Medical School MD-PhD Program

Selected research products

Pedrolli F, Morello G, Gesmundo I, Banfi D, Ferro A, Wangpaichitr M, Sha W, Tamagno E, Schally AV, Guglielmotto M, Granata R. Growth hormone-releasing hormone attenuates amyloid deposition and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease models. Cell Death Dis. 2026 Apr 7;17(1):494. doi: 10.1038/s41419-026-08699-w. PMID: 41946684.

Gesmundo I, Pedrolli F, Giglioli FR, Jazaj F, Granato G, Bertoldo A, Bistolfi F, Gregorc V, Sapino A, Righi L, Cai R, Sha W, Wangpaichitr M, Papotti M, Ghigo E, Ricardi U, Schally AV, Granata R. Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Antagonists Increase Radiosensitivity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Apr 1;26(7):3267. doi: 10.3390/ijms26073267. PMID: 40244089.

Granata R, Leone S, Zhang X, Gesmundo I, Steenblock C, Cai R, Sha W, Ghigo E, Hare JM, Bornstein SR, Schally AV. Growth hormone-releasing hormone and its analogues in health and disease. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2025 Mar;21(3):180-195. doi: 10.1038/s41574-024-01052-1. Epub 2024 Nov 13. Erratum in: Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2025 Mar;21(3):196. doi: 10.1038/s41574-024-01069-6. Erratum in: Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2025 Mar;21(3):196. doi: 10.1038/s41574-024-01081-w. 

Agonist of growth hormone-releasing hormone improves the disease features of spinal muscular atrophy mice
2023-01-01 Boido, Marina; Gesmundo, Iacopo; Caretto, Anna; Pedrolli, Francesca; Schellino, Roberta; Leone, Sheila; Cai, Renzhi; Sha, Wei; Ghigo, Ezio; Schally, Andrew V; Vercelli, Alessandro; Granata, Riccarda https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1885067

Growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist MIA-602 inhibits inflammation induced by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and bacterial lipopolysaccharide synergism in macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
2023-01-01 Granato, Giuseppina; Gesmundo, Iacopo; Pedrolli, Francesca; Kasarla, Ramesh; Begani, Laura; Banfi, Dana; Bruno, Stefania; Lopatina, Tatiana; Brizzi, Maria Felice; Cai, Renzhi; Sha, Wei; Ghigo, Ezio; Schally, Andrew V; Granata, Riccarda https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1930371

Antagonist of growth hormone-releasing hormone MIA-690 attenuates the progression and inhibits growth of colorectal cancer in mice
2022-01-01 Recinella, Lucia; Chiavaroli, Annalisa; Veschi, Serena; Di Valerio, Valentina; Lattanzio, Rossano; Orlando, Giustino; Ferrante, Claudio; Gesmundo, Iacopo; Granata, Riccarda; Cai, Renzhi; Sha, Wei; Schally, Andrew V; Brunetti, Luigi; Leone, Sheila https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1870424

Thermomagnetic Resonance Effect of the Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on Three-Dimensional Cancer Models
2022-01-01 Bergandi, Loredana; Lucia, Umberto; Grisolia, Giulia; Salaroglio, Iris Chiara; Gesmundo, Iacopo; Granata, Riccarda; Borchiellini, Romano; Ponzetto, Antonio; Silvagno, Francesca https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1872820

Antagonist of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Potentiates the Antitumor Effect of Pemetrexed and Cisplatin in Pleural Mesothelioma
2022-01-01 Gesmundo, Iacopo; Pedrolli, Francesca; Vitale, Nicoletta; Bertoldo, Alessia; Orlando, Giulia; Banfi, Dana; Granato, Giuseppina; Kasarla, Ramesh; Balzola, Federico; Deaglio, Silvia; Cai, Renzhi; Sha, Wei; Papotti, Mauro; Ghigo, Ezio; Schally, Andrew V; Granata, Riccarda https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1881601

Growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonistic analog MIA-690 stimulates food intake in mice
2021-01-01 Recinella, Lucia; Chiavaroli, Annalisa; Orlando, Giustino; Ferrante, Claudio; Gesmundo, Iacopo; Granata, Riccarda; Cai, Renzhi; Sha, Wei; Schally, Andrew V; Brunetti, Luigi; Leone, Sheila https://iris.unito.it/handle/2318/1795061

Gesmundo I, Granato G, Fuentes-Fayos AC, Alvarez CV, Dieguez C, Zatelli MC, Congiusta N, Banfi D, Prencipe N, Leone S, Brunetti L, Castano JP, Luque RM, Cai R, Sha W, Ghigo E, Schally AV, Granata R. (2021) Antagonists of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Inhibit the Growth of Pituitary Adenoma Cells by Hampering Oncogenic Pathways and Promoting Apoptotic Signaling. Cancers 13(16) [DOI  PMID]

