Marcella Visentini

Associate professor

marcella.visentini@uniroma1.it

Academic Appointments

  • from 03/09/2021; Associate professor at the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine-Sapienza University of Rome
  • 03/09/2018 – 02/09/2021; Assistant professor (three years tenure track academic position), Department of Translational and Precision Medicine- Sapienza University of Rome
  • 01/06/2017 – 1/09/2017; “Visiting scientist” at the Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research; University of Gothenburg, Sweden for the project: “Role of CD21low B cells in rheumatoid Arthritis”; funded by EMBO
  • 01/03/2014 – 01/03/2017; Assistant professor (three years academic position), Department of Clinical Medicine- Sapienza University of Rome
  • 01/04/2012 – 31/08/2013; Post-doc fellowship from Pasteur Institute – Cenci Bolognetti Foundation
  • 03/2012; PhD in Immunological Sciences- Sapienza University of Rome
  • 11/2008; Specialist in Internal Medicine (summa cum laude)- Sapienza, University of Rome
  • 07/2003; School of Medicine Degree; summa cum Laude (110/110)- Sapienza University of Rome

Honors and Awards

  • 05/2018 Certificate of recognition for the outstanding contribution in the field of Autoimmunity (MAI- The Mosaic of Autoimmunity Award)
  • 06/2016 Young Investigator Award by “Fondazione Lionello Forin Hepatos” Prize for the best scientific publication in hepatology 2015-2016
  • 10/2010 Award as most active ESID (European Society for Immunodeficiencies) junior member

Scientific interests

  • B lymphocytes, atypical CD21lowCD11c+ B cells
  • Autoimmune diseases, vasculitis
  • Impact of COVID infection and vaccination in autoimmune diseases
  • HCV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders
  • Immunodeficiencies

Contribution to Science

Marcella Visentini has been investigating a specific B cell subpopulation—characterized by low CD21 and aberrant CD11c expression—for nearly fifteen years, making significant contributions to the understanding of these cells. In collaboration with international research groups, she has described the expansion of these atypical B cells in both common variable immunodeficiency and HCV-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia, shedding light on their distinctive functional and phenotypic features and suggesting a potential role in the immune dysregulation observed in these conditions. Within the field of HCV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders, she explored the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying disease persistence following viral eradication, demonstrating in vitro that immune complexes, even in the absence of HCV, can promote B cell reactivation. Her strong translational focus has also led to meaningful advancements in therapeutic strategies for HCV-related diseases.

Selected publications

  • Del Padre M, Marrapodi R, Minafò YA, Piano Mortari E, Radicchio G, Bocci C, Gragnani L, Camponeschi A, Colantuono S, Stefanini L, Basili S, Carsetti R, Fiorilli M, Casato M, Visentini M. Dual stimulation by autoantigen and CpG fosters the proliferation of exhausted rheumatoid factor-specific CD21low B cells in hepatitis C virus-cured mixed cryoglobulinemia. Front Immunol. 2023 Feb 8;14:1094871.
  • Visentini M, Gragnani L, Santini SA, Urraro T, Villa A, Monti M, Palladino A, Petraccia L, La Gualana F, Lorini S, Marri S, Madia F, Stefanini L, Basili S, Fiorilli M, Ferri C, Zignego AL, Casato M. Flares of mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 Mar;81(3):441-443.
  • Defrancesco I*, Visentini M*, Zibellini S, Minafò YA, Rattotti S, Ferretti VV, Rizzo E, Varettoni M, Frigeni M, Pulsoni A, Casato M, Colantuono S, Rossi M, Candido C, Zerbi C, Bergamini F, Cristinelli C, Fabbri N, Merli M, Zuccaro V, Bruno R, Paulli M, Arcaini L.Mutational and immunogenetic landscape of HCV-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Am J Hematol. 2021 Jun 1;96(6):E210-E214.*equal contribution.
  • Camponeschi A, Kläsener K, Sundell T, Lundqvist C, Manna PT, Ayoubzadeh N, Sundqvist M, Thorarinsdottir K, Gatto M, Visentini M, Önnheim K, Aranburu A, Forsman H, Ekwall O, Fogelstrand L, Gjertsson I, Reth M, Mårtensson IL. Human CD38 regulates B cell antigen receptor dynamic organization in normal and malignant B cells. J Exp Med. 2022 Sep 5;219(9):e20220201.
  • Del Padre M, Todi L, Mitrevski M, Marrapodi R, Colantuono S, Fiorilli M, Casato M, Visentini M. Reversion of anergy signatures in clonal CD21low B cells of mixed cryoglobulinemia after clearance of HCV viremia. Blood. 2017 Jul 6;130(1):35-38.

On-going Grants

Project Title Funding source Amount (Euros) Period Role of the PI
“The JAK/STAT3 pathway as checkpoint for pathogenic T-betpos B cells expansion in immune dysregulation”. Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti 40.000 2025-2027 PI
“Vaccini: io scelgo si!” Terza Missione; Sapienza University Research program (Ateneo) 19.000 2025-2027 PI

Complete list of published work in MyBibliography:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=galun+e

KEYWORDS:

B-lymphocytes, atypical B cell, chronic viral infection, immunodeficiencies, vasculites, benign B cell lymphoproliferative disorders.

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