Ciencias Exactas y Ciencias de la Salud
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11285/551039
Pertenecen a esta colección Tesis y Trabajos de grado de las Maestrías correspondientes a las Escuelas de Ingeniería y Ciencias así como a Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud.
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- Consequences of obesity on one-carbon metabolism across different study models: in silico transcriptomic analyses(Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, 2025-06-26) Cantú Ruiz, Jesús Daniel; Díaz de la Garza, Rocío Isabel; emipsanchez; Treviño Alvarado, Víctor Manuel; García Ramírez, Noemí; Guéant Rodríguez, Rosa María; School of Engineering and Sciences; Campus Monterrey; Castaño Moreno, Erika YanethObesity is a complex, multifactorial disorder marked by profound disruptions in energy homeostasis and nutrient handling. One-carbon metabolism (1-CM) – the network that fuels cellular methylation and nucleotide biosynthesis – is particularly vulnerable in obesity; individuals with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m² consistently exhibit reduced circulating levels of key 1-CM micronutrients, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, 1‑CM gene expression was characterized across three complementary models: (i) adipose and skeletal muscle samples from post‑mortem donors in the GTEx cohort; (ii) white and brown adipose tissue from mice subjected to a high‑fat diet; and (iii) primary adipocytes isolated from human and mouse specimens. A comprehensive list of 1–CM–related genes, curated through UniProt annotation and a targeted literature review, was overlaid onto differential expression results obtained using both the limma and DESeq2 pipelines. Genes with an adjusted p-value < 0.05 were deemed significant. In the GTEx study of 42 tissues analyzed, subcutaneous, visceral adipose, and skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius) tissues were significantly compromised. In these three tissues, a downregulation of folate cycle genes (MTHFD1/2, SHMT2, ALDH1L1) and vitamin B12-processing enzymes (MMACHC, MTRR) was observed. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues showed reduced expression of FOLR1, SLC25A32, and purine biosynthesis genes (GART, ATIC). Skeletal muscle exhibited partial compensatory upregulation (DHFR, ALDH1L1). In the animal model, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed the upregulation of de novo purine synthesis genes (Atic and Gart), DNA methylation (Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, and Dnmt1), and folate uptake (Folr1 and Folr2). Folate species interconversion genes, including Mthfr and Aldh1l1, were downregulated. In primary human adipocytes, 41 1-CM genes were differentially expressed (28 upregulated, 13 downregulated; log₂FC range: –4.33 to +4.15). GLDC (–4.33), MTHFD2 (–3.20), MTHFD1L (–1.65), and DNMT1 (–2.90) were markedly suppressed. Conversely, SARDH (+4.10), LRP2 (+4.15), and SHMT1, as well as BHMT2 and ALDH1L1, were upregulated. Folate and B12 transporters (TCN2, SLC19A1, FOLR2) were also elevated.
- Digital PCR analysis of ALS plasma miRNA biomarkers: towards analytical consistency and pathogenic relevance(Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, 2025-06-10) Muñoz Arteaga, José Antonio; Díaz Durán, Raquel Cuevas; emipsanchez; Paul, Sujay; Pérez Martínez, Leonor; Fajardo Ramírez, Oscar Raúl; Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud; Campus MonterreyAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease marked by motor neuron degeneration without properly standardized molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis or disease monitoring. Diagnosis remains primarily clinical, often involving lengthy exclusion processes and significant delays, highlighting the need for minimally invasive, accessible, and disease-specific molecular tools. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarker candidates due to their stability in plasma/serum and roles in gene regulation. This study aimed to quantify the expression of selected ALS-associated plasma miRNAs using digital PCR (dPCR) and compare them against those in healthy controls to validate their efficacy as early ALS biomarkers. Plasma samples were collected from eight ALS patients and four age-and-sex-matched healthy controls. Four candidate target miRNAs (hsa-miR-93-5p, hsa-miR-181a-5p, hsa-miR-206, hsa-miR-7111-3p) and one endogenous control (hsa-miR-191-5p) were selected via systematic review. Total miRNA concentration did not significantly differ between ALS patients and controls, suggesting global miRNA levels are not altered in ALS. Hsa-miR-206 was consistently upregulated across all analysis strategies, supporting its role as a robust biomarker. Hsa-miR-93-5p also showed significant differential expression, though results were dependent on normalization approach. Correlation analysis with ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) scores revealed moderate but non-significant trends for both miRNAs. Target prediction analysis linked both miRNAs to ALS-associated genes, suggesting potential involvement in disease pathways. The study concludes that miR-206 is a promising candidate for clinical translation as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. It also emphasizes the importance of methodological standardization in miRNA research to ensure reproducibility and clinical applicability. Further validation in larger cohorts is necessary to confirm these findings.
- The effect of thymoquinone on key onco- and tumor suppressor miRNAs in HCT-15 colorectal cancer cell line(Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, 2023-07-27) Estrada Meza, Carolina; Paul, Sujay; dnbsrp; Arvizu-Espinosa, María Goretti; Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias (EIC); Campus Monterrey; Sharma, AshutoshCancer still a major global health concern and stands as one of the most fatal diseases in modern times, causing a considerable number of deaths each year. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most prevalent and deadly types of cancer in the world. Conventional cancer therapies often come with limitations, including high costs, limited accessibility, and severe side effects. Therefore, exploring alternative treatment approaches is crucial. Phytochemicals, naturally occurring bioactive compounds in plants, have shown promise in reducing the risk of various cancers and may serve as valuable additions to cancer prevention and treatment strategies. This study focused on the potential of thymoquinone (TQ), a compound found in Nigella sativa, as an antiproliferative agent in colon cancer cells. The study investigated the effect of TQ on microRNA (miRNA) expression, which plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and is implicated in cancer. The antiproliferative activity of TQ was evaluated in HCT-15 colon cancer cells, and the expression pattern of key onco- and tumor suppressor miRNAs such as miR-34a-5p, let-7, miR-200a-5p, and miR-21-5p, as well as common target genes such as PTEN and BCL2 which are commonly dysregulated in cancer, were analyzed. The results highlighted the significant downregulation of miR-21-5p expression in TQ-treated cells, suggesting the potential of TQ to modulate this oncogenic miRNA. Additionally, a time-dependent inhibitory response to miR-21-5p was observed with TQ treatment. These findings support TQ's ability to prevent colon cancer cells from proliferating and its potential for modulating key miRNAs involved in cancer progression. Targeting miRNAs may hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for colon cancer. To better understand the underlying mechanisms and investigate TQ's potential as a therapy option for colon cancer, more study is required. This study represents the first investigation of TQ's effect on the expression profile of miRNAs in colon cancer cells.