Biomarkers and Inflammatory Network in Aging: Targets for Therapies

The importance of the interactions between KIRs and HLA ligands in the development of human autoimmune and viral diseases

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) regulate the activation of natural killer cells through their interaction with human leucocyte antigens (HLA). KIR and HLA loci are highly polymorphic, and certain KIR/HLA combinations have been found to protect against viral infections or to predispose to autoimmune disorders. In particular, some activating KIR profiles may be detrimental in autoimmune pathogenesis, and specific KIR genes may be particularly aggressive in the clearance of different microorganisms, protecting individuals in the control of a given pathogen. Here we reviewed a growing body of evidence purporting the influence of KIR polymorphism and KIR-HLA interaction in the develo…

Insulin pathway and its correlation with ageing and longevity

Ageing is unavoidable and leads to the reduction of the ability to adapt to the environment, involving the organism at all levels. Approximately 25% of the overall variation in human lifespan can be attributed to genetic factors, which become more relevant for extreme longevity. A “favourable” genetic background is essential to live longer. Longevity depends on the survival after reproduction and genes that lead to longevity are “survival genes” rather than “longevity genes”. But human population is very heterogeneous because of the different genetic background and different environmental stimuli thus it has not been yet possible to identify a clear panel of biomarkers of ageing and longevi…

Updates in Pathobiology: Causality and Chance in Ageing, Age-Related Diseases and Longevity

The relationship between causality and chance is an open discussion in many disciplines. Often, the boundary among these events is thin to understand if an occurrence is related to one or to both. In particular, ageing, the related diseases, and longevity are difficult to define as consequence of causality, chance or both.

Probiotics and Prebiotics: Health Promotion by Immune Modulation in the Elderly

From cellular senescence to age-associated diseases: miRNAs as tools and targets for healthy ageing

miRNAs are the most abundant RNA species to be found in cell-free blood, encapsulated within microvesicles or bound to proteins. miRNAs play essential roles in the regulation of various biological processes. Moreover, specific changes in miRNA transcription levels or miRNA secretory levels have been linked to the development and progression of certain age-related diseases. So, they might be an ideal target for modulating healthy ageing

Proceedings of the Symposium “Updates in Pathobiology: Causality and Chance in Ageing, Age-related diseases and Longevity”

The Symposium "Updates in Pathobiology: Causality and Chance in Ageing, Age-related diseases and Longevity" was held on March 24 in Palermo, 2017 (Sala delle Capriate, Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri), the day after exams for obtaining the title of PhD in Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology XXIX, Cycle (Coordinator Prof. Calogero Caruso) by seven PhD candidates; four of them have been awarded the title of Doctor Europaeus.