Recinella L, Chiavaroli A, Orlando G, Ferrante C, Veschi S, Cama A, Marconi GD, Diomede F, Gesmundo I, Granata R, Cai R, Sha W, Schally AV, Brunetti L, Leone S. (2021) Effects of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor antagonist MIA-602 in mice with emotional disorders: a potential treatment for PTSD. Molecular psychiatry 26(12) 7465-7474 [DOI  PMID]

Gesmundo I, Pardini B, Gargantini E, Gamba G, Birolo G, Fanciulli A, Banfi D, Congiusta N, Favaro E, Deregibus MC, Togliatto G, Zocaro G, Brizzi MF, Luque RM, Castano JP, Bocchiotti MA, Arolfo S, Bruno S, Nano R, Morino M, Piemonti L, Ong H, Matullo G, Falcon-Perez JM, Ghigo E, Camussi G, Granata R. (2021) Adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles regulate survival and function of pancreatic beta cells. JCI insight 6(5) [DOI  PMID]

Gesmundo I, Silvagno F, Banfi D, Monica V, Fanciulli A, Gamba G, Congiusta N, Libener R, Riganti C, Ghigo E, Granata R. (2020) Calcitriol Inhibits Viability and Proliferation in Human Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cells. Frontiers in endocrinology 11 559586 [DOI  PMID]

Villanova T, Gesmundo I, Audrito V, Vitale N, Silvagno F, Musuraca C, Righi L, Libener R, Riganti C, Bironzo P, Deaglio S, Papotti M, Cai R, Sha W, Ghigo E, Schally AV, Granata R. (2019) Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) inhibit the growth of human malignant pleural mesothelioma. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116(6) 2226-2231 [DOI  PMID]

Huynh DN, Elimam H, Bessi VL, Menard L, Burelle Y, Granata R, Carpentier AC, Ong H, Marleau S. (2018) A Linear Fragment of Unacylated Ghrelin (UAG6-13) Protects Against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice in a Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor-Independent Manner. Frontiers in endocrinology 9 798 [DOI  PMID]

Rossetti A, Togliatto G, Rolo AP, Teodoro JS, Granata R, Ghigo E, Columbano A, Palmeira CM, Brizzi MF. Unacylated ghrelin prevents mitochondrial dysfunction in  a model of ischemia/reperfusion liver injury. Cell Death Discov. 2017 Dec 4;3:17077. doi: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2017.77. eCollection 2017. PubMed PMID: 29354291; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5712633.

Gesmundo I, Miragoli M, Carullo P, Trovato L, Larcher V, Di Pasquale E, Brancaccio M, Mazzola M, Villanova T, Sorge M, Taliano M, Gallo MP, Alloatti G, Penna C, Hare JM, Ghigo E, Schally AV, Condorelli G, Granata R. Growth hormone-releasing hormone attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and improves heart function in pressure overload-induced heart failure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Nov 7;114(45):12033-12038. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1712612114. Epub 2017 Oct 25. PubMed PMID: 29078377; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5692579.

Penna C, Tullio F, Femminò S, Rocca C, Angelone T, Cerra MC, Gallo MP, Gesmundo I, Fanciulli A, Brizzi MF, Pagliaro P, Alloatti G, Granata R. Obestatin  regulates cardiovascular function and promotes cardioprotection through the nitric oxide pathway. J Cell Mol Med. 2017 Dec;21(12):3670-3678. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.13277. Epub 2017 Jul 26. PubMed PMID: 28744974; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5706590.

Gesmundo I, Villanova T, Banfi D, Gamba G, Granata R. Role of Melatonin, Galanin, and RFamide Neuropeptides QRFP26 and QRFP43 in the Neuroendocrine Control of Pancreatic β-Cell Function. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2017 Jul 3;8:143. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2017.00143. eCollection 2017. Review. PubMed PMID: 28729853; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5499649.

Leprince J, Bagnol D, Bureau R, Fukusumi S, Granata R, Hinuma S, Larhammar D,  Primeaux S, Sopkova-de Oliveiras Santos J, Tsutsui K, Ukena K, Vaudry H. The Arg-Phe-amide peptide 26RFa/glutamine RF-amide peptide and its receptor: IUPHAR Review 24. Br J Pharmacol. 2017 Oct;174(20):3573-3607. doi: 10.1111/bph.13907. Epub 2017 Sep 8. Review. PubMed PMID: 28613414; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5610166.

