
Workshop
Redox Biology in Health and Disease
Barcelona, June 27-28th, 2024
Organizers: Victoria Campuzano, Gustavo Egea, Isabel Fabregat

A personal note
About the Workshop “REDOX BIOLOGY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE”, Barcelona, June 27 and 28, 2024
The organizing committee (Isabel Fabregat, Victoria Campuzano and Gustavo Egea) was at the same time excited, on the one hand, and nervous on the other one, about the organization and progress of this first Workshop that had the simple objective of gathering mainly leading scientists from Spain with the limited presence of some others from some European countries and the USA (as you can imagine due to budget limitations). The initiative was very well accepted and at the end the final result was that everyone left the Meeting very happy and satisfied with the scientific content and eager to repeat the experience. At the request of Isabel Fabregat, I present below a very personal summary of the highlights of the workshop. I apologize in advance to the colleagues mentioned if there are any errors or inconsistencies with respect to their talks.
The meeting was divided in 3 big blocks. In the first block entitled Role of mitochondria in the regulation of redox biology, Antonio Enriquez (Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research, CNIC, Madrid) gave us a master class about the mitochondria (its basic structure and function) as the movie star of redox world. He talked about important protagonists and secondary actors such as the machinery involved in the formation of ROS molecules and antioxidant action. He then talked about the electrochemical impact of mitochondria in health and disease, specifically in optic neuropathy. He also talked about proton pumping, membrane potential, ROS-mediated signaling and its impact on metabolism. Next, Antonio Zorzano and Isabel Hernández-Álvarez, (both from the University of Barcelona) talked about mitochondrial dynamics. In particular the mechanisms of mitochondrial fusion-fission and its impact on glutamine metabolism and glycolysis in pathological processes such as cancer and certain myopathies, as well as in physical exercise and the importance of mitochondria-lipid droplet interaction. Juan Carlos Fernández-Checa (IDIBAPS, Barcelona) talked about cholesterol metabolism and its abnormal intracellular accumulation (lipotoxicity) in liver fibrosis and inflammatory processes highlighting the role of cytochrome P450 (CYPs) and StAR-related lipid transfer domain (STARD; StAR is the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein). Juan Pedro Bolaños (University of Salamanca) highlighted the interdependent neuron-astrocyte metabolism and in turn associated with cognitive functions. He showed the impact of having separate glycolytic metabolism between both cell types, specifically the crucial dependence of neurons on astrocyte glycolytic metabolism. Victor Thannnickal (Tulane University, New Orleans, USA) gave the opening lecture on the evolutionary process that led to the oxygen and redox system, and its impact on cell regeneration, particularly in the pulmonary system. He discussed the age-associated fibrosis process and the involvement of the NADPH oxidase Nox4 and of Nrf2. Using lung organoids, he demonstrated the importance of the accompanying fibroblasts of the alveolar wall on the correct functionality of the respiratory endothelial cells (pneumocytes). He also made us think about the apparent dichotomy between age and health (what is the price to pay for living longer?).
After the excellent lunch, we went to the second and third major blocks of the program entitled Redox Biology in Pathology and as a Therapeutic target. Gemma Marfany (University of Barcelona) talks about the discovery of the CERKL gene involved in retinitis pigmentosa. Mutations in this gene cause the death of photoreceptors. It seems that the CERKL protein (ceramide kinase-like protein) is an oxidative stress sensor, involved in the metabolism of the intrinsic cellular anti-stress machinery (glutathione) and the appearance of mRNA stress granules. Joaquim Ros (University of Lleida) showed results of the involvement of another gene (FXN) in Friedreich’s ataxia. The Fxd protein is clearly related to several dysfunctions of the redox system but it is not known which one is the most determinant. Next, we enter the block of cardiovascular pathologies. Susana Cadenas (Cnetro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, UAM-CSIC, Madrid) spoke about the role of UCP3, a member of the family of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins and not related to the thermoregulatory mechanisms of other members of the same family) as a cardioprotector (attenuator of ROS formation) during the damage caused in the ischemia-reperfusion process after a heart attack or stroke. Vivian de Waard (Amsterdam University Medical center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) spoke about aortopathies of genetic origin and the involvement of oxidative stress associated with both mitochondria and NOXes. He emphasized the role of iNOS, the hypothesis of a premature aging in Marfan syndrome and the calcification of elastic fibers. Finally, he introduced resveratrol as a therapeutic agent in patients with this disease. María Galán (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos I, Madrid) presented her studies on the relationship between oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER-stress) in the progression of abdominal aneurysm (AAA) as well as the changes in the expression of certain NADPH oxidases (NOX4 and NOX2) that occur just the opposite than in thoracic aneurysms (TAA). He also introduced the use of tetrapeptide SS-31 (Bendavia) as a therapeutic agent in Marfan syndrome. Closely related to the pathology and its therapeutics, Ulla Knaus (University College Dublin, Dublin), in the closing lecture of the Workshop, presented her studies on the impact of NADPH oxidases in digestive infectious-inflammatory pathology. He showed ROS fluctuations as a function of inflammation vs. infection, highlighting the role of the microbiome. He showed a clear association between certain members of the NADPH oxidase family (NOX1, 2 and 4, and DUOX2) and certain Inflammatory Bowel diseases (IBOs) such as inflammatory colitis. Finally, the redox machinery was also discussed in detail. In this respect, Juan Sastre (University of Valencia) detailed the impact of cysteine metabolism through TRP14 (thioredoxin related protein 14) and its consequent chemical modifications with gain or loss of enzymatic function. Susan ME Smith (Kennesaw State University, Georgia) discussed the molecular structures of NOXes and the importance of understanding their structure to find drugs that can specifically inhibit them. He focused on a yeast NOX as a reference model for human ones. Finally, Miklós Geiszt (Semmelweis Univesrity, Budapest) shed light on the unknown world of NOX5. He presented results on its intracellular localization and its potential protective role against atherosclerosis.
