of Diabetic Retinopathy
Staff
- Porta Massimo (Coordinator)
- Beltramo Elena (Technician)
- Dott. Aurora MAZZEO (PhD student)
Contacts
- +39.011.6334303 - +39.011.6708471
- elena.beltramo@unito.it
- Send email to members
ERC Sectors
Activity
The main interest of the group is the study of the mechanisms involved in the development of diabetic microvascular disease, in particular diabetic retinopathy.
The research work is focused on the biological and molecular evaluation of the damage caused to microvascular cells (endothelium and pericytes) by excess glucose and the possible beneficial role of some compounds. Moreover, the interactions between extracellular matrix and pericytes and how they are influenced by the high ambient glucose in which endothelial cells are cultured are studied. The group created, characterized and patented a new immortalized human retinal pericyte line, in order to gain further insight into these mechanisms using a species-specific model. Endothelium/pericyte co-culture models to mimic the retinal capillary microenvironment have also been established.
In the latest years, our work has focalized on the study of the influence of extracellular vesicles released by the mesenchymal stem cells grown in diabetic-like conditions on the detachment of retinal pericytes from microvessels in the early phases of diabetic retinopathy, and the evaluation of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of this phenomenon. This study is supported by an EFSD (European Association for the Study of Diabetes) / Novartis European Research Programme in Microvascular Complications of Diabetes.
Moreover, we are involved in the European VII Framework Programme project EUROCONDOR (European Consortium for the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy), as regards the study of the biomolecular mechanisms of action of two neuroprotective drugs, somatostatin and brimonidine.
The daily work in the lab consists of cell cultures, metabolic and ELISA assays, RT-PCR and Western blotting, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, in vitro models of angiogenesis.
Publications
Mazzeo A, Beltramo E, Iavello A, Carpanetto A, Porta M. (2015) Molecular mechanisms of extracellular vesicle-induced vessel destabilization in diabetic retinopathy. Acta diabetologica [DOI PMID]
Beltramo E, Lopatina T, Berrone E, Mazzeo A, Iavello A, Camussi G, Porta M. (2014) Extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells induce features of diabetic retinopathy in vitro. Acta diabetologica 51(6) 1055-64 [DOI PMID]
Beltramo E, Porta M. (2013) Pericyte loss in diabetic retinopathy: mechanisms and consequences. Current medicinal chemistry 20(26) 3218-25 [PMID]
Tarallo S, Beltramo E, Berrone E, Porta M. (2012) Human pericyte-endothelial cell interactions in co-culture models mimicking the diabetic retinal microvascular environment. Acta diabetologica 49 Suppl 1 S141-51 [DOI PMID]
Beltramo E, Nizheradze K, Berrone E, Tarallo S, Porta M. (2009) Thiamine and benfotiamine prevent apoptosis induced by high glucose-conditioned extracellular matrix in human retinal pericytes. Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews 25(7) 647-56 [DOI PMID]
Beltramo E, Berrone E, Tarallo S, Porta M. (2009) Different apoptotic responses of human and bovine pericytes to fluctuating glucose levels and protective role of thiamine. Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews 25(6) 566-76 [DOI PMID]
Tarallo S, Beltramo E, Berrone E, Dentelli P, Porta M. (2010) Effects of high glucose and thiamine on the balance between matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in vascular cells. Acta diabetologica 47(2) 105-11 [DOI PMID]
Berrone E, Beltramo E, Buttiglieri S, Tarallo S, Rosso A, Hammes HP, Porta M. (2009) Establishment and characterization of a human retinal pericyte line: a novel tool for the study of diabetic retinopathy. International journal of molecular medicine 23(3) 373-8 [PMID]
Beltramo E, Berrone E, Tarallo S, Porta M. (2008) Effects of thiamine and benfotiamine on intracellular glucose metabolism and relevance in the prevention of diabetic complications. Acta diabetologica 45(3) 131-41 [DOI PMID]
Beltramo E, Berrone E, Giunti S, Gruden G, Perin PC, Porta M. (2006) Effects of mechanical stress and high glucose on pericyte proliferation, apoptosis and contractile phenotype. Experimental eye research 83(4) 989-94 [DOI PMID]
Berrone E, Beltramo E, Solimine C, Ape AU, Porta M. (2006) Regulation of intracellular glucose and polyol pathway by thiamine and benfotiamine in vascular cells cultured in high glucose. The Journal of biological chemistry 281(14) 9307-13 [DOI PMID]
Matera L, Beltramo E, Martinuzzi E, Buttiglieri S. (2004) Effect of prolactin on carcinoembryonic antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response induced by dendritic cells. Clinical and experimental immunology 137(2) 320-8 [DOI PMID]
Beltramo E, Berrone E, Buttiglieri S, Porta M. (2004) Thiamine and benfotiamine prevent increased apoptosis in endothelial cells and pericytes cultured in high glucose. Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews 20(4) 330-6 [DOI PMID]
Pomero F, Allione A, Beltramo E, Buttiglieri S, D'Alu F, Ponte E, Lacaria A, Porta M. (2003) Effects of protein kinase C inhibition and activation on proliferation and apoptosis of bovine retinal pericytes. Diabetologia 46(3) 416-9 [DOI PMID]
Beltramo E, Buttiglieri S, Pomero F, Allione A, D'Alu F, Ponte E, Porta M. (2003) A study of capillary pericyte viability on extracellular matrix produced by endothelial cells in high glucose. Diabetologia 46(3) 409-15 [DOI PMID]
Limone P, Berardi C, Pomero F, Del Rizzo P, Allione A, Beltramo E, D'alu F, Ponte E, Pellissetto C, Lacaria A, Barberis AM, Porta M. (2002) Failure of angiotensin II and insulin to stimulate transforming growth factor-beta1. Release from cultured bovine retinal pericytes. Diabetes & metabolism 28(6 Pt 1) 499-503 [PMID]
Beltramo E, Pomero F, Allione A, D'Alu F, Ponte E, Porta M. (2002) Pericyte adhesion is impaired on extracellular matrix produced by endothelial cells in high hexose concentrations. Diabetologia 45(3) 416-9 [DOI PMID]
Brignardello E, Beltramo E, Molinatti PA, Aragno M, Gatto V, Tamagno E, Danni O, Porta M, Boccuzzi G. (1998) Dehydroepiandrosterone protects bovine retinal capillary pericytes against glucose toxicity. The Journal of endocrinology 158(1) 21-6 [PMID]
La Selva M, Beltramo E, Pagnozzi F, Bena E, Molinatti PA, Molinatti GM, Porta M. (1996) Thiamine corrects delayed replication and decreases production of lactate and advanced glycation end-products in bovine retinal and human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured under high glucose conditions. Diabetologia 39(11) 1263-8 [PMID]
La Selva M, Beltramo E, Passera P, Porta M, Molinatti GM. (1993) The role of endothelium in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy. Acta diabetologica 30(4) 190-200 [PMID]
Dosso AA, Brooks RA, Beltramo E, Molinatti PA, Kanse SM, Kohner EM, Porta M. (1993) A study of the effects of human blood derivatives and individual growth factors on [3H]thymidine uptake in bovine retinal pericytes and endothelial cells. Acta diabetologica 30(4) 207-13 [PMID]
La Selva M, Chiara P, Muccini E, Beltramo E, Molinatti PA, Porta M, Molinatti GM. (1992) Delayed replication of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in high glucose is corrected by L-tyrosine. Diabetes research (Edinburgh, Scotland) 19(2) 87-90 [PMID]