This area is mainly concerned with the study of cellular and molecular basis of drug- and disease-induced cell toxicity.
One important research topic includes the study of the role of mitochondria as a primary intracellular target in modulating cell dysfunction. On the other hand, the relevance of mitochondria to the pathogenesis of some diseases, such as cholestasis, steatosis, metabolic syndromes and diabetes in rat models, has also been demonstrated. Another area of interest is the study of free radicals and oxidants, either as messenger molecules relevant to physiological functions, or as promoters of toxic pathways in the pathogenesis of chronic degenerative processes and aging. Finally, the study of membrane changes upon the interaction with xenobiotic molecules is aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying their toxicological effects upon biological systems. |
