Research Projects

Growing evidence suggests that unbalanced Wnt signalling contributes to early stages of Alzheimer´s Disease (AD). mRNA levels of the Wnt antagonist Dikkoff1 (Dkk1) are increased in AD brains and by Amyloid-ß (Aß) in vitro. Importantly, suppression of Dkk1 activity protects synapses from Aß. Genome-Wide Association Studies also provide evidence for...

Most of secreted proteins transit through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. However, eukaryotic cells secrete cytosolic proteins, which do not enter the ER. Proteins that use this “unconventional secretory pathway” include factors with critical functions and deregulation of their transport is associated to a wide range of...

Immune cells continuously traverse our body, crossing vascular and epithelial barriers; from lymphatic organs into the blood, and from the blood into various tissues for surveillance or to fight infection. However, the brain has long been considered an immune-privileged organ. Barriers protecting the brain against infection or harmful toxic agents...

The aim of this action is to understand the mechanisms behind the susceptibility of enthorinal cortex II (ECII) neurons to neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation in Alzheimer´s disease. To do so we will modulate the expression of the genes that according to NetWAS (Network-wide Association Study) are more directly involved in NFT formation in ECII...

It is now increasingly clear that most of our genome is transcribed, but that only a small portion is associated with protein coding gene. Indeed, recent analysis indicate that long non-coding RNA outnumbered by five fold the coding RNA sequences. Despite this abundance, very little is known on the function of these long non-coding RNA. The aim of...

Neurons transmit information by connecting with other neurons over long distances through their dendrites and axons. Repeated stimulation places a high metabolic demand on these cells, leading to the accumulation of defective organelles and protein aggregates. To maintain protein homeostasis, neurons rely on constitutive autophagy to remove these...

Mutations in certain proteins can cause their misfolding and aggregation, posing a potential threat to the health of an organism. Protein aggregation is counteracted by protein quality control (PQC) mechanisms that reduce the amounts of damaged molecules. As we age, however, the crucial surveillance mechanisms weaken and become less effective...

Cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and other age-related dementias affects ~55 million people worldwide, and is a growing problem in aging European societies. However, most drugs fail at clinical trial, and approved treatments aimed at controlling or reversing pathological changes in the brain do not improve cognition in...

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a crucial problem in our society, raising the need for new therapeutic targets. Evidence suggests multiple non-neuronal cells are implicated in the systemic deficits of AD, but the complex cellular diversity in the brain hampers the investigation of specific cells and their interactions. Moreover, the course of the...

Ginkgo biloba extracts are among the most widely used plant-based health supplements in the United States and Europe. However, increasing demand has led to unsustainable overharvesting, resulting in Ginkgo biloba being classified as an endangered species. These extracts contain bioactive compounds, such as ginkgolides and bilobalide. Bilobalide, in...

The Tau protein during Alzheimer's disease (AD) becomes hyperphosphorylated, misfolds, and aggregates into neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Despite knowing the involvement of Tau in AD, the exact mechanism that drives Tau-mediated toxicity is largely unclear. Studying the Tau interactome is an excellent way to decipher the mechanism of Tau toxicity...

Age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or frontotemporal dementia (FTD), are a major public health problem since there is no effective treatment due to the poor understanding of the pathological processes involved in neuronal death. RNA editing, particularly A-to-I changes mediated by ADAR enzymes...