Cytomegalovirus (CMV), oxidative stress, and inflammation: implications for immunosenescence and age-related diseases in the MARK-AGE population Laura Cianfruglia, Carlo Fortunato, Gretta Veronica Badillo Pazmay, Alexander Bürkle, María Moreno-Villanueva, Tilman Grune, Daniela Weber, Efstathios S. Gonos, Bertrand Friguet, Isabelle Petropoulos, Francesco Piacenza, Maurizio Cardelli, Monia Cecati, Miriam Capri, Claudio Franceschi, Martijn E. T. Dollé, Eugène Jansen, Birgit Weinberger, Ewa Sikora, Florence Debacq-Chainiaux, Wolfgang Stuetz, Mikko Hurme, P. Eline Slagboom, Jürgen Bernhardt, Duncan Talbot, Fabiola Olivieri, Marco Malavolta, Robertina Giacconi Biogerontology, 2025
Circulating Bacterial DNA as a Novel Blood-Based Biomarker in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2): Results from the PROMOTERA Study Robertina Giacconi, Patrizia D’Aquila, Fabiola Olivieri, Davide Gentilini, Luciano Calzari, Carlo Fortunato, Gretta Veronica Badillo Pazmay, Mirko Di Rosa, Giada Sena, Elisabetta De Rose, Antonio Cherubini, Riccardo Sarzani, Roberto Antonicelli, Giuseppe Pelliccioni, Anna Rita Bonfigli, Roberta Galeazzi, Fabrizia Lattanzio, Giuseppe Passarino, Dina Bellizzi, Francesco Piacenza International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025 Blood bacterial DNA (BB-DNA) has been identified as a novel biomarker for metabolic dysfunction, yet its relationship with epigenetic features in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) patients remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the relationship between BB-DNA and epigenetic, inflammatory, and aging-related markers in 285 elderly both with and without DM2. BB-DNA levels were higher in DM2 patients than in non-diabetic subjects, with the highest levels in those with severe renal impairment. BB-DNA showed a positive association with plasma IL-1β, linking bacterial DNA to systemic inflammation. Epigenetic analysis revealed a negative correlation between BB-DNA and DNA methylation-based leukocyte telomere length, suggesting accelerated aging in DM2. Additionally, BB-DNA was positively associated with DNAm-based biological age estimators, particularly DNAmPhenoAge and DNAmAge Skin Blood Clock. BB-DNA also correlated with DNAmVEGFA and DNAmCystatin C, key markers of diabetic nephropathy and vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, BB-DNA levels were associated with hypomethylation of genes involved in inflammation (e.g., IL1β, TNFα, IFNγ), cellular senescence (p16, p21, TP53), and metabolic regulation (e.g., IGF1, SREBF1, ABCG1, PDK4). These associations suggest that increased BB-DNA may reflect and potentially promote a pro-inflammatory and pro-senescent epigenetic profile in DM2. Importantly, many of these associations remained significant after adjusting for diabetes status, supporting BB-DNA as a robust biomarker across clinical subgroups. These findings provide new insights into the relationship between BB-DNA, inflammation, and epigenetic aging in DM2, highlighting BB-DNA as a potential biomarker for disease progression and complications, particularly in relation to renal dysfunction and systemic inflammation.
Bi-Directional Relationship Between Bile Acids (BAs) and Gut Microbiota (GM): UDCA/TUDCA, Probiotics, and Dietary Interventions in Elderly People Emanuele Francini, Gretta V. Badillo Pazmay, Stefania Fumarola, Antonio Domenico Procopio, Fabiola Olivieri, Francesca Marchegiani International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025 The gut microbiota (GM), the set of microorganisms that colonizes our intestinal tract, can undergo many changes, some of which are age related. Several studies have shown the importance of maintaining a healthy GM for a good quality of life. In the elderly, maintaining a good GM may become a real defense against infection by pathogens, such as C. difficile. In addition to the GM, bile acids (BAs) have been shown to provide an additional defense mechanism against the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and to regulate bacterial colonization of the gut. BAs are molecules produced in the host liver and secreted with the bile into the digestive tract, and they are necessary for the digestion of dietary lipids. In the gut, host-produced BAs are metabolized by commensal bacteria to secondary BAs. In general GM and host organisms interact in many ways. This review examines the relationship between GM, BAs, aging, and possible new approaches such as dietary interventions, administration of ursodesoxycholic acid/tauroursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA/TUDCA), and probiotics to enrich the microbial consortia of the GM in the elderly and achieve a eubiotic state necessary for maintaining good health. The presence of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria together with adequate levels of secondary BAs would provide protection and improve the frailty state in the elderly. In fact, an increase in secondary BAs has been observed in centenarians who have reached old age without serious health issues, which may justify their active role in achieving longevity.