IMDIK - IMDIK

Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration

Head
Michał Węgrzynowicz, PhD - phone: +48 22 608 64 05; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. room C-301
Research staff
Aleksandra Owczarek, PhD - phone: +48 22 608 65 21; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. room C-303
PhD students
Aleksandra Duchnowska, MSc - phone: +48 22 608 65 21; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Parisa Malakouti, MSc - phone +48 22 608 65 21; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. room C-303
Martyna Nalepa, MSc Eng - phone: +48 22 608 65 21; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. room C-303
Aleksandra Skweres, MSc - phone: +48 22 608 65 21; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. room C-303
Graduate students
Filip Suchożebski - phone: +48 22 608 65 21; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. room C-303
Research profile
The Laboratory was set up in 2019. The studies carried out in the Laboratory are aimed at understanding the mechanisms responsible for neuronal dysfunction and death in different neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and others. We are particularly interested in the causes and consequences of protein aggregation, a phenomenon considered as a fundamental factor in neurodegeneration. We would like to understand what are the common pathways in the pathogenesis of different neurodegenerative diseases, but also what constitutes the basis for clinical and neuropathological correlates specific for individual diseases. Why, in particular disease, given protein is prone to aggregate in specific cell type and not in the other. Why defined brain regions are exceptionally sensitive to the toxicity related to aggregation of specific protein, when other brain regions are protected. Is it related to the cell-autonomous factors (like intrinsic functional or molecular properties of the cell) or to external stimuli (like interactions within cellular microenvironment or anatomical and functional connections with other brain regions). We believe that answering these questions will help to develop novel, mechanism-based therapeutic strategies against currently incurable neurodegenerative diseases.

Grants
Role of arginase 2 in the function of the striatum and in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease

funding: National Science Centre, Sonata Bis grant 2018/30/E/NZ1/00144
principal investigator: Michał Węgrzynowicz, PhD
timeline: 2019-2025

Distribution and identification of hippocampal proteins undergoing posttranslational modifications with putrescine in hypoxia

funding: National Science Centre, Miniatura grant
principal investigator: Aleksandra Owczarek, PhD
timeline: 2023-2024

Importance of polyamine metabolism compartmentation in hippocampus for differential sensitivity of CA1-CA3 regions to excitotoxicity; role of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis

funding: Internal Research Fund, MMRI PAS, no. FBW-024
principal investigator: Aleksandra Kaczyńska, MSc
timeline: 2023-2024

Utilization of novel probe TvS-Put for identification of the proteins undergoing posttranslational modifications with putrescine in hippocampal region CA2 in mouse

funding: Internal Research Fund, MMRI PAS, no. FBW-019
principal investigator: Michał Węgrzynowicz, PhD
timeline: 2021-2023

Domestic collaboration

prof. Barbara Zabłocka, dr. Małgorzata Beręsewicz-Haller, Molecular Biology Unit, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
dr. Remigiusz Serwa, Proteomics Core Facility, International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
dr. Emilia Samborowska, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
prof. Agata Adamczyk, dr. Anna Wilkaniec, Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
dr. Katarzyna Winiarska, Department of Metabolic Regulation, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw
prof. Magdalena Zielińska, Department of Neurotoxicology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
dr. Beata Toczyłowska, Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy Support of Metabolic Diseases, Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
dr. Karolina Szczepanowska, Laboratory of Metabolic Quality Control, International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
dr. Małgorzata Frontczak-Baniewicz, dr. Magdalena Gewartowska, Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
dr. Grzegorz Kreiner, Department of Brain Biochemistry, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow

International collaboration

prof. Maria Grazia Spillantini, PhD, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK
dr. Giorgio Vivacqua, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Biomedico University of Roma, Italy
prof. Aaron Bowman, School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA
prof. Ricardo Borges, Department of Physical Medicine and Pharmacology, Pharmacology Unit, Medical School, University of La Laguna, Spain

Research equipment
• Fast cooling unit for microtomes, Slee Medical MTR
• Stereomicroscope, Nikon SMZ800N
• Centrifugal vacuum concentrator, Eppendorf Concentrator 5301

Research methods

Employing transgenic animal models to study pathology of the Central Nervous System
Organotypic cultures of rat hippocampus
Studies employing acute brain slices
Precise dissection of rodent CNS tissues
High-sensitivity histological, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques
Modelling pathological states (excitotoxicity, hypoxia) in vitro
Experimental regulation of selected cellular pathways in vitro using pharmacological and genetic techniques
Isolation of subcellular fractions from animal tissues
Qualitative and quantitative microscopic analysis
Real-time analysis of cellular/subcellular fluctuations of calcium and nitric oxide in vitro
Imaging and biochemical analyses of protein posttranslational modifications using novel probes
Click chemistry
Measurements of metabolites in animal tissues
Enzymatic activity measurements
Immunodetection of proteins (western blot, dot blot, filter retardation assay)
Protein aggregation analysis (fractionation, filtration, enzymatic digestion, fluorescence probes)
Behavioural assessment of motor and cognitive functions in mice
Stereotactic brain surgery (injections, implantations)
Microdialysis

Selected publications

Pawlik M, Czarnecka AM, Kołodziej M, Skowrońska K, Węgrzynowicz M, Podgajna M, Czuczwar SJ, Albrecht J (2023) Attenuation of initial pilocarpine-induced electrographic seizures by methionine sulfoximine pretreatment tightly correlates with the reduction of extracellular taurine in the hippocampus. Epilepsia. 64(5):1390-1402
Vivacqua G, Mason M, De Bartolo MI, Węgrzynowicz M, Calò L, Belvisi D, Suppa A, Fabbrini G, Berardelli A, Spillantini M (2023) Salivary α-Synuclein RT-QuIC Correlates with Disease Severity in de novo Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord. 38(1):153-155
Levin J, Sing N, Melbourne S, Morgan A, Mariner C, Spillantini MG, Wegrzynowicz M, Dalley JW, Langer S, Ryazanov S, Leonov A, Griesinger C, Schmidt F, Weckbecker D, Prager K, Matthias T, Giese A (2022) Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the oligomer modulator anle138b with exposure levels sufficient for therapeutic efficacy in a murine Parkinson model: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1a trial. EBioMedicine. 80:104021
Grzywa TM, Sosnowska A, Rydzynska Z, Lazniewski M, Plewczynski D, Klicka K, Malecka-Gieldowska M, Rodziewicz-Lurzynska A, Ciepiela O, Justyniarska M, Pomper P, Grzybowski MM, Blaszczyk R, Wegrzynowicz M, Tomaszewska A, Basak G, Golab J, Nowis D (2021) Potent but transient immunosuppression of T-cells is a general feature of CD71+ erythroid cells. Commun Biol. 4(1):1384
Caló L, Hidari E, Wegrzynowicz M, Dalley JW, Schneider BL, Podgajna M, Anichtchik O, Carlson E, Klenerman D, Spillantini MG (2021) CSPα reduces aggregates and rescues striatal dopamine release in α-synuclein transgenic mice. Brain. 144(6):1661-1669
Migdalska‐Richards A*, Wegrzynowicz M*, Harrison IF, Verona G, Bellotti V, Spillantini MG, Schapira AHV (2020) L444P Gba1 mutation increases formation and spread of α-synuclein deposits in mice injected with mouse α-synuclein pre-formed fibrils. PLoS One. 15(8):e0238075

