Dott.ssa Francesca Saba

FISIOPATOLOGIA MEDICA
Dottorato: 34° ciclo
Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche
Matricola: 728478

Contatti

francesca.saba@edu.unito.it
Laboratorio Diabetologia e Malattie del Ricambio
AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, sede Molinette
Corso Dogliotti 13, Torino
https://dott-fisiopatologia.campusnet.unito.it/do/studenti.pl/Show?728478
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Supervisore

Tesi di dottorato

EFFICACIA DELLA CURCUMINA NEL TRATTAMENTO DELLA STEATOSI EPATICA NON ALCOLICA (NAFLD). Effect of curcumin in the management of non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis.

Non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in western countries and has a frequency of 30% in the general population with peaks of 60-70% among diabetic and obese subjects. NAFLD is characterized by a very variable histological picture, from a simple steatosis to necroinflammation and fibrosis. NAFLD provides a high degree of mortality due to liver complications and cardiovascular disease. In addition, patients with NAFLD are at increased risk of diabetes. The increased cardiovascular risk is common to all histological subtypes of NAFLD, although it is higher in non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) than in simple steatosis.
The physiopathological mechanisms hypothesized to explain liver damage and increased cardiovascular risk in NAFLD/NASH include insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, an altered lipoprotein metabolism and the different action of adipochines. It should be remembered that the postprandial phase plays a very important role in liver diseases: during this period the liver absorbs free fatty acids and triglycerides and this absorption of fat can contribute to increase liver steatosis and liver damage. Moreover, only in the postprandial phase some important alterations of the glucose and lipid metabolism can occur, which would pass unnoticed during the fasting phase.
Currently there are no drugs actually useful in the treatment of NAFLD/NASH. Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the plant “curcuma longa”, in several studies in vivo, showed its protective and therapeutic potential on NAFLD and NASH with mechanisms that mainly include the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect, improved insulin sensitivity, reduced lipogenesis and inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation (HSC). In particular the recognised effects of curcumin are decreased activity of hydroxymethylglutaril-coa reductase (HMG-coA-reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis) with less triglyceride synthesis, suppression of the infiltration of macrophages into liver tissue and reduction of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis in animal models.

Attività di ricerca

- Attività di supporto agli studi clinici nella NASH.

- Attività di supporto agli studi clinici in pazienti affetti da diabete di tipo II.

- Advanced glycation end products and their related signaling cascades in adult survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma: A possible role in the onset of late complications. F. Felicetti, E. Aimaretti, F. Dal Bello, F. Gatti, A. Godono, F. Saba, G. Einaudi, M. Collino, F. Fagioli, M. Aragno, E. Brignardello. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2022 Jan 178:76-82. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.11.036.

- Compositional characteristics and antioxidant activity of edible rose flowers and their effect on phenolic urinary excretion. A. Devecchi, S. Demasi, F. Saba, R. Rosato, R. Gambino, V. Ponzo, A. De Francesco, P. Massarenti, S. Bo, V. Scariot. Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences 2021, Vol. 71, No. 4, pp. 383–392.

- Assessing the risk of ketoacidosis due to sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT)-2 inhibitors in patients with type 1 diabetes: A meta-analysis and meta-regression. G. Musso, A. Sircana, F. Saba, M. Cassader, R. Gambino. Plos Medicine 2020 Dec 29;17(12):e1003461.doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003461.

- Diabetic ketoacidosis with SGLT2 inhibitors. G. Musso, F. Saba, M. Cassader, R. Gambino. British Medical Journal 2020 Nov 12;371:m4147. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m4147.

- Recent Insight into the Role of Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma. A. Sircana, E. Paschetta, F. Saba, F. Molinaro, G. Musso. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019 Apr 9;20(7):1745. doi:10.3390/ijms20071745.

- Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor rs5186 Gene Variant Predicts Incident NAFLD and Associated Hypertension: Role of Dietary Fat-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Cell Activation. G. Musso, F. Saba, M. Cassader, E. Paschetta, F. De Michieli, S. Pinach, L. Framarin, M. Berrutti, N. Leone, R. Parente, MT. Ayoubi Khajekini, A. Zarovska, R. Gambino. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019 Apr;114(4):607-619. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000154.

- Recent Insight into the Role of Fibrosis in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma. A. Sircana, E. Paschetta, F. Saba, F. Molinaro. G. Musso. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Apr 9;20(7). pii: E1745. doi: 10.3390/ijms20071745.

- MERTK rs4374383 variant predicts incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes: role of mononuclear cell activation and adipokine response to dietary fat. G. Musso, M. Cassader, F. De Michieli, E. Paschetta, S. Pinach, F. Saba, D. Bongiovanni, L. Framarin, M. Berrutti, N. Leone, S. Corvisieri, R. Parente, F. Molinaro, A. Sircana, S. Bo, R. Gambino. Human Molecular Genetics. 2017 May 1;26(9):1747-1758. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddw400.

- TM6SF2 rs58542926 variant affects postprandial lipoprotein metabolism and glucose homeostasis in NAFLD. G. Musso, U. Cipolla, M. Cassader, S. Pinach, F. Saba, F. De Michieli, E. Paschetta, D. Bongiovanni, L. Framarin, N. Leone, M. Berrutti, F. Rosina, S. Corvisieri, F. Molinaro, A. Sircana, R. Gambino. Journal of Lipid Research. 2017 Jun;58(6):1221-1229. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M075028.

- Effects of 6 months of resveratrol versus placebo on pentraxin 3 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. S. Bo, V. Ponzo, A. Evangelista, G. Ciccone, I. Goitre, F. Saba, M. Procopio, M. Cassader,R. Gambino. Acta Diabetologica. 2017 May;54(5):499-507. doi: 10.1007/s00592-017-0977-y.

- Fatty Liver and Chronic Kidney Disease: Novel Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Opportunities. G. Musso, M. Cassader, S. Cohney, F. De Michieli, S. Pinach, F. Saba, R. Gambino Diabetes Care. 2016 Oct;39(10):1830-45. doi: 10.2337/dc15-1182.

- Six months of resveratrol supplementation has no measurable effect in type 2 diabetic patients. A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. S. Bo, V. Ponzo, G. Ciccone, A. Evangelista, F. Saba, I. Goitre, M. Procopio, GF. Pagano, M. Cassader, R. Gambino. Pharmacological research. 2016 Sep;111:896-905. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.08.010.

- Different Serum Free Fatty Acid Profiles in NAFLD Subjects and Healthy Controls after Oral Fat Load. R. Gambino, E. Bugianesi, C. Rosso, L. Mezzabotta, S. Pinach, N. Alemanno, F. Saba, M. Cassader. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2016 Mar 31;17(4). doi: 10.3390/ijms17040479.

- Peripheral insulin resistance predicts liver damage in non-diabetic subjects with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. C. Rosso, L. Mezzabotta , M. Gaggini, F. Salomone, R. Gambino, A. Marengo, F. Saba, E. Vanni , R.I. Jouness, C. Saponaro, E. Buzzigoli, G.P. Caviglia, M. L. Abate, A. Smedile , M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi. Hepatology. 2016 Jan;63(1):107-16. doi: 10.1002/hep.28287.

- Emerging liver-kidney interactions in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. G. Musso, M. Cassader, S. Cohney, S. Pinach, F. Saba, R. Gambino. Trends in Molecular Medicine. 2015 Oct;21(10):645-62. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2015.08.005.

- Effect of lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 polymorphism on liver disease, glucose homeostasis, and postprandial lipoprotein metabolism in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. G. Musso, M. Cassader, F. De Michieli, F. Saba, S. Bo, R. Gambino.The American Journal of clinical nutrition 2011, vol.94; 1033-42. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.015610.

- Plasma Selenoprotein P levels are related to adipose tissue insulin resistance, composition of free fatty acids and liver fibrosis in non-diabetic patients with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. C. Rosso, R. Younes, F. Carli, M. Gaggini, L. Mezzabotta, M. Marietti, F. Salomone, R. Gambino, F. Saba, E. Buzzigoli, D. Ciociaro, G.P. Caviglia, E. Morello, M.L. Abate, A. Smedile, A. Ciancio, M. Cassader, G.M. Saracco, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi. Hepatology 2017;66 : 1155-1156. In “AASLD: The Liver Meeting 2017. Washington (USA) 20-24 Ottobre 2017”.

- Liver damage can be associated with deregulation of the de novo lipogenesis pathway in subjects with non alcoholic fatty liver disease. C. Rosso, C. Saponaro, L. Mezzabotta, E. Vanni, R. Gambino, F. Saba, R. Ibrahim Kamal Jouness, M. Gaggini, E. Buzzigoli, G.P. Caviglia, M.L. Abate, F. Salomone, A. Smedile, M.Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi. Digestive And Liver Disease 2015; 47(S1): e5-e5.

- After oral fat load NAFLD subjects and healthy controls show different serum free fatty acid trends. R. Gambino, E. Bugianesi, C. Rosso, L. Mezzabotta, S. Pinach, N. Alemanno, F. Saba, M. Cassader.Abstract of the 28° Congresso Nazionale S.I.S.A. (Società Italiana per lo Studio dell’Arteriosclerosi). Roma, 23 - 25 Novembre 2014.

- Oxidative stress-inducible factors promote liver fibrosis in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. L. Mezzabotta, C. Rosso, E. Vanni, R. Gambino, R. I. K. Jouness, F. Saba, F. Salomone, M. Gaggini, E. Buzzigoli, C. Saponaro, F. Carli, G. P. Caviglia, M. L. Abate, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi.Hepatology 2014;60 (S1): 615A- 615A. In “The 65th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases: The Liver Meeting 2014. Boston (USA) 7-11 Novembre 2014”.

- Metabolomic analysis identifies new biomarkers of liver damage in NAFLD. E. Vanni, C. Rosso, L. Mezzabotta, C. Saponaro, M. Gaggini, R. Gambino, R. I. K. Jouness, F. Saba, E. Buzzigoli, F. Carli, G. P. Caviglia, M. L. Abate, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi. Hepatology 2014: 60(1): 227A- 227A. In “The 65th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases: The Liver Meeting 2014. Boston (USA) 7-11 Novembre 2014”.

- Validation of surrogate indexes of peripheral and hepatic insulin resistance and evaluation of their utility as non-invasive predictors of histological features in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. C. Rosso, E. Vanni, L. Mezzabotta, R. Gambino, F. Saba, F. Salomone, R. I. K. Jouness, M. Gaggini, E. Buzzigoli, C. Saponaro, F. Carli, G. P. Caviglia, M. L. Abate, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi. Hepatology 2014;60(1): 589A- 589A. In “The 65th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases: The Liver Meeting 2014. Boston (USA) 7-11 Novembre 2014.

- Alteration in lipid metabolism after an oral fat load in patients with NAFLD. L. Mezzabotta, E. Vanni, C. Rosso, M. Gaggini, R. Gambino, E. Buzzigoli, C. Saponaro, D. Ciociaro, M.L. Abate, F. Saba, F. Salomone, G.P. Caviglia, S. Carenzi, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi. Journal of Hepatology 2014; 60(1) , Supplement, S352-352. Abstracts of The International Liver Congress 2014 – 49th Annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver 09 April 2014 - 13 April 2014.

