Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids

Summary

Lipids have structural and cell signaling functions. In our laboratory we study the mechanisms that coordinate the synthesis of phospholipids and their role as signal molecules during cell differentiation processes; focusing on the differentiation of neural stem cells.

Knowledge of these processes is of great importance from the physiological point of view, since it allows us to understand molecular and regulatory mechanisms associated with neuronal differentiation and, from them, identify targets for the development of preventive or regenerative therapeutic strategies for nervous tissue.

Research Lines

Phospholipids and its role during neuronal differentiation

It is well known that lipids, and specifically phospholipids, play structural roles in eukaryotic animal cells. However, in addition to this essential role, phospholipids fulfill regulatory and signaling functions.

In our laboratory, we are interested in investigating lipid-mediated regulatory processes that are associated with cell differentiation, using neural stem cell differentiation as a model.

We have shown that phosphatidylcholine increases neurogenesis and that phosphatidylethanolamine increases neural stem cell astrogliogenesis by changing the fate of neural precursors.

With these results, we propose to analyze the underlying mechanisms, evaluate their role of phospholipids under damage conditions (models of neurodegenerative diseases), and find their physiological reservoir.

These results will be key to understanding basic regulatory mechanisms associated with the differentiation of neural stem cells, which can be used for the rational design of regenerative strategies.

Selected Publications

  • Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Prevents Human Embryonic Stem Cell Death Following Ischemic Injury. European J of Lipid Science and Technology. 124(7), Assis, J., Fernandes, Aniceto B, Pompeu, P., Banchio C., Girardini J., Vieyra, A., Valcerde, R., Einicker-Lamas M. (2022) doi: 10.1002/ejlt.202200019.
  • Phosphatidylcholine restores neuronal plasticity of neural stem cells under inflammatory stress. Sci Rep 24;11(1):22891. Magaquian, D.,Delgado,S. Perez. C, and Banchio C. (2021). doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-02361-5. 
  • KDM2B regulates choline kinase expression and neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. PLoS One. 10;14(1) Domizi P, Malizia F, Chazarreta-Cifre L, Diacovich L, Banchio C.(2019). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210207.
  • Specific Phospholipids Regulate the Acquisition of Neuronal and Astroglial Identities in Post-Mitotic Cells. Sci Rep 11;8(1):460. Montaner, A.,  da Silva Santana T., Schroeder T., Einiker- Lamas M, Girardini J, Costa M and Banchio, C.(2018). doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18700-4.
  • Lisophosphatidylcholine drives neuroblast cell fate. Mol Neurobiol. 53(9):6316-6331. Paoletti, L. Domizi, P, Marcucci, H., Montaner, A., Krapf D, Salvador G. and Banchio C*.(2016) doi: 10.1007/s12035-015-9528-0.
  • Choline Kinase alpha Expression during RA-induced Neuronal Differentiation: role of C/EBPb. BBA - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids. 1841(4):544-55. Domizi; P, Aoyama; and Banchio C (2014). doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.

ORCID 0000-0002-5234-7212

Linkedin Claudia Banchio

Ig: @labdelipidosibr