Oligodendrocyte metabolism throughout its differentiation: immunocytochemistry study and its impact in remyelination

Introduction: Oligodendrocytes (OL) role in demyelinating pathologies such as multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases is only recently being subject of extensive research. While the genetic and molecular aspects have been thoroughly studied, their metabolism was overshadowed. In order to develop new therapies to promote remyelination of already damaged axons, we need to accurately describe how OL metabolism affects axon myelination and trophic support (1). The objective of this study is to obtain cytological evidence of the extent of both glycolytic metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation by immunocytochemistry throughout the development of OL. Methods: Oligodendroglia cells from post-natal mice cortices were obtained and cultured. A wide assortment of differentiation-stage-specific cell surface antigens, a glycolytic and an oxidative phosphorylation marker were combined in several immunofluorescences to study both metabolic pathways in each step of differentiation. Results: After analysing them under confocal microscopy and imaging software, we observed a constant upregulation of glycolytic metabolism throughout differentiation, while oxidative phosphorylation seemed to increase with differentiation to then decrease when oligodendrocytes achieved their final maturation stage. Conclusions: Therefore, oxidative phosphorylation may be crucial in the differentiation of precursors and glycolysis would thus be the preferred metabolic pathway for fully matured OL. [1] Rosko L. et al. Neuroscientist. 2019;25(4):334–43.Supported by UMA and IBIMA and funding from two ongoing projects: - ‘Modulation of oligodendrocyte metabolism via blood vessel remodelling as target to promote remyelination’ (funding by NEURATRIS). - ‘Blood vessel remodelling modulates remyelination by oligodendrocyte metabolic reprogramming’ (funding by Arsep Foundation). Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) and its relationship with germline mutations

We present the case of a 38-year-old man with a history of abdominal paraganglioma 10 years ago, who consulted for hematemesis and asthenia of 5 days' evolution. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed where a raised submucosal lesion, about 2 cm, with ulceration on its surface, was observed at the corporal-antral junction. The CT scan revealed nodular thickening of the gastric wall at the level of the lesser curvature. After the resolution of his hematemesis, it was decided to intervene on the patient, performing a partial gastrectomyUniversidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Gastrointestinal cancer: Relationship between histology and microbiota

Este trabajo fue presentado como comunicación tipo póster en el citado congreso.Objectives: Review of the published literature concerning the relationship between microbiome and gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: Present work is focused on systematic research in the most prominent biomedical databases finds relevant works in Pubmed and the library’s catalog of the University of Málaga (Jábega) of published journals in the last 5 years. Results: In this work, the mechanisms used by the microbiome to damage gastrointestinal epithelial cells and cause cancer are explained. Some of them are the dysbiosis, destruction of the mucosal barrier, chronic inflammation, damage caused by metabolites produced in the digestion and the direct attack of certain toxins to the cell’s DNA. These mechanisms adjust the immune response, by activation or inhibition using different cytokines. There is also a deeper look into several microorganisms and how they cause gastrointestinal cancer using toxins or virulence factors to activate them. Conclusions: The evidence found so far about the microbiota and gastrointestinal cancer is enough to assume the relationship between them, although there is much left to research. With these findings, it can be expected that in a near future certain microorganisms could be used for screening purposes, due to their increase in early stages of the tumor genesis and also, in a preventive way to try to eradicate them, even avoid cancer. Studies on the microbiota are hardly beginning, and results appear to be promising.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech