Research areas
The scientific work undertaken by our group is related to three fundamental areas:
- Cellular mechanisms of oxygen sensing.
Within this area we investigate the nature of the sensors that mediate acute responses to hypoxia, especially in the carotid body and the adrenal medulla. We also investigate the regulation of genes (particularly those that code for ion channels) for chronic hypoxemia (maintained or intermittent). Within the general subject of oxygen homeostasis, we collaborate with other IBIS groups with a view to determining the possible role of aquaporins as oxygen channels. This area of research is related to pathologies derived from cerebral ischaemia or to those that appear in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other respiratory alterations.
- Neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease.
We study the mechanisms of cell death in models of Parkinson's disease by means of the generation of genetically modified animals (transgenic and "knock out" animals). In parallel, the way in which the intrastriatal transplants of cells producing dopamine and neurotrophic factors (for example, cells of the carotid body) slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease is investigated. Within this field, the expansion of the adult carotid body from stem cells described in this organ, and the relation between the growth of cells of the carotid body and its tumour-like transformation, are the subject of on-going research. The clinical objective of this research area is to identify new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease and to improve cell therapy techniques applicable to this disease. In collaboration with other IBIS groups in this area, we also aim to better understand the mechanism underlying the genesis of paragangliomas.
- Pathophysiological mechanisms of hypertension and vascular spasm.
In collaboration with other IBIS groups we are investigating the role of calcium channels as metabotropic mediators in vascular contractility. Within this area, we also study the regulation of the expression of ion channels by oxygen, especially the T-type calcium channel and the beta1 subunit of the maxi-K channel. The association between intermittent hypoxia, the expression of ion channels in vascular smooth muscle, and vascular risk in patients with sleep apnoea also forms part of our research endeavours.
Harasztosi, C; Wolter, S; Gutsche, K; Duran-Alonso, MB; Lopez-Hernandez, I; Pascual, A; Lopez-Barneo, J; Knipper, M; Ruttiger, L; Schimmang, T
Differential deletion of GDNF in the auditory system leads to altered sound responsiveness
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
Enterria-Morales, D; Lopez-Lopez, I; Lopez-Barneo, J; de Tassigny, XD
Role of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Maintenance of Adult Mesencephalic Catecholaminergic Neurons
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
Sanchez-Lopez, V; Gao, L; Ferrer-Galvan, M; Arellano-Orden, E; Elias-Hernandez, T; Jara-Palomares, L; Asensio-Cruz, MI; Castro-Perez, MJ; Rodriguez-Martorell, FJ; Lobo-Beristain, JL; Ballaz-Quincoces, A; Lopez-Campos, JL; Vila-Liante, V; Otero-Candelera, R
Differential biomarker profiles between unprovoked venous thromboembolism and cancer
ANNALS OF MEDICINE
Al Khazal, F; Kang, S; Holte, MN; Choi, DS; Singh, R; Ortega-Saenz, P; Lopez-Barneo, J; Maher, LJ
Unexpected obesity, rather than tumorigenesis, in a conditional mouse model of mitochondrial complex II deficiency
FASEB JOURNAL
Moreno-Dominguez, A; Ortega-Saenz, P; Gao, L; Colinas, O; Garcia-Flores, P; Bonilla-Henao, V; Aragones, J; Huttemann, M; Grossman, LI; Weissmann, N; Sommer, N; Lopez-Barneo, J
Acute O-2 sensing through HIF2 alpha-dependent expression of atypical cytochrome oxidase subunits in arterial chemoreceptors
SCIENCE SIGNALING
Ortega-Saenz, P; Lopez-Barneo, J
Physiology of the Carotid Body: From Molecules to Disease
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYSIOLOGY, VOL 82
Ortega-Saenz, P; Moreno-Dominguez, A; Gao, L; Lopez-Barneo, J
Molecular Mechanisms of Acute Oxygen Sensing by Arterial Chemoreceptor Cells. Role of Hif2 alpha
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
Sobrino, V; Platero-Luengo, A; Annese, V; Navarro-Guerrero, E; Gonzalez-Rodriguez, P; Lopez-Barneo, J; Pardal, R
Neurotransmitter Modulation of Carotid Body Germinal Niche
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
Enterria-Morales, D; Del Rey, NLG; Blesa, J; Lopez-Lopez, I; Gallet, S; Prevot, V; Lopez-Barneo, J; de Tassigny, XD
Molecular targets for endogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor modulation in striatal parvalbumin interneurons
BRAIN COMMUNICATIONS
Harasztosi C, Wolter S, Gutsche K, Durán-Alonso MB, López-Hernández I, Pascual A, López-Barneo J, Knipper M, Rüttiger L, Schimmang T
Differential deletion of GDNF in the auditory system leads to altered sound responsiveness.
J Neurosci Res.
Cabello-Rivera D, Sarmiento-Soto H, López-Barneo J, Muñoz-Cabello AM
Mitochondrial Complex I Function Is Essential for Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Proliferation and Differentiation.
Front Neurosci.
Gao L, Ortega-Sáenz P, López-Barneo J
Acute oxygen sensing-Role of metabolic specifications in peripheral chemoreceptor cells.
Respir Physiol Neurobiol.
Arias-Mayenco I, González-Rodríguez P, Torres-Torrelo H, Gao L, Fernández-Agüera MC, Bonilla-Henao V, Ortega-Sáenz P, López-Barneo J.
Acute O2 Sensing: Role of Coenzyme QH2/Q Ratio and Mitochondrial ROS Compartmentalization
Cell Metab.
Dong C, Helton ES, Zhou P, Ouyang X, d'Anglemont de Tassigny X, Pascual A, López-Barneo J, Ubogu EE. .
Glial-derived neurotrophic factor is essential for blood-nerve barrier functional recovery in an experimental murine model of traumatic peripheral neuropathy.
Tissue Barriers
Gao L, Ortega-Sáenz P, López-Barneo J.
Acute oxygen sensing-Role of metabolic specifications in peripheral chemoreceptor cells.
Respir Physiol Neurobiol.
López-Barneo J.
All for one - O2 -sensitive K+ channels that mediate carotid body activation
J Physiol
López-Barneo J.
Oxygen sensing and stem cell activation in the hypoxic carotid body.
Cell Tissue Res.
Macías D, Cowburn AS, Torres-Torrelo H, Ortega-Sáenz P, López-Barneo J,
HIF-2α is essential for carotid body development and function.
Johnson RS Elife
Sobrino V, González-Rodríguez P, Annese V, López-Barneo J, Pardal R.
Fast neurogenesis from carotid body quiescent neuroblasts accelerates adaptation to hypoxia.
EMBO Rep.
Torres-Torrelo H, Ortega-Sáenz P, Macías D, Omura M, Zhou T, Matsunami H, Johnson RS, Mombaerts P, López-Barneo J.
The role of Olfr78 in the breathing circuit of mice.
Nature
. Barrientos-Moreno M, Murillo-Pineda M, Muñoz-Cabello AM, Prado F.
Histone depletion prevents telomere fusions in pre-senescent cells
PLoS Genet