Raffaella Isola

Dr. Raffaella Isola

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

27Years (2000-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 February 2019 in Food & Function
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Antonella RosaAntonella Rosa
Antonella Rosa
Diego CaprioglioDiego Caprioglio
Diego Caprioglio
RIRaffaella Isola
Raffaella Isola
MNMariella Nieddu
Mariella Nieddu
Giovanni AppendinoGiovanni Appendino
Giovanni Appendino
AFA. M. Falchi
A. M. Falchi
The dietary sesquiterpene dienone zerumbone (ZER) selectively targets cancer cells, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, and protects non-cancerous cells towards oxidative stress and insult. This study examines the in vitro effects of ZER on lipid peroxidation in biological systems (cholesterol and phospholipid membrane oxidation) and explores its antitumor action in terms of its ability to modulate cancer cell lipid profile. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of ZER showed that this compound is unable to trap lipoperoxyl radicals per se. ZER significantly modulated the total lipid and fatty acid profiles in cancer cells, inducing marked changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, with significant decreases in the levels of oleic and palmitic acids and a marked increase of stearic acid. Cell-based fluorescent measurements of intracellular membranes and lipid droplets using the Nile Red staining technique showed that in cancer cells, ZER induced significant accumulation of cytosolic lipid droplets and altered cell membrane organization/protein dynamics, depolarizing the mitochondrial membranes and inducing apoptosis and alteration of nuclear morphology. The modulatory activity of ZER on the total lipid and fatty acid profiles and lipid droplets may therefore represent another possible mechanism of its anticancer properties.

15 May 2020 in Food & Function
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Antonella RosaAntonella Rosa
Antonella Rosa
RIRaffaella Isola
Raffaella Isola
FPFederica Pollastro
Federica Pollastro
PCPaola Caria
Paola Caria
Giovanni AppendinoGiovanni Appendino
Giovanni Appendino
MNMariella Nieddu
Mariella Nieddu
Eupatilin is a dietary flavonoid isolated from the alpine wormwoods, used for the genepy liqueur production. This flavone protects cells and tissues against oxidative stress and targets cancer cells, inducing cytotoxicity, cell circle arrest, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study examines the EUP in vitro antioxidant effects on cholesterol and phospholipid membrane oxidation and explores its ability to modulate the cancer cell lipid profile. This flavone remarkably protected fatty acids and cholesterol against oxidative degradation by scavenging lipoperoxyl radicals. EUP (24 h of incubation) significantly reduced viability and modulated the total lipid and fatty acid profiles in cancer HeLa cells. It induced marked changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, significant decreases in the levels of oleic and palmitic acids and a marked increase of stearic acid, involving an inhibitory effect on de novo lipogenesis and desaturation in cancer cells. Moreover, a noteworthy mitochondrial membrane depolarization, signs of apoptosis, abnormal mitosis with multi-nucleation (mitotic catastrophe) and morphological alterations were observed in cancer EUP-treated cells. Our results validate the EUP role as antioxidant agent for the treatment/prevention of disorders implicating a membrane lipid oxidative damage and substantiate cell lipid metabolism as another possible target of this dietary natural flavonoid in cancer HeLa cells.

11 November 2020 in Nutrients
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Antonella RosaAntonella Rosa
Antonella Rosa
RIRaffaella Isola
Raffaella Isola
MNMariella Nieddu
Mariella Nieddu
Carla MasalaCarla Masala
Carla Masala
A taste component is implicated in the oro-sensory detection of dietary lipids and free fatty acids seem to be involved in fatty food recognition. Bottarga, the salted and semi-dried ovary product of mullet (Mugil spp.), is a rich-fat food. A comparative sensory assessment of different commercial bottarga samples was performed in insect and human models in relation to their lipid composition. The bottarga attractant effect to Ceratitis capitata was assessed by behavioral tests. The subjective odor and taste perception of bottarga samples was investigated in human determining the rate of pleasantness, familiarity, and intensity dimensions using the 7-points Likert-type scale. Bottarga samples showed similar lipid profiles, but differences emerged in total and free fatty acid levels. Significant differences were observed in the attractant effect/acceptability of samples to medflies, negatively correlated to their total and free fatty acids. Insect female exhibited the ability to select among bottarga samples based on their visual and olfactory properties. In the human model, a potential contribution of free fatty acid amount in the pleasantness and familiarity dimensions of taste of bottarga samples was evidenced. Women exhibited a greater ability than men to select bottarga samples based on their better olfactory perception. Our results increase the knowledge about this outstanding product with nutritional and nutraceutical properties.

1 August 2010 in Mitochondrion
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Journal Article
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RIRaffaella Isola
Raffaella Isola
PSPaola Solinas
Paola Solinas
FLFrancesco Loy
Francesco Loy
SMStefano Mariotti
Stefano Mariotti
ARAlessandro Riva
Alessandro Riva

5 February 2007 in Microscopy Research and Technique
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Journal Article
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RIRaffaella Isola
Raffaella Isola
MIMichela Isola
Michela Isola
GCGabriele Conti
Gabriele Conti
MLMaria Serenella Lantini
Maria Serenella Lantini
ARAlessandro Riva
Alessandro Riva

GMGabriele Mulliri
Gabriele Mulliri
SMSara Magnani
Sara Magnani
SRSilvana Roberto
Silvana Roberto
GGGiovanna Ghiani
Giovanna Ghiani
FSFabio Sechi
Fabio Sechi
ACAntonio Crisafulli
Antonio Crisafulli
Hemodynamic changes during exercise in acute hypoxia (AH) have not been completely elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate hemodynamics during an acute bout of mild, dynamic exercise during moderate normobaric AH. Twenty-two physically active, healthy males (average age; range 23–40 years) completed a cardiopulmonary test on a cycle ergometer to determine their maximum workload (Wmax). On separate days, participants performed two randomly assigned exercise tests (three minutes pedaling at 30% of Wmax): (1) during normoxia (NORMO), and (2) during normobaric AH at 13.5% inspired oxygen (HYPO). Hemodynamics were assessed with impedance cardiography, and peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SatO2) and cerebral oxygenation (Cox) were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. Hemodynamic responses (heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, mean arterial blood pressure, ventricular emptying rate, and ventricular filling rate) were not any different between NORMO and HYPO. However, the HYPO test significantly reduced both SatO2 (96.6 ± 3.3 vs. 83.0 ± 4.5%) and Cox (71.0 ± 6.6 vs. 62.8 ± 7.4 A.U.) when compared to the NORMO test. We conclude that an acute bout of mild exercise during acute moderate normobaric hypoxia does not induce significant changes in hemodynamics, although it can cause significant reductions in SatO2 and Cox.