COSTANZA MONTAGNA

Scopus Publications

The Bright and Dark Sides of Nitric Oxide in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Lucia Buccarello, Costanza Montagna, Sabina Di Matteo, Renata Mangione, Giuseppe Carota, et al.
Journal of Personalized Medicine, 2026
Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in neuronal communication, synaptic plasticity and vascular regulation. Due to its important function in neuronal homeostasis, NO imbalance is associated with neurodegeneration. Specifically, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), an excessive amount of NO, mostly produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS), reacts with superoxide to form peroxynitrite, driving oxidative/nitrosative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and aberrant protein modifications. In AD, NO dysregulation promotes amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation, tau hyperphosphorylation and synaptic loss, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of neuronal damage. NO’s dual role, protective at physiological levels but harmful if overproduced, underscores the therapeutic potential of antioxidant compounds that restore the balance of NO/NOS (especially iNOS) while preserving physiological functions. However, despite the emerging role of antioxidant-based therapeutic approaches, clinical translation is limited by the complexity of NO signaling and the absence of safe, specific NOS inhibitors. By targeting the molecular switch from protective to toxic, NO activity may offer new personalized treatment avenues for neurodegenerative diseases.
Circulating Neuregulin-4 tracks acute hyperbaric and workload stress in human divers, preceding oxidative injury markers
Claudia Di Biagio, Paola Giglio, Matteo Bordi, Giovanni Larotondo, Riccardo Turchi, et al.
Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2026
“Feeding the Rhythm”—Effects of Food and Nutrients on Daily Cortisol Secretion: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Impact
Rosa Maria Paragliola, Marco Marchetti, Costanza Montagna, Salvatore Maria Corsello, Gianfranco Peluso
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
Daily rhythms define physical, mental, and behavioral changes that the body experiences over a 24 h cycle. The light–dark cycle plays a crucial role in regulating daily rhythms, but other factors such as food intake, stress, and physical activity also affect them. Cortisol secretion exhibits one of the largest endocrine amplitudes, with an early morning peak and late-evening nadir driven by the suprachiasmatic nucleus and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, representing the most robust endocrine output of the circadian system. Beyond photic cues, feeding is a potent non-photic zeitgeber that entrains peripheral oscillators and dynamically shapes cortisol secretion. This narrative review aims to explore the effect of feeding in modulating cortisol secretion. The misalignment of the daily cortisol-secretion rhythm, with blunted cortisol awakening response and elevated evening levels, leads to metabolic syndrome, psychiatric disorders, shift work, and jet lag. In endogenous hypercortisolism, the loss of rhythmicity rather than absolute exposure best predicts risk. Therefore, we discuss practical nutritional tools as opportunities to partially restore rhythmic hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis physiology.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Integrating Current Clinical Practice with Future Therapeutic and Diagnostic Horizons
Costanza Montagna, Emiliano Maiani, Luisa Pieroni, Silvia Consalvi
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration due to mutations in the dystrophin gene. Despite major advancements in understanding its pathophysiology, there is still no curative treatment. This review provides an up-to-date overview of current and emerging therapeutic approaches—including antisense oligonucleotides, gene therapy, gene editing, corticosteroids, and histone deacetylases(HDAC) inhibitors—aimed at restoring dystrophin expression or mitigating disease progression. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of early diagnosis, the utility of genetic screening, and the innovations in pre-and post-natal testing. As the field advances toward personalized medicine, the integration of precision therapies with cutting-edge diagnostic technologies promises to improve both prognosis and quality of life for individuals with DMD.
GSNOR deficiency promotes tumor growth via FAK1 S-nitrosylation
Salvatore Rizza, Luca Di Leo, Chiara Pecorari, Paola Giglio, Fiorella Faienza, et al.
Cell Reports, 2023
Looking at denitrosylation to understand the myogenesis gone awry theory of rhabdomyosarcoma
Costanza Montagna, Giuseppe Filomeni
Nitric Oxide Biology and Chemistry, 2022
Autophagy guards tendon homeostasis
Costanza Montagna, Rene B. Svensson, Monika L. Bayer, Salvatore Rizza, Emiliano Maiani, et al.
Cell Death and Disease, 2022
Tendons are vital collagen-dense specialized connective tissues transducing the force from skeletal muscle to the bone, thus enabling movement of the human body. Tendon cells adjust matrix turnover in response to physiological tissue loading and pathological overloading (tendinopathy). Nevertheless, the regulation of tendon matrix quality control is still poorly understood and the pathogenesis of tendinopathy is presently unsolved. Autophagy, the major mechanism of degradation and recycling of cellular components, plays a fundamental role in the homeostasis of several tissues. Here, we investigate the contribution of autophagy to human tendons’ physiology, and we provide in vivo evidence that it is an active process in human tendon tissue. We show that selective autophagy of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER-phagy), regulates the secretion of type I procollagen (PC1), the major component of tendon extracellular matrix. Pharmacological activation of autophagy by inhibition of mTOR pathway alters the ultrastructural morphology of three-dimensional tissue-engineered tendons, shifting collagen fibrils size distribution. Moreover, autophagy induction negatively affects the biomechanical properties of the tissue-engineered tendons, causing a reduction in mechanical strength under tensile force. Overall, our results provide the first evidence that autophagy regulates tendon homeostasis by controlling PC1 quality control, thus potentially playing a role in the development of injured tendons.
AMBRA1 regulates cyclin D to guard S-phase entry and genomic integrity
Emiliano Maiani, Giacomo Milletti, Francesca Nazio, Søs Grønbæk Holdgaard, Jirina Bartkova, et al.
Nature, 2021
Mammalian development, adult tissue homeostasis and the avoidance of severe diseases including cancer require a properly orchestrated cell cycle, as well as error-free genome maintenance. The key cell-fate decision to replicate the genome is controlled by two major signalling pathways that act in parallel-the MYC pathway and the cyclin D-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-retinoblastoma protein (RB) pathway1,2. Both MYC and the cyclin D-CDK-RB axis are commonly deregulated in cancer, and this is associated with increased genomic instability. The autophagic tumour-suppressor protein AMBRA1 has been linked to the control of cell proliferation, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we show that AMBRA1 is an upstream master regulator of the transition from G1 to S phase and thereby prevents replication stress. Using a combination of cell and molecular approaches and in vivo models, we reveal that AMBRA1 regulates the abundance of D-type cyclins by mediating their degradation. Furthermore, by controlling the transition from G1 to S phase, AMBRA1 helps to maintain genomic integrity during DNA replication, which counteracts developmental abnormalities and tumour growth. Finally, we identify the CHK1 kinase as a potential therapeutic target in AMBRA1-deficient tumours. These results advance our understanding of the control of replication-phase entry and genomic integrity, and identify the AMBRA1-cyclin D pathway as a crucial cell-cycle-regulatory mechanism that is deeply interconnected with genomic stability in embryonic development and tumorigenesis.
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1
D. Klionsky, Amal Abdelaziz, Sara Abdelfatah, M. Abdellatif, A. Abdoli, et al.
Autophagy, 2021
In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.
Comparison of tenocyte populations from the core and periphery of equine tendons
Cheng Zhang, Rene B. Svensson, Costanza Montagna, Helena Carstensen, Rikke Buhl, et al.
Journal of Proteome Research, 2020
Tendon is a highly organized, dense connective tissue that has been demonstrated to have very little turnover. In spite of the low turnover, tendon can grow in response to loading, which may take place primarily at the periphery. Tendon injuries and recurrence of injuries are common in both human and animal in sports. It is unclear why some areas of the tendon are more susceptible to such injury and whether this is due to intrinsic regional differences in extracellular matrix (ECM) production or tissue turnover. This study aimed to compare populations of tenocytes derived from the tendon core and periphery. Tenocytes were isolated from equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT), and the proliferation capacity was determined. ECM production was characterized by immuno- and histological staining and by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Core and periphery SDFT cultures exhibited comparable proliferation rates and had very similar proteome profiles, but showed biological variation in collagen type I deposition. In conclusion, the intrinsic properties of tenocytes from different regions of the tendon are very similar and other factors in the tissue may contribute to how specific areas respond to loading or injury.
