Cellular and Molecular Physiology. Coordinator: Caprini

Study and characterization of the mechanisms of functional and molecular interaction of channel proteins in the physiological and pathophysiological processes of mammals useful for the identification of new therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.

Research themes

In this unit there are 4 main lines of research:

1) Expression and function of ion channels involved in neuropathic and gastrointestinal pain in Anderson-Fabry disease

This line of research has the main objective of studying the role of different receptors/ion channels involved in nociceptive processes that participate in neuropathic pain in the lysosomal storage disease defined as Fabry disease. In this research, cell biology, cellular electrophysiology and microfluorimetry techniques are used, as well as a mouse model of the disease itself.

2) Analysis of brain homeostatic mechanisms in physiology and pathophysiology

In these studies, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the homeostatic control of astroglial cells in physiological conditions and their regulation in pathophysiological situations are analyzed. Cellular biology, cellular electrophysiology and microfluorimetry techniques are used in this research.

3) Transcriptional channelopathies in glial and neuronal cells

This line of research has the main objective of determining the pathogenetic role of the altered expression of channel proteins in glial and neuronal cells in some chronic diseases of the central nervous system. In these studies, in vitro and in situ molecular biology and cellular electrophysiology techniques are used.

4) Role of channel receptors and aquaporins in the control of cell volume in rat cortical astrocytes

Through collaboration with the Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF) of the National Research Council (CNR), nanostructured interfaces, electronic and photonic devices are used to identify and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of cortical astrocytes of rat in order to develop and highlight the potential of new diagnostic imaging techniques and stimulation of cellular physiological activity.

5) "Pain in a dish" models through 3D bioprinting

This project aims to employ a 3D bioprinting technology developed by our research group, coupled with direct reprogramming of human fibroblasts isolated from patients with congenital neuropathy into sensory neurons. In this patient-specific model inflammation and neurodegeneration will be investigated, along with neuronal excitability and ion channel disfunctions. In collaboration with ISMN (Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials - CNR).

Lab Members

Marco Caprini, Associate Professor 

Stefano Ferroni, Associate Professor 

Francesco Formaggio, Junior Assistant Professor 

Internship projects

3 position open on the projects above mentioned for students of Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy, Genomics and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.

Main publications

  • Delprete C, Rimondini Giorgini R, Lucarini E, Bastiaanssen TFS, Scicchitano D, Interino N, Formaggio F, Uhlig F, Ghelardini C, Hyland NP, Cryan JF, Liguori R, Candela M, Fiori J, Turroni S, Di Cesare Mannelli L, Caprini M. (2023) Disruption of the microbiota-gut-brain axis is a defining characteristic of the α-Gal A (-/0) mouse model of Fabry disease. Gut Microbes. 2023 Dec;15(2):2256045. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2256045.
  • Formaggio, F., Fazzina, M., Estévez, R., Caprini, M., Ferroni, S.2022 Dynamic expression of homeostatic ion channels in differentiated cortical astrocytes in vitro Pflugers Archiv European Journal of Physiology 474(2), pp. 243-260. doi: 10.1007/s00424-021-02627.
  • Formaggio F, Rimondini R, Delprete C, Scalia L, Merlo Pich E, Liguori R, Nicoletti F, Caprini M. (2022) L-Acetylcarnitine causes analgesia in mice modeling Fabry disease by up-regulating type-2 metabotropic glutamate receptors. Mol Pain. Jan-Dec;18:17448069221087033.doi: 10.1177/17448069221087033.
  • Lakomá J, Rimondini R, Donadio V, Liguori R, Caprini M. (2014) Pain related channels are differentially expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal cells of glabrous skin of fabry knockout male mice. PLoS One. 2014 Oct 22;9(10): e108641. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108641. 2014. PMID: 25337704
  • Benfenati V, Caprini M, Dovizio M, Mylonakou MN, Ferroni S, Ottersen OP, Amiry-Moghaddam M. An aquaporin-4/transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (AQP4/TRPV4) complex is essential for cell-volume control in astrocytes (2011). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (PNAS). F108(6):2563-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1012867108. PMID:21262839.

Contacts