Mucosal Immunology and Immune Nutrition

Reaseracher Group ahead
Carmen Gianfrani
- +39-081-6132224 (office)
- +39-081-6132265 (lab)
- carmen.gianfrani@ibbc.cnr.it
- Sito web istituzionale
Istituto
Istituto di Biochimica e Biologia Cellulare
Via Pietro Castellino 111 , 80131 Napoli
Tel. 0816132273
http://www.ibbc.cnr.it
Membri del Laboratorio

Serena Vitale, PhD
serena.vitale@ibbc.cnr.it
Stefania Picascia, PhD
stefania.picascia@ibbc.cnr.it
Ilaria Mottota
ilaria051096mottola.im@gmail.com
Attività
Dr Gianfrani’s research is focused on mucosal immunity in health and disease, in particular on:
- interaction between food proteins, microflora and gastrointestinal immune system in health and disease;
- cellular and molecular mechanisms of gluten-induced enteropathy (celiac disease) and of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in adult and childhood age;
- immunomodulatory strategies to recover oral tolerance to gluten;
- impact of environmental contaminants on immune system development and function.
The research leader has also contributed to develop a biochemical strategy to detoxify wheat gluten that is currently in clinical trials. More specifically, the research is currently interested on:
- Repertoire of gluten immunodominant peptides stimulating CD4+ T-mediated inflammatory response in celiac patients;
- Role of HLA class I-restricted CD8+ T cell response in celiac disease;
- Role of HLA risk gene expression in autoimmunity;
- Searching of ancient wheat crops with reduced content of toxic gluten sequences, for prevention of celiac disease;
- Etiopathogenesis of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease;
The inflammatory role of plastic contaminant, (e.g bis-phenol A) on T and dendritic cells maturation and function.
Principali progetti e collaborazioni
• Innovative regulatory cell-based strategies to cure celiac disease – InnovaReCD funded by Italian Ministry of Health. Bando Ricerca Finalizzata, 2016. In collaboration with Silvia Gregori, group leader of “Mechanisms of Peripheral Tolerance” San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therap- Milan Italy;
• Novel immunomodulatory compounds for treatment of celiac disease – NOVICED. Funded by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (Roche group). Fuji Gotemba, Japan;
• Glutenase detox activity. Funded by Nemysis Limited, Dublino, Irlanda;
• Influence of the dietary history in the prevention of coeliac disease:possibilities of induction of tolerance for gluten in genetically predisposed children (PreventCD). EU-FP6-2005-FOOD4B-Contract n.036383. In collaboration with Prof Riccardo Troncone, Department of Translational Medical Science (Section of Pediatrics), University of Naples Federico II.
- Cell isolation from intestinal biopsy and blood; T cell lines and clone cultures; mucosal explant organ culture.
- ELISA/ELISPOT technology; Institutional FACS facility, HLA Class I and II molecular typings;
Dr Gianfrani is Member/Consultant of the following Societies:
• Executive Member, Working Group on Prolamin Analysis and Toxicity. http://www.wgpat.com;
• Member of Scientific Board of European Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (ESsCD);
• Member of the International Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (ISSCD);
• Member of European Laboratory for the Investigation of Food Induced Diseases (ELFID), University of Naples Federico II;
• Editor of Pediatric Research, (Section gastroenterology).