- Alteration in glucose metabolism after an oral glucose load and relationship with liver damage in patients with NAFLD. E. Vanni, L. Mezzabotta, C. Rosso, M. Gaggini, R. Gambino, F. Salomone, E. Buzzigoli, C. Saponaro, F. Saba, D. Ciociaro, G.P. Caviglia, M.L. Abate, S. Carenzi, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi. Journal of Hepatology 2014; 60(1) , Supplement, S352-353. Abstracts of The International Liver Congress 2014 – 49th Annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver 09 April 2014 - 13 April 2014.

- Impact of fat versus glucose load on oxidative stress in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. C. Rosso, E. Vanni, L. Mezzabotta, R. Gambino, F. Saba, S. Carenzi, A. Gastaldelli, M. Gaggini, E. Buzzigoli, C. Saponaro, F. Carli, G.P. Caviglia, M.L. Abate, F. Salomone, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, E. Bugianesi. Journal of Hepatology 2014; 60(1) , Supplement, S353-353. Abstracts of The International Liver Congress 2014 – 49th Annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver 09 April 2014 - 13 April 2014.

- Serum free fatty acid composition is associated with different degrees of fibrosis. R. Gambino, N. Alemanno, S. Pinach, F. Saba, L. Mezzabotta, C. Rosso, E. Vanni, E. Bugianesi, M. Cassader. Journal of Hepatology 2014; 60(1) , Supplement, S353-354. Abstracts of The International Liver Congress 2014 – 49th Annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver 09 April 2014 - 13 April 2014.

- Quantitative and qualitative analysis of plasma free fatty acids and their impact on liver damage in NAFLD patients. C. Saponaro, E. Vanni, M. Gaggini, C. Rosso, L. Mezzabotta, R. Gambino, E. Buzzigoli, F. Carli, M.L. Abate, F. Saba, F. Salomone, G.P. Caviglia, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, E. Bugianesi, A. Gastaldelli. Journal of Hepatology 2014; 60(1) , Supplement, S354-355. Abstracts of The International Liver Congress 2014 – 49th Annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver 09 April 2014 - 13 April 2014.

- Effects of glucose and fat load on oxidative stress in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. C. Rosso, E. Vanni, L. Mezzabotta, R. Gambino, F. Saba, S. Carenzi, A. Gastaldelli, M. Gaggini, E. Buzzigoli, C. Saponaro, F. Carli, G.P. Caviglia, M.L. Abate, F. Salamone, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, E. Bugianesi. Abstract of the A.I.S.F. Annual Meeting 2014; Digestive and Liver Disease, 2014;46: e54-e54, Suppl. 1. Roma, 20-21 febbraio 2014.

- Alteration in glucose metabolism after an oral glucose load in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. E. Vanni, L. Mezzabotta, C. Rosso, M. Gaggini, R. Gambino, F. Salomone, E. Buzzigoli, C. Saponaro, F. Saba, D. Ciociaro, G.P. Caviglia, M.L. Abate, S. Carenzi, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi. Abstract of the A.I.S.F. Annual Meeting 2014; Digestive and Liver Disease, 2014;46: e54-e54, Suppl. 1. Roma, 20-21 febbraio 2014.

- Alteration in lipid metabolism after an oral fat load in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. L. Mezzabotta, E. Vanni, C. Rosso, M. Gaggini, R. Gambino, E. Buzzigoli, C. Saponaro, D. Ciociaro, M.L. Abate, F. Saba, F. Salomone, G.P. Caviglia, S. Carenzi, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi.Abstract of the A.I.S.F. Annual Meeting 2014; Digestive and Liver Disease, 2014;46: e53-e54, Suppl. 1. Roma, 20-21 febbraio 2014.

- SREBF-1C Polymorphism affects postprandial lipid metabolism in NAFLD subjects. R. Gambino, S. Bo, G. Musso, S. Pinach, N. Alemanno, V. Nuvoli, F. Saba, M. Cassader. Abstract of the 27° Congresso Nazionale S.I.S.A. (Società Italiana per lo Studio dell’Arteriosclerosi). Roma, 27 - 29 Novembre 2013.

