Contacts:
Tel: 0502219500
e-mail: era.gorica@phd.unipi.it
Supervisors:
Prof. Vincenzo Calderone
PhD project Title:
“Hydrogen Sulfide: role, therapeutic opportunities and development of novel pharmacological tools for vascular inflamm-aging and age-related cardiovascular diseases.”
Research summary:
Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death and disability in the elderly population, and aging is one of the most recognized risk factors in the development of these diseases (e.g., hypertension, myocardial infarction). In the last two decades, many studies have shown an increasing interest in endogenous gasotransmitters, especially in hydrogen sulfide (H2S). H2S is an endogenous mediator, involved in the regulation of several biological functions. Recent studies have described its important role in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis, and its deficiency is likely to be etiologically associated with several cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the H2S supplementation by suitable H2S-donor molecules may be a promising pharmacological strategy. ITCs are sulfur secondary plant metabolites produced by several plants (e.g., broccoli, rocket salad, etc.) belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Over the past few years, their chemical function has been recognized as a suitable H2S-releasing moiety, and both natural and synthetic ITCs have been reported to exhibit the typical cardiovascular effects of H2S. To date, the vasorelaxing effects of aryl-ITCs have been described, and these effects have been attributed to the ability of H2S-release and thus to the triggering of H2S-mediated pathways, such as the activation of Kv7 potassium channels. As well, the vasorelaxing and antihypertensive activity of the natural ITC Erucin has been studied in experimental models of hypertension. Even the cardioprotective effects of ITCs have been evaluated in experimental models of cardiac ischemia/reperfusion and acute myocardial infarct. Ergo, the assessment of the cardiovascular effects of ITCs is a timely and challenging issue. This project aims to identify the pharmacological potential of natural ITCs in experimental models of cardiovascular inflamm-aging and age-related cardiovascular disorders.
Oral communications at congress:
Gorica E., Martelli A., Citi V., Piragine E., Brancaleone V., Di Cesare Mannelli L., Pagnotta E., Testai L., Ugolini L., Lazzeri L., Ghelardini C., Calderone V. Evaluation of anticancer properties of Erucin, the active principle of Eruca sativa Mill., on human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Oral presentation at: Multidisciplinary Conference: “Challenges in Health Care System”. Tirana, Albania 04 April 2019 – 06 April 2019.
Gorica E. PhD, what is behind the name? An Introduction to Doctoral Studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Student Informative Presentation at: Multidisciplinary Conference: “Challenges in Health Care System”. Tirana, Albania 04 April 2019 – 06 April
2019.
Gorica E., Martelli A., Citi V., Piragine E., Brancaleone V., Di Cesare Mannelli L., Pagnotta E., Testai L., Ugolini L., Lazzeri L., Ghelardini C., Calderone V. The H2S-donor Erucin promotes protective effects on endothelial and cardiac cells exposed to homocysteineinduced oxidative stress. Oral presentation at: International School of Pharmacology “Giampaolo Velo”. Erice, Sicily 08 September 2019 – 12 September 2019.