Gesmundo I, Villanova T, Gargantini E, Arvat E, Ghigo E, Granata R. The Mineralocorticoid Agonist Fludrocortisone Promotes Survival and Proliferation of  Adult Hippocampal Progenitors. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2016 Jun 16;7:66. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00066. eCollection 2016. PubMed PMID: 27379018; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4910464.

Granata R. Peripheral activities of growth hormone-releasing hormone. J Endocrinol Invest. 2016 Jul;39(7):721-7. doi: 10.1007/s40618-016-0440-x. Epub 2016 Feb 18. Review. PubMed PMID: 26891937.

Gargantini E, Lazzari L, Settanni F, Taliano M, Trovato L, Gesmundo I, Ghigo E, Granata R. Obestatin promotes proliferation and survival of adult hippocampal  progenitors and reduces amyloid-β-induced toxicity. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2016 Feb 15;422:18-30. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.11.008. Epub 2015 Nov 14. PubMed PMID: 26586206.

Gallo D, Gesmundo I, Trovato L, Pera G, Gargantini E, Minetto MA, Ghigo E, Granata R. GH-Releasing Hormone Promotes Survival and Prevents TNF-α-Induced Apoptosis and Atrophy in C2C12 Myotubes. Endocrinology. 2015 Sep;156(9):3239-52.  doi: 10.1210/EN.2015-1098. Epub 2015 Jun 25. PubMed PMID: 26110916.

Müller TD, Nogueiras R, Andermann ML, Andrews ZB, Anker SD, Argente J, Batterham RL, Benoit SC, Bowers CY, Broglio F, Casanueva FF, D'Alessio D, Depoortere I, Geliebter A, Ghigo E, Cole PA, Cowley M, Cummings DE, Dagher A, Diano S, Dickson SL, Diéguez C, Granata R, Grill HJ, Grove K, Habegger KM, Heppner K, Heiman ML, Holsen L, Holst B, Inui A, Jansson JO, Kirchner H, Korbonits M, Laferrère B, LeRoux CW, Lopez M, Morin S, Nakazato M, Nass R, Perez-Tilve D, Pfluger PT, Schwartz TW, Seeley RJ, Sleeman M, Sun Y, Sussel L, Tong J, Thorner MO, van der Lely AJ, van der Ploeg LH, Zigman JM, Kojima M, Kangawa K, Smith RG, Horvath T, Tschöp MH. Ghrelin. Mol Metab. 2015 Mar 21;4(6):437-60. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2015.03.005. eCollection 2015 Jun. Review.  PubMed PMID: 26042199; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4443295.

Penna C, Granata R, Tocchetti CG, Gallo MP, Alloatti G, Pagliaro P. Endogenous Cardioprotective Agents: Role in Pre and Postconditioning. Curr Drug Targets. 2015;16(8):843-67. Review. PubMed PMID: 25751010. Mulumba M, Granata R, Marleau S, Ong H. QRFP-43 inhibits lipolysis by preventing ligand-induced complex formation between perilipin A, caveolin-1, the  catalytic subunit of protein kinase and hormone-sensitive lipase in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015 May;1851(5):657-66. doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2015.02.005. Epub 2015 Feb 9. PubMed PMID: 25677823.

Togliatto G, Trombetta A, Dentelli P, Gallo S, Rosso A, Cotogni P, Granata R, Falcioni R, Delale T, Ghigo E, Brizzi MF. Unacylated ghrelin induces oxidative stress resistance in a glucose intolerance and peripheral artery disease mouse model by restoring endothelial cell miR-126 expression. Diabetes. 2015 Apr;64(4):1370-82. doi: 10.2337/db14-0991. Epub 2014 Nov 3. PubMed PMID: 25368096.

Mitacchione G, Powers JC, Grifoni G, Woitek F, Lam A, Ly L, Settanni F, Makarewich CA, McCormick R, Trovato L, Houser SR, Granata R, Recchia FA. The gut  hormone ghrelin partially reverses energy substrate metabolic alterations in the failing heart. Circ Heart Fail. 2014 Jul;7(4):643-51. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.114.001167. Epub 2014 May 22. PubMed PMID: 24855152; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4118426.

Trovato L, Gallo D, Settanni F, Gesmundo I, Ghigo E, Granata R. Obestatin: is  it really doing something? Front Horm Res. 2014;42:175-85. doi: 10.1159/000358346. Epub 2014 Apr 7. Review. PubMed PMID: 24732935.

 Granata R, Settanni F, Trovato L, Gallo D, Gesmundo I, Nano R, Gallo MP, Bergandi L, Volante M, Alloatti G, Piemonti L, Leprince J, Papotti M, Vaudry H, Ong H, Ghigo E. RFamide peptides 43RFa and 26RFa both promote survival of pancreatic β-cells and human pancreatic islets but exert opposite effects on insulin secretion. Diabetes. 2014 Jul;63(7):2380-93. doi: 10.2337/db13-1522. Epub 2014 Mar 12. PubMed PMID: 24622796.

