Principal Investigator: Pastoris Ornella

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility is an important feature in several pathological conditions, such as functional GI disorders, chronic inflammatory bowel disease or neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, characterized by widespread changes in bowel physiology, including abnormal secretion, motor dysfunction, and increased sensory perception. These changes contribute significantly to the generation of patient’s symptoms, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Attention has been recently paid to the impact of intestinal inflammation on the enteric nervous system (ENS), the major control mechanism of digestive functions. Nonetheless, it must be also acknowledged that changes in digestive functions in this context may be the consequence of the direct impact of inflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines, prostanoids, free radicals, etc.) on the target cells (epithelial and smooth muscle cells and nerves).  Several structural abnormalities have been reported in the ENS of patients affected of above mentioned pathologies. These include changes in ENS morphology, chemical coding, and neuronal survival. The potential relevance of systemic and GI immune activation in the pathophysiology and symptom generation is supported by a number of observations.
Moreover the importance of GI microbiota in the maintenance of ‘gut homeostasis’ has been shown by studies reporting qualitative and quantitative changes in the composition of certain phyla / genera in a number of digestive and systemic diseases.  The crosstalk between gut microbiota, intestinal epithelial barrier, glial cells and enteric neurons is the purpose of this research line in order to identify new intervention strategies for an effective therapeutic management of GI disorders.

Recent Publications:

• Levandis G, Balestra B, Siani F, Rizzo V, Ghezzi C, Ambrosi G, Cerri S, Bonizzi A, Vicini R, Vairetti M, Ferrigno A, Pastoris O, Blandini F. Response of colonic motility to dopaminergic stimulation is subverted in rats with nigrostriatal lesion: relevance to gastrointestinal dysfunctions in Parkinson’s disease. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015; 27: 1783-95. doi: 10.1111/nmo.12691.
• Balestra B, Vicini R, Cremon C, Zecchi L, Dothel G, Vasina V, De Giorgio R, Paccapelo A, Pastoris O, Stanghellini V, Corinaldesi R, De Ponti F, Tonini M, Barbara G. Colonic mucosal mediators from patients with irritable bowel syndrome excite enteric cholinergic motor neurons. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2012; 24: 1118-e570. doi: 10.1111/nmo.12000.
• Blandini F, Balestra B, Levandis G, Cervio M, Greco R, Tassorelli C, Colucci M, Faniglione M, Bazzini E, Nappi G, Clavenzani P, Vigneri S, De Giorgio R, Tonini M. Functional and neurochemical changes of the gastrointestinal tract in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease. Neurosci Lett. 2009; 467:203-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.10.035