When S-Nitrosylation gets to mitochondria: From signaling to age-related diseases
Costanza Montagna, Claudia Cirotti, Salvatore Rizza, Giuseppe Filomeni
Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, 2020
nNOS/GSNOR interaction contributes to skeletal muscle differentiation and homeostasis
Costanza Montagna, Salvatore Rizza, Claudia Cirotti, Emiliano Maiani, Maurizio Muscaritoli, et al.
Cell Death and Disease, 2019
S-nitrosylation drives cell senescence and aging in mammals by controlling mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy
Salvatore Rizza, Simone Cardaci, Costanza Montagna, Giuseppina Di Giacomo, Daniela De Zio, et al.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2018
To eat, or NOt to eat: S-nitrosylation signaling in autophagy
Costanza Montagna, Salvatore Rizza, Emiliano Maiani, Lucia Piredda, Giuseppe Filomeni, et al.
FEBS Journal, 2016
Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field (ELF-MF) Exposure Sensitizes SH-SY5Y Cells to the Pro-Parkinson’s Disease Toxin MPP+
Barbara Benassi, Giuseppe Filomeni, Costanza Montagna, Caterina Merla, Vanni Lopresto, et al.
Molecular Neurobiology, 2016
S-nitrosylation of the mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to inhibitors of succinate dehydrogenase
Salvatore Rizza, Costanza Montagna, Simone Cardaci, Emiliano Maiani, Giuseppina Di Giacomo, et al.
Cancer Research, 2016
S -Nitrosoglutathione Reductase Plays Opposite Roles in SH-SY5Y Models of Parkinson's Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Salvatore Rizza, Claudia Cirotti, Costanza Montagna, Simone Cardaci, Claudia Consales, et al.
Mediators of Inflammation, 2015
S-nitrosoglutathione reductase deficiency-induced S-nitrosylation results in neuromuscular dysfunction
Costanza Montagna, Giuseppina Di Giacomo, Salvatore Rizza, Simone Cardaci, Elisabetta Ferraro, et al.
Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, 2014
S -nitrosation and ubiquitin-proteasome system interplay in neuromuscular disorders
Salvatore Rizza, Costanza Montagna, Giuseppina Di Giacomo, Claudia Cirotti, Giuseppe Filomeni
International Journal of Cell Biology, 2014
Reticulon1-C modulates protein disulphide isomerase function
P Bernardoni, B Fazi, A Costanzi, R Nardacci, C Montagna, et al.
Cell Death and Disease, 2013
Established principles and emerging concepts on the interplay between mitochondrial physiology and S -(De)nitrosylation: Implications in cancer and neurodegeneration
Giuseppina Di Giacomo, Salvatore Rizza, Costanza Montagna, Giuseppe Filomeni
International Journal of Cell Biology, 2012

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

The Bright and Dark Sides of Nitric Oxide in Neurodegenerative Diseases
L Buccarello, C Montagna, S Di Matteo, R Mangione, G Carota, J Sibbitts, ...
Journal of Personalized Medicine 16 (5), 246 , 2026
2026
Circulating Neuregulin-4 tracks acute hyperbaric and workload stress in human divers, preceding oxidative injury markers
C Di Biagio, P Giglio, M Bordi, G Larotondo, R Turchi, L Fattorini, ...
Free Radical Biology and Medicine , 2026
2026
“Feeding the Rhythm”—Effects of Food and Nutrients on Daily Cortisol Secretion: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Impact
RM Paragliola, M Marchetti, C Montagna, SM Corsello, G Peluso
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (22), 11230 , 2025
2025
Citations: 4
Duchenne muscular dystrophy: integrating current clinical practice with future therapeutic and diagnostic horizons
C Montagna, E Maiani, L Pieroni, S Consalvi
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (14), 6742 , 2025
2025
Citations: 9
miRNAs Boost Breast Cancer Aggressiveness by Regulating S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase (GSNOR) Levels
G Matrullo, V Fiorentini, C Montagna, G Filomeni, S Rizza
Free Radical Biology and Medicine 218, 48 , 2024
2024
GSNOR safeguards G1/S check-point, and controls proliferation in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma
G Larotondo, P Giglio, G Matrullo, C Pecorari, E Maiani, G Filomeni, ...
Free Radical Biology and Medicine 218, 52-53 , 2024
2024
GSNOR safeguards S-phase entry and genomic stability in rhabdomyosarcoma cells: unraveling new molecular players
P Giglio, G Larotondo, C Pecorari, E Maiani, S Rizza, G Filomeni, ...
Free Radical Biology and Medicine 201, 60-61 , 2023
2023
S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) downregulation in Breast Cancer: a possible involvement of miRNAs in controlling GSNOR expression
G Matrullo, V Fiorentini, C Montagna, G Filomeni, S Rizza
Free Radical Biology and Medicine 201, 56 , 2023
2023
Targeting GSNOR deficiency as a new therapeutic approach in rhabdomyosarcoma
G Larotondo, P Giglio, G Matrullo, E Maiani, G Filomeni, C Montagna
Free Radical Biology and Medicine 201, 59-60 , 2023
2023
GSNOR deficiency promotes tumor growth via FAK1 S-nitrosylation
S Rizza, L Di Leo, C Pecorari, P Giglio, F Faienza, C Montagna, E Maiani, ...
Cell Reports 42 (1) , 2023
2023
Citations: 16
Looking at denitrosylation to understand the myogenesis gone awry theory of rhabdomyosarcoma
C Montagna, G Filomeni
Nitric Oxide 122, 1-5 , 2022
2022
Autophagy guards tendon homeostasis
C Montagna, RB Svensson, ML Bayer, S Rizza, E Maiani, CYC Yeung, ...
Cell death & disease 13 (4), 402 , 2022
2022
Citations: 21
AMBRA1 regulates cyclin D to guard S-phase entry and genomic integrity
E Maiani, G Milletti, F Nazio, SG Holdgaard, J Bartkova, S Rizza, ...
Nature 592 (7856), 799-803 , 2021
2021
Citations: 164
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
DJ Klionsky, AK Abdel-Aziz, S Abdelfatah, M Abdellatif, A Abdoli, S Abel, ...
autophagy 17 (1), 1-382 , 2021
2021
Citations: 15090
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition) 1
J Błasiak
Autophagy 17 (1) , 2021
2021
Citations: 1
Comparison of tenocyte populations from the core and periphery of equine tendons
C Zhang, RB Svensson, C Montagna, H Carstensen, R Buhl, EM Schoof, ...
Journal of proteome research 19 (10), 4137-4144 , 2020
2020
Citations: 8
When S -Nitrosylation Gets to Mitochondria: From Signaling to Age-Related Diseases
C Montagna, C Cirotti, S Rizza, G Filomeni
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling 32 (12), 884-905 , 2020
2020
Citations: 37
nNOS/GSNOR interaction contributes to skeletal muscle differentiation and homeostasis
C Montagna, S Rizza, C Cirotti, E Maiani, M Muscaritoli, A Musarò, ...
Cell Death & Disease 10 (5), 354 , 2019
2019
Citations: 19
Autophagy gets to the tendons: implications in mechanobiology and injury
C Montagna, ML Bayer, RB Svensson, M Kjaer
Physical Activity in Disease Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation … , 2019
2019
Autophagy gets to the tendons: role in mechanobiology and injury.
C Montagna, M Bayer, M Svensson Rb And Kjaer
Lassen Dagen, Bispebjerg Hospital, December 2019. , 2019
2019

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
DJ Klionsky, AK Abdel-Aziz, S Abdelfatah, M Abdellatif, A Abdoli, S Abel, ...
autophagy 17 (1), 1-382 , 2021
2021
Citations: 15090
S-nitrosylation drives cell senescence and aging in mammals by controlling mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy
S Rizza, S Cardaci, C Montagna, G Di Giacomo, D De Zio, M Bordi, ...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115 (15), E3388-E3397 , 2018
2018
Citations: 216
AMBRA1 regulates cyclin D to guard S-phase entry and genomic integrity
E Maiani, G Milletti, F Nazio, SG Holdgaard, J Bartkova, S Rizza, ...
Nature 592 (7856), 799-803 , 2021
2021
Citations: 164
S -nitrosylation of the Mitochondrial Chaperone TRAP1 Sensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Inhibitors of Succinate Dehydrogenase
S Rizza, C Montagna, S Cardaci, E Maiani, G Di Giacomo, ...
