Phd in BIOCHEMISTRY

email: anna.scottodabusco@uniroma1.it
phone:

Curriculum Vitae

Anna Scotto d’Abusco

ORCID: 0000-0002-3223-6015
Researcher ID: E-9978-2011
Scopus: 6505844213
SSD: BIO10

Education and training
1995 Specialization in Biotechnological Applications, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" 50/50
1991 Visiting scientist at Johns Hopkins University, Asthma and Allergy Center
1987 Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Naples 110/110

Positions:
2022-present Associate Professor, Facoltà di Farmacia e Medicina, Sapienza University of Rome, Dept. Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, P.le A. Moro, 5 – 00185 Rome
2001-2022 Researcher, Facoltà di Farmacia e Medicina, Sapienza University of Rome, Dept. Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, P.le A. Moro, 5 – 00185 Rome
1999-2001 Research fellow Laboratory of Medical Bacteriology and Mycology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità
1998-1999 Research fellow Dept. of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome
1997-1998 Research fellow Laboratory of Medical Bacteriology and Mycology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità
1992-1995 Research fellow University of Rome, Tor Vergata
1991 Research fellow Johns Hopkins University, Asthma and Allergy Center, Baltimore, USA
1987 1991 Research fellow International Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, CNR, Naples

Teaching
2002/2003-present Education of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Degree in Igiene Dentale, Sapienza University of Roma

2005/2006 to 2011/2012 Education of Chemistry, Degree in Scienze delle Professioni Sanitarie Tecniche Assistenziali, Sapienza University of Roma.

2005/2006-present Education of Biochemistry, Degree in Scienze delle Professioni Sanitarie Tecniche Assistenziali, Sapienza University of Roma.

2011/2012-present Education of Chemistry, Degree in Odontoiatry, Sapienza University of Rome.

2012/2013-present Education of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Degree in Odontoiatry, Sapienza University of Rome.

2021/2022-present Education of Biochemistry, Degree in Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome.


Tutorial activity- PhD students
Dr. Paolo Santini, PhD School in Fisiopatologia e Clinica dell’apparato scheletrico XXIV cycle, “Regolazione mediata da miR-149 del processo infiammatorio nell’osteoartrite”, AA 2010-2011
Dr. Daniela Stoppoloni, PhD School in Fisiopatologia e Clinica dell’apparato scheletrico XXV cycle, “Studi in vitro per la valutazione degli effetti della Glucosammina (GlcN) e di un suo N-acetil derivato (NAPA) sulle vie anaboliche in condrociti primary umani, AA 2011-2012
Dr. Mariangela Lopreiato, PhD School in Biochemistry XXXII cycle, “A glucosamine derivative affects metastatic activity in two prostate cancer cell lines by stimulating Maspin expression”, AA 2016-2019
Dr. Alessia Mariano, PhD School in Biochemistry XXXV cycle, “From root extract to antiarthritic facts: trip across a novel therapeutic approach to inflammation and pain”, AA 2019 -2022

Collaborations
Dr Brunella Grigolo, Laboratory of Immunorheumatology and Tissue regeneration, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna
Dr. Rosa Maria Borzì, Laboratory of Immunorheumatology and Tissue regeneration, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna
Dr. Cillero-Pastor, Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging institute (M4I), Maastricht, The Netherlands
Dr. Alexandra Munoz Bonilla, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros, Madrid, Spain
Dr Longo, Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CNR, Roma
Dr Superti, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma

Present research activity:

Her scientific activity is focused on the study of onset and progression of Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common rheumatic disease.
Recently, she started to study the features of synoviocytes from OA joints, with particular attention to low-grade, chronic inflammation typical of this pathology. Moreover, she is studying some herbal extracts, with the aim to find molecules or phytocomplexes able to contrast the inflammation typical of OA.

She is also studying polymers, with the aim to find good substrates for tissue repair. In particular, she has been involved in studies regarding Hyaluronic acid and Poly L-lactide.
Recently, she started to study the effects of bovine lactoferrin and N-acetyl-glucosamine on the viral inflammation caused in the lung tissue.

