I am interested in molecular mechanisms controlling the induction/reversal of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and fibrosis. In particular, I focused my investigation in intracellular mechanisms controlling the plasticity of mesothelial cells in inflammatory/fibrogenic conditions. I and collaborators elucidated the role of NF-kB/ERK1/2/Snail axis in EMT induction/reversal and I analyzed p38-NF-kB and ERK1/2-SMADs cross talks. In a recent study, I elucidated the role of Caveolin1 in limiting EMT induction due to repression of MEK/ERK pathway in in vitro and in-vivo models.
I am presently involved in research projects related to mechanical regulation of EMT and to the control of EMT induction/reversal by epigenetic factors in mesothelial cells and in other projects aimed to characterize novel proteins relevant for EMT dynamics.
Moreover, I have been implicated in the study of pathogenetic mechanisms of rheumatic inflammatory diseases, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS/HLH). Taking advantage of both murine (IL-6 transgenic mice) and cellular (mononuclear cells from synovial fluid and synovial fibroblasts) models, we analysed interrelations between cytokines, especially IL-6, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands in the genesis of the inflammatory response, leading eventually to fibrotic damage. We found that a cooperation between TLR- and cytokine-induced signals enhances the activity of both mononuclear and stromal cells, leading to an exacerbation of the inflammatory response. These discoveries contributed to constitute the rational for the ongoing introduction of new biologic drugs, such as anti-IL-6 and anti-IFN mAbs, for treatment of JIA and other rheumatic diseases.
Part II – Education
University graduation: Medicine, Sapienza University full marks and honors
Specialty: Laboratory Medicine, Sapienza University
PhD: Immunology, Sapienza University
Part III – Appointments
IIIA – Academic Appointments
01/09/2013-30/08/2018 Sapienza University Dipartimento di Biotecnologie cellulari ed Ematologia Assistant Professor (RTDA)
01/09/2018-Now Sapienza University Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare Assistant Professor Tenure Track (RTDB)
IIIB – Other Appointments
01-02-2002 30-05-2002 Fulbright Commission Fulbright Fellowship (spent at Butcher lab Stanford University, Palo Alto)
01-07-2005 30-06-2006 FIRC foundation FIRC Fellowship (spent at CNIC, Madrid, Del Pozo lab)
01-01-2007 30-01-2009 Ministerio Economia y Competitividad, Fundaciòn CNIC Carlos III, Madrid Spain Three years Rìo Hortega Fellowship (for MD Residents), (spent at CNIC, Madrid, Del Pozo lab)
01-09-2008 30-08-2012 IRCCS Bambino Gesù Rome Italy Research Fellowship, Lab De Benedetti
Part IV - Society memberships
2000 SIICA Società Italiana di Immunologia Immunologia Clinica ed Allergologia
2007 TEMTIA the EMT International Association
2008 Pres, Pediatric Rheumatology European Society
2015 ABCD, Associazione di Biologia Cellulare e del Differenziamento
Awards and Honors
2009 Disease Models and Mechanisms (DMM) research presentation Grant
2014 Invited Speaker at the International Symposium on Translational Approaches to Autoinflammatory Diseases 15th + 16th May 2014, Münster Germany
2019 Invited Speaker, Centro Nacional de Biologia Molecular (CBM) Severo Ochoa (Madrid, Spain) cycle of conferences 2018/2019
Evaluation of Research projects and editorial activity
2011 Independent evaluator of Greek National Action 'Cooperation 2011' (Evaluation of a competitive research project in cancer cell apoptosis from European Union/ Ministry of Education, Life Long Learning and Religious Affairs cofounding)
2016 Independent evaluator of peer review of Application for Kidney Research UK
2016 Lead Guest Editor, Mediators of Inflammation
2017 Lead Guest Editor, Frontiers in Pharmacology
2018 Guest Editor, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
2019 Guest Editor, Journal of Oncology
Peer Review activity
2010-2019 Peer Review activity traced in Publons since 2013 (https://publons.com/author/1192573/raffaele-strippoli#profile) for Journal of Biological Chemistry, Cell Death and Differentiation, Journal of Cell Science, PloS One, Translational Research, Journal of Rheumatology, Pharmaceutical Biology, Laboratory Investigation, Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry; American Journal of Nephrology, Pharmacological Reports, World Journal Gastroenterology, Scientific Reports, the Journal of Pathology, Oncotarget, Biochimica and Biophysica acta (BBA), FEBS journal, Frontiers of Medicine, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Frontiers of Medicine, BMC Nephrology. Journal of Cell Science,
Part V
International Collaborations
Miguel Angel del Pozo Mechanoadaptation & Caveolae Biology Lab, Cell and Developmental Biology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid 28029, Spain.
Manuel Lopez Cabrera Molecular Biology Research Centre Severo Ochoa, Spanish National Research Council Madrid, Spain
Marco Cordani Institute for Advanced Studies in Nanoscience (IMDEA Nanociencia)Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco Madrid Spain
Teijo Pellinen Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), Helsinki, Finland.
Dirk Holzinger Department of Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, University Children's Hospital Münster, Domagkstr. 3, 48149 Münster, Germany.
Part VI Summary of Scientific Achievements
Patents 2
Patent 1 Use of tak1 inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of peritoneal membrane failure P201031439 ES1997.8 September 28th 2010 https://www.google.com/patents/WO2012042091A3?cl=en 2010
Patent 1 Mek 1/2 inhibitors for the treatment of peritoneal fibrosis PCT/ES2009/070348 https://encrypted.google.com/patents/WO2010020703A1?cl=zh 2009
Papers
Total number of products (papers) 36 Scopus 2000-2019
Total Citations 1020 (Scopus)
Average Citations per Product 28.5 (Scopus)
Hirsch (H) index 18 (Scopus)