Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
The basic objective of our research team is the study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death as a straight approach for the understanding of neurodegeneration in diverse pathologies. At present, the laboratory is focused in the study of the mechanisms involved in early dysfunction of synaptic activity in Alzheimer’s disease.
During the last decade, the idea that the alteration of synaptic function in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) occurs well before neurodegeneration is becoming widely accepted. Moreover, it has been suggested that the progressive accumulation of self-aggregates of Aβ as oligomers (oAβ) would mediate this synaptic dysfunction, leading to the initial cognitive deficits observed in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and earlier AD stages. In this context, we have found, transient learning and memory deficits in APPSw,Ind and 3xTg-AD transgenic mice at ages when the presence of oAβ was detected well before the appearance of amyloid plaques (Biol Psychiatry, 67:513-21, 2010; J. Neurosci, 30: 9402-10, 2010). We believe that these early memory deficits are a good model to study the processes occurring during the initial stages of the disease at the MCI level or previous asymptomatic stages of AD. In this context, we have demonstrated that a decrease in synaptic glutamate receptors is associated to early cognitive dysfunction in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and we also identified a transcription factor, Nr4a2, which depends on neuronal activity and it’s down-regulated in a mouse model of AD (J Biol. Chem. 286:27311-27321,2011; J. Neurosci. 30:9402-9410, 2010; J. Biol. Chem. 287:11351-11362, 2012; J. Neurosci. 34:5576-87, 2014) that it is involved in synaptic plasticty by regulating synaptic AMPA receptors (Front. Mol. Neurosci. 14:786226, 2021; J. Neurosci. 43:3028-41,2023). We think that changes in synaptic AMPARs (J Biol Chem 290:25548-60, 2015; J Cell Biol,219, e201912045, 2020), scaffolding postsynaptic proteins and function (eNeuro 7 ENEURO.0218-19.2020) of Nr4a family members of orphan nuclear factors underlie early cognitive deficits in AD. Our laboratory will be devoted during the next decade to challenge this hypothesis. Main goals are a) contributing to a better understanding of the molecular events involved in cognitive impartment at early stages of AD; b) identify new targets and biomarkers to improve AD diagnosis and future therapies. We have already described a molecular signature of three miRNAs (related to the modulation of synaptic proteins) that could be a putative plasma biomarker for early AD detection and even to predict the progression from MCI to AD (Alzheimer Res & Ther 11:46, 2019; Cells 2021, 10, 113, 2021).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Ph. D., Ciències Biològiques, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Award Date: 31 Dec 1990
Degree, Ciències Biològiques, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Award Date: 31 Dec 1985
External positions
Visiting Professor Dpto Neurosciences, Albert Einstein College of Medecine
2017 → …
Associate Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
1997 → 2016
Professor Associat, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
1 Jan 1995 → 31 Dec 1996
Research Associate, UPR9023-Centre National Recherche Scientifique, Montpellier
1 Jan 1993 → 30 Apr 1994
Research Associate, National Institute for Medical Research, London
1 Jan 1992 → 31 Dec 1992
Ajudant d'Universitat (Y1), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
1 Jan 1992 → 1 Jan 1995
Becario Postdoctoral, National Institute for Medical Research, London
1 Jan 1990 → 31 Dec 1990
Ajudant d'Universitat (Y2), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
1 Jan 1990 → 1 Jan 1992
Ajudant Escola Universitària (Y3), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
1 Jan 1989 → 1 Jan 1990
Becari predoctoral MEC, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
1 Jan 1986 → 31 Dec 1988
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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PAPEL DE LOS FACTORES DE LA FAMILIA NR4 EN LOS DEFICITS SINAPTICOS Y DE APRENDIZAJE EN ESTADIOS INICIALES DE LA ENFERMEDAD DE ALZHEIMER
Rodriguez Alvarez, J. (Principal Investigator), CASTILLO, P. (Collaborator), Delprat Obeaga, M. A. (Collaborator), FERNANDEZ BALLESTER, M. (Collaborator), Fabregas Ordoñez, C. (Collaborator), Miñano Molina, A. J. (Investigator) & Alzina Martinez, S. (Collaborator)
1/09/21 → 30/11/24
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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CIBERNED_Patología neuromuscular clínica y experimental
Navarro Acebes, X. (Principal Investigator), Aguilera Avila, J. (Investigator), Arbat Plana, A. (Investigator), Bosch, A. (Investigator), Bruna Escuer, J. (Investigator), Candalija Iserte, A. M. (Investigator), Casas, C. (Investigator), Catala Solsona, J. (Investigator), Cobianchi , S. (Investigator), Coll Miro, M. (Investigator), Cuadras Mas, J. (Investigator), Del Valle Macia, J. (Investigator), Enriquez Barreto, L. (Investigator), Francos Quijorna, I. (Investigator), González Pérez, F. J. (Investigator), Hernández Martín, J. (Investigator), Herrando Grabulosa, M. (Investigator), Jaramillo Rodríguez, J. (Investigator), Lopez Vales, R. (Investigator), López Serrano, C. (Investigator), López Álvarez, V. M. (Investigator), Martínez Muriana, A. (Investigator), Modol Caballero, G. (Investigator), Morell Orduña, M. (Investigator), Oliva Muñoz, N. D. L. (Investigator), Rodriguez Alvarez, J. (Investigator), Romeo Guitart, D. (Investigator), Santos Rojas, D. H. (Investigator), Siedlecki Wullich, D. J. (Investigator), Torres Espín, A. (Investigator), Udina Bonet, E. (Investigator), Garcia Garcia, J. (Investigator), Lopez Santos, D. (Investigator) & Badia Puiggali, C. (Investigator)
1/01/08 → 31/12/30
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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CIBERNED_Patología molecular en la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Neuroinflamación y factores neurotróficos
Rodriguez Alvarez, J. (Principal Investigator), Martín Capella, E. (Investigator), Miñano Molina, A. J. (Investigator) & Saura Antolin, C. A. (Investigator)
1/01/08 → 31/12/30
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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Validación de un biomarcador en sangre relacionado con la disfunción sináptica para el diagnóstico temprano de la enfermedad de Alzheimer
Rodriguez Alvarez, J. (Principal Investigator), Miñano Molina, A. J. (Investigator), Delprat Obeaga, M. A. (Collaborator) & Martin Pinardi, L. (Collaborator)
1/12/21 → 31/03/24
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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Implicación de nr4a2/nurr1 en la disfunción sináptica y déficits cognitivos en fases tempranas de la enfermedad de Alzheimer
Rodriguez Alvarez, J. (Principal Investigator), Català Solsona, J. (Collaborator), Fábregas Ordóñez, C. (Collaborator), Miñarro Molina, A. J. (Investigator) & Espinosa Gil, S. (Collaborator)
Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO)
1/01/18 → 30/04/21
Project: Research Projects and Other Grants
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Activity-dependent Nr4a2 induction modulates synaptic expression of AMPA receptors and plasticity via a Ca 2+/ CRTC1/CREB pathway
Catala Solsona, J., Lituma, P. J., Lutzu, S., Siedlecki Wullich, D. J., Fabregas Ordoñez, C., Miñano Molina, A. J., Saura, C. A., Castillo, P. & Rodríguez-Álvarez, J., 26 Apr 2023, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 43, 17, p. 3028-3041 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (Scopus) -
microRNAs as Early Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease: A Synaptic Perspective
Siedlecki-Wullich, D., Miñano-Molina, A. J. & Rodríguez-Álvarez, J., 9 Jan 2021, In: Cells. 10, 1, p. 1-26 26 p., 113.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer-review
Open Access40 Citations (Scopus) -
Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review
Català-Solsona, J., Miñano-Molina, A. J. & Rodríguez-Álvarez, J., 22 Nov 2021, In: Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 14, 13 p., 786226.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Research › peer-review
15 Citations (Scopus) -
Proteasomal-mediated degradation of AKAP150 accompanies AMPAR endocytosis during cLTD
Cheng, W., Siedlecki-Wullich, D., Català-Solsona, J., Fábregas, C., Fadó, R., Casals, N., Solé, M., Unzeta, M., Saura, C. A., Rodríguez-Alvarez, J. & Miñano-Molina, A. J., 1 Mar 2020, In: eNeuro. 7, 2, ENEURO.0218-19.2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access8 Citations (Scopus) -
Sensing of nutrients by CPT1C controls SAC1 activity to regulate AMPA receptor trafficking
Casas, M., Fadó, R., Domínguez, J. L., Roig, A., Kaku, M., Chohnan, S., Solé, M., Unzeta, M., Miñano-Molina, A. J., Rodríguez-Álvarez, J., Dickson, E. J. & Casals, N., 5 Oct 2020, In: Journal of Cell Biology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access18 Citations (Scopus)
Thesis
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Efecto de la histamina sobre el crecimiento y la diferenciación celular en el cerebro de rata
Rodríguez Álvarez, J. (Author)Blanco Fernández, I. (Director), 1 Jan 1990Student thesis: Doctoral thesis