Research Project

 

 

Researcher: Alex C. Manhães

Emai: amanhaes@uerj.br

Laboratory: Neurophysiology

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Human teenagers often associate tobacco smoke with the consumption of alcoholic beverages, which suggests that these drugs interact in their actions on the central nervous system, especially during development. Despite the frequent association in the use of these drugs, little is known about the neurobiology of the double exposure in the adolescent brain.

 

Nicotine is considered the main psychoactive component of tobacco and it is known that this induces its pharmacological effects acting on nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs).

 

Ethanol, the main active component identified in alcoholic beverages, has as one of its main sites of action in GABAergic transmission systems. The maturation of both systems is consolidated during the periadolescent period. Given the deleterious effects of nicotine and ethanol consumption, including dependency, therapeutic strategies have been developed to facilitate the interruption in the use of both drugs.

 

Considering that nicotine and ethanol interact in their effect on the central nervous system and considering furthermore that it has already been shown that nicotine is able to cause dependency on less exposure time than ethanol, the focus of this work is the study of the effects of the treatments currently available for addiction to nicotine in an experimental model of combined exposure (nicotine + ethanol).

 

Despite the fact that the onset of cigarette use and alcohol often occurs during adolescence, little is known about the effects of exposure in this critical period of development and even less of the effects of the treatments currently available for the reversal of dependence in this same period.

 

Thus, by using experimental models, we evaluate in my lab the behavioral, neurochemical and endocrine short- and long-term outcomes associated with the exposure during adolescence to nicotine and/or ethanol followed by treatment with pharmacological compounds that aim to improve the odds that a successful quitting attempt will be observed.

 

A better understanding of the mechanisms by which the proposed treatment helps in stopping the use of cigarettes, particularly when the combined use of alcoholic beverages, can provide information relevant to the development of more effective and safe therapeutic approaches for teenagers and young adults.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Anderson Ribeiro Carvalho

Email: ribeiro_carvalho@yahoo.com.br

Laboratory: Neurophysiology

 

Research Interests and Projects: Neurobiology of drug abuse and dependence.

TITLE: Neurochemical and behavioral effects of nicotine/tobacco smoke and caffeine co-exposure during adolescence in mice.

Caffeine and nicotine (the main psychoactive component of tobacco) are among the most used psychoactive drugs in the world. Interestingly, epidemiological evidences indicate a strong association between the use of these substances, however the interaction between these drugs has received little attention in pre-clinical studies.

 

 

 

In fact, no experimental studies   have   evaluated   this   interaction   simulating   what   happens   to   humans,   which   the exposure   to   caffeine   occurs   throughout   the brain   development   period.   Furthermore,   no studies explored the possible interaction between caffeine and nicotine during adolescence, period which normally starts the co-use of these substances. Thus, this project focuses on the study of behavioral and neurochemical interactions of co-exposure to cigarette smoke and caffeine during   adolescence and after withdrawal period.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Andre Luiz Mencalha

Email: almencalha@yahoo.com.br

Laboratory: Laboratory of Cancer Biology

 

Research Interests and Projects:

The laboratory currently conduct a well-integrated basic research about several mechanisms of cancer hallmarks: elucidate the cellular changes associated with hypoxia microenvironment, importance of DNA repair pathways to tumour cell, detect and characterize epigenetic changes, mainly DNA methylation, and its role to regulation of genes involved cancer, develop rational approaches and alternatives treatments combined to traditional chemotherapy to improve the therapy against cancer cells. Studies are performed in cellular cancer models. Laboratory has collaboration with National Cancer Institute and is financial supoorted by FAPERJ and CNPq.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Cíntia Barros Santos-Rebouças, PhD

Email: cbs@uerj.br

Laboratory: Human Genetics Laboratory / Department of Genetics

 

Research Interests and Projects:

The aim of my research group is to characterize(new) genetic and epigenetic aspects concerning human neurological diseases, focusing mainly in intellectual disability (ID) in children and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in elderly. Furthermore, our group is interested onthe mechanisms underlying X chromosome inactivation and their association with different conditions.

 

ID is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior. Most of individuals with ID remain without a diagnosis, highlighting the existence of still unknown genes/molecular mechanisms able to affect cognitive function. Interestingly, chromosome X is enriched in genes acting on brain development and ID is more prevalent in males who have only one X chromosome. So, we have focused on sequence mutations and genomic imbalances analyses in brain expressed X-linked genes that could have a direct effect on ID. Autosomal causes of ID have also been investigated.

 

 AD is a progressive neurodegenerative condition, which promotes the gradual decline in memory and other cognitive functions. Whereas for familial cases, mutations in three genes have been well defined (APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2), genetic factors underlying the sporadic form, that accounts for more than 95% of all cases, remain unclear. So, our goal is to identify additional genetic factors that could act as modulators of AD riskin our population.

 

Inactivation of one X chromosome in females achieves dosage compensation between both sexes. We are using new methodologies to improve the characterization of X inactivation process, demonstrating its importance in sexually dimorphic disease risk.

 

Strategies that are being used in research lines include sequence, copy number, epigenetic and functional analyses through recent high throughput methodologies and bioinformatics tools. These procedures areconducted in our own laboratory or in collaboration with national/international partner groups. Our work has led to a greater understanding of the influence of human sequence variants over a wide spectrum of human genes.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Claudio Carneiro Filgueiras

Email: ccfilg@yahoo.com.br

Laboratory: Neurophysiology

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is associated with several neurobehavioral disorders in children and adolescents such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning and memory deficits and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In our laboratory, we used animal models to: 1) investigate the mechanisms involved in the manifestation of the disorders resulting from the early exposure to ethanol and; 2) develop strategies that reduce or reverse the teratogenic effects of ethanol.

 

Current projects:

1) Neurobehavioral effects of combined exposure to caffeine and ethanol during development.

2) Effects of neonatal exposure to ethanol on the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis of mice

3) Influence of litter size on the manifestation of neurobehavioral consequences of developmental ethanol exposure in mice.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Dayane Teixeira Ognibene

Email: dayognibene@gmail.com

Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Medicinal Plants

 

Research Interests and Projects

General research interests mainly in the field of medicinal plants pharmacological studies. Particular research activities focus on the mechanisms involved in prevention/treatment of hypertension and its cardiovascular complications in experimental models using plant extracts. Our research group is currently investigating the mechanisms involved in the maternal and fetal protection of the açaí seed extract (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in experimental preeclampsia, and in the beneficial effects of Alpinia zerumbet leaves extract on the cardiovascular system in a model of essential hypertension. Our work also involves identifying the main chemical constituents in the extracts that may be related to cardiovascular protection.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Dayse Aparecida da Silva

Email: dayse.a.silva@gmail.com

Laboratory: DNA Diagnostic Laboratory, State University of Rio de Janeiro.

 

Academic Degrees and Career

Degree in Biology by the Faculty of Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State, in 1994; PhD in Biology by the Biology Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, in 2004. Professor since 2012 at State University of Rio de Janeiro.

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Genetics and Applied Genetics. Forensics (human and non-human DNA analysis), diagnosis of genetic diseases and molecular biodiversity.

Genetic diversity studies of human and nonhuman populations based on autosomal, lineage and mtDNA markers addressed to understanding of migratory processes, genomic ancestry and an identification of human and nonhuman species;

Development of analytical and descriptive molecular tools and techniques suitable for the analysis of specific genome markers for studies in forensic, genomic medicine and biodiversity;

 

Projects

Population Genetics and Forensic studies Population Genetics and Forensics

Goal: Human populations studies using DNA markers. Study of genetic diversity in species other than the human through DNA markers.

 

DNA, Genetics and Justice Population Genetics and Forensics

Goal: Ancestry studies. Human and non-human DNA criminal investigations.

 

Nutritional Status and Blood Pressure of two population samples of children and adolescents aged 6 to 15 years, with interval of 30 years, in a geographical area of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro. Study of Rio de Janeiro UERJ Researcher

Goal: To evaluate the nutritional status and BP by age and gender, in two population samples of schoolchildren aged 6 to 15 years, evaluated at interval of 30 years.

 

Genetic Polymorphism in Heart Failure PREV-IC: Study Group on Heart Failure UERJ Researcher

Goal: To identify genetic polymorphisms associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the population of the State of Rio de Janeiro and implement the first stage for pharmacogenetics.

 

Molecular Ecology Fish Ecology of Streams UERJ Researcher

Goal: In this research we aim to perform biodiversity diagnoses in streams of the Atlantic Forest, in addition to tracing patterns of fish movement using molecular markers

 

Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics in wild birds and primates. Rural Genetics UFRRJ Researcher

Goal:To create a database of DNA of wild animals of the Brazilian fauna addressed to the conservation of the species.

