Research Groups

Leukocyte Biology

Research Interests and Description

Group Leader: Rodolfo, Garcia, PhD

Group Members

Research Interests

Human phagocytes and bacterial infections. Eosinophil functions. Human body fluid proteomics and inflammation.

Description of Research

Research in the Leukocyte Biology Group seeks to define molecular parameters and markers of the innate immune response that could be of use for disease prevention and therapy. The main interest is the study of the response of human phagocytes to stimulation and/or infection. Mycobacterial infection and activation of macrophages are followed at whole cell and subcellular level (nuclei, cytosol, membrane-bound organelles, phagosomes, shed organelles) by means of flow cytometry and biochemical assays. The functional parameters determined are: apoptosis induction; expression of chaperones, antigen presentation and migration proteins; oxidative stress markers; surface receptors and co-stimulatory molecules involved in immune responses. We also perform proteomic studies to establish differences in expression patterns due to phagocyte activation and/or infection, or to allergic disease. We use these approaches to evaluate the effect of novel, potentially anti-mycobaterial compounds, i.e. to establish not only their antibiotic activity but also their side effects on the host cells.
A second research line concerns the protein patterns and inflammation characteristics of human genital tract fluids (follicular fluids, vaginal lavages, seminal plasma), and is aimed at identifying marker proteins for the estimation of early stage infections, pre-term birth risks and sterility.
External collaborations include the Dept. of Microbiology, Trieste University and the Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Ospedale Maggiore, Trieste concerning Novel anti-mycobacterial compounds, intracellular microorganism killing and effects on macrophage functions; the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic, Burlo Garofolo Hospital, Trieste, for the protein composition of vaginal fluids in health and disease (candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis) and during pregnancy, and comparative proteomic analysis of follicular fluids, seminal plasma and sperm cells.
Work is underway with the Inflammation Research Laboratory, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden, on protein composition of eosinophils from normal and birch pollen allergic subjects and inflammation markers in human body fluids.

Recent Publications

Woschnagg, C., Forsberg, J., Engström, A., Odreman, F., Venge, P., Garcia, R.C. 2009. The Human Eosinophil Proteome. Changes Induced by Birch Pollen Allergy. J Proteome Res. 8, 2720-2732

Deganuto, M., Pittis, M.G., Pines, A., Dominissini, S., Kelley, M.R., Garcia, R., Quadrifoglio, F., Bembi, B., Tell, G. 2007. Altered Intracellular Redox Status in Gaucher Disease Fibroblasts and Impairment of Adaptive Response Against Oxidative Stress. J. Cell. Physiol. 212, 223-235

Tang, L.J., De Seta, F., Odreman, F., Venge, P., Piva, C., Guaschino, S., Garcia R.C. 2007. Proteomics Analysis of Cervical-Vaginal Fluids. J. Proteome Res. 6, 2874-2883

Garcia, R.C., Murgia, R., Cinco, M. 2005. Complement receptor 3 binds the Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface proteins OspA and OspB in an iC3b-independent manner. Infect. Immun. 73, 6138-6142

Woschnagg, C.W., Venge, P., Garcia, R.C. 2004. The effect of IL-5 treatment on the stimulation-induced phosphorylation of proteins in blood eosinophils. Cytokine 28, 137-148