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism is associated with postpartum blood pressure in preeclamptic women and normal pregnancies GianLuca Colussi, Cristiana Catena, Lorenza Driul, Francesca Pezzutto, Valentina Fagotto, Daniele Darsiè, Gretta V. Badillo-Pazmay, Giulio Romano, Paola E. Cogo, Leonardo A. Sechi Journal of Hypertension, 2021 Background: Preeclampsia has been associated with features of secondary hyperparathyroidism. In this study, we examine the relationships of calcium metabolism with blood pressure (BP) in preeclamptic women and in a control group of normal (NORM) pregnancies in the postpartum. Methods: Sixty-three consecutive preeclamptic women (age 35 ± 6 years) were studied 4 weeks after delivery. We collected clinical and lab information on pregnancy and neonates and measured plasma and urinary calcium and phosphate, plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], and performed 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. BP and calcium metabolism of 51 preeclamptic were compared with 17 NORM pregnant women that matched for age, race, and postpartum BMI. Results: 25(OH)D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) was found in 3% of preeclamptic women, insufficiency (10–30 ng/ml) in 67%, and NORM values (31–100 ng/ml) in the remaining 30%. Elevated plasma PTH (≥79 pg/ml) was found in 24% of preeclamptic women who had 25(OH)D plasma levels of 21.4 ± 8.3 ng/ml. In these women, PTH levels was independently associated with 24-h SBP and DBP and daytime and night-time DBP. Prevalence of nondippers and reverse dippers was elevated (75% and 33%, respectively). No associations between calcium metabolism and neonates’ characteristics of preeclamptic women were observed. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency and of elevated plasma PTH levels were comparable in matched groups. Considering preeclamptic women and matched controls as a whole group, office SBP and DBP levels were associated with PTH independently of preeclampsia and other confounders. Conclusion: Features of secondary hyperparathyroidism are common in the postpartum. Preeclampsia and increased PTH levels were both independent factors associated with increased BP after delivery, and both might affect the future cardiovascular risk of these women.
Getting the most from gene delivery by repeated DNA transfections M. Montani, C. Marchini, G. V. B. Pazmay, C. Andreani, C. Bartolacci, A. Amici, D. Pozzi, G. Caracciolo Applied Physics Letters, 2015 Intracellular delivery of reporter genes causes cells to be luminescent or fluorescent, this condition being of tremendous relevance in applied physics research. Potential applications range from the study of spatial distribution and dynamics of plasma membrane and cytosolic proteins up to the rational design of nanocarriers for gene therapy. Since efficiency of gene delivery is the main limit in most biophysical studies, versatile methods that can maximize gene expression are urgently needed. Here, we describe a robust methodology based on repeated gene delivery in mammalian cells. We find this procedure to be much more efficient than the more traditional route of gene delivery making it possible to get high-quality data without affecting cell viability. Implications for biophysical investigations are discussed.
Association of an inflammaging score based on IL-6, IL-10 and CXCL9, and frailty with long-term mortality in hospitalized older adults M Sbriscia, S Fantone, M Di Rosa, F Marchegiani, R Recchioni, ... Immunity & Ageing , 2025 2025
High Torque teno virus viremia predicts long-term mortality and reflects chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) in geriatric inpatients L Cianfruglia, GVB Pazmay, C Fortunato, PG Spezia, F Novazzi, ... Experimental Gerontology, 112978 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
TTV Species Diversity as a Novel Biomarker of Immune Dysregulation in Aging F Novazzi, PG Spezia, FD Ferrante, AP Genoni, PA Grossi, N Mancini, ... Journal of medical virology 97 (11), e70656 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Methylation patterns associated with TTV load in geriatric hospitalized patients: an exploratory functional analysis C Fortunato, PG Spezia, F Novazzi, GV Badillo Pazmay, L Cianfruglia, ... GeroScience, 1-17 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Corrigendum to “Association of cytomegalovirus serostatus with ELOVL2 methylation: Implications for lipid metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage, and repair capacity in the MARK … R Giacconi, C Pirazzini, MG Bacalini, P Garagnani, M Capri, C Franceschi, ... Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 226, 112085 , 2025 2025
