INFLAMMATION, OXIDATIVE STRESS

 AND ANTIOXIDANTS

 

 

MEMBERS AND COLLABORATORS

 

Name

Category

E-mail

Javier González Gallego (coord) CU Fisiología ULE jgonga@unileon.es

Sonia Sánchez Campos

TU Fisiología ULE

ssanc@unileon.es

José A De Paz Fernández

CU Fisiología ULE

japazf@unileon.es

Mar Almar Galiana

TU Fisiología ULE

mar.almar@unileon.es

María J. Cuevas González TU Fisiología ULE mj.cuevas@unileon.es

Ildefonso Alvear Ordenes

AD Fisiología ULE

ialvor@unileon.es

Maria Victoria García Mediavilla

AD Fisiología ULE

mvgarm@unileon.es

Susana Martínez Florez AD Anatomía ULE s.martinez@unileon.es
Esther Nistal González PA Fisiología ULE esthernistal@hotmail.com
Paula Rodríguez Míguelez Investigador colaborador prodrm@unileon.es

Rodrigo Fernández Gonzalo

Investigador colaborador

rodrigo.gonzalo@ki.se

Brisamar Estébanez González Becario FPU b.estebanez@unileon.es
David Porras Sanabria Becario JCyL dpors@unileon.es
María Juárez Fernández Becario FPU mjuarf00@estudiantes.unileon.es

Francisco Jorquera Plaza

Jefe Servicio Aparato Digestivo CAULE

fjorqueraplaza@gmail.com

Fernando Ramos Ortega

Jefe Sección Hematología Clínica CAULE

framoso@aehh.org

Isabel Fernández Natal

Jefe Servicio Microbiología Clínica CAULE

ifernandezn@saludcastillayleon.es

Manuel Franco Benito

Jefe Servicio Oftalmología

CAULE

mfrancobt@gmail.com

Miguel Cordero Coma

Coordinador Unidad Uveitis

CAULE

miguelcorderocoma@gmail.com

José M. García Ruiz de Morales Jefe Sección Inmunología CAULE jgarcir@gmail.com
Octavio M. Rivero Lizcano Investigador IECSCYL CAULE orivero@saludcastillayleon.es

 

 

OBJECTIVES

 

  • To study effects of experimental and conventional therapies on alterations in cell function.

  • To identify biochemical and functional markets useful for diagnosis and prognosis in human pathologies.

  • To investigate beneficial effects of exercise - from molecular to organic levels - in different population groups.

 

ACTIVITIES

 

The group is composed by researchers of different formation, including biologists, physicians, veterinarians and pharmacists, who come from the Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Leon and from different Units of he  Hospital of León. Their activity has been shaped in the accomplishment of research projects funded by the European Union, the Spanish National Plan of R+D, the Spanish Health Research Fund or  the Regional Government of Castilla y León, and has made possible the development of research contracts with diverse multinational companies of the pharmaceutical sector. The group has constituted one of the nodes of a Cooperative Research Thematic Network of of the Carlos III Health Institute on "Pathogenic mechanisms of viral hepatitis and steatohepatitis" (2003-2005). From its creation in 2006 they are members of the “Hepatic and Digestive Diseases “CIBER of the Spanish Health Ministry.

The group has centered its activity in the study of the effects of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (free radicals, ROs and RNs) in diverse pathologies (mainly hepatic diseases), and in situations in which body function may be altered by the loss of the oxidant/antioxidant balance (ej. aging, physical exercise). Protective role of antioxidant molecules against ROs and RNs induced alterations is also being investigated. The effect of free radicals can be translated in a direct damage to macro-molecules (lipids, proteins, ADN), but also in an activation of transcription factors, such as NF-kappa B, whose nuclear traslocation changes the expression of diverse genes related to inflammatory processes (such as induced nitric oxide sinthase, iNOS), oxidative damage, programmed cellular death and others. All these aspects have been and are being studied using different experimental models (cell cultures, laboratory animals, research in humans).

In the area of exercise and physical activity, research projects of applied character aimed to improve physical fitness of diverse groups of population (elderly, multiple sclerosis or chronic renal insufficiency patients) are being developed.

 

 METHODOLOGY

 

Studies:

Experimental and clinical.

In vitro studies (isolation/culture of hepatic, endothelial and muscle cells; cell line cultures).

In vivo studies (laboratory animal studies, clinical studies in patients and population groups).

Functional assessment of prescription of physical exercise.

 

Methodology:

Cell cultures.

Blood biochemistry.

Enzyme activities and metabolic markers in blood and tissues

Markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Markers of muscle damage.

Markers of apoptosis.

Gene expression of inflammatory mediators, antioxidant molecules and regeneration factors  (Western blot, RT-PCR, inmunohistochemistry).

Activation of nuclear transcription factors.

Histopathological studies.

Anthropometric and nutritional assessment.

Neuromuscular assessment.

Ergospirométric studies and measurements of physical fitness.

 

 

TECHNOLOGICAL OFFER

  • Design and development of experimental and clinical research programmes.

  • Advising and transfer of technology to  companies in the health sector

  • Assessment and prescription of physical exercise in population groups with risk factors and related pathologies.

  • Development of physical exercise programmes fro the improvement of health and physical fitness.

  • Training in laboratory techniques.

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • Exercise training modulates the gut microbiota profile and impairs inflammatory signaling pathways in obese children. R. Quiroga, E. Nistal, B. Estébanez, D. Porras, M. Juárez-Fernández, S. Martínez-Flórez, M. V. García-Mediavilla, J. A. de Paz, J. González-Gallego, S.Sánchez-Campos, M. J. Cuevas. Experimental and Molecular Medicine: 52(7), 1048-1061, 2020

  • Interplay between specific gut microbiota phylotypes transplantation, diet and quercetin determines obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development in germ-free mice. D. Porras, E. Nistal, S. Martínez-Flórez, J. L. Olcoz, R.  Jover, F.  Jorquera, J. González-Gallego, M. V.  García-Mediavilla y S. Sánchez-Campos. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research: 63, e1800930, 2019

  • Melatonin modulates dysregulated circadian clocks in mice with diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. D. I. Sánchez, B. González-Fernández, I. Crespo, B. San-Miguel, M. Álvarez, J. González-Gallego y M. J. Tuñón. Journal of Pineal Research: e12506, 2018

  • Impact of resistance training on the autophagy-inflammation-apoptosis crosstalk in elderly subjects. Y. Mejías-Peña, B. Estébanez, P. Rodriguez-Miguelez, R. Fernandez-Gonzalo, M. Almar, J. A. de Paz, J. González-Gallego y M. J. Cuevas. Aging: 9, 408-418, 2017

  • Melatonin-induced increase in sensitivity of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to sorafenib is associated with ROS production and mitophagy.  N. Prieto-Domínguez, R. Ordóñez, A. Fernández, C. Garcia-Ruiz, J. C. Fernandez-Checa, J. L. Mauriz y J. González-Gallego. Journal of Pineal Research: 61, 396-407, 2016

  • Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and nuclear factor kappa B contribute to melatonin prevention of motility and invasiveness in HepG2 liver cancer cells. R. Ordoñez, S. Carbajo-Pescador, N. Prieto-Dominguez, A. García-Palomo, J. González-Gallego, J. L Mauriz. Journal of Pineal Research: 56, 20-30, 2014

  • The human liver fatty acid binding protein (FABP1) gene is activated by FOXA1 and PPARalpha and repressed by C/EBPalpha: Implications in FABP1 down-regulation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. C. Guzmán, M. Benet, S. Pisonero-Vaquero, M. Moya, M. V. García-Mediavilla, M. L. Martínez-Chantar, et al. Biochimica Biophysica Acta: 1831, 803-818, 2013

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