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Marco A. Cassatella, M.D.
Inflammation Research Unit
Department of Pathology
Division of General Pathology
University of Verona, Faculty of Medicine
Strada Le Grazie 4 37134 Verona, Italy
Office: ++ 39 (045)8027130
Lab: ++ 39 (045)8027259
FAX: ++ 39 (045)8027127
Email: marco.cassatella@univr.it
Website: http://dp.univr.it/~patologia/Ricerca/cassatella/cassatella.html
During the last years, the Marco A. Cassatella’s group has been involved in studies dealing with the mechanisms regulating, at molecular level, the effector functions of cells belonging to the innate system. In particular, his group has greatly contributed to uncover the notion that polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) not only are a target of different cytokines (such as for instance IFNg or IL-15) able to modulate their effector functions, but also represent a source of a number of immunoregulatory molecules.
In addition, Marco A. Cassatella’s group has also concentrated his efforts in investigating the signal transduction pathways and the biochemical mechanisms involved in IL-10-mediated regulation of neutrophil gene expression.
Current research interests are:
- Molecular mechanisms controlling cytokine/gene expression in activated neutrophils.
- Molecular mechanisms regulating TLR4-mediated gene expression
- Molecular basis regulating IL-10 responsiveness in activated phagocytes.
- Characterization and pathological relevance of the reciprocal interactions between human neutrophils and immunoregulatory/effector cells of the innate and adaptive immune system.
Recent publications
Scapini P, Nardelli B, Nadali G, Calzetti F, Pizzolo G, Montecucco C, Cassatella MA. G-CSF-stimulated neutrophils are a prominent source of functional BLyS.
J Exp Med. 2003;197(3):297-302.
Tecchio C, Huber V, Scapini P, Calzetti F, Margotto D, Todeschini G, Pilla L, Martinelli G, Pizzolo G, Rivoltini L, Cassatella MA. IFNa-stimulated neutrophils and monocytes release a soluble form of TRAIL/Apo-2 ligand displaying apoptotic activity on leukemic cells.
Blood. 2004;103(10):3837-44.
Scapini P, Carletto A, Nardelli B, Calzetti F, Roschke V, Merigo F, Tamassia N, Biasi D, Sbarbati A, Sozzani S, Bambara L, Cassatella MA. Proinflammatory mediators elicit secretion of the intracellular BLyS that is stored in activated neutrophils: implications for inflammatory diseases.
Blood. 2005;105(2):830-7.
Tamassia N, Le Moigne V, Calzetti F, Donini M, Gasperini S, Ear T, Cloutier A, Martinez FO, Fabbri M, Locati M, Mantovani A, McDonald PP, and Cassatella MA. The MyD88-independent pathway is not mobilized in human neutrophils stimulated via TLR4.
J Immunol. 2007 Jun 1;178(11):7344-56
Tamassia N, Le Moigne V, Rossato M, Donini M, McCartney S, Calzetti F, Colonna F, Bazzoni F, and Cassatella MA. Activation of an imunoregulatory and antiviral gene expression program in POLY(I:C)-transfected human neutrophils.
J Immunol. 2008, in press.