Cancer research 76 (14), 4170-4182 , 2016
2016
Citations: 84
Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field (ELF-MF) Exposure Sensitizes SH-SY5Y Cells to the Pro-Parkinson’s Disease Toxin MPP +
B Benassi, G Filomeni, C Montagna, C Merla, V Lopresto, R Pinto, ...
Molecular neurobiology 53 (6), 4247-4260 , 2016
2016
Citations: 68
S -Nitrosoglutathione Reductase Deficiency-Induced S -Nitrosylation Results in Neuromuscular Dysfunction
C Montagna, G Di Giacomo, S Rizza, S Cardaci, E Ferraro, P Grumati, ...
Antioxidants & redox signaling 21 (4), 570-587 , 2014
2014
Citations: 55
To eat, or NOt to eat: S ‐nitrosylation signaling in autophagy
C Montagna, S Rizza, E Maiani, L Piredda, G Filomeni, F Cecconi
The FEBS journal 283 (21), 3857-3869 , 2016
2016
Citations: 48
Established Principles and Emerging Concepts on the Interplay between Mitochondrial Physiology and S ‐(De)nitrosylation: Implications in Cancer and …
G Di Giacomo, S Rizza, C Montagna, G Filomeni
International Journal of Cell Biology 2012 (1), 361872 , 2012
2012
Citations: 44
When S -Nitrosylation Gets to Mitochondria: From Signaling to Age-Related Diseases
C Montagna, C Cirotti, S Rizza, G Filomeni
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling 32 (12), 884-905 , 2020
2020
Citations: 37
Reticulon1-C modulates protein disulphide isomerase function
P Bernardoni, B Fazi, A Costanzi, R Nardacci, C Montagna, G Filomeni, ...
Cell death & disease 4 (4), e581-e581 , 2013
2013
Citations: 33
Autophagy guards tendon homeostasis
C Montagna, RB Svensson, ML Bayer, S Rizza, E Maiani, CYC Yeung, ...
Cell death & disease 13 (4), 402 , 2022
2022
Citations: 21
S ‐Nitrosoglutathione Reductase Plays Opposite Roles in SH‐SY5Y Models of Parkinson’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
S Rizza, C Cirotti, C Montagna, S Cardaci, C Consales, M Cozzolino, ...
Mediators of Inflammation 2015 (1), 536238 , 2015
2015
Citations: 20
nNOS/GSNOR interaction contributes to skeletal muscle differentiation and homeostasis
C Montagna, S Rizza, C Cirotti, E Maiani, M Muscaritoli, A Musarò, ...
Cell Death & Disease 10 (5), 354 , 2019
2019
Citations: 19
GSNOR deficiency promotes tumor growth via FAK1 S-nitrosylation
S Rizza, L Di Leo, C Pecorari, P Giglio, F Faienza, C Montagna, E Maiani, ...
Cell Reports 42 (1) , 2023
2023
Citations: 16
S ‐Nitrosation and Ubiquitin‐Proteasome System Interplay in Neuromuscular Disorders
S Rizza, C Montagna, G Di Giacomo, C Cirotti, G Filomeni
International journal of cell biology 2014 (1), 428764 , 2014
2014
Citations: 14
Duchenne muscular dystrophy: integrating current clinical practice with future therapeutic and diagnostic horizons
C Montagna, E Maiani, L Pieroni, S Consalvi
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (14), 6742 , 2025
2025
Citations: 9
Comparison of tenocyte populations from the core and periphery of equine tendons
C Zhang, RB Svensson, C Montagna, H Carstensen, R Buhl, EM Schoof, ...
Journal of proteome research 19 (10), 4137-4144 , 2020
2020
Citations: 8
“Feeding the Rhythm”—Effects of Food and Nutrients on Daily Cortisol Secretion: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Impact
RM Paragliola, M Marchetti, C Montagna, SM Corsello, G Peluso
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26 (22), 11230 , 2025
2025
Citations: 4
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition) 1
J Błasiak
Autophagy 17 (1) , 2021
2021
Citations: 1
(339) Spontaneous pain response in S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) deficient mice: the role of S-nitrosylation
S Ilari, F Lauro, C Montagna, G Di Giacomo, S Rizza, S Cardaci, M Allegri, ...
The Journal of Pain 15 (4), S60 , 2014
2014
Citations: 1