MARCO TAFANI

MARCO TAFANI, PhD

CURRENT POSITION: Associate Professor, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University.

PROFESSIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION:

Sapienza University, Department of Experimental Medicine, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
+39-0649918234
marco.tafani@uniroma1.it

EDUCATION:
1988: Scientific high school diploma, Rome, Italy
1994: University of Rome “Tor Vergata“; B.S. in biological science.

POST-LAUREAM EXPERIENCE AND PREVIOUS POSITIONS:
1994-1995 Post lauream training at the Department of Neuroscience of CNR (National Research Council) Rome, Italy.
1997-2000 Research technician in the laboratory of John L. Farber in the Department of Anatomy, Pathology and Cell Biology of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
1999-2003 Ph. D. in Human Patohology (4 year course) at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and Thomas Jefferson University.
2000-2004 Assistant Researcher in the laboratory of John L Farber in the Department of Anatomy, Pathology and Cell Biology of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
2004-2007 Assistant Researcher in the laboratory of Matteo A. Russo in the Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”.
2007-2010 Researcher in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, IRCCS San Raffaele La Pisana, Via dei Bonacolsi snc 00163 Rome, Italy.
2017-Present License as full professor in General Pathology

TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND ACTIVITIES

2018-Present General Pathology and Physiopathology Course C LM-41 Medicine and Surgery Sapienza University.

2018-Present Laboratory Methodologies, Sapienza University.
2018-Present General Pathology Sapienza University and Sabina Universitas, Rieti

2018-Present Physiopathology, Sapienza University and Sabina Universitas, Rieti

2018-Present Clinical Pathology, Sapienza University and Sabina Universitas, Rieti

2007-2012 General Pathology, Sapienza University, IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome.

2007-2012 Clinical Pathology, Sapienza University, IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome.

Editorial Services:
2021-Present Guest editor, Cancers (MDPI),
2021-2022 Guest Editor, Materials,
2022-2023 Guest Editor, Pharmaceuticals.
2023-Present Guest Editor, IJMS
2020-Present: Reviewer, Autophagy
2020-Present Reviewer, Cell Death and Disease
2021-Present Reviewer, Cancer Science
2021-Present Reviewer, Apoptosis
2018-Present Reviewer, Trends in Cell Biology
2019-Present Reviewer, Oncotarget
2019-Present Reviewer, Plos One
2020-Present Reviewer, Journal of Chemotherapy
2016-Present Reviewer, Brain Research
2015-Present Reviewer, Cell Biology and Toxicology
2019-Present Reviewer, International Journal of Molecular Medicine
2017-Present Reviewer, International Journal of Oncology
2019-Present Reviewer, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences
2019-Present Reviewer, Critical Reviews In Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
2021-Present Reviewer, Current Issues in Molecular Biology
2019-Present Reviewer, Current Pharmaceutical Design
2017-Present Reviewer, Drug Design
2017-Present Reviewer, Endocrine Metabolic Immune Disorder Drug Targets
2019-Present Reviewer, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
2022-Present Reviewer, Expert Opinion on Therapeuitc Targets
2022-Present Reviewer, Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark
2020-Present Reviewer, Frontiers in Oncology
2012-Present Reviewer, Immunity & Ageing
2019-Present Reviewer, Oncology Letters
2019-Present Reviewer, Oncology Reports
2021-Present Reviewer, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
2019-Present Reviewer, Scientific Reports

Consulting Activities
2018-Present Grant Reviewer, Italian Ministry of Health
2015-Present Grant Reviewer, Hong Kong Research Grant Council
2019-Present Grant Reviewer, National Science Centre, Poland.
2019-Present Grant Reviewer, French National Cancer Institute (INCa)
2023-Present Grant Reviewer, AFM Telethon
July 2024 PhD External Examiner for the University College Dublin,
Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
RESEARCH GRANTS
2005-2008, Ministry of Health (MoH) € 40000
2006-2008, Umbria Region € 90000
2006-2009, Oncologic Research € 65000
2016-2017, Sapienza University € 13000
2015-2017, Italian Space Agency (ASI) € 250000
2013-2017, Ministry of Health (MoH) € 305000
2017-2019, Sapienza University € 34400
2018-2019, Sapienza University € 10000
2019-2021, Sapienza University € 25000
2020-2021, Sapienza University € 10000
2021-2022, Sapienza University € 48000
2019-2022, PRIN 2017 (MUR) € 103678
2022-2023, Sapienza University € 50000
2022-2025 PRIN 2022 (MUR) € 63243
2022-2026 PNRR D3 4 Health € 240000
2025-2027 Italian Space Agency (ASI) € 83465

PATENTS
Italian Patent n. 102022000018261 released on 22/08/2024

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
MEBIC (Medical and Experimental BioImaging Center), https://www.mebic.it
Prof. Daniela Caccamo, University of Messina and Carolina Muscoli, University of Catanzaro
Prof. Maria Rosa Ciriolo, Tor Vergata University of Rome
Prof. Gregg L. Semenza, Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Prof. Pankaj K. Singh, The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
Prof. Marco Cordani, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Prof. Katrin F Chua, Stanford University, CA, USA
Prof. Luana Schito, University College Dublin, Ireland

CONGRESSES AND PRESENTATIONS

1. Workshop: “Studio dell’interazione tra metaboliti del microbiota intestinale, vitamina D e sirtuine nel dolore cronico infiammatorio: nuove prospettive diagnostiche e terapeutiche”. Università di Messina, Messina, Italy

2. Leaky Gut, dysbiosis and related pathologies. Focus on autoimmunity.
NUTRITION SPACE
Milan, Italy,
October 12, 2024

3. “Sirtuins in retinal pathologies”
GENES AND CELLS. News strategies in low vision therapy
Rome, Italy
September 30, 2022

4. Therapeutic Nanoproducts: from Biology to Innovative Technology
Rome, Italy
June 19-20, 2019

5. “Mechanoreceptors and Sirtuins, new players in the physiopathological response to microgravity”.
Human Space Exploration
Korolev, Moscow, Russia
May 24, 2016

6. “Anti-ageing effects of physical activity: a possible key-role of sirtuins and mechanosensor proteins”
Tuscany Endocrinology and Metabolism Conference
Pisa, Italy
April 4-6, 2013

7. “SIRT1 controls SIRT3 expression via SP1. Possible implications in cell differentiation”
Sirtuins in Metabolism, Aging and Disease
Keystone, CO, USA
February 12-16, 2012

8. “Increased sirtuins activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from trained athletes”
XI Congress of European Federation for Research in Rehabilitation
Riva del Garda, Italy
May 26-28, 2011

9. “Role of IGF-1 and SIRT1 in neuronal differentiation and cell death of NG108-15 cells”
XI Congress of European Federation for Research in Rehabilitation
Riva del Garda, Italy
May 26-28, 2011

10. “Mitochondrial sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) regulates resistance to apoptosis and necrosis in different tumor cell lines”
Chia, CA, Italy
September 2011

11. “SIRT3: Control of Mitochondrial Integrity and Cell Survival under Hypoxia”
7TH EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF BIOGERONTOLOGY
Palermo, Italy
October 7-14, 2010

12. "Role of IGF-1 and sirtuins in neuronal differentiation and cell death of NG108-15 cells"
17th ECDO Euroconference on Apoptosis
Paris, France
September 22-26, 2009

13. “Role of IGF-1 autocrine secretion and sirtuins redistribution in the resistance of neuronal differentiated cells to STS-induced cell death”
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF NEURODEGENERATION
Milan, Italy
May 8-10, 2009

14. “Increased resistance of neuronal NG108-15 differentiated cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis through downregulation and mitochondrial sequestration of the Fas receptor”
Neurodegeneration
Rome, Italy
May 18-20, 2009

15. “Induction of IGF-1 autocrine secretion confers resistance to STS-induced cell death in neuronal NG108-15 differentiated cells”
Neurodegeneration
Rome, Italy
May 18-20, 2009

16. ASCB 47th Annual Meeting
Washington, DC, USA
December 1-5, 2007

PUBLICATIONS
1) Biocca, S., Ruberti, F. Tafani, M., Pierandrei-Amaldi, P., and Cattaneo, A. Redox state of single chain FV fragments targeted to endoplasmic reticulum, cytosol and mitochondria. Nature Biotechnology 13: 1110-1115, 1995.
2) John G. Pastorino, Sing-Tsung Chen, Marco Tafani, Jack W. Snyder, and John L. Farber. The Overexpression of Bax produces cells death upon induction of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition. J. Biol. Chem. 273, 7770-7775,1998
3) Silvia Biocca, Marco Tafani and Antonino Cattaneo. Assembled IgG molecules are exported from the endoplasmic reticulum in myeloma cells despite the retention signal Sekdel Biochem.Biophys.Res.Commun. 246, 518-523, 1998.
4) John G. Pastorino, Marco Tafani, and John L. Farber. TNF induces the phosphorylation and translocation of BAD through a PI-3 kinase-dependent pathway. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 19411-19416, 1999.
5) John G. Pastorino, Marco Tafani, Ronald Rothman, Ausra Marcinkeiciute, Steve Chen, Jan B. Hoek, and John L. Farber. Functional consequences of the sustained or transient activation by Bax of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 31734-31739, 1999.
6) Bruna Pucci, Lorenza Bellincampi, Marco Tafani, Valeria Masciullo, Gerry Melino, and Antonio Giordano. Paclitaxel induces apoptosis in Saos-2 cells with CD95L upregulation and Bcl-2 phosphorylation. Exp. Cell Res., 252: 134-143, 1999.
7) Marco Tafani, Timothy G. Schneider, John G. Pastorino, and John L. Farber. Cytochrome C dependent activation of Caspase-3 by Tumor Necrosis Factor requires induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition in L929 fibroblasts. Am. J. Path. 156: 2111-2121, 2000.
8) Marco Tafani, Dmitri A. Minchenko and John L. Farber. Induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition mediates the killing of HeLa cells by staurosporine. Cancer Res. 61: 2459-2466, 2001.
9) Natalie O. Karpinich, Marco Tafani, Ronald J. Rothman, Matteo A. Russo and John L. Farber. The course of Etoposide-induced apoptosis from the damage to DNA and p53 activation to mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 16547-16552, 2002.
10) Marco Tafani, Natalie O. Karpinich, Kathryn A. Hurster, John G. Pastorino, Timothy G. Schneider, Matteo A. Russo, and John L. Farber. Cytochrome c release upon Fas receptor activation depends on translocation of full-length Bid and the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 10073-10082, 2002.
11) Marco Tafani, Joshua A. Cohn, Natalie O. Karpinich, Ronald J. Rothman, Matteo A. Russo, and John L. Farber. Regulation of Intracellular pH Mediates Bax Activation in HeLa Cells Treated with Staurosporine or Tumor Necrosis Factor-. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 49569-49576, 2002.
12) Agostina Longo, Roberto Gradini, Vincenzo Mattei, Emanuela Morgante, Patrizio Sale, Marco Tafani, Marcella Lipari, Giuseppe M. Pontieri and Matteo A.Russo. C3-Induced 3LL Cell Proliferation Is Mediated By C Kinase. J Cell Biochem, 94(3):635-44, 2005.
13) Marco Tafani, Natalie O. Karpinich, Ada Serroni, Matteo A. Russo and John L. Farber. Re-evaluation of the Distinction between Type I and Type II Cells: the Necessary Role of the Mitochondria in both the Extrinsic and Intrinsic signalling Pathways Upon Fas Receptor Activation. J. Cell. Phys. Jun 1;208(3):556-565, 2006.
14) Natalie O. Karpinich, Marco Tafani, Ronald J. Rothman, Matteo A. Russo, and John L. Farber. The Course of Etoposide-Induced Apoptosis in Jurkat Cells Lacking p53 and Bax. J. Cell. Phys. Jul;208(1):55-63, 2006.
15) Chiara Gabellini, Bruna Pucci, Paola Valdivieso, Giuseppina D’Andrilli, Marco Tafani, Antonio De Luca, and Valeria Masciullo. p27Kip1 Overexpression Promotes Paclitaxel-Induced Apoptosis in pRb-Defective SaOs-2 Cells. J Cell Biochem, Aug 15;98(6):1645-52, 2006.
16) Massimo Realacci, Giulietta Anna Perrone, Patrizio Sale, Marco Tafani, Maura Di Vito, Raffaele Perrone-Donnorso, G. Zotti and Matteo A. Russo. Detection of oncogenic HPV and identification of 72Arg polymorphic p53 by in situ PCR for clinical routine purpose. Anticancer Res. Jul-Aug;26(4B):3095-103, 2006.
17) Bruna Pucci, Irving M. Shapiro, Jolanta Fertala, Bradley C. Snyder, Kyle D. Mansfield, Toulose P. Lafond, Marco Tafani, Rocky Tuan and Christopher S. Adams. Development of the Terminally Differentiated State Sensitizes Epiphyseal Chondrocytes to Apoptosis. J. Cell. Phys. Mar;210(3):609-15, 2007.
18) Fiorito F, Marfè G, De Blasio E, Granato GE, Tafani M, De Martino L, Montagnaro S, Florio S, Pagnini U. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin regulates bovine herpesvirus type 1 induced apoptosis by modulating Bcl-2 family members. Apoptosis 2008 Oct;13(10):1243-52.
