Neuroscience and Disease

Sleep and biological rhythms in ageing and age-related diseases

Biological rhythm

Sleep

Ageing

Age-related diseases

Biomarkers

Overview

The Biological rhythms and sleep in ageing and age-related diseases sub-group is related to the holistic point of view centered on sleep as a fundamental biological function to healthy ageing. Longevity has considerably increased over the past years, but this must be accompanied with a good quality of life, otherwise it transforms into a major burden with significant impact on health, social and economic sectors. Accordingly, the Mission of this innovative research topic is to contribute to explore the impact of sleep disorders, specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia, the most prevalent sleep disorders worldwide, on ageing and age-related disorders. Sleep deprivation is a hallmark of OSA and insomnia and has been associated with the development of several comorbidities also common to ageing. Thus, similar to ageing, OSA and insomnia may have a systemic impact in the whole body, affecting longevity and quality of life. So, the objectives are: i) To explore OSA and insomnia impact on biological clocks; ii) To create a biomarker system of the two most prevalent sleep disorders (OSA and insomnia), with clinical application; iii) To assess the impact of OSA and insomnia on cellular and molecular hallmarks of ageing; iv) To highlight the significance of an early diagnosis to avoid the development of comorbidities; v) Points to the importance of increase awareness on a healthy sleep to delay ageing and age-related diseases. The group members have the expertise to establish cellular models of sleep disorders (OSA and insomnia), evaluation of physiology, cellular and molecular ageing markers (namely autophagy, senescence, inflammation), gene transfer approaches and circadian rhythm analysis. Moreover, the group has expertise to organize pre-clinical studies and public engagement activities.

More information about the group here.

Sleep plays a vital role in all living beings, particularly in the growth and development of children and in the physical and emotional well-being of adults. However, sleep disorders are common and people don't value sleep until they feel the consequences of sleep deprivation or poor sleep quality. Therefore, our research center (CNC-UC), together with the Portuguese Sleep Association, developed the SleepID game with the aim of alerting people to the importance of diagnosing sleep disorders and educating them about good and bad behaviors at bedtime, the so-called rules of sleep hygiene. Find out how to play here. To purchase the game, contact sleepapneaid.cnc@gmail.com.

Publications

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Information about journal articles, updated at 17-12-2023, from platform CIÊNCIAVITAE.

Peripheral biomarkers to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Gaspar, Laetitia S.; Santos-Carvalho, Ana; Santos, Bárbara; Carvalhas-Almeida, Catarina; Barros-Viegas, Ana Teresa; Oliveiros, Bárbara; Donato, Helena; et al, 2022. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 64. 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101659 . 10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101659 . Sleep Medicine Reviews

Establishment and characterization of human pluripotent stem cells-derived brain organoids to model cerebellar diseases

Brás, João; Henriques, Daniel; Moreira, Ricardo; Santana, Magda M.; Silva-Pedrosa, Rita; Adão, Diana; Braz, Sandra; et al, 2022. Scientific Reports. 1. 12. 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16369-y . 10.1038/s41598-022-16369-y . Scientific Reports

The NutriClock Study Protocol - Assessing the Impact of a Chrononutrition Intervention in Patients With Cardiometabolic Disturbances

Lages, Marlene; Gaspar, Laetitia; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Frontini, Roberta; Álvaro, Ana; Cavadas, Cláudia; Fonseca, Rui; et al, 2021. Current Developments in Nutrition. 468 - 468. Supplement. 5. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab039_004 . 10.1093/cdn/nzab039_004 . Current Developments in Nutrition

Copper impair autophagy on zebrafish (Danio rerio) gill epithelium

Luzio, A.; Parra, S.; Costa, B.; Santos, D.; Álvaro, A.R.; Monteiro, S.M., 2021. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 86. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2021.103674 . 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103674 . published Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

Effects of short-term exposure to genistein and overfeeding diet on the neural and retinal progenitor competence of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Luzio, A.; Figueiredo, M.; Matos, M.M.; Coimbra, A.M.; Álvaro, A.R.; Monteiro, S.M., 2021. Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 88. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107030 . 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107030 . published Neurotoxicology and Teratology

Common risk factors and therapeutic targets in obstructive sleep apnea and osteoarthritis: An unexpectable link?

Gaspar, Laetitia S.; Sousa, Cátia; Álvaro, Ana Rita; Cavadas, Cláudia; Mendes, Alexandrina Ferreira, 2021. Pharmacological Research. 164. 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105369 . 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105369 . Pharmacological Research

Long-term Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment Ameliorates Biological Clock Disruptions in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

C014-4DE9-206C; Janina Hesse; Müge Yalçin; 0F1A-8AFD-63A0; Catarina Carvalhas-Almeida; Mafalda Ferreira; B01F-45DC-F6D7; et al, 2021. Ebiomedicine. 2021. in press Ebiomedicine

The Superpowers of Our Sleep

Gaspar, Laetitia S.; Santos, Bárbara; Barros-Viegas, Ana Teresa; Cardoso, João; Varela Amaral, Sara; Carvalhas-Almeida, Catarina; Santos-Carvalho, Ana; Cavadas, Cláudia; Álvaro, Ana Rita, 2020. Frontiers for Young Minds. 8. 2020. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/frym.2020.540052 . 10.3389/frym.2020.540052 . Frontiers for Young Minds

The importance of determining circadian parameters in pharmacological studies

Laetitia S. Gaspar; Ana Rita Álvaro; Sara Carmo-Silva; Alexandrina Ferreira Mendes; Angela Relógio; Cláudia Cavadas, 2019. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2827 - 2847. 16. 176. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.14712 . 10.1111/bph.14712 . British Journal of Pharmacology

Loss of hierarchical imprinting regulation at the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome locus in human iPSCs.

Pólvora-Brandão D; Joaquim M; Godinho I; Aprile D; Álvaro AR; Onofre I; Raposo AC; et al, 2018. Human molecular genetics. 2018. http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/30102380 . 10.1093/hmg/ddy274 . Human molecular genetics

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hallmarks of Aging

Gaspar, L.S.; Álvaro, A.R.; Moita, J.; Cavadas, C., 2017. Trends in Molecular Medicine. 675 - 692. 8. 23. 2017. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85025131167&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1016/j.molmed.2017.06.006 . Trends in Molecular Medicine

Copper induced apoptosis in Caco-2 and Hep-G2 cells: Expression of caspases 3, 8 and 9, AIF and p53

Santos, S.; Silva, A.M.; Matos, M.; Monteiro, S.M.; Álvaro, A.R., 2016. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part - C: Toxicology and Pharmacology. 138 - 146. 185-186. 2016. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84963665511&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1016/j.cbpc.2016.03.010 . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part - C: Toxicology and Pharmacology

Impaired adrenal medullary function in a mouse model of depression induced by unpredictable chronic stress

Santana, M.M.; Rosmaninho-Salgado, J.; Cortez, V.; Pereira, F.C.; Kaster, M.P.; Aveleira, C.A.; Ferreira, M.; Álvaro, A.R.; Cavadas, C., 2015. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 1753 - 1766. 10. 25. 2015. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84943267584&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.06.013 . European Neuropsychopharmacology

Neuropeptide Y stimulates autophagy in hypothalamic neurons

Aveleira, Célia A.; Botelho, Mariana; Carmo-Silva, Sara; Pascoal, Jorge F.; Ferreira-Marques, Marisa; Nóbrega, Clévio; Cortes, Luísa; et al, 2015. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. E1642 - E1651. 13. 112. 2015. 10.1073/pnas.1416609112 . published Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Fluoxetine induces proliferation and inhibits differentiation of hypothalamic neuroprogenitor cells in vitro

Sousa-Ferreira, L; Aveleira, C.; Botelho, M; Álvaro, Ana Rita Costa Silva; de Almeida, P.L.; Cavadas, C., 2014. PLoS One. eCollection2014 - eCollection2014. 3. 9. 2014. 10.1371/journal.pone.0088917 . published PLoS One

Emerging novel roles of neuropeptide Y in the retina: From neuromodulation to neuroprotection

Santos-Carvalho, Ana; ¿?lvaro, Ana Rita; Martins, João; Ambrósio, António Francisco; Cavadas, Cláudia, 2014. Progress in Neurobiology. 70 - 79. Jan. 112. 2014. 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.10.002 . published Progress in Neurobiology

Neuropeptide Y receptors activation protects rat retinal neural cells against necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by glutamate

Santos-Carvalho, A; Elvas, F; ¿?lvaro, A R; Ambrósio, A F; Cavadas, C., 2013. Cell Death and Disease. e636 - e636. 5. 4. 2013. 10.1038/cddis.2013.160 . published Cell Death and Disease

Proliferative Hypothalamic Neurospheres Express NPY, AGRP, POMC, CART and Orexin-A and Differentiate to Functional Neurons

Sousa-Ferreira, Lígia; ¿?lvaro, Ana Rita; Aveleira, Célia; Santana, Magda; Brandão, Inês; Kügler, Sebastian; Pereira de Almeida, Luís; Cavadas, Cláudia, 2011. PLoS ONE. 19745 - 19745. 5. 6. 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21589937 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0019745 . published PLoS ONE

Moderate Long-Term modulation of Neuropeptide Y in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus induces energy balance alterations in adult rats

Sousa-Ferreira, L.; Garrido, M.; Nascimento-Ferreira, I.; Nobrega, C.; Santos-Carvalho, A.; Álvaro, A.R.; Rosmaninho-Salgado, J.; et al, 2011. PLoS ONE. 7. 6. 2011. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79960672953&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1371/journal.pone.0022333 . PLoS ONE

Neuropeptide Y inhibits [Ca 2+]i changes in rat retinal neurons through NPY Y1 , Y4 and Y5 receptors

