title: The E. coli CNF1 as a pioneering therapy for the central nervous system diseases.
abstract: The Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1), a protein toxin from pathogenic E. coli, modulates the Rho GTPases, thus, directing the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. In the nervous system, the Rho GTPases play a key role in several processes, controlling the morphogenesis of dendritic spines and synaptic plasticity in brain tissues. This review is focused on the peculiar property of CNF1 to enhance brain plasticity in in vivo animal models of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, and on its possible application in therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Superior Health Institute, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy. sara.travaglione@iss.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Travaglione
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Superior Health Institute, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy. stefano.loizzo@iss.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Superior Health Institute, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy. giukkab@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ballan
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Superior Health Institute, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy. carla.fiorentini@iss.it.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Superior Health Institute, viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy. alessia.fabbri@iss.it.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C060296:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins