The main objective of ESR1 project is the elucidation of clinical, metabolic and molecular abnormalities resulting in mitochondrial-related alterations in the development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). All diets contributed to the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver. Interestingly, studied diets caused different patterns of fat accumulation, what may suggest that the components of each individual diet may activate different signaling pathways.
For the project ESR2 it was necessary the optimization of methodology that allows the analysis of Krebs cycle intermediates, and other compounds derived either from glycolysis or de novo lipogenesis. ESR2 has contributed to develop and optimize a method that will allow to analyze the metabolites of interest in different samples (plasma and cells).
ESR3 optimized protocol to measure H2S oxidation in mouse liver mitochondria using oxygraphy (Oroboros). Preliminary experiments were performed for in vivo H2S supplementation (for 3 weeks) to determine the donor choice and the method of administration. Results are being obtained regarding the regulation of H2S during NAFLD progression and the protective effects of H2S donors.
ESR4 is undertaking the study on the relationship between intestinal short-chain fatty acid production, intestinal permeability and hepatic bioenergetic status both in high sugar and/or high fat diet induced NAFLD mice models and cross-sectional observational human studies. The ESR is using nuclear magnetic resonance to investigate metabolic profiling of the NAFLD animal models.
Besides two long-term in vivo studies, ESR5 studied the in vitro effects of Krill oil in the HepG2 cell line. The aim was to mimic the in vivo effects of n-3 PUFA-containing diet on mitochondrial function using cultured HepG2 cells treated with different fatty acids mixtures mimicking the respective composition of fatty acids in the above high-fat diet. The results showed that Krill oil altered mitochondrial function in intact cells which may contribute to alter the response of the same cells to fatty acids mixture (assays in progress).
The main aim of ESR6 project is to investigate the impact of the gut hormones on NAFLD. ESR6 has evaluated the lipidomic profile in different groups of patients. From the area of the peaks obtained for each lipid and the corresponding standard, ESR6 has calculated the concentrations of each lipid in each sample and correlated with the severity of the disease.
The main aim of ESR 7 is explore the role of Mediterranean Diet in NAFLD progression. As of December 2018, UNIBA has already achieved the goal set for recruitment of patients (n=35), which is currently ca. 60% of the total expected number.
ESR8 aimed to evaluate the role of the depletion of a necroptosis-associated protein on restoration of the mitochondrial activity in experimental NAFLD progression from steatosis to the development of preneoplastic lesions. The ESR detected that activity of the above-mentioned protein correlates with inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative stress in experimental NAFLD.
The main objective of the ESR9 project is to investigate the potential protective effects of PEG35 and PEG40 in preserving media for livers which are subjected to warm liver Ischemia reperfusion (IR) in different strain of rats, including obese models. The current results showed a significant degree of progression with the two additives.
The objective of ESR10 research project is to determine effects of physical activity during pregnancy in reducing the risk of developing NAFLD phenotype in female rats fed with HFD, with the focus on modulation of liver mitochondrial function and structure, as well on the epigenetic alterations of the genes involved in NAFLD pathology, especially transgenerational alterations. The ESR has managed to develop the animal model which is now being used to characterize mitochondrial function and the protection by physical activity.
ESR11 was involved in participants recruitment, which happened when patients with a diagnosis of NAFLD consulted in the clinic and were informed of the possibility of participating in the project. As of M8 there were 34 patients in the database interested in participating in clinical study.
The ESR12 research project is focused on the use of a dietary strategy to alleviate the Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) phenotype improving mitochondrial metabolism. Two mushrooms were selected to continue the in vitro studies based on a very positive outcome on mitochondrial bioenergetic outcomes.
The ESR13 project is dedicated exclusively to WP-6, and has been dedicated towards building a science communication initiative in partnership with different entities and events, including the European University Games (EUG), an international sports event celebrated in Coimbra in July 2018.