Luque RM, Córdoba-Chacón J, Ibáñez-Costa A, Gesmundo I, Grande C, Gracia-Navarro F, Tena-Sempere M, Ghigo E, Gahete MD, Granata R, Kineman RD, Castaño JP. Obestatin plays an opposite role in the regulation of pituitary somatotrope and corticotrope function in female primates and male/female mice. Endocrinology. 2014 Apr;155(4):1407-17. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1728. Epub 2014 Jan  31. PubMed PMID: 24484169; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3959609.

Togliatto G, Trombetta A, Dentelli P, Cotogni P, Rosso A, Tschöp MH, Granata R, Ghigo E, Brizzi MF. Unacylated ghrelin promotes skeletal muscle regeneration following hindlimb ischemia via SOD-2-mediated miR-221/222 expression. J Am Heart Assoc. 2013 Dec 5;2(6):e000376. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.113.000376. PubMed PMID: 24308935; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3886736.

Jossart C, Mulumba M, Granata R, Gallo D, Ghigo E, Marleau S, Servant MJ, Ong  H. Pyroglutamylated RF-amide peptide (QRFP) gene is regulated by metabolic endotoxemia. Mol Endocrinol. 2014 Jan;28(1):65-79. doi: 10.1210/me.2013-1027. Epub 2013 Jan 1. PubMed PMID: 24284825; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5426650.

Gesmundo I, Gallo D, Favaro E, Ghigo E, Granata R. Obestatin: a new metabolic  player in the pancreas and white adipose tissue. IUBMB Life. 2013 Dec;65(12):976-82. doi: 10.1002/iub.1226. Epub 2013 Nov 12. Review. PubMed PMID:  24217898.

Gargantini E, Grande C, Trovato L, Ghigo E, Granata R. The role of obestatin in glucose and lipid metabolism. Horm Metab Res. 2013 Dec;45(13):1002-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1351325. Epub 2013 Aug 15. Review. PubMed PMID: 23950037.

Baragli A, Grande C, Gesmundo I, Settanni F, Taliano M, Gallo D, Gargantini E, Ghigo E, Granata R. Obestatin enhances in vitro generation of pancreatic islets through regulation of developmental pathways. PLoS One. 2013 May 31;8(5):e64374. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064374. Print 2013. Erratum in: PLoS One. 2013;8(7). doi:10.1371/annotation/070c66f7-8891-4ed8-9ef3-234dbf4e9148. Baragli, Lessandra [corrected to Baragli, Alessandra]. PubMed PMID: 23741322; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3669302.

Granata R, Ghigo E. Products of the ghrelin gene, the pancreatic β-cell and the adipocyte. Endocr Dev. 2013;25:144-56. doi: 10.1159/000346306. Epub 2013 Apr  25. Review. PubMed PMID: 23652400.

Penna C, Settanni F, Tullio F, Trovato L, Pagliaro P, Alloatti G, Ghigo E, Granata R. GH-releasing hormone induces cardioprotection in isolated male rat heart via activation of RISK and SAFE pathways. Endocrinology. 2013 Apr;154(4):1624-35. doi: 10.1210/en.2012-2064. Epub 2013 Feb 15. PubMed PMID: 23417421.

Julien M, Kay RG, Delhanty PJ, Allas S, Granata R, Barton C, Constable S, Ghigo E, van der Lely AJ, Abribat T. In vitro and in vivo stability and pharmacokinetic profile of unacylated ghrelin (UAG) analogues. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2012 Nov 20;47(4):625-35. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2012.07.014. Epub 2012 Jul 25. PubMed PMID: 22841845.

Granata R, Gallo D, Luque RM, Baragli A, Scarlatti F, Grande C, Gesmundo I, Córdoba-Chacón J, Bergandi L, Settanni F, Togliatto G, Volante M, Garetto S, Annunziata M, Chanclón B, Gargantini E, Rocchietto S, Matera L, Datta G, Morino M, Brizzi MF, Ong H, Camussi G, Castaño JP, Papotti M, Ghigo E. Obestatin regulates adipocyte function and protects against diet-induced insulin resistance and inflammation. FASEB J. 2012 Aug;26(8):3393-411. doi: 10.1096/fj.11-201343. Epub 2012 May 17. PubMed PMID: 22601779.

