Rui E. Castro
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Depression- and exercise-associated stimuli exert contrasting effects on neural stem cell activity and paracrine signaling Open
Adult neurogenesis is dysregulated in neurological disorders, including depression. Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) are close to the vasculature and the cerebrospinal fluid, placing them in an ideal position to receive extrinsic signals and…
E2F2 transcription factor promotes a cholestatic MASH phenotype by regulating hepatobiliary metabolism through miR-34a-5p Open
Background and Aims: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects a heterogeneous group of patients. Among them, those with a cholestatic profile show worse outcomes. Here, we investigated whether E2F2 is involv…
Lipotoxicity-driven metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) Open
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) encompasses a spectrum of liver lesions, ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), that may further progress to cirrhosis. MAS…
Regulatory roles of the N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO in cardiac remodeling Open
Background The most prevalent internal RNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A), serves as an additional layer of transcriptional and translational regulation. Methyl transferases (like METTL3) and demethylases (e.g., FTO) are the enzyme…
View article: <scp>miR</scp>‐21‐5p promotes <scp>NASH</scp>‐related hepatocarcinogenesis
<span>miR</span>‐21‐5p promotes <span>NASH</span>‐related hepatocarcinogenesis Open
Background and Aims The mechanisms governing the progression of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) towards steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive. Here, we evaluated the role of hsa‐miRNA‐21‐5p in N…
View article: ARBM101 (Methanobactin SB2) Drains Excess Liver Copper via Biliary Excretion in Wilson’s Disease Rats
ARBM101 (Methanobactin SB2) Drains Excess Liver Copper via Biliary Excretion in Wilson’s Disease Rats Open
ARBM101 safely and efficiently depletes excess liver copper from WD rats, thus allowing for short treatment periods as well as prolonged in-between rest periods.
View article: RIPK3 dampens mitochondrial bioenergetics and lipid droplet dynamics in metabolic liver disease
RIPK3 dampens mitochondrial bioenergetics and lipid droplet dynamics in metabolic liver disease Open
Background and Aims: Receptor‐interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) mediates NAFLD progression, but its metabolic function is unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of RIPK3 in modulating mitochondria function, coupled with lipid d…
Impact of aging on primary liver cancer: epidemiology, pathogenesis and therapeutics Open
Aging involves progressive physiological and metabolic reprogramming to adapt to gradual deterioration of organs and functions. This includes mechanisms of defense against pre-malignant transformations. Thus, certain tumors are more prone …
View article: Adiponectin, Leptin, and IGF-1 Are Useful Diagnostic and Stratification Biomarkers of NAFLD
Adiponectin, Leptin, and IGF-1 Are Useful Diagnostic and Stratification Biomarkers of NAFLD Open
Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease where liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Here we aimed to evaluate the role of circulating adiponectin, leptin, and insulin-li…
View article: RIPK3 acts as a lipid metabolism regulator contributing to inflammation and carcinogenesis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
RIPK3 acts as a lipid metabolism regulator contributing to inflammation and carcinogenesis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Open
Objective Receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) is a key player in necroptosis execution and an emerging metabolic regulator, whose contribution to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is controversial. We aimed to clarify the…
View article: Host miRNA-21 promotes liver dysfunction by targeting small intestinal <i>Lactobacillus</i> in mice
Host miRNA-21 promotes liver dysfunction by targeting small intestinal <i>Lactobacillus</i> in mice Open
New evidence shows that host-microbiota crosstalk can be modulated via endogenous miRNAs. We have previously reported that miR-21 ablation protects against liver injury in cholestasis. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-21 in m…
Potential of miR-21 to Predict Incomplete Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Adenocarcinoma Open
Background: Patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC) are treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, biomarkers for patient selection are lacking, and the association between miRNA expression and treatment…
Evaluation of Tissue and Circulating miR-21 as Potential Biomarker of Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Cancer Open
Response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) is quite variable and it is urgent to find predictive biomarkers of response. We investigated miR-21 as tissue and plasma biomarker of response to CRT…
A Novel Serum Metabolomic Profile for the Differential Diagnosis of Distal Cholangiocarcinoma and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Open
The diagnosis of adenocarcinomas located in the pancreas head, i.e., distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), constitutes a clinical challenge because they share many symptoms, are not easily distinguis…
Liquid Biopsies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Are We Winning? Open
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer-related death. One of the major problems faced by researchers and clinicians in this area is the lack of reliable di…
View article: Diet-dependent gut microbiota impacts on adult neurogenesis through mitochondrial stress modulation
Diet-dependent gut microbiota impacts on adult neurogenesis through mitochondrial stress modulation Open
The influence of dietary factors on brain health and mental function is becoming increasingly recognized. Similarly, mounting evidence supports a role for gut microbiota in modulating central nervous system function and behaviour. Still, t…
View article: miR-873-5p targets mitochondrial GNMT-Complex II interface contributing to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
miR-873-5p targets mitochondrial GNMT-Complex II interface contributing to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease Open
GNMT participates in the regulation of metabolic pathways and mitochondrial functionality through the regulation of Complex II activity in the electron transport chain. In NAFLD, GNMT is repressed by miR-873-5p and its targeting arises as …
Diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cholangiocarcinoma Open
The high mortality rate of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is due, in part, to the lack of non‐invasive approaches able to accurately detect this silent tumour at early stages, when therapeutic options can be potentially curative or may at least …