Tumour and Microenvironment Interactions
ABOUT
The goal of the NeuroLipid Biology group is to understand how lipid synthesis and catabolism govern biological and functional processes in the healthy nervous tissue and in neurometabolic disorders. We are particularly interested in the role that ether-phospholipids play in neuron excitability, axon growth, and myelin synthesis. Using mouse models, we combine in vivo and in vitro studies to integrate physiological cell processes with disease states, and the development new therapeutic pre-clinical approaches.
RESEARCH
The impact of lipid dysregulation in neurologic disorders is evident by the number and severity of neurometabolic diseases. However, we are limited in understanding the function of lipids and how fundamental cellular processes and mechanisms are affected by lipid dysregulation, and thus mediate tissue pathology and disease. Previous work highlighted the consequences of branched-chain fatty acid accumulation in ataxia, and we identified cholesterol and sphingomyelin as novel myelin-associated inhibitors that affect axon growth and regeneration.
Currently, our research is focused on the study of plasmalogens, a class of phospholipids highly enriched in nervous tissue, whose deficiency causes a rare peroxisomal disorder, rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP). Previous work allowed us to unravel the genetic basis of RCDP and attain an understanding of the pathology through the usage of mouse models. In line with our goal of understanding the fundamental processes and mechanisms governed by plasmalogens, we unraveled that these lipids are crucial for Schwann cell differentiation and myelination, as plasmalogens are essential for the initiation of the signaling cascade mediated by activation at the plasma membrane of Protein kinase B, also known as AKT. Our aim is to expand the understanding of how fundamental cellular processes are governed by plasmalogens, and how a dysregulation of these processes mediates the pathophysiology of RCDP and other neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) known to develop defects in plasmalogen levels. The knowledge gathered in understanding the mechanisms behind the pathology is also used to design and validate effective pre-clinical therapeutic strategies.
Team
Selected Publications
Sequential orthogonal assays for longitudinal and endpoint characterization of three-dimensional spheroids. Nature Protocols20(10):2899-2941, 2025. [Journal: Article] [CI: 2] [IF: 16 (*)]
DOI: 10.1038/s41596-025-01150-y SCOPUS: 105002240171
Castro F., Pinto M.L., Leite Pereira C., Serre K., Costa Â.M., Cavadas B., Barbosa M.A., Vermaelen K., León S., Serrano D., Gärtner F., Calvo A., Gonçalves R.M., De Wever O., Oliveira M.J.
Chitosan/γ-PGA nanoparticles and IFN-γ immunotherapy: A dual approach for triple-negative breast cancer treatment. Journal of Controlled Release379:621-635, 2025. [Journal: Article] [CI: 12] [IF: 11.5 (*)]
DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2025.01.042 SCOPUS: 85215603202
Moura S.R., Sousa A.B., Olesen J.B., Barbosa M.A., Søe K., Almeida M.I.
Stage-specific modulation of multinucleation, fusion, and resorption by the long non-coding RNA DLEU1 and miR-16 in human primary osteoclasts. Cell Death and Disease15(10):, 2024. [Journal: Article] [CI: 2] [IF: 9.6]
DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06983-1 SCOPUS: 85206064184
Oliveira S.M., Carvalho P.D., Serra-Roma A., Oliveira P., Ribeiro A., Carvalho J., Martins F., Machado A.L., Oliveira M.J., Velho S.
Fibroblasts Promote Resistance to KRAS Silencing in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Cancers16(14):, 2024. [Journal: Article] [CI: 1] [IF: 4.5 (*)]
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16142595 SCOPUS: 85199647438
Shanmugam S.T., Campos R., Trashin S., Daems E., Carneiro D., Fraga A., De Wael K.
Singlet oxygen-based photoelectrochemical detection of miRNAs in prostate cancer patients’ plasma: A novel diagnostic tool for liquid biopsy. Bioelectrochemistry158:, 2024. [Journal: Article] [CI: 8] [IF: 4.5]
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108698 SCOPUS: 85190731792
Torres Quintas S., Canha-Borges A., Oliveira M.J., Sarmento B., Castro F.
