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Celia P. Martinez-Jimenez Lab

Molecular Ageing

Celia's team applies single-cell approaches to interrogate molecular features as predictor of molecular age. The assessment of intra-organ cell-to-cell variability will instruct precision diagnostics and personalized treatments.

Celia's team applies single-cell approaches to interrogate molecular features as predictor of molecular age. The assessment of intra-organ cell-to-cell variability will instruct precision diagnostics and personalized treatments.

About our research

Advances in genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic technologies  are opening a new era for understanding  the molecular mechanisms underlying organismal ageing. We aim to accelerate the development of anti-ageing interventions to prevent age-related  diseases.

Our lab is interested in understanding the role of cellular heterogeneity on tissue function.In particular, we focus on the common molecular mechanisms between ageing and chronic liver diseases, and we develop novel methodologies to study the impact of age-related cellular heterogeneity in the development and progression of chronic diseases.

Studying complex biological processes at high resolution

Ageing is characterised by the progressive decline of physiological and cellular functions. However, ageing is a heterogeneous process between and within  organs, tissues and cells. 

Ageing and Chronic Diseases: common molecular signatures

The “Silver Tsunami”, is a metaphor used to describe global population ageing, including the alarming numbers and the overwhelming health and economic implications. The ageing population is more susceptible to growing environmental challenges - such as climate change, air pollution or newly emerging pathogens, as well as adverse drug reactions causing a much higher percentage of hospital admissions compared to younger individuals. Our current predictive tools to anticipate the impact of ageing at the cellular levels yet remains under development. Towards this larger goal, our research aims 1) to characterize the molecular mechanisms of ageing with cellular resolution; 2) to develop diagnostic-tools to study drug metabolism and toxicity in ageing and age-related liver pathologies, and 3) to model ageing in vitro using 3D- organoids to harmonize anti-ageing interventions and perform functional assays to understand the complex process of ageing. 

Research lines

  • Cellular heterogeneity and disease susceptibility
    We investigate how cellular heterogeneity affects tissue function and whether cell-to-cell variability increases disease susceptibility.
  • Accelerated ageing
    It has been shown that life style, dietary interventions and chronic diseases accelerate the ageing phenotype. We aim to dissect the molecular signatures that are associated with accelerated ageing under different conditions.
  • Ageing and epigenetics
    To further understand the precise molecular mechanisms leading to cellular heterogeneity, we investigate the upstream epigenetic landscape of individual cells using single-cell multiomic approaches.
  • Ageing "in vitro"
    On one hand, ageing in humans is difficult to study with many cofounding factors along their lifespan. On the other hand, model organisms do not fully recapitulate the phenotypes associated to human diseases. We aim to develop 3D-organoids that recapitulate molecular features of ageing to establish functional assays, and assess anti-ageing therapeutic interventions.

to employ single-cell genomic approaches (transcriptomics, epigenomics and metabolomics) to resolve how ageing affects individual cells, different tissues and impact the health of the whole organism.

to employ single-cell genomic approaches (transcriptomics, epigenomics and metabolomics) to resolve how ageing affects individual cells, different tissues and impact the health of the whole organism.

We value, promote, and respect diversity. We came from all over the World to study ageing and dissecting one cell at a time. Multicultural, international, and rich in personalities working together and enjoying the beautiful city.

We value, promote, and respect diversity. We came from all over the World to study ageing and dissecting one cell at a time. Multicultural, international, and rich in personalities working together and enjoying the beautiful city.

The whole greater than the sum of the parts. Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team. Experimentalists and computational scientists building highly efficient alliances to accelerate research discoveries. Sharing knowledge and expertise. Growing together.

The whole greater than the sum of the parts. Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team. Experimentalists and computational scientists building highly efficient alliances to accelerate research discoveries. Sharing knowledge and expertise. Growing together.

