1966-1971: Biology Degree, University Federico II of Naples
1972-1980: Post doctoral fellowship, Cellular Biology and Pathology Department, University Federico II of Naples
1980-1982: Fellowship, Institutes of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology: Section Biochemistry of Cell Regulation, NIH Bethesda, USA.
1987-2001: Associate professor of General Pathology, Cellular Biology and Pathology Department, University of Naples Federico II
2001-present: Full professor of General Pathology, Cellular Biology and Pathology Department, University of Naples Federico II
From 2005 to present she is involved in post translation modification of frataxin and regulation of processing in collaboration with Genetic Units.

Prof. Acquaviva worked in the past on biosynthesis of rat insulin-like growth factor II (Acquaviva et al., Diabetes, 31:656-658,1982). Also, she worked on the identification of a kinase activity responsible for thyroglobulin phosphorylation and on its role in thyroid hormone formation (Consiglio et al., J.Biol.Chem, 262:10304-10314,1987; Alvino et al, Endocrinology, 136:3179-3185,1995). Since 1992 she is principal investigator of a research project on the mechanisms that regulate proliferation and differentiation of human colon carcinoma Caco-2 cell line. In this system, it has been shown that cell differentiation strongly correlates with the activation of a cAMP-dependent pathway (Pignata et al., Cell GrowthDiffer., 5:967-973,1994), while proliferation is regulated by autocrine IGF-II synthesis through IGF-I receptor activation. Signal trasduction of IGFI receptor regulate the Cox2 activation either through MAP kinase pathway or PI3K pathway. The PI3K pathway is involved in the stabilization of Cox2 protein.(Zarrilli et al.,Cell Growth Differ., 5:1085-1091,1994; Zarrilli et al., J.Biol.Chem., 271:8108-8114,1996; Zarrilli et al., Gastroenterology, 116, 1358-1366, 1999; Di Popolo et al., 0ncogene 19,5517-5524,2000). In the same experimental system, she studied the molecular mechanisms responsible for the cytoprotective effect of non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (Ricchi et al., Int.J.Cancer, 73:880-884,1997; Ricchi et al., British Journal of Cancer 86/9,1501-1509,2002; Ricchi et al., British Journal of Cancer, 88,803-807,2003, Molecular Pharmacology 64,407-414,2003, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 5,1318-1324,2006)and the role of prostaglandin in apoptosis. In addition she studied the interaction between PGE2 transduction pathway and IGF growth factors family.( Leone et al American Journal of Physiology- Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2007)At present she is involved in project concerning the role of frataxin phosphorylation in the maturation and functions of protein, The project is to elucidate the frataxin role in the pathogenesis of the cardiac hypertrophy in the Friedreich's Ataxia. ( Acquaviva et al Journal Cell Science 118(17) 3917-3924,2005).

Aviello G, Rowland I, Gill CI, Acquaviva A.M.,Capasso F., McCann M., Capasso R., IzzoA., Borrelli F. (2010) Anti-proliferative effect of rhein, an anthraquinone isolated from Cassia species, on Caco-2 human adenocarcinoma cells. JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE Volume: 14 Issue: 7 Pages: 2006-2014

Leone V, di Palma A, Ricchi P, Acquaviva F., Giannouli M., Di Prisco A:M:, Iuliano F., and Acquaviva A.M. (2007) PGE(2) inhibits apoptosis in human adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cell line through Ras-PI3K association and cAMP-dependent kinase A activation. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER PHYSIOLOGY Volume: 293 Issue: 4 Pages: G673-G681

di Palma A, Matarese G, Leone V, Di MatolaT.,Acquaviva F., Acquaviva AM., Ricchi P. (2006) Aspirin reduces the outcome of anticancer therapy in Meth A-bearing mice through activation of AKT-glycogen synthase kinase signaling. MOLECULAR CANCER THERAPEUTICS Volume: 5 Issue: 5 Pages: 1318-1324

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