Special Issue: Nanotherapeutics in Women's Health Emerging Nanotechnologies for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment. Small20(41):, 2024. [Journal: Review] [CI: 26] [IF: 12.1]
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300666 SCOPUS: 85151416951
de Souza W., Gemini-Piperni S., Ruivo C., Bastos N., Almeida S., Lopes D., Cardoso P., Oliveira M.J., Sumner D.R., Ross R.D., Jacobs J.J., Granjeiro J.M., Fernandes M.H., Rocha L.A., Melo S., Ribeiro A.R.
Osteoblasts-derived exosomes as potential novel communicators in particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis. Materials Today Bio28:, 2024. [Journal: Article] [CI: 2] [IF: 8.7 (*)]
DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101189 SCOPUS: 85200971793
V. Lima B., Oliveira M.J., Barbosa M.A., Gonçalves R.M., Castro F.
Harnessing chitosan and poly-(γ-glutamic acid)-based biomaterials towards cancer immunotherapy. Materials Today Advances15:, 2022. [Journal: Article] [CI: 17] [IF: 10]
DOI: 10.1016/j.mtadv.2022.100252 SCOPUS: 85130370826
Brás J.P., Guillot de Suduiraut I., Zanoletti O., Monari S., Meijer M., Grosse J., Barbosa M.A., Santos S.G., Sandi C., Almeida M.I.
Stress-induced depressive-like behavior in male rats is associated with microglial activation and inflammation dysregulation in the hippocampus in adulthood. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity99:397-408, 2022. [Journal: Article] [CI: 41] [IF: 15,1]
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.10.018 SCOPUS: 85120371740
Peirsman A., Blondeel E., Ahmed T., Anckaert J., Audenaert D., Boterberg T., Buzas K., Carragher N., Castellani G., Castro F., Dangles-Marie V., Dawson J., De Tullio P., De Vlieghere E., Dedeyne S., Depypere H., Diosdi A., Dmitriev R.I., Dolznig H., Fischer S., Gespach C., Goossens V., Heino J., Hendrix A., Horvath P., Kunz-Schughart L.A., Maes S., Mangodt C., Mestdagh P., Michlíková S., Oliveira M.J., Pampaloni F., Piccinini F., Pinheiro C., Rahn J., Robbins S.M., Siljamäki E., Steigemann P., Sys G., Takayama S., Tesei A., Tulkens J., Van Waeyenberge M., Vandesompele J., Wagemans G., Weindorfer C., Yigit N., Zablowsky N., Zanoni M., Blondeel P., De Wever O.
MISpheroID: a knowledgebase and transparency tool for minimum information in spheroid identity. Nature Methods18(11):1294-1303, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 67] [IF: 48]
DOI: 10.1038/s41592-021-01291-4 SCOPUS: 85118431713
Cardoso A.P., Pinto M.L., Castro F., Costa Â.M., Marques-Magalhães Â., Canha-Borges A., Cruz T., Velho S., Oliveira M.J.
The immunosuppressive and pro-tumor functions of CCL18 at the tumor microenvironment. Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews60:107-119, 2021. [Journal: Review] [CI: 47] [IF: 17,7]
DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2021.03.005 SCOPUS: 85104442722
Castro F., Leite Pereira C., Helena Macedo M., Almeida A., José Silveira M., Dias S., Patrícia Cardoso A., José Oliveira M., Sarmento B.
Advances on colorectal cancer 3D models: The needed translational technology for nanomedicine screening. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews175:, 2021. [Journal: Review] [CI: 50] [IF: 17,9]
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.06.001 SCOPUS: 85108070633
Catarata M.J., Lourenço M., Martins M.F., Frade J., Pêgo A., Cordeiro C.R., Medeiros R.
Pharmacogenetics of advanced lung cancer: Predictive value of functional genetic polymorphism AGXT Pro11Leu in clinical outcome?. Pulmonology27(2):116-123, 2021. [Journal: Article] [CI: 6] [IF: 9,2]
DOI: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2020.11.007 SCOPUS: 85098653319
Martins F., Oliveira R., Cavadas B., Pinto F., Cardoso A.P., Castro F., Sousa B., Pinto M.L., Silva A.J., Adão D., Loureiro J.P., Pedro N., Reis R.M., Pereira L., Oliveira M.J., Costa A.M.
