Transplant Center Research unit - Gruppo di Ricerca

The research teams mainly explores two fields:

• mechanisms of lung fibrogenesis secondary to inflammatory/immune triggers  (mainly post infective, autoimmune, or allospecific). Chronic lung rejection , a bronciholar and interstitial fibrosis secondary to allosecific reaction , is the main focus, post infective -mainly post SARS-CoV2-in collaboration with the virology unit; Autoimmune-related  in collaboration with Prof Cavagna and Dr Codullo , from Rheumatology Unit);
• new targeted therapeutic strategies based on nanotechnology , aimed to halt /reverse tissue remodeling as a consequence of inflammation. To this aim a the group has patented , together with The University of Turin a new liposomal formulation designed for local inhalatory treatment of post inflammatory fibrogenic lung diseases (development and  deep evaluation in animal models are ongoing). 

• Sposito B., Broggi A., Pandolfi L., Crotta S., Clementi N., Ferrarese R., Sisti S., Criscuolo E., Spreafico R., Long J.M., Ambrosi A., Liu E., Frangipane V., Saracino L., Bozzini S., Marongiu L., Facchini F.A., Bottazzi A., Fossali T., Colombo R., Clementi M., Tagliabue E., Chou J., Pontiroli A.E., Meloni F., Wack A., Mancini N., Zanoni I. The interferon landscape along the respiratory tract impacts the severity of COVID-19. Cell, 2021;
• Pandolfi L., Marengo A., Japiassu K.B., Frangipane V., Tsapis N., Bincoletto V., Codullo V., Bozzini S., Morosini M., Lettieri S., Vertui V., Piloni D., Arpicco S., Fattal E., Meloni F. Liposomes Loaded with Everolimus and Coated with Hyaluronic Acid: A Promising Approach for Lung Fibrosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021;
• Pandolfi L., Bozzini S., Frangipane V., Percivalle E., De Luigi A., Violatto M.B., Lopez G., Gabanti E., Carsana L., D'Amato M., Morosini M., De Amici M., Nebuloni M., Fossali T., Colombo R., Saracino L., Codullo V., Gnecchi M., Bigini P., Baldanti F., Lilleri D., Meloni F. Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Induce the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: Implications in Post-COVID-19 Fibrosis. Frontiers in Immunology, 2021;
• Pandolfi L., Fusco R., Frangipane V., D'Amico R., Giustra M., Bozzini S., Morosini M., D'Amato M., Cova E., Ferrario G., Morbini P., Colombo M., Prosperi D., Viglio S., Piloni D., Di Paola R., Cuzzocrea S., Meloni F. Loading Imatinib inside targeted nanoparticles to prevent Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome. Scientific Reports, 2020.

Cell biology, Molecular Biology,  Precision cut slice cultures, DSA  (HLA and non HLA) assessment by Luminex,  ELISPOT, in vitro models of alveolo-capillary barrier (including fluidic).

RC 2021 “ELIT”  PNNR “Promptly” Finalizzata 2022.

Collaborations with Lung transplant center UniWien, Wien, Lung transplant center Columbia University NYC, lLung transplant center  ISMETT, Palermo, Siena and Padua.