Laboratory of Cardiovascular Endocrinology

Staff: Armani Andrea, Feraco Alessandra, Gorini Stefania, Mammi Caterina

The Laboratory of Cardiovascular Endocrinology, coordinated by Prof. Massimiliano Caprio, draws on the expertise of Researchers with decades of experience in the field of preclinical/translational research, with particular reference to the study of cellular models of white and brown adipose tissue, endothelium, skeletal muscle and liver. Over the past 10 years, the Laboratory has implemented preclinical research work by devoting itself to studying the effects of pharmacological molecules in mouse models of obesity, atherosclerosis, and nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis (NAFLD). In vivo studies are carried out at the Stabularium located within the Science Park in the Castel Romano Technopole Consortium and the Stabularium of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. Regarding the translational aspect, the focus of research is on the pathophysiology of cardio-metabolic alterations and the study of outcome predictors in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. The expertise acquired by the research group on the role of altered Mineralcorticoid Receptor (MR) activation on the pathophysiology of the adipocyte and endothelial cell, the study and clinical applications of compensated nutritional ketosis, have conferred a role of excellence corroborated by frequent invitations to symposia and collaborations by the most prestigious national and international scientific societies.

Research Interests

The research activities of the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Endocrinology, coordinated by Prof. Massimiliano Caprio, focus on the role of altered activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor and the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) in the onset of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, NAFLD/NASH, and metabolic syndrome Research activity also focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which nutritional ketosis and ketone bodies induce favorable effects on oxidative stress, endothelial function, chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance, and the development of atherosclerosis in mouse models.

