Mario Del Rosso

Biography

Ordinary Professor since 2002 1976-1985: 1) Study of structure, physicochemical properties and function of glycosaminoglycans of membranes and extracellular matrices, with particular reference to the role of glycosaminoglycans in the control of cell proliferation; 2) Molecular interactions of glycosaminoglycans with other molecules of the same family and extracellular matrix proteins (laminin, fibronectin, collagen) (overseas experiences: Department of Cell Biology at Syracuse University, USA; Department of Physics and Chemistry of the University of Lund, Sweden); 1985-2000: 1) Identification and study of receptor function for plasminogen urochinase activator: role in cell invasion and chemioinvasion of normal and neoplastic cells (human tumor cells, normal fibroblasts, sinoviocytes and chondrocytes, endothelial cells and muscle cells) (experiences abroad: Institute of Microbiology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark); 2) Identification of function independent of plasminogen (plasminogen-independent) receptor activation for urochinase (chemotassi and cell proliferation) and study of transduction mechanisms resulting from urochinase-receptor interaction (generation of second messengers and activation of protein kinases); 3) modulating the receptor by means of antagonists and consequently blocking the transduction and related biological functions (inhibition of invasiveness, chemotaxis and cell-dependent proliferation dependent on urochinase and various growth factors - bFGF, PDGF, VEGF); 4) design and synthesis of an antisense anti-mRNA oligonucleotide for the neurochinasi receptor, capable of blocking expression on the cell membrane (international patent with CNR title) and studies on the use of such oligonucleotide in vitro and in vivo ( in vitro angiogenesis, proliferation and invasion of human tumors transplanted into the nude mouse). 2000-2008: Studies on receptor function for urochinasic activator of plasminogen in defective angiogenesis of sclerodermic patients. Studies on the control and regulation of receptor function in neoplastic cells continue. 1976-1985: 1) studies on the structure, physical-chemical properties and functions of cell membrane glycosaminoglycans, with particular attantion to their role in the control of cell proliferation; 2) Molecular interactions of glycosaminoglycans with other molecules of the same family and with extracellular matrix proteins (laminin, fibronectin, collagens) (experience in international laboratories: Department of Cell Biology of Syracuse University, Department of Physical Chemistry of Lund University, Sweden ); 1985-2000: 1) Identification and study of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator: role in cell invasion and chemoinvasion of normal and neoplastic cells (human tumor cells, normal fibroblasts, synovial cells and chondrocytes, endothelial cells and muscle stem cells ) (experience in international laboratories: Institute of Microbiology of Copenhagen University, Denmark); 2) Identification of plasmin-generation-independent functions of urokinase receptor (chemotaxis and cell proliferation) and studies of the mechanisms of stimulus transduction following urokinase / urokinase receptor interaction (generation of second messengers and activation of protein kinases); 3 Modulation of the receptor by antagonists and block of related transductions and of biological functions (inhibition of invasion, chemotaxis and proliferation dependent on either urokinase or various growth factors - bFGF, PDGF, VEGF); 4) Design and synthesis of an anti-oligonucleotide 18mer against urokinase receptor mRNA, capable of blocking receptor expression on the cell membrane (international patent) and studies on the use of such antisense oligonucleotide in vitro and in vivo (in vitro angiogenesis, proliferation and invasion of human tumors transplanted into nude mice). 2000-2008: Studies on the function of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator in systemic sclerosis-associated defective angiogenesis. Progress of studies on the control and regulation of receptor function in cancer cells.

Research Interest

General pathology