19) Marco Tafani, Luana Schito, Tahira Anwar, Manuela Indelicato, Patrizio Sale, Maura DiVito, Emanuela Morgante, Rosanna Beraldi, Francesco Makovec, Ornella Letari, Gianfranco Caselli, Corrado Spadafora, Bruna Pucci and Matteo A. Russo. Induction of Autophagic Cell Death by a Novel Molecule Is Increased by Hypoxia. Autophagy 2008 Nov 16;4(8):1042-53.
20) Bruna Pucci, Francesca Bertani, Natalie O. Karpinich, Manuela Indelicato, Matteo A. Russo, John L. Farber and Marco Tafani. Detailing the role of Bax Translocation, Cytochrome c Release and Perinuclear Clustering of the Mitochondria in the Killing of HeLa Cells by TNF. J Cell Physiol. 2008 Nov;217(2):442-9.
21) Bruna Pucci, Francesca Bertani, Manuela Indelicato, Patrizio Sale, Emanuela Lococo, Francesca Grassi, Francesca Pagani, Valeria Colafrancesco, Emanuela Morgante, Marco Tafani, Massimo Fini, and Matteo A. Russo. Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Inhibits STS-induced Cell Death and Increases Functional Recovery of in vitro Differentiated Neurons. Cell Cycle. 2008 Dec 15;7(24):3869-77.
22) Marfe G, Tafani M, Indelicato M, Sinibaldi-Salimei P, Reali V, Pucci B, Fini M, Russo MA. Kaempferol induces apoptosis in two different cell lines via Akt inactivation, Bax and SIRT3 activation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. J Cell Biochem. 2009 Mar 1;106(4):643-50.
23) Ravenna L, Sale P, Di Vito M, Russo A, Salvatori L, Tafani M, Mari E, Sentinelli S, Petrangeli E, Gallucci M, Di Silverio F, Russo MA. Up-regulation of the inflammatory-reparative phenotype in human prostate carcinoma. Prostate. 2009 August 1:69(11):1245-55.
24) Marfe G, Pucci B, De Martino L, Fiorito F, Di Stefano C, Indelicato M, Aventaggiato M, Russo MA, Tafani M. Heat-shock pretreatment inhibits sorbitol-induced apoptosis in K562, U937 and HeLa cells. Int J Cancer. 2009 Nov 1;125(9):2077-85.
25) Pucci B, Indelicato M, Paradisi V, Reali V, Pellegrini L, Aventaggiato M, Karpinich NO, Fini M, Russo MA, Farber JL, Tafani M. ERK-1 MAP kinase prevents TNF-induced apoptosis through bad phosphorylation and inhibition of Bax translocation in HeLa Cells. J Cell Biochem. 2009 Sep 23;108(5):1166-1174.
26) Indelicato M, Pucci B, Schito L, Reali V, Aventaggiato M, Mazzarino MC, Stivala F, Fini M, Russo MA, Tafani M. Role of hypoxia and autophagy in MDA-MB-231 invasiveness. J Cell Physiol. 2010 May;223(2):359-68.
27) Tafani M. Russo A, Di Vito M, Sale P, Pellegrini L, Schito L , Gentileschi S, Bracaglia R, Marandino, F Garaci E and Russo M A. Up-regulation of pro-inflammatory genes as adaptation to hypoxia in MCF-7 cells and in human mammary invasive carcinoma microenvironment. Cancer Sci 2010 April;101(4):1014-1023.
28) Fiorito F, Marfè G, Granato GE, Ciarcia R, De Blasio E, Tafani M, Florio S, De Martino L, Muzi G, Pagnini U, Giordano A. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin modifies expression and nuclear/cytosolic localization of bovine herpesvirus 1 immediate-early protein (bICP0) during infection. J Cell Biochem. 2010 Oct 1;111(2):333-42.
29) Tafani M, Di Vito M, Frati A, Pellegrini L, De Santis E, Sette G, Eramo A, Sale P, Mari E, Santoro A, Raco A, Salvati M, De Maria R, Russo MA. Pro-inflammatory gene expression in solid glioblastoma microenvironment and in hypoxic stem cells from human glioblastoma. J Neuroinflammation. 2011 Apr 13;8:32.
30) Tafani M, Schito L, Pellegrini L, Villanova L, Marfe G, Anwar T, Rosa R, Indelicato M, Fini M, Pucci B, Russo MA. Hypoxia-increased RAGE and P2X7R expression regulates tumor cell invasion through phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and Akt and nuclear translocation of NF-{kappa}B. Carcinogenesis. 2011 Aug;32(8):1167-75.
31) Di Vito M, De Santis E, Perrone GA, Mari E, Giordano MC, De Antoni E, Coppola L, Fadda G, Tafani M, Carpi A, Russo MA. Overexpression of estrogen receptor-α in human papillary thyroid carcinomas studied by laser-capture microdissection and molecular biology. Cancer Sci. 2011 Jun 25.
32) Marfe G, De Martino L, Tafani M, Irno-Consalvo M, Pasolini MP, Navas L, Papparella S, Gambacurta A, Paciello O. A multicancer-like syndrome in a dog characterized by p53 and cell cycle-checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) mutations and Sirtuin gene (SIRT1) down-regulation. Res Vet Sci. 2012 Aug;93(1):240-5.
33) Pescosolido N, Scarsella G, Tafani M, Nebbioso M. Cataract Surgery Complications: An In Vitro Model of Toxic Effects of Ropivacaine and Lidocaine. Drugs R D. 2011 Sep 12.
34) Marfè G, Tafani M, Fiorito F, Pagnini U, Iovane G, De Martino L. Involvement of FOXO Transcription Factors, TRAIL-FasL/Fas, and Sirtuin Proteins Family in Canine Coronavirus Type II-Induced Apoptosis. PLoS One. 2011;6(11):e27313. Epub 2011 Nov 8.
35) Frustaci A, Sabbioni E, Fortaner S, Farina M, Del Torchio R, Tafani M, Morgante E, Ciriolo MR, Russo MA, Chimenti C. Selenium- and zinc deficient cardiomyopathy in human intestinal malabsorption: preliminary results of selenium/zinc infusion. Eur J Heart Fail. 2012 Feb;14(2):202-10.