Previously, she studied the effects of Glucosamine and its peptydil-derivatives on intracellular pathways involved both in inflammatory response and in synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM), in particular in osteoarthritis progression using human primary chondrocytes as experimental model.

Moreover, she studied the effects of glucosamine-derivatives on osteosarcoma cell line and on prostate carcinoma cell lines, considering the effects of glucosamine-derivatives on inflammatory pathways, involved in tumor progression.

She is also studying the effects of glucosamine derivatives on ageing and skin cancer induced by UVB radiation on the skin. Cutaneous photoaging is a complex phenomenon affecting ECM composition, taking in account the healthy effect of glucosamine derivatives on ECM synthesis, she is analyzing the effects of these molecules in human primary UVB-stimulated fibroblasts, in order to mimic the solar UVB.

In the last years, she studied the effects of heavy metals on human primary osteoblasts viability and on their metabolic pathways, and novel nanostructured coating for dental and orthopedic implants and prostheses with high osseointegration efficiency.


Grants

Unit’s Coordinator of the Ricerca Finalizzata 2009 From 11/01/2011 to 10/31/2014
“Novel nanostructured coating for dental implants and prostheses with high osseointegration efficiency”.


Co-investigator of Progetti Lazio Innova “Gruppi di Ricerca 2020”
“Sviluppo di nanosistemi basati su sostanze di origine naturale nel trattamento delle infezioni da virus respiratori e dei processi infiammatori a esse associate”.

PI of a collaborative research agreement with SIGMA-TAU, 2009-2010
“Analisi e valutazione dell’effetto della carnitina su colture di condrociti umani prelevati durante interventi ortopedici”.

PI of a collaborative research agreement with Regione Calabria, 2012-2013
“Miglioramento della competitività del settore agricolo e forestale”, Supplemento straordinario n-1 al B.U. della Regione Calabria-Parte III n. 31, 1 Agosto 2008. Research activity was on: “Produzione controllata, in qualità e sicurezza, di olio extravergine e trasformazione della sansa in un prodotto per la combustione in camino domestico”.

PI of a collaborative research agreement with Assing S.p.A. and Romana Film sottili, 2012-2015
“BIOlogical Fast Integration Treatment per impianti chirurgici e dentali-BIOFIT”, Determinazione n. B02523 del 02/05/2012”. Research activity was on: “Determinazione dell’espressione genica di fosfatasi alcalina, collagene 1 e osteocalcina in cellule osteoblasti che (SAOS-2) coltivate su vostri dischi di titanio ricoperti con carburo di titanio, ottenuti con differenti condizioni di deposizione”.

PI of a collaborative research agreement with Complex Vertrieb GmbH, Wien, 2019
“Analyses of the effects of anti-inflammatory molecules on human primary chondrocytes”.


Activity in scientific journals
• Editorial board member of International Journal of Orthopaedics, since 2014
• Evaluation of a project: "MicroRNA involvement in inflammatory mechanisms in osteoarthritis", submitted to Reumafonds (Dutch Arthritis Foundation), 2014
• Ad hoc reviewer of several international journals.
• Evaluation of a project, GAGCAR, submitted to French National Research Agency (ANR). 2017
Guest Editor for Special issue “Nutraceuticals and Human Health” to be published in Nutrients, 2020
• Board member for Nutrients, by MDPI, since 2021

Membership
Member of Società Italiana di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare (SIB), 2003 to present.

