Staff: Dr. GianLuigi Russo, Dr. Giuseppe Iacomino, Dr. Maria Russo, Dr. Idolo Tedesco

No Staff: Prof. G. Ciarcia, Prof.V.Zappia, Prof.A.Di Luccia, Prof.L.Moio, Prof.V.Fogliano, Prof.M.Tecce, Dr.ssa R.Palumbo, Dr.ssa E.Tosti, Dr.G.Maiani

Researh Contract: Dr. A. Nappo (Borsista) , Dr. F. Petitto (Borsista)

Student: E. Presidente, P. Nigro, R. Rosiello, C. Medici, D. Napoli, C.R. Borino

The importance of nutrition, both in ageing process, and in protecting against cancer is also well accepted. However, the food components responsible for these protective effects are very little investigated, neither it is clear how they work at molecular level. Human cell cultures are used as experimental model including tumour cell lines of different origin, primary cells and immortalized cell lines. Since several chemopreventers generally induce block of cell growth, differentiation and cell death in human transformed cell lines, our fields of investigation are signal transduction mechanisms, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. Technically, we are able to approach the problem using different methodologies: biochemistry, cell biology and molecular biology. The previous expertise obtained by studying mitotic and meiotic cell division cycle regulation in different systems (somatic cells versus oocytes) results essential to reach the proposed goals. In terms of Public Health, the result of our study might contribute to understand the impact of micronutrients on cancer prevention and other degenerative pathologies.

Research activities: 

• To study, at molecular level, the effects of flavonoid quercetin effects on malignant cell lines normally resistant to apoptotic stimuli (HPB-ALL, Caco2, fibroblasts, lymphocytes);
• To study the protective effects of polyphenolic compounds present in different foods (red wines, beers, apples) on cell growth and differentiation of malignant cell lines (HL60, HPB-ALL, U2OS, Caco2, fibroblasts, lymphocytes).

On going projects:

• "Risks and benefits of dietary antioxidants in preventing chronic and degenerative diseases". Ministero della Salute 2002. Italy. Years 2002-2004
  The main aim of this project is to study the protective effects of several foods, included in the Mediterranean diet, trying to shed light on the controversial aspects regarding the consumption of antioxidant-reach food. This multidisciplinary study will include both an analysis of the nutritional status of a selected group of people from Campania County in relation to the high-low frequency in chronic-degenerative pathologies, and the chemical and functional characterization of several classes of antioxidants present in selected foods and tested on in vitro model (cell cultures), as well as in animal models.
  
• "Experimental Project Mela Annurca"
  Centro di Competenza Agro-alimentare - Regione Campania, Italy. Years 2002-2004