Unit of Molecular Neurobiology
Lab of Laboratory of Neurochemistry
tel. +051 2094134
fax +051 2094286
Group Leader: Prof. Antonio Contestabile
E-mail : antonio.contestabile@unibo.it
Research in progress :
- Our research interests are focused on understanding some key molecular processes at the basis of normal function of neural cells as well as of their derangement in pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and nervous system derived tumors. This general goal is pursued by targeting selective molecules and processes in several models, including primary neuronal and mixed cultures as well as cell lines maintained in vitro and in vivo experiments on laboratory animals. Actual examples of these approaches are: 1) study of the role of the diffusible messenger molecule, nitric oxide, in neurogenesis and neuron survival/death; 2) role of the transcription factor CREB in neuroprotection, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory; 3) molecular interactions between neurons and microglia, the brain immune cells, in neurodegeneration and neuroprotection; 4) pharmacological neuroprotection in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases; 5) role of nitric oxide and its transduction pathway in the regulation of proliferation of tumor cells arising from the peripheral or central nervous system, neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma; 6) role of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in the control of neurogenesis, disregulated growth of tumors derived from neuronal precursors and neuroprotection.
Funding :
- PRIN 2000-2001 (MIUR) "National project from the Italian Ministry for Universities and Research on Brain aging".
- PRIN 2001-2002 (MIUR) "National project from the Italian Ministry for Universities and Research on Hippocampal neurogenesis".
- FIRB 2002-2005 (MIUR) "National project for basic research on an animal model for amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis.
- PRIN 2004-2005 (MIUR) (Marco Virgili) "National project from the Italian Ministry for Universities and Research on neuron-glia interactions".
- PRIN 2005-2006 (MIUR) “Role of N-Myc oncogene and of nitric oxide in the control of tumor proliferation and the expression of multidrug resistance genes in human neuroblastoma cells”.
Patents :
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Selected Publications :
- Contestabile A. 2008 Regulation of transcription factors by nitric oxide in neurons and in neural-derived tumor cells. Prog. Neurobiol. 84: 317-328
- Monti B., Polazzi E., Batti L., Crochemore C., Virgili M., Contestabile A. 2007 Alpha-synuclein protects cerebellar granule neurons against 6-hydroxydopamine induced cell death. J. Neurochem. 103: 518-530
- Polazzi E., Contestabile A. 2006 Overactivation of LPS-stimulated microglial cells by co-cultured neurons or neuron-conditioned medium. J. Neuroimmunol. 172: 104-111
- Monti B., Berteotti C., Contestabile A. 2006 Subchronic rolipram delivery activates hippocampal CREB and Arc, enhances retention and slows down extinction of conditioned fear. Neuropsychopharmacology 31: 278-286.
- Monti B., Berteotti C., Contestabile A. 2005 Dysregulation of memory-related proteins in the hippocampus of aged rats and their relation to cognitive impairment. Hippocampus 15: 1041-9
- Ciani E, Severi S, Contestabile A, Bartesaghi R, Contestabile A. 2004 Nitric oxide negatively regulates proliferation and promotes neuronal differentiation through N-Myc downregulation. J Cell Sci 117: 4727-37
- Polazzi E, Contestabile A. 2003 Neuron-conditioned media differentially affect the survival of activated or unstimulated microglia: evidence for neuronal control on apoptotic elimination of activated microglia. J Neuropath Exp Neurol 62: 351-62
- Ciani E, Guidi S, Della Valle G, Perini G, Bartesaghi R Contestabile A. 2003 Nitric oxide protects neuroblastoma cells from apoptosis induced by serum deprivation through cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) activation. J Biol Chem 277: 49896-902
Postgraduate training :
- PhD programme in Cellular, Molecular and Industrial Biology (Project n. 1: Cell Biology and Physiology)
- Post-doc positions entirely or partially funded by ongoing research grants
Collaborations :
- : Dr. Lino Tessarollo, Neural Development Group, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
- : Dr. Ragnhild Paulsen, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway.
- : Dr. Paola Leon, Research & Development, Padova, Italy.
- : Dr. Luisa Minghetti, Italian Institute of Health, Roma, Italy.
- : Prof. Renata Bartesaghi and Dr. Elisabetta Ciani, Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Italy.
- : Prof. Fiorenzo Stirpe, Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, Italy
- : Prof. Ferdinando Bersani, Department of Physics, University of Bologna, Italy.
Links :
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Research group :
Antonio Contestabile (Full professor)
Marco Virgili (Associate professor)
Barbara Monti Ricercatrice
Elisabetta Polazzi Postdoc
Emiliano Pena Altamira Post-doc
Monia Bentivogli (Laboratory technician)
Simona Eleuteri Dottoranda
