Evaluation of mitochondrial oxygen consumption in response to nutritional and immunological challenges in tissues and erythrocytes.

• Grant number: 24/04369-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Kênia Cardoso Bícego
• Grantee: Livia Saccani Hervas
• Supervisor: Andreas Nord
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Lund University, Lund, Sweden
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/13835-2 - Seasonal variation of thermogenic mechanisms in the Tegu lizard Salvator merianae, BP.DD

Abstract

The utilization of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules in aerobic eukaryotes is crucial for supporting energy-demanding cellular processes, predominantly facilitated by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Nutritional balance is vital for ATP generation via cellular respiration, influencing cellular health and complex structure assembly. Infections increase ATP demand for immune cell activation, coupled with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which modulates immune response. Additionally, prolonged fasting may suppress the immune system, affecting ROS production and immune signaling pathways, but the relation between fasting and infections in the mitochondrial function is not clear in the literature. The aim of the project is to investigate the interactive effects of immunological and nutritional challenges on mitochondrial function across tissues with a particular interest is exploring the role of red blood cell (RBC) to understand the regulation and function of RBC mitochondria and their correlation with other tissues. For this, will be used Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica, that will be challenge with nutritional (fasting and feeding) and immunological conditions (LPS and saline). Will be collecting samples of blood, liver and skeletal muscle (pectoralis and gastrocnemius) fourth times, before injection of LPS or saline, 3 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after the injection of LPS or saline, samples will be correctly prepared, and the mitochondrial oxygen consumption will be measured in a two-chamber oxygraphy at 41ºC.