 

Identify the sex in birds. Analyze genetically natural populations of primates.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Israel Felzenszwalb

Email: uerj.felzen@gmail.com

Laboratory: Laboratory of Environmental Mutagenesis

 

Research Interests and Projects:

The genotoxic effects induced by physical and chemical agents, natural and / or synthetic, are issues that we studied in LABMUT.  The experimental models use mutants of Salmonella typhimurium, in addition to eukaryotic cells, in in vitro studies.

 

To study the active fraction and / or substance responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity from T. coccinea and T. tagusensis samples and to continue the research of potential bioactive substances in methanolic, ethanolic and synthesized substances of these corals.

 

In the treatment of hepatocytes with the megazol analogues, evaluate the genotoxicity, identify the expressed cytochrome P450 genes and identify and quantify the metabolites generated.

 

To study photoprotective and toxicological responses induced by the Sanionia uncinata moss coming from the Antarctic peninsula, with the purpose of prospecting non-toxic semi-pure extracts and promising in photoprotection.

 

To evaluate the mutagenic or antimutagenic potential of graviola pulp, seeds and leaves (Annona muricata L.) using the Salmonella / microsome assay and the plant-induced cytotoxicity in tumor cells.

 

Immunotoxicology of atovarstatin analogues Pollution.

 

Toxicological evaluation of waste discarded in the environment.

 

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Katia Costa de Carvalho sabino

Email: katiasabino2000@gmail.com

Laboratory: LIA-BPPN

 

Research Interests:

Biochemistry, cellular and molecular pharmacology of herbal and synthetic substances. Antitumor and imunoregulator action.

 

Project: Screening of substances with in vitro imunoregulator and/or antitumor action, associated to the study of the structure-activity relationship.

Objective: Study of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the antitumor action and/or imunoreguladora of natural and synthetic substances

 

Project: Study of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the antitumor action of natural and synthetic substances.

Objective: to evaluate the effect of different synthetic substances and samples obtained natural products on proliferation and cell death in tumor lines, evaluating their molecular mechanisms of action. Evaluate effects on cell cycle, apoptosis, on mRNA and protein expression of cell cycle regulatory molecules as cyclins, inhibitors of the cycle, as well as regulatory protein of apoptosis as Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, Apaf-1, FAS, etc..

 

Project: Study of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the immunoregulator action of natural products and synthetic substances

Objective: to study the regulatory action and the mechanisms of action of different substances and plant species on in vitro and in vivo response of lymphocytes and macrophages.

 

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Leonor Gusmão

Email: leonorbgusmao@gmail.com

Laboratory: DNA Diagnostic Laboratory (LDD)

 

Research Interests and Projects:

My research is focused on population and forensic genetics using recombining and non-recombining markers, and in kinship testing using autosomal and X-chromosomal markers.

 

My main interests are to disclose evolutionary and historical relationships between human populations, and to investigate the impact of populations’ structure in forensic applications, by characterizing genetic diversity patterns using autosomal, X and Y linked, as well as mtDNA markers.

 

My current projects include the study of paternal and maternal ancestry of Southeast Brazil; the genetics of pigmentary traits and correlation to ancestry in the Brazilian population; the evaluation of different strategies to estimate ancestry in admixed populations from South America; to outline the ancestry landscape of South American Admixed and Native populations (including populations from Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru); to trace the maternal and paternal genetic affinities among the three main ethnic groups in Nigeria; to investigate the Y-chromosomal diversity in Vietnam and its correlation with geography and ethnicity.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Luis Caetano Martha Antunes

Email: antunes@ensp.fiocruz.br

Laboratory: National Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis

 

Research Interests and Projects:

My group is interested in the role played by small molecules during microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions. Microbes are known to actively communicate through the production and sensing of small diffusible molecules, and are also capable of sensing molecules produced by their hosts and other environmental cues.

 

Our work is focused on identifying new molecules, was well as the signaling events dependent upon them, that are critical for cellular interactions.

 

Recently, this has been done with a focus on microbiomes, complex microbial communities that inhabit our bodies. We have recently shown that the human microbiome is an untapped source of molecules with important biological functions.

