El jefe de Urología del Hospital de Jerez y el Punta Europa de Algeciras colidera el estudio con Elena Reales, de la UCA / E.P.

The international journal Toxins has published a new study by the research group at the Cádiz Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation Cádiz (INiBICA) Urological Oncology and Tuberous Sclerosis: Search for New Therapeutic Targets, led by Álvaro Juárez, head of the Urology Department at the University Hospitals of Jerez and Punta Europa in Algeciras, and Elena Reales, professor at the University of Cádiz UCA). The commitment to research, not only clinical but also basic, by the Urology Department of the aforementioned hospitals has resulted in Publications the most influential international journals.

This basic research describes the effect of natural plant-derived products on primary cilia formation and their potential application in treating tumors and rare diseases related to cilia dysfunction, for which there is currently no cure. This interdisciplinary work has benefited from the collaboration of the Allelopathy group, led by Francisco Antonio Macías, from the Department of Organic Chemistry at the UCA and affiliated with the Institute of Biomolecules (INBIO).

The work focuses on describing a new biological activity for a group of natural plant-derived products called "sesquiterpene lactones, " which are biologically active molecules that show promise in drug development, with anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects, among others.

In this study, the research team describes the ability of these plants to disrupt the formation of a cell organelle called the primary cilium, which is essential for cell development. Abnormalities in the primary cilium can lead to cancer, pleiotropic disorders, and a diverse group of rare diseases called ciliopathies, including polycystic kidney disease, tuberous sclerosis, and retinitis pigmentosa.

In the paper published in Toxins demonstrates for the first time that the sesquiterpene lactones Grosheimine (isolated from artichoke leaves) and Costunolide and derivatives (isolated from the roots of the plant Saussurea lappa) can modify primary cilia formation in a cell model of normal human retinal cells.

Thus, the novel activity of biomolecules presented by the INiBICA research group constitutes a promising and expanding strategy for the development of future treatments for diseases related to primary cilia dysfunction and for which there is currently no cure. However, researcher Álvaro Juárez has clarified that "future research is needed before they can be considered as drugs or therapeutic targets for treating tumors or rare diseases."

🔗 Más información: Diario de Cádiz || MDPI