Patents
• Patent n. 101991900199791, Sequenza di nucleotidi codificante per una porzione di proteina allergenica di piante appartenenti al genere Parietaria, Marzo 1995
• Patent n. 0001398363, Molecola antagonista di processi infiammatori acuti. Cesare Giordano, Roberto Scandurra, Anna Scotto d’Abusco, Febbraio 2013
• Patent n. 0001424191 Composizione in grado di agire sul regolatore del muscolo MyoD e sulla proliferazione degli osteoblasti. Sergio Ammendola, Anna Scotto d’Abusco, Daniela Stoppoloni, Settembre 2016
• Patent n. 102016000030071, Uso di un derivato della glucosammina per il trattamento delle osteoartriti, le metastasi secondarie all’osteosarcoma, le alterazioni e le patologie della matrice extracellulare. Roberto Scandurra, Anna Scotto d’Abusco, Laura Politi, Cesare Giordano, Settembre 2018
• Patent n. 102022000004574, Nanoparticelle di N-acetilglucosammina e loro applicazioni. Sergio Ammendola, Anna Scotto d’Abusco, Barbara De Berardis, Fabiana Superti, Marzo 2022

More recent publications (2019-2024):
1. Crucianelli S, Mariano A, Valeriani F, Cocomello N, Gianfranceschi G, Baseggio Conrado A, Moretti F, Scotto d'Abusco A, Mennuni G, Fraioli A, Del Ben M, Romano Spica V, Fontana M. Effects of Sulfur Thermal Water inhalations in long-COVID syndrome: spa-centred, double-blinded, randomised case-control pilot study. Clin Med (Lond). 2024, 4:100251. doi: 10.1016/j.clinme.2024.100251. Epub ahead of

2. Mariano A, Ammendola S, Migliorini A, Leopizzi M, Raimondo D, Scotto d'Abusco A. Intron retention in PI-PLC γ1 mRNA as a key mechanism affecting MMP expression in human primary fibroblast-like synovial cells. Cell Biochem Funct. 2024, 42(5):e4091. doi: 10.1002/cbf.4091.

3. Mazzucchi G, Mariano A, Serafini G, Lamazza L, Scotto d'Abusco A, De Biase A, Lollobrigida M. Osteoinductive Properties of Autologous Dentin: An Ex Vivo Study on Extracted Teeth. J Funct Biomater. 2024, 15(6):162. doi: 10.3390/jfb15060162.

4. Mariano A, Di Cristofano S, Raimondo D, Scotto d'Abusco A. Split Gp41-1 intein splicing as a model to evaluate the cellular location of the oncosuppressor Maspin in an in vitro model of osteosarcoma. Cell Biochem Funct. 2024, 42(2):e3987. doi: 10.1002/cbf.3987.

5. Brugnoli B, Perna G, Alfano S, Piozzi A, Galantini L, Axioti E, Taresco V, Mariano A, Scotto d'Abusco A, Vecchio Ciprioti S, Francolini I. Nanostructured Poly-l-lactide and Polyglycerol Adipate Carriers for the Encapsulation of Usnic Acid: A Promising Approach for Hepatoprotection. Polymers (Basel). 2024, 16(3):427. doi: 10.3390/polym16030427.

6. Mariano A, Bigioni I, Marchetti M, Scotto d'Abusco A, Superti F. Repositioned Natural Compounds and Nanoformulations: A Promising Combination to Counteract Cell Damage and Inflammation in Respiratory Viral Infections. Molecules. 2023, 28(10):4045. doi: 10.3390/molecules28104045.

7. Marchetti M, De Berardis B, Bigioni I, Mariano A, Superti F, Scotto d'Abusco A. In Vitro Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of N-Acetylglucosamine: Development of an Alternative and Safe Approach to Fight Viral Respiratory Infections. Int J Mol Sci. 2023, 24(6):5129. doi: 10.3390/ijms24065129.

8. Mariano A, Bigioni I, Ammendola S, Scotto d'Abusco A. The Formulation of the N-Acetylglucosamine as Nanoparticles Increases Its Anti-Inflammatory Activities: An In Vitro Study. Bioengineering (Basel). 2023 Mar 9;10(3):343. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering10030343.

9. Ammendola S, Scotto d'Abusco A. Nutraceuticals and the Network of Obesity Modulators. Nutrients. 2022 Dec 1;14(23):5099. doi: 10.3390/nu14235099.

