Carla Taveggia
Carla Taveggia
e-mail:
affiliation: Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele
research area(s): Neuroscience, Cell Biology
Course: Cell and Molecular Biology
University/Istitution: Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele
Education
2002 Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology, Open University. London (UK)
1997 National Licence in Biology, Università degli Studi di Milano
1996 Laurea in Biology, Università degli Studi di Milano

Professional experience
2002-2007 Post doctoral research assistant, New York University, New York, U.S.
2008-2011 Assistant FISM scientist
2011-to date Associate FISM scientist
2008-to date Head Axo-Glia Interaction Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute
Myelin is a highly specialized membrane, which wraps around nerve fibers in the peripheral (PNS) and central (CNS) nervous systems. The overall goal of our research is to provide novel insights into the axonal regulation of myelination in PNS and CNS. Since it is likely that both myelination and remyelination acts through common mechanisms, the identification of the axonal molecules involved in the regulation of myelination could be translated in research aimed at applications in human demyelinating diseases. In the longer term, manipulations of these molecules and the corresponding signaling pathways could be effective to develop therapies for demyelinating diseases in which disability is correlated to myelin and axonal loss.
La Marca R, Cerri F, Horiuchi K., Bachi A., Feltri ML, Wrabetz L, Blobel CP, Quattrini A., Salzer JL and Taveggia C. (2011) ADAM17/TACE inhibits Schwann cell myelination. Nature Neuroscience 14:857-865.

Taveggia C, Feltri ML and Wrabetz L. (2010) Signals for (Re)Myelination. Nature Reviews Neurology 6:276-287.

Syed N, Reddy K, Yang D, Taveggia C, Salzer JL, Maurel P and Kim HA. (2010) Soluble Neuregulin-1 has bi-functional, concentration dependent effects on Schwann cell myelination. Journal of Neuroscience 30:6122-6131.

Bolis, A, Coviello S, Visigalli I, Taveggia C, Bachi A, Chisthi AH, Hanada T, Quattrini A, Previtali SC, Biffi A, Bolino A. (2009) Dlg-1, Sec8 and Mtmr2 regulate membrane homeostasis in Schwann cell myelination. Journal of Neuroscience 29:8858-8870.

Taveggia C, Thaker P, Petrylak A, Caporaso GL, Toews A, Falls DL Einheber S, and Salzer JL. (2008) Neuregulin-1 type III promotes oligodendrocyte myelination. Glia 56:284-293.

Taveggia C and Salzer JL. (2007) PARsing the events of myelination. Nature Neuroscience 10:17-18.

Zhang Y, Taveggia C, Melendez-Vasquez C, Einheber S, Raine CS, Salzer JL, Brosnan CF and John GR. (2006) Interleukin-11 potentiates oligodendrocyte survival and maturation, and myelin formation. Journal of Neuroscience 47:12174-12185.

Taveggia C, Zanazzi, G, Petrylak A, Yano H, Rosenbluth J, Einheber S, Xu X, Esper MR, Loeb JA, Shrager P, Chao MV, Falls DL, Role L, and Salzer JL. (2005) Neuregulin-1 type III determines the ensheathment fate of axons. Neuron 47:681-694.

Taveggia C, Pizzagalli A, Fagiani E, Messing A, Feltri ML, Wrabetz L. (2004) Characterization of a Schwann cell enhancer in the myelin basic protein gene. Journal of Neurochemistry 91:813-824.

Duràn Alonso M, Zoidl G, Taveggia C, Bosse F, Zoidl C, Rahman M, Parmantier E, Dean CH, Harris BS, Wrabetz L, Muller HW, Jessen KR and Mirsky R. (2004) Identification and characterization of ZFP-57, a novel zinc finger transcription factor in the mammalian peripheral nervous system. Journal of Biological Chemistry 279: 25653-25664.
Project Title:
Determine the role of ADAM secretases in Schwann cell development
Levels of axonal Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) type III mediate regulation of myelination in the PNS and control all the aspects linked to Schwann cells development. We have recently identified a novel mechanism controlling myelin formation in the Peripheral Nervous System that inhibits NRG1 type III levels and activity and acts through the α-secretase TACE.
TACE belongs to the ADAM family of secretases, which regulate several biological processes. These molecules are involved in proliferation, migration, survival and differentiation of neurons, as well as axonal growth. They are also important in inflammation processes.

A PhD project is available to investigate whether TACE modulates NRG1 levels also in development and regulates Schwann cells maturation. Preliminary data indicate that TACE controls the timing of PNS myelination, thus suggesting that TACE might be important for proper Schwann cells development. The project includes genetic manipulation of TACE activity and NRG1 levels in vivo in transgenic animals, already developed in the laboratory. We will also investigate Schwann cells development in vitro in a neuronal-Schwann cells coculture system, by using a combination of live-imaging, immunohistochemistry, biochemical and conditional mutagenesis analyses.