Prof. Ivan Conte- University of Naples "Federico II"
Modulation of cell clearance to preserve vision in inherited retinal diseases (IRDs).
Abstract:
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic pathway essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis at the retina–RPE interface. Within this highly specialized tissue, autophagy coordinates the degradation and recycling of intracellular substrates, supports the daily processing of photoreceptor outer segments, and preserves metabolic and redox equilibrium under conditions of light exposure and environmental stress. The functional integrity of this clearance machinery is therefore critical for photoreceptor viability and for sustaining visual function throughout life. Accumulating evidence from our group and others indicates that inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) frequently converge on defects in autophagy and lysosomal function. Impaired autophagic flux leads to the progressive accumulation of undegraded proteins and lipids, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of maladaptive stress pathways. These alterations disrupt the physiological coupling between photoreceptors and the RPE, thereby accelerating retinal degeneration independently of the underlying genetic lesion. Such convergence underscores autophagy as a central node in the maintenance of retinal homeostasis and a determinant of disease susceptibility. Recent work from our laboratory has demonstrated that targeted enhancement of autophagic activity mitigates key pathogenic features in selected models of retinal dystrophy. Pharmacological and genetic activation of autophagy restored clearance capacity, improved mitochondrial and metabolic function, and attenuated photoreceptor loss, thereby preserving retinal structure and function. These findings provide mechanistic evidence that modulation of autophagy can counteract mutation‑independent degenerative pathways and support the development of autophagy‑directed therapeutic strategies for IRDs.
Bio
In 1999, I graduated in Biology at the Federico II University of Naples (Italy). In 2004 I completed my Ph.D. studies on the molecular mechanism underlying the inherited retinal dystrophies in the laboratory of Prof. A. Ciccodicola at “Federico II” University. To broaden my interest in visual system, I moved to the Institute of Neurobiology “Ramon y Cajal” in Madrid (Spain), working as a postdoc in the laboratory of Prof. P. Bovolenta, where I studied the development of retinal cells and mechanism of retinal disease. In 2007, I moved as Researher at TIGEM Institute and was honored for scientific achievements in Neurobiology from the President of the Italian Republic. Since 2012, I have directed my laboratory at TIGEM Institute. Since 2019, I am Associate Professor of Molecular Biology at University of Naples “Federico II”. Our goal is to identify new molecules that may be a therapeutic treatment of eye disorders in a mutational independent manner.
