Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción

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Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción

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Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción

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Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular"B" e Inmunología

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Citoquinas y melanogénesis : TNF-alfa y TGF-beta1 como reguladores paracrinos y autocrinos de la melanogénesis en ratón / Mª Concepción Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález ; Directores: José Carlos García-Borrón Martínez, Francisco Solano Muñoz.
(Murcia : Universidad de Murcia, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular B e Inmunología,, 1999) Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; García-Borrón Martínez, José Carlos; Solano Muñoz, Francisco
Open Access
Brassica bioactives could ameliorate the chronic inflammatory condition of Endometriosis
(MDPI, ) García Ibánez, Paula; Yepes Molina, Lucía; Moreno, Diego A.; Carvajal, Micaela; García Peñarrubia, Pilar; Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología
Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, hormone-dependent disease characterized by histological lesions produced by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Despite the fact that an estimated 176 million women are a ected worldwide by this gynecological disorder, risk factors that cause endometriosis have not been properly defined and current treatments are not e cient. Although the interaction between diet and human health has been the focus of many studies, little information about the correlation of foods and their bioactive derivates with endometriosis is available. In this framework, Brassica crops have emerged as potential candidates for ameliorating the chronic inflammatory condition of endometriosis, due to their abundant content of health-promoting compounds such as glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates. Several inflammation-related signaling pathways have been included among the known targets of isothiocyanates, but those involving aquaporin water channels have an important role in endometriosis. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight the promising e ects of the phytochemicals present in Brassica spp. as major candidates for inclusion in a dietary approach aiming to improve the inflammatory condition of women a ected with endometriosis. This review points out the potential roles of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates from Brassicas as anti-inflammatory compounds, which might contribute to a reduction in endometriosis symptoms. In view of these promising results, further investigation of the e ect of glucosinolates on chronic inflammatory diseases, either as diet coadjuvants or as therapeutic molecules, should be performed. In addition, we highlight the involvement of aquaporins in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. In brief, glucosinolates and the modulation of cellular water by aquaporins could shed light on new approaches to improve the quality of life for women with endometriosis.
Open Access
Determinación y cuantificación de IgA en saliva mediante ELISA
(2024-03-18) Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología
Open Access
In Candida parapsilosis the ATC1 gene encodes for an acid trehalase involved in trehalose hydrolysis, stress resistance and virulence
(Public Library of Science, 2014-06-12) Sánchez-Fresneda, Ruth; Maicas, Sergi; Argüelles, Juan-Carlos; Valentín, Eulogio; Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología
An ORF named CPAR2-208980 on contig 005809 was identified by screening a Candida parapsilosis genome data base. Its 67% identity with the acid trehalase sequence from C. albicans (ATC1) led us to designate it CpATC1. Homozygous mutants that lack acid trehalase activity were constructed by gene disruption at the two CpATC1 chromosomal alleles. Phenotypic characterization showed that atc1Δ null cells were unable to grow on exogenous trehalose as carbon source, and also displayed higher resistance to environmental challenges, such as saline exposure (1.2 M NaCl), heat shock (42°C) and both mild and severe oxidative stress (5 and 50 mM H2O2). Significant amounts of intracellular trehalose were specifically stored in response to the thermal upshift in both wild type and mutant strains. Analysis of their antioxidant activities revealed that catalase was only triggered in response to heat shock in atc1Δ cells, whereas glutathione reductase was activated upon mild oxidative stress in wild type and reintegrant strains, and in response to the whole set of stress treatments in the homozygous mutant. Furthermore, yeast cells with double CpATC1 deletion were significantly attenuated in non-mammalian infection models, suggesting that CpATC1 is required for the pathobiology of the fungus. Our results demonstrate the involvement of CpAtc1 protein in the physiological hydrolysis of external trehalose in C. parapsilosis, where it also plays a major role in stress resistance and virulence.
Open Access
Potential of sulforaphane and broccoli membrane vesicles as regulators of M1/M2 human macrophage activity
(2022-09-22) García-Peñaranda, Andrea; García-Ibáñez, Paula; Yepes-Molina, Lucía; Carvajal, Micaela; Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Moreno, Diego A.; García Peñarrubia, María del Pilar; Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Ramírez Pávez, Tamara Nadira; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología; Facultad de Biología
Open Access
The antifungal effect induced by itraconazole in Candida parapsilosis largely depends on the oxidative stress generated at the mitochondria
Muñoz Megías, M. L.; Sanchez-fresneda Pinto, R.; Solano Muñoz, F.; Maicas Prieto, S.; Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología
Open Access
Recent insights into the characteristics and role of peritoneal macrophages from ascites of cirrhotic patients
(Baishideng Publishing Group, 2021-11-07) García Peñarrubia, Pilar; Ruiz Ballester, Miriam; Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Ramírez Pávez, Tamara Nadira; Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología
Macrophages are a diverse myeloid cell population involved in innate and adaptive immune responses, embryonic development, wound repair, and regulation of tissue homeostasis. These cells link the innate and adaptive immunities and are crucial in the development and sustainment of various inflammatory diseases. Macrophages are tissue-resident cells in steady-state conditions; however, they are also recruited from blood monocytes after local pathogen invasion or tissue injury. Peritoneal macrophages vary based on their cell complexity, phenotype, and functional capabilities. These cells regulate inflammation and control bacterial infections in the ascites of decompensated cirrhotic patients. Our recent work reported several phenotypic and functional characteristics of these cells under both healthy and pathological conditions. A direct association between cell size, CD14/CD16 expression, intracellular level of GATA-6, and expression of CD206 and HLA-DR activation/maturation markers, indicate that the large peritoneal macrophage CD14highCD16high subset constitutes the mature phenotype of human resident peritoneal macrophages during homeostasis. Moreover, elevated expression of CD14/CD16 is related to the phagocytic capacity. The novel large CD14highCD16high peritoneal subpopulation is increased in the ascites of cirrhotic patients and is highly sensitive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation, thereby exhibiting features of inflammatory priming. Thus, phosphorylation of ERK1/2, PKB/Akt, and c-Jun is remarkably increased in response to LPS in vitro, whereas that of p38 MAPK is reduced compared with the monocyte-derived macrophages from the blood of healthy controls. Furthermore, in vitro activated monocyte-derived macrophages from ascites of cirrhotic patients secreted significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α and lower amounts of IL-1β and IL-12 than the corresponding cells from healthy donor’s blood. Based on these results, other authors have recently reported that the surface expression level of CD206 can be used to identifymature, resident, inflammatory peritoneal macrophages in patients with cirrhosis. Soluble CD206 is released from activated large peritoneal macrophages, and increased concentrations in patients with cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) indicate reduced odds of survival for 90 d. Hence, the level of soluble CD206 in ascites might be used to identify patients with SBP at risk of death. In conclusion, peritoneal macrophages present in ascites of cirrhotic patients display multiple phenotypic modifications characterized by reduced ratio of cells expressing several membrane markers, together with an increase in the ratios of complex and intermediate subpopulations and a decrease in the classiclike subset. These modifications may lead to the identification of novel pharmaceutical targets for prevention and treatment of hepatic damage.
Open Access
Intracellular signaling modifications involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of 4-alkoxy-6,9-dichloro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines on macrophages
(Elsevier, 2017-01-03) Tristán-Manzano, María; Guirado, Antonio; Gálvez, Jesús; García-Peñarrubia, Pilar; Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología
Inflammation is part of a complex biological response directed by the immune system to fight pathogens and maintain homeostasis. Dysregulation of the inflammatory process leads to development of chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. Several cell types, such as macrophages, and cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) are involved in the regulation of inflammation. The important role played by these cytokines asmediators of the inflammatory process and the side effects of current therapies have promoted the search of new therapeutic alternatives. Quinoxalines are important compounds allowing a wide range of chemical modifications in order to provide an extensive repertoire of biological activities. We have previously shown that a series of 4-alkoxy-6,9-dichloro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalines exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting the production of TNF-α and IL-6. Our aim here was to study the mechanism thereby this series of compounds act upon different intracellular signaling pathways to uncover their potential molecular targets. By using immunoblotting assays, we found that these compounds inhibit ERK 1/2 and JNK/c-Jun cascades, and reduce c-Fos expression, while activate the anti-inflammatory PI3K/Akt route. These results provide further information on their effect upon the intracellular signal transduction mechanisms leading to inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 secretion. Our results may be of great interest for the pharmaceutical industry, and could be used as a starting point for the development of new and more potent anti-inflammatory drugs derived from the quinoxaline core.
Metadata only
Estudio de la capacidad accesoria de clones de linfocitos T en el reconocimiento de un seperantígeno.
(Murcia : Universidad, Facultad de Biología,, 1994) Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción
Open Access
Inflammatory status in human hepatic cirrhosis
(Baishideng publishing Group, 2015-11-07) Tristán-Manzano, María; García-Peñarrubia, Pilar; Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Ruiz Alcaraz, Antonio José; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e Inmunología
This review focuses on new findings about the inflammatory status involved in the development of human liver cirrhosis induced by the two main causes, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and chronic alcohol abuse, avoiding results obtained from animal models. When liver is faced to a persistent and/or intense local damage the maintained inflammatory response gives rise to a progressive replacement of normal hepatic tissue by non-functional fibrotic scar. The imbalance between tissue regeneration and fibrosis will determine the outcome toward health recovery or hepatic cirrhosis. In all cases progression toward liver cirrhosis is caused by a dysregulation of mechanisms that govern the balance between activation/homeostasis of the immune system. Detecting differences between the inflammatory status in HCV-induced vs alcohol-induced cirrhosis could be useful to identify specific targets for preventive and therapeutic intervention in each case. Thus, although survival of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis seems to be similar to that of patients with HCV-related cirrhosis (HCV-C), there are important differences in the altered cellular and molecular mechanisms implicated in the progression toward human liver cirrhosis. The predominant features of HCV-C are more related with those that allow viral evasion of the immune defenses, especially although not exclusively, inhibition of interferons secretion, natural killer cells activation and T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. On the contrary, the inflammatory status of alcohol-induced cirrhosis is determined by the combined effect of direct hepatotoxicity of ethanol metabolites and increases of the intestinal permeability, allowing bacteria and bacterial products translocation, into the portal circulation, mesenteric lymph nodes and peritoneal cavity. This phenomenon generates a stronger pro-inflammatory response compared with HCV-related cirrhosis. Hence, therapeutic intervention in HCV-related cirrhosis must be mainly focused to counteract HCV-immune system evasion, while in the case of alcohol-induced cirrhosis it must try to break the inflammatory loop established at the gut-mesenteric lymph nodes-peritoneal-systemic axis.