36) Pescosolido N, Pascarella A, Scarsella G, Tafani M, Stefanini S, Nebbioso M. Topotecan hydrochloride effects on retinal vessels in newborn rats. Histol Histopathol. 2012 Apr;27(4):497-506.
37) Russo MA, Morgante E, Tafani M, van Rossum GD. Effects of medium calcium, and agents affecting cytoskeletal function, on cellular volume and morphology in liver tissue in vitro. J Cell Biochem. 2012 Jun;113(6):1915-25.
38) Pellegrini L, Pucci B, Villanova L, Marino ML, Marfe G, Sansone L, Vernucci E, Bellizzi D, Reali V, Fini M, Russo MA, Tafani M. SIRT3 protects from hypoxia and staurosporine-mediated cell death by maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular pH. Cell Death Differ. 2012 Nov;19(11):1815-25.
39) Marfe G, Rotta G, De Martino L, Tafani M, Fiorito F, Di Stefano C, Polettini M, Ranalli M, Russo MA, Gambacurta A. A new clinical approach: use of blood-derived stem cells (BDSCs) for superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in horses. Life Sci. 2012 Jun 6;90(21-22):825-30.
40) Klionsky DJ, Abdalla FC, …,Tafani M…,Zuckerbraun B.Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy. Autophagy. 2012 Apr;8(4):445-544.
41) Schito L, Rey S, Tafani M, Zhang H, Wong CC, Russo A, Russo MA, Semenza GL. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-dependent expression of platelet-derived growth factor B promotes lymphatic metastasis of hypoxic breast cancer cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Oct 2;109(40):E2707-16.
42) De Santis E, Di Vito M, Perrone GA, Mari E, Osti M, De Antoni E, Coppola L, Tafani M, Carpi A, Russo MA. Overexpression of pro-inflammatory genes and down-regulation of SOCS-1 in human PTC and in hypoxic BCPAP cells. Biomed Pharmacother. 2013 Feb;67(1):7-16.
43) Tafani M, Pucci B, Russo A, Schito L, Pellegrini L, Perrone GA, Villanova L, Salvatori L, Ravenna L, Petrangeli E, Russo MA. Modulators of HIF1α and NFkB in Cancer Treatment: Is it a Rational Approach for Controlling Malignant Progression? Front Pharmacol. 2013;4:13.
44) Nebbioso M, Scarsella G, Tafani M, Pescosolido N. Mechanisms of ocular neuroprotection by antioxidant molecules in animal models. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2013 Jan-Mar;27(1):197-209.
45) Pucci B, Villanova L, Sansone L, Pellegrini L, Tafani M, Carpi A, Fini M, Russo MA. Sirtuins: the molecular basis of beneficial effects of physical activity. Intern Emerg Med. 2013 Apr;8 Suppl 1:S23-5.
46) Villanova L, Vernucci E, Pucci B, Pellegrini L, Nebbioso M, Mauri C, Marfe G, Spataro A, Fini M, Banfi G, Russo MA, Tafani M. Influence of age and physical exercise on sirtuin activity in humans. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2013 Apr-Jun;27(2):497-507.
47) Sansone L, Reali V, Pellegrini L, Villanova L, Aventaggiato M, Marfe G, Rosa R, Nebbioso M, Tafani M, Fini M, Russo MA, Pucci B. SIRT1 silencing confers neuroprotection through IGF-1 pathway activation. J Cell Physiol. 2013 Aug;228(8):1754-61.
48) Tafani M, Perrone GA, Pucci B, Russo A, Bizzarri M, Mechanick J, Carpi A, Russo MA. Reprogramming Cancer Cells in Endocrine-Related Tumors: Open Issues. Curr Med Chem. 2014;21(9):1146-51.
49) Tafani M, De Santis E, Coppola L, Perrone GA, Carnevale I, Russo A, Pucci B, Carpi A, Bizzarri M, Russo MA. Bridging hypoxia, inflammation and estrogen receptors in thyroid cancer progression. Biomed Pharmacother. 2014 Feb;68(1):1-5.
50) Russo MA, Sansone L, Polletta L, Runci A, Rashid MM, De Santis E, Vernucci E,Carnevale I, Tafani M. Sirtuins and Resveratrol-Derived Compounds. A Model for Understanding the Beneficial Effects of the Mediterranean Diet. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2014; 14(4):300-8.
51) Polletta L, Vernucci E, Carnevale I, Arcangeli T, Rotili D, Palmerio S, Steegborn C, Nowak T, Schutkowski M, Pellegrini L, Sansone L, Villanova L, Runci A, Pucci B, Morgante E, Fini M, Mai A, Russo MA, Tafani M. SIRT5 regulation of ammonia-induced autophagy and mitophagy. Autophagy. 2015;11(2):253-70.
52) Russo MA, Sansone L, Carnevale I, Limana F, Runci A, Polletta L, Perrone GA, De Santis E, Tafani M. One Special Question to Start with: Can HIF/NFkB be a Target in Inflammation? Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2015;15(3):171-85.
53) Russo MA, Morgante E, Russo A, van Rossum GD, Tafani M. Ouabain-induced cytoplasmic vesicles and their role in cell volume maintenance. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:487256.
54) Chimenti C, Scopelliti F, Vulpis E, Tafani M, Villanova L, Verardo R, De Paulis R, Russo MA, Frustaci A. Increased oxidative stress contributes to cardiomyocyte dysfunction and death in patients with Fabry disease cardiomyopathy. Hum Pathol. 2015 Nov;46(11):1760-8.
55) Rashid MM, Runci A, Polletta L, Carnevale I, Morgante E, Foglio E, Arcangeli T, Sansone L, Russo MA, Tafani M. Muscle LIM protein/CSRP3: a mechanosensor with a role in autophagy. Cell Death Discovery 1, Article number: 15014 (2015) doi:10.1038/cddiscovery.2015.14.
