RUSCICA MASSIMILIANO

Dyslipidemia is a set of multifactorial conditions which are partially genetic and partially induced by lifestyle. It represents one of the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular diseases; it causes the deposition of lipids within the arteries and a subsequent impact on coronary diseases, mostly caused by low density lipoproteins (LDL) which are the most important chaperon of the cholesterol. In the last few years, it has been clearly established the role of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) as the main post-transcriptional regulator of the quantity of LDL receptors, therefore regulating LDL cholesterolemia. Within the field of atherosclerotic pathology, the research activity of the candidate has been focused on the impact of PCSK9 on the components of the atheroma formation: smooth muscular cells, the role of the of monocyte/macrophages, subsequent development of inflammation. Within the same field but on patients with high cardiovascular risk (subjects suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or hypertensive subjects), our laboratory has evaluated the circulating levels of PCSK9 as possible biomarker for the atherosclerosis. Within the field of cardiovascular diseases, on the basis of the studies which have shown a proved connection between a chronic or acute exposition to the particulate matter and an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases, part of the research has been focused on the impact of PM10 on the levels of circulating PCSK9 and on the molecular determinants on the basis of this phenomenon. A further area of interest has been the one relative to the relationship among gonadal hormones, in particular testosterone and increased cardiovascular risk. The research has highlighted how subjects with genetic or hydiopathic hypogonadism have a reduced function of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), a piece of data that supports the conclusion that the functioning of HDL represents a more reliable risk index rather than the variations of HDL circulating levels. (2018 - )