Background: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often suffer from obstetric complications not necessarily associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome. These events may potentially result from the reduced placental synthesis of the ... ...

    Abstract Background: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often suffer from obstetric complications not necessarily associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome. These events may potentially result from the reduced placental synthesis of the fusogenic proteins syncytin-1 and syncytin-2, observed in women with pregnancy-related disorders. SLE patients have an aberrant noncoding (nc)RNA signature that may in turn dysregulate the expression of syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 during placentation. The aim of this research is to computationally evaluate and characterize the interaction between syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 genes and human ncRNAs and to discuss the potential implications for SLE pregnancy adverse outcomes. Methods: The FASTA sequences of the syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 genes were used as inputs to the Ensembl.org library to find any alignments with human ncRNA genes and their transcripts, which were characterized for their tissue expression, regulatory activity on adjacent genes, biological pathways, and potential association with human disease. Results: BLASTN analysis revealed a total of 100 hits with human long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) for the syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 genes, with median alignment scores of 151 and 66.7, respectively. Only lncRNAs TP53TG1, TTTY14, and ENSG00000273328 were reported to be expressed in placental tissue. Dysregulated expression of lncRNAs TP53TG1, LINC01239, and LINC01320 found in this analysis has previously been described in SLE patients as well as in women with a high-risk pregnancy. In addition, some of the genes adjacent to lncRNAs aligned with syncytin-1 or syncytin-2 in a regulatory region might increase the risk of pregnancy complications or SLE. Conclusions: This is the first computational study showing alignments between syncytin-1 and syncytin-2 genes and human lncRNAs. Whether this mechanism affects syncytiotrophoblast morphogenesis in SLE females is unknown and requires further investigation.
    Keywords bioinformatics ; epigenetics ; human endogenous retroviruses ; long noncoding RNAs ; placenta ; pregnancy ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5 ; Chemistry ; QD1-999
    Subject code 610
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  5. Article: Impaired VEGF-A-Mediated Neurovascular Crosstalk Induced by SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein: A Potential Hypothesis Explaining Long COVID-19 Symptoms and COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects?

    Talotta, Rossella

    Microorganisms

    2022  Volume 10, Issue 12

    Abstract: Long coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a newly discovered syndrome characterized by multiple organ manifestations that persist for weeks to months, following the recovery from acute disease. Occasionally, neurological and cardiovascular side effects ... ...

    Abstract Long coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a newly discovered syndrome characterized by multiple organ manifestations that persist for weeks to months, following the recovery from acute disease. Occasionally, neurological and cardiovascular side effects mimicking long COVID-19 have been reported in recipients of COVID-19 vaccines. Hypothetically, the clinical similarity could be due to a shared pathogenic role of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein produced by the virus or used for immunization. The S protein can bind to neuropilin (NRP)-1, which normally functions as a coreceptor for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A. By antagonizing the docking of VEGF-A to NRP-1, the S protein could disrupt physiological pathways involved in angiogenesis and nociception. One consequence could be the increase in unbound forms of VEGF-A that could bind to other receptors. SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals may exhibit increased plasma levels of VEGF-A during both acute illness and convalescence, which could be responsible for diffuse microvascular and neurological damage. A few studies suggest that serum VEGF-A may also be a potential biomarker for long COVID-19, whereas evidence for COVID-19 vaccines is lacking and merits further investigation.
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-12-12
    Publishing country Switzerland
    Document type Journal Article ; Review
    ZDB-ID 2720891-6
    ISSN 2076-2607
    ISSN 2076-2607
    DOI 10.3390/microorganisms10122452
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  6. Article ; Online: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as hypothetical epigenetic players: Results from an in silico analysis, considerations and perspectives

    Talotta, Rossella

    Vaccine. 2023 Aug., v. 41, no. 35 p.5182-5194

    2023  

    Abstract: To investigate in silico the occurrence of epigenetic crosstalk by nucleotide sequence complementarity between the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and whole human genome, including coding and noncoding (nc)RNA genes. To correlate these results with those obtained ... ...

