Research

Area 4

Cellular biology of pathological processes.

Team leader

  • Jordi Alberch
    (Facultat de Medicina)

Strategic objectives

  1. Study of the cellular and molecular bases involved in neuronal dysfunction and death associated with basal ganglia neurodegenerative disorders, fundamentally Huntington’s disease. Our aim is to identify intracellular pathways – both neuroprotective and apoptotic – that are selectively altered in the affected neuron populations, with the ultimate purpose of identifying new therapeutic targets in the management of these neurodegenerative diseases.
  2. Identification of the mechanisms participating in the cognitive defects seen in Huntington’s disease. Knowledge of these mechanisms will make it possible to develop new treatments for avoiding the cognitive disorders induced by the mutated huntingtin gene.
  3. Characterization of the mechanisms of neuron differentiation of stem cells from different organs. Our aim is to identify different extrinsic and intrinsic factors contributing to neuron differentiation, with the aim of employing stem cells in cell substitution therapies.
  4. Exploration of the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction of the cytoskeleton with the cell endomembrane system as structural and functional support in secretory and endocytic membrane traffic. Studies are also made of the way in which this interaction is altered in certain diseases such as alcoholism and other conditions with a strong cardiovascular base such as Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

Main lines of research

  1. Molecular bases of the interaction of actin dynamics with the Golgi apparatus and secretory traffic.
  2. Role of diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid in the formation of transport vesicles and in the structural organization of the Golgi apparatus.
  3. Study of the signaling pathways that regulate the cytoskeleton and actin dynamics, altered by ethanol and other toxic agents.
  4. Intracellular traffic and cytokine receptor signaling (TGF-beta).
  5. Study of the implication of neurotrophic factors in the physiopathology and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases of the basal ganglia.
  6. Study of the intracellular signaling cascades implicated in the degeneration of striatal and hippocampal neurons in Huntington’s disease.
  7. Study of the mechanisms underlying the differentiation of stem cells into neurons, for application to cellular therapy in neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s chorea.

Grups

Membrane traffic (Associated)

EGEA, GUSTAVO

(FM_UB)

The objective of this group is to understand the principles that control and regulate transport of the membrane components (lipids and proteins) within the cell. In particular, we are investigating the interaction of the transport intermediaries (vesicles and tubules) with the actin cytoskeleton and its associated proteins and regulators (myosins and Rho GTPases). We are also exploring the way in which lipid homeostasis (particularly referred to diacylglycerol) participates in the organization and traffic of membranes and in the formation of transport intermediaries. Lastly, we wish to establish the physiopathological bases whereby ethanol alters nerve cell function and the mechanism underlying internalization of the receptors of cytokines such as TGF-beta in the smooth muscle cells of the coronary vessels in cardiovascular patients.