The Research Group of the Histology and Neurobiology Unit, UHNeurob, has developed basic research in the field of Cellular Neurobiology for more than three decades. It aims to study the molecular mechanisms that regulate neurotransmission and synaptic connectivity. Of particular interest is the study of the intracellular signaling triggered by neurotrophic, muscarinic, purinergic and cannabinoid receptors and which converges in kinases to regulate neurotransmission. The synapse under study is the neuromuscular junction during development, maturity, aging and in pathologies such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In addition, we study the impact of physical exercise and experimental pharmacological treatments as therapies to preserve and strengthen synapses and the neuromuscular system.
Dra. María Angel Lanuza
The UHNeurob Group focuses its research on Cellular Neurobiology, in particular on the study of the basic mechanisms of activity-dependent synaptic regulation. Of particular interest is the study of the intracellular signaling that neurotrophic, muscarinic and purinergic and cannabinoid receptors trigger and that converges in kinases to regulate neurotransmission. The synapse under study is the neuromuscular junction.
With this idea, the group develops different lines of research with a common goal which is the knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate synaptic connectivity during development, maturity, aging and disease.
During development we study the mechanisms that direct the synaptic competition between neurons to innervate the same target cell. The consequence of this competition is the establishment of the adult pattern of stable but plastic synaptic connections, essential for learning and memory.
In the adult stage, the group is focused on the study of activity-dependent signaling pathways that regulate neurotransmission. The results in this area make it possible to understand the role of these pathways in the functioning of synapses and to determine which molecules could play a relevant role in pathologies that alter their normal functioning.
The UHNeurob group is also very interested in the study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuromuscular diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the impact of physical exercise as a therapy to preserve neuromuscular function. He also researches cellular and molecular changes in the neuromuscular system during aging. The final objective is, in both cases, the identification of therapeutic targets that prevent the disconnection and degeneration of the neuromuscular synapse to delay or prevent the neuronal degeneration that takes place in both cases. This research is of great interest to society since the preservation of the neuromuscular junction would improve the motor activities of the affected people.
At a technical level, methodological approaches are used in the field of microscopy, biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology, omics technologies and the evaluation of motor capacity. Rat and mouse animal models are used, some of them transgenic, and physical exercise and ex-vivo electrical stimulation techniques are applied to increase neuromuscular synaptic activity.
Tomàs J, Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Balanyà-Segura M, Polishchuk A, Nadal L, Tomàs M, Silvera-Simón C, Santafé MM, Lanuza MA
Neural Regeneration Research, 19, 2024, in press.
Polishchuk A, Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Balanyà-Segura M, Vandellòs Pont G, Silvera Simón C, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Tomàs J, Lanuza MA.
Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2023 Mar 3;28(1):17.
Doi: 10.1186/s11658-023-00431-2.
Tomàs J, Lanuza MA, Santafé MM, Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Balanyà-Segura M, Polishchuk A, Nadal L, Tomàs M, Garcia N.
Mol Neurobiol. 2023 Mar;60(3):1580-1593.
Doi: 10.1007/s12035-022-03154-1.
PMID: 36526930; PMCID: PMC9899176
Just-Borràs L, Cilleros-Mañé V, Polishchuk A, Balanyà-Segura M, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Tomàs J, Lanuza MA.
Front Mol Neurosci. 2022. Dec 22;15:1069940.
doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1069940.
Garcia N, Hernández P, Lanuza MA, Tomàs M, Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Duran-Vigara M, Polishchuk A, Balanyà-Segura M, Tomàs J.
Mol Neurobiol. 2022 Jul;59(7):4044-4064.
doi: 10.1007/s12035-022-02818-2.
Garcia N, Lanuza MA, Tomàs M, Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Duran M, Polishchuk A, Tomàs J.
Cells. 2021 Jun 4;10(6):1384.
doi: 10.3390/cells10061384.
Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Polishchuk A, Durán M, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Tomàs JM, Lanuza MA.
FASEB J. 2021 Jul;35(7):e21724.
doi: 10.1096/fj.202002213R.
Just-Borràs L, Cilleros-Mañé V, Hurtado E, Biondi O, Charbonnier F, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Tomàs J, Lanuza MA.
Int J Mol Sci. 2021, Apr 27;22(9):4577.
doi: 10.3390/ijms22094577.
Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Tomàs JM, Lanuza MA.
FASEB J. 2020 Apr;34(4):4934-4955.
doi: 10.1096/fj.201902113R.
Just-Borràs L, Hurtado E, Cilleros-Mañé V, Biondi O, Charbonnier F, Tomàs M,
Garcia N, Tomàs J, Lanuza MA.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2020 Aug;77(15):3027-3040.
doi: 10.1007/s00018-019-03337-5.
Just-Borràs L, Hurtado E, Cilleros-Mañé V, Biondi O, Charbonnier F, Tomàs M,
Garcia N, Lanuza MA, Tomàs J.
Mol Neurobiol. 2019 Oct;56(10):6856-6872.
doi: 10.1007/s12035-019-1550-1.
Simó A, Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Hurtado E, Nadal L, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Lanuza MA, Tomàs J.
Mol Neurobiol. 2019 Aug;56(8):5346-5364.
doi: 10.1007/s12035-018-1462-5.
Lanuza MA, Just-Borràs L, Hurtado E, Cilleros-Mañé V, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Tomàs J.
Cells. 2019, Dec 5;8(12):1578.
doi: 10.3390/cells8121578.
Garcia N, Balañà C, Lanuza MA, Tomàs M, Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs L, Tomàs J.
Cells. 2019 Oct 23;8(11):1304.
doi: 10.3390/cells8111304.
Tomàs J, Garcia N, Lanuza MA, Santafé MM, Tomàs M, Nadal L, Hurtado E, Simó-Ollé A, Cilleros-Mañé V, Just-Borràs
L.Front Pharmacol. 2018 Apr 24;9:397.
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00397.
Simó A, Just-Borràs L, Cilleros-Mañé V, Hurtado E, Nadal L, Tomàs M, Garcia N, Lanuza MA, Tomàs J.
Front Mol Neurosci. 2018 Jun 12;11:207.
doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00207.
Tomàs JM, Garcia N, Lanuza MA, Nadal L, Tomàs M, Hurtado E, Simó A, Cilleros V. “Membrane receptor-induced changes of the protein kinases A and C activity may play a leading role in promoting developmental synapse elimination at the neuromuscular junction”. In: Synaptic Assembly and Neural Circuit Development. Ko, J., Zhang, C., eds (2018). Lausanne: Frontiers Media. ISSN 1664-8714, ISBN 978-2-88945-630-7, doi: 10.3389/978-2-88945-630-7. pp 124-132.
Tomàs JM, Garcia N, Lanuza MA, Santafé MM, Tomàs M, Nadal L, Hurtado E, Simó A, Cilleros V. “Presynaptic Membrane Receptors Modulate ACh Release, Axonal Competition and Synapse Elimination during Neuromuscular Junction Development” In: Synaptic Assembly and Neural Circuit Development. Ko, J., Zhang, C., eds (2018). Lausanne: Frontiers Media. ISSN 1664-8714, ISBN 978-2-88945-630-7, doi: 10.3389/978-2-88945-630-7. pp 157-168.
Activity-dependent retrograde regulation of the neurotrophic signaling pathways to maintain homeostasis of the neuromuscular synapse. Role in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
PID2022-141252NB-I00
Funding entity: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.
Duration: 31/08/2023 – 30/08/2026.
Principal investigator: Lanuza Escolano, Maria Angel
2021 SGR 01214 Suport a grups de recerca (SGR) URV – Grup de recerca consolidat
Funding entity: Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca.
Duration: 2023 – 2025
Principal investigator: Lanuza Escolano, Maria Angel
Effect of neuromuscular activity on muscarinic and neurotrophic synaptic signaling. Implication in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
PID2019-106332GB-I00
Funding entity: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades.
Duration: 31/05/2020 – 30/05/2024.
Principal investigator: Lanuza Escolano, Maria Angel / Tomàs Ferré, Josep
Muscle activity and retrograde control of neurotransmission: effect of BDNF/TrkB/PKC signaling on synaptic vesicle proteins
SAF2015-67143-P
Funding entity: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad.
Duration: 01/01/2016 – 31/12/2018.
Principal investigator: Tomàs Ferré, Josep / Lanuza Escolano, Maria Angel
Effect of neuromuscular activity on muscarinic and neurotrophic synaptic signaling. Implication in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
PRE2020-092084
Funding entity: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.
Duration: 31/08/2021 – 30/08/2025.
Principal investigator: Lanuza Escolano, María Angel
Effect of neuromuscular activity on muscarinic and neurotrophic synaptic signaling in aging
2023 FI_3 00176.
Funding entity: Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca.
Duration: 30/04/2021 – 29/04/2025.
Principal investigator: Lanuza Escolano, Maria Angel.
2017 SGR 00704 Suport a grups de recerca (SGR) URV – Grup de recerca consolidat
Funding entity: Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca.
Duration: 2017 – 2022
Principal investigator: Tomàs Ferré, Josep
Formación e implicación en las actividades técnicas de laboratorio de la Unidad docente e investigadora de Histología y Neurobiología de la Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili
PEJ2018-002805-A-MINECO.
Funding entity: Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades / Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
Duration: 31/08/2019 – 30/08/2022.
Investigador Principal: Tomás Ferré, Josep
Neurotrophic factors and receptors assessment in P10 SMA mice under BIO101 treatment
T22364S.
Contract Company: Biophytis, SA (París, France)
Duration: 17/10/2022 – 15/02/2024
Principal investigator: Lanuza Escolano, Maria Angel.
Els antioxidants derivats de les llavors del raïm com molècules preventives en l’envelliment del sistema neuromuscular
2022PRD-DIPTA-URV20
Contract Company: Diputació de Tarragona
Duration: 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2023.
Investigador Principal: Garcia Sancho, Neus / Lanuza Escolano, Maria Angel
Contacte Responsable: mariaangel.lanuza@urv.cat
Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut
C/Sant Llorenç, 21, Reus
see google mapsResponsible: Dr. Xavier Ustrell
Responsible: Dr. Jordi Julvez Calvo
Responsible: Dra. Elisabet Vilella Cuadrada
Responsible: Dra. Victoria Arija Val, Dra. Josefa Canals Sans