Prior publications of the Laboratory members:

Owczarek A, Gieczewska KB, Jarzyna R, Frydzinska Z, Winiarska K (2021) Transcription Factor ChREBP Mediates High Glucose-Evoked Increase in HIF-1α Content in Epithelial Cells of Renal Proximal Tubules. Int J Mol Sci. 22(24):13299
Owczarek A, Gieczewska KB, Polanska M, Paterczyk B, Gruza A, Winiarska K. (2021) Melatonin Lowers HIF-1α Content in Human Proximal Tubular Cells (HK-2) Due to Preventing Its Deacetylation by Sirtuin 1. Front Physiol. 11:572911
Owczarek A, Gieczewska K, Jarzyna R, Jagielski AK, Kiersztan A, Gruza A, Winiarska K (2020) Hypoxia increases the rate of renal gluconeogenesis via hypoxia-inducible factor-1-dependent activation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase expression. Biochimie. 171-172:31-37
Wegrzynowicz M, Bar-On D, Calo' L, Anichtchik O, Iovino M, Xia J, Ryazanov S, Leonov A, Giese A, Dalley JW, Griesinger C, Ashery U, Spillantini MG (2019) Depopulation of dense α-synuclein aggregates is associated with rescue of dopamine neuron dysfunction and death in a new Parkinson's disease model. Acta Neuropathol. 138(4):575-595
Migdalska-Richards A, Wegrzynowicz M, Rusconi R, Deangeli G, Di Monte DA, Spillantini MG, Schapira AHV (2017) The L444P Gba1 mutation enhances alpha-synuclein induced loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons in mice. Brain. 140(10):2706-2721
Bichell TJV*, Wegrzynowicz M*, Tipps KG, Bradley EM, Uhouse MA, Bryan M, Horning K, Fisher N, Dudek K, Halbesma T, Umashanker P, Stubbs AD, Holt HK, Kwakye GF, Tidball AM, Colbran RJ, Aschner M, Neely MD, Di Pardo A, Maglione V, Osmand A, Bowman AB (2017) Reduced bioavailable manganese causes striatal urea cycle pathology in Huntington's disease mouse model. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 1863(6):1596-1604
Calo L, Wegrzynowicz M, Santivañez-Perez J, Grazia Spillantini M (2016) Synaptic failure and α-synuclein. Mov Disord. 31(2):169-77
Tozzi A, de Iure A, Bagetta V, Tantucci M, Durante V, Quiroga-Varela A, Costa C, Di Filippo M, Ghiglieri V, Latagliata EC, Wegrzynowicz M, Decressac M, Giampà C, Dalley JW, Xia J, Gardoni F, Mellone M, El-Agnaf OM, Ardah MT, Puglisi-Allegra S, Björklund A, Spillantini MG, Picconi B, Calabresi P (2016) Alpha-Synuclein Produces Early Behavioral Alterations via Striatal Cholinergic Synaptic Dysfunction by Interacting With GluN2D N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Subunit. Biol Psychiatry. 79(5):402-414
Winiarska K, Dzik JM, Labudda M, Focht D, Sierakowski B, Owczarek A, Komorowski L, Bielecki W (2016) Melatonin nephroprotective action in Zucker diabetic fatty rats involves its inhibitory effect on NADPH oxidase. J Pineal Res. 60(1):109-117
Wegrzynowicz M*, Bichell TJ*, Soares BD, Loth MK, McGlothan JS, Mori S, Alikhan FS, Hua K, Coughlin JM, Holt HK, Jetter CS, Pomper MG, Osmand AP, Guilarte TR, Bowman AB (2015) Novel BAC Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease with 225 CAG Repeats Exhibits an Early Widespread and Stable Degenerative Phenotype. J Huntingtons Dis. 4(1):17-36.
Wegrzynowicz M, Holt HK, Friedman DB, Bowman AB (2012) Changes in the striatal proteome of YAC128Q mice exhibit gene-environment interactions between mutant huntingtin and manganese. J Proteome Res. 11(2):1118-3
Williams BB, Li D, Wegrzynowicz M, Vadodaria BK, Anderson JG, Kwakye GF, Aschner M, Erikson KM, Bowman AB (2010) Disease-toxicant screen reveals a neuroprotective interaction between Huntington's disease and manganese exposure J Neurochem. 112(1):227-3

Tumor Microenvironment Laboratory

Head
Dr hab. Agnieszka Bronisz - phone: +48 22 60 86 567, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Project manager / Administration
dr n. biol. Elżbieta Lewandowska-Gnatowska - phone +48 22 60 86 502; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PhD students
Mgr Klaudia Kiel - phone +48 22 60 86 419; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mgr Arpita Balakrishnan - phone +48 22 60 86 419; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Former Lab Members
dr Kamil Krawczyński; phone 22 60 86 419

Research profile
• Study of the microenvironment – the cancer niche, especially microenvironment of glioblastoma (GBM), and glioblastoma stem-like cell GSC cells that are to be instrumental initiating the formation of this cancer
• Understanding the mechanisms of direct and indirect interactions of the microenvironment with cancer cells
• The impact of interactions between cancer cells and tumor microenvironment on molecular mechanisms conducted in the cell, especially on changes in the regulation of gene expression through non-coding RNA (ncRNA)

Grants

The role of non-coding RNA in the modification of epigenetic tumorigenesis mechanisms
Agnieszka Bronisz: National Science Centre Poland, grant Opus 15, nr 2018/29/B/NZ1/01016, 2019-2023
Extracellular vesicles modified ex vivo as an anti-cancer immune-response boosting vaccine.
Klaudia Kiel, NCN Pl, Preludium 20, 2021/41/N/NZ6/02682, 2022-2025.
Inducing death in glioblastoma: Targeting ferroptosis-related genes in glioblastoma stem-like cells as a potential therapeutic approach.
Kamil Krawczyński, IMDIK FBW 003-005; 2022-2023
Extracellular vesicles modified ex vivo as an anti-cancer immune-response boosting vaccine.
Agnieszka Bronisz. IMDiK FBW 001-001;2021-2022

