A5071816363- Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Polyamine Metabolism and Applications
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Retinal Diseases and Treatments
- Pancreatic function and diabetes
- Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
- Advanced Glycation End Products research
- Glutathione Transferases and Polymorphisms
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- Chemical Synthesis and Characterization
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Redox biology and oxidative stress
- Eicosanoids and Hypertension Pharmacology
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Radioactive contamination and transfer
- Chemical synthesis and alkaloids
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Adrenal and Paraganglionic Tumors
- Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
University of Bologna
2019-2024
University of Würzburg
2020
St Thomas' Hospital
2018
King's College London
2018
An adequate protection from oxidative and inflammatory reactions, together with the promotion of oligodendrocyte progenitor (OP) differentiation, is needed to recover myelin damage in demyelinating diseases. Mitochondria are targets insults essential differentiation. It known that nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor/antioxidant responsive element (NRF2/ARE) peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma/PPAR-γ response (PPAR-γ/PPRE) pathways control inflammation overcome...
Primary aldosteronism accounts for 6–15% of hypertension cases, the single biggest contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Whilst ~50% these patients have unilateral aldosterone-producing adenomas, only a minority curative surgery as current diagnosis disease is poor. Carbon-11 radiolabelled metomidate ([11C]MTO) positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer able selectively identify CYP11B1/2 expressing adrenocortical lesions adrenal gland. However, use [11C]MTO limited PET centres...
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common disease with multifactorial aetiology, still lacking effective and curative therapies. Among the early events triggering AMD deterioration of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), whose fundamental functions assure good health retina. RPE physiologically exposed to high levels oxidative stress during its lifespan; thus, integrity well-functioning antioxidant systems are crucial maintain homeostasis. these defensive systems, Nrf2-pathway plays...
Fourteen polyamine analogues, asymmetric or symmetric substituted spermine (1-9) methoctramine (10-14) were evaluated as potential inhibitors substrates of two enzymes the catabolic pathway, oxidase (SMOX) and acetylpolyamine (PAOX). Compound 2 turned out to be best substrate for PAOX, having highest affinity catalytic efficiency with respect its physiological substrates. Methoctramine (10), a well-known muscarinic M2 receptor antagonist, emerged most potent competitive PAOX inhibitor known...
The transcription factor Nrf2 coordinates a multifaceted response to various forms of stress and inflammatory processes, maintaining homeostatic intracellular environment. anti-inflammatory activity has been related the crosstalk with NF-κB, pivotal mediator responses multiple aspects innate adaptative immune functions. However, underlying molecular basis not completely clarified. By combining into new chemical entities, hydroxycinnamoyl motif from curcumin allyl mercaptan moiety garlic...
Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are well-known pharmacological targets in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. However, recent studies have revealed a new role for MAOs certain types of cancer such as glioblastoma prostate cancer, which they been found overexpressed. This finding is opening frontiers MAO inhibitors potential antiproliferative agents. In light our previous demonstrating how polyamine scaffold can act inhibitor, aim was to search novel analogs with greater inhibitory potency...
Neurodegenerative processes characterizing Alzheimer's disease (AD) are strictly related to the impairment of cholinergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitter systems which provoke synaptic loss. These experimental evidences still represent foundation actual standard-of-care treatment for AD, albeit palliative, consisting on coadministration an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor NMDAR antagonist memantine. In looking more effective treatments, we previously developed a series galantamine-memantine...
Antioxidant systems play key roles in many elderly diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Oxidative stress, autophagy impairment and inflammation are well-described AMD, especially retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The master regulator of antioxidant defense Nrf2 has been linked to inflammation. In this study, human ARPE-19 cells, some nature-inspired hybrids (NIH1-3) previously shown induce Nrf2-mediated protection against oxidative stress were further...
Catechols have been largely investigated as antiaggregating agents toward β-amyloid peptide. Herein, a follow up of previous series hydroxycinnamic derivatives, we synthesized small set dihydroxy isomers for exploring the role reciprocal position two hydroxyl functions at molecular level. Para- and ortho-derivatives effectively reduced amyloid fibrillization, while meta-analogue was devoid any activity in this respect. Electrochemical analyses showed that potency correlates with oxidation...
Oxidative stress (OS) plays a key role in retinal dysfunctions and acts as major trigger of inflammatory neurodegenerative processes several diseases. To prevent OS-induced damage, approaches based on the use natural compounds are actively investigated. Recently, structural features from curcumin diallyl sulfide have been combined nature-inspired hybrid (NIH1), which has described to activate transcription nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2), master regulator antioxidant...
Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are well-known pharmacological targets in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. However, recent studies have revealed a new role for MAOs certain types of cancer, such as glioblastoma prostate where they been found overexpressed. This finding is opening frontiers inhibitors potential antiproliferative agents. In light our previous demonstrating how polyamine scaffold can act inhibitor, aim was to search novel analogues with even greater inhibitory potency...
Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation play a pivotal role in triggering the neurodegenerative pathological cascades which characterize disorders, such as Alzheimer's Parkinson's diseases. In search for potential efficient treatments these pathologies, that are still considered unmet medical needs, we started from promising properties of antidiabetic drug pioglitazone, has been repositioned an MAO-B inhibitor, characterized by neuroprotective properties. Herein, with aim to broaden its...
The Cover Feature shows the different molecular tools, namely functionalized ligands, developed for cannabinoid subtype 2 receptors (CB2Rs) to investigate universe of this drug target, i.e. its structure, signaling, expression patterns, function, and dynamics in both health disease. Such CB2R ligands are by medicinal chemists help pharmacologists physiologists understand universe, their discovery applies latest techniques methods GPCR research (radiotracers, photochromic covalent so forth)....
Abstract References: Antioxidant systems are essential in many elderly diseases, including age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Oxidative stress, inflammation, protein degradation impairment, well‐described AMD retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Nrf2 (NF‐E2‐related factor 2), master regulator of antioxidant defence, is linked to AMD, autophagy, inflammation. We previously showed that nature‐inspired hybrids (NIH1‐3) induce Nrf2‐mediated protection against AMD‐related pro‐oxidant...