DEpartment of Neurotoxicology

Department of Neurotoxicology


M. Mossakowski Medical Research Center
Polish Academy of Sciences
5 Pawinskiego Str., 02-106 Warsaw, POLAND
phone: (48-22) 6685323; fax: (48-22) 6685532



Head:

Prof. Jan Albrecht, Ph.D. - phone: (48-22) 6685323
fax: (48-22) 6086442
e-mail :jalb@cmdik.pan.pl


Research Staff:

Wojciech Hilgier, Ph.D. - phone: (48-22) 6086441
e-mail: whilgier@cmdik.pan.pl

Magdalena Zielinska, Ph.D. - phone: (48-22) 6086470
e-mail: madziul@cmdik.pan.pl

Monika Szeliga, Ph. D. - phone: (48-22) 6086416
e-mail: mszeliga@cmdik.pan.pl


Ph.D. students:

Marta Obara - Michalewska, M.Sc., Ing. (biotechnol.) - phone: (48-22) 6086416
e-mail: martomich@gmail.com

Martyna Dłużniewska, M. Sc. - phone: (48-22) 6086416
e-mail: martyna_d@poczta.onet.pl

Marta Skowrońska, M. Sc. (Biotechnology) - phone: (48-22) 6086416
e-mail: marta_skowronska@op.pl


Technical staff:

Anna Dybel M.Sc. (Biol) - phone: (48-22) 6086440
e-mail: adybel@cmdik.pan.pl

Miroslawa Polawska - phone: (48-22) 6086421

Malgorzata Bogacinska - phone: (48-22) 6086440

Inez Fresko - phone: (48-22) 6086421



Key Research themes:

  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying hepatic encephalopathy : roles of glutamine, cyclic GMP and potassium channels.
  • Glutamine in malignant gliomas: roles of glutaminases





Running projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Education:

  • Ammonia-induced brain and retinal edema - impaired ion and water homeostasis as a target for treatment" (Polish-German Program, project no S 005/P-N/2007/01). PI- Jan Albrecht, Partner: Prof. Andreas Reichenbach, University of Leipzig. Funding period::2007 - 2010
  • Glutamine and its derivatives as factors modulating the glutamate/NO/cGMP pathway during acute exposure of brain to ammonia" (Project no N N401 0550 33) PI-Magdalena Zielińska





Collaborations:

  • Tampere Brain Research Center, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tampere, and Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland (S.S. Oja, P. Saransaari): Brain glutamine and glutathione in hyperammonemia in vivo
  • Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (A. Schousboe, H.S. Waagepetersen, L. Bak) Glutamine transport and metabolism in brain mitochondria.
  • Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research,University of Leipzig, Germany (Andreas Reichenbach): Potassium channels and ammonia-induced cerebral and retinal edema..
  • Department of Toxicology, Institute of Agricultural Medicine (W. Rzeski): Studies of anti-tumor activities of novel aminothiadiazole derivatives. Project N N401 223734, allotted to Prof. Rzeski.
  • Department of Neurochemistry, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw (J. Łazarewicz). Excitotoxic activities of polychlorinated biphenyls. Project N N401 024635/A, allotted to Prof. Łazarewicz.
  • Laboratorio de Quimica Proteinas, Departamento de Biologia Molecular y Bioquimica, Facultad de Ciencias,, Universidad de Malaga, Malaga, Spain (J. Marquez). Role of liver-type glutaminase in shaping the phenotype of gliomas.
  • Center for Molecular Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA (M. Aschner). Role of glutamine transport in manganese and organic mercury neurotoxicity.




List of publications in Current Contents-listed journals 2005-2008:

  • W. Hilgier, S. S. Oja, P. Saransaari, J. Albrecht. Taurine prevents ammonia-induced accumulation of cyclic GMP in rat striatum by interaction with GABAA and glycine receptors, Brain Res., 2005, 1043, 242-246.
  • W. Rzeski, T. Kocki, A. Dybel, K. Wejksza, B. Zdzisińska, M. Kandefer-Szerszeń, W. A. Turski, E. Okuno, J. Albrecht, Demonstration of kynurenine aminotransferases I and II and characterization of kynurenic acid synthesis in cultured cerebral cortical neurons, J. Neurosci. Res., 2005, 80, 677-682.
  • M. Zielińska, B. Zabłocka, A. Dybel, J. Albrecht, The role of protein kinase C and cyclic AMP in the ammonia-induced shift of the taurine uptake/efflux balance towards efflux in C6 cells, Neurochem. Res., 2005, 30, 349-354
  • A. Klejman, M. Węgrzynowicz , E. M. Szatmari, B. Mioduszewska, M. Hetman, J. Albrecht, Mechanisms of ammonia-induced cell death in rat cortical neurons: roles of NMDA receptors and glutathione, Neurochem. Int., 2005, 47, 51-57
  • J. Albrecht, M. Węgrzynowicz, Endogenous neuroprotectants in ammonia toxicity in the CNS: facts and hypotheses, Metabol. Brain Dis., 2005, 20, :253-263
  • Q. Wu, M. Sidoryk, L.A. Mutkus, M. Zielińska , J. Albrecht , M. Aschner. Acrylamide stimulates glutamine uptake in Fischer 344 rat astrocytes by a mechanism involving upregulation of the amino acid transport system N. Ann NY Acad Sci 2005, 1053, 435-443
  • K. Wejksza, W.Rzeski, E.Okuno, M. Kandefer-Szerszen, J. Albrecht, W. A. Turski. Demonstration of kynurenine aminotransferases i and ii and characterization of kynurenic acid synthesis in oln-93 oligodendrocyte cell line, Neurochem. Res., 2005, 30, 963-968
  • J. Albrecht, A. Schousboe. Taurine Interaction with Neurotransmitter Receptors in the CNS: An Update. Neurochem. Res. 2005, 30, 1615-1621.
  • K. Wejksza, W.Rzeski, W. A. Turski, W. Hilgier, A. Dybel, J. Albrecht. Ammonia at pathophysiologically relevant concentrations activates kynurenic acid synthesis in cultured astrocytes and neurons, NeuroToxicology, 2006, 27, 619-622
  • T. Wroblewski, O. Rowinski , B. Ziarkiewicz-Wroblewska B. Gornicka, J. Albrecht, E.A. Jones, M. Krawczyk. Two-stage transjugular intrahepatic porta-systemic shunt for patients with cirrhosis and a high risk of portal-systemic encephalopathy patients as a bridge to orthotopic liver transplantation: a preliminary report. Transplant Proc. 2006, 38,:204-208
  • M. Sidoryk, M. Obara, J. Albrecht. Selective decrease of SN1 (SNAT3) mRNA expression in human and rat glioma cells adapted to grow in acidic medium, Neurochem. Int., 2006, 48, 547-552
  • A. Konopacka, I. Fresko, S. Piaskowski, J. Albrecht, M. Zielińska. Ammonia affects the activity and expression of soluble and particulate guanylate cyclase in cultured rat astrocytes, Neurochem. Int., 2006, 48, 553-558.
  • M. Węsierska, H.D. Klinowska, I. Adamska, I. Fresko, J. Sadowska, J. Albrecht Cognitive flexibility but not cognitive coordination is affected in rats with toxic liver failure. Behav Brain Res. 2006, 171, 70-77.
  • J. Albrecht, M.D. Norenberg. Glutamine: A Trojan horse in ammonia neurotoxicity. Hepatology, 2006, 44, 788-794
  • J. Albrecht, U. Sonnewald, A. Schousboe, H.S. Waagepetersen: Glutamine in the central nervous system: function and dysfunction. Front. Biosci. 2007, 12, 332-343
  • Z. Yin, D.Milatovic, J.L. Aschner, T. Syversen, J.B. Rocha, D.O. Souza, M. Sidoryk, J. Albrecht, M. Aschner. Methylmercury induces oxidative injury, alterations in permeability and glutamine transport in cultured astrocytes. Brain Res. 2007, 1131, 1-10.
  • J. Albrecht, M. Węgrzynowicz. Cyclic GMP in blood and minimal hepatic encephalopathy: fine-tuning of the diagnosis. J. Mol. Med., 2007, 85, 203-205
  • M. Węgrzynowicz, W. Hilgier, A. Dybel, S.S. Oja, P. Saransaari, J. Albrecht. Upregulation of cerebral cortical glutathione synthesis by ammonia in vivo and in cultured glial cells: the role of cystine uptake. Neurochem. Int., 2007, 50, 883-889
  • D. Milatovic, Z. Yin, R.C. Gupta, M. Sidoryk, J. Albrecht, J.L. Aschner, M. Aschner. Manganese induces oxidative impairment in cultured rat astrocytes. Toxicol Sci 2007; 98, 198-205
  • W. Hilgier, M. Węgrzynowicz, M. Mączewski, A. Beręsewicz, S. S. Oja, P. Saransaari, J. Albrecht. Effect of Glutamine Synthesis Inhibition with Methionine Sulfoximine on the Nitric Oxide - Cyclic GMP Pathway in the Rat Striatum Treated Acutely with Ammonia: a Microdialysis Study. Neurochem Res, 2008, 33, 267-272
  • L K. Bak, E. Ziemińska, H. S. Waagepetersen, A. Schousboe, J. Albrecht. Metabolism of [U-13C]glutamine and [U-13C]glutamate in isolated rat brain mitochondria suggests functional phosphate-activated glutaminase activity in matrix, Neurochem Res., 2008, 33, 273-278
  • M. Szeliga, E. Matyja M. Obara, W. Grajkowska, T. Czernicki, J. Albrecht. Relative Expression of mRNAS Coding for Glutaminase Isoforms in CNS Tissues and CNS Tumors, Neurochem Res., 2008, 33, 808-813
  • M. Obara, M. Szeliga, J. Albrecht. Regulation of pH in the mammalian central nervous system under normal and pathological conditions: facts and hypotheses, Neurochem. Int. 2008, 52, 905-919
  • Konopacka, M. Zielińska, J. Albrecht. Ammonia inhibits the C-type natriuretic peptide-dependent cyclic GMP synthesis and calcium accumulation in a rat brain endothelial cell line. Neurochem. Int., 2008, 52, 1160-1166