Publications

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2023 Scientific Article in Cell Reports

Gruber, T. ; Contreras, R. ; Sánchez Quant, E.S. ; Miok, V. ; Makris, K. ; Le Thuc, O. ; Gonzales García, I. ; Garcia-Clavé, E. ; Althammer, F. ; Krabichler, Q. ; DeCamp, L.M. ; Jones, R.G. ; Lutter, D. ; Williams, R.H. ; Pfluger, P.T. ; Müller, T.D. ; Woods, S.C. ; Pospisilik, J.A. ; Martinez-Jimenez, C.P. ; Tschöp, M.H. ; Grinevich, V. ; García-Cáceres, C.

High-calorie diets uncouple hypothalamic oxytocin neurons from a gut-to-brain satiation pathway via κ-opioid signaling.

2023 Scientific Article in Cell

Kolabas, Z.I. ; Kuemmerle, L. ; Perneczky, R. ; Förstera, B. ; Ulukaya, S. ; Ali, M. ; Kapoor, S. ; Bartos, L.M. ; Büttner, M. ; Caliskan, Ö.S. ; Rong, Z. ; Mai, H. ; Höher, L. ; Jeridi, D. ; Molbay, M. ; Khalin, I. ; Deligiannis, I.K. ; Negwer, M. ; Roberts, K. ; Simats, A. ; Carofiglio, O. ; Todorov, M.I. ; Horvath, I. ; Öztürk, F. ; Hummel, S. ; Biechele, G. ; Zatcepin, A. ; Unterrainer, M. ; Gnörich, J. ; Roodselaar, J. ; Shrouder, J. ; Khosravani, P. ; Tast, B. ; Richter, L. ; Díaz-Marugán, L. ; Kaltenecker, D. ; Lux, L. ; Chen, Y. ; Zhao, S. ; Rauchmann, B.S. ; Sterr, M. ; Kunze, I. ; Stanic Aguilera, K.N. ; Kan, V.W.Y. ; Besson-Girard, S. ; Katzdobler, S. ; Palleis, C. ; Schädler, J. ; Paetzold, J.C. ; Liebscher, S. ; Hauser, A.E. ; Gokce, O. ; Lickert, H. ; Steinke, H. ; Benakis, C. ; Braun, C. ; Martinez Jimenez, C.P. ; Buerger, K. ; Albert, N.L. ; Höglinger, G. ; Levin, J. ; Haass, C. ; Kopczak, A. ; Dichgans, M. ; Havla, J. ; Kümpfel, T. ; Kerschensteiner, M. ; Schifferer, M. ; Simons, M. ; Liesz, A. ; Krahmer, N. ; Bayraktar, O.A. ; Franzmeier, N. ; Plesnila, N. ; Erener, S. ; Puelles, V.G. ; Delbridge, C. ; Bhatia, H.S. ; Hellal, F. ; Elsner, M. ; Bechmann, I. ; Ondruschka, B. ; Brendel, M. ; Theis, F.J. ; Ertürk, A.

Distinct molecular profiles of skull bone marrow in health and neurological disorders.

2022 Scientific Article in Molecular Metabolism

Wolff, G. ; Sakurai, M. ; Mhamane, A. ; Troullinaki, M. ; Maida, A. ; Deligiannis, I.K. ; Yin, K. ; Weber, P. ; Morgenstern, J. ; Wieder, A. ; Kwon, Y. ; Sekar, R. ; Zeigerer, A. ; Roden, M. ; Blüher, M. ; Volk, N. ; Poth, T. ; Hackert, T. ; Wiedmann, L. ; De Angelis Rigotti, F. ; Rodriguez-Vita, J. ; Fischer, A. ; Mukthavaram, R. ; Limphong, P. ; Tachikawa, K. ; Karmali, P. ; Payne, J. ; Chivukula, P. ; Ekim Üstünel, B. ; Martinez Jimenez, C.P. ; Szendrödi, J. ; Nawroth, P.P. ; Herzig, S.

Hepatocyte-specific activity of TSC22D4 triggers progressive NAFLD by impairing mitochondrial function.

Contact
PioneerCampus

Martinez Jimenez freigestellt

Dr. Celia P. Martinez-Jimenez

PI "Molecular Ageing"