Collaboration
domestic
• Dr. Elżbieta Salińska / Mossakowski Medical Center/ Warszawa, Polska
foreign
• Dr E. Antonio Chiocca / Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Boston, MA, USA
• Dr Ralph Weissleder / Massachusetts General Hospital / Boston, MA, USA
• Dr Hiroshi Nakashima / Harvard Medical School / Boston, MA, USA
• Dr Franz Ricklefs / Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf / Hamburg, Germany
• Dr Mariano Viapiano / SUNY Upstate Medical University / Syracuse, NY, USA
• Dr Benjamin Purow / University of Virginia / Charlottesville, VA, USA

Research methods
• Proteomics (WB, IF, IHC, Masspectroskopy)
• Genomics (qPCR, Gene Arrays, NGS)
• Cellular models (3D cultures)
• Animal models (intracranial xenografts)
• Genetic engineering (siRNA, shRNA, CRISPR/Cas9, lentivirus)
• Therapeutic carriers (nanoparticles, oncolytic viruses, extracellular vesicles)

Patents and patent applications
US Patent App. 18/031,054 ; 2023; Godlewski J, Bronisz A, EA Chiocca EA Compositions and Methods Targeting circ2082 for the Treatment of Cancer

Selected publications

Kiel K, Król SK, Bronisz A, Godlewski J. MiR-128-3p - a gray eminence of the human central nervous system. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2024 Feb 6;35(1):102141. doi: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102141. PMID: 38419943; PMCID: PMC10899074. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38419943/
Szczepaniak A, Bronisz A, Godlewski J. Circular RNAs-New Kids on the Block in Cancer Pathophysiology and Management. Cells. 2023 Feb 8;12(4):552. doi: 10.3390/cells12040552. PMID: 36831219; PMCID: PMC9953 808. https://pub>med.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3683 121
Bronisz A, Rooj AK, Krawczyński K, Peruzzi P, Salińska E, Nakano I, Purow B, Chiocca EA, Godlewski J. The nuclear DICER-circular RNA complex drives the deregulation of the glioblastoma cell microRNAome. Sci Adv. 2020 Dec 16;6(51):eabc0221. PMID:33328224
Godlewski J, Farhath M, Ricklefs FL, Passaro C, Kiel K, Nakashima H, Chiocca EA, Bronisz A. Oncolytic Virus Therapy Alters the Secretome of Targeted Glioblastoma Cells. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(6):1287. PMID: 33799381
Kitamura Y, Kanaya N, Moleirinho S, Du W, Reinshagen C, Attia N, Bronisz A, Revai Lechtich E, Sasaki H, Mora JL, Brastianos PK, Falcone JL, Hofer AM, Franco A, Shah K,. Anti-EGFR VHH-armed death receptor ligand-engineered allogeneic stem cells have therapeutic efficacy in diverse brain metastatic breast cancers. Sci Adv. 2021 Mar 3;7(10):eabe8671.PMID: 3365
Krawczynski K, Godlewski J, Bronisz A. Oxidative Stress-Part of the Solution or Part of the Problem in the Hypoxic Environment of a Brain Tumor. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Aug 14;9(8):747. PMID: 32823815
Bronisz A, Salinska E, Chiocca EA, Godlewski J. Hypoxic Roadmap of Glioblastoma-Learning about Directions and Distances in the Brain Tumor Environment. Cancers (Basel). 2020 May 13; 12(5). PMID: 32413951
Ogawa D, Ansari K, Nowicki MO, Salinska E, Bronisz A, Godlewski J. MicroRNA-451 Inhibits Migration of Glioblastoma while Making It More Susceptible to Conventional Therapy. Noncoding RNA. 2019 Mar 15; 5(1). PMID: 30875963
Bhaskaran V, Nowicki MO, Idriss M, Jimenez MA, Lugli G, Hayes JL, Mahmoud AB, Zane RE, Passaro C, Ligon KL, Haas-Kogan D, Bronisz A, Godlewski J, Lawler SE, Chiocca EA, Peruzzi P. The functional synergism of microRNA clustering provides therapeutically relevant epigenetic interference in glioblastoma. Nat Commun. 2019 01 25; 10(1):442. PMID: 30683859
Jun HJ, Appleman VA, Wu HJ, Rose CM, Pineda JJ, Yeo AT, Delcuze B, Lee C, Gyuris A, Zhu H, Woolfenden S, Bronisz A, Nakano I, Chiocca EA, Bronson RT, Ligon KL, Sarkaria JN, Gygi SP, Michor F, Mitchison TJ, Charest A. A PDGFRa-driven mouse model of glioblastoma reveals a stathmin1-mediated mechanism of sensitivity to vinblastine. Nat Commun. 2018 08 06; 9(1):3116. PMID: 30082792
Ricklefs FL, Alayo Q, Krenzlin H, Mahmoud AB, Speranza MC, Nakashima H, Hayes JL, Lee K, Balaj L, Passaro C, Rooj AK, Krasemann S, Carter BS, Chen CC, Steed T, Treiber J, Rodig S, Yang K, Nakano I, Lee H, Weissleder R, Breakefield XO, Godlewski J, Westphal M, Lamszus K, Freeman GJ, Bronisz A, Lawler SE, Chiocca EA. Immune evasion mediated by PD-L1 on glioblastoma-derived extracellular vesicles. Sci Adv. 2018 03; 4(3):eaar2766. PMID: 29532035
Rooj AK, Ricklefs F, Mineo M, Nakano I, Chiocca EA, Bronisz A, Godlewski J. MicroRNA-Mediated Dynamic Bidirectional Shift between the Subclasses of Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells. Cell Rep. 2017 06 06; 19(10):2026-2032. PMID: 28591575
Godlewski J, Ferrer-Luna R, Rooj AK, Mineo M, Ricklefs F, Takeda YS, Nowicki MO, Salinska E, Nakano I, Lee H, Weissleder R, Beroukhim R, Chiocca EA, Bronisz A. MicroRNA Signatures and Molecular Subtypes of Glioblastoma: The Role of Extracellular Transfer. Stem Cell Reports. 2017 06 06; 8(6):1497-1505. PMID: 28528698
Mineo M, Ricklefs F, Rooj AK, Lyons SM, Ivanov P, Ansari KI, Nakano I, Chiocca EA, Godlewski J, Bronisz A. The Long Non-coding RNA HIF1A-AS2 Facilitates the Maintenance of Mesenchymal Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells in Hypoxic Niches. Cell Rep. 2016 06 14; 15(11):2500-9. PMID: 27264189
Ricklefs F, Mineo M, Rooj AK, Nakano I, Charest A, Weissleder R, Breakefield XO, Chiocca EA, Godlewski J, Bronisz A. Extracellular Vesicles from High-Grade Glioma Exchange Diverse Pro-oncogenic Signals That Maintain Intratumoral Heterogeneity. Cancer Res. 2016 05 15; 76(10):2876-81. PMID: 27013191
Ansari KI, Ogawa D, Rooj AK, Lawler SE, Krichevsky AM, Johnson MD, Chiocca EA, Bronisz A, Godlewski J. Glucose-based regulation of miR-451/AMPK signaling depends on the OCT1 transcription factor. Cell Rep. 2015 May 12; 11(6):902-909. PMID: 25937278
Godlewski J, Krichevsky AM, Johnson MD, Chiocca EA, Bronisz A. Belonging to a network--microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, and the glioblastoma microenvironment. Neuro Oncol. 2015 May; 17(5):652-62. PMID: 25301812
Bronisz A, Wang Y, Nowicki MO, Peruzzi P, Ansari K, Ogawa D, Balaj L, De Rienzo G, Mineo M, Nakano I, Ostrowski MC, Hochberg F, Weissleder R, Lawler SE, Chiocca EA, Godlewski J. Extracellular vesicles modulate the glioblastoma microenvironment via a tumor suppression signaling network directed by miR-1. Cancer Res. 2014 Feb 01; 74(3):738-750. PMID: 24310399
Peruzzi P, Bronisz A, Nowicki MO, Wang Y, Ogawa D, Price R, Nakano I, Kwon CH, Hayes J, Lawler SE, Ostrowski MC, Chiocca EA, Godlewski J. MicroRNA-128 coordinately targets Polycomb Repressor Complexes in glioma stem cells. Neuro Oncol. 2013 Sep; 15(9):1212-24. PMID: 23733246
Bronisz A, Godlewski J, Wallace JA, Merchant AS, Nowicki MO, Mathsyaraja H, Srinivasan R, Trimboli AJ, Martin CK, Li F, Yu L, Fernandez SA, Pécot T, Rosol TJ, Cory S, Hallett M, Park M, Piper MG, Marsh CB, Yee LD, Jimenez RE, Nuovo G, Lawler SE, Chiocca EA, Leone G, Ostrowski MC. Reprogramming of the tumour microenvironment by stromal PTEN-regulated miR-320. Nat Cell Biol. 2011 Dec 18; 14(2):159-67. PMID: 22179046
Godlewski J, Nowicki MO, Bronisz A, Nuovo G, Palatini J, De Lay M, Van Brocklyn J, Ostrowski MC, Chiocca EA, Lawler SE. MicroRNA-451 regulates LKB1/AMPK signaling and allows adaptation to metabolic stress in glioma cells. Mol Cell. 2010 Mar 12; 37(5):620-32. PMID: 20227367

Laboratory of Pharmaconeurochemistry

Head
prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Salińska; 22 60 86 528; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Secretariat
Aleksandra Stafiej, Msc.; 22 60 86 528; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Research staff
Associate Professor Elżbieta Ziemińska; 22 60 86 534; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Justyna Augustyniak PhD: 22 60 86 534; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ewelina Bratek-Gerej PhD; 22 60 86 430; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lab technician
Grzegorz Pałka; 22 60 86 531; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research profile:
• Searching for therapeutic strategies in brain ischemia, mainly by induction of the tolerance to ischemic insults with pre- or post-conditioning (subjecting the brain before or shortly after the insult to sub-injurious factors).
• Studies on the pharmacologically-induced neuroprotection and brain tolerance to ischemia.
• Investigation of the role of selected environmental toxins in mechanisms of neurodegeneration and their effect on brain developmental disorders.
• Studies on the molecular mechanisms of memory consolidation and reconsolidation.

Grants
• Investigations into molecular mechanisms of neuroprotective effects of metabotropic glutamate receptors group II (mGluR2/3) agonists in an animal model of birth asphyxia, was supported by the Polish National Science Centre, grant number 2016/23/N/NZ7/01942, project manager: mgr inż. Ewelina Bratek (2017-2019)
• Study of the gene expression potentially involved in the pathogenesis of autism in two animal models: valproate and thalidomide. was supported by the Polish National Science Centre; grant number: 2017/01/X/NZ3/01049, project manager:
dr hab. Elżbieta Ziemińska (2017-2018)
• Study of SNAP-25 protein expression, NMR metabolomic analysis, and behavioral characteristics in animal models of infantile autism: reference to glutamate hypothesis, was supported by the Polish National Science Centre; grant number 2014/15/B/NZ4/04490, project manager: prof. dr hab. Jerzy Wojciech Łazarewicz (2015-2018)
• Participation of transient receptor potential channels (TRP) permeable for calcium ions in memory formation and retrieval and their connections with the group I metabotropic glutamate receptors. Studies on the model of passive avoidance task in one-day-old chicks were supported by the Polish National Science Centre; grant number 2014/15/B/NZ4/04487, project manager: prof. dr hab. Elżbieta Salińska (2015-2018)

Collaboration:
domestic
• Maj Institute of Pharmacology, PAS, Cracow
• Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, PAS, Warsaw
• Institute of Organic Chemistry PAS, Warsaw
• Warsaw University, Warsaw

foreign
• Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India;
• University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, NY, USA;
• University of Milan, Milan, Italy
• Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

Research equipment:
• multifunctional microplate reader FLUOstar Omega - fluorimeter, luminometer and spectrophotometer (BMG Labtech); ex: 340,390,405,440,485,530,590; em: 340,485,510,520,580,620 nm
• microplate reader FLUOROSKAN FL- fluorimeter, luminometer (Labsystems); ex: 400,440,485,530,544; em: 485,520,527,538,590,620 nm
• stereotaxic apparatus, set for microdialysis of small laboratory animals
• continuous perfusion system
• anesthetic kit for surgery on small animals
• a hypobaric chamber and a hyperbaric chamber
• preparatory ultracentrifuge Optima XPN Series (Beckman)
• thermocyclers: LightCycler(R) 96 (Roche), Civic Cycer (Biotach, INC)
• densitometer ImageScanner III Labscan 6.0 (GE Healtcare) with the software
• cryostat Leica
• microtome

Research methods:
• cell cultures
• biochemical methods: electrophoresis, Western Blot, determination of enzyme activity
• immunocytochemical, immunohistochemical methods (ELISA, TUNEL)
• assessment of ligand affinity to cell membranes (binding)
• isolation of nucleic acids RNA and DNA
• PCR, RT- PCR, qRT-PCR,
• fluorescence and confocal microscopy imaging
• rat brain microdialysis
• oxygen and air hypobaria and hyperbaria

Research models:
in vitro:
• primary culture of rat cerebellar granule cells

in vivo:
• model of perinatal asphyxia in 7-day-old puppies
• model of global ischemia in gerbils
• model of passive avoidance task in one-day-old chickens

Selected publications

Sowińska M, Szeliga M, Morawiak M,Ziemińska E, Zabłocka B, Urbańczyk-Lipkowska Z. Peptide Dendrimers with Non-Symmetric Bola Structure Exert Long Term Effect on Glioblastoma and Neuroblastoma Cell Lines. Biomolecules. 2021 Mar 15;11(3):435. doi: 10.3390/biom11030435.
Zieminska E, Ruszczynska A,Augustyniak J, Toczylowska B, Lazarewicz JW. Zinc and Copper Brain Levels and Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptors in Two Rat ASD Models. Front Mol Neurosci. 2021 Jun 29;14:656740. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.656740.
Jastrzebski D, Toczylowska B,Zieminska E, Zebrowska A, Kostorz-Nosal S, Swietochowska E, Di Giulio C, Ziora D. The effects of exercise training on lipid profile in patients with sarcoidosis. Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 10;11(1):5551. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-84815-4.
Lenart J, Augustyniak J, Lazarewicz JW,Zieminska E. Altered expression of glutamatergic and GABAergic genes in the valproic acid-induced rat model of autism: a screening test. Toxicology. 2020; Jul;440:152500. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152500.
Lenart J, Augustyniak J, Lazarewicz JW, Zieminska E. Altered expression of glutamatergic and GABAergic genes in the valproic acid-induced rat model of autism: a screening test. Toxicology. 2020; Jul;440:152500. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152500.
Sunderland P, Augustyniak J, Lenart J, Bużańska L, Carlessi L, Delia D, Sikora E. ATM-deficient neural precursors develop senescence phenotype with disturbances in autophagy. Mech Ageing Dev. 2020; Sep;190:111296. doi:10.1016/j.mad.2020.111296.
Kosinski M, Figiel-Dabrowska A, Lech W, Wieprzowski L, Strzalkowski R, Strzemecki D, Cheda L, Lenart J, Domanska-Janik K, Sarnowska A. Bone Defect Repair Using a Bone Substitute Supported by Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from the Umbilical Cord. Stem Cells Int. 2020; Apr 5;2020:1321283. doi: 10.1155/2020/1321283.
Graczyk S, Perlińska-Lenart U, Górka-Nieć W, Lichota R, Piłsyk S, Zembek P, Lenart J, Bernat P, Gryz E,Augustyniak J, Palamarczyk G, Kruszewska JS. Increased activity of the sterol branch of the mevalonate pathway elevates glycosylation of secretory proteins and improves antifungal properties of Trichoderma atroviride. Fungal Genet Biol. 2020; Apr;137:103334. doi: 10.1016/j.fgb.2020.103334.
Lenart J, Bratek E, Lazarewicz JW, Zieminska E. Changes in the Expression of SNAP-25 Protein in the Brain of Juvenile Rats in Two Models of Autism. J Mol Neurosci. 2020; Sep;70(9):1313-1320. doi: 10.1007/s12031-020-01543-6.
Tuchalska-Czuroń J, Lenart J, Augustyniak J, Durlik M. Clinical value of tissue DNA integrity index in pancreatic cancer. Surgeon. 2020; Oct;18(5):269-279. doi: 10.1016/j.surge.2019.10.008.
Toczylowska B, Zieminska E, Senator P, Lazarewicz JW. Hippocampal Metabolite Profiles in Two Rat Models of Autism: NMR-Based Metabolomics Studies. Mol Neurobiol. 2020; Jul;57(7):3089-3105. doi: 10.1007/s12035-020-01935-0.
Toczylowska B, Zieminska E, Michałowska M, Chalimoniuk M, Fiszer U. Changes in the metabolic profiles of the serum and putamen in Parkinson's disease patients - In vitro and in vivo NMR spectroscopy studies. Brain Res. 2020; Sep 12;1748:147118. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147118.
Bratek E, Ziembowicz A, Salinska E. N-Acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) Pretreatment Reduces Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Damage and Oxidative Stress in Neonatal Rats. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020; Sep 17;9(9):E877. doi: 10.3390/antiox9090877
Rzemieniec J, Bratek E, Wnuk A, Przepiórska K, Salińska E, Kajta M. Neuroprotective effect of 3,3'-Diindolylmethane against perinatal asphyxia involves inhibition of the AhR and NMDA signaling and hypermethylation of specific genes. Apoptosis. 2020; Aug 20. doi: 10.1007/s10495-020-01631-3.
Bronisz A, Salińska E, Chiocca EA, Godlewski J. Hypoxic Roadmap of Glioblastoma-Learning about Directions and Distances in the Brain Tumor Environment. Cancers (Basel). 2020; May 13;12(5):1213. doi: 10.3390/cancers12051213
Krolik A, Diamandakis D, Zych A, Stafiej A, Salinska E. The involvement of TRP channels in memory formation and task retrieval in a passive avoidance task in one-day old chicks. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2020, May;171:107209. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2020.107209.
Raulinajtys-Grzybek M, Grabska-Liberek I, Opala A, Słomka M, Chrobot M. Budget impact analysis of lens material on the posterior capsule opacification (PCO) as a complication after the cataract surgery. Cost Eff Resour Alloc. 2020; Jun 16;18:19. doi: 10.1186/s12962-020-00214-y.
Janik A, Niewiadomska M, Perlińska-Lenart U, Lenart J, Kołakowski D, Skorupińska-Tudek K, Swiezewska E, Kruszewska JS, Palamarczyk G. Inhibition of Dephosphorylation of Dolichyl Diphosphate Alters the Synthesis of Dolichol and Hinders Protein N-Glycosylation and Morphological Transitions in Candida albicans. Int J Mol Sci. 2019; Oct 12;20(20):5067. doi: 10.3390/ijms20205067.
Diamandakis D, Zieminska E, Siwiec M, Tokarski K, Salinska E, Lenart J, Hess G, Lazarewicz JW; Tetrabromobisphenol A-induced depolarization of rat cerebellar granule cells: ex vivo and in vitro studies.; Chemosphere. 2019; May;223:64-73. doi: 10.1016/j.Chemosphere.2019.02.032.
Augustyniak J, Lenart J, Lipka G, Stepien PP, Buzanska L. Reference Gene Validation via RT-qPCR for Human iPSC-Derived Neural Stem Cells and Neural Progenitors. Mol Neurobiol. 2019; Oct;56(10):6820-6832. doi: 10.1007/s12035-019-1538-x.
Zychowicz M, Pietrucha K, Podobinska M, Kowalska-Wlodarczyk M, Lenart J, Augustyniak J, Buzanska L. The collagen scaffold supports hiPSC-derived NSC growth and restricts hiPSC. Front Biosci (Schol Ed). 2019; Mar 1;11:105-121.
Diamandakis D, Zieminska E, Siwiec M, Tokarski K, Salinska E, Lenart J, Hess G, Lazarewicz JW. Tetrabromobisphenol A-induced depolarization of rat cerebellar granule cells: ex vivo and in vitro studies. Chemosphere. 2019; May;223:64-73. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.02.032.
Augustyniak J, Lenart J, Gaj P, Kolanowska M, Jazdzewski K, Stepien PP, Buzanska L. Bezafibrate Upregulates Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Influence Neural Differentiation of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Mol Neurobiol. 2019; Jun;56(6):4346-4363. doi: 10.1007/s12035-018-1368-2.
Tuchalska-Czuroń J, Lenart J, Augustyniak J, Durlik M. Is mitochondrial DNA copy number a good prognostic marker in resectable pancreatic cancer? Pancreatology. 2019; Jan;19(1):73-79. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2018.11.009.
Ogawa D, Ansari K, Nowicki MO, Salińska E, Bronisz A, Godlewski J. MicroRNA-451 Inhibits Migration of Glioblastoma while Making It More Susceptible to Conventional Therapy.; Noncoding RNA. 2019. Mar 15;5(1). pii: E25. doi: 10.3390/ncrna5010025
Godlewski J, Lenart J, Salinska E. MicroRNA in Brain pathology: Neurodegeneration the Other Side of the Brain Cancer. Noncoding RNA. 2019; Feb 23;5(1):20. doi: 10.3390/ncrna5010020.
Podlecka-Piętowska A, Kacka A, Zakrzewska-Pniewska B, Nojszewska M, Zieminska E, Chalimoniuk M, Toczylowska B. Altered Cerebrospinal Fluid Concentrations of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Compounds in Early Stages of Multiple Sclerosis-Metabolic Profile Analyses.; J Mol Neurosci. 2019; Sep;69(1):94-105. doi: 10.1007/s12031-019-01336-6.
Sowinska M, Morawiak M, Bochyńska-Czyż M, Lipkowski AW, Ziemińska E, Zabłocka B, Urbanczyk-Lipkowska Z. Molecular Antioxidant Properties and In Vitro Cell Toxicity of the p-Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA) Functionalized Peptide Dendrimers.; Biomolecules. 2019; Mar 5;9(3). pii: E89. doi: 10.3390/biom9030089.
Zieminska E, Toczylowska B, Diamandakis D, Hilgier W, Filipkowski RK, Polowy R, Orzel J, Gorka M, Lazarewicz JW. Glutamate, Glutamine and GABA Levels in Rat Brain Measured Using MRS, HPLC and NMR Methods in Study of Two Models of Autism; Front Mol Neurosci. 2018; Nov 16;11:418. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00418. eCollection 2018.
Toczylowska B, Jastrzebski D, Kostorz S, Zieminska E, Ziora D. Serum lipidomics in diagnostics of sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis. 2018; 35(2):150-153. doi: 10.36141/svdld.v35i2.6131.
Bratek E, Ziembowicz A, Bronisz A, Salinska E. The activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors protects neonatal rat brains from oxidative stress injury after hypoxia-ischemia. PLoS One. 2018; Jul 25;13(7):e0200933. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200933. eCollection 2018.
Bratek E, Ziembowicz A, Salinska E. Pretreatment with Group II Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Agonist LY379268 Protects Neonatal Rat Brains from Oxidative Stress in an Experimental Model of Birth Asphyxia. Brain Sci. 2018; Mar 17;8(3):48. doi: 10.3390/brainsci8030048.
Lenart J, Mitochondria w niedotlenieniu mózgu. Postepy Hig Med Dosw. 2017; 71:129-136
Lenart J, Kogut K, Salinska E. Lateralization of housekeeping genes in the brain of one-day old chicks. Gene Expr Patterns. 2017; Nov;25-26:85-91. doi: 10.1016/j.gep.2017.06.006.
Lenart J, Zieminska E, Diamandakis D, Lazarewicz JW. Altered expression of genes involved in programmed cell death in primary cultured rat cerebellar granule cells acutely challenged with tetrabromobisphenol A.; Neurotoxicology. 2017; Dec;63:126-136. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2017.09.014.
Zieminska E, Ruszczynska A, Lazarewicz JW. Tetrabromobisphenol A disturbs zinc homeostasis in cultured cerebellar granule cells: A dual role in neurotoxicity. Food Chem Toxicol. 2017. Nov;109(Pt 1):363-375.
Zieminska E, Lenart J, Diamandakis D, Lazarewicz JW. The Role of Ca2+ Imbalance in the Induction of Acute Oxidative Stress and Cytotoxicity in Cultured Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells Challenged with Tetrabromobisphenol A. Neurochem Res. 2017; Mar;42(3):777-787.
Godlewski J, Ferrer-Luna R, Rooj AK, Mineo M, Ricklefs F, Takeda YS, Nowicki MO, Salińska E, Nakano I, Lee H, Weissleder R, Beroukhim R, Chiocca EA, Bronisz A. MicroRNA Signatures and Molecular Subtypes of Glioblastoma: The Role of Extracellular Transfer. Stem Cell Reports. 2017; Jun 6;8(6):1497-1505. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.04.024.
Augustyniak J, Lenart J, Zychowicz M, Stepien PP, Buzanska L. Mitochondrial biogenesis and neural differentiation of human iPSC is modulated by idebenone in a developmental stage-dependent manner. Biogerontology. 2017; Aug;18(4):665-677. doi: 10.1007/s10522-017-9718-4.
Augustyniak J, Lenart J, Zychowicz M, Lipka G, Gaj P, Kolanowska M, Stepien PP, Buzanska L. Sensitivity of hiPSC-derived neural stem cells (NSC) to Pyrroloquinoline quinone depends on their developmental stage; Toxicol In Vitro. 2017, Dec;45(Pt 3):434-444. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2017.05.017.

Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Nephrology

Department of Molecular Biotechnology
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk
Wita Stwosza 63
80-308 Gdańsk, Poland

Head:

Prof. Agnieszka Piwkowska - tel. 58 523 54 87, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research staff:

Prof. Dorota Rogacka - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Irena Audzeyenka, Ph.D., D.Sc. - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Patrycja Rachubik, PhD - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Maria Szrejder, PhD - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tomasz Kulesza, PhD (ABM project) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Olga Żołnierkiewicz PhD (Opus project) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Justyna Sawicka PHD (Opus project) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PhD students:

Klaudia Grochowalska, MSc; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Aleksandra Wróblewska MSc; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Karol Zakrzewski MSc; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Wiktor Jarecki MSc; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Aleksandra Kubiak MSc; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research profile:

molecular basis of glomerular podocytes functions in health and disease (e. g. diabetes)
determination of factors involved in the regulation of glomerular filtration and albumin permeability of podocytes monolayer
biochemical basis of insulin resistance of podocytes

Grants:

The role of bile acid receptor TGR5 in insulin-dependent regulation of podocyte function and glomerular filtration barrier permeability (Sonata, 2024/55/D/NZ4/00228, P. Rachubik, 2025-2028)
Searching for new biomarkers for early detection of diabetes or diabetic kidney disease. . Medical Research Agency - KPO (IW.07.KPOD, KPOD.07.07-IW.07-0019/24, A. Piwkowska)
CD147 as a novel multifunctional modulator of podocyte metabolism and exosome biogenesis: Identification of new molecular pathways and therapeutic targets in diabetic kidney (Opus, 2024/53/B/NZ4/00986, A. Piwkowska (2025-2028)
Mitochondria-related mechanisms of exosome biogenesis and secretion in podocytes under metabolic stress (Opus, 2023/51/B/NZ5/00885, I. Audzeyenka, 2024-2028).
Role of beta-Aminoisobutyric acid (L-BAIBA) in regulation of the lipid-mitochondria metabolic crosstalk in podocytes and diabetic kidney (Sonata Bis, 2023/50/E/NZ5/00015, I. Audzeyenka, 2024-2029)
Basigin as a major regulator of podocyte function. The impact on the functioning of the glomerular filtration barrier in diabetes (Preludium Bis, 2023/50/O/NZ4/00004, A. Piwkowska, 2024-2028).
Glycogen metabolism and gluconeogenesis in glomerular podocytes: impact on podocyte function in normo- and hyperglycemia (Opus, 2021/41/B/NZ5/02611, D. Rogacka, 2022-2025)
The role of neutrophil serine proteases in the regulation of function of the podocyte and glomerular filtration barrier (Opus, 2021/41/B/NZ4/02797A. Piwkowska, 2022-2025)
The role of lactate and the metabolic GPR81 sensor in the regulation of the function of podocyte and glomerular filtration barrier in normoglycemia and hyperglycemia (Opus, 2019/33/B/NZ4/02407, A. Piwkowska, 2020-2023)
The role of klotho and NPP1 proteins in regulation of podocyte function (Opus, 2018/29/B/NZ4/02074; A. Piwkowska, 2019-2022)
Role of the lysosomes in insulin-dependent regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase expression and activity in podocytes. Influence on filtration barrier permeability (Preludium, 2018/29/N/NZ4/02212; P. Rachubik, 2019-2021)
Role of cGMP-dependent signaling in the regulation of expression and activity of deacetylase SIRT1: a novel mechanism of induction of insulin resistance in podocytes exposed to high glucose concentrations (Opus, 2016/23/B/NZ4/03448; D. Rogacka, 2017-2021)
Role of mitophagy and assessment of bioenergetic status in podocytes in the development of insulin resistance and impairment of the renal filtration barrier function in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (Sonata, 2016/23/D/NZ5/01449; I. Audzeyenka, 2017-2021)

Research equipment:

Cell culture equipment (CO₂ incubators, laminar flow cabinets)
Scintylator and luminescence counter
Real-Time PCR Instruments
NanoPhotometer UV/VIS
Nucleic acids and proteins Electrophoresis Equipment
ELx808™ Absorbance Microplate Reader
Olympus fluorescence imaging microscope system
Nikon fluorescence imaging microscope system with CO₂ incubator and confocal module
Seahorse XFp Analyzer for measurements of metabolic parameters
Multimode plate reader EnSpire
ChemiDoc MP Imaging System for imaging of gels and blots
NanoSight Pro with fluorescence module for Nanoparticle Tracing Analyses (Malvern Panalytical)
Luminex xMAP INTELLIFLEX System

Molecular Biology Unit

Head
Prof. Barbara Zabłocka, PhD - phone: +48 22 60 86 486 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research staff
Małgorzata Beręsewicz-Haller, PhD - phone: +48 22 60 86 639; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Joanna Gruszczyńska-Biegała, PhD - phone: +48 22 60 86 639; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Maria Kawalec, PhD - phone: +48 22 60 86 487; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Anna Boratyńska-Jasińska, PhD - phone: +48 22 60 86 487; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..p
Iga Wasilewska, PhD - phone: +48 22 60 86 486; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PBM marzec 2024 DSC 2094

Former Lab Members
Anita Lewczuk, PhD DVM
Karolina Serwach, PnD
Olga Krupska, PhD
Joanna E. Kowalczyk, PhD
Joanna Dłużniewska, PhD
Piotr Wojtyniak, PhD
Maria Adamiak, M.Sc. WUM
Monika Majewska, M.Sc. SGGW
Piotr Walendzik, M.Sc. SGGW
Paweł Bochomulski, M.Sc. UW
Aleksandra Aksamit, student SGGW
Patrycja Klimczak, M.Sc. UW
Ewelina Bielska, M.Sc. WUT
Martyna Bączek, M.Sc. UW

Research profile
• Various aspects of the involvement of mitochondria in the development of human diseases.
• We focus on a the phenomenon of resistance of CA2-4, DG regions of hippocampus after transient brain ischemia in vivo in the model of global cerebral ischemia in gerbils and in vitro in organotypic hippocampal culture. We assume that mitochondria are the main players in the postischemic signal transduction towards activation of neuro-repair and neuro-regeneration processes.
• We examine the role of mitofusin 2 in cell death and cell survival in different models of transient brain ischemia, especially considering its implication in mitophagy and mitochondria biogenesis.
• STIM proteins as new regulators of NMDA receptor trafficking in neurons
• Looking for a new substances able to exert neuroprotection.

Grants
• Task 3 in the ABM KPO project entitled "Searching for new biomarkers for early detection of diabetes or diabetic kidney disease" headed by prof. A. Piwkowska from the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Nephrology MMRI., 2025-2026.
• "The role of Tmbim5 in mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in zebrafish". PI Iga Wasilewska PhD, National Science Centre 2021/40/C/NZ4/00031, 2021-2025
• “STIM proteins as new regulators of NMDA receptor trafficking in neurons.” PI Joanna Gruszczyńska-Biegała PhD, National Science Centre 2017/26/E/NZ3/01144; 2018-2023
• “The role of mitofusin 2 in damage and regeneration of cells in the brain's ischemia-reperfusion episode”. PI Maria Kawalec PhD, National Science Centre 2016/23/D/NZ3/01631, 2017-2022
• “Functional meaning of protein kinase C beta (PKC beta) translocation to mitochondria in cerebral ischemia. Revealing the mechanisms of endogenous neuroprotection”. PI Małgorzata Beręsewicz PhD, National Science Centre 2014/15/D/NZ3/02784, 2015 – 2019
• “Functional meaning of interaction of PKC beta with mitochondrial ATP synthase in response to cerebral ischemia”, PI Barbara Zabłocka PhD, MMRC-KNOW PhD project, 2013-2017
• "Mechanisms underlying the signaling function of PKC beta I i beta II in mitochondria in cerebral ischemia." PI Barbara Zabłocka PhD National Science Centre 2012/05/B/NZ3/00415,2013 - 2016

Collaboration
domestic
• Prof. Michał Ciborowski, Metabolomics Laboratory, Clinical Research Centre, Medical University of Bialystok
• Prof. Krzysztof Zabłocki, Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw
• Prof. Adam Szewczyk, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw
• Prof.Jacek Jaworski,International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw
foreign
• Prof. Dariusz C. Górecki, MD, PhD, Molecular Medicine Unit, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, White Swan Road, PO1 2DT, UK
• Prof. Gerald W. Dorn II, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis MO USA
• Prof. Kevin M. Ryan MD, PhD, The Beatson Institute For Cancer Research, Glasgow, UK

Research equipment
• Light Cycler Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystem)
• western blot and chemiluminescence imaging system FUSION FX (VILBER LOURMAT)
• UV Gel Transilluminator Cabinet UV NucleoVision (NucleoTech)
• Tecan Infinite M1000 PRO
• Tissue cultur room GMO klasy II
• SDS-PAGE & western blot equipment
• PCR equipment

Research methods
• In vivo model of transient global brain ischemia in gerbils
• Cell and tissue culturing
• Cell fractions and protein isolation from tissue and cells
• SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blotting
• DNA and RNA isolation from tissues, organotypic and cell cultures
• DNA and gene expression analysis (RT-PCR, qPCR)
• Lentivirus vectors

Selected publications

Pomeroy J, Borczyk M, Kawalec M, Hajto J, Carlson E, Svärd S, Verma S, Bareke E, Boratyńska-Jasińska A, Dymkowska D, Mellado-Ibáñez A, Laight D, Zabłocki K, Occhipinti A, Majewska L, Angione C, Majewski J, Yegutkin GG, Korostynski M, Zabłocka B, Górecki DC. Spatiotemporal diversity in molecular and functional abnormalities in the mdx dystrophic brain. Mol Med. 2025; 20;31(1):108. http://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-025-01109-5
Rybkowska P, Kawalec M, Dymkowska D, Radoszkiewicz K, Zabłocka B, Zabłocki K, Sarnowska A. Activity and function of auxiliary fluxes of glucose metabolism in response to physiological normoxia (5 % O2) during long-term Adipose-Derived Stem/Stromal cell culture. Eur J Cell Biol. 2025;104(2):151486. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcb.2025.151486
Serwach K, Nurowska E, Klukowska M, Zablocka B, Gruszczynska-Biegala J. STIM2 regulates NMDA receptor endocytosis that is induced by short-term NMDA receptor overactivation in cortical neurons. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2023 Nov 21;80(12):368. doi: 10.1007/s00018-023-05028-8.
Wasilewska I, Majewski Ł, Adamek-Urbańska D, Mondal SS, Baranykova S, Gupta RK, Bielecki D, Winata CL, Kuznicki J. Lack of Stim2 Affects Vision-Dependent Behavior and Sensitivity to Hypoxia. Zebrafish. 2023 Aug;20(4):146-159. doi: 10.1089/zeb.2022.0068.
Lewczuk A, Zablocka B, Beresewicz-Haller M. Is Nrf2 Behind Endogenous Neuroprotection of the Hippocampal CA2-4,DG Region? Mol Neurobiol. 2023 Mar;60(3):1645-1658. https://doi:10.1007/s12035-022-03166-x
Lewczuk A., Boratynska-Jasinska A., Zabłocka B., Validation of the Reference Genes for Expression Analysis in the Hippocampus after Transient Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Gerbil Brain. IJMS 2023, 24, 2756. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032756
Rybkowska P., Radoszkiewicz K., Kawalec M., Dymkowska D., Zabłocka B., Zabłocki K., Sarnowska A., The Metabolic Changes between Monolayer (2D) and Three-Dimensional (3D) Culture Conditions in Human Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Derived from Adipose Tissue. Cells 2023, 12, 178. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12010178 .
Kawalec M., Wojtyniak P., Bielska E., Lewczuk A., Boratynska-Jasinska A., Beręsewicz-Haller M., Frontczak-Baniewicz M., Gewartowska M., Zabłocka B. Mitochondrial dynamics, elimination and biogenesis during post-ischemic recovery in ischemia-resistant and ischemia-vulnerable gerbil hippocampal regions. BBA - Molecular Basis of Disease 1869 (2023) 166633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166633
Wojtyniak P., Boratynska-Jasinska A., Serwach K., Gruszczynska-Biegala J., Zablocka B., Jaworski J., Kawalec M. Mitofusin 2 integrates mitochondrial network remodelling, mitophagy and renewal of respiratory chain proteins in neurons after oxygen and glucose deprivation. Mol. Nerobiol. 2022 59(10):6502-6518 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-022-02981-6 IF 5,68, 5Y 5,58
Beresewicz-Haller M., Hippocampal region-specific endogenous neuroprotection as an approach in the search for new neuroprotective strategies in ischemic stroke. Fiction or fact? Neurochem Int. 2022 Nov 21;162:105455. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105455 .
Sowińska M.,Szeliga M., Morawiak M., Zabłocka B., Urbanczyk-Lipkowska Z. Design, Synthesis and Activity of New N1 -Alkyl Tryptophan Functionalized Dendrimeric Peptides against Glioblastoma. Biomolecules 2022, 12(8), 1116; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom12081116
Wawro B, Nieznanska H, Nieznanski K, Gruszczynska-Biegala J, Stepkowski D, Strzelecka-Golaszewska H. Mechanisms of the modulation of actin-myosin interactions by A1-type myosin light chains. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2022 Jun;1866(6):130132. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2022.130132 .
Xiawei Dang, Emily K. Walton, Barbara Zablocka, Robert H. Baloh, Michael E. Shy, Gerald W. Dorn, II Mitochondrial Phenotypes in Genetically Diverse Neurodegenerative Diseases and Their Response to Mitofusin Activation. Cells 2022, 11, 1053. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11061053
Wawro B.,Nieznanska H., Nieznanski K., Gruszczynska-Biegala J., Stepkowski D., Strzelecka-Golaszewska H. Mechanisms of the modulation of actin-myosin interactions by A1-type myosin light chains. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 2022, 1866 (6): 130132.
Gruszczynska-Biegala J, Stefan A, Kasprzak AA, Dobryszycki P, Khaitlina S, Strzelecka-Gołaszewska H. Myopathy-Sensitive G-Actin Segment 227-235 Is Involved in Salt-Induced Stabilization of Contacts within the Actin Filament. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 26;22(5):2327. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052327.
Joanna Gruszczynska-Biegala, Francisco Javier Martin-Romero, Tarik Smani and Agnese Secondo, Molecular Components of Store-Operated Calcium Entry in Health and Disease, Editorial. Front. Cell. Neurosci., 2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2021.771138
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Sowińska M., Szeliga M., Morawiak M., Ziemińska E., Zabłocka B., Urbańczyk‐Lipkowska Z. Peptide Dendrimers with Non‐Symmetric Bola Structure Exert Long Term Effect on Glioblastoma and Neuroblastoma Cell Lines. Biomolecules 2021, 11, 435. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11030435
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