The Liver Disease Lab's research primarily focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying liver diseases, with a special emphasis on the role of methionine metabolism and post-translational modifications in liver function and pathology.
The general research objective is to elucidate the biochemical and genetic pathways that contribute to liver disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. By studying these mechanisms, the group aims to develop targeted therapies and diagnostic tools that can effectively prevent, manage, or treat these liver conditions. Their work integrates basic biochemical research with translational studies to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and clinical applications, ultimately improving patient outcomes in liver diseases.
The Liver Disease Lab has established four innovative research domains, including two previously unexplored areas. These advancements have markedly enhanced our understanding of liver metabolism, physiology, and disease.
Research line 1: Post-translational modifications
Particularly NEDDylation and SUMOylation, exploring how these modifications regulate metabolic pathways in liver disease, resulting in significant publications and the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Research line 2: Mitochondrial activity
Investigating the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in liver disease, which affects cell energy metabolism and has implications for conditions like NAFLD and liver cancer.
Research line 3: Glutamine metabolism
Focusing on how glutamine metabolism and ammonium production impact liver disease progression from NAFLD to hepatocellular carcinoma.
Research line 4: Metallomics
Studying the metabolism of elements like magnesium and ammonium, identifying their roles in liver function and disease, leading to innovative therapeutic approaches.
The laboratory has developed new biological tools, preclinical animal models, and therapeutic strategies, resulting in patented innovations and robust translational research aimed at clinical application.
Collaborations
Dr. Martinez-Chantar's lab collaborated with international companies, including JD Biosciences, SILENCE Therapeutics, and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, on liver disorder treatments, and initiated partnerships with Tekniker and Gaiker for the development of low-cost point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, as well as with Histocell for cell therapy in liver disease. She boasts an extensive network of collaborators both nationally and internationally, see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=martinez-chantar&size=200
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Group Leader
Malu Martínez-Chantar
Associate Principal Investigator -
Alfonso Martínez de la Cruz
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER -
Naroa Goikoetxea
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Claudia Rejano Gordillo
Juan de la Cierva Fellow -
Giselle Adriana Abruzzese
MSCA-PF -
Amaia Navarro Corcuera
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Carolina Conter
TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Begoña Rodríguez Iruretagoyena
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Arantza Sanz Parra
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Leidy Estefanía Zapata Pavas
AECC Predoctoral Fellow -
Nerea Ferreiro Garcia
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Jon Ander Barrenechea Barrenechea
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Patricia Peña San Felix
Members
Latest Publications
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease alters brain function and behavior: Insights from liver-targeted siRNA therapy
Delgado, TC; Martín-Cuevas, C; Hidalgo, ACS; Gómez, AG; Gordillo, CMR; Landa, J; Durán, RG; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; González-Recio, I; Gil-Pitarch, C; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Barrenechea-Barrenechea, ...
SCIENCE ADVANCES
2025-10-22
Role of CNNM4 in the progression of cholangiocarcinoma: implications for ferroptosis and therapeutic potential
Mercado-Gómez , M; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Giné, AE; Rodrigo, MAM; Afonso, MB; Azkargorta, M; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Rejano-Gordillo, CM; Romero, MR; Mendizabal, I; Rodrigues, PM; Wu, HH; Rodríguez-Agudo, ...
GUT
2025-08-05
Minor players, major signals: Unveiling the systemic and gut-localized impact of microbial amidated bile acids in hepatopancreatobiliary disease
Abruzzese, GA; Martínez-Chantar, ML;
HEPATOLOGY
2025-07-21
NEDDylation Regulates CD8+ T-cell Metabolism and Antitumor Immunity
Jiménez-Lasheras, B; Velasco-Beltrán, P; Egia-Mendikute, L; Pérez-Gutiérrez, L; Lee, SY; de Blas, A; García-del Río, A; Zanetti, SR; Antoñana-Vildosola, A; Barreira-Manrique, A; Bosch, A; de ...
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
2025-07-02
Histone serotonylation in HCC: Decoding the impact of "happy" histones on liver cancer progression
Navarro-Corcuera, A; Martínez-Chantar, ML;
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2025-07-01
The disease-linked R336C mutation in cystathionine β-synthase disrupts communication with the PLP cofactor yet maintains the enzyme's overall structural integrity
Conter, C; Nuñez-Franco, R; Al-Sadeq, DW; Fernandez-Rodriguez, C; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Nasrallah, GK; Nomikos, M; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Astegno, A; Jimenez-Oses, G; Martinez-Cruz, LA;
FEBS OPEN BIO
2025-07-01
Myeloid HIF-2a deficiency drives neutrophil hyperactivation and renal fibrosis development
Barrenechea-Barrenechea, JA; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Izquierdo-Lahuerta, A; Velasco-Beltrán, P; Egia-Mendikute, L; Zapata-Pavas, LE; A-Sanfélix, PP; González-Recio, I; Martín-Ruiz, I; Ariño, ...
FEBS OPEN BIO
2025-07-01
Enhanced glutaminolysis promotes hepatic iron accumulation and aging through lysosomal dysfunction
Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Rejano-Gordillo, CM; Gil-Pitarch, C; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Conter, C; Bravo, M; Martínez-Perez, A; Peña-SanFélix, P; Martínez-López, N; Simón, J; Guerra, P; González-Recio, ...
FEBS OPEN BIO
2025-07-01
Identification of a novel fold in the H2S-producing cystathionine beta-synthase enzyme from multidrug-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Martinez-Cruz, LA; Conter, C; Núñez, R; Fernández-Rodríguez, C; Mase, N; Pedretti, M; Majtan, T; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Jimènez-Osès, G; Astegno, A; Martinez-Cruz, LA;
FEBS OPEN BIO
2025-07-01
Protocol for pull-down capture of ubiquitinated and NEDDylated liver proteins from transgenic biotinylated ubiquitin and NEDD8 mice
Zapata-Pavas, LE; Delgado, TC; Martínez-Chantar, ML;
STAR PROTOCOLS
2025-06-30
The disease-linked R336C mutation in cystathionine β-synthase disrupts communication with the PLP cofactor, yet maintains the enzyme's overall structural integrity
Conter, C; Núñez-Franco, R; Al-Sadeq, DW; Fernández-Rodríguez, C; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Nasrallah, GK; Nomikos, M; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Astegno, A; Jiménez-Osés, G; Martínez-Cruz, LA;
FEBS JOURNAL
2025-05-06
Relevance of transportome among the mechanisms of chemoresistance in hepatoblastoma
Cives-Losada, C; Asensio, M; Briz, O; Chinchilla-Tábora, LM; Barranco, MM; del Río-Alvarez, A; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Avila, MA; Cairo, S; Armengol, C; Marin, JJG; Macias, RIR;
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
2025-04-10
Targeting protein hyperSUMOylation halts cholangiocarcinoma progression by impairing cancer cell viability and tumor-stroma crosstalk
Olaizola, P; Olaizola, I; de Ara, MF; Lapitz, A; Val, B; Izquierdo-Sanchez, L; Fernandez-Barrena, MG; Alvarez, L; ORourke, CJ; Lee-Law, PY; Davies, K; Gradinaru, A; Jimenez-Agüero, R; La Casta, ...
HEPATOLOGY
2025-02-11
Trajectory analysis of hepatic stellate cell differentiation reveals metabolic regulation of cell commitment and fibrosis
de la Torre, RAMG; Vallverdú, J; Xu, ZQ; Ariño, S; Ferrer-Lorente, R; Zanatto, L; Mercado-Gómez, M; Aguilar-Bravo, B; Ruiz-Blázquez, P; Fernandez, MF; Navarro-Gascon, A; Blasco-Roset, A; Sànchez-Fernàndez-de-Landa, ...
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
2025-02-10
Loss of Cdkn1a protects against MASLD alone or with alcohol intake by preserving lipid homeostasis
Lamas-Paz, A; Hionides-Gutierrez, A; Guo, FF; Jorquera, G; Moran-Blanco, L; Benede-Ubieto, R; Mesquita, M; Estevez-Vazquez, O; Zheng, K; Mazariegos, M; Vazquez-Ogando, E; Blazquez-Lopez, E; ...
JHEP REPORTS
2025-01-01
Identification of PRMT5 as a therapeutic target in cholangiocarcinoma
Elurbide, J; Colyn, L; Latasa, MU; Uriarte, I; Mariani, S; Lopez-Pascual, A; Valbuena, E; Castello-Uribe, B; Arnes-Benito, R; Adan-Villaescusa, E; Martinez-Perez, LA; Azkargorta, M; Elortza, ...
GUT
2025-01-01
Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein enhances MASLD progression via the ERK/TNFα/NFκβ pathway
Novoa, E; Lima, ND; Gonzalez-Rellan, MJ; Chantada-Vazquez, MDP; Verheij, J; Rodriguez, A; Esquinas-Roman, EM; Fondevila, MF; Koning, M; Fernandez, U; Cabaleiro, A; Parracho, T; Iglesias-Moure, ...
HEPATOLOGY
2024-05-16
Proceedings of the 5th Meeting of Translational Hepatology, organized by the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver (AEEH)
Alvarado-Tapias, E; Maya-Miles, D; Albillos, A; Aller, R; Ampuero, J; Andrade, RJ; Arechederra, M; Aspichueta, P; Banales, JM; Blas-Garcia, A; Caparros, E; Delgado, TC; Carrillo-Vico, A; Claria, ...
GASTROENTEROLOGIA Y HEPATOLOGIA
2024-12-01
Modulatory effects of CNNM4 on protein-l-isoaspartyl-O-methyltransferase repair function during alcohol-induced hepatic damage
González-Recio, I; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Rejano-Gordillo, CM; Conter, C; Agudo, RR; Serrano-Maciá, M; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Pena-Sanfelix, P; Azkargorta, M; Elortza, F; Herranz, JM; Thiery, ...
HEPATOLOGY
2024-11-19
Novel Emerging Mechanisms in Acetaminophen (APAP) Hepatotoxicity
Hionides-Gutierrez, A; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Sanz-Garcia, C; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Cubero, FJ;
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
2024-11-15