Research

My research activity aims to understand how genetic mutations of xanthine oxidoreductase enzyme (XOR), the rate-limiting enzyme of purines (hypoxanthine, xanthine) metabolism, affect its activity in terms of uric acid, reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production.

Cardiovascular Models

Interests

My research activity aims to understand whether genetic mutations of xanthine oxidoreductase enzyme (XOR), altering its structure, expression and activity, have a role in the development of endothelial dysfunction and ultimately in cardiovascular disease. There are numerous evidence supporting the concept that raised levels of circulating UA represent an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (like heart failure), as well as numerous evidence showing that under pathophysiological conditions, such as ischemia-reperfusion, hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, XOR activity and expression are upregulated. There is also some evidence suggesting that non-synonymous genetic mutations of XDH alter its expression and activity. To investigate how this mutations modulate the expression, the tertiary structure and its activity, I have developed a 2D in vitro model of WT and mutated hXOR HEK-293 cells.

Publications

2021

2020

2018