PAPERS IN PRESS OR ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION

  • M. Szeliga, M. Obara-Michlewska, E. Matyja, M. Łazarczyk, C. Lobo, W. Hilgier, F. J. Alonso, J. Márquez, J. Albrecht. Transfection with liver-type glutaminase (LGA) cDNA alters gene expression and reduces survival, migration and proliferation of T98G glioma cells. Glia, 2008 Dec 5. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 19062176
  • Bringmann , T. Pannicke, B. Biedermann, M. Francke, I. Iandiev, J. Grosche, P. Wiedemann, J. Albrecht, A. Reichenbach: Role of retinal glial cells in neurotransmitter uptake and metabolism. Neurochem. Int. 2009 (Dec 9. 2008 [Epub ahead of print]; PMID: 19114072
  • A. Konopacka, F. Konopacki, J. Albrecht, Protein kinase G is involved in ammonia-induced swelling of astrocytes. J. Neurochem., 2009, accepted



BOOK CHAPTERS 2005 - :

  • J. Albrecht: Astrocytes in ammonia neurotoxicity: a target, a mediator and a shield. in: "The role of glia in neurotoxicity", (M. Aschner, L. G. Costa, , eds.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2005, pp 329-342.
  • J. Albrecht, M. Zielińska, J.W. Allen, O.P. Soldin, M. Aschner: Ethanol-taurine interactions in the brain: mechanisms and pathophysiological implications.in: Comprehensive Handbook of Alcohol Related Pathology, Preedy VR, Watson RR., eds. Elsevier Ltd, 2005, vol. 2, pp. 845-854
  • J. Albrecht. Ammonia Toxicity in the Central Nervous System. In: Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology, 3rd edition (A. Lajtha, ed.): Amino acids and Peptides in the Nervous System (S.S. Oja, A. Schousboe, P. Saransaari, vol eds), Springer, 2007, pp. 261-276.