Professor Mauro Perretti
Dean of Research at SMD and Professor of Immunopharmacology
Centre: Biochemical Pharmacology
Email: m.perretti@qmul.ac.ukTelephone: +44(0) 20 7882 8782
Profile
Mauro has published over 350 papers, with >22,000 citations and an H Factor of 81 (Google Scholar). After BSc in Medicinal Chemistry (University in Florence, 1985) and a MSc in Pharmacology and Toxicology (1988), Mauro started his career at the Sclavo Research Centre under the leadership of Prof Luca Parente. In 1991, he joined Prof Rod Flower at the William Harvey Research Institute, and in 1996 he gained his PhD (LON). Mauro's career has been shaped by fellowships from the Arthritis Research Campaign, a post-doctoral one (1997-2002) followed by a senior fellowship (2002-2007). In 2001 Mauro gained his personal chair by Queen Mary University of London. Centre Lead from 2001-to 2013, Mauro acted as Deputy Director of the William Harvey Research Institute from 2006 to 2013, taking on Co-Directorship in the period 2013-2015. In 2015 he became Dean for Research and Research Impact of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
Mauro is Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (FBPhS, 2004), of the Academia Europea (2010) and of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (2015).
Research
My group, over the years, has pioneered the concept that acute inflammation resolves, naturally, by the engagement of endogenous mediators that activate a series of non-redundant processes (inhibition of immune cell trafficking, efferocytosis, tissue repair) typical of what we now call the Resolution of Inflammation. When resolution is not properly it contributes to chronic inflammatory diseases. We study the pathophysiology of some pro-resolving pathways (eg. Annexin A1 and its peptides, Melanocortins, omega-3 derived bioactive lipid mediators) and aim to identify novel receptors amenable for the development of innovative anti-inflammatory therapeutics. A current focus is on pro-resolving GPCRs, such as formyl peptide receptors and melanocortin receptors, aiming to guide the development of novel therapeutic approaches with the establishment of Resolution Pharmacology (see recent reviews:
Molecular pharmacology and cell biology protocols are complemented by integrated biology models (intravital microscopy for vascular responses, peritonitis, paw oedema, airpouch) including models of disease (arthritis, myocardial infarct and stroke). Each project is different in its practicality since it is the scientific question that drives the experimental protocols to be applied or developed, hence creativity is a must!
We are acutely aware of the importance to assess the relevance of our research in clinical settings, as this would accelerate the development of innovative therapeutics modelled on resolution; currently, the focus is on rheumatology, cardiac surgery, sepsis and vasculitides.
Expression of the pro-resolving receptor FPR2
Expression of the pro-resolving receptor FPR2 (a GPCR that transduces the actions of AnnexinA1 and Lipxin A4) as revealed by Green Fluorescence Protein detection, using a unique mouse colony engineered with this reporter under FPR2 promoter (funded by The Wellcome Trust).
Microcapsules
Microcapsules (MC; green) can be used to deliver biologically active molecules to modulate the interaction between human leukocytes and the endothelium. (Collaboration with Prof Sukhorukov, QMUL).
Key Publications
For a full list of publist publications here
- Gobbetti T, Dalli J, Colas RA, Federici Canova D, Aursnes M, Bonnet D, Alric L, Vergnolle N, Deraison C, Hansen TV, Serhan CN, Perretti M. Protectin D1n-3 DPA and resolvin D5n-3 DPA are effectors of intestinal protection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Apr 11;114(15):3963-3968. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1617290114. PMID: 28356517.
- Headland SE, Jones HR, Norling LV, Kim A, Souza PR, Corsiero E, Gil CD, Nerviani A, Dell'Accio F, Pitzalis C, Oliani SM, Jan LY, Perretti M. Neutrophil-derived microvesicles enter cartilage and protect the joint in inflammatory arthritis. Sci Transl Med. 2015 Nov 25;7(315):315ra190. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aac5608. PubMed PMID: 26606969.
- Gobbetti T, Coldewey SM, Chen J, McArthur S, leFaouder P, Cenac N, Flower RJ, Thiemermann C, Perretti M. Nonredundant protective properties of FPR2/ALX in polymicrobial murine sepsis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Dec 30;111(52):18685-90. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1410938111. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4284560.
- Locatelli I, Sutti S, Jindal A, Vacchiano M, Bozzola C, Reutelingsperger C, Kusters D, Bena S, Parola M, Paternostro C, Bugianesi E, McArthur S, Albano E, Perretti M. Endogenous annexin A1 is a novel protective determinant in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in mice. Hepatology. 2014 Aug;60(2):531-44.
doi: 10.1002/hep.27141. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4258084. - Dalli J, Norling LV, Montero-Melendez T, Federici Canova D, Lashin H, Pavlov AM, Sukhorukov GB, Hinds CJ, Perretti M. Microparticle alpha-2-macroglobulin enhances pro-resolving responses and promotes survival in sepsis. EMBO Mol Med. 2014 Jan;6(1):27-42. doi: 10.1002/emmm.201303503. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3936490.
Sponsors
Collaborators
Collaborators: Dianne Cooper, Lucy Norling
Team Members: T Montero-Melendez, J Chen, B Thomas, J Garrido-Mesa
Students: Silvia Oggero
Visiting Scientists: Michelle Sugimoto (Brazil)
News
November 2015
How Microvesicles could revolutionise arthritis treatment
The Conversation
Microvesicles are key to potential new study for treating arthritis
Arthritis Digest
Injection to end pain of arthritis: New treatment will stop agony without side effects
Daily Express
December 2015
Neutrophil microvesicles protect cartilage in arthritis
Nature Reviews
July 2014
New Class of Anti-Arthritis Drugs Effectively Treats Multiple Inflammatory Diseases
American Journal of Pathology
MRC Technology sells its Melanocortin Receptors Programme to Pfizer Inc