Laboratory of The Molecular Mechanisms of Adaptation

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The major goal of the Laboratory is to study the mechanisms of development of pathological condition in pregnant women and fetuses. The researchers of the Laboratory are focused on the pathologies involving ischemia; on the role of mitochondria; and on the development of strategies for targeted therapy of these pathologies. Among these strategies, great importance is attached to cell technologies using mesenchymal stromal stem cells or their products and proposals for their practical application in treatment of neurological and nephrological pathologies. The Laboratory studies the mechanisms of intercellular and inter-organ communications, in which mitochondria and their products related to reparative and adaptive processes in the cell and organism take part. Time-changed cellular and physiological processes provide a basis for assessment of the therapeutic effectiveness and understanding of the structural and functional changes that occur during aging and require to modify the treatment strategy at different ages.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The major achievements of the Laboratory include discovery of intercellular communication accompanied by directed transfer of mitochondria from stem cells to differentiated cells through connecting nanotubes, and detailed explanation of the mechanisms of such transfer. Based on the study of the mechanism of pathogenesis of renal and brain ischemia, a concept has been constructed, showing participation of mitochondria in the development of a pathological process, in which excessive active oxygen species production is an important pathogenetic factor. The researchers of the Laboratory succeeded in normalization of excessive production of mitochondrial active oxygen species using mitochondria-targeted antioxidants. An important finding was a reduced effectiveness of adaptive anti-ischemic signaling, that requires to revise organization of treatment process applicable to aging. Therapeutic approaches to the use of extracellular vesicles in brain pathologies have been elaborated.

EQUIPMENT

The specific activity of the laboratory requires experiments in animals. For this reason, the research work is carried out in the premises of the Moscow State University.