- Prof.ssa Anna Teti
Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy - Title: “THE LONG STORY OF OSTEOCLASTS: FROM FUN TO THERAPY”
- Host researcher : Anna Moles
Abstract
Osteoclasts astonish scientists with their multifaceted functions and unique properties. The last decades have seen a paradigm shift about osteoclasts, from cells with the single function of bone resorption to ‘‘orchestrators’’ implicated in the concerted regulation of bone turnover and haematopoiesis. Osteoclasts have unique morphological features, organelle distribution and plasma membrane domain organization, and contribute to the control of skeletal growth and renewal. They are immune cells sensitive to pro-inflammatory stimuli, and display immunomodulator functions. Their genetic mutations induce osteopetrosis, a severe disease with dense but brittle bones, osteomyelitis, impaired haematopoiesis and neurosensorial alterations. Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis is curable by haematopoietic stem cells transplantation, while autosomal dominant osteopetrosis (ADO) has no cure. Results in our lab show that a siRNA treatment is suitable for ADO. This therapy obtained orphan and paediatric drug designation by FDA and is now under preclinical fine tuning for IND application for phase1/2 clinical trials.
Biosketch
Education/Position: Graduated at the University of Bari School of Biological Science. Full Professor of Histology and Embryology, University of L’Aquila, Italy.
Honors and Awards: 1991, Chemofux Prize, Vienna, Austria; 1993, Prix Andre Lichtwitz, INSERM, Paris, France; 2008 Swiss Bridge Award, New experimental antiresorptive therapy for the treatment of bone metastases, Switzerland; 2010, Bone: A top ten cited article of 2008; 2013, ECTS Mike Horton Basic/Translational Award, Lisbon, Portugal; 2019, ASBMR Lawrence G. Raisz Award, Orlando, FL, USA; 2022, ASBMR Paula Stern Achievement Award, Austin, TX, USA.
Editorial Duties/ Peer Review Panels: Editor Bone. Editorial Board: Calcified Tissue International; Endocrinology (ended 2009; Archives Biochemistry and Biophysics; BoneKey Reports (ended 2016); British Journal of Pharmacology (Editor duty for the bone section; ended 2016); Cancer Research; Cancers (ended 2023).
Other activities: Reviewer for 60 international journals and 20 international grant agencies; Past-Coordinator of 3 consortia supported by the European Commission and 1 consortium supported by the Italian Ministry of Education PRIN grant; Past-Deputy coordinator of 2 consortia supported by the European Commission.
Professional Societies: 2002-2005, Member of the Publication Committee, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR); 2001-2007, Member of the Board of Directors, International Bone and Mineral Society (IBMS); 2000-2006, Treasurer, Executive Committee European Calcified Tissues Society (ECTS); 2017-2020, President ECTS. 2023-2026 Member of the ASBMR Council.
International Scientific Committees: Abstract reviewer ASBMR meetings; 1995, International Conference on Calcium Regulating Hormones; 1995-2022, Research Prize, Austrian Society for Bone and Mineral Research; 2001, Joint ECTS/IBMS meeting 2003, ECTS meeting (local organizer), Rome; 2005, Non-clinical co-chair for the joint ECTS/IBMS meeting, Geneva; 2007 Local and scientific organizer MetaBre/BRECOSM Breast Cancer and Metastasis Conference; 2009 Scientific Program Committee, IBMS meeting, Sidney, Australia; 2016, President Local Organizing Committee, ECTS meeting, Rome, Italy.
Current Research: Bone cell biopathology, metabolic, genetic and cancer-induced bone diseases.
Publications: 220 in peer-review international journals