Publications

Publications 2022/2023 Barrea L, Verde L, Camajani E, Šojat AS, Marina L, Savastano S, Colao A, Caprio M, Muscogiuri G. Effects of very low-calorie ketogenic diet on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. J Endocrinol Invest. 2023 Aug;46(8):1509-1520. doi: 10.1007/s40618-023-02068-6. Epub 2023 Apr 5. PMID: 37017918; PMCID: PMC10349006. Gorini S, Armani A, Caprio M. Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet: a valuable and fashionable nutritional therapy. When could it become dangerous? Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2023 Jul 19; e3698. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.3698. Feraco A, Gorini S, Mammi C, Lombardo M, Armani A, Caprio M. Neutral Effect of Skeletal Muscle Mineralocorticoid Receptor on Glucose Metabolism in Mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 18;24(8):7412. doi: 10.3390/ijms24087412. PMID: 37108574; PMCID: PMC10139152. Lombardo M, Feraco A, Camajani E, Caprio M, Armani A. Health Effects of Red Wine Consumption: A Narrative Review of an Issue That Still Deserves Debate. Nutrients. 2023 Apr 16;15(8):1921. doi: 10.3390/nu15081921. PMID: 37111141; PMCID: PMC10146095. Pacifici F, Malatesta G, Mammi C, Pastore D, Marzolla V, Ricordi C, Chiereghin F, Infante M, Donadel G, Curcio F, Noce A, Rovella V, Lauro D, Tesauro M, Di Daniele N, Garaci E, Caprio M, Della-Morte D. A Novel Mix of Polyphenols and Micronutrients Reduces Adipogenesis and Promotes White Adipose Tissue Browning via UCP1 Expression and AMPK Activation. Cells. 2023 Feb 24;12(5):714. doi: 10.3390/cells12050714. PMID: 36899850; PMCID: PMC10001138. Camajani E, Feraco A, Verde L, Moriconi E, Marchetti M, Colao A, Caprio M, Muscogiuri G, Barrea L. Ketogenic Diet as a Possible Non-pharmacological Therapy in Main Endocrine Diseases of the Female Reproductive System: A Practical Guide for Nutritionists. Curr Obes Rep. 2023 Jul 5. doi: 10.1007/s13679-023-00516-1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37405618. Infante M, Fabbri A, Padilla N, Pacifici F, Di Perna P, Vitiello L, Feraco A, Giuliano M, Passeri M, Caprio M, Ricordi C, Della-Morte D, Uccioli L. BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Does Not Impact the Honeymoon Phase in Type 1 Diabetes: A Case Report. Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Jul 8;10(7):1096. doi: 10.3390/vaccines10071096. PMID: 35891261; PMCID: PMC9319173. Condorelli RA, Aversa A, Basile L, Cannarella R, Mongioì LM, Cimino L, Perelli S, Caprio M, Cimino S, Calogero AE, La Vignera S. Beneficial Effects of the Very-Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet on the Symptoms of Male Accessory Gland Inflammation. Nutrients. 2022 Mar 4;14(5):1081. doi: 10.3390/nu14051081. PMID: 35268056; PMCID: PMC8912840. Barrea L, Caprio M, Camajani E, Verde L, Elce A, Frias-Toral E, Ceriani F, Cucalón G, Garcia-Velasquez E, El Ghoch M, Colao A, Savastano S, Muscogiuri G. Clinical and nutritional management of very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) in patients with psoriasis and obesity: a practical guide for the nutritionist. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2022 Jun 2:1-17. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2083070. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35653127. Camajani E, Feraco A, Proietti S, Basciani S, Barrea L, Armani A, Lombardo M, Gnessi L, Caprio M. Corrigendum: Very low calorie ketogenic diet combined with physical interval training for preserving muscle mass during weight loss in sarcopenic obesity: A pilot study. Front Nutr. 2022 Nov 8;9:1076667. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1076667. Erratum for: Front Nutr. 2022 Sep 29;9:955024. PMID: 36438751; PMCID: PMC9682462. Barrea L, Caprio M, Watanabe M, Cammarata G, Feraco A, Muscogiuri G, Verde L, Colao A, Savastano S; and on behalf of Obesity Programs of nutrition, Education, Research and Assessment (OPERA) Group. Could very low-calorie ketogenic diets turn off low grade inflammation in obesity? Emerging evidence. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2022 Apr 4:1-17. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2054935. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35373658. Infante M, Padilla N, Alejandro R, Caprio M, Della-Morte D, Fabbri A, Ricordi C. Diabetes-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs: The Roles of DMARDs as Glucose-Lowering Agents. Medicine (Kaunas). 2022 Apr 21;58(5):571. doi: 10.3390/medicine58050571. PMID: 35629988; PMCID: PMC9143119. Hryciw DH, Stocker CJ, Morris MJ, Caprio M. Editorial: Leptin, obesity and diet at a glance. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Nov 9;13:1073850. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1073850. PMID: 36440211; PMCID: PMC9682338. Mancin L, Amatori S, Caprio M, Sattin E, Bertoldi L, Cenci L, Sisti D, Bianco A, Paoli A. Effect of 30 days of ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts on athletes’ gut microbiome composition. Front Nutr. 2022 Oct 25;9:979651. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.979651. PMID: 36386948; PMCID: PMC9642348. Marzolla V, Infante M, Armani A, Rizzo M, Caprio M. Efficacy and safety of finerenone for treatment of diabetic kidney disease: current knowledge and future perspective. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2022 Sep;21(9):1161-1170. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2130889. Epub 2022 Oct 6. PMID: 36174659. Barrea L, Vetrani C, Caprio M, Cataldi M, Ghoch ME, Elce A, Camajani E, Verde L, Savastano S, Colao A, Muscogiuri G. From the Ketogenic Diet to the Mediterranean Diet: The Potential Dietary Therapy in Patients with Obesity after CoVID-19 Infection (Post CoVID Syndrome). Curr Obes Rep. 2022 Sep;11(3):144-165. doi: 10.1007/s13679-022-00475-z. Epub 2022 May 6. PMID: 35524067; PMCID: PMC9075143. Lombardo M, Feraco A, Bellia C, Prisco L, D’Ippolito I, Padua E, Storz MA, Lauro D, Caprio M, Bellia A. Influence of Nutritional Status and Physical Exercise on Immune Response in Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients. 2022 May 13;14(10):2054. doi: 10.3390/nu14102054. PMID: 35631195; PMCID: PMC9145042. Armani A, Feraco A, Camajani E, Gorini S, Lombardo M, Caprio M. Nutraceuticals in Brown Adipose Tissue Activation. Cells. 2022 Dec 10;11(24):3996. doi: 10.3390/cells11243996. PMID: 36552762; PMCID: PMC9776638. Lombardo M, Feraco A, Ottaviani M, Rizzo G, Camajani E, Caprio M, Armani A. The Efficacy of Vitamin D Supplementation in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. Nutrients. 2022 Jul 22;14(15):3010. doi: 10.3390/nu14153010. PMID: 35893864; PMCID: PMC9330000. Rizzo G, Feraco A, Storz MA, Lombardo M. The role of soy and soy isoflavones on women’s fertility and related outcomes: an update. J Nutr Sci. 2022 Mar 7;11:e17. doi: 10.1017/jns.2022.15. PMID: 35320928; PMCID: PMC8922143. Camajani E, Feraco A, Basciani S, Gnessi L, Barrea L, Armani A, Caprio M. VLCKD in Combination with Physical Exercise Preserves Skeletal Muscle Mass in Sarcopenic Obesity after Severe COVID-19 Disease: A Case Report. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Mar 19;10(3):573. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10030573. PMID: 35327051; PMCID: PMC8950622. Camajani E, Persichetti A, Watanabe M, Contini S, Vari M, Di Bernardo S, Faro M, Lubrano C, Gnessi L, Caprio M, Basciani S. Whey Protein, L-Leucine and Vitamin D Supplementation for Preserving Lean Mass during a Low-Calorie Diet in Sarcopenic Obese Women. Nutrients. 2022 Apr 29;14(9):1884. doi: 10.3390/nu14091884. PMID: 35565851; PMCID: PMC9099886.

Search Sanraffaele.it