Il sito ufficiale del Comune di Librizzi (ME)

CURRICULUM VITAE May, 2004

BIAGIO SAITTA Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Laboratory of Stem Cells and Matrix Biology

Coriell Institute for Medical Research

Office Address:

Coriell Institute for Medical Research

403 Haddon Avenue

Camden, NJ 08103

Phone: 856-757-9717

email: bsaitta@coriell.umdnj.edu

Home Address:

806 Addison Street

Philadelphia, PA 19147

Phone: (215) 238-6593

Education:

B.A (1975) Liberal Arts, Liceo Classico:"Vittorio

Emanuele III" (Patti) Messina, Italy.

Ph.D (1980) Laurea in Biological Sciences, with 110/110

at the University of Messina, Italy.

Training/Fellowship Appointments:

1980-1981 Laboratory of Clinical Analysis,

Patti-Messina, Italy.

1981-1982 Fellowship at the Istituto di Ricerche

Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" of Milano, Italy.

1983-1990 Fellowship at the Istituto di Biologia dello

Sviluppo of the C.N.R., Palermo, Italy.

1987-1992 Postdoctoral fellow at the Thomas Jefferson University,

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,

Philadelphia, PA.

Faculty Appointments:

1990-present Researcher (Tenure position) at the Istituto di Biologia dello

Sviluppo of the C.N.R. of Palermo,

Italy (On leave).

1992-1995 Instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University

Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,

Philadelphia, PA.

1995-1998 Research Assistant Professor at the Thomas Jefferson University,

Dept. of Dermatology and Cutaneous

Biology, Philadelphia, PA.

1998-2002 Research Assistant Professor at the Thomas Jefferson University,

Dept. of Medicine,

Philadelphia, PA

2002-present Associate Professor at the Coriell Institute for Medical

Research/UMDNJ, Camden,NJ.

Awards/Honors:

1993 Outstanding presentation award at the East Coast Connective Tissue Meeting

Philadelphia, PA.

Memberships in Societies:

1995-present International Society for Matrix Biology (ISMB).

2000-present American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB).

2002-present International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)

2002-present American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Teaching experience and courses:

1992 Supervisor of Graduate (Ph.D.) student, Maria

G. Alaimo, at the University of Palermo, Italy.

1995 Supervisor of postdoctoral fellow, Paolo

Comeglio, from University of Florence,

Italy, at the Thomas Jefferson University

1997 Course on �Transgenic Techniques� at the

Thomas Jefferson University

1997-1998 Supervisor of postdoctoral fellow,Angela

Bolognese, at the Thomas Jefferson Universit

1999-2000 Supervisor of postdoctoral fellow, Lucia

Cicchillitti, at the Thomas Jefferson University

2000-2002 Supervisor of postdoctoral fellow, Natalia

Louneva, at the Thomas Jefferson University

2002- present Supervisor of postdoctoral fellow, Vladimir Markov,

at the Coriell Institute for Medical Research .

2002 Course on � Biotechnologies in Medicine: basic theory- practical� at

the Experimental Institute Palermo, Italy.

2003 The first Wetlab Workshop on Challenges in the Era of Stem Cells

Plasticity at the Roger Williams Medical Center, Center for Stem Cell Biology, Providence, RI.

Journal Reviewer:

� J of Investigative Dermatology

� Laboratory Investigation

� Osteoarthritis and cartilage

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Research Articles

1) Acuto S, Buttic� G, Saitta B, Pirrone AM, Gambino R, Costa C, Giambona A, Lo Gioco P, Di Marzo R and Maggio A (1985). aaaanti4.2Haplotype and heterozygous bo thalassemia in a Sicilian family. Hum. Genet.70:318-320.

2) Saitta B, Buttice' G and Gambino R (1989). Isolation of a putative collagen-like gene from the sea urchin Paracentrotus Lividus. Biochem. Biophys. Res.Comm.158:633-639.

3) Fazio MJ, Kahari VM, Bashir MM, Saitta B, Rosenbloom J and Uitto J (1990). Regulation of elastin gene expression: evidence for functional promoter activity in the 5'end-flanking region of the human gene. J. Invest. Derm. 94:191-196.

4) Saitta B, Stokes DG, Vissing H, Timpl R and Chu ML (1990). Alternative splicing of the human a2(VI) collagen gene generates multiple mRNA transcripts which predict three protein variants with distinct carboxyl termini. J. Biol. Chem. 265:6473-6480.

5) Stokes DG, Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML (1991). Human a3(VI) collagen gene. J. Biol. Chem. 266:8626-8633.

