Stand Human Physiology

The General and Human Physiology Group adopts a strongly multidisciplinary approach to its research lines. The Group’s activities are divided between the Physiology Laboratory of the Department of Experimental Medicine at the University of Salento and the Clinical Proteomics Laboratory, located at the “Giovanni Paolo II” facility of the “Vito Fazzi” Hospital in Lecce. In recent years, the group has received funding for several basic and applied research projects, with significant impact in both biomedical and industrial fields, while also strengthening partnerships with the Local Health Authority and other research and higher education institutions.

During the initiative, researchers will present a series of illustrative posters designed to share with the public—especially younger audiences—the activities carried out in different research areas, which mainly focus on:

• - Hypoxia and adaptation. For many years, the Group has been studying how the human body adapts to conditions of oxygen shortage, whether sudden or prolonged. To do this, it investigates human reactions to high altitudes and extreme isolation, using as “natural laboratories” the Italo-French Antarctic base Concordia and the experimental center terraXcube in Bolzano. Alongside these field studies, in the laboratories of the Department of Experimental Medicine, researchers study in vitro the role of HIF, a protein acting as a true “conductor,” coordinating cellular responses when oxygen levels decrease. Special attention is given to the role of certain lipids naturally produced by our body, which influence this delicate adaptation mechanism.
• - Cardiology. This area of study involves two projects:

1. 1) Sisagen Cardio Project, a multicenter initiative aimed at improving the management of genetic cardiopathies in the Puglia region. The Physiology Laboratory of the University of Salento, in collaboration with the Genetics and Clinical Proteomics Laboratories of the “Vito Fazzi” Hospital in Lecce, focuses on identifying genetic variants, studying the involved pathways, and analyzing protein misfolding in transthyretin amyloidosis.
2. 2) CARMA Project (PNRR), which aims to identify biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cardiotoxicity in oncohematology patients treated with anthracyclines. The Physiology Laboratory of the University of Salento and the Clinical Proteomics Laboratory will recruit patients and identify key biomarkers through innovative approaches such as proteomic techniques.

- Hematology. The “JAK-HOPE” project stems from a collaboration between the Clinical Proteomics and Oncohematology units of the “Vito Fazzi” Hospital in Lecce. Its goal is to study the association between the JAK2 46/1 haplotype and the onset of drug resistance in patients with myeloproliferative syndrome carrying the V617F mutation, in order to identify new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Preliminary data indicate that patients with the pathogenic variant of this haplotype are more prone to developing symptoms related to drug resistance and worsening of the syndrome, making the 46/1 haplotype a potential predictive diagnostic marker.

• - Oncology. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers and, unfortunately, is rapidly increasing in the Western world. In collaboration with the CNR Nanotech in Lecce and the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, our group is working to counter one of the most insidious mechanisms promoting PDAC spread: perineural metastasis, i.e., the ability of tumor cells to migrate along nerve fibers. At the same time, we are exploring innovative strategies to limit tumor growth and nutrition, using systems capable of releasing potentially therapeutic molecules in a targeted, sustained, and long-lasting manner.
• - Dermatology. The MULTIDERMA-SCFA project investigates the potential anti-inflammatory role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), particularly acetic acid, and the natural compound UviSkin in regulating skin inflammation. While SCFAs are well known for their intestinal benefits, recent evidence suggests they may also modulate skin inflammatory responses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are still poorly understood. The aim of the study is to analyze inflammatory activity and the signaling pathways involved, to clarify the interactions between SCFAs and skin inflammation. This could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to treat inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, conditions characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation and epidermal thickening.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore some of the methods employed and observe the most significant results achieved so far, through interactive content that will guide them on a journey into the world of research.