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Prof. Emanuela Barletta

Associate Professor, General Pathology
Dpt. Expermental Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Italy
Dip. Patologia e Oncologia Sperimentali, Viale Morgagni 50
 

Brief Biography:


MD degree, obtained summa cum laude on July 15, 1985 at University of Florence, Italy, after discussing an experimental thesis entitled: "Role of gangliosides in adhesion process: characterization of ganglioside structure of substratum adhesion sites in normal, tumor and metastatic cells".

Medical Board on November 1985, University of Florence, Italy.

PhD degree in Experimental Pathology obtained in 1991, discussing a thesis entitled "Role of gangliosides in cell adhesion and differentiation".

Diploma of Specialist in Hygene and Medical Prevention, Epidemiology and Public Health, obtained summa cum laude in 1995 at University of Florence, Italy, Postgraduate School of Hygene and Medical Prevention, discussing a thesis entitled "The biological markers in molecular epidemiology".

 

Academic positions:


Present position

Associate Professor of General Pathology since december 2004 at the Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.

Teaching activity

Dr. Barletta is in charge of the teaching program of General Pathology at School of Medicine, University of Florence, Italy in the following degrees: "Medicine", second level degree in "Sciences and Techniques for Preventative and Adaptational Motor and Sporting Activities", second level degree in "Sciences and Techniques of Sporting Activities". Dr. Barletta is also lecturer on Cancerogenesis at post-graduate program of Specialization in Hygene and Medical Prevention, School of Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.

Previous positions

1980-1982 - Student fellow at the Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Florence, Italy.

1983-1985 - Student fellow at the Institute of General Pathology, University of Florence, Italy.

January 86-March 87 - Fellowship from "Associazione Italiano per la Ricerca sul Cancro" (A.I.R.C.).

March 87-November 90 - PhD student at the Institute of General Pathology,University of Florence, Italy.

September 88-September 90 - Research Associate at the laboratory of Dr. Lloyd A. Culp, Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland (Ohio, U.S.A.).

January 91-December 92 - Fellowship from "Associazione Italiano per la Ricerca sul Cancro" (A.I.R.C.).

July 95-December 2004 - Researcher (Ricercatore universitario) of General Pathology, at the Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.

 

Research interests:


From the beginning of her research career Dr. Barletta has focused her attention on exploring the molecular mechanisms of cell adhesion and cell differentiation induced by specific adhesive substratum in normal and tumor cells. Her studies were centered on adhesive interactions between specific cell-surface molecules such as gangliosides, integrins, and heparan sulfates with adhesive proteins such as fibronectin, vitronectin and platelet factor 4 (PF4). Moreover, she focused her attention on the relationship between cell differentiation and invasive potential through extracellular matrix components. For this purpose she studied the effect of differentiating agents such as retinoic acid, platelet activatin factor (PAF), and neurotrophins CNTF (Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor) and BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotophic Factor) on differentiation and invasiveness of neuroblastoma cells through reconstituted membranes (Matrigel). She has revealed that these differentiating agents induce neurite extention, which is the morphological expression of neuroblastoma differentiation, and inhibit invasiveness by modulation of gene expression of specific extracellular matrix degrading enzymes such as metalloproteases (MMPs). In the last few years, Dr. Barletta has explored the molecular mechanisms of endothelial cell differentiation process. Indeed, endothelial differentiation requires modulation of adhesive properties and secretion of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes such as urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). In this study she has revealed that basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) upregulates uPA gene expression and that this effect is mediated by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) through activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Recently, Dr. Barletta started a collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Paolo Fabbri, Department of Dermatological Sciences, University of Florence, Italy, about the role of MMPs, uPA and PARP in the pathogenesis of autoimmune blistering skin diseases. Moreover, Dr. Barletta during her research career has studied the role of mutationally activated ras oncogenes and occupational exposure in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In particular, she found in 111 AML cases a positive association between a priori at risk jobs and ras mutations. These results indicate that ras oncogene mutations might identify a group of leukaemia in people with previous X-ray/chemotherapy or with exposure to chemical agents in the work environment.

 

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