6) Saitta B, Wang YM, Renkart L, Zhang RZ, Pan TC, Timpl R and Chu ML (1991). The exon organization of the triple helical coding regions of the human a1(VI) and a2(VI) collagen genes is highly similar. Genomics. 11:145-153.

7) Dodge GR, Kovalszky I, McBride OW, Yi HF,Chu ML, Saitta B, Stokes DG and Iozzo R (1991). Human clathrin heavy chain (CLTC): partial molecular cloning,expression, and mapping of the gene to human chromosome 17q11-qter. Genomics. 11:174-178.

8) Fazio M, O'Leary J, Kahari VM, Chen YQ, Saitta B and Uitto J (1991).Human nidogen gene: structural and functional characterization of the 5'-flanking region. J. Invest. Derm. 97:281-285.

9) Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML (1992). Human a2(VI) collagen gene: heterogeneity at the 5' end untranslated region generated by an alternate exon. J. Biol. Chem. 267:6188-6196.

10) Saitta B and Chu ML (1994). Two promoters control the transcription of the human a2 (VI) collagen gene. Eur. J. Biochem. 223: 675-682.

11) Heiskanen M, Saitta B, Palotie A and Chu ML (1995). Head to tail organization of the COL6A1 and COL6A2 genes by Fiber-FISH. Genomics 29: 801-803.

12) Saitta B and Chu ML (1995). Characterization of the human a1 (VI) promoter and its comparison with the human a2 (VI) promoters. Eur. J. Biochem. 234: 542-549.

13) Comeglio P, Saitta B, Pepe G and Chu ML (1996). Identification of a polymorphic CA-repeat in the COL6A2 Gene on human chromosome 21q22.3. Human Heredity. 46:239-240.

14) Gambino R, Alaimo MG, Saitta B and Ghersi G (1996). Presence of different collagens and collagen mRNAs during embryogenesis and in adult tissues of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. J. Submicrosc. Cytol. Pathol. 28 (1): 41-47.

15) Sala A, Saitta B, De Luca P, Lania L, Lewis RE, Casella I, Watson R and Peschle C (1999). B-MYB transactivates its own promoter through SP1-binding sites. Oncogene 18, 1333-1339.

16) Pepe G, Giusti B, Bertini E, Brunelli T, Saitta B, Comeglio P, Bolognese A, Merlini L, Federici G, Abbate R and Chu ML (1999). A heterozygous splice mutation in COL6A1 leading to an in-frame deletion of the a1(VI) collagen chain in an Italian family affected by Bethlem Myopathy. Biochem.Biophys.Res.Comm. 258: 802-807.

17) Pepe G, Bertini E, Giusti B, Brunelli T, Comeglio P, Saitta B, Merlini L, Chu ML, Federici G and Abbate R (1999). A novel de novo mutation in the triple helix of the COL6A3 gene in a three-generation Italian family affected by Bethlem myopathy. A diagnostic approach in the mutations screening of type VI collagen. Neuromuscular Disorders 9: 264-271.

18) Rosenbloom J, Saitta B, Gaidarova S, Sandorfi N, Rosenbloom JC, Abrams WR, Hamilton AD, Sebti SM, Kucick U and Jimenez SA (2000). Inhibition of type I collagen gene expression in normal and Systemic Sclerosis fibroblasts by a specific inhibitor of geranylgeranyl transferase I. Arthritis Rheum 43: 1624-1632.

19) Saitta B, Gaidarova S, Cicchillitti L and Jimenez SA (2000). CCAAT binding transcription factor binds and regulates human COL1A1 promoter activity in human dermal fibroblasts. Arthritis Rheum 43: 2219-2229.

20) Sallinen R, Latvanlehto A, Kvist AP, Rehn M, Eerola I, Chu ML, Bonaldo P, Saitta B, Bressan GM, Pihlajaniemi T, Vuorio E, Palotie A, Wessman M, Horelli-Kuitunen N (2001). Physical mapping of mouse collagen genes on Chromosome 10 by high-resolution FISH. Mammalian Genome 12: 340-346.

21) Jimenez SA, Gaidarova S, Saitta B, Sandorfi N, Herrich DJ, Rosenbloom JC, Kucich U, Abrams WR and Rosenbloom J (2001).Role of protein kinase C-d in the regulation of collagen gene expression in scleroderma fibroblasts J Clin Invest 108: 1395-1403.

