https://hdl.handle.net/2072/378071 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:26:35 GMT 2026-04-08T06:26:35Z https://hdl.handle.net/11351/14367 Multiple sclerosis: molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic intervention Boutitah-Benyaich, Imane; Eixarch, Herena; Villacieros-Álvarez, Javier; Hervera Abad, Arnau; Cobo-Calvo, Alvaro; Montalban, Xavier; Espejo, Carmen Multiple sclerosis; Molecular pathogenesis; Therapeutic intervention; Esclerosi múltiple; Patogènesi molecular; Intervenció terapèutica; Esclerosis múltiple: Patogénesis molecular; Intervención terapéutica; Multiple sclerosis is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination, axonal loss, and neuroinflammation, culminating in progressive neurological disability. Despite significant advances in understanding its immunopathogenesis, current immunotherapies remain limited in their ability to halt disease progression, making multiple sclerosis incurable and highlighting the critical need for novel therapeutic strategies. Antigen-specific immunotherapy represents a groundbreaking approach that aims to restore immune tolerance to myelin-derived antigens while preserving the protective functions of the immune system. Unlike broad immunosuppressive strategies, antigen-specific immunotherapy offers the potential for highly targeted modulation of pathogenic immune responses, reducing off-target effects and enhancing safety profiles. Over the last two decades, preclinical studies and clinical trials have explored diverse antigen-specific immunotherapy modalities, ranging from peptide-based vaccines to nanoparticle platforms, each aimed at achieving durable tolerance in multiple sclerosis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of multiple sclerosis, covering its etiology, clinical features, pathogenesis, pathology, and current therapeutic approaches. Thus, it delves into the current state of antigen-specific immunotherapy research, critically examining its successes and limitations while addressing the translational challenges that must be overcome to realize its therapeutic potential. By integrating insights from immunology, biotechnology, and translational medicine, we propose directions for advancing antigen-specific approaches in the quest for transformative multiple sclerosis therapies.; This project has received funding from the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union-NextGenerationEU/PRTR through the CPP2021-008475 project. This work was also supported by the “Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca” (AGAUR; Generalitat de Catalunya) through Consolidated Research Groups 2021SGR00782. Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:24:46 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11351/14367 2026-03-20T11:24:46Z https://hdl.handle.net/11351/14362 Size Control of Highly Monodisperse Citrate-Stabilized Magnetite Nanoparticles in Aqueous Media: The Role of Cerium Cations Mejía-Carmona, Karen; Guardia, Pablo; Spadaro, Maria Chiara; Arbiol, Jordi; Freixanet Gusta, Muriel; puntes, victor Magnetite nanoparticles; Cerium cations; Nanopartículas de magnetita; Cationes de cerio; Nanopartícules de magnetita; Cations de ceri; Controlling the nucleation and growth of magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) via aqueous coprecipitation at room temperature is inherently challenging due to kinetic and thermodynamic constraints. Rapid pH increases trigger a burst nucleation event that depletes precursors before significant growth occurs, while NP surfaces are quickly passivated by water and hydroxyl ions, forming a dewetting barrier that impedes further growth. To address these challenges, we developed an innovative synthesis approach that incorporates lanthanide (Ln) cations, mainly Ce3+, together with sodium citrate into the coprecipitation process. These additives act synergistically to lower surface energy and stabilize both precursors and reaction intermediates, thereby facilitating controlled crystal growth. We systematically investigated the impact of Ln cations by fine-tuning the Ce3+ concentration, which enabled precise control over NP size, yielding diameters from 13 to 46 nm. Notably, at higher Ce3+ concentrations, multidomain nanowires are formed, with diameters reaching up to 90 nm and lengths on the micron scale. Moreover, the synthesized NPs exhibit enhanced performance in magnetic hyperthermia (MH) and peroxidase-like activity compared with those produced without Ce3+. The improved catalytic activity is attributed to accelerated Fe2+ regeneration in the reaction, mediated by the presence of the Ce4+/Ce3+ redox couple, which boosts •OH radical production. Importantly, this strategy is versatile and can be extended to other Ln cations (Eu3+, Gd3+, Er3+, Yb3+, and Lu3+), yielding single-crystal magnetite NPs of comparable sizes. Collectively, Ln-assisted synthesis addresses longstanding challenges in magnetite NP coprecipitation, providing a scalable route to high-performance magnetic NPs with tunable size and morphology. This approach not only improves control over NP growth but also broadens their potential applications in MH and catalysis.; K.M.-C., M.F.G., V.P., and N.G.B. gratefully acknowledge financial support from the MCIN/AEI International Joint Research Projects Program (CONCORD, PCI2019-103436), cofunded by the European Union and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2021-SGR-00878), as well as funding from project PID2023-148967OB-C22. ICN2 is supported by the Severo Ochoa program of the Spanish MCIN/AEI (CEX2021-001214 S) and receives institutional support from the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya. K.M.