Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology - DBSV - Varese

The laboratory carries out activities focused on the phenotypic and functional characterisation of immune cells, in particular Natural Killer cells and macrophages, from clinical samples of peripheral blood and tumour tissues obtained from patients with various types of cancer, such as prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer. Several molecules and chemical compounds are also studied, many of which are of natural origin—such as metformin, xanthohumol and acetyl-L-carnitine—for their anti-angiogenic activity in prostate cancer in mouse models.

Academic staff investigate the involvement of different innate immune cells in tumour angiogenesis, the tumour-suppressive function of the ribonuclease RNASET2 in in vitro and in vivo systems using a syngeneic murine model, in collaboration with the Genetics Laboratory (DBSV), the role of Natural Killer cells in patients with autoimmune hyperthyroidism (Graves’ disease) before and after treatment with vitamin D and selenium, and the in vitro role of Cetuximab-dependent antibody-mediated cytolysis by Natural Killer cells in subjects with hypovitaminosis D and after treatment with vitamin D supplementation against colon tumour cell lines.

Equipment

• Single sterile laminar-flow hood for cell cultures
• Double sterile laminar-flow hood for cell cultures
• Single chemical fume hood
• Large SIGMA centrifuge
• Motic optical microscope
• Mini Galaxy CO2 incubator for cell cultures

Head / Reference Technician
Prof. Lorenzo Mortara

Access conditions and opening hours

Access is permitted to:

• staff of the Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV);
• authorised PhD candidates, medical residents and students undertaking traineeships or thesis work (enrolled in degree programmes of the University or participating in international mobility schemes, or from other universities with agreements with the University of Insubria).

The laboratory is open from Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.