Álvaro, Ana Rita ; Rosmaninho-Salgado, Joana; Ambrósio, António F.; Cavadas, Cláudia, 2009. Journal of Neurochemistry. 1508 - 1515. 5. 109. 2009. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19344373 . 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06079.x . published Journal of Neurochemistry

Regulation of catecholamine release and tyrosine hydroxylase in human adrenal chromaffin cells by interleukin-1ß: Role of neuropeptide y and nitric oxide

Rosmaninho-Salgado, J.; Araújo, I.M.; ¿?lvaro, A.R.; Mendes, A.F.; Ferreira, L.; Grouzmann, E.; Mota, A.; et al, 2009. Journal of Neurochemistry. 911 - 922. 3. 109. 2009. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-64149092206&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06023.x . published Journal of Neurochemistry

Neuropeptide Y protects retinal neural cells against cell death induced by ecstasy

Álvaro, A. R.; Martins, J.; Costa, A.C.; Fernandes, E.; Carvalho, F.; Ambrósio, A.F.; Cavadas, C., 2008. Neuroscience. 97 - 105. 1. 152. 2008. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18249070 . 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.12.027 . published Neuroscience

Neuropeptide Y stimulates retinal neural cell proliferation - involvement of nitric oxide

¿?lvaro, Ana Rita; Martins, João; Araújo, Inês M.; Rosmaninho-Salgado, Joana; Ambrósio, António F.; Cavadas, Cláudia, 2008. Journal of Neurochemistry. 2501 - 2510. 6. 105. 2008. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18331583 . 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05334.x . published Journal of Neurochemistry

Neuropeptide Y regulates catecholamine release evoked by interleukin-1ß in mouse chromaffin cells

Rosmaninho-Salgado, Joana; ¿?lvaro, Ana Rita; Grouzmann, Eric; Duarte, Emilia P.; Cavadas, Cláudia, 2007. Peptides. 310 - 314. 2. 28. 2007. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17207896 . 10.1016/j.peptides.2006.11.015 . published Peptides

NPY in rat retina is present in neurons, in endothelial cells and also in microglial and Müller cells

¿?lvaro, Ana Rita; Rosmaninho-Salgado, Joana; Santiago, Ana Raquel; Martins, João; Aveleira, Célia; Santos, Paulo F.; Pereira, Tiago; et al, 2007. Neurochemistry International. 757 - 763. 5. 50. 2007. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17353067 . 10.1016/j.neuint.2007.01.010 . published Neurochemistry International

Unaltered hepatic oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial permeability transition in wistar rats treated with nimesulide: Relevance for nimesulide toxicity characterization

Moreno, António J.; Oliveira, Paulo J.; Nova, Carlos D.; ¿?lvaro, Ana R.; Moreira, Renata A.; Santos, Sandra M. D.; Macedo, Tice, 2007. Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology. 53 - 61. 2. 21. 2007. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17427176 . 10.1002/jbt.20159 . published Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology

Intracellular signaling mechanisms mediating catecholamine release upon activation of NPY Y1 receptors in mouse chromaffin cells

Rosmaninho-Salgado, J.; Araújo, I.M.; ¿?lvaro, A.R.; Duarte, E.P.; Cavadas, C.; Álvaro, A.R., 2007. Journal of Neurochemistry. 896 - 903. 3. 103. 2007. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-35248895279&partnerID=MN8TOARS . 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04899.x . published Journal of Neurochemistry

R&D Projects

Partners

Awards

2020

Thomé Villar / Boehringer Ingelheim Award, with the best work in the area of pneumonology by Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia

2020

Award “Young Scientist” at the 25º Congresso da Sociedade Europeia de Investigação do Sono (virtual)

2020

730 years UC Award, University of Coimbra.

2017

Award “Oxford Chronobiology and Sleep Medicine Summer School” for the best presentation in panel format

2016

Award Thomé Villar / Boehringer Ingelheim (2nd place) for the best work in the area of Pneumology by Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia

2023

Biotech Entrepreneurship Award

Projeto BiotechSTARS

2022

Distinguished Activity Award from the World Sleep Society

Dia Mundial do Sono de 2022 sob o lema: “Sono de Qualidade, Mente Sã, Mundo Feliz”

2023

Distinguished Activity Award from the World Sleep Society 2023

Dia Mundial do Sono de 2023 sob o lema: “Dormir é essencial para a sáude”

2022

Prize awarded by the Portuguese Society of Pneumology ex aequo for the best work in the field of pneumology in the category of the Thomé Villar / Boehringer Ingelheim Prize.

O trabalho intitulou-se “OSAAging: the effect of obstructive sleep apnea on cellular and molecular aging” com os seguintes autores: Ana Rita Álvaro, Laetitia Gaspar, Bárbara Santos, Catarina

2022

Prize awarded by the Portuguese Society of Pneumology ex aequo for the best work in the field of pneumology in the category of the Thomé Villar / Boehringer Ingelheim Prize.

O trabalho intitulou-se “Contribution of intermittent hypoxia to clock dysregulation in obstructive sleep apnea: insights from a mouse model” com os seguintes autores: Laetitia S Gaspar, Bal

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