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), oxidative stress, and inflammation: implications for immunosenescence and age-related diseases in the MARK-AGE population L Cianfruglia, C Fortunato, GV Badillo Pazmay, A Bürkle, ... Biogerontology 26 (4), 151 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Circulating Bacterial DNA as a Novel Blood-Based Biomarker in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2): Results from the PROMOTERA Study R Giacconi, P D’Aquila, F Olivieri, D Gentilini, L Calzari, C Fortunato, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (14), 6564 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Association of cytomegalovirus serostatus with ELOVL2 methylation: Implications for lipid metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage, and repair capacity in the MARK-AGE study population R Giacconi, C Pirazzini, MG Bacalini, P Garagnani, M Capri, C Franceschi, ... Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 225, 112043 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Bi-directional relationship between bile acids (BAs) and gut microbiota (GM): UDCA/TUDCA, probiotics, and dietary interventions in elderly people E Francini, GV Badillo Pazmay, S Fumarola, AD Procopio, F Olivieri, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (4), 1759 , 2025 2025 Citations: 15
The gut and circulating virome: emerging players in aging and longevity GV Badillo-Pazmay, C Fortunato, L Cianfruglia, F Novazzi, PG Spezia, ... Frontiers in Aging 6, 1731621 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Red rice (Monakoline K) effects on oxidative stress parameters and biomarkers of steatosis in mild hypercholesterolemic NAFLD patients A Romanin, F Vanin, GVB Pazmay, A Da Porto, E Varisco, P Torritto, ... Digestive and Liver Disease 55, S64 , 2023 2023
Secondary hyperparathyroidism is associated with postpartum blood pressure in preeclamptic women and normal pregnancies GL Colussi, C Catena, L Driul, F Pezzutto, V Fagotto, D Darsie, ... Journal of hypertension 39 (3), 563-572 , 2021 2021 Citations: 9
Role of nitric oxide in the response to photooxidative stress in prostate cancer cells F D'Este, E Della Pietra, GVB Pazmay, LE Xodo, V Rapozzi Biochemical Pharmacology 182, 114205 , 2020 2020 Citations: 22
Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of different varieties of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) after cooking processes. M Bramucci, GV Badillo Pazmay, L Quassinti, N Acciarri, E Sabatini, ... 3° Convegno a cura delle Piattaforme Tematiche di Ateneo su “Alimenti e … , 2018 2018
Ru (ii)-(PTA) and-mPTA complexes with N 2-donor ligands bipyridyl and phenanthroline and their antiproliferative activities on human multiple myeloma cell lines A Wołoszyn, C Pettinari, R Pettinari, GVB Patzmay, A Kwiecień, G Lupidi, ... Dalton Transactions 46 (30), 10073-10081 , 2017 2017 Citations: 23
The water soluble ruthenium (II) organometallic compound [Ru (p-cymene)(bis (3, 5 dimethylpyrazol-1-yl) methane) Cl] Cl suppresses triple negative breast cancer growth by … M Montani, GVB Pazmay, A Hysi, G Lupidi, R Pettinari, V Gambini, M Tilio, ... Pharmacological research 107, 282-290 , 2016 2016 Citations: 88
Getting the most from gene delivery by repeated DNA transfections M Montani, C Marchini, GV Badillo Pazmay, C Andreani, C Bartolacci, ... Applied Physics Letters 106 (23) , 2015 2015 Citations: 6
Anti-tumor activity of an arene ruthenium complex on a model of basal-like breast cancer GV Badillo Pazmay Università degli Studi di Camerino , 2015 2015
Dietary effects of a mix derived from oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) essential oil and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood extract on pig performance, oxidative status … D Ranucci, D Beghelli, M Trabalza-Marinucci, R Branciari, C Forte, ... Meat science 100, 319-326 , 2015 2015 Citations: 110
Syntheses, Structures, and Antimicrobial Activity of New Remarkably Light-Stable and Water-Soluble Tris(pyrazolyl)methanesulfonate Silver(I) Derivatives of N -Methyl-1,3,5 … P Smolenski, C Pettinari, F Marchetti, MFC Guedes da Silva, G Lupidi, ... Inorganic Chemistry 54 (2), 434-440 , 2015 2015 Citations: 75
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Dietary effects of a mix derived from oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) essential oil and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood extract on pig performance, oxidative status … D Ranucci, D Beghelli, M Trabalza-Marinucci, R Branciari, C Forte, ... Meat science 100, 319-326 , 2015 2015 Citations: 110
The water soluble ruthenium (II) organometallic compound [Ru (p-cymene)(bis (3, 5 dimethylpyrazol-1-yl) methane) Cl] Cl suppresses triple negative breast cancer growth by … M Montani, GVB Pazmay, A Hysi, G Lupidi, R Pettinari, V Gambini, M Tilio, ... Pharmacological research 107, 282-290 , 2016 2016 Citations: 88
