Research

Supporting the wound healing process with NAC

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a mucolytic agent that has been used for many years for respiratory conditions. It also has antioxidant activity. The works conducted in our Department focus, among others, on the influence of NAC on the wound healing process. In animal studies we have shown that NAC injected into the skin  improves and accelerates the healing process in surgical wounds. We are currently developing this line of research. 

MicroRNAs