56) Rashid MM, Runci A, Russo MA, Tafani M. Muscle Lim Protein (MLP)/CSRP3 at the crossroad between mechanotransduction and autophagy. Cell Death Dis. 2015 Oct22;6:e1940.
57) Klionsky DJ, Abdelmohsen K, …Tafani M,…Zughaier SM. Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition). Autophagy. 2016 Jan 2;12(1):1-222.
58) Valente S, Mellini P, Spallotta F, Carafa V, Nebbioso A, Polletta L, Carnevale I, Saladini S, Trisciuoglio D, Gabellini C, Tardugno M, Zwergel C, Cencioni C, Atlante S, Moniot S, Steegborn C, Budriesi R, Tafani M, Del Bufalo D, Altucci L, Gaetano C, Mai A. 1,4-Dihydropyridines Active on the SIRT1/AMPK Pathway Ameliorate Skin Repair and Mitochondrial Function and Exhibit Inhibition of Proliferation in Cancer Cells. J Med Chem. 2016 Feb 25;59(4):1471-91.
59) Tafani M, Sansone L, Limana F, Arcangeli T, De Santis E, Polese M, Fini M, Russo MA. The Interplay of Reactive Oxygen Species, Hypoxia, Inflammation, and Sirtuins in Cancer Initiation and Progression. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:3907147.
60) Santarelli R, Granato M, Pentassuglia G, Lacconi V, Gilardini Montani MS, Gonnella R, Tafani M, Torrisi MR, Faggioni A, Cirone M. KSHV reduces autophagy in THP-1 cells and in differentiating monocytes by decreasing CAST/calpastatin and ATG5 expression. Autophagy. 2016 Oct 7:1-15.
61) Mari E, Mardente S, Morgante E, Tafani M, Lococo E, Fico F, Valentini F, Zicari A. Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons Induce Autophagic Vacuoles in Neuroblastoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Nov 29;17(12).
62) Carnevale I, Pellegrini L, D'Aquila P, Saladini S, Lococo E, Polletta L, Vernucci E, Foglio E, Coppola S, Sansone L, Passarino G, Bellizzi D, Russo MA, Fini M, Tafani M. SIRT1-SIRT3 Axis Regulates Cellular Response to Oxidative Stress and Etoposide. J Cell Physiol. 2016 Dec 7. doi: 10.1002/jcp.25711.
63) Russo MA, Ravenna L, Pellegrini L, Petrangeli E, Salvatori L, Magrone T, Fini M, Tafani M. Hypoxia and Inflammation in prostate cancer progression. Cross-talk with androgen and estrogen receptors and cancer stem cells. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2016 Nov 30. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27908264.
64) Po A, Begalli F, Abballe L, Alfano V, Besharat ZM, Catanzaro G, Vacca A, Napolitano M, Tafani M, Giangaspero F, Locatelli F, Ferretti E, Miele E. β-Arrestin1/miR-326 Transcription Unit Is Epigenetically Regulated in Neural Stem Cells Where It Controls Stemness and Growth Arrest. Stem Cells Int. 2017;2017:5274171. doi: 10.1155/2017/5274171
65) Miele E, Valente S, Alfano V, Silvano M, Mellini P, Borovika D, Marrocco B, Po A, Besharat ZM, Catanzaro G, Battaglia G, Abballe L, Zwergel C, Stazi G, Milite C, Castellano S, Tafani M, Trapencieris P, Mai A, Ferretti E. The histone methyltransferase EZH2 as a druggable target in SHH medulloblastoma cancer stem cells. Oncotarget. 2017 Aug 2;8(40):68557-68570.
66) Puddighinu G, D'Amario D, Foglio E, Manchi M, Siracusano A, Pontemezzo E, Cordella M, Facchiano F, Pellegrini L, Mangoni A, Tafani M, Crea F, Germani A, Russo MA, Limana F. Molecular mechanisms of cardioprotective effects mediated by transplanted cardiac ckit(+) cells through the activation of an inflammatory hypoxia-dependent reparative response. Oncotarget. 2017 Dec 6;9(1):937-957.
67) Mardente S, Mari E, Massimi I, Tafani M, Guerriero R, Morsilli O, Pulcinelli FM, Bianchi ME, Zicari A. From Human Megakaryocytes to Platelets: Effects of Aspirin on High-Mobility Group Box 1/Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Axis. Front Immunol. 2018 Jan 12;8:1946.
68) Neri M, Sansone L, Pietrasanta L, Kisialiou A, Cabano E, Martini M, Russo MA, Ugolini D, Tafani M, Bonassi S. Gene and protein expression of CXCR4 in adult and elderly patients with chronic rhinitis, pharyngitis or sinusitis undergoing thermal water nasal inhalations. Immun Ageing. 2018 Feb 27;15:10.
69) Mellini P, Marrocco B, Borovika D, Polletta L, Carnevale I, Saladini S, Stazi G, Zwergel C, Trapencieris P, Ferretti E, Tafani M, Valente S, Mai A. Pyrazole-based inhibitors of enhancer of zeste homologue 2 induce apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2018 Jun 5;373(1748).
70) Papale M, Ferretti E, Battaglia G, Bellavia D, Mai A, Tafani M. EZH2, HIF-1, and Their Inhibitors: An Overview on Pediatric Cancers. Front Pediatr. 2018 Nov 19;6:328.
71) Zwergel C, Romanelli A, Stazi G, Besharat ZM, Catanzaro G, Tafani M, Valente S, Mai A. Application of Small Epigenetic Modulators in Pediatric Medulloblastoma. Front Pediatr. 2018 Dec 3;6:370.
72) Saladini S, Aventaggiato M, Barreca F, Morgante E, Sansone L, Russo MA, Tafani M. Metformin Impairs Glutamine Metabolism and Autophagy in Tumour Cells. Cells. 2019 Jan 14;8(1). pii: E49. doi: 10.3390/cells8010049.
73) Vernucci E, Tomino C, Molinari F, Limongi D, Aventaggiato M, Sansone L, Tafani M, Russo MA. Mitophagy and Oxidative Stress in Cancer and Aging: Focus on Sirtuins and Nanomaterials. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019 May 9;2019:6387357. doi:
10.1155/2019/6387357.
74) Po A, Giuliani A, Masiello MG, Cucina A, Catizone A, Ricci G, Chiacchiarini M, Tafani M, Ferretti E, Bizzarri M. Phenotypic transitions enacted by simulated microgravity do not alter coherence in gene transcription profile. NPJ Microgravity. 2019 Nov 21;5:27. doi: 10.1038/s41526-019-0088-x.
75) Russo MA, Tomino C, Vernucci E, Limana F, Sansone L, Frustaci A, Tafani M. Hypoxia and Inflammation as a Consequence of β-Fibril Accumulation: A Perspective View for New Potential Therapeutic Targets. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019 Jun 26;2019:7935310. doi: 10.1155/2019/7935310. eCollection 2019. Review.
76) Papale M, Buccarelli M, Mollinari C, Russo MA, Pallini R, Ricci-Vitiani L, Tafani M. Hypoxia, Inflammation and Necrosis as Determinants of Glioblastoma Cancer Stem Cells Progression. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 11;21(8):2660. doi: 10.3390/ijms21082660.
77) Ilari S, Giancotti LA, Lauro F, Dagostino C, Gliozzi M, Malafoglia V, Sansone L, Palma E, Tafani M, Russo MA, Tomino C, Fini M, Salvemini D, Mollace V, Muscoli C. Antioxidant modulation of sirtuin 3 during acute inflammatory pain: The ROS control. Pharmacol Res. 2020 Jul;157:104851. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104851.
78) Sharma P, Dando I, Strippoli R, Kumar S, Somoza A, Cordani M, Tafani M. Nanomaterials for Autophagy-Related miRNA-34a Delivery in Cancer Treatment. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Jul 24;11:1141. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01141.
79) Mardente S, Aventaggiato M, Mari E, Francioso A, Tafani M, Mosca L, Zicari A, Malyshev I, Kuznetsova L, Valentini F. GO Nanosheets: Promising Nano Carrier for the S29, 1-(2-Chloro-2-(4-chlorophenyl-ethyl)-N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidin-4-amine, Therapeutic Agent in Neuroblastoma. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 3;21(17):6430. doi: 10.3390/ijms21176430.
80) Aventaggiato, M.; Barreca, F.; Vernucci, E.; Bizzarri, M.; Ferretti, E.; Russo, M.A.; Tafani, M. Putative Receptors for Gravity Sensing in Mammalian Cells: The Effects of Microgravity. Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 2028. doi: 10.3390/app10062028.
81) Ilari S, Giancotti LA, Lauro F, Gliozzi M, Malafoglia V, Palma E, Tafani M, Russo MA, Tomino C, Fini M, Salvemini D, Mollace V, Muscoli C. Natural Antioxidant Control of Neuropathic Pain-Exploring the Role of Mitochondrial SIRT3 Pathway. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Nov 9;9(11):1103. doi: 10.3390/antiox9111103.
82) Aventaggiato M, Vernucci E, Barreca F, Russo MA, Tafani M. Sirtuins' control of autophagy and mitophagy in cancer. Pharmacol Ther. 2020 Nov 24:107748. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107748.
83) Klionsky DJ, Abdel-Aziz AK,…,Tafani M…, Tong CK. Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1. Autophagy. 2021 Jan;17(1):1-382. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1797280.
84) Cordani M, Somoza Á, Tafani M, Dando I, Kumar S. Editorial: Novel Cancer Treatments Based on Autophagy Modulation. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Apr 16;12:650559. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.650559.
85) Molinari F, Feraco A, Mirabilii S, Saladini S, Sansone L, Vernucci E, Tomaselli G, Marzolla V, Rotili D, Russo MA, Ricciardi MR, Tafuri A, Mai A, Caprio M, Tafani M, Armani A. SIRT5 Inhibition Induces Brown Fat-Like Phenotype in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes. Cells. 2021 May 7;10(5):1126. doi: 10.3390/cells10051126.
86) Hu T, Shukla SK, Vernucci E, He C, Wang D, King RJ, Jha K, Siddhanta K, Mullen NJ, Attri KS, Murthy D, Chaika NV, Thakur R, Mulder SE, Pacheco CG, Fu X, High RR, Yu F, Lazenby A, Steegborn C, Lan P, Mehla K, Rotili D, Chaudhary S, Valente S, Tafani M, Mai A, Auwerx J, Verdin E, Tuveson D, Singh PK. Metabolic Rewiring by Loss of Sirt5 Promotes Kras-Induced Pancreatic Cancer Progression. Gastroenterology. 2021 Nov;161(5):1584-1600. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.06.045.
87) Pacifici F, Salimei C, Pastore D, Malatesta G, Ricordi C, Donadel G, Bellia A, Rovella V, Tafani M, Garaci E, Tesauro M, Lauro D, Di Daniele N, Della-Morte D. The Protective Effect of a Unique Mix of Polyphenols and Micronutrients against Neurodegeneration Induced by an In Vitro Model of Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 13;23(6):3110. doi: 10.3390/ijms23063110.
88) Aventaggiato M, Barreca F, Sansone L, Pellegrini L, Russo MA, Cordani M, Tafani M. Sirtuins and Hypoxia in EMT Control. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022 Jun 10;15(6):737. doi: 10.3390/ph15060737.
89) Suenkel B, Valente S, Zwergel C, Weiss S, Di Bello E, Fioravanti R, Aventaggiato M, Amorim JA, Garg N, Kumar S, Lombard DB, Hu T, Singh PK, Tafani M, Palmeira CM, Sinclair D, Mai A, Steegborn C. Potent and Specific Activators for Mitochondrial Sirtuins Sirt3 and Sirt5. J Med Chem. 2022 Oct 27;65(20):14015-14031. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01215.