 

By studying these molecules and the microbial traits they control we can deepen our knowledge on the biology of the organisms involved, how they interact in their natural communities, and how these interactions can be harvested for the development of new therapeutics.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Marcia Cristina Paes Ribeiro

Email: marcia.paes.uerj@gmail.com

Laboratory: Laboratório de Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Marcia Cristina Paes is PhD in Biological Chemistry from the Institute of Medical Biochemistry (IBQM) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro with a postdoctoral degree from the University of Bath, England. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), State Scientist (CNE) and Pro-Scientist of the Department of Biochemistry of the Institute of Biology (IBRAG) where she coordinates the Laboratory of Interaction of Trypanosomatids and Vectors that has collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and University of Nottingham.

 

She participates as a permanent professor of IBRAG Graduate Program in Biosciences and the Graduate Program in Microbiology of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, both at UERJ, directing Master and Doctoral students in the generation of knowledge.

Her research, development and innovation projects involve: (i) Metabolism of the Heme molecule in Trypanosoma cruzi in the parasite/vector relation, (ii) biochemical mechanisms, involving cellular signaling and redox status, of the process of infection of vertebrate hosts by T cruzi and (iii) biotechnological studies of new products with potential therapeutic action against Chagas disease, in vitro and in vivo, pointing to new possibilities in the treatment of the disease.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Márcia Mattos Gonçalves Pimentel

Email: pimentel@uerj.br

Laboratory: Human Genetics Service/SERVGEN – UERJ (PHLC – 501F)

 

Research Interests and Projects:

The professor develops researches in the area of Human Molecular Genetics, directed to the investigation of genetic factors of predisposition to neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, her main projects refer to the study of genetic variants in the LRRK2, SNCA, GBA, VPS35, EIF4G1, CHCHD2 and RIC3 genes associated with Parkinson's disease.

 

This is an innovative and promising research in terms of Brazil, which will complement existing information and contribute substantially to a better understanding of the relationship between genetic variants of risk and Parkinson's disease in Brazilian population, considering the scarcity of studies with this focus on Latin American populations.

 

In addition to the potential of this research in relation to the generation of new knowledge, an immediate impact will be due to the strengthening of interlocution and exchange with researchers linked to different teaching and research institutions in the country, as well as, in relation to the consolidation of an important Nucleus of Research in the State of Rio de Janeiro, focused on the study of Parkinson's disease.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Marsen Garcia Pinto Coelho

Email: marsengpc@gmail.com

Laboratory: Laboratory of applied Immunology and biochemistry of proteins and natural products (LIABPPN)

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Study of Immuno-toxicological aspects and phytochemistry of natural products

The research is included in the group of CNPq: Immunochemistry of inflammation/action of natural products and develops preclinical, toxicological and phytochemicals studies of medicinal plants.

 

The aim is to evaluate the pharmacological potential of natural products in vitro/in vivo by activities: acute and chronic anti-inflammatory; anti-arthritic; antitumor; analgesic; acute, subacute, sub-chronic toxicity; immunomodulary; cellular and humoral response; anti-proliferative on immune system cells and established cell lines; antioxidant; modulation of expression and production of mediators involved in inflammatory response; and the mechanism of action of bioactive fractions.The fractionation of extract and fractions are performed by using hyphenated chromatographic methods aiming the isolation and identification of the active substances.

 

Pharmacological and biochemical study of medicinal plants

 

The great biodiversity of Brazil gives to our country great potential to develop new drugs from plants. Over the last few years, our research group has been carrying out pioneering pre-clinical studies on the beneficial cardiovascular, metabolic and neurobehavioral actions of the hydro-alcohol extract obtained from the fruit seed of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (ASE), known as Açaí, and the alcoholic extract obtained from grape skin (ACH09), both rich in polyphenols. Our preclinical studies demonstrate that both extracts promote antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and body weight reduction. Nitric oxide, an antioxidant action, and increased insulin sensitivity appear to be involved in many of the effects of ASE and ACH09.

 

Currently, we investigate the beneficial effects of both extracts in animal model of obesity and the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. Preliminary studies indicate that ASE improves physical performance, and has antidepressant action, suggesting a neuroprotective effect to the extract.