22) Louneva N, Saitta B, Herrich DJ and Jimenez SA (2003). Transcriptional inhibition of type I collagen gene expression in scleroderma fibroblasts by the antineoplastic drug Ecteinascidin 743. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 40400-40407.

23) Cicchillitti L, Jimenez SA, Sala A and Saitta B (2004). B-Myb acts as repressor of the human COL1A1 gene expression by interacting with Sp1 and CBF factors in normal and scleroderma fibroblasts. Biochem. J. 378: 609-616.

Abstracts/Presentations

1) Saitta B, Buttice G and Gambino R (1987). Isolation of a collagen gene expressed during skeletogenesis of Paracentrotus lividus embryos. Eur. J. Cell Biol. Suppl. 21(Vol 44):137.

2) Saitta B, Buttice G and Gambino R (1988). Isolation and partial characterization of a developmentally regulated sea urchin collagen reveals the presence of a 54 bp exon motif. Collagen Rel. Res. Vol 8 (6):554.

3) D'Alessio M, Vissing H, Buttice G, Saitta B, Ramirez F and Gambino R (1988). Genetic heterogeneity of echinoderm collagen. Collagen Rel. Res. Vol 8 (6):554-5.

4) Ramirez F, D'Alessio M, Vissing H, Suzuki H, Solursh M, Buttice G, Saitta B and Gambino R (1989). Developmentally regulated sea urchin collagen genes. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 13C: J416.

5) Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML (1990). Characterization of the a2(VI) collagen gene. FASEB J. Vol. 4 #3425.

6) Stokes DG, Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML (1990). Human type VI collagen a3 chain: gene structure and alternative splicing. FASEB J. Vol. 4 # 3424

7) Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML (1990). Exon/Intron structure of the human a2(VI) collagen gene.

Coll. Rel. Res. Vol 4:215-216.

8) Stokes DG, Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML (1990). A unique gene structure and alternative splicing of the human type VI collagen a3 chain. Coll.Rel.Res. Vol 4: 216.

9) O'Leary J, Fazio M, Kahari VM, QiuChen Y, Saitta B and Uitto J (1990). Human nidogen gene: characterization of nucleotide sequences at the 5'end flanking region and evidence for functional promoter activity. Coll. Rel. Res. Vol. 4: 268.

10) Saitta B and Chu ML (1993). Analysis and expression of the human a2 (VI) collagen promoter. Coll. Rel. Res. Vol.13:74.

11) Saitta B and Chu ML (1994). Isolation and characterization of the promoter of the a1(VI) human collagen gene. Matrix Biology. Vol. 14: 371.

12) Saitta B, Chu ML and Dodge GD (1997). Cell phenotype affects co-regulation by cytokines and alternative splicing of type VI collagen genes in human articular chondrocytes. FASEB J. Vol. 11, # 1486.

13) Saitta B, Bolognese A, Sala A and Chu ML (1998). Identification of two regulatory regions of the a1 (VI) collagen promoter that are modulated by B-myb expression. Matrix Biology. Vol. 17, # 2.

14) Sallinen R, A.P. Kvist, A. Latvanlehto, M. Rehn, I. Eerola, M.L. Chu, P. Bonaldo, G.M. Bressan, Saitta B, Pihlajaniemi T, Vuorio E, Palotie A, Wessman M, Horelli-Kuitunen N (1999). Localizing, ordering and orienting mouse collagen genes by high resolution FISH. Am. J. Hum. Genet. Vol.65, # 2369.

15) Saitta B, Gaidarova S, Cicchillitti L and Jimenez SA (1999). The transcription factors Sp1, Sp3 and CBF interact with the proximal promoter region of the human COL1A1 collagen gene in systemic sclerosis dermal fibroblasts. Arthritis Rheum. Vol. 42, Suppl 9: S201.

16) Saitta B, Gaidarova S, Hitraya H, Germann M and Jimenez SA (1999). Alterations in the structure of the alpha 1 (I) collagen (COL1A1) proximal promoter between the Sp1 and CBF cis-elements modulate its transcriptional activity without changing the DNA/protein interactions. Arthritis Rheum. Vol. 42, Suppl 9: S201.

17) Saitta B, Gaidarova S, Cicchillitti L and Jimenez SA (2000). The transcription factors CBF binds and regulates human COL1A1 promoter activity and expression in human dermal fibroblasts: demonstration of increased binding in systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Rheum Vol. 43, Suppl 9: S98.

