Abstract
In the last 40 years, it has become evident that mitochondria are involved in many cell functions besides energy conversion, such as the control of cell death via calcium and oxygen and nitrogen reactive species signaling. Elevated levels of calcium in the mitochondrial matrix stimulate the generation of reactive oxygen which promote the opening of an unspecific pore in the inner mitochondrial membrane, the Permeability Transition Pore (PTP). Opening of PTP and mitochondrial redox state alterations are associated with cell senescence and death, as well as with the progression of degenerative diseases and with aging. In addition, there is compelling evidence that further studies on the control of PTP opening in aging may open avenues to a better understanding of factors determining longevity. Therefore, the major goal of this project is to advance the knowledge about the mechanisms by which mitochondria exert their regulatory roles in cell life and death and in aging. For this purpose, we plan to use several models (mice, rats, Caenorhabditis elegans, turtles and trypanosomes) to study mitochondrial functions involved in calcium homeostasis, redox (um)balance, longevity, aging and aging-related diseases. The specific objectives are grouped in four research lines: I) nicotinamide nucleotides transhydrogenase, energy metabolism and cell viability; II) mitochondria, dyslipidemias, Atherosclerosis and Obesity; III) mitochondria and aging; and IV) mitochondria and calcium homeostasis in trypanosomatides. Each model will be used to answer specific hypotheses in an integrated and multidisciplinary way with the participation of all principal investigators and collaborators. (AU)
Scientific publications
(21)
(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)
FRANCISCO, ANNELISE;
ENGEL, DAIANE F.;
FIGUEIRA, TIAGO R.;
ROGERIO, FABIO;
DE BEM, ANDREZA F.;
CASTILHO, ROGER F.
Mitochondrial NAD(P)(+) Transhydrogenase is Unevenly Distributed in Different Brain Regions, and its Loss Causes Depressive-like Behavior and Motor Dysfunction in Mice.
Neuroscience,
v. 440,
p. 210-229,
AUG 1 2020.
Web of Science Citations: 0.
DE-BRITO, NATALIA M.;
DUNCAN-MORETTI, JULIA;
DA-COSTA, HAYANDRA C.;
SALDANHA-GAMA, ROBERTA;
PAULA-NETO, HEITOR A.;
DORIGHELLO, GABRIEL G.;
SIMOES, RAFAEL L.;
BARJA-FIDALGO, CHRISTINA.
Aerobic glycolysis is a metabolic requirement to maintain the M2-like polarization of tumor-associated macrophages.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH,
v. 1867,
n. 2
FEB 2020.
Web of Science Citations: 0.
SALERNO, ALESSANDRO G.;
RENTZ, THIAGO;
DORIGHELLO, GABRIEL G.;
MARQUES, ANA CAROLINA;
LORZA-GIL, ESTELA;
WANSCHEL, AMARYLIS C. B. A.;
DE MORAES, AUDREY;
VERCESI, ANIBAL E.;
OLIVEIRA, HELENA C. F.
Lack of mitochondrial NADP(H)-transhydrogenase expression in macrophages exacerbates atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mice.
Biochemical Journal,
v. 476,
n. 24,
p. 3769-3789,
DEC 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0.
LERCHNER, JOHANNES;
SARTORI, MARINA R.;
VOLPE, PEDRO O. L.;
LANDER, NOELIA;
MERTENS, FLORIAN;
VERCESI, ANIBAL E.
Direct determination of anaerobe contributions to the energy metabolism of Trypanosoma cruzi by chip calorimetry.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY,
v. 411,
n. 17,
p. 3763-3768,
JUL 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0.
VISACRI, MARILIA B.;
QUINTANILHA, JULIA C. F.;
DE SOUSA, VANESSA M.;
AMARAL, LAIS S.;
AMBROSIO, ROSIANE DE F. L.;
CALONGA, LUCIANE;
CURI, SILVIA F. B. B.;
LEME, MAYRA F. DE T.;
CHONE, CARLOS T.;
ALTEMANI, JOAO M. C.;
MAZZOLA, PRISCILA G.;
MALAGUTI, CARINA;
VERCESI, ANIBAL E.;
LIMA, CARMEN S. P.;
MORIEL, PATRICIA.
Can acetylcysteine ameliorate cisplatin-induced toxicities and oxidative stress without decreasing antitumor efficacy? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving patients with head and neck cancer.
CANCER MEDICINE,
v. 8,
n. 5,
p. 2020-2030,
MAY 2019.
Web of Science Citations: 0.
VERCESI, ANIBAL E.;
CASTILHO, ROGER F.;
KOWALTOWSKI, ALICIA J.;
DE OLIVEIRA, HELENA C. F.;
DE SOUZA-PINTO, NADJA C.;
FIGUEIRA, TIAGO R.;
BUSANELLO, ESTELA N. B.
Mitochondrial calcium transport and the redox nature of the calcium-induced membrane permeability transition.
Free Radical Biology and Medicine,
v. 129,
p. 1-24,
DEC 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 8.