title: Berberine exposure triggers developmental effects on planarian regeneration.
abstract: The mechanisms of action underlying the pharmacological properties of the natural alkaloid berberine still need investigation. Planarian regeneration is instrumental in deciphering developmental responses following drug exposure. Here we report the effects of berberine on regeneration in the planarian Dugesia japonica. Our findings demonstrate that this compound perturbs the regenerative pattern. By real-time PCR screening for the effects of berberine exposure on gene expression, we identified alterations in the transcriptional profile of genes representative of different tissues, as well as of genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Although berberine does not influence cell proliferation/apoptosis, our experiments prove that this compound causes abnormal regeneration of the planarian visual system. Potential berberine-induced cytotoxic effects were noticed in the intestine. Although we were unable to detect abnormalities in other structures, our findings, sustained by RNAi-based investigations, support the possibility that berberine effects are critically linked to anomalous ECM remodeling in treated planarians.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, S. S. Abetone e Brennero 4, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balestrini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Emilia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Isolani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietra
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borghini
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali, Via Giusti 9, 50121 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bianucci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, S. S. Abetone e Brennero 4, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, S. S. Abetone e Brennero 4, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Batistoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D010932:Planarians / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine