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Analysis of cell differentiation mechanisms in species of veterinary interest

differenziamento_cellulare.jpg

TAG: differentiation, growth factors, MicroRNAs, stem cells, mammary gland, muscle tissue, gene expression

The process of tissue and organ development is tightly associated with cell differentiation. Such process occurs throughout the animal lifespan and it involves tissue adult stem cells and a complex signaling network of both systemic (hormones) and paracrine (growth factors) mediators that affect the transcriptome and therefore modulate gene expression. Differentiation mechanisms are unique to tissues and cell types, with different timings and response to external stimuli. Such mechanisms achieve different cell functions like cell turnover to replace senescent cells, tissue damage repair or they sustain cyclic development and involution of tissues or organs connected to reproduction.
The research activity focuses on:
  • determining the mechanisms of development, morphogenesis and remodeling of the mammary gland in various species. The project objectives are to identify the main chemical mediators (cytokines and hormones) that control proliferation, morphogenesis and apoptosis of the mammary gland across the phases of the estral cycle. A major focus is on signaling pathways and gene expression changes involved in these cell processes,
  • analysis of the role of microRNAs (non-coding small RNAs involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression) in the differentiation of skeletal muscle tissue of the Piedmontese breed of bovines. Among the objectives, the research project aims at identifying and validating microRNAs as novel markers and modulators of muscle hypertrophy in this breed, other than the known myostatin mutation,
  • identifying, purifying and characterizing adult mammary stem cells in ruminants. The evaluation of the presence and role of adult stem cell in the mammary gland during the adult life of ruminants are pursued. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying self-renewal and differentiation towards progenitors and terminally differentiated luminal or myoepithelial cells are analyzed as well,
  • identifying, purifying and characterizing equine mesenchymal stem cells from various tissue sources. Mesenchymal cells can modulate the repair process in several tissues and possess a high plasticity. Specific aims of the project are studying the role of extracellular vesicles released by mesenchymal stem cells as mediators of their paracrine effect on nearby cells.

  • Progetti di Ricerca di Interesse Nazionale (PRIN 2010-2011) dal 2013 al 2016: Sostenibilità fra sistemi convenzionali di allevamento della vacca da latte e longevità: modelli di gestione dell’asciutta e biomarker dello stress e dell’invecchiamento organico.
  • Fondi di Finanziamento delle Attività Base di Ricerca 2018
  • Progetti di Ricerca Locale (ex 60%)

  • Santino P., Martignani E., Miretti S., Baratta M., Accornero P. – Mechanisms of modulation of the Egr gene family in mammary epithelial cells of different species – General and Comparative Endocrinology – Elsevier – 2017 – 247 87-96
  • Maniscalco L., Guil-Luna S., Iussich S., Gattino F., Trupia C., Millan Y., de Las Mulas J.M., Sanchez Cespedez R., Saeki K., Accornero P., De Maria R. – Expression of the Short Form of RON/STK in Feline Mammary Carcinoma – Veterinary Pathology – SAGE Journals – 2019 – 56(2) 220-229
  • Accornero P., Miretti S., Bersani F., Quaglino E., Martignani E., Baratta M. – Met Receptor Acts Uniquely for Survival and Morphogenesis of EGFR-dependent Normal Mammary Epithelial and Cancer Cells – PLoS ONE – PLoS – 2012 – 7(9):e44982
  • Cravero D., Martignani E., Miretti S., Accornero P., Baratta M. – Bovine CD49 positive-cell subpopulation remarkably increases in mammary epithelial cells that retain a stem-like phenotype – Research in Veterinary Science – Elsevier – 2015 – 102 1-6
  • Baratta M., Miretti S., Accornero P., Galeati G., Formigoni A., Gabai G., Nucera D., Martignani E. – CD49f+ mammary epithelial cells decrease in milk from dairy cows stressed by overstocking during the dry period – Journal of Dairy Research – Cambridge University Press – 2017 – 84(4) 414-417
  • Martignani E., Cravero D., Miretti S., Accornero P., Baratta M. – Clonogenic assay allows for selection of a primitive mammary epithelial cell population in bovine – Experimental Cell Research – Elsevier – 2015 – 338(2) 245-250
  • Martignani E., Miretti S., Vincenti L, Baratta M. – Correlation between estrogen plasma level and miRNAs in muscle of Piedmontese cattle – Domestic Animal Endocrinology – Elsevier – 2019 – 67 37-41
  • Miretti S., Volpe M.G., Martignani E., Accornero P., Baratta M. – Temporal Correlation Between Differentiation Factor Expression and microRNAs in Holstein Bovine Skeletal Muscle – Animal – Cambridge University Press – 2017 – 11(2) 227-235
  • Miretti S., Martignani E., Accornero P., Baratta M. – Functional Effect of mir-27b on Myostatin Expression: A Relationship in Piedmontese Cattle With Double-Muscled Phenotype – BMC Genomics – BioMed Central – 2013 – 14:194 1-8
  • Miretti S., Martignani E., Taulli R., Bersani F., Accornero P., Baratta M. – Differential expression of microRNA-206 in skeletal muscle of female Piedmontese and Friesian cattle – The Veterinary Journal – Elsevier – 2011 – 190(3) 412-413


  • Dr. Xavier Donadeu – University of Edinburgh, Division of Functional Genetics and Development, UK
  • Prof. Dr. Russ Hovey – University of California, Davis, Department of Animal Science, USA

Ultimo aggiornamento: 14/12/2021 09:53
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