Nicola Toschi

Prof. Dr. Nicola Toschi

Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
orcid

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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1 April 2019 in NeuroImage
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SSSimeon Spasov
Simeon Spasov
LPLuca Passamonti
Luca Passamonti
ADAndrea Duggento
Andrea Duggento
PLPietro Liò
Pietro Liò
Nicola ToschiNicola Toschi
Nicola Toschi

1 July 2021 in Seminars in Cancer Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Allegra ContiAllegra Conti
Allegra Conti
Andrea DuggentoAndrea Duggento
Andrea Duggento
IIIole Indovina
Iole Indovina
MGMaria Guerrisi
Maria Guerrisi
Nicola ToschiNicola Toschi
Nicola Toschi

31 March 2020 in Frontiers in Immunology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
HHHarald Hampel
Harald Hampel
FCFilippo Caraci
Filippo Caraci
ACA Claudio Cuello
A Claudio Cuello
Giuseppe CarusoGiuseppe Caruso
Giuseppe Caruso
RNRobert Nisticò
Robert Nisticò
SLSimone Lista
Simone Lista
Neuroinflammation commences decades before Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical onset and represents one of the earliest pathomechanistic alterations throughout the AD continuum. Large-scale genome-wide association studies point out several genetic variants—TREM2, CD33, PILRA, CR1, MS4A, CLU, ABCA7, EPHA1, and HLA-DRB5-HLA-DRB1—potentially linked to neuroinflammation. Most of these genes are involved in proinflammatory intracellular signaling, cytokines/interleukins/cell turnover, synaptic activity, lipid metabolism, and vesicle trafficking. Proteomic studies indicate that a plethora of interconnected aberrant molecular pathways, set off and perpetuated by TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β, and the receptor protein TREM2, are involved in neuroinflammation. Microglia and astrocytes are key cellular drivers and regulators of neuroinflammation. Under physiological conditions, they are important for neurotransmission and synaptic homeostasis. In AD, there is a turning point throughout its pathophysiological evolution where glial cells sustain an overexpressed inflammatory response that synergizes with amyloid-β and tau accumulation, and drives synaptotoxicity and neurodegeneration in a self-reinforcing manner. Despite a strong therapeutic rationale, previous clinical trials investigating compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), did not achieve primary efficacy endpoints. It is conceivable that study design issues, including the lack of diagnostic accuracy and biomarkers for target population identification and proof of mechanism, may partially explain the negative outcomes. However, a recent meta-analysis indicates a potential biological effect of NSAIDs. In this regard, candidate fluid biomarkers of neuroinflammation are under analytical/clinical validation, i.e., TREM2, IL-1β, MCP-1, IL-6, TNF-α receptor complexes, TGF-β, and YKL-40. PET radio-ligands are investigated to accomplish in vivo and longitudinal regional exploration of neuroinflammation. Biomarkers tracking different molecular pathways (body fluid matrixes) along with brain neuroinflammatory endophenotypes (neuroimaging markers), can untangle temporal–spatial dynamics between neuroinflammation and other AD pathophysiological mechanisms. Robust biomarker–drug codevelopment pipelines are expected to enrich large-scale clinical trials testing new-generation compounds active, directly or indirectly, on neuroinflammatory targets and displaying putative disease-modifying effects: novel NSAIDs, AL002 (anti-TREM2 antibody), anti-Aβ protofibrils (BAN2401), and AL003 (anti-CD33 antibody). As a next step, taking advantage of breakthrough and multimodal techniques coupled with a systems biology approach is the path to pursue for developing individualized therapeutic strategies targeting neuroinflammation under the framework of precision medicine.

1 December 2002 in Biological Psychiatry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
BCBoldizsár Czéh
Boldizsár Czéh
TWTobias Welt
Tobias Welt
AFAnja K Fischer
Anja K Fischer
AEAngelika Erhardt
Angelika Erhardt
WSWolfram Schmitt
Wolfram Schmitt
MKMartin E Keck
Martin E Keck

1 July 2002 in Neuropharmacology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MKM.E Keck
M.E Keck
TWT Welt
T Welt
MMM.B Müller
M.B Müller
AEA Erhardt
A Erhardt
FOF Ohl
F Ohl
ISI Sillaber
I Sillaber