Annunziata M, Luque RM, Durán-Prado M, Baragli A, Grande C, Volante M, Gahete  MD, Deltetto F, Camanni M, Ghigo E, Castaño JP, Granata R. Somatostatin and somatostatin analogues reduce PDGF-induced endometrial cell proliferation and motility. Hum Reprod. 2012 Jul;27(7):2117-29. doi: 10.1093/humrep/des144. Epub 2012 May 15. PubMed PMID: 22588000.

Granata R, Settanni F, Julien M, Nano R, Togliatto G, Trombetta A, Gallo D, Piemonti L, Brizzi MF, Abribat T, van Der Lely AJ, Ghigo E. Des-acyl ghrelin fragments and analogues promote survival of pancreatic β-cells and human pancreatic islets and prevent diabetes in streptozotocin-treated rats. J Med Chem. 2012 Mar 22;55(6):2585-96. doi: 10.1021/jm201223m. Epub 2012 Mar 5. PubMed  PMID: 22352743.

Favaro E, Granata R, Miceli I, Baragli A, Settanni F, Cavallo Perin P, Ghigo E, Camussi G, Zanone MM. The ghrelin gene products and exendin-4 promote survival of human pancreatic islet endothelial cells in hyperglycaemic conditions, through phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)1/2 and cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signalling pathways. Diabetologia. 2012 Apr;55(4):1058-70. doi: 10.1007/s00125-011-2423-y. Epub 2012 Jan 10. PubMed PMID: 22231124; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3296004.

Granata R, Isgaard J, Alloatti G, Ghigo E. Cardiovascular actions of the ghrelin gene-derived peptides and growth hormone-releasing hormone. Exp Biol Med  (Maywood). 2011 May 1;236(5):505-14. doi: 10.1258/ebm.2011.010365. Epub 2011 Apr  8. Review. PubMed PMID: 21478211.

Isgaard J, Granata R. Ghrelin in cardiovascular disease and atherogenesis. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2011 Jun 20;340(1):59-64. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2011.03.006. Epub 2011 Mar 31. Review. PubMed PMID: 21458527.

Baragli A, Ghè C, Arnoletti E, Granata R, Ghigo E, Muccioli G. Acylated and unacylated ghrelin attenuate isoproterenol-induced lipolysis in isolated rat visceral adipocytes through activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ and phosphodiesterase 3B. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011 Jun;1811(6):386-96. doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2011.03.001. Epub 2011 Mar 22. PubMed PMID: 21435395.

Annunziata M, Granata R, Ghigo E. The IGF system. Acta Diabetol. 2011 Mar;48(1):1-9. doi: 10.1007/s00592-010-0227-z.

Granata R, Baragli A, Settanni F, Scarlatti F, Ghigo E. Unraveling the role of the ghrelin gene peptides in the endocrine pancreas. J Mol Endocrinol. 2010 Sep;45(3):107-18. doi: 10.1677/JME-10-0019. Epub 2010 Jul 1. Review. PubMed PMID: 20595321.

Mulumba M, Jossart C, Granata R, Gallo D, Escher E, Ghigo E, Servant MJ, Marleau S, Ong H. GPR103b functions in the peripheral regulation of adipogenesis. Mol Endocrinol. 2010 Aug;24(8):1615-25. doi: 10.1210/me.2010-0010. Epub 2010 Jun  9. PubMed PMID: 20534693; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5417454.

St-Pierre DH, Settanni F, Olivetti I, Gramaglia E, Tomelini M, Granata R, Prodam F, Benso A, Ghigo E, Broglio F. Circulating obestatin levels in normal and Type 2 diabetic subjects. J Endocrinol Invest. 2010 Apr;33(4):211-4. Epub 2010 May 5. PubMed PMID: 20503481.

Granata R, Volante M, Settanni F, Gauna C, Ghé C, Annunziata M, Deidda B, Gesmundo I, Abribat T, van der Lely AJ, Muccioli G, Ghigo E, Papotti M. Unacylated ghrelin and obestatin increase islet cell mass and prevent diabetes in streptozotocin-treated newborn rats. J Mol Endocrinol. 2010 Jul;45(1):9-17. doi: 10.1677/JME-09-0141. Epub 2010 Apr 9. PubMed PMID: 20382773.

Togliatto G, Trombetta A, Dentelli P, Baragli A, Rosso A, Granata R, Ghigo D,  Pegoraro L, Ghigo E, Brizzi MF. Unacylated ghrelin rescues endothelial progenitor cell function in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 2010 Apr;59(4):1016-25. doi: 10.2337/db09-0858. Epub 2010 Jan 12. PubMed PMID: 20068135; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2844809.

Gasco V, Beccuti G, Marotta F, Benso A, Granata R, Broglio F, Ghigo E. Endocrine and metabolic actions of ghrelin. Endocr Dev. 2010;17:86-95. doi: 10.1159/000262531. Epub 2009 Nov 24. Review. PubMed PMID: 19955759.

