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Mitochondria: a Biosensor to Investigate Drug-induced Mitochondrial Toxicity

Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Project classification

Scientific area

3.1 Basic medicine

Discipline(s)

Toxicology

Project description

Project title

Mitochondria: a Biosensor to Investigate Drug-induced Mitochondrial Toxicity

Scientific Coordinator's name:

Paulo J. Oliveira

Scientific Coordinator's e-mail:

pauloliv@ci.uc.pt

Principal R&D Unit:

Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology

Other R&D Units involved in the project:

Other R&D units involved in the project

Project keyword(s)

Cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, mitochondria, drug safety, environmental toxicity

Short abstract and comments

The process of drug development contains critical steps aimed at predicting the safety of several drug candidates. This is usually performed in using animal models, namely rodents, which leads often to the use of thousands of animals per year. The use of isolated organelles to predict drug safety has been used by pharmaceutical companies to predict drug safety. In this particular regard, our group uses isolated rat mitochondrial fractions from different organs (heart, liver, brain, kidney) to predict the safety/toxicity of several molecules. By being the cell powerhouses, mitochondrial have a very important role in the viability of all biological processes. Drug-induced mitochondrial failure in tissues which require high energy inputs results in progress organ failure. The objectives of this undergoing project is to use isolated mitochondrial fractions to predict compound toxicity based on specific mitochondrial end-points, including mitochondrial respiration, development of membrane electric potential and calcium susceptibility. Examples of possible test compounds include environmental pollutants, food additives and drug candidates.

Potential uses/indications

Compound safety prediction based on mitochondrial toxicity data; efficacy of waste water cleaning treatments (removal of mitochondrial deleterious agents); safety of food additives, including phytochemicals

Status

Ongoing

Partner Status: Seeking Partners?

Yes

Grant number (QREN, FP7, Eureka, etc)

Grant number (QREN, FP7, Eureka, etc)

Last edited on

2012-07-18 09:38:18

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