Mitochondrial dynamics and degradation in schizophrenia models

• Grant number: 17/02295-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2017
• End date: March 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Tatiana Rosado Rosenstock
• Grantee: Alan Rechamberg Ziroldo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP). Fundação Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/02041-1 - The role of lysine(K)-deacetylases on mitochondrial disorders's neuroprotection: perspectives of epigenetic therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and schizophrenia, AP.JP

Abstract

Schizophrenia (SHZ), one of the most prevalent disorders, since affects 1% of the population, is complex, multifactorial and its etiology is undetermined; it is known, however, that one of its features is mitochondrial dysfunction. Regarding to this fact, it is already described in literature changes in the transport of electrons, modification of mitochondrial respiration and in the mRNA levels of proteins related to oxygen consumption. Additionally, mitochondria are dynamic organelles that continuously modify its shape and size, dividing and fusing its metabolites, in an attempt to adjust its function to the cellular energetic demand. Curiously, recent evidences suggest that mitophagy, a degradation process of mitochondria through autophagy, distinguish damage mitochondrial through changes in its dynamic (fission-fusion) and, the augmentation of its degradation, could be a neuroprotective mechanism. Therefore, the goal of this project is to characterize mitochondrial dynamic and degradation in different models of SHZ: neurons and astrocytes from SHR rats. (AU)