Mitochondrial Dysfunction
mitochondrial dysfunction
Mechanisms Underlying the Persistence of Cancer-Related Fatigue
Cancer-related fatigue is a prominent and debilitating side effect of cancer and its treatment. It can develop prior to diagnosis, generally peaks during cancer treatment, and can persist long after treatment completion. Its mechanisms are multifactorial, and its expression is highly variable. Unfortunately, treatment options are limited. Our research uses syngeneic murine models of cancer and cisplatin-based chemotherapy to better understand these mechanisms. Our data indicate that both peripherally and centrally processes may contribute to the developmental of fatigue. These processes include metabolic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, pre-cachexia, and inflammation. However, our data has revealed that behavioral fatigue can persist even after the toxicity associated with cancer and its treatment recover. For example, running during cancer treatment attenuates kidney toxicity while also delaying recovery from fatigue-like behavior. Additionally, administration of anesthetics known to disrupt memory consolidation at the time treatment can promote recovery, and treatment-related cues can re-instate fatigue after recovery. Cancer-related fatigue can also promote habitual behavioral patterns, as observed using a devaluation task. We interpret this data to suggest that limit metabolic resources during cancer promote the utilization of habit-based behavioral strategies that serve to maintain fatigue behavior into survivorship. This line of work is exciting as it points us toward novel interventional targets for the treatment of persistent cancer-related fatigue.
Redox and mitochondrial dysregulation in epilepsy
Epileptic seizures render the brain uniquely dependent on energy producing pathways. Studies in our laboratory have been focused on the role of redox processes and mitochondria in the context of abnormal neuronal excitability associated with epilepsy. We have shown that that status epilepticus (SE) alters mitochondrial and cellular redox status, energetics and function and conversely, that reactive oxygen species and resultant dysfunction can lead to chronic epilepsy. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory pathways have considerable crosstalk and targeting redox processes has recently been shown to control neuroinflammation and excitability. Understanding the role of metabolic and redox processes can enable the development of novel therapeutics to control epilepsy and/or its comorbidities.
Contribution of cGAS-P2X2 crosstalk on synaptic failure and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by β-amyloid oligomers
FENS Forum 2024
Exploring the impact of transglutaminase 2 in Parkinson’s disease: Mitochondrial dysfunction and proteomic pathways
FENS Forum 2024
From systems biology to drug targets: ATP synthase subunit upregulation causes mitochondrial dysfunction in Shank3Δ4-22 mouse model of autism
FENS Forum 2024
The interplay between oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and alteration of parvalbumin interneurons in postmortem brain of Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment patients
FENS Forum 2024
Investigating the role of Rab proteins in mitochondrial dysfunction related to Parkinson’s disease
FENS Forum 2024
Mitochondrial dysfunction and Purkinje cell loss in Christianson syndrome
FENS Forum 2024
Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies impaired neurovascular coupling following traumatic brain injury
FENS Forum 2024
A novel perspective: Early-life stress at the origin of AD-related mitochondrial dysfunctions
FENS Forum 2024
The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in cellular senescence and Alzheimer’s disease-related amyloid pathology
FENS Forum 2024
Unravelling the role of CHCHD2 in mitochondrial dysfunction: Implications for Parkinson's disease and beyond
FENS Forum 2024