Trovato L, De Fazio R, Annunziata M, Sdei S, Favaro E, Ponti R, Marozio L, Ghigo E, Benedetto C, Granata R. Pluripotent stem cells isolated from human amniotic fluid and differentiation into pancreatic beta-cells. J Endocrinol Invest. 2009 Dec;32(11):873-6. doi: 10.3275/6401. Epub 2009 Jul 2. PubMed PMID: 19574730.

Annunziata M, Grande C, Scarlatti F, Deltetto F, Delpiano E, Camanni M, Ghigo  E, Granata R. The growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonist JV-1-36 inhibits proliferation and survival of human ectopic endometriotic stromal cells  (ESCs) and the T HESC cell line. Fertil Steril. 2010 Aug;94(3):841-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.093. Epub 2009 Jun 12. PubMed PMID: 19524226.

Volante M, Rosas R, Ceppi P, Rapa I, Cassoni P, Wiedenmann B, Settanni F, Granata R, Papotti M. Obestatin in human neuroendocrine tissues and tumours: expression and effect on tumour growth. J Pathol. 2009 Aug;218(4):458-66. doi: 10.1002/path.2551. PubMed PMID: 19373849.

Pucci A, Zanini C, Granata R, Ghignone R, Iavarone A, Broglio F, Sorrentino P, Bergamasco L, Rinaldi M, Ghigo E. Myocardial insulin-like growth factor-1 and  insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 gene expression in failing hearts harvested from patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2009 Apr;28(4):402-5. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2008.12.022. PubMed PMID: 19332270.

Granata R, Trovato L, Gallo MP, Destefanis S, Settanni F, Scarlatti F, Brero  A, Ramella R, Volante M, Isgaard J, Levi R, Papotti M, Alloatti G, Ghigo E. Growth hormone-releasing hormone promotes survival of cardiac myocytes in vitro and protects against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rat heart. Cardiovasc Res. 2009 Jul 15;83(2):303-12. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvp090. Epub 2009 Mar 17. PubMed PMID: 19293247.

Broglio F, Prodam F, Riganti F, Gottero C, Destefanis S, Granata R, Muccioli  G, Abribat T, van der Lely AJ, Ghigo E. The continuous infusion of acylated ghrelin enhances growth hormone secretion and worsens glucose metabolism in humans. J Endocrinol Invest. 2008 Sep;31(9):788-94. PubMed PMID: 18997491.

Scarlatti F, Granata R, Meijer AJ, Codogno P. Does autophagy have a license to kill mammalian cells? Cell Death Differ. 2009 Jan;16(1):12-20. doi: 10.1038/cdd.2008.101. Epub 2008 Jul 4. Review. PubMed PMID: 18600232.

Volante M, Rosas R, Allìa E, Granata R, Baragli A, Muccioli G, Papotti M. Somatostatin, cortistatin and their receptors in tumours. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2008 May 14;286(1-2):219-29. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2007.12.002. Epub 2007 Dec 8. Review. PubMed PMID: 18248880.

Johansson I, Destefanis S, Aberg ND, Aberg MA, Blomgren K, Zhu C, Ghè C, Granata R, Ghigo E, Muccioli G, Eriksson PS, Isgaard J. Proliferative and protective effects of growth hormone secretagogues on adult rat hippocampal progenitor cells. Endocrinology. 2008 May;149(5):2191-9. doi: 10.1210/en.2007-0733. Epub 2008 Jan 24. PubMed PMID: 18218693.

Granata R, Settanni F, Gallo D, Trovato L, Biancone L, Cantaluppi V, Nano R,  Annunziata M, Campiglia P, Arnoletti E, Ghè C, Volante M, Papotti M, Muccioli G,  Ghigo E. Obestatin promotes survival of pancreatic beta-cells and human islets and induces expression of genes involved in the regulation of beta-cell mass and  function. Diabetes. 2008 Apr;57(4):967-79. Epub 2007 Dec 27. PubMed PMID: 18162507.

Signorino E, Brusa D, Granata R, Malavasi F, Ferrone S, Matera L. Contribution of dendritic cells' FcgammaRI and FcgammaRIII to cross-presentation of tumor cells opsonized with the anti-MHC class I monoclonal antibodies. Cancer Biol Ther. 2007 Dec;6(12):1932-7. Epub 2007 Sep 3. PubMed PMID: 18087220.

Muccioli G, Baragli A, Granata R, Papotti M, Ghigo E. Heterogeneity of ghrelin/growth hormone secretagogue receptors. Toward the understanding of the molecular identity of novel ghrelin/GHS receptors. Neuroendocrinology. 2007;86(3):147-64. Epub 2007 Jul 2. Review. PubMed PMID: 17622734.