-C. acknowledges a predoctoral fellowship (PRE2019-090084) from MCIN. P.G. acknowledges support from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (CNS2022-135583 and PID2021-122645OB-I00) and from the Ramón y Cajal program “FSE invierte en tu futuro” (RYC2019-028414). M.C.S. and J.A. acknowledge support from the Generalitat de Catalunya (2021SGR00457). This study is part of the Advanced Materials Programme and was supported by the MCIN with European Union NextGenerationEU funding (PRTR-C17.I1). ICN2 is a founding member of e-DREAM. Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:56:07 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11351/14362 2026-03-20T09:56:07Z https://hdl.handle.net/11351/14373 Deepening Physical Exercise Intervention Protocols for Older People with Sarcopenia Following Establishment of the EWGSOP2 Consensus: A Systematic Review Minobes, Eduard; Rierola Fochs, Sandra; Parés Martínez, Carles; Ochandorena-Acha, Mirari; Heras, Eva; Farrés-Godayol, Pau; Ars , Joan Exercise; Older adults; Sarcopenia; Ejercicio; Adultos mayores; Sarcopenia; Exercici; Adults grans; Sarcopènia; Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is an age-related muscle disease that reduces strength and function in older adults. Exercise is a key intervention, but existing protocols vary widely and often lack adaptation to sarcopenia severity. The present study aims to review the effectiveness of exercise protocols developed after the EWGSOP2 consensus and evaluate their adaptation to sarcopenia severity stages. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines. PubMed and Scopus were searched for studies published after the EWGSOP2 consensus involving participants of 65 years and over with primary sarcopenia and managed through exercise-only interventions. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and quality and transparency of exercise intervention were assessed with the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 558 participants. Most interventions included resistance training, often within multicomponent programs. Statistically significant improvements were reported in muscle strength, mass, and physical performance. Additional benefits included enhancements in sleep quality, respiratory function, and specific biomarkers. However, only two studies classified sarcopenia severity, and reporting quality varied considerably. Conclusions: Exercise interventions, especially multicomponent and individualized protocols, are effective at improving outcomes related to sarcopenia in older adults. However, better alignment with diagnostic classifications and standardized reporting are needed to improve clinical translation and program replication. Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:44:23 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11351/14373 2026-03-20T11:44:23Z https://hdl.handle.net/11351/14369 Species-specific sensitivity to intracerebroventricular streptozotocin in rats and mice highlights pathways and proteins relevant to Alzheimer's disease Homolak, Jan; Markovic, Pavel; Virag, Davor; Knezovic, Ana; Osmanovic Barilar, Jelena; Loncar, Andrija Alzheimer’s disease; Animal model; Mouse; Enfermedad de Alzheimer; Modelo animal; Ratón; Malaltia d'Alzheimer; Model animal; Ratolí; For over three decades, intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (STZ-icv) has been a key non-transgenic rodent model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Traditionally used in rats, its use in mice is growing due to practical advantages. While factors like strain, sex, vehicle, age, and dosage are well studied in STZ-induced diabetes models, their impact on STZ-icv-related cognitive deficits remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we examine species-specific sensitivity to STZ-icv in two widely used rodent strains (Wistar Han rats and C57BL/6 mice) motivated by the finding that, despite reliably inducing cognitive deficits in rats for over 30 years in our lab, the same STZ-icv procedure yields inconsistent results in C57BL/6 mice. To explore this phenomenon, we first constructed a series of allometric models to assess how different STZ-icv concentrations affect predicted exposure in rats and mice. Next, we provide behavioral and immunohistochemical evidence that C57BL/6 mice exhibit resistance to STZ doses that should achieve sufficient neuronal exposure. Finally, we perform an exploratory multiomic analysis, examining differentially expressed proteins in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of STZ-icv-treated rats that also show differential expression between Wistar Han rats and C57BL/6 mice, followed by an investigation of these proteins across independent Alzheimer's disease cohorts. Through this analysis, we identify three understudied proteins-Tagln2, Slc25a3, and Pafah1b3-that may contribute to the differential sensitivity of Wistar Han rats and C57BL/6 mice to STZ-icv and may play a role in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease.; Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. Research funded by the project “The role of transthyretin in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease-associated leptomeningeal and cerebrovascular amyloidosis and neuroprotective potential of a brain directed tafamidis prodrug – TransADamis” within the 2022 Junior Investigator Global ATTR Amyloidosis Research ASPIRE by Pfizer Inc. (73521469). Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:32:04 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/11351/14369 2026-03-20T11:32:04Z