Sara De Martin
Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova Position: Assistant Professor of Pharmacology (SSD: BIO/14) Contacts |
Short CV
Sara De Martin (born in 1977) is Assistant Professor in Pharmacology at the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences (University of Padova) since 2006. Her main research interests are drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, especially in liver dysfunction, which are investigated both at clinical and molecular levels. She is author of numerous papers published in the leading journals of pharmacology and clinical chemistry and of four review. In 2007 she has been awarded the prize "SIF-Farmindustria for pharmacological research" for her article "De Martin S, Orlando R, Bertoli M, Pegoraro P, Palatini P(2006). Differential effect of chronic renal failure on the pharmacokinetics of lidocaine in patients receiving and not receiving hemodialysis Clin Pharmacol Ther 80: 597-606". She recently approached immunology, in particular by analyzing the role of the peptide adrenomedullin in T cell development in thymus and in autoimmune liver diseases.
Teaching
Availability for Thesis Projects
Pre-clinical and Clinical Pharmacokinetics;
Characterization of animal models of liver disease
Immune phenotyping of animal model of psychiatric diseases
Availability of internship position: please contact me
Research
Scientific Activities
1.Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics in liver disease
In this field, my research interests are focused on the alterations of CYP-mediated liver metabolism of drugs in the diseased liver.
In our lab, we use preclinical in-vitro (e.g. HepG2 cells, primary cultures of hepatocytes) and in vivo models. In the last years, we have developed two different models of liver cirrhosis in the rat, i.e. CCl4-induced hepatocellular cirrhosis, and cholestasis obtained by bile duct ligation, and a model of NAFLD/NASH induced by the administration of a high-fat diet. In these models, we performed in vivo (pharmacokinetic analyses) and ex vivo studies, by means of molecular biology techniques (real time PCR, western blot, IHC, ICC) and measurement of enzymatic activities to investigate the molecular mechanisms of metabolic alterations.
We are also performing clinical studies in HCV patients, to assess the effect of liver steatosis on the pharmacokinetics of new antiviral drugs.
Recently, we started to study the role of the peptide adrenomedullin (ADM) in hepatic cells. In particular, we are investigating the expression and function of this peptide in hepatic stellate cells.
2.Adrenomedullin in the immune system
In our lab, we are currently investigating the role of ADM in T cell development in patients with autoimmune liver diseases (PBC, PSC, AIH) by means of molecular biology techniques (real time PCR, western blot, IHC, ICC).
Recently, we started to collaborate with Dr. F. Papaleo (IIT, Genova) in order to immune phenotyping animal models of psychiatric diseases (ADHD, schizophrenia) and ascertain whether the immune and ADM systems play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of these disorders.
Technical expertise
In vivo animal studies
Cell cultures: primary cells, liver and T cell lines
Molecular biology methods
HPLC for clinical pharmacokinetic studies
Publications
De Martin S, Paliuri G, Belloni A, Orso G, Zanarella E, Stellin G, Milanesi O, Basso G, Ruga EM, Frasson C, Gabbia D, Perdoncin G, Palatini P, Bova S. (2014). Expression and distribution of the adrenomedullin system in newborn human thymus. PLOS ONE 15; 9: e97592.
De Martin S, Gabbia D, Albertin G, Sfriso MM, Mescoli C, Albertoni L, Paliuri G, Bova S, Palatini P. (2014) Differential Effect of Liver Cirrhosis on the Pregnane X Receptor-Mediated Induction of CYP3A1 and 3A2 in the Rat. Drug Metab Dispos 42:1617-26.
Palatini P, De Martin S. (2016) Pharmacokinetic drug interactions in liver disease: An update. World J Gastroenterol 22(3): 1260-1278.
Castellani G, Paliuri G, Orso G, Paccagnella N, D'Amore C, Facci L, Cima F, Caicci F, Palatini P, Bova S, De Martin S. (2016) An intracellular adrenomedullin system reduces IL-6 release via a NF-kB-mediated, cAMP-independent transcriptional mechanism in rat thymic epithelial cells. Cytokine 88: 136-143.
Gabbia D, Dall’Acqua S, Di Gangi IM, Bogialli S, Caputi V, Albertoni L, Marsilio I, Paccagnella N, Carrara M, Giron MC, De Martin S (2017). Phytocomplex from Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum controls postprandial plasma glucose levels: an in vitro and in vivo study in a mouse model of NASH. Marine Drugs, 15(2). pii: E41.
Research projects and Funds
2013 PRAT UniPD
Effect of cholestasis on hepatic nuclear receptors controlling the expression of CYP3A enzymes.
2015 Gilead fellowship
Effect of steatosis on sofosbuvir oral disposition kinetics: a clinical pharmacokinetic study
