Ricerc@Sapienza

Background and Aims: The activation of human biliary tree stem/progenitor cells (hBTSCs) located in peribiliary glands (PBGs) havebeen recently described in different cholangiopathies, including Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) and Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). In these pathologies, hBTSCs also display features of EMT, senescence and dysplasia. The aim of the present study was to investigate putative agents reproducing in primary cultures of hBTSCs the pathologic features observed in PBGs of human cholangiopathies.

The structural characterization of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from extremophiles has
important implications in several biomedical and therapeutic applications. The polyextremophile
Gram-negative bacterium Halobacteroides lacunaris TB21, isolated from one of the most extreme
habitats on our planet, the deep-sea hypersaline anoxic basin Thetis, represents a fascinating
microorganism to investigate in terms of its LPS component. Here we report the elucidation of

he search for novel lipid A analogues from anybiological source that can act as antagonists, displaying in-hibitory activity towards the production of pro-inflammatorycytokines, or as immunomodulators in mammals, is a verytopical issue. To this aim, the structure and immunologicalproperties of the lipopolysaccharide lipid A from the purplenonsulfur bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris strainBisA53 have been determined.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are always more recognized as responsible for chronic disease at the intestinal level. Currently, a growing interest is addressed to the discovery of diet-derived products which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This work aims to characterize the pharmacological potential of dehydrated potatoes. For this purpose, a simulated gastrointestinal digestion was carried out.