Granata R, Trovato L, Lupia E, Sala G, Settanni F, Camussi G, Ghidoni R, Ghigo E. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 induces angiogenesis through IGF-I- and SphK1-dependent mechanisms. J Thromb Haemost. 2007 Apr;5(4):835-45. Epub 2007 Feb 9. PubMed PMID: 17388800.

Granata R, Settanni F, Trovato L, Destefanis S, Gallo D, Martinetti M, Ghigo E, Muccioli G. Unacylated as well as acylated ghrelin promotes cell survival and  inhibit apoptosis in HIT-T15 pancreatic beta-cells. J Endocrinol Invest. 2006 Oct;29(9):RC19-22. PubMed PMID: 17114904.

Granata R, Settanni F, Biancone L, Trovato L, Nano R, Bertuzzi F, Destefanis S, Annunziata M, Martinetti M, Catapano F, Ghè C, Isgaard J, Papotti M, Ghigo E,  Muccioli G. Acylated and unacylated ghrelin promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of pancreatic beta-cells and human islets: involvement of 3',5'-cyclic  adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and phosphatidyl inositol 3-Kinase/Akt signaling. Endocrinology. 2007 Feb;148(2):512-29. Epub 2006 Oct 26. PubMed PMID: 17068144.

Martina V, Benso A, Gigliardi VR, Masha A, Origlia C, Granata R, Ghigo E. Short-term dehydroepiandrosterone treatment increases platelet cGMP production in elderly male subjects. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2006 Mar;64(3):260-4. PubMed PMID:  16487434.

Toia M, Galazzo R, Maioli C, Granata R, Scarlatti F. The IGF-I/IGFBP-3 system  in gingival crevicular fluid and dependence on application of fixed force. J Endocrinol Invest. 2005 Dec;28(11):1009-14. PubMed PMID: 16483180.

Broglio F, Prodam F, Me E, Riganti F, Lucatello B, Granata R, Benso A, Muccioli G, Ghigo E. Ghrelin: endocrine, metabolic and cardiovascular actions. J  Endocrinol Invest. 2005;28(5 Suppl):23-5. Review. PubMed PMID: 16114271.

Brywe KG, Leverin AL, Gustavsson M, Mallard C, Granata R, Destefanis S, Volante M, Hagberg H, Ghigo E, Isgaard J. Growth hormone-releasing peptide hexarelin reduces neonatal brain injury and alters Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta phosphorylation. Endocrinology. 2005 Nov;146(11):4665-72. Epub 2005  Aug 4. PubMed PMID: 16081643.

Aimaretti G, Baldelli R, Corneli G, Croce C, Rovere S, Baffoni C, Bellone S,  Gasco S, Granata R, Grottoli S, Ghigo E. IGFs and IGFBPs in adult growth hormone  deficiency. Endocr Dev. 2005;9:76-88. Review. PubMed PMID: 15879690.

Aimaretti G, Corneli G, Rovere S, Granata R, Baldelli R, Grottoli S, Ghigo E. Insulin-like growth factor I levels and the diagnosis of adult growth hormone deficiency. Horm Res. 2004;62 Suppl 1:26-33. Review. PubMed PMID: 15761229.

Benso A, Broglio F, Marafetti L, Lucatello B, Seardo MA, Granata R, Martina V, Papotti M, Muccioli G, Ghigo E. Ghrelin and synthetic growth hormone secretagogues are cardioactive molecules with identities and differences. Semin Vasc Med. 2004 May;4(2):107-14. Review. PubMed PMID: 15478030.

Granata R, Trovato L, Garbarino G, Taliano M, Ponti R, Sala G, Ghidoni R, Ghigo E. Dual effects of IGFBP-3 on endothelial cell apoptosis and survival: involvement of the sphingolipid signaling pathways. FASEB J. 2004 Sep;18(12):1456-8. Epub 2004 Jul 9. PubMed PMID: 15247143.

Origlia C, Pescarmona G, Capizzi A, Cogotti S, Gambino R, Cassader M, Benso A, Granata R, Martina V. Platelet cGMP inversely correlates with age in healthy subjects. J Endocrinol Invest. 2004 Feb;27(2):RC1-4. PubMed PMID: 15129801.

Granata R, De Petrini M, Trovato L, Ponti R, Pons N, Ghè C, Graziani A, Ferry RJ Jr, Muccioli G, Ghigo E. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 mediates serum starvation- and doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiac cells. J Endocrinol Invest. 2003 Dec;26(12):1231-41. PubMed PMID: 15055478.

Huang W, Zhang J, Chua SS, Qatanani M, Han Y, Granata R, Moore DD. Induction  of bilirubin clearance by the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Apr 1;100(7):4156-61. Epub 2003 Mar 18. PubMed PMID: 12644704; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC153064.

Granata R, Gauna C, Arnolfo E, Atragene D, Broglio F, Ponti R, Ricotti E, Ghigo E. H9c2 cardiac muscle cells express insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). J Endocrinol Invest. 2002;25(10 Suppl):44-6. PubMed PMID: 12508914.

Baldanzi G, Filigheddu N, Cutrupi S, Catapano F, Bonissoni S, Fubini A, Malan  D, Baj G, Granata R, Broglio F, Papotti M, Surico N, Bussolino F, Isgaard J, Deghenghi R, Sinigaglia F, Prat M, Muccioli G, Ghigo E, Graziani A. Ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin inhibit cell death in cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells through ERK1/2 and PI 3-kinase/AKT. J Cell Biol. 2002 Dec 23;159(6):1029-37. Epub 2002 Dec 16. PubMed PMID: 12486113; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2173981.

Pettersson I, Muccioli G, Granata R, Deghenghi R, Ghigo E, Ohlsson C, Isgaard  J. Natural (ghrelin) and synthetic (hexarelin) GH secretagogues stimulate H9c2 cardiomyocyte cell proliferation. J Endocrinol. 2002 Oct;175(1):201-9. PubMed PMID: 12379504.

Broglio F, Arvat E, Benso A, Gottero C, Prodam F, Granata R, Papotti M, Muccioli G, Deghenghi R, Ghigo E. Ghrelin: much more than a natural growth hormone secretagogue. Isr Med Assoc J. 2002 Aug;4(8):607-13. Review. PubMed PMID: 12183865.

Broglio F, Guarracino F, Benso A, Gottero C, Prodam F, Granata R, Avogadri E,  Muccioli G, Deghenghi R, Ghigo E. Effects of acute hexarelin administration on cardiac performance in patients with coronary artery disease during by-pass surgery. Eur J Pharmacol. 2002 Jul 19;448(2-3):193-200. PubMed PMID: 12144941.

Broglio F, Benso A, Gottero C, Vito LD, Granata R, Arvat E, Bobbio M, Trevi G, Ghigo E. Effect of digoxin on the somatotroph responsiveness to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) alone or combined with arginine in normal young  volunteers. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2001 Dec;55(6):755-8. PubMed PMID: 11895217.

Granata R, Broglio F, Migliorino D, Cutrupi S, Baldanzi G, Sireno M, Fubini A, Graziani A, Ghigo E, Pucci A. Neonatal and adult human heart tissues from normal subjects and patients with ischemic, dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy express insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). J Endocrinol Invest. 2000 Dec;23(11):724-6. PubMed PMID: 11194704.

Broglio F, Benso A, Arvat E, Aimaretti G, Gottero C, Granata R, Boghen MF, Bobbio M, Camanni F, Ghigo E. Normal IGF-I and enhanced IGFBP-3 response to very  low rhGH dose in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. J Endocrinol Invest. 2000  Sep;23(8):520-5. PubMed PMID: 11021768

Courses

• Biotecnologie nelle malattie endocrino-metaboliche (SME0899B)
  Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Biotecnologie Mediche - Classe LM-9
• C.I. BIOTECNOLOGIE AVANZATE IN MEDICINA III (SME0899)
  Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Biotecnologie Mediche - Classe LM-9
• TIROCINIO di ENDOCRINOLOGIA MOLECOLARE (INT0536)
  Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Biotecnologie Mediche - Classe LM-9

Research topics

Current research focuses on elucidating the biological actions of peptides and hormones, including GHRH and its analogs (agonists and antagonists), ghrelin peptides, RFamides, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and somatostatin, using both in vitro and in vivo disease models. These studies address a broad spectrum of conditions, such as neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders (Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy), type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. An additional metabolic line of investigation explores the role of extracellular vesicles in inter-organ communication within the metabolic system, and the impact of ghrelin-derived peptides and GHRH on white adipocyte browning and skeletal muscle myotube function. In vitro experiments employ a wide range of human cell lines and primary cultures, including pancreatic β-cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), pancreatic islets, macrophages, neurons, myoblasts, myotubes, cardiomyocytes, white and brown adipocytes, and cancer cells.

 

Gruppi di ricerca

Laboratorio di Endocrinologia Molecolare e Cellulare

Research groups

• of translational studies on metabolic, endocrine, neoplastic and andrological diseases, in childhood and adulthood

Activities in agenda

See my calendar

Academic bodies

• Comitato didattico scientifico - Programma MD-PhD

Office hours

Tutti i giorni, su appuntamento