Esperanza González Jiménez
Esperanza González Jiménez
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Exosomes Lab
Address: Bizkaia Science and Technology Park, building 800, Derio (Bizkaia)

The discovery of cell-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) including EXOSOMES has provided a new cellular component with the ability to influence different biological and pathological processes. In the last years these vesicles has attracted the interest in clinical, pharmaceutical and manufacturing areas. All cellular systems in culture or forming part of a tissue in the body secrete EVs containing proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and metabolites into the environment. They have been shown to act as important mediators of intercellular communication and regulators of cellular niches, and their altered characteristics in many diseases suggest them to be helpful for the diagnostic purposes.

Since 2006, our group has been immersed in the study of exosomes, gaining extensive expertise in isolating and characterizing these vesicles from various biofluids and cell lines under both normal and pathological conditions.

Research line 1: Elucidating the functional role of exosomes in metabolism
The goal is to identify genes, proteins and metabolites that form part of the exosomes in normal and pathological conditions. The improvement in the knowledge of the cargo of these vesicles will provide also clues about the functional role and implications of them in biology. Technological advances in the past 20 years have permitted large-scale measurements of biochemical and cellular constituents for study as a unified whole, creating all the ‘-omics’ technologies including proteomics, genomics and more recently metabolomics. The group has already showed the presence in hepatic exosomes of an elevated number of metabolic enzymes involved in endogenous and xenobiotics compounds, and we are currently studying the implications of these vesicles in the metabolism of those compounds.

Research line 2: Developing diagnosis and therapeutics tools based on exosomes
Exosomes constitute a platform to identify low-invasive disease biomarkers. The group is currently comparing the composition of exosomes in different scenarios to generate a repertoire of differentially expressed molecules that could be candidate biomarker of disease. In addition, behind the idea to obtain a "magic bullet" – a desired activity encapsulated in a vehicle with a known specific target- the group is trying to define the cellular preferences displayed by exosomes. In this aspect the group is focused on identifying the molecular determinants that define the cellular specificity, and the molecular machinery involved in the biogenesis of exosomes. A better knowledge of the biology and the mechanisms of action of exosomes will help to manipulate these vesicles with therapeutics purposes.

Collaborations
Member of national (GEIVEX) and international (ISEV) societies for studying extracellular vesicles. Member of COST actions (SYSGENET, MEHAD, DILI-network, PlasTHER) and consortiums of European projects (proEVLifeCycle, EVCA, halt-RONIN, EV-Glio).

Latest Publications

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Welsh, JA; Goberdhan, DCI; ODriscoll, L; Buzas, EI; Blenkiron, C; Bussolati, B; Cai, HJ; Di Vizio, D; Driedonks, TAP; Erdbrügger, U; Falcon-Perez, JM; Fu, QL; Hill, AF; Lenassi, M; Lim, SK; ...

JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES

2024-02-01

Roadmap to DILI research in Europe. A proposal from COST action ProEuroDILINet

Lucena, MI; Villanueva-Paz, M; Alvarez-Alvarez, I; Aithal, GP; Björnsson, ES; Cakan-Akdogan, G; Cubero, FJ; Esteves, F; Falcon-Perez, JM; Fromenty, B; Garcia-Ruiz, C; Grove, JI; Konu, O; Kranendonk, ...

PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH

2024-01-06

Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles from Human Saliva: Effects of Age and Isolation Techniques

Reseco, L; Molina-Crespo, A; Atienza, M; Gonzalez, E; Falcon-Perez, JM; Cantero, JL; Neri, C;

CELLS

2024-01-01

Recommendations for reproducibility of cerebrospinal fluid extracellular vesicle studies

Sandau, US; Magana, SM; Costa, J; Nolan, JP; Ikezu, T; Vella, LJ; Jackson, HK; Moreira, LR; Palacio, PL; Hill, AF; Quinn, JF; Van Keuren-Jensen, KR; Mcfarland, TJ; Palade, J; Sribnick, EA; Su, ...

Journal of Extracellular Vesicles

2024-01-01

Small extracellular vesicle-based human melanocyte and melanoma signature

Agüera-Lorente, A; Alonso-Pardavila, A; Larrinaga, M; Boyano, MD; González, E; Falcón-Pérez, JM; Asumendi, A; Apraiz, A;

PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH

2023-12-29

MIBlood-EV: Minimal information to enhance the quality and reproducibility of blood extracellular vesicle research

Lucien, F; Gustafson, D; Lenassi, M; Li, B; Teske, JJ; Boilard, E; von Hohenberg, KC; Falcon-Perez, JM; Gualerzi, A; Reale, A; Jones, JC; Laesser, C; Lawson, C; Nazarenko, I; ODriscoll, L; Pink, ...

JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES

2023-12-01

The Role of Longevity Assurance Homolog 2/Ceramide Synthase 2 in Bladder Cancer

Garcia-Vallicrosa, C; Falcon-Perez, JM; Royo, F;

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES

2023-11-01

The outcome of boosting mitochondrial activity in alcohol-associated liver disease is organ-dependent

Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Bravo, M; Egia-Mendikute, L; Abecia, L; Serrano-Maciá, M; Urdinguio, RG; Clos-García, M; Rodríguez-Agudo, R; Araujo-Legido, R; López-Bermudo, L; Delgado, TC; Lachiondo-Ortega, ...

HEPATOLOGY

2023-09-01

Potential use of heat shock protein 90 as a biomarker for the diagnosis of human diseases

Rivas-Macho, A; Romeo, MV; Rackles, E; Olabarria, G; Falcon-Perez, JM; Berganza-Granda, J; Cortajarena, AL; Goni-de-Cerio, F;

EXPERT REVIEW OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS

2023-08-20

Hepatic levels of S-adenosylmethionine regulate the adaptive response to fasting

Capelo-Diz, A; Lachiondo-Ortega, S; Fernández-Ramos, D; Cañas-Martín, J; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Serrano-Maciá, M; González-Rellan, MJ; Mosca, L; Blazquez-Vicens, J; Tinahones-Ruano, A; Fondevila, ...

CELL METABOLISM

2023-08-08

Orally Administered Bifidobacterium adolescentis Diminishes Serum Glutamate Concentration in Mice

Royo, F; Tames, H; Bordanaba-Florit, G; Cabrera, D; Azparren-Angulo, M; Garcia-Vallicrosa, C; Margolles, A; Ruiz, L; Ruas-Madiedo, P; Falcon-Perez, JM;

MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM

2023-06-22

Liquid biopsy-based protein biomarkers for risk prediction, early diagnosis, and prognostication of cholangiocarcinoma

Lapitz, A; Azkargorta, M; Milkiewicz, P; Olaizola, P; Zhuravleva, E; Grimsrud, MM; Schramm, C; Arbelaiz, A; ORourke, CJ; La Casta, A; Milkiewicz, M; Pastor, T; Vesterhus, M; Jimenez-Agüero, ...

JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY

2023-06-15

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex cell-derived EVs have an altered protein cargo capable of regulating their microenvironment and have potential as disease biomarkers

Bhaoighill, MN; Falcón-Pérez, JM; Royo, F; Tee, AR; Webber, JP; Dunlop, EA;

JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES

2023-06-01

Dual-Wave Acoustofluidic Centrifuge for Ultrafast Concentration of Nanoparticles and Extracellular Vesicles

Dumcius, P; Mikhaylov, R; Zhang, XY; Bareford, M; Stringer, M; Errington, R; Sun, C; Gonzalez, E; Krukovski, T; Falcon-Perez, JM; Liang, DF; Fu, YQ; Clayton, A; Yang, X;

SMALL

2023-04-28

A Novel Approach on the Use of Samples from Faecal Occult Blood Screening Kits for Metabolomics Analysis: Application in Colorectal Cancer Population

Albóniga, OE; Cubiella, J; Bujanda, L; Blanco, ME; Lanza, BR; Alonso, C; Nafría, B; Falcón-Péerez, JM;

METABOLITES

2023-03-01

ISG15 Is a Novel Regulator of Lipid Metabolism during Vaccinia Virus Infection

Albert, M; Vázquez, J; Falcón-Pérez, JM; Balboa, MA; Liesa, M; Balsinde, J; Guerra, S;

MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM

2022-12-21

ISG15 Is a Novel Regulator of Lipid Metabolism during Vaccinia Virus Infection

Albert, M; Vázquez, J; Falcón-Pérez, JM; Balboa, MA; Liesa, M; Balsinde, J; Guerra, S;

MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM

2022-12-01

Extracellular vesicles as source for the identification of minimally invasive molecular signatures in glioblastoma

Rackles, E; Lopez, PH; Falcon-Perez, JM;

SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY

2022-11-19

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: From simple steatosis toward liver cirrhosis and potential complications. Proceedings of the Third Translational Hepatology Meeting, organized by the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH)

Gallego-Duran, R; Albillos, A; Ampuero, J; Arechederra, M; Banares, R; Blas-Garcia, A; Berna, G; Caparros, E; Delgado, TC; Falcon-Perez, JM; Frances, R; Fernandez-Barrena, MG; Graupera, I; Iruzubieta, ...

GASTROENTEROLOGIA Y HEPATOLOGIA

2022-11-02

miR-200c-3p, miR-222-5p, and miR-512-3p Constitute a Biomarker Signature of Sorafenib Effectiveness in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

de la Cruz-Ojeda, P; Schmid, T; Boix, L; Moreno, M; Sapena, V; Praena-Fernández, JM; Castell, FJ; Falcón-Pérez, JM; Reig, M; Brüne, B; Gómez-Bravo, MA; Giráldez, A; Bruix, J; Ferrer, MT; Muntané, ...

CELLS

2022-09-01