Institutes
Experimental neuropathology
In the laboratory, we are interested in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms that cause neurodegeneration in the peripheral and central nervous systems and identifying useful therapies. We take advantages of animal and cellular disease models in order to gain comprehensive insight into disease processes.
Research activity
1. Defining peripheral nerve environment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the aim of present project is to investigate the molecular pathways underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis within the peripheral nervous system in human motor nerve biopsies.
2. The role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components in inflammatory and hematological malignancies-related neuropathies: we hypothesize that ECM changes influence peripheral neuropathies (PN) by modulating Schwann cells differentiation, inflammation and the environment for axonal regeneration. Knowledge on how inflammation and ECM conspire during inflammatory PN and related malignancies will provide information on potential therapeutic targets.
3. New biomaterials for nerve regeneration: we have developed in collaboration with the Salento University a new micro-patterned collagen scaffold obtained by means of low cost spinning technique, based on thermodynamic and sedimentation phenomena to control pore size gradient and orientation, without the use of any complex mold. The main purpose of our project is to assess the extent of nerve regeneration induced by novel collagen scaffold and to dissect the biological events that occur inside the conduit in nerve repair in vivo.
Riva N, Clarelli F,Domi T, Cerri F, Gallia F, Trimarco A, Brambilla P, Lunetta C, Lazzerini A, Lauria G, Taveggia C, Iannaccone S, Nobile Orazio E, Comi G, D'Antonio M, Martinelli-Boneschi F and Quattrini A. Unraveling gene expression profiles in peripheral motor nerve from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: Insights into pathogenesis. Sci. Rep. 2016; 6: 39297.
Riva N, Agosta F, Lunetta C, Filippi M, Quattrini A. Recent advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol. 2016 Jun;263(6):1241-54.
Sessa M and Lorioli L, Fumagalli F, Acquati S, Redaelli D, Baldoli C, Canale S, Lopez ID, Morena F, Calabria A, Fiori R, Silvani P, Rancoita PMV, Gabaldo M, Benedicenti F, Antonioli G, Assanelli A, Cicalese MP, Del Carro U, Natali Sora MG, Martino S, Quattrini A, Montini E, Di Serio C, Ciceri F, Roncarolo MG, Aiuti A, Naldini L, Biffi A. Lentiviral haemopoietic stem-cell gene therapy in early-onset metachromatic leukodystrophy: an ad-hoc analysis of a non-randomised, open-label, phase 1/2 trial. Lancet 2016 Jul 30;388(10043):476-87.
Cerri F and Salvatore L, Memon D, Martinelli Boneschi F, Madaghiele M, Brambilla P, Del Carro U, Taveggia C, Riva N, Trimarco A, Lopez ID, Comi G, Pluchino S, Martino G, Sannino A, Quattrini A. Peripheral nerve morphogenesis induced by scaffold micropatterning. Biomaterials 2014 Apr;35(13):4035-4045.
Riva N, Chaabane L, Peviani M, Ungaro D, Domi T, Dina G, Bianchi F, Spano G, Cerri F, Podini P, Corbo M, Del Carro U, Comi G, Bendotti C, Quattrini A. Defining Peripheral Nervous System Dysfunction in the SOD-1G93A Transgenic Rat Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 2014 Jul;73(7):658-70.
Trimarco A, Forese MG, Alfieri V, Lucente A, Brambilla P, Dina G, Pieragostino D, Sacchetta P, Urade Y, Boizet-Bonhoure B, Martinelli-Boneschi F, Quattrini A, Taveggia C. Prostaglandin D2 synthase/GPR44: a signaling axis in PNS myelination. Nat. Neurosci. 2014 Dec;17(12):1682-92.
Riva N, Iannaccone S, Corbo M, Casellato C, Sferrazza B, Lazzerini A, Scarlino M, Cerri F, Previtali SC, Nobile-Orazio E, Comi G, Quattrini A. Motor nerve biopsy: Clinical usefulness and histopathological criteria. Ann. Neurol. 2011 Jan;69(1):197-201.
Dacci P, Dina G, Cerri F, Previtali SC,Lopez ID, Lauria G, Feltri ML, Bolino A, Comi G, Wrabetz L, Quattrini A. Foot pad skin biopsy in mouse models of hereditary neuropathy. GLIA 2010 Dec;58(16):2005-16.
Previtali SC, Malaguti MC, Riva N, Scarlino M, Dacci P, Dina G, Triolo D, Porrello E, Lorenzetti I, Fazio R, Comi G, Bolino A, Quattrini A. The extracellular matrix affects axonal regeneration in peripheral neuropathies. Neurology 2008 Jul 29;71(5):322-31.
Wrabetz L, D'Antonio M, Pennuto M, Dati G,Tinelli E, Fratta P, Previtali S, Imperiale D, Zielasek J, Toyka K, Avila RL, Kirschner DA, Messing A, Feltri ML, Quattrini A. Different intracellular pathomechanisms produce diverse Myelin Protein Zero neuropathies in transgenic mice. J. Neurosci. 2006 Feb 22;26(8):2358-68.
