Overview

We explore how the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways influences the development, health, and regeneration of eye tissues, with a particular emphasis on the retina and lens. We also develop zebrafish models of human inherited diseases to investigate underlying mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic strategies.

To achieve our research objectives, we employ a combination of the following approaches:

  • Zebrafish as a Genetic Model: The zebrafish model offers unique advantages, such as the possibility of applying in vivo imaging and molecular genetic studies, and the capacity for neural tissue regeneration, which is essential for studying regenerative therapies for eye conditions.
  • Disease Modeling: We develop zebrafish models that replicate human diseases to enhance our understanding of underlying mechanisms and to identify potential therapeutic targets.
  • Human Biospecimens: We analyze human samples to explore molecular and cellular changes associated with eye diseases, particularly those influenced by oxidative stress and inflammation.

Current research activity

We leverage murine and zebrafish models to investigate Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Through comparative transcriptome analyses with murine models of AMD, our goal is to identify key molecular targets that facilitate retinal protection and regeneration (in collaboration with the University of L’Aquila and Messina).

We employ zebrafish as a genetic model to investigate the role of gene regulators in photoreceptors development, survival, and retinal neurotransmission, aiming to elucidate their involvement in the pathogenesis of inherited cone-rod dystrophies (in collaboration with the University of Messina). 

We aim to elucidate the role of Wnt pathway deregulation in the development of cerebral cavernous malformations using zebrafish models of a neurovascular disease (in collaboration with the University of Messina).

We aim to evaluate the health and stress response in lens epithelial cells, focusing on the activation of chaperone proteins and other stress-regulated pathways (in collaboration with the University of Heidelberg)

We developed a zebrafish model of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (Moschcowitz disease) to evaluate cell therapy as a potential treatment in collaboration with the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri di Bergamo.

Collaborations

  • Gerd U Auffarth, University-Eye Clinic Heidelberg - LECs from cataract surgery
  • Flavia Ravelli, Universtiy of Trento, Image Processing and Analyses of protein distribution
  • Silvia Bertoluzza, CNR Pavia, Mathematical Modelling of Vascular patterns
  • Elfriede Friedmann, University of Kassel, Mathematical Modelling of Retinal Regeneration
  • Rita Maccarone, University dell’Aquila, Murine Models of Macular Degeneration
  • Susanna Tomasoni, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo, Cell Therapy
  • Antonella Sidoti, Rosalia D’Angelo, Luigi Donato, Concetta Scimone, University of Messina, Retinal and Vascular Diseases
  • Matthias Carl, University of Trento, Zebrafish Genetic Models
  • Simona Casarosa, University of Trento, Zebrafish Models of Inherited Retinal Diseases
  • Susanna Tomasoni, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri di Bergamo, development of therapeutic treatments for TTP

Funding

Bando: PRIN 2022 (D.D. 104/22)
An innovative cross-species transcriptome approach to target retinal cell dysfunction in age-related macular degeneration 
Lucia Poggi, Responsabile di Unità
Codice Protocollo: 2022PWMW5A     CUP: E53D23011540006

Selected publications

PubMed link

Google Scholar link

Lab Members

Samuele Sartori, PhD

Ignacio Babiloni Chust, Post Doc

Undergraduate BSc and MSc Students