Ricerc@Sapienza

Research activities in the fields of diabetes, metabolic disorders, obesity, ageing, and their associated complications, including cancer.

Overall objective: to study of the molecular mechanisms involved in metabolic dysfunctions, alterations in nutritional status, aging and their complications. In particular, the purpose is to provide mechanistic insight into the molecular events involved in the pathogenesis of the cardiometabolic disorders related to the metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus (renal disease, atherosclerosis, NASH, and pancreatic cancer) as well as in normal aging process, in order to identify potential molecular target(s) for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for these conditions.

Specific aims: to investigate the role of the following mechanisms triggering insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and tissue damage through activation of pro-inflammatory and fibrogenic - redox sensitive - signaling pathways: accumulation of advanced glyco- and lipoxidation end-products (AGEs and ALEs) and signaling through their receptors (galectin-3, RAGE, scavenger receptors, toll-like receptors and NOD-like receptors); the purinergic system and the inflammasome; and the TIMP3/TACE dyad.

Methods: application of cell and molecular biology, morphometric and image analysis techniques to cell culture systems, experimental animal models and human samples.