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Jose Rodriguez Alvarez

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Jose Rodriguez Alvarez

Professor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8582-8082

    Accepting PhD Students

    PhD projects

    Molecular basis of early synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease

    1986 …2025

    Research activity 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).

    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

    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):

    1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
      SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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    View all 28 projects
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