Group Leader: Carla Petrella
carla.petrella@cnr.it
Key words: preclinical pharmacology of the gastrointestinal tract, gut-microbiota-brain axis, biomarkers, pediatric pathologies, cancer

My research activity focuses mainly on two areas:

  1. Study of the role of the gut-brain axis and the microbiota in mouse models of inflammation and stress.

In recent years, with colleagues from the institute (Dr Stefano Farioli-Vecchioli, Dr. Francesca De Santa, Dr. Georgios Strimpakos) we have created the Gut-Brain Microbiota Group (GBM Group), which aims to study, with a multidisciplinary approach, the effect of microbiota modulation (through probiotic administration) in mouse models of inflammation and stress. I am particularly interested in studying the role of the intestine in the effects mediated by the modulation of the microbiota, with particular attention to permeability (junctions) and local (colon) and systemic inflammation.

  1. New biomarker discovery (serum proteins, microorganisms) with high prognostic and predictive value, capable of predicting a disease and/or directing/monitoring therapeutic strategies (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) towards those of greatest success.

in collaboration with the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, I am interested in the study of the Lipocalin(NGAL)-2, MMP-9 and NGAL/MMP9 complex system in inflammatory pediatric diseases (ulcerative colitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, bronchiolitis), genetic diseases (Klinefelter syndrome), and in patients with cancer of the upper aero-digestive tract, in correlation with specific parameters of the different pathologies.

 

Key Publications

  • De Santa, F., Strimpakos, G., Marchetti, N., […], Petrella, C, Farioli-Vecchioli S. (2024). Effect of a multi-strain probiotic mixture consumption on anxiety and depression symptoms induced in adult mice by postnatal maternal separation. Microbiome 12, 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-024-01752-w.
  • Paparella, R., Ferraguti, G., Fiore, M., […], Petrella, C. (2024). Serum Lipocalin-2 Levels as a Biomarker in Pre- and Post-Pubertal Klinefelter Syndrome Patients: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(4), 2214. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042214.
  • Nenna R, Petrella C, Bonci E, […], Midulla F. (2024). Reduced Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Infants Affected by Severe Bronchiolitis, Current Neuropharmacology; Volume 22, Issue 14, https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X22999240223153901.
  • Fiore, M., Minni, A., Cavalcanti, L., […] Petrella, C. (2023). The Impact of Alcohol Consumption and Oral Microbiota on Upper Aerodigestive Tract Carcinomas: A Pilot Study. Antioxidants, 12(6), 1233. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12061233
  • Petrella, C., Strimpakos, G., Torcinaro, A., […], Farioli-Vecchioli, S. (2021) Proneurogenic and neuroprotective effect of a multi strain probiotic mixture in a mouse model of acute inflammation: Involvement of the gut-brain axis. Pharmacological Research, 172, 105795.

Collaborators

  • Dr. Christian Barbato (IBBC-CNR)
  • Dr Stefano Farioli-Vecchioli (IBBC-CNR)
  • Dr. Francesca De Santa (IBBC-CNR)
  • Dr. Georgios Strimpakos (IBBC-CNR)
  • Prof. Antonio Minni (Dpt of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome)
  • Prof. Giampiero Ferraguti (Dpt of Exper Med, Sapienza University of Rome)
  • Dr. Matteo Spaziani (Dpt of Exper Med, Sapienza University of Rome)
  • Prof. Luigi Tarani (Dpt of Mat Infant and Urol Sci, Sapienza University of Rome)
  • Dr. Roberto Paparella (Dpt of Mat Infant and Urol Sci, Sapienza University of Rome)
  • Prof. Raffaella Nenna (Dpt of Mat Infant and Urol Sci, Sapienza University of Rome)
  • Prof. Fabio Midulla (Dpt of Mat Infant and Urol Sci, Sapienza University of Rome)

Program & resources

  • Granting Agency: Beingpharma – Period 2019-2020. Title of project: Role of BP-002 in gut brain axis. Role: Co-Responsible.
  • Granting Agency: Beingpharma – Period 2021-2023. Title of project: Role of OttaBac in a mouse model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome induced by Stress. Role: Co-Responsible.
  • Granting Agency: Beingpharma – Period 2023-2025. Title of project: Effect of Inactivated Probiotic Preparation in a mouse model of Ulcerative Colitis induced by DSS Role: Responsible.