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Arturo Mancini
Arturo Mancini obtained his Bachelor of
Science (B.Sc.) degree in the department
of Microbiology and Immunology at McGill
University. He started his research in
the field of arthritis during his second
year of undergraduate studies in the
laboratory of Dr. John A. Di Battista;
the focus of his research project was on
elucidating the transcriptional elements
of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene
expression in human synovial
fibroblasts. Immediately after obtaining
his B.Sc. degree, Arturo spent four
months at the Laboratoire de
Physiopathologie et Pharmacologie
Articulaires at l’Université Henri
Poincaré in Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy,
France. Under the supervision of Dr.
Jean-Yves Jouzeau and Dr. Bernard
Terlain, Arturo worked towards the
development of an animal model of
arthritis-induced muscular hyperalgesia
in rats. Upon his return to Montreal,
Arturo commenced his graduate studies at
l’Université de Montréal in the
department of Molecular Biology and then
transferred to the department of Anatomy
and Cell Biology at McGill University
where he is currently conducting his
doctoral research with Dr. J. A. Di
Battista.
Arturo’s research interests are in
characterizing the role of prostaglandin
E2 (PGE2) as a central regulator of
post-transcriptional and translational
gene regulation in rheumatoid arthritis.
Using a multidisciplinary research
approach that integrates a variety of
proteomic, molecular biology and
biochemical techniques, he is
elucidating the underlying molecular
factors and regulatory mechanisms (i.e.,
signaling) of a complex autoregulatory
system in which PGE2 serves as a potent
feedback mediator of cyclooxygenase-2
(COX-2) (and other pro- and
anti-inflammatory gene) expression.
Arturo is also studying a novel
mechanism of COX-2 catalytic activation
involving limited, site-specific
proteolytic cleavage of the COX-2
enzyme.
These studies will provide a new
understanding of the molecular
underpinnings of COX-2 catalytic
activation and kinetics and offer great
insight into the crucial role of
COX-2-derived PGE2 in the onset,
progression, and possibly, resolution,
of inflammatory arthritis. They may also
lead to the discovery of new molecular
targets and strategies for the treatment
of rheumatoid arthritis and other
related inflammatory pathologies.
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