10. Chiloeches A, Fernández-García R, Fernández-García M, Mariano A, Bigioni I, Scotto d'Abusco A, Echeverría C, Muñoz-Bonilla A. PLA and PBAT-Based Electrospun Fibers Functionalized with Antibacterial Bio-Based Polymers. Macromol Biosci. 2023, 23(1):e2200401. doi: 10.1002/mabi.202200401.

11. Mariano A, Bigioni I, Misiti F, Fattorini L, Scotto D'Abusco A, Rodio A. The Nutraceuticals as Modern Key to Achieve Erythrocyte Oxidative Stress Fighting in Osteoarthritis. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2022, 44(8):3481-3495. doi: 10.3390/cimb44080240.

12. Mariano A, Bigioni I, Mattioli R, Di Sotto A, Leopizzi M, Garzoli S, Mariani PF, Dalla Vedova P, Ammendola S, Scotto d'Abusco A. Harpagophytum procumbens Root Extract Mediates Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Osteoarthritis Synoviocytes through CB2 Activation. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2022, 15(4):457. doi: 10.3390/ph15040457.

13. De Felice AC, Di Lisio V, Francolini I, Mariano A, Piozzi A, Scotto d'Abusco A, Sturabotti E, Martinelli A. One-Pot Preparation of Hydrophilic Polylactide Porous Scaffolds by Using Safe Solvent and Choline Taurinate Ionic Liquid. Pharmaceutics 14:158, 2022. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010158

14. Mariano A, Bigioni I, Scotto d'Abusco A, Baseggio Conrado A, Maina S, Francioso A, Mosca L, Fontana M. Pheomelanin Effect on UVB Radiation-Induced Oxidation/Nitration of l-Tyrosine. Int J Mol Sci. 23:267, 2021. doi:10.3390/ijms23010267

15. Di Giacomo S, Mariano A, Gullì M, Fraschetti C, Vitalone A, Filippi A, Mannina L, Scotto d'Abusco A, Di Sotto A. Role of Caryophyllane Sesquiterpenes in the Entourage Effect of Felina 32 Hemp Inflorescence Phytocomplex in Triple Negative MDA-MB-468 Breast Cancer Cells. Molecules 26:6688, 2021. doi:10.3390/molecules26216688

16. Spano M, Maccelli A, Di Matteo G, Ingallina C, Biava M, Crestoni ME, Bardaud JX, Giusti AM, Mariano A, Scotto D'Abusco A, Sobolev AP, Lasalvia A, Fornarini S, Mannina L. Metabolomic Profiling of Fresh Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) Berries from Two Cultivars Grown in Central Italy: A Multi-Methodological Approach. Molecules 26:5412, 2021.
doi: 10.3390/molecules26175412

17. Silvestro I, Sergi R, Scotto d'Abusco A, Mariano A, Martinelli A, Piozzi A, Francolini I. Chitosan scaffolds with enhanced mechanical strength and elastic response by combination of freeze gelation, photo-crosslinking and freeze-drying. Carbohydr Pol 267: 118156, 2021.
doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118156

18. Lopreiato M, Di Cristofano S, Cocchiola R, Mariano A, Guerrizio L, Scandurra R, Mosca L, Raimondo D, Scotto d’Abusco A. Biochemical and computational studies of the interaction between a glucosamine derivative, NAPA, and the IKKα kinase. Int J Mol Sci 22: 1643, 2021. doi: 10.3390/ijms22041643

19. Mariano A, Di sotto A, Leopizzi M, Garzoli S, Di Maio V, Gullì M, Dalla Vedova P, Ammendola S, Scotto d’Abusco A. Antiarthritic Effects of a Root Extract from Harpagophytum procumbens DC: Novel Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms and Possible Bioactive Phytochemicals. Nutrients 12(9): 2545, 2020. doi: 10.3390/nu12092545

20. Silvestro I, Francolini I, Di Lisio V, Martinelli A, Pietrelli L, Scotto d’Abusco A, Scoppio A, Piozzi A. Preparation and Characterization of TPP-Chitosan Crosslinked Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering. Materials (Basel) 13(16): 3577, 2020. doi: 10.3390/ma13163577