90) Mardente S, Aventaggiato M, Splendiani E, Mari E, Zicari A, Catanzaro G, Po A, Coppola L, Tafani M. Extra-Cellular Vesicles Derived from Thyroid Cancer Cells Promote the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and the Transfer of Malignant Phenotypes through Immune Mediated Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 1;24(3):2754. doi: 10.3390/ijms24032754.
91) Aventaggiato M, Barreca F, Vitiello L, Vespa S, Valente S, Rotili D, Mai A, Lotti LV, Sansone L, Russo MA, Bizzarri M, Ferretti E, Tafani M. Role of SIRT3 in Microgravity Response: A New Player in Muscle Tissue Recovery. Cells. 2023 Feb 22;12(5):691. doi: 10.3390/cells12050691.
92) Mardente S, Zicari A, Uccelletti D, Mancini P, Lotti LV, Sarto MS, Tafani M. ZnO Nanorods Create a Hypoxic State with Induction of HIF-1 and EPAS1, Autophagy, and Mitophagy in Cancer and Non-Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 9;24(8):6971. doi: 10.3390/ijms24086971.
93) Zwergel C, Aventaggiato M, Garbo S, Di Bello E, Fassari B, Noce B, Castiello C, Lambona C, Barreca F, Rotili D, Fioravanti R, Schmalz T, Weyand M, Niedermeier A, Tripodi M, Colotti G, Steegborn C, Battistelli C, Tafani M, Valente S, Mai A. Novel 1,4-Dihydropyridines as Specific Binders and Activators of SIRT3 Impair Cell Viability and Clonogenicity and Downregulate Hypoxia-Induced Targets in Cancer Cells. J Med Chem. 2023 Jul 27;66(14):9622-9641. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00337.
94) Barreca F, Aventaggiato M, Vitiello L, Sansone L, Russo MA, Mai A, Valente S, Tafani M. SIRT5 Activation and Inorganic Phosphate Binding Reduce Cancer Cell Vitality by Modulating Autophagy/Mitophagy and ROS. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Aug 18;12(8):1635. doi: 10.3390/antiox12081635.
95) Foglio E, D'Avorio E, Vitiello L, Masuelli L, Bei R, Pacifici F, Della-Morte D, Mirabilii S, Ricciardi MR, Tafuri A, Garaci E, Russo MA, Tafani M, Limana F. Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiac Senescence Is Alleviated Following Treatment with Combined Polyphenols and Micronutrients through Enhancement in Mitophagy. Cells. 2023 Nov 10;12(22):2605. doi: 10.3390/cells12222605.
96) Monti N, Querqui A, Lentini G, Tafani M, Bizzarri M. System Biology Approach in Investigating Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Methods Mol Biol. 2024;2745:211-225. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3577-3_13. PMID: 38060188.
97) Pannek M, Alhalabi Z, Tomaselli D, Menna M, Fiorentino F, Robaa D, Weyand M, Puhlmann M, Tomassi S, Barreca F, Tafani M, Zaganjor E, Haigis MC, Sippl W, Rotili D, Mai A, Steegborn C. Specific Inhibitors of Mitochondrial Deacylase Sirtuin 4 Endowed with Cellular Activity. J Med Chem. 2024 Feb 8;67(3):1843-1860. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01496. Epub 2024 Jan 22. PMID: 38253001.
98) Aventaggiato M, Valentini F, Caissutti D, Relucenti M, Tafani M, Misasi R, Zicari A, Di Martino S, Virtuoso S, Neri A, Mardente S. Biological Effects of Small Sized Graphene Oxide Nanosheets on Human Leukocytes. Biomedicines. 2024 Jan 23;12(2):256. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12020256. PMID: 38397858; PMCID: PMC10887315.
99) Aventaggiato M, Arcangeli T, Vernucci E, Barreca F, Sansone L, Pellegrini L, Pontemezzo E, Valente S, Fioravanti R, Russo MA, Mai A, Tafani M. Pharmacological Activation of SIRT3 Modulates the Response of Cancer Cells to Acidic pH. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024 Jun 20;17(6):810. doi: 10.3390/ph17060810. PMID: 38931477.
100) Cordani M, Garufi A, Benedetti R, Tafani M, Aventaggiato M, D'Orazi G, Cirone M. Recent Advances on Mutant p53: Unveiling Novel Oncogenic Roles, Degradation Pathways, and Therapeutic Interventions. Biomolecules. 2024 May 31;14(6):649. doi: 10.3390/biom14060649. PMID: 38927053; PMCID: PMC11201733.
101) Sansone L, Barreca F, Belli M, Aventaggiato M, Russo A, Perrone GA, Russo MA, Tafani M, Frustaci A. Infertility in Fabry's Disease: role of hypoxia and inflammation in determining testicular damage. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024 Feb 22;15:1340188. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1340188. Erratum in: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024 Apr 18;15:1412673. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1412673. PMID: 38455658; PMCID: PMC10917934.
102) Monti N, Antinori D, Proietti S, Piombarolo A, Querqui A, Lentini G, Liguoro D, Aventaggiato M, Lucarelli M, Pensotti A, Giuliani A, Tafani M, Fuso A, Bizzarri M. miRNAs from Zebrafish Embryo Extracts Inhibit Breast Cancer Invasiveness and Migration by Modulating miR-218-5p/PI3K Pathway. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Apr 17;26(8):3812. doi: 10.3390/ijms26083812. PMID: 40332412; PMCID: PMC12027887.

h-INDEX: 39
Citations: 14639