Department of Molecular Physiology

Research Focus

Cell signaling is a very complex process, which is used by cells for mutual communication and coordination of all pathways in the organism. Calcium ions belong to important signaling molecules that regulate important metabolic pathways not only during physiological, but also in pathophysiological conditions. Calcium ions can enter cells from the extracellular space, but also from the intracellular stores. Calcium transport realized by individual calcium transport system to precise place in certain time is responsible for specificity in calcium signaling. Therefore, one of the main focuses is to study a role of selected calcium transport systems in tumor cells, mainly in cells of clear cell renal cell carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma.

Hydrogen sulfide is another important signaling molecule. Hydrogen sulfide is gasotransmitter that modulates variety of biological processes, e.g. process of cardiac excitation/contraction coupling.  Hydrogen sulfide can also react with other gasotransmitters, mainly with nitrogen oxide. Chemical nature and mechanism of these interactions is not clearly understood up to now. Although, from the physiological point of view  the role of hydrogen sulfide is mostly evaluated in cardiovascular system, more and more research teams concentrate on the role of H2S in immune, neuronal and also cancer diseases. Members of the department focus on evaluation of the biological effects of hydrogen sulfide and also products of their interactions with nitrogen oxide on membrane channels, in respect with cardiovascular diseases. They also focus on the potential role of hydrogen sulfide in tumor growth and metastasis formation, mainly in colorectal and clear cell renal cell carcinomas.

Department is involved in following studies

  1. Modulation of intracellular calcium and calcium transport systems in tumor´s growth, migration and its potential utilization in treatment of tumors.
  2. Determination of the role of exogenous and endogenous H2S in tumor´s growth, migration and apoptosis induction.
  3. Electrophysiology of intracellular ion channels
  4. Antioxidant properties of products of nitroso-sulfide and selenium-sulfide interactions.

Research Team

olga-krizanova

prof. Ing. Oľga Križanová, DrSc.

Head of Department

02/ 32295 312

CURRICULUM VITAE (pdf)

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS (pdf)

LEADER SCIENTIFIC STAFF:

RNDr. Karol Ondriaš, DrSc. – Deputy Head of Department;  CURRICULUM VITAE (pdf);  LIST OF PUBLICATIONS (pdf)

SCIENTIFIC STAFF:

Mgr. Barbora Chovancová, PhD.;  CURRICULUM VITAE (pdf);  LIST OF PUBLICATIONS (pdf)

Mgr. Veronika Lišková, PhD.;  CURRICULUM VITAE (pdf);  LIST OF PUBLICATIONS (pdf)

Mgr. Lenka Tomášová, PhD.;  LIST OF PUBLICATIONS (pdf)

Mgr. Anton Mišák, PhD.;  CURRICULUM VITAE (pdf);  LIST OF PUBLICATIONS (pdf)

Mgr. Marián Grman, PhD.;  CURRICULUM VITAE (pdf);  LIST OF PUBLICATIONS (pdf)

TECHNICIAN:

Marta Šírová

Projects

  • APVV-15-0371 (1.7.2016 – 30.6.2020): Study of biological effects of H2S/NO products and molecular mechanism of their actions. Principal investigator: RNDr. Karol Ondriaš, DrSc.
  • APVV-16-0246 (2017- 2021): Utilization of the calcium transport blockers as potential chemotherapeutics in a treatment of solid tumors. Principal investigator: prof. Ing. Oľga Križanová, DrSc.
  • APVV-14-0351 (2015-2018) Sulfide signaling as a potential mechanism in tumor´s treatment. Principal investigator: RNDr. Soňa Hudecová, CSc.
  • VEGA- 2/0014/17 (2017 – 2020): Study of products of H2S/oxidized glutathione interaction on membrane channels and molecular mechanism of their actions. Principal investigator: RNDr. Karol Ondriaš, DrSc.
  • VEGA 2/0082/16 (2016-2018) Role of the calcium signaling through IP3 receptors in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Principal investigator: prof. Ing. Oľga Križanová, DrSc.
  • VEGA/2/0146/16 (2016-2018) Role of the polysulfides in regulation of chloride channels and mitochondrial respiration. Principal investigator: Mgr. Marián Grman, PhD.
  • VEGA 2/0073/16 (2016-2018) Importance of the Na/Ca-exchanger in ovarian cancer cells, its modulation and a role in apoptosis induction. Principal investigator: Mgr. Ľubomíra Lenčešová, PhD.

Publications

    • Chovancova B, Hudecova S, Lencesova L, Babula P, Rezuchova I, Penesova A, Grman M, Moravcik R, Zeman M, Krizanova O. Melatonin-induced changes in cytosolic calcium might be responsible for apoptosis induction in tumour cells. Cell Physiol Biochem 44, 763-777, 2017. (IF2016 – 5.104)
    • Hudecova S, Markova J, Simko V, Csaderova L, Stracina T, Sirova M, Fojtu M, Svastova E, Gronesova P, Pastorek M, Novakova M, Cholujova D, Kopacek J, Pastorekova S, Sedlak J, Krizanova O. Sulforaphane-induced apoptosis involves the type 1 IP3 receptor. Oncotarget 7; 61403-61418; 2016 (IF2015 – 5.008)
    • Görlach A, Bertram K, Hudecova S, Krizanova O. Calcium and ROS: a mutual interplay. Redox Biology, 6;b 260-271; 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2015.08.010 (IF2015 – 6.235)
    • Cortese-Krott MM, Kuhnle GG, Dyson A, Fernandez BO, Grman M, DuMond JF, Barrow MP, McLeod G, Nakagawa H, Ondrias K, Nagy P, King SB, Saavedra JE, Keefer LK, Singer M, Kelm M, Butler AR, Feelisch M. Key bioactive reaction products of the NO/H2S interaction are S/N-hybrid species, polysulfides, and nitroxyl. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Aug 25;112(34):E4651-60. (IF2015 – 9.423)
    • Markova J., Hudecova S., Soltysova A., Sirova M., Csaderova L., Lencesova L., Ondrias K., Krizanova O. Sodium/calcium exchanger is up-regulated by sulfide signaling, forms complex with theb1 andb3, but not b2 adrenergic receptors and induces apoptosis. Pflügers Archiv – European Journal of Physiology, 466; 1329-1342; 2014 (IF2014 – 4.101)
    • Lencesova L., Hudecova S., Csaderova L., Markova J.,  Soltysova A., Pastorek M., Sedlak J., Wood M.E., Whiteman M., Ondrias K., Krizanova O. Sulphide signalling potentiates apoptosis through the up-regulation of IP3 receptors type 1 and 2. Acta Physiologica, 208, 350-361, 2013 (IF2013 – 4.251)
    • Pacak K, Sirova M, Giubellino A, Lencesova L, Csaderova L, Laukova M, Hudecova S, Krizanova O. NF-kB inhibition significantly upregulates the norepinephrine transporter system, causes apoptosis in pheochromocytoma cell lines and prevents metastasis in an animal model. Int J Canc, 131, 2445-2455, 2012 (IF2012 – 6.198)