21. Scandurra R, Scotto d’Abusco A, Longo G. A Review of the Effect of a Nanostructured Thin Film Formed by Titanium Carbide and Titanium Oxides Clustered around Carbon in Graphitic Form on Osseointegration. Nanomaterials 10(6): E1233, 2020. doi: 10.3390/nano10061233

22. Serafini G, Lopreiato M, Lollobrigida M, Lamazza L, Mazzucchi G, Fortunato L, Mariano A, Scotto d'Abusco A, Fontana M, De Biase A. Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) and Its Related Products: Biomolecular Characterization of the Liquid Fibrinogen. J Clin Med 9(4):1099, 2020. doi: 10.3390/jcm9041099

23. Lopreiato M, Mariano A, Cocchiola R, Longo G, Dalla Vedova P, Scandurra R, Scotto d’Abusco A. Nanostructured TiC Layer is Highly Suitable Surface for Adhesion, Proliferation and Spreading of Cells. Cond Matt 5: 29, 2020, doi:10.3390/condmat5020029

24. Silvestro I, Lopreiato M, Scotto d'Abusco A, Di Lisio V, Martinelli A, Piozzi A, Francolini I. Hyaluronic Acid Reduces Bacterial Fouling and Promotes Fibroblasts' Adhesion onto
Chitosan 2D-Wound Dressings. Int J Mol Sci. 21(6):2070, 2020. doi: 10.3390/ijms21062070.

25. Lopreiato M, Cocchiola R, Falcucci S, Leopizzi M, Cardone M, Di Maio V, Brocco U, D'Orazi V, Calvieri S, Scandurra R, De Marco F, Scotto d'Abusco A. The Glucosamine-derivative NAPA Suppresses MAPK Activation and Restores Collagen Deposition in Human Diploid Fibroblasts Challenged with Environmental Levels of UVB. Photochem Photobiol. 96(1):74-82, 2020. doi: 10.1111/php.13185.

26. Pagani S, Minguzzi M, Sicuro L, Veronesi F, Santi S, Scotto D'Abusco A, Fini M, Borzì RM. The N-Acetyl Phenylalanine Glucosamine Derivative Attenuates the Inflammatory/Catabolic Environment in a Chondrocyte-Synoviocyte Co-Culture System.
Sci Rep 9(1):13603, 2019. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49188-9.

27. Francolini I, Perugini E, Silvestro I, Lopreiato M, Scotto d'Abusco A, Valentini F, Placidi E, Arciprete F, Martinelli A, Piozzi A. Graphene Oxide Oxygen Content Affects Physical and Biological Properties of Scaffolds Based on Chitosan/Graphene Oxide Conjugates. Materials (Basel) 12(7). pii: E1142. doi: 10.3390/ma12071142.

28. Cocchiola R, Lopreiato M, Guazzo R, de Santi MM, Eufemi M, Scandurra R, Scotto d’Abusco A. The Induction of Maspin Expression by a Glucosamine-Derivative has an Antiproliferative Activity in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines. Chem Biol Interact 300:63-72, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.01.014.

Books

Ammendola S, Scotto d’Abusco A. Oxidative stress, senescence and Mediterranean diet effects on osteoarthritis. In book: Aging (second edition), Editors Preedy VR and Patel VB, chapter 7, pages 73-81, 2020, Ed Elsevier Inc.

Scandurra R., Politi L., Scotto d’Abusco A., Longo G.
Osseointegration of titanium implants is improved by a hard nanostructured coating with titanium carbide and titanium oxides clustered around graphitic carbon.
Ed. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2017

Ruffilli A, Scotto d’Abusco A, De Santo C. Characterization of a dominant epitope of the major allergens of Parietaria. Nel libro: Pollen Biotechnology, gene expression and allergen characterization, Editors Mohapatra SS and Knox BR, capitolo 13, pag 245-268, 1996. Ed Chapman & Hall (Springer).