Impact of hepato-specific parkin deletion on mitochondrial function in female mice with MASLD

• Grant number: 25/20043-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: January 30, 2026
• End date: January 29, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: João Paulo Gabriel Camporez
• Grantee: Sandro Leão Matos
• Supervisor: Michael Jurczak
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/09336-6 - Effects of Hepatic Estrogen Receptor Alpha on the Development of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis, BP.PD

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and its more advanced form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), are diseases with a high prevalence and a strong association with obesity and insulin resistance. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the progression of these diseases, promoting lipid accumulation, increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammation, and hepatic fibrosis. Furthermore, failures in mitochondrial quality control mechanisms, such as PARKIN-mediated mitophagy, directly contribute to the worsening of the pathological condition. The general objective of this project is to evaluate sex-specific differences in response to PARKIN deletion in experimental model fed either a standard or western diet (WD). The analyses will include assessment of mitochondrial function by high-resolution respirometry (Oroboros O2K), ROS production, membrane potential, fatty acid oxidation, glucose tolerance tests, insulin sensitivity, gene and protein expression, as well as hepatic histological analyses. The internship will be conducted in the laboratory of Prof. Michael J. Jurczak at the University of Pittsburgh, which is recognized for its expertise in mitochondrial metabolism.