Syntheses, Structures, and Antimicrobial Activity of New Remarkably Light-Stable and Water-Soluble Tris(pyrazolyl)methanesulfonate Silver(I) Derivatives of N -Methyl-1,3,5 … P Smolenski, C Pettinari, F Marchetti, MFC Guedes da Silva, G Lupidi, ... Inorganic Chemistry 54 (2), 434-440 , 2015 2015 Citations: 75
Ru (ii)-(PTA) and-mPTA complexes with N 2-donor ligands bipyridyl and phenanthroline and their antiproliferative activities on human multiple myeloma cell lines A Wołoszyn, C Pettinari, R Pettinari, GVB Patzmay, A Kwiecień, G Lupidi, ... Dalton Transactions 46 (30), 10073-10081 , 2017 2017 Citations: 23
Role of nitric oxide in the response to photooxidative stress in prostate cancer cells F D'Este, E Della Pietra, GVB Pazmay, LE Xodo, V Rapozzi Biochemical Pharmacology 182, 114205 , 2020 2020 Citations: 22
Bi-directional relationship between bile acids (BAs) and gut microbiota (GM): UDCA/TUDCA, probiotics, and dietary interventions in elderly people E Francini, GV Badillo Pazmay, S Fumarola, AD Procopio, F Olivieri, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (4), 1759 , 2025 2025 Citations: 15
Secondary hyperparathyroidism is associated with postpartum blood pressure in preeclamptic women and normal pregnancies GL Colussi, C Catena, L Driul, F Pezzutto, V Fagotto, D Darsie, ... Journal of hypertension 39 (3), 563-572 , 2021 2021 Citations: 9
Getting the most from gene delivery by repeated DNA transfections M Montani, C Marchini, GV Badillo Pazmay, C Andreani, C Bartolacci, ... Applied Physics Letters 106 (23) , 2015 2015 Citations: 6
TTV Species Diversity as a Novel Biomarker of Immune Dysregulation in Aging F Novazzi, PG Spezia, FD Ferrante, AP Genoni, PA Grossi, N Mancini, ... Journal of medical virology 97 (11), e70656 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Association of cytomegalovirus serostatus with ELOVL2 methylation: Implications for lipid metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage, and repair capacity in the MARK-AGE study population R Giacconi, C Pirazzini, MG Bacalini, P Garagnani, M Capri, C Franceschi, ... Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 225, 112043 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
High Torque teno virus viremia predicts long-term mortality and reflects chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) in geriatric inpatients L Cianfruglia, GVB Pazmay, C Fortunato, PG Spezia, F Novazzi, ... Experimental Gerontology, 112978 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Methylation patterns associated with TTV load in geriatric hospitalized patients: an exploratory functional analysis C Fortunato, PG Spezia, F Novazzi, GV Badillo Pazmay, L Cianfruglia, ... GeroScience, 1-17 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), oxidative stress, and inflammation: implications for immunosenescence and age-related diseases in the MARK-AGE population L Cianfruglia, C Fortunato, GV Badillo Pazmay, A Bürkle, ... Biogerontology 26 (4), 151 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Circulating Bacterial DNA as a Novel Blood-Based Biomarker in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2): Results from the PROMOTERA Study R Giacconi, P D’Aquila, F Olivieri, D Gentilini, L Calzari, C Fortunato, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (14), 6564 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
The gut and circulating virome: emerging players in aging and longevity GV Badillo-Pazmay, C Fortunato, L Cianfruglia, F Novazzi, PG Spezia, ... Frontiers in Aging 6, 1731621 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Association of an inflammaging score based on IL-6, IL-10 and CXCL9, and frailty with long-term mortality in hospitalized older adults M Sbriscia, S Fantone, M Di Rosa, F Marchegiani, R Recchioni, ... Immunity & Ageing , 2025 2025
Corrigendum to “Association of cytomegalovirus serostatus with ELOVL2 methylation: Implications for lipid metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage, and repair capacity in the MARK … R Giacconi, C Pirazzini, MG Bacalini, P Garagnani, M Capri, C Franceschi, ... Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 226, 112085 , 2025 2025
Red rice (Monakoline K) effects on oxidative stress parameters and biomarkers of steatosis in mild hypercholesterolemic NAFLD patients A Romanin, F Vanin, GVB Pazmay, A Da Porto, E Varisco, P Torritto, ... Digestive and Liver Disease 55, S64 , 2023 2023
Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of different varieties of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) after cooking processes. M Bramucci, GV Badillo Pazmay, L Quassinti, N Acciarri, E Sabatini, ... 3° Convegno a cura delle Piattaforme Tematiche di Ateneo su “Alimenti e … , 2018 2018
Anti-tumor activity of an arene ruthenium complex on a model of basal-like breast cancer GV Badillo Pazmay Università degli Studi di Camerino , 2015 2015