    Abstract To investigate in silico the occurrence of epigenetic crosstalk by nucleotide sequence complementarity between the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and whole human genome, including coding and noncoding (nc)RNA genes. To correlate these results with those obtained with the original spike (S) gene of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The publicly available FASTA sequence of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and the SARS-CoV-2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1 S gene (NC_045512.2) were used separately as key input to the Ensembl.org library to evaluate base pair match to human GRCh38 genome. Human coding and noncoding genes harboring hits were assessed for functional activity and health effects using bioinformatics tools and GWAS databases. The BLAT analysis against the human GRCh38 genome revealed a total of 37 hits for BNT162b2 mRNA and no hits for the SARS-CoV-2 S gene. More specifically, BNT162b2 mRNA matched 19 human genes whose protein products are variously involved in enzyme reactions, nucleotide or cation binding, signaling, and carrier functions. In BLASTN analysis of ncRNA genes, BNT162b2 mRNA and SARS-CoV-2 S gene matched 17 and 24 different human genomic regions, respectively. Overall, characterization of the matched noncoding sequences revealed stronger interference with epigenetic pathways for BNT162b2 mRNA compared with the original S gene. This pivotal in silico analysis shows that SARS-CoV-2 S gene and the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine exhibit Watson-Crick nucleotide complementarity with human coding or noncoding genes. Although they do not share the same complementarity pattern, both may disrupt epigenetic mechanisms in target cells, potentially leading to long-term complications.
    Keywords COVID-19 infection ; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ; bioinformatics ; cations ; computer simulation ; enzymes ; epigenetics ; genes ; genomics ; humans ; non-coding RNA ; nucleotide sequences ; vaccines ; BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Spike ; COVID-19
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-08
    Size p. 5182-5194.
    Publishing place Elsevier Ltd
    Document type Article ; Online
    Note Pre-press version
    ZDB-ID 605674-x
    ISSN 1873-2518 ; 0264-410X
    ISSN (online) 1873-2518
    ISSN 0264-410X
    DOI 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.07.007
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  7. Article ; Online: Do COVID-19 RNA-based vaccines put at risk of immune-mediated diseases? In reply to "potential antigenic cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human tissue with a possible link to an increase in autoimmune diseases".

    Talotta, Rossella

    Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.)

    2021  Volume 224, Page(s) 108665

    MeSH term(s) Autoimmune Diseases ; COVID-19 ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Humans ; RNA ; SARS-CoV-2
    Chemical Substances COVID-19 Vaccines ; RNA (63231-63-0)
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-01-08
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Letter ; Comment
    ZDB-ID 1459903-x
    ISSN 1521-7035 ; 1521-6616
    ISSN (online) 1521-7035
    ISSN 1521-6616
    DOI 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108665
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  8. Article ; Online: The rationale for targeting the JAK/STAT pathway in scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease.

    Talotta, Rossella

    Immunotherapy

    2020  Volume 13, Issue 3, Page(s) 241–256

    Abstract: The etiopathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is still debated and no therapeutic options have proved fully effective to date. The intracellular Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of ... ...

    Abstract The etiopathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is still debated and no therapeutic options have proved fully effective to date. The intracellular Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway is highly conserved among either immune or nonimmune cells and involved in inflammation and fibrosis. Evidence from preclinical studies shows that the JAK/STAT signaling cascade has a crucial role in the differentiation of autoreactive cells as well as in the extracellular matrix remodeling that occurs in SSc. Therefore, it is likely that the use of oral small molecule JAK-inhibitors, especially if prescribed early, may prevent or slow the progression of SSc-associated ILD, but few clinical studies currently support this hypothesis.
    MeSH term(s) Animals ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Janus Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Janus Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Janus Kinases/metabolism ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/drug therapy ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/etiology ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/metabolism ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/pathology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; STAT Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Scleroderma, Systemic/complications ; Scleroderma, Systemic/drug therapy ; Scleroderma, Systemic/metabolism ; Scleroderma, Systemic/pathology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects
    Chemical Substances Janus Kinase Inhibitors ; STAT Transcription Factors ; Janus Kinases (EC 2.7.10.2)
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-12-02
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article ; Review
    ZDB-ID 2495964-9
    ISSN 1750-7448 ; 1750-743X
    ISSN (online) 1750-7448
    ISSN 1750-743X
    DOI 10.2217/imt-2020-0270
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  9. Article: Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Treating Psoriatic Arthritis.

    Talotta, Rossella / Aiello, Maria Rita / Restuccia, Roberto / Magaudda, Ludovico

    Alternative therapies in health and medicine

    2024  Volume 30, Issue 3, Page(s) 36–43

    Abstract: Background and objective: In this review, we discuss evidence concerning the management of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with non-pharmacological interventions and additionally develop physical training protocols that could be prescribed to these ... ...

    Abstract Background and objective: In this review, we discuss evidence concerning the management of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with non-pharmacological interventions and additionally develop physical training protocols that could be prescribed to these patients.
    Methods: We selected 110 articles, published on PubMed and Google Scholar databases from 1972 to date, investigating the effects of generic hygienic-dietary recommendations and training programs in PsA or psoriasis (PSO) individuals.
    Results: Although data in support are limited, aerobic, endurance, and strength exercises as well as complementary techniques may all be useful in preserving or improving residual functional capacity, joint flexibility, and muscle strength. Exercise may reduce systemic inflammation, pain, and fatigue and additionally control PsA comorbidities, like dysmetabolism or obesity.
    Conclusions: The polyhedral clinical expression of PsA underlines the need for a multidisciplinary approach combining the synergistic effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The latter range from preventive measures, like dietary modifications, weight loss, and cigarette smoking cessation, to personalized training protocols according to disease activity and phenotype, comorbidities, and individual tolerability. In these patients, we strongly encourage the regular practice of motor activity at progressively increasing intensity with combined supervised aerobic, strength, endurance, and stretching exercises.
    MeSH term(s) Humans ; Arthritis, Psoriatic/therapy ; Exercise Therapy/methods ; Exercise
    Language English
    Publishing date 2024-04-06
    Publishing country United States
    Document type Journal Article ; Review
    ZDB-ID 1225073-9
    ISSN 1078-6791
    ISSN 1078-6791
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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  10. Article ; Online: Antiphospholipid antibodies and risk of post-COVID-19 vaccination thrombophilia: The straw that breaks the camel's back?

    Talotta, Rossella / Robertson, Erle S

    Cytokine & growth factor reviews

    2021  Volume 60, Page(s) 52–60

    Abstract: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs), present in 1-5 % of healthy individuals, are associated with the risk of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), which is the most common form of acquired thrombophilia. APLs may appear following infections or vaccinations ... ...

    Abstract Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs), present in 1-5 % of healthy individuals, are associated with the risk of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), which is the most common form of acquired thrombophilia. APLs may appear following infections or vaccinations and have been reported in patients with COronaVIrus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). However, their association with COVID-19 vaccination is unclear. Notably, a few cases of thrombocytopenia and thrombotic events resembling APS have been reported to develop in recipients of either adenoviral vector- or mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. The aim of this review is therefore to speculate on the plausible role of aPLs in the pathogenesis of these rare adverse events. Adenoviral vector-based vaccines can bind platelets and induce their destruction in the reticuloendothelial organs. Liposomal mRNA-based vaccines may instead favour activation of coagulation factors and confer a pro-thrombotic phenotype to endothelial cells and platelets. Furthermore, both formulations may trigger a type I interferon response associated with the generation of aPLs. In turn, aPLs may lead to aberrant activation of the immune response with participation of innate immune cells, cytokines and the complement cascade. NETosis, monocyte recruitment and cytokine release may further support endothelial dysfunction and promote platelet aggregation. These considerations suggest that aPLs may represent a risk factor for thrombotic events following COVID-19 vaccination, and deserve further investigations.
    MeSH term(s) Antibodies, Antiphospholipid/analysis ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid/immunology ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/etiology ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/immunology ; COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects ; COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology ; Contraindications, Drug ; Humans ; Thrombophilia/etiology ; Thrombophilia/immunology
    Chemical Substances Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; COVID-19 Vaccines
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-05-28
    Publishing country England
    Document type Journal Article ; Review
    ZDB-ID 1330534-7
    ISSN 1879-0305 ; 1359-6101
    ISSN (online) 1879-0305
    ISSN 1359-6101
    DOI 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2021.05.001
    Database MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE

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