Muscle Wasting and Cachexia in Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Lung Cancer

Group Leader

Esther Barreiro Portela

Our research is based on the use of patients from clinical settings, animal models of disease, and in vitro primary cultures. We use all kinds of biochemical and cellular and molecular biology techniques (RT-PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, 2-D electrophoresis, proteomics analysis, ELISA, activity assays, mitochondrial respiration, flow cytometry, etc.) in order to explore the target mechanisms of our research. In the last five years, we have also started a new avenue of research focusing on the underlying biology that accounts for the greater susceptibility of patients with chronic respiratory diseases (e.g. COPD) to developing lung tumors. The most relevant achievements of our research have been the following: demonstrating that oxidative and nitrosative stress, ubiquitin-proteasome system, NF-kB and FoxO signaling, alterations of epigenetic regulation, and loss of muscle-specific proteins are important players in COPD- and lung cancer-associated cachexia, whereas muscle inflammation does not play a role in this process. Moreover, we have also demonstrated that increased oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines and disruption of epigenetic regulation are involved in the greater susceptibility of patients with COPD to developing lung cancer.

Research group

< Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Disorders Programme

2016

Members

Alba Chacón Cabrera (PhD Student)

Víctor Curull Serrano (Researcher)

Marisol Domínguez Álvarez (PhD Student)

Mercè Mateu Jiménez (PhD Student)

Lara Pijuan Andújar (Researcher)

Alberto Rodríguez Fuster (Researcher)

Anna Salazar Degracia (PhD Student)

Albert Sánchez Font (PhD Student)

more info

Main Publications

• Barreiro E, Puig-Vilanova E, Marín J, Chacón-Cabrera A, Salazar-Degracia A, Mateu X, Puente-Maestu L, García-Arumí E, Andreu AL, Molina L. Therapeutic Approaches in Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Proteolysis, and Structural Alterations of Diaphragm and Gastrocnemius in Rats With Chronic Heart Failure. J Cell Physiol 2016; 231(7): 1495-1513. IF 4.155. Q1.

• Chacón-Cabrera A, Lund-Palau H, Gea J, Barreiro E. Time-Course of Muscle Mass Loss, Damage, and Proteolysis in Gastrocnemius following Unloading and Reloading: Implications in Chronic Diseases. PLoS ONE 2016; 11(10): e0164951. IF 3.057. Q1.

• Mateu-Jiménez M, Sánchez-Font A, Rodríguez-Fuster A, Pijuan L, Gea J, Curull V, Barreiro E. Redox imbalance in lung cáncer of patients with underlying chronic respiratory conditions. Mol Med 2016; 22: 85-98. IF 3.53. Q2.

• Mateu-Jiménez M, Fermoselle C, Rojo F, Mateu de Antonio J, Peña R, Urtreger AJ, Diament MJ, Bal de Kier Joffé ED, Pijuan L, García de Herreros A, Barreiro E. Pharmacological Approaches in an Experimental Model of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Effects on Tumor Biology. Curr Pharm Design 2016; 22(34): 5300-5310. IF 3.052. Q2.

• Salazar-Degracia A, Blanco D, Vilà-Ubach M, de Biurrun G, Ortiz de Solórzano C, Montuenga LM, Barreiro E. Phenotypic and metabolic features of mouse diaphragm and gastrocnemius muscles in chronic lung carcinogenesis: influence of underlying emphysema. J Transl Med 2016; 14(1): 244. IF 3.694. Q1.

Ongoing Research Projects

• Implicaciones de la respuesta a proteínas desplegadas/ mal desplegadas en la atrofia y disfunción muscular de pacientes con EPOC

− Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica

− From 2016 to 2019

− Principal investigator: Barreiro Portela, Esther

• Epigenética, microambiente celular y molecular y estroma en la predisposición al cáncer de pulmón en la EPOC: influencia en la supervivencia y valor pronóstico

− Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (PI14/00713)

− From 2015 to 2017

− Principal investigator: Barreiro Portela, Esther

• Alteraciones epigenéticas y autofagia en la predisposición al cáncer de pulmón de los pacientes con EPOC: asociaciones con el estrés oxidativo y la inflamación

− Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. ISCIII (PI11/02029)

− From 2012 to 2016

− Principal investigator: Barreiro Portela, Esther

Participation in Research Networks

• Our group belongs to the Network of Excellence in Respiratory Research since its foundation: CIBERESP: Enfermedades Respiratorias.

− Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. Subprograma CIBER. CB06/06/0043

− Principal investigator: Gea Guiral, Joaquim

Group’s Recognitions

• Officially recognised as a consolidated research group by the Generalitat de Catalunya: Grup de Recerca en Múscul i Aparell Respiratori (URMAR) (2014-2017)

− Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (SGR 424)

− Principal investigator: Gea Guiral, Joaquim

Theses

• Chacón-Cabrera A. Molecular alterations in muscle wasting and cachexia: therapeutic approaches in animal models. Pompeu Fabra University

− Director: Barreiro Portela, Esther

− Date defense: 20/09/2016

Other

• Frequent expert reviewer and membre of scientific committees of several European Societies.

• Member of the Scientific Board of Fondation des Maladies Chroniques et du vieillissement actif Languedoc-Roussillon (FMAC-VIA-LR), Montpellier, France: October 2016-up until present.

Editorship

• Archivos de Bronconeumología (Journal of the Spanish Respiratory Society, SEPAR), Associate Editor.

• Archivos de Bronconeumología (Journal of the Spanish Respiratory Society, SEPAR), Editor-in-Chief. Period: July 2012 up until the present.

• Journal of Applied Physiology (Journal of the American Physiological Society, IF 4.235, Q1, Physiology), Associate Editor. Period: from July 2011 up until the present.

• Evise User Board member (international), since September 2011 up until the present.

• American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Member of the Editorial Board. Period: Since January 2012 up until the present.

• Coordinating Associate Editor: Highlighted Topic on Muscle Dysfunction in COPD, Journal of Applied Physiology.