A5023039989- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Genetic Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
- Sirtuins and Resveratrol in Medicine
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Cancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
- Nuclear Structure and Function
- Pancreatic function and diabetes
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Sleep and related disorders
University of Coimbra
2016-2025
Gene Therapy Laboratory
2025
Center for Innovation
2021-2023
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (Czechia)
2021
Center for Neurosciences
2012-2021
Institute for Biomedicine
2021
Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular
2012-2021
Cell2B (Portugal)
2007-2009
University Hospital of Lausanne
2002-2005
Hôpital Nestlé
2003
Abstract Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by an abnormal expansion of the CAG triplet in ATXN3 gene, translating into polyglutamine tract within ataxin-3 protein. The available treatments only ameliorate symptomatology and do not block progression. In this study we find that caloric restriction dramatically rescues motor incoordination, imbalance associated neuropathology transgenic MJD mice. We further show SIRT1 levels mice, whereas silencing...
Insulin resistance is a major predictor of the development metabolic disorders. Sirtuins (SIRTs) have emerged as potential targets that can be manipulated to counteract age-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes. SIRT2 has been recently shown exert important effects, but whether regulates insulin sensitivity in hepatocytes currently unknown. The aim this study investigate possibility and elucidate underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we show downregulated insulin-resistant livers, was...
Significance Autophagy impairment is a major hallmark of aging, and any intervention that enhances autophagy potential interest to delay aging. However, it was described the hypothalamus brain area with key role on whole-body In present study, we show an endogenous molecule produced by hypothalamus, neuropeptide Y (NPY), stimulates in rodent hypothalamus. Because both hypothalamic NPY levels decrease age, better understanding neuronal regulation may provide new putative therapeutic...
Caloric restriction is an anti-aging intervention known to extend lifespan in several experimental models, at least part, by stimulating autophagy. increases neuropeptide Y (NPY) the hypothalamus and plasma ghrelin, a peripheral gut hormone that acts modulate energy homeostasis. NPY ghrelin have been shown be neuroprotective different brain areas induce physiological modifications similar those induced caloric restriction. However, effect of autophagy cortical neurons currently not known....
It has been claimed that glutamate excitotoxicity might have a role in the pathogenesis of several retinal degenerative diseases, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) neuroprotective properties against hippocampus, through activation Y1, Y2 and/or Y5 receptors. The principal objective this study is to investigate potential protective NPY glutamate-induced toxicity rat cells (in vitro an animal model), unraveling receptors intracellular mechanisms involved. Rat...
Abstract Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is caused by an abnormal CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN3 gene, leading to expression of a mutant ataxin-3 (mutATXN3) protein. MJD patients exhibit wide range clinical symptoms, including motor incoordination. Emerging evidence highlights circadian rhythm disruptions as early indicators and potential risk factors for progression neurodegenerative conditions. Circadian rhythms are regulated internal clocks, with suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) acting...
Abstract Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is increasingly recognized as a critical regulator of cellular behavior, governing processes such proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism. Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, impaired autophagy, progressive softening the brain tissue, yet research into how mechanical cues influence metabolism in this context remains scarce. In study, we evaluated long-term effects brain-compliant,...
Abstract The hypothalamus has been recognized as a regulator of whole-body aging. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), highly abundant in the central nervous system and produced by hypothalamus, enhances autophagy this brain region mediates triggered caloric restriction, suggesting potential role restriction mimetic an aging regulator. Considering that hypothalamic NPY levels decline during aging, we investigated if reestablishment mitigate phenotype, using mouse model premature – Zmpste24 −/− mouse....
Chromaffin cells, sympathetic neurons of the dorsal ganglia, and intermediate small intensely fluorescent cells derive from a common neural crest progenitor cell. Contrary to closely related nervous system, within adult adrenal medulla subpopulation undifferentiated persists, recently, we established method isolate differentiate these bovine adrenals. However, no studies have elucidated existence human medulla. Here describe isolation, characterization, differentiation chromaffin obtained...