Skip to Main Content
Pitt Home
Find People
School of Medicine
Toggle navigation
Skip Navigation Links
Home
About
Leadership
Mission
Department Statistics
Building Information
Thomas E. Starzl BST
Biomedical Science Tower 3
Directory
Primary Faculty
Secondary Faculty
Graduate Students
Fellows
Administrative Staff
Research Staff
Adjunct Faculty
Department Alumni
Research
Research Areas
Labs
Equipment
Funding Opportunities
Faculty Development Program
Responsible Conduct of Research
Shops
Cell Biology/Pharmacology Electronics Shop
Cell Biology/Pharmacology Machine Shop
Education
Molecular Pharmacology Graduate Program
Current Students
Current Student Roster
Student Publications
Diversity, Accessibility, and Counseling
Student Awards
MPGP News
Prospective Students
Welcome from the Director
Research Opportunities
PhD Track
MD/PhD Track
Financial Aid
Graduate Faculty
Graduate Courses
Grad Student Lab Rotations
Grad Student Events
Grad Student Event Calendar
Graduate Student Event Schedule
Alumni/Career Development
Alumni
Alumni Contacts
Molecular Pharmacology Facebook Group
Molecular Pharmacology Student-Alumni Network (LinkedIn)
SOM Career Development - Explore
Executive Committee
Student Testimonials
IBGP
Grad Student Funding Opportunities
NIH T32 Training Grant
Outcomes
Admissions
Student Handbook & General Timeline
Links
Useful Links
School of Medicine
PubMed
Remote Resources
Biomedical Masters Program
Undergraduate Research
Summer Fellowships
Lab Rotations
News
Events
Calendar
Seminar Series
Links
Contact
Opportunities
Department
Status
PORtal
Computer Resources Access Request
IT-Equipment Support Request
Poster Requests
Reservation Calendars
Home
>
Directory
>
Primary Faculty
>
Dario Vitturi, PhD
Dario Vitturi, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
E1341B Biomedical Science Tower
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
dav28@pitt.edu
Phone: 412-648-8160
Fax: 412-648-2229
Education
B.S. (Biochemistry), University of the Republic, Uruguay
Ph.D. (Molecular and Cellular Pathology), University of Alabama at Birmingham
Links
PubMed Full Bibliography
Research Details
Publications
Awards, Honors, and Sponsored Research
Labs
Freeman Lab
Research Areas
Pharmacology of Cell and Organ Systems
Redox Pharmacology
Signal Transduction
Dr. Vitturi's research focuses on the mechanisms by which biological systems harness the generation of free radicals and other reactive species to modulate cell signaling and maintain physiological homeostasis. He is particularly interested in nitrite as a physiologically relevant precursor for nitric oxide (NO) formation that is activated under conditions of acidosis or through metalloprotein-dependent reduction in hypoxic environments. Nitrite has been shown to be a promising therapeutic intervention for many conditions associated with uncontrolled inflammation, decreased NO availability and ischemia-reperfusion events. Importantly, NO generation is just one aspect of the biological reactivity of nitrite, with this molecule also acting as a precursor for the formation of secondary species such as S-nitrosothiols, N-nitrosamines, and nitrated fatty acids, all of which are capable of mediating specific cellular responses. He is also interested in elucidating pathways of formation and signaling actions of endogenous electrophilic molecules. Electrophiles react covalently with nucleophilic residues in proteins, thus modulating enzyme activity and eliciting concerted cell signaling responses which ultimately have the potential to modulate antioxidant responses, inflammation and tissue injury under pathological conditions. Thus, his research encompasses the study of biochemical pathways leading to the formation of reactive species, the elucidation of their allied biological actions and ultimately the development of clinically viable interventions for their modulation under pathological conditions.
Journal Articles
Villacorta L, L Minarrieta, SR Salvatore, NK Khoo, O Rom, Z Gao, RC Berman, S Jobbagy, L Li, SR Woodcock, YE Chen, BA Freeman, AM Ferreira, FJ Schopfer and
DA Vitturi
. In situ generation, metabolism and immunomodulatory signaling actions of nitro-conjugated linoleic acid in a murine model of inflammation. Redox Biol 5:522-531, 2018.
Turell L,
DA Vitturi
, EL Coitino, L Lebrato, M Möller, C Sagasti, SR Salvatore, SR Woodcock, B Alvarez and FJ Schopfer. The chemical basis of thiol addition to nitro-conjugated linoleic acid, a protective cell-signaling lipid. J Biol Chem 292:1145-1159, 2017.
Vitturi DA
, L Minarrieta, SR Salvatore, EM Postlethwait, M Fazzari, G Ferrer-Sueta, JR Lancaster Jr., BA Freeman and Schopfer FJ. Convergence of biological nitration and nitrosation via symmetrical nitrous anhydride. Nat Chem Biol 11:504-510, 2015.
Vitturi DA
, CS Chen, SR Woodcock, SR Salvatore, G Bonacci, JR Koenitzer, NA Stewart, N Wakabayashi, TW Kensler, BA Freeman and FJ Schopfer. Modulation of nitro-fatty acid signaling: Prostaglandin reductase-1 is a nitroalkene reductase. J Biol Chem 288:25626-25637, 2013.
Salvatore SR,
DA Vitturi
, PR Baker, G Bonacci, JR Koenitzer, SR Woodcock, BA Freeman and FJ Schopfer. Characterization and quantification of endogenous fatty acid nitroalkene metabolites in human urine. J Lipid Res 54:1998-2009, 2013.
Vitturi DA
, CW Sun, VM Harper, B Thrash-Williams, N Cantu-Medellin, BK Chacko, N Peng, Y Dai, JM Wyss, T Townes and RP Patel. Antioxidant functions for the hemoglobin ß93 cysteine residue in erythrocytes and in the vascular compartment in vivo. Free Radic Biol Med 55:119-129, 2013.
Rodriguez C,
DA Vitturi
, J He, M Vandromme, A Brandon, A Hutchings, LW Rue, JD Kerby and RP Patel. Sodium nitrite therapy attenuates the hypertensive effects of HBOC-201 via nitrite reduction. Biochem J 422:423-432, 2009.
Vitturi DA
, X Teng, JC Toledo, S Matalon, JR Lancaster and RP Patel. Regulation of nitrite transport in red blood cells by hemoglobin oxygen fractional saturation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 296:H1394-H1407, 2009.
Isbell TS, CW Sun, LC Wu, X Teng,
DA Vitturi
, BG Branch, CG Kevil, N Peng, JM Wyss, N Ambalavanan, L Schwiebert, J Ren, KM Pawlik, MB Renfrow, RP Patel and TM Townes. SNO-hemoglobin is not essential for red blood cell-dependent hypoxic vasodilation. Nat Med 14:773-777, 2008.
Ferrer-Sueta G,
D Vitturi
, I Batinic-Haberle, I Fridovich, S Goldstein,G Czapski and R Radi. Reactions of manganese porphyrins with peroxynitrite and carbonate radical anion. J Biol Chem 278:27432-27438, 2003.
Sponsored Research
Protection against sickle cell disease nephropathy by nitrated fatty acids - 8/1/2016 - 7/31/2021
NIH - 1K01HL133331