18) Cicchillitti L, Gaidarova S, Jimenez SA and Saitta B (2000). B-Myb down-regulates human COL1A1 expression by an indirect interaction with its promoter in normal and systemic sclerosis fibroblasts. Arthritis Rheum Vol. 43, Suppl 9: S99.

19) Jimenez SA, Saitta B, Sandorfi N, Gaidarova S, Rosenbloom JC and Rosenbloom J (2000). Protein kinase C d regulation of type I collagen gene expression in normal and Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) fibroblasts. Arthritis Rheum Vol. 43, Suppl 9: S168.

20) Saitta B, Louneva NM, Jimenez SA (2001). The novel anticancer agent, Ecteinascidin 743 (ET-743), causes potent inhibition of COL1A1 gene transcription in systemic sclerosis fibroblasts. Arthritis Rheum (Vol. 44, Suppl 9: S181).

21) Louneva NM, Jimenez SA, Saitta B (2001). Inhibition of expression of several extracellular matrix genes in normal and systemic sclerosis fibroblasts by Ecteinascidin 743. Arthritis Rheum (Vol. 44, Suppl 9: S182).

Reviews/Chapters

1) Chu ML, Pan TC, Conway D, Saitta B, Stokes DG, Kuo HJ, Glanville RW, Timpl R, Mann K and Deutzman R (1990). The structure of type VI collagen. Ann.N.Y.Acad. Sci. 250:55-63.

2) Jimenez SA and Saitta B (1999). Alterations in the regulation of expression of the a(I) collagen gene (COL1A1) in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Springer Seminars Immunopathology, Fibrosis 21: 397-414.

Participations in Scientific Meetings/Presentations

1) Saitta B, Buttice G and Gambino R. Isolation and partial characterization of a

developmentally regulated sea urchin collagen reveals the presence of a 54 bp exon motif.

Second International Conference on Molecular Biology and Pathology of Matrix. Philadelphia,

PA, June 15-18, 1988 (Poster).

2) D'Alessio M, Vissing H, Buttice G, Saitta B, Ramirez F and Gambino R. Genetic heterogeneity

of echinoderm collagen. Second International Conference on Molecular Biology and Pathology

of Matrix. Philadelphia, PA, June 15-18, 1988 (Poster).

3) Saitta B, Stokes DG, Vissing H, Timpl R and Chu ML. Alternative splicing of the human a2(VI)

collagen gene at the 3' end. Gordon Research Conference. Structural Macromolecules: Collagen.

Plymouth, N.H., July 10-14, 1989 (Poster).

4) Stokes DG, Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML. A unique gene structure and alternative splicing of the

human type VI collagen a3 chain. Third International Conference on Molecular Biology and

Pathology of Matrix. Philadelphia, PA, June 13-16, 1990 (Poster).

5) Saitta B, Wang YM, Renkart L, Zhang RZ, Pan TC, Timpl R and Chu ML. Exon organization of the

triple helical coding regions of the human a1(VI) and a2(VI) collagen genes is highly similar.

11th East Coast Connective Tissue Society Meeting, Piscataway, NJ. March 22, 1991 (Platform presentation).

6) Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML. The 5' end of the human a2(VI) collagen gene. Gordon Research

Conference. Structural macromolecules: Collagen. New London, N.H., June 24-28, 1991 (Poster).

7) Saitta B, Timpl R and Chu ML. Heterogeneity at the 5' untranslated region generated by an alternate exon and multiple transcription start sites of the a2 (VI) human collagen gene. 12th East Coast Connective Tissue Society Meeting. Boston, MA, March 27-28, 1992 (Platform presentation).

8) Saitta B and Chu ML. Mapping of cosmid clones containing about 200 kb of human DNA in the q22.3 region of chromosome 21 and specific for COL6A1 and COL6A2 genes. Human Genome, Nice (France) Oct.14-17, 1992(Poster).

9) Saitta B and Chu ML. Analysis and expression of the human a2 (VI) collagen promoter. Fourth International Conference on Molecular Biology and Pathology of Matrix.Philadelphia, PA, June 13-16, 1992 (Poster).

10) Saitta B and ML Chu. Two promoters control the transcription of the human a2 (VI) collagen gene. 13th East Coast Connective Tissue Society Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. March 19-20, 1993 (Platform presentation).

11) Saitta B and Chu ML. Sp1 and Ap2 regulatory proteins bind the two promoters of the human a2 (VI) collagen gene. Gordon Research Conference Structural macromolecules: Collagen. New London, NH. July 18-23, 1993 (Poster).

12) Saitta B. Promoters of type VI collagen. Molecular Mechanisms of Extracellular Matrix Development. Symposium. Max Planck Institute, Schloss Ringberg/Tegernsee, Germany. April 10-13, 1994 (Invited speaker).

13) Saitta B and Chu ML. Isolation and characterization of the promoter of the a1(VI)

human collagen gene. Fifth International Conference on Molecular Biology and Pathology of Matrix. Philadelphia, PA, June 19-22, 1994 (Poster).

14) Saitta B and Chu ML. The promoter and the 5' exon/intron organization of the a1(VI) human collagen gene. 15th East Coast Connective Tissue Society Meeting, Somerset, NJ, March 24-25, 1995 (Poster).

15) Saitta B and Chu ML. Characterization of the human a1(VI) promoter and its comparison with the human a2 (VI) promoters. Keystone Symposia, Transcriptional Mechanisms, Taos-New Mexico, March 17-23, 1996, (Poster).

16) Saitta B. Weinstein Cardiovascular Development Conference. Philadelphia, PA, June 6-8, 1996 (Participant).

17) Saitta B, Mauviel A and Chu ML. The a1(VI) collagen promoter is down-regulated by TNFa. Sixth International Conference on Molecular Biology and Pathology of Matrix. Philadelphia, PA, June 16-19, 1996 (Poster).

18) Saitta B. Transcriptional regulation of type VI collagen genes. Thomas Jefferson University Dermatology/Rheumatology Research in Progress. Philadelphia, PA, January 22, 1997 (Research seminar).

19) Saitta B. B-myb protooncogene downregulates the expression of type VI collagen gene promoter. Urology/Oncology Research Meeting, Thomas Jefferson University. Philadelphia, PA, April 14, 1998 (Research seminar).

20) Saitta B. Transcriptional regulation of the COL1A1 gene of type I collagen. Thomas Jefferson University Rheumatology Research in Progress. Philadelphia, PA, April 6, 1999 (Invited speaker).

21) Saitta B. Transcriptional regulation of the COL1A1 gene of type I collagen in systemic sclerosis dermal fibroblasts. Thomas Jefferson University, Rheumatology Research in Progress. Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2000 (Research seminar).

22) Cicchillitti L, Gaidarova S, SA Jimenez and Saitta B. B-Myb down-regulates human COL1A1 expression by an indirect interaction with its promoter in scleroderma fibroblasts. First Symposium International Society Matrix Biology, Philadelphia, PA, June 14-17, 2000 (Poster)

23) Saitta B, Gaidarova S, Cicchillitti L and Jimenez SA. Transcription factors CBF binds and regulates human COL1A1 promoter activity in human dermal fibroblasts: demonstration of increased binding in systemic sclerosis. First Symposium International Society Matrix Biology, Philadelphia, PA, June 14-17, 2000 (Poster).

24) Saitta B. 2^nd Annual Non-hematopoietic & Mesenchymal Stem Cells Meeting (ISCT), New Orleans, Louisiana. September 26-28, 2002. (Participant)

25) Saitta B. First Course on � Biotechnologies in Medicine: basic theory-practical course�. Stem Cells and their Applications, at the Experimental Institute of Palermo, Italy. November 26-28, 2002 (Invited speaker).

26) Saitta B. Stem Cells: Research Advances & Future Prospects. Symposium at the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA. December 11, 2002. (Participant)

27) Saitta B. Stem Cells: from Basic Biology to Therapeutic Potential. Annual Symposium in Biomedical Research at the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA. April 2, 2003. (Participant).

28) Saitta B. The First Annual Wetlab/Conference Workshop on Challenges in the Era of Stem Cells Plasticity at the Roger Williams Medical Center, Center for Stem Cell Biology. Providence, RI. April 8-11, 2003 (Selected participant for the wetlab).

29) Saitta B. Interactions and Regulation of Extracellular Matrix Proteins. Basic science lecture for hematology and medical oncology fellows at the Cooper Hospital, Camden, NJ. April 28, 2003 (Invited speaker).

30) Vladimir Markov, Desanka Filipovic, Vitali Lounev, Rick Cohen and Biagio Saitta. Identification of Two Distinct Mesenchymal Stem Cell Populations in Human Cord Blood. Keystone Symposia Conference: Stem Cells. Keystone Colorado, USA, January 23-29, 2004 (Poster).

31) Saitta B. Multipotent Adult Stem Cells and Differentiation Basic science lecture for hematology and medical oncology fellows at the CooperHospital, Camden, NJ. March 16, 2004 (Invited speaker).