Neuro-immunity
Intestinal homeostasis relies on the reciprocal crosstalk between enteric neurons and immune cells (i.e., macrophages, T cells), which together form the “neuro-immune unit”. In this context, also enteric glial cells (EGCs), acting as a sort of bridge between immune-inflammatory cells and ENS, plays a pivotal role in shaping the enteric neural circuits and the immune/inflammatory responses in the gut.
In the last years, the neuro-immune axis is emerging as a pivotal player involved in the maintenance of gut physiology as well as in the sustaining the pathophysiological events underlying many disorders characterized by immune dysfunctions, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), obesity and neurodegenerative disorders. Indeed, inflammatory mediators release by immune and glial cells, besides sustain the inflammatory processes, induce a pathological remodeling of the enteric neuromuscular compartment, resulting in bowel motor dysfunctions associated with above mentioned disorders.
Our research investigates the role of the neuro-immune axis in several inflammatory disorders, such as IBDs, intestinal inflammation induced by hypercaloric diet as well as neurodegenerative disorders. This knowledge will contribute to the design new specific therapeutical approaches (i.e. modulation of gut microbiota and immune cells) to counteract the inflammatory underlying these pathologies, thus leading to the development of effective and novel therapies.
Our research focuses on three main areas:
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Molecular mechanisms underlying the neuro-immune axis
We are currently investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the neuro-immune axis. In particular, our attention is focused on the interaction between gut microbiota, immune cells, glial cells and enteric neurons.
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Novel therapeutical approaches
We are currently characterizing the effects of natural compounds in our murine models of IBDs, obesity and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Translational studies
We are currently studying the role of neuro-immune unit in patients with IBD and neurodegenerative diseases, including PD and AD patients. In particular, we are characterizing the neuron alteration and glial activation in order to clarify the potential impact that evaluating gut alterations in these disorders could have on clinical practice, in terms of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, in the near future.
- Enteric Glia and Brain Astroglia: Complex Communication in Health and Disease along the Gut-Brain Axis (Neuroscientist. 2023) D’Antongiovanni V, Pellegrini C, Antonioli L, Ippolito C, Segnani C, Benvenuti L, D’Amati A, Errede M, Virgintino D, Fornai M, Bernardini N. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37052336/
- NLRP3 at the crossroads between immune/inflammatory responses and enteric neuroplastic remodelling in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity (Br J Pharmacol. 2021) Pellegrini C, Fornai M, Benvenuti L, Colucci R, Caputi V, Palazon-Riquelme P, Giron MC, Nericcio A, Garelli F, D’Antongiovanni V, Segnani C, Ippolito C, Nannipieri M, Lopez-Castejon G, Pelegrin P, Haskó G, Bernardini N, Blandizzi C, Antonioli L. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34000757/
- Glial A2B Adenosine Receptors Modulate Abnormal Tachykininergic Responses and Prevent Enteric Inflammation Associated with High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity (Cells. 2020) D’Antongiovanni V, Benvenuti L, Fornai M, Pellegrini C, van den Wijngaard R, Cerantola S, Giron MC, Caputi V, Colucci R, Haskó G, Németh ZH, Blandizzi C, Antonioli L. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32443525/
- Colonic dysmotility associated with high-fat diet-induced obesity: Role of enteric glia. (FASEB J. 2020) Antonioli L, D’Antongiovanni V, Pellegrini C, Fornai M, Benvenuti L, di Carlo A, van den Wijngaard R, Caputi V, Cerantola S, Giron MC, Németh ZH, Haskó G, Blandizzi C, Colucci R. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32086846/