Hypoxia and macrophages act in concert towards a beneficial outcome in colon cancer. Cancers12(4):, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 9] [IF: 6,6]
DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040818 SCOPUS: 85082958618
Castro F., Pinto M.L., Pereira C.L., Serre K., Barbosa M.A., Vermaelen K., Gonçalves R.M., De Wever O., Oliveira M.J.
Chitosan/γ-PGA nanoparticles-based immunotherapy as adjuvant to radiotherapy in breast cancer. Biomaterials257:, 2020. [Journal: Article] [CI: 82] [IF: 12,5]
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120218 SCOPUS: 85088642097
Pinto M.L., Rios E., Durães C., Ribeiro R., Machado J.C., Mantovani A., Barbosa M.A., Carneiro F., Oliveira M.J.
The two faces of tumor-associated macrophages and their clinical significance in colorectal cancer. Frontiers in Immunology10(AUG):, 2019. [Journal: Article] [CI: 169] [IF: 5,1]
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01875 SCOPUS: 85071761383
Castro F., Pinto M.L., Almeida R., Pereira F., Silva A.M., Pereira C.L., Santos S.G., Barbosa M.A., Gonçalves R.M., Oliveira M.J.
Chitosan/poly(γ-glutamic acid) nanoparticles incorporating IFN-γ for immune response modulation in the context of colorectal cancer. Biomaterials Science7(8):3386-3403, 2019. [Journal: Article] [CI: 49] [IF: 6,2]
DOI: 10.1039/c9bm00393b SCOPUS: 85069760890
Castro F., Cardoso A.P., Gonçalves R.M., Serre K., Oliveira M.J.
Interferon-gamma at the crossroads of tumor immune surveillance or evasion. Frontiers in Immunology9(MAY):, 2018. [Journal: Review] [CI: 991] [IF: 4,7]
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00847 SCOPUS: 85046686322
Carvalho P.D., Guimarães C.F., Cardoso A.P., Mendonça S., Costa Â.M., Oliveira M.J., Velho S.
KRAS oncogenic signaling extends beyond cancer cells to orchestrate the microenvironment. Cancer Research78(1):7-14, 2018. [Journal: Review] [CI: 162] [IF: 8,4]
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-17-2084 SCOPUS: 85040196244
Pinto M.L., Rios E., Silva A.C., Neves S.C., Caires H.R., Pinto A.T., Durães C., Carvalho F.A., Cardoso A.P., Santos N.C., Barrias C.C., Nascimento D.S., Pinto-do-Ó P., Barbosa M.A., Carneiro F., Oliveira M.J.
Decellularized human colorectal cancer matrices polarize macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype promoting cancer cell invasion via CCL18. Biomaterials124:211-224, 2017. [Journal: Article] [CI: 115] [IF: 8,8]
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.02.004 SCOPUS: 85013069713
Teresa Pinto A., Laranjeiro Pinto M., Patrícia Cardoso A., Monteiro C., Teixeira Pinto M., Filipe Maia A., Castro P., Figueira R., Monteiro A., Marques M., Mareel M., Dos Santos S.G., Seruca R., Adolfo Barbosa M., Rocha S., JoséOliveira M.
Ionizing radiation modulates human macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype preserving their pro-invasive and pro-angiogenic capacities. Scientific Reports6:, 2016. [Journal: Article] [CI: 162] [IF: 4,3]
DOI: 10.1038/srep18765 SCOPUS: 84954288518
Cardoso A.P., Pinto M.L., Pinto A.T., Oliveira M.I., Pinto M.T., Gonçalves R., Relvas J.B., Figueiredo C., Seruca R., Mantovani A., Mareel M., Barbosa M.A., Oliveira M.J.
Macrophages stimulate gastric and colorectal cancer invasion through EGFR Y 1086, c-Src, Erk1/2 and Akt phosphorylation and smallGTPase activity. Oncogene33(16):2123-2133, 2014. [Journal: Article] [CI: 114] [IF: 8,5]
DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.154 SCOPUS: 84899425243
