| Activity of the group |
Brain disorders are the major cause of disease in Europe; they represent an estimated annual cost of 500-700 billion euros and have limited therapeutic options. Since neurodegenerative diseases start with an early loss of synapses (contacts between neurons) that precedes neuronal death, the group studies synaptic modulation systems with the final aim to control synaptic degeneration, thus preventing the early stages of degenerative diseases. Our primary focus are purine receptors (adenosine and ATP receptors) and their synergies with other modulation systems such cannabinoid or nicotinic receptors. We grasp their roles in normal brain function and their neuroprotective role in in vitro and in vivo models of chronic brain diseases.
HIGLIGHTS: we found that chronic consumption of caffeine (an adenosine receptor blocker) is an effective protective strategy against neurodegeneration in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, stress, neuro-inflammation, diabetic encephalopathy, epilepsy and age-related memory loss. |
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| Group members |
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| Ana Patrícia Simões |
| PhD student |
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| Elisabete Augusto |
| PhD student |
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| Samira Ferreira |
| PhD student |
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| Pablo Pandolfo |
| PhD student |
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| Alexandre Rodrigues |
| PhD student |
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| Collaborators |
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| Collaborations |
D.Boison (R.S.Dow Neurobiology Laboratories, Legacy Research, OR, USA)
Role of adenosine kinase in Alzheimer’s disease |
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J.F.Chen (Dept.Neurology, University of Boston, USA)
Neuroprotection by adenosine receptors focusing on their influence in neuro-inflammation |
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F.A.Edwards (University College London, UK)
Localization and role of P2 receptors in the cerebellum |
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S.Ferré (National Institute of Drug Abuse, NIH, USA)
Role of presynaptic adenosine receptors in the basal ganglia |
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R.Franco, F.Ciruela (Dept.Biochemistry and Molecular Biology., Univ. Barcelona, Spain)
Biochemical and functional characterization of adenosine receptor dimmers |
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B.Frenguelli (Dept.Neurosciences, Univ. Dundee, UK)
ATP and P2 receptors in epilepsy |
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A.de Mendonça (Lab. Neurosciences, Fac.Medicine, Univ. Lisbon, Portugal)
Effect of long-term caffeine consumption on the adenosinergic system in the brain |
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B.B.Fredholm (Lab. Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden)
Pharmacological characterization of adenosine A2A receptors in the brain |
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J.Lerma (Cajal Institute, CSIS, Spain)
Interaction between P2 and NMDA receptors |
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M.A.Lynch (Dept.Physiology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland)
Role of adenosine A2A receptors in the control of LPS-induced neuro-inflammation |
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M.T.Miras-Portugal (Dept.Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Complutense Univ., Spain)
Characterization of presynaptic P2 receptors |
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C.Mulle (UMR 5291 CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, France)
Role of adenosine A2A receptors in the control of mossy fibers |
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J.A.Ribeiro (lab.Neurosciences, Fac. Medicine, Univ. Lisboa, Portugal)
Interaction between adenosine A2A and GDNF receptors in the basal ganglia |
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D.O.Souza (Inst.Biochemistry, Univ.Fed.Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
Role of adenosine A2A receptors in the control of memory dysfunction |
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R.Takahashi (Dept.Pharmacology, Univ.Fed.Santa Catarina, Brazil)
Interactions between cannabinoids and adenosine in the control of memory |
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J.M.Vaugeois (Univ.Rouen, France)
Role of adenosine A2A receptors in the control of stress-induced behaviour |
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| Further Information and Publications |
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