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
RESEARCH ASSISTANT -
Irene González Recio
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER -
Carolina Conter
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Giselle Adriana Abruzzese
MSCA-PF TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Begoña Rodríguez Iruretagoyena
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Leidy Estefanía Zapata Pavas
AECC Predoctoral Fellow -
Carlos Díaz Cuevas
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Nerea Ferreiro Garcia
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Arantza Sanz Parra
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Eleonora Davoli
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Jon Ander Barrenechea Barrenechea
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Patricia Peña San Felix
Members
Latest Publications
Hepatic HuR modulates glucose metabolism through the C/EBPβ/PCK1 pathway
Lachiondo-Ortega, S; González-Recio, I; Bravo, M; Gonzalez-Rellan, MJ; Sanz-Parra, A; Porteiro, B; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Rejano-Gordillo, CM; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Peña-Sanfélix, P; Conter, ...
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
2026-05-26
When the clock breaks: H2S as a link between night shift work and metabolic health
Conter, C; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Zhou, R; Abruzzese, G; González-Recio, I; Ferreiro, N; Davoli, E; Peña-Sanfélix, P; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Azkargorta, M; Elortza, F; Moreno-Torres, M; Jover, ...
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Hepatic CNNM1 mediates metabolic and epigenetic adaptation to inverted feeding in night-shift worker models
Conter, C; Abruzzese, G; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; González-Recio, I; Davoli, E; Pietrafesa, D; Perbellini, E; Navarro-Corcuera, A; Consuegra, JG; Ferreiro, N; Rejano-Gordillo, CM; Peña-Sanfélix, ...
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Role of CNNM1 in magnesium homeostasis and hepatocellular dysfunction during aging
Peña-Sanfélix, P; Zapata-Pavas, LE; González-Recio, I; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Martínez-Chantar, ML; Martinez-Cruz, LA; Luque, RM; Gil-Duque, I;
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 inhibition in hepatic stellate cells drives their activation and enhances liver fibrosis
Parracho, T; Dorta, V; Fondevila, M; Iglesias-Moure, J; Roibello, C; Martínez-Martínez, S; Novoa, E; Ramos-Lage, L; Rellan, MJG; Porteiro, B; Senra, A; Cabaleiro, A; Lanza-Arnaiz, JM; Buque, ...
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Liver-specific CNNM4 silencing alleviates fibrosis by restoring bile acids homeostasis in cholestatic preclinical models and human liver slices
Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Asensio, M; González-Recio, I; Simon, J; Serrano-Maciá, M; Romero, M; de Blas, BS; Andres-Rozas, M; Martínez-Alcocer, A; Schaeper, U; Milkiewicz, M; Milkiewicz, P; ...
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Resmetirom ameliorates fibrogenesis in hepatic stellate cells via thyroid hormone receptor alpha-fatty-acid-amide hydrolase 1 signalling pathway
Cabaleiro, A; Novoa, E; López-Picallo, B; Lima, N; Roibello, C; Pena, C; Iglesias-Moure, J; Senra, A; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Fernández-Iglesias, A; Gracia-Sancho, J; Bravo, S; Dieguez, C; Varela-Rey, ...
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Surfaceome mapping of human hepatocytes uncovers proteome dynamics in steatotic hepatocytes
Delgado, MF; Gracianteparaluceta, LLU; Suárez, MU; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Montero, JD; Delgado, TC;
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Nutritional distress-dependent regulation of cyclin M1 modulates insulin sensitivity via an FGF21-mediated mechanism
Barrenechea-Barrenechea, JA; González-Recio, I; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Lachiondo-Ortega, S; Delgado, TC; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Ferreiro, N; Rejano-Gordillo, CM; Peña-Sanfélix, P; Martin, CA; ...
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Estrogen deficiency-induced hepatic steatosis confers protection against drug-induced liver injury via NRF2 activation: implications for postmenopausal liver health
Consuegra, JG; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Aparisi, AS; Martin, AG; González-Recio, I; Navarro-Corcuera, A; Andrade, RJ; Lucena, MI; Grumati, P; Dear, JW; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Cogliati, S;
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
CAND1 as a novel therapeutic target in pediatric hepatoblastoma: linking NEDDylation to tumor progression
Zapata-Pavas, LE; Davoli, E; Asensio, M; Peña-Sanfélix, P; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; González-Recio, I; Conter, C; Murti, A; Lelou, E; del Rio-Alvarez, A; Sancho-Bru, P; Xirodimas, D; Wang, ...
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Hepatocyte-specific CNNM4 silencing alleviates liver injury in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Ferreiro, N; Consuegra, JG; Conter, C; Navarro-Corcuera, A; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Mercado, M; Barrenechea-Barrenechea, JA; Khodayari, N; Oshins, R; Brantly, M; Strnad, P; González-Recio, I; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, ...
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
2026-05-01
Pharmacological strategies to enhance the response of hepatoblastoma to chemotherapy through MDR1 inhibition
Cives-Losada, C; Macias, RIR; Lozano, E; Zanatto, L; Sancho-Bru, P; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Avila, MA; Armengol, C; Cairo, S; Marin, JJG; Briz, O;
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
2026-04-23
Inhibition of the SerpinB3/protease-activated receptor 2 axis reduces liver cancer development and affects lipid metabolism
Guerra, P; Villano, G; Rejano-Gordillo, CM; Gil-Pitarch, C; Ruvoletto, M; Biasiolo, A; Quarta, S; Zapata-Pavas, LE; Peña-SanFelix, P; González-Recio, I; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Barrenechea-Barrenechea, ...
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
2026-04-22
Lack of PCK1 in hepatic stellate cells causes liver fibrosis by fueling tricarboxylic acid cycle and increasing glycolysis
Novoa, E; Parracho, T; Inderhees, J; Rodriguez, A; Riobello, C; Iglesias-Moure, J; Fernández-Iglesias, A; Martinez-Martinez, S; Senra, A; Seoane, S; Fondevila, M; Iglesias, C; Cabaleiro, A; ...
CELL METABOLISM
2026-04-07
Lipidomics uncovers metabolic manifestations related to liver steatosis and low-grade systemic inflammation in diet-treated hereditary fructose intolerance patients
de las Heras, J; Suarez, MU; Mercado-Gómez, M; Gracianteparaluceta, LU; Buqué, X; Alonso, C; Serrano-Macia, M; Alcalde, C; Cano, A; González-Recio, I; Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Mora, E; Belanger-Quintana, ...
CLINICAL NUTRITION
2026-04-01
Trefoil Factor-3 Is a Hypoxia-Triggered Pro-Tumorigenic Factor in Hepatoblastoma
Martínez-Pérez, LA; Latasa, MU; Uriarte, I; López-Pascual, A; Elurbide, J; Strnad, P; Frankova, S; Sticova, E; Fabian, O; Arechederra, M; Santamaria, E; Argemi, J; Sangro, B; Foglia, B; Parola, ...
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
2026-03-13
Redox regulation meets metabolism: targeting PRDX2 to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma
Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, N; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Conter, C;
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
2025-12-21
Identification of Circulating MiR-4651 as Novel Biomarker for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Kirchmeyer, M; Gaigneaux, A; Servais, FA; Arslanow, A; Rubie, C; Casper, M; Glanemann, M; Martinez-Chantar, ML; Krawczyk, M; Lammert, F; Behrmann, I;
GASTRO HEP ADVANCES
2025-12-10
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