ALTERATIONS IN BRAIN CHOLESTEROL HOMEOSTASIS AND TRAFFICKING IN AGING AND INFLAMMATION. FUNCTIONAL AND EPIGENETIC CONSEQUENCES
Disruption of cholesterol homeostasis in the brain has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, or Multiple Sclerosis, as well as cognitive impairment during aging. Our laboratory studies the consequences of alterations in brain cholesterol homeostasis and trafficking on the proper function of neuronal and glial cells.
Main research lines include:
- Alterations in cholesterol trafficking and metabolism in astrocytes during aging and astrogliosis.
- Astrocyte–neuron cholesterol transport and its impact on synaptic function.
- Epigenetic regulation of genes associated with synaptic plasticity and memory during aging.
- Therapeutic strategies based on cannabinoids and phytosterols to reverse dysfunctions associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
COMPETITIVE RESEARCH FUNDS
As Principal Investigator, Dr. Martín has obtained sustained funding from the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion (PICT), CONICET, and SeCyT-UNC.
PUBLICATIONS (LATEST FIVE YEARS)
- Allende L.G., Natalí L., Cragnolini A.B., Musri M.M., de Mendoza D and Martín M.G.* Impaired cholesterol transport from aged astrocytes to neurons can be rescued by cannabinoids. 2023, Biorxiv doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.24.550299.
- Sodero, A.O., Castagna, V.C., Elorza, S.D., Gonzalez-Rodulfo S.M., Paulazo M.A., Ballestero J., Martin, M.G.*, Gomez-Casati, M.E.* Phytosterols reverse antiretroviral-induced hearing loss, with potential implications for cochlear aging. PLoS Biology, 2023, 21(8), e3002257.
- Martín, M.G.*, Dotti, C.G.* Game-changer in the fight against Huntington’s disease: Cholesterol nanoparticles restore brain function in mice. Pharmacological Research, 2023, 194, 106879
- Zlocowski N, Sosa LDV, De la Cruz-Thea B, Guido CB, Martin MG, Mukdsi JH, Torres AI, Petiti JP. 2023.The epigenetic EZH2/H3K27me3 axis modulates lactotroph tumor cell proliferation. J Endocrinol. 2023 Feb 1: JOE-22-0195. doi: 10.1530/JOE-22-0195.
- Cataldi, G, Elorza, S, Toledano-Zaragoza, A, Cragnolini, A. and Martín, MG*. 2023. Cholesterol-24-hydroxylase (CYP46) in the old brain: Analysis of positive populations and factors triggering its expression in astrocytes. Journal of Comparative Neurology 531:486–499.
- Martin MG* and Dotti CG*. Plasma membrane and brain dysfunction of the old: Do we age from our membranes? Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2022. DOI 10.3389/fcell.2022.1031007.
- Guix FX, Marrero Capitán A, Casadomé-Perales A, Palomares-Pérez I, López del Castillo I, Miguel V, Goedeke L, Martín MG, Lamas S, Peinado H, Fernández- Hernando C and Dotti CG. 2021. Increased exosome secretion in neurons aging in vitro by NPC1-mediated endosomal cholesterol buildup. Life Science Alliance, 2021, 4(8), e202101055.
- Perea Vega ML, Sanchez MS, Fernández G, Paglini MG, Martín MG and Barioglio SR. 2021. Ghrelin treatment leads to dendritic spine remodeling in hippocampal neurons and increases the expression of specific BDNF-mRNA species. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. 107409.
- Complete and updated list available here.