In sum, it was a meeting worth repeating. The organizing committee is working on it for the year 2026. Let’s see if we get it!
Total: 150 participants


Thrusday 27th
08:30 – 09:00 Registration
09:00 – 09:30 Welcome
09:30 – 11:00 SESSION 1: ROLE OF MITOCHONDRIA IN THE REGULATION OF REDOX BIOLOGY-I. Chaired by: Joaquim Ros, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain.
- Antonio Enríquez, Spanish National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) and CIBERFES, Madrid, Spain. “Redox communication through mitochondria”.
- Antonio Zorzano, University of Barcelona and Institute for Research in Biomedicine and CIBEREDEM, Barcelona, Spain. “Mitochondrial fusion proteins and their role in cell homeostasis”.
- Jose-Carlos Fernández-Checa, IDIBAPS, Barcelona Clinic Hospital and CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain.“Mitochondrial cholesterol trafficking in metabolic-associated steatohepatitis and liver cancer”.
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30 SESSION 2: ROLE OF MITOCHONDRIA IN THE REGULATION OF REDOX BIOLOGY-II. Chaired by: Elena Hidalgo, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
- M. Isabel Hernández-Álvarez, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. “Mitochondrial fusion proteins and organelle connections in metabolism”.
- Juan Pedro Bolaños, University of Salamanca and CIBERFES, Salamanca, Spain. “Astrocyte metabolism: energy or signaling?”.
12:30 – 13:30 OPENING KEYNOTE LECTURE. Chaired by: Gustavo Egea, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Victor Thannickal, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, USA). “From Oxygen to Redox Biology and Organ Regeneration”
13:30 – 15:00 Lunch
15:00 – 16:30 SESSION 3: REDOX BIOLOGY IN INFLAMMATION AND NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES. Chaired by: Teresa Carbonell, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Gemma Marfany, University of Barcelona and CIBERER, Barcelona, Spain. “Bringing light to darkness: CERKL, a retinal resilience gene against oxidative stress”.
- Joaquim Ros, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain “Alterations of mitochondrial function in Friedreich’s Ataxia”.
- Juan Sastre, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. President of the SFRR-Europe. “TRP14 regulates intracellular cystine reduction and protein cysteinylation”.
Friday 28th
08:30 – 09:00 Registration
09:30 – 11:00 SESSION 4: REDOX SIGNALLING IN CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOLOGIES. Chaired by: Victoria Campuzano, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Susana Cadenas, Center of Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa – CBMSO (CSIC/UAM), Madrid, Spain. “Redox signaling and cardioprotection in ischemia-reperfusion injury”.
- Vivian de Waard, Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: “Resveratrol as antioxidant therapy in aortic disease in Marfan syndrome”.
- María Galán, University Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Madrid, Spain. “Targeting mitochondrial stress to limit aortic dilation in murine models of aneurysm”.
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30 SESSION 5: NEW INSIGTHS ABOUT NADPH OXIDASES AS THERAPEUTIC TARGETS IN HUMAN DISEASES. Chaired by: Juan Sastre. University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. President of the SFRR-Europe.
- Susan M.E. Smith, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA. “Comparison of NOX structures suggests potential new druggable site(s)”.
- Miklós Geiszt, Semmelweis University, Medical School, Budapest, Hungary. “Lessons from the rabbit model of NOX5 deficiency”.
12:30 – 13:30 CLOSING KEYNOTE LECTURE. Chaired by: Isabel Fabregat, IDIBELL and CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain.
- Ulla Knaus, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. “NADPH oxidase: culprit and protector in the intestine”.
13:30 – 14:00 CONCLUDING REMARKS.