 

Therefore, we also investigate the mechanisms of physical performance improvement induced by ASE, as well as its actions on spatial memory and learning, of young and old animals. Our study may represent an advance in the better understanding of the pharmacological properties of ASE and ACH09, adding an important value to the patents, regarding the process of obtaining and therapeutic indications of the extracts.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Patricia Cristina Lisboa

Email: pclisboa@uerj.br

Laboratory: Endocrine Physiology

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Researchers from the Laboratory of Endocrine Physiology (Physiology Department / State University of Rio de Janeiro) have been carrying out animal studies in the area of metabolic programming or developmental plasticity (the Barker Hypothesis).

 

This group has been studying the mechanisms involved in the development of nutritional, endocrine and metabolic disorders arising from early exposure to changes in the nutritional pattern (for eg., undernutrition, overfeeding) or exposure to environmental factors (for eg., smoking, bisphenols), which are known to increase the chances of developing obesity, cardiometabolic diseases and behavioral alterations.

 

Our current interest is to uncover the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

 

Current projects:

1) Endocannabinoid system in the model of overfeeding during breastfeeding period.

2) Hepatic Lipid Metabolism in Low Weight and Overweight Models.

3) Metabolic dysfunction and endocrine diruptors: role of early bisphenol exposure (BPA and BPS).

4) Brown adipose tissue function in the model of postnatal tobacco smoke exposure.

5) Endocannabinoid system in the model of maternal nicotine exposure.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Penha Cristina Barradas Daltro-Santos

Email: penhabarradas@gmail.com

Laboratory: Developmental Neurobiology

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Despite the advances in neonatal medicine, the number of children with neurological deficits after perinatal injuries has remained stable during the last years. Human infant brains submitted to hypoxia present oligodendrocyte loss, hypomyelination, astrogliosis and alterations in cortical and cerebellar development. The effects of intrauterine insults have been evaluated in a model of HI in rats, which mimics the systemic insults in humans.

 

The reduction of oxygen supply by the obstruction of uterine arteries for 45 minutes results in astrogliosis, oligodendrocyte loss, axonal rupture, neuronal loss in cortical layers and alterations in motor behavior. These alterations are similar to those ones observed in humans that had suffered perinatal HI. This model may mimic the structural and functional effects observed in human brains and may be used to comprehend the mechanisms of cell alterations observed in perinatal HI as well as in the evaluation of therapeutic strategies.

 

 

This project is divided into six sublines: Subline 1: Excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammatory response along the development of rats submitted to a model of perinatal HI; Subline 2: Effects of perinatal HI insult on cerebellar and hippocampal differentiation: role of microglia-astrocyte interaction in a model of prenatal HI lesion; Subline 3: Morphofunctional evaluation of periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) in a model of prenatal systemic HI: glial reactivity and nociception; Subline 4: Physical conditioning during pregnancy as a prevention model to morphofunctional damages in cerebellum and motor cortex of rats submitted to systemic prenatal HI.

 

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Rodolpho Mattos Albano

Email: albano@uerj.

Laboratory: Toxicology and Molecular Biology Laboratory

 

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Our laboratory is interested in two main research areas:

Microbiology and Cancer. In the former, we focus on the biodiversity and genetic variability of environmental microorganisms and in genomics of pathogenic and economically important microbes. Microbial communities ofenvironmental microbes are studied by DNA sequencing of taxonomic tags in next generation platforms. This information is used to understand the dynamics and ecological interactions among microbes of aquatic and symbiotic communities through the application of bioinformatics.

 

Next generation sequencing also allows us to study the molecular mechanisms involved in drug resistance and virulence of pathogenic microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia through whole genome shotgun sequencing. Isolates of these bacteria recovered from patients with cystic fibrosis or with nosocomial infections are studied to monitor infections and uncover the molecular processes involved in the transmission and dissemination of these pathogens.

 

In the study of cancer, we concentrate our efforts on the molecular biology of solid malignant tumours in which we aim to detect and characterise molecular markers for prognostic and diagnostic purposes in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

 

For this, we study the expression and mutations of genes associated with energy metabolism, HPV infection, TP53 mutations, alterations in the EGFR pathway, mutations in proto-oncogenes and in tumor suppressor genes from biochemical pathways normally associated with these tumours.

 

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Simone Vargas da Silva

Email: si_vargas@oi.com.br

Laboratory: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology

 

Research Interests:

Obesity, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, adipogenesis and w3 fatty acids

 

Projects: The role of obesity and dietary supplementation with chia oil on the molecular and functional mechanisms that regulate adipogenesis and their implications on the development of comorbidities.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Tatiana de Almeida Simão

Email: tasimao@gmail.com

Laboratory: Toxicology and Molecular Biology Laboratory

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Cancer is the leading cause of death in economically developed countries and the second leading cause of death in developing countries, such as Brazil. This scenery highlights the need for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that lead to tumor development. Tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract (with emphasis on tumors of the esophagus, oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx) are highly incident in Brazil, as well as endometrial cancer, especially type I, which has been showing a progressive incidence increase.

 

Thus, the use of new molecular analysis tools, such as the analysis of global gene expression profile and global methylation, may be fundamental to improve the knowledge regarding tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract and endometrium. This may lead to the identification of potential biomarkers for early detection of these tumors, as well as prognostic biomarkers and/or targeted therapies.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Thomas Eichenberg Krahe

Email: tekrahe@gmail.com

Laboratory: Neurophysiology DCF / IBRAG

 

Research Interests and Projects:

Dr. Krahe's research focuses on the plasticity and function of the developing visual system. Of particular interest is understanding how teratogenic drugs, such as nicotine and alcohol, affect the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the establishment and plasticity of sensory connections in mice.

 

We are also investigating the effects of prenatal hypoxic-ischemic insults on the development and function of the visual system of rats. Currently in the lab we are utilizing different techniques, including in vitro electrophysiological recordings, the use of anterograde tracers, measurement of pupillary reflex and visually guided behaviors as well as western blots and immunohistochemical assays.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Verônica Morandi – Associate Professor

Laboratory of Biology of Endothelial Cells and Angiogenesis (LabAngio)

E-mails: veronica@uerj.br / morandi.v@gmail.com

 

Research interests:

Modulation of cell adhesion in angiogenesis and cancer Cell adhesion is of fundamental importance in the development and maintenance of tissues. The mechanical interactions between a cell and its extracellular matrix (ECM) can influence and control cell behavior.  Matricellular proteins are non-structural components that fine-tune cell-ECM interactions and cellular functions.

 

Prototypical matricellular proteins such as thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and tenascin-C (TN-C), are often dysregulated in cancer.  ECM is an essential component of angiogenesis, responsible for triggering crucial signaling pathways leading to endothelial cell migration, invasion, proliferation and survival. One of our main goals is to understand the role of TSP-1 and TN-C during the morphogenesis of endothelial cells into structures with lumen, also known as tubulogenesis.

 

We have investigated the role of integrins, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, tyrosine kinase receptors for angiogenic growth factors - such as VEGFR2 and FGFR1 - and proteases involved in tubulogenesis, in both adult and progenitor endothelial cells.

 

Cell adhesion is also crucially modulated during tumor interaction with activated endothelial cells.

 

Transendothelial migration and firm adhesion to the subendothelial matrix are essential steps to be concluded by successful metastatic tumor cells.

 

With our collaborators, we have studied the effect of natural-derived molecules, such as sulfated fucans (from marine invertebrates) and disintegrins (from snake venoms) in tumor cell growth and interaction with endothelial cells, with emphasis on the cell receptors and adhesion-dependent signaling pathways targeted by these molecules.

 

 

 

 

Researcher: Yael Abreu-Villaça

Email: yael_a_v@yahoo.com.br / yael_a_v@pq.cnpq.br

Laboratory: Neurophysiology

 

Research Interests and Projects:

My research group focuses on two distinct but interconnected aspects of the smoking condition.

 

1) Nicotine is considered the main psychoactive constituent of tobacco smoke.Accordingly, several aspects of its effects, associations with diseases such as addiction and mood disorders and interactions with other drugs of abuse have been investigated

 

However, most experimental studies use adult animals, disregarding the fact that smoking initiates during adolescence, a period of higher susceptibility to nicotine. To investigate the risk factors for nicotine deleterious health effects during this period of development, we investigate behavioral and neurochemical endpoints.

 

We use animal models of acute and subchronic exposure to this drug and the combined exposure between nicotine and other drugs such as ethanol.

 

2) Tobacco smoke consists of approximately of 5600 components. Recently, the omnipotent role of nicotine has been questioned, asconstituents of tobacco smoke other than nicotine are suggested to either play independent roles or to interfere with nicotine effects on the central nervous system.

 

Our group is interested in comparing the effects of nicotine and tobacco in experimental animals. We investigate whether tobacco exposure results in worst outcomes than nicotine due to interactions between drugs andwhether it is safe to use tobacco products with low nicotine levels.