- Metabolic alteration of lipid kinetics in NAFLD patients and their contribution to liver damage. C. Rosso, E. Vanni, L. Mezzabotta, R. Gambino, S. Carenzi, F. Saba, E. Buzzigoli, M. Gaggini, G.P. Caviglia, M. Cassader, A. Smedile, M. Rizzetto, A. Gasteldelli, E. Bugianesi. Abstract of the 46th A.I.S.F. Annual Meeting 2013; Digestive and Liver Disease, 45S; S1-S48.

- Incidence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease associated with impaired lipid and glucose metabolism are predicted by srebf polymorphism. R.Gambino, S. Bo, G. Musso, S. Pinach, N. Alemanno,M. Potenza, F. Saba, M. Cassader. Abstract of the 26° Congresso Nazionale S.I.S.A. (Società Italiana per lo Studio dell’Arteriosclerosi). Roma, 28 - 30 Novembre 2012.

- Metabolic handling of an oral fat load in NAFLD patients. L. Mezzabotta, F. Saba, C. Rosso, R. Gambino, S. Carenzi, E. Buzzigoli, G.P. Caviglia, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli, E. Bugianesi.Hepatology 2012, vol. 56; num. 4 (suppl.); 241A.

- Peripheral insulin resistance rather than hepatic is a primary defect in non obese, non diabetic, non dyslipidemic NAFLD patients: correlation with liver damage. L. Mezzabotta, E. Bugianesi, F. Salamone, C. Rosso, M. Gaggini, E. Buzzigoli, F. Saba, S. Carenzi, G.P. Caviglia, R. Gambino, M. Cassader, A. Gastaldelli. Journal of Hepatology 2012, vol. 56; 516:1310

- Glucose homeostasis and postprandial lipoprotein metabolism in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are affected by lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) polymorphism. R. Gambino, G. Musso, M. Cassader, F. Saba, N. Alemanno,M. Potenza, S. Bo.Abstract of the 25° Congresso Nazionale S.I.S.A. (Società Italiana per lo Studio dell’Arteriosclerosi). Roma, 30 Novembre- 3 Dicembre 2011.

52° Congressp Nazionale SIBioC-Medicina di Laboratorio 2020. Virtual Edition 6-8 Ottobre 2020.

- Corso di formazione generale alla salute e sicurezza per i lavoratori (D.Lgs. 81/08) - online, 22 Febbraio 2019

- Interazione tra fitoterapici e farmaci convenzionali - online, 3 Maggio 2019

- D-day 2019 Scuola di Dottorato - Area Scienze della Vita e della Salute - Torino, 30 Settembre 2019

- Vitamina D e malattie cardiovascolari mito o realtà - online, Maggio 2020

- Rischio biologico da COVID-19 - online, Luglio 2020

- Un overview sui meccanismi di resistenza antimicrobica - online, Luglio 2020

- La nutrizione oncologica - online, Luglio 2020

- Virus batterici come strumenti per la ricerca biomolecolare la tecnica del phage display - online, Luglio 2020

- Gestione delle infezioni delle vie urinarie - online, Agosto 2020

- Colesterolo, malattie cardiovascolari e nuove linee guida. C'è ancora spazio per una sana alimentazione? - online, Settembre 2020

- Diabete e patologia cardiovascolare - online, Settembre 2020

- Real Time PCR in virologia, il tool diagnostico ideale per l'emergenza sanitaria causata dal nuovo coronavirus (2019_NCOV) - online, Settembre 2020

- Le interazioni farmaci-alimenti - online, Dicembre 2020

- Inquinanti ambientali e malattie cardiovascolari - online, Aprile 2021

- Regression models for prognostic research. Prof. Milena Maule - 18 Luglio 2019

- How to write a scientific paper. Prof. Riccarda Granata - 27 Giugno 2019

- Update on physiology of hypertension. Prof. Franco Veglio - 6 Giugno 2019