Papers by María José Pérez
Copyright © 2015 Fabian A. Cabezas-Opazo et al. This is an open access article distributed under ... more Copyright © 2015 Fabian A. Cabezas-Opazo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Currently, there is no effective treatment for AD, which indicates the necessity to understand the pathogenic mechanism of this disorder. Extracellular aggregates of amyloid precursor protein (APP), called A
Handbook of Algal Technologies and Phytochemicals, 2019
Trends in Molecular Medicine, 2021
Microglia have long been considered a homogenous cell population that uniformly responds to extri... more Microglia have long been considered a homogenous cell population that uniformly responds to extrinsic factors. Here, we describe how the recent development of single-cell technologies has revealed the heterogeneity of both human and mouse microglia and identified distinct microglial states linked to specific developmental, aging, and disease stages. We discuss progress and future developments in data analysis, essential tools for the comprehension of big data derived from single-cell omics, and the necessity of integrating such data with functional studies to correlate genetic cues with the relevant biological functions of microglia. Defining the functional correlates of distinct microglia states is fundamental to dissecting the 'microglial etiology' of aging and complex neurological diseases and identifying novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets.
Ciencia, Arte e Innovación Tecnológica de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán y describe la experi... more Ciencia, Arte e Innovación Tecnológica de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán y describe la experiencia de un aula virtual realizada por la cátedra de Matemática I (materia del Ciclo Básico) de la Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia (FBQF), a través de la plataforma educativa Moodle 3.0 del Campus Virtual de la U.N.T. En este trabajo se exponen las ideas principales que sustentan una propuesta didáctica para el aprendizaje de los contenidos de Matemática I como recurso para mejorar la calidad del proceso de aprendizaje y formalizar la relación docente-alumno que actualmente existe a través de la cuenta de facebook: “Matemática Bioquímica”, utilizando Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación. Para ello se planteó el diseño del aula en base a la extensión, estructura y profundidad de
El presente documento es un avance del Proyecto "Propuesta curricular, con soporte en las NTIC, p... more El presente documento es un avance del Proyecto "Propuesta curricular, con soporte en las NTIC, para favorecer el estudio independiente del Cálculo" aprobado por la Secretaría de
Revista Evaluar, 2010
La Deseabilidad Social (DS) es la tendencia psicológica a auto-atribuirse cualidades de personali... more La Deseabilidad Social (DS) es la tendencia psicológica a auto-atribuirse cualidades de personalidad socialmente deseables y rechazar aquellas indeseables. Se estudiaron las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de DS de Marlowe y Crowne (M-C) en una muestra de 400 sujetos pertenecientes a provincias cuyanas de Argentina (rango de edad: 17-70 años; M=30.97; DE=12.97). Se indagó la consistencia interna del test; capacidad discriminativa de los ítems; se establecieron correlaciones entre variables sociodemográficas (edad, escolaridad, sexo) y puntajes de DS; comparándose los resultados encontrados con los de otros investigadores. Se observó que a mayor edad disminuía la tendencia a mostrar una imagen socialmente aceptable. Se obtuvo una versión reducida del instrumento original, con una estructura factorial bidimensional y una consistencia interna que se incrementó de .48 a .57. Se concluye que dicha escala sería un instrumento moderadamente fiable para su aplicación en la població...
Advances in Visual Computing, 2018
In this paper a virtual reality solution is developed to emulate the environment and the operatio... more In this paper a virtual reality solution is developed to emulate the environment and the operations of the pitching and receiving traps of pipe scrapers (PIG), with the aim of reinforcing the training of operators in oil camps. To develop this, the information was collected on various pitching and receiving traps of the real pipeline operating companies in the country, thus defining the basic and specific parameters for the virtual recreation of a typical trap model. The 3d models obtains from PI and make available a base to simulate another complex process.
Mitochondrial Diseases, 2018
Ethanol is a licit drug consumed by a large part of the population, from adolescence to adulthood... more Ethanol is a licit drug consumed by a large part of the population, from adolescence to adulthood. High ethanol consumption is a public health problem due to its addictiveness and the risk it produces of developing other diseases, including cardiovascular, hepatic, and mental pathologies. Different patterns of ethanol consumption and its toxic effects in the brain have been reported. Current studies suggest to mitochondria, one of the principal mediators for ethanol neurotoxicity. In this chapter, we will review the effects of ethanol on neurons in different scenarios of ethanol consumption and its relation with mitochondrial function. Finally, we will propose a mechanism of ethanol toxicity in which the mitochondria are the main mediator and in which the mitochondrial alterations correlate with the severity of ethanol consumption. Thus, improving mitochondrial health of brain cells could be considered as a potential therapeutic target to treat ethanol-associated disorders.
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 2021
The decline of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels is a hallmark of aging in multiple... more The decline of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels is a hallmark of aging in multiple organisms and tissues, including the human brain. Hence, agents that increase intracellular NAD + could have beneficial effects in aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Disturbances in NAD + metabolism have also been observed in Parkinson's disease (PD), supporting a link between neuronal bioenergetics failure and disease pathogenesis. Here, we review emerging findings revealing key roles for NAD + and related metabolites in experimental models of dopaminergic neurodegeneration and in PD patients. We discuss how increased NAD + levels might ameliorate disease phenotypes by restoring neuronal mitochondrial energy metabolism, promoting cellular proteostasis, and modulating the immune system. Finally, we describe ongoing clinical trials targeting NAD + in PD and highlight the need for further investigations to better delineate the association between NAD+, brain aging and disease, and optimal strategies for efficiently and safely raising NAD + levels. A more comprehensive understanding of the basic mechanisms linking NAD+, energy metabolism, and PD, and of the impact of life-long NAD + targeting strategies, are critical to inform future clinical applications.
Neuropharmacology, 2020
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2020
Truncated Tau Affects Mitochondrial Transport and reduction of ATP production available for the p... more Truncated Tau Affects Mitochondrial Transport and reduction of ATP production available for the process of movement of these organelles. These observations are novel and represent a set of exciting findings whereby tau pathology could affect mitochondrial distribution in neurons, an event that may contribute to synaptic failure observed in AD.
Green Infrastructure promotes the use of natural functions and processes as potential solutions t... more Green Infrastructure promotes the use of natural functions and processes as potential solutions to reduce negative effects derived from anthropocentric interventions such as urbanization. In cities of Latin America, for example, the need for more nature-sound infrastructure is evident due to its degree of urbanization and degradation of ecosystems, as well as the alteration of the local water cycle. In this study, an experimental approach for implementation of a prototype is presented. The experiment took place in a highly urbanized watershed located in the Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica. Initially, understanding the characteristics of the study area at different scales was achieved by applying the Urban Water System Transition Framework to identify the existing level of development of the urban water infrastructure, and potential future stages. Subsequently, preferences related to spatial locations and technologies were identified from different local decision-makers. Those insigh...
Applied Sciences, 2020
Standard video games are applications whose development process often follows a traditional softw... more Standard video games are applications whose development process often follows a traditional software methodology. Serious Games (SGs) are a tool with an immensely positive impact and great success. SGs enable learning and provide entertainment and self-empowerment, which motivates students. The development of an SG consists of complex processes requiring multi-disciplinary knowledge in multiple domains, including knowing the learning domain and adding the appropriate game mechanics to foster high intrinsic motivation and positive player experience that makes the players feel like they are having fun while learning. Otherwise, the game is viewed as boring and not as a fun and engaging activity. Nevertheless, despite their potential, the application of SGs in education has been limited in terms of pedagogy. Several authors assert that this lack is because SG standards and guidelines have not been developed. There is an imbalance between experts’ contributions to education and game des...
Neurotoxicity Research, 2020
Excessive alcohol intake affects hippocampal function and neuronal communication through oxidativ... more Excessive alcohol intake affects hippocampal function and neuronal communication through oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment. Previous studies have suggested that the melanocortin system (MCS) plays an essential role in alcohol consumption and addiction. The MCS is a hypothalamic region involved in regulating inflammatory processes in the brain, and its pharmacological activation through the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) reduces both alcohol consumption and the neuroinflammatory responses in the brain. However, the cellular mechanisms involved in the beneficial actions of MCS against ethanol toxicity are not entirely understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective role of the MC4R pharmacological activator RO27-3225 on oxidative damage and mitochondrial impairment present in hippocampal neuronal cultures acutely exposed to ethanol (50, 75 mM, 24 h). Pre-treatment with RO27-3225 (250 nM, 1 h) prevented reactive oxygen species (ROS) increase, dysregulation of cytosolic calcium homeostasis, and mitochondrial potential loss induced by ethanol. Improvement of mitochondrial failure produced by RO27-3225 was accompanied by a significant increase in ATP production in ethanol-treated neurons. More importantly, RO27-3225 promoted the activation of the antioxidant pathway Nrf-2, demonstrated by an increase in the expression and nuclear translocation of Nrf-2, and upregulation of mRNA levels of NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), an antioxidant enzyme which expression is activated by this pathway. These results suggest that the stimulation of MC4R prevents oxidative damage and mitochondrial stress induced by ethanol through the activation of the Nrf-2 pathway in cultured hippocampal neurons. These results are novel and demonstrate the critical function of MC4R in promoting antioxidant defense and reducing mitochondrial damage produced by ethanol in the brain.
Mutations in pitrilysin metallopeptidase 1 (PITRM1), a mitochondrial protease involved in mitocho... more Mutations in pitrilysin metallopeptidase 1 (PITRM1), a mitochondrial protease involved in mitochondrial precursor processing and degradation, result in a slow-progressive syndrome, characterized by cerebellar ataxia, psychotic episodes and obsessive behavior as well as cognitive decline. To investigate the pathogenetic mechanisms of mitochondrial presequence processing, we employed cortical neurons and cerebral organoids generated from PITRM1 knockout human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). PITRM1 deficiency strongly induced mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) and enhanced mitochondrial clearance in iPSC-derived neurons. Furthermore, we observed increased levels of amyloid precursor protein and amyloid β in PITRM1 knockout neurons. However, neither cell death nor protein aggregates were observed in 2D iPSC-derived cortical neuronal cultures. On the contrary, cerebral organoids generated from PITRM1 knockout iPSCs spontaneously developed over time pathological featu...
Revista Colombiana de Educación, 2019
Existe un consenso cada vez mayor sobre las ventajas y los beneficios de implementar programas de... more Existe un consenso cada vez mayor sobre las ventajas y los beneficios de implementar programas de educación ambiental en las comunidades escolares, pero hay pocos estudiosacerca de las condiciones que hacen posible que sean incorporados como prácticas cotidianas. El propósito de este artículo de investigación fue identificar barreras y facilitadorescontextuales de la implementación de un programa de innovación pedagógica y educación para la sustentabilidad de la municipalidad llevado a cabo en una ciudad delsur de Chile. Participaron 36 docentes coordinadores de escuelas donde se implementa el programa. A través de una jornada de evaluación se aplicó una encuesta de preguntas abiertas orientada a indagar los factores contextuales que afectan la implementación. Después, mediante grupos focales, se profundizó en estos factores con los mismos participantes. Se encontró que los factores críticos son: 1) el apoyo y motivación de la comunidad, 2) la integración curricular del programa, 3)...
Molecular Neurobiology, 2019
Transferrin (Tf) is a glycoprotein playing a critical role in iron homeostasis and transport and ... more Transferrin (Tf) is a glycoprotein playing a critical role in iron homeostasis and transport and distribution throughout the body and within tissues and cells. This molecule has been shown to accelerate the process of myelination and remyelination in the central nervous system (CNS) in vivo and induce oligodendroglial cell maturation in vitro. While the mechanisms involved in oligodendroglial precursor cell (OPC) differentiation have not been fully elucidated yet, our group has previously described the first molecular events taking place in OPC in response to extracellular Tf. Here, we show the effect of Tf on the different glial cell populations. We demonstrate that, after a CNS demyelinating injury, Tf can be incorporated by all glial cells—i.e., microglia, astrocytes, and OPC—and that, acting on microglial cells in vitro, Tf increases microglial proliferation rates and phagocytic capacity. It may be then speculated that the in vivo correlation of this process could generate a favorable microenvironment for OPC maturation and remyelination.
Birth defects research, 2017
Adolescence is a period of multiple changes where social behaviors influence interpersonal-relati... more Adolescence is a period of multiple changes where social behaviors influence interpersonal-relations. Adolescents live new experiences, including alcohol consumption which has become an increasing health problem. The age of onset for consumption has declined in the last decades, and additionally, the adolescents now uptake greater amounts of alcohol per occasion. Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for accidents, mental illnesses or other pathologies, as well as for the appearance of addictions, including alcoholism. An interesting topic to study is the damage that alcohol induces on the central nervous system (CNS) in the young population. The brain undergoes substantial modifications during adolescence, making brain cells more vulnerable to the ethanol toxicity. Over the last years, the brain mitochondria have emerged as a cell organelle which is particularly susceptible to alcohol. Mitochondria suffer severe alterations which can be exacerbated if the amount of alcohol or the ex...
Uploads
Papers by María José Pérez