RESEARCH GROUP
NEUROSCIENCES AREA
NEURO-REGENERATION RESEARCH GROUP
STAFF SCIENTISTS:
Diana Simón Sanz Ph.D.
COLLABORATORS:
Mª Teresa Moreno Flores Ph.D.
GRADUATE STUDENTS:
María Portela Lomba
RESEARCH:
- Molecular characterization of the neuro-regenerative properties of olfactory ensheathing glia.
- Direct reprogramming of olfactory ensheathing glia to neurons.
SUMMARY
Olfactory ensheathing glial (OEG) cells, obtained from olfactory bulb primary cultures are potent mediators of regeneration in the CNS. Functional genomics experiments identified molecules expressed by OEG, which are relevant in the regeneration of adult axons, some of which are related to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
At present, we are studying the role of this pathway in neuro regeneration mediated by OEG.
We are also interested in direct reprogramming of OEG into neurons. These induced neurons (iNs) could be transplanted to injured central nervous system regions, where they could act as a relay between host neurons, promoting functional recovery.
PUBLICATIONS over the last 7 years:
Cell therapy for spinal cord injury with olfactory ensheathing glia cells (OECs). Gómez RM, Sánchez MY, Portela-Lomba M, Ghotme K, Barreto GE, Sierra J, Moreno-Flores MT. Glia. (2018) 66(7):1267-1301. doi: 10.1002/glia.23282.
Olfactory Ensheathing Cell-Conditioned Medium Reverts Aβ25-35-Induced Oxidative Damage in SH-SY5Y Cells by Modulating the Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptotic Pathway. Fu QQ, Wei L, Sierra J, Cheng JZ, Moreno-Flores MT, You H, Yu HR. Cell Mol Neurobiol. (2017) 37(6):1043-1054.
Transduction of an immortalized olfactory ensheathing glia cell line with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene: Evaluation of its neuroregenerative capacity as a proof of concept. Plaza N, Simón D, Sierra J, Moreno-Flores MT. Neurosci Lett. (2016) 612:25-31.
Reginensi D, Carulla P, Nocentini S, Seira O, Serra-Picamal X, Torres-Espín A, Matamoros-Angles A, Gavín R, Moreno-Flores MT, Wandosell F, Samitier J, Trepat X, Navarro X, Del Río JA. Increased migration of olfactory ensheathing cells secreting the Nogo receptor ectodomain over inhibitory substrates and lesioned spinal cord. Cell Mol Life Sci. (2015) 72(14):2719-37.
PROJECTS over the last 7 years:
Title: Transdifferentiation of the human olfactory ensheathing glia and identification of new therapeutic targets to regenerate the spinal cord.
PI: Mª Teresa Moreno Flores
Funding agency and project reference: MINECO, Ref. SAF2017-82736-C2-1-R.
Period: 01/2018-12/2020
Title: Transdifferentiation of the human olfactory ensheathing glia forn the regeneration of spinal cord injury.
PI: Javier Sierra
Funding agency and project reference: Universidad Francisco de Vitoria.
Period: 01/2019-12/2019
Title: Role of Wnt/βcatenin pathway in neuro regeneration mediated by OEG.
PI: Javier Sierra
Funding agency and project reference: Universidad Francisco de Vitoria.
Period: 01/2018-12/2018
Title: Role of Wnt/βcatenin pathway in neuro regeneration mediated by OEG.
PI: Mª Teresa Moreno Flores
Funding agency and project reference: Interuniversity Cooperation Projects with Asia UAM-Santander.
Period: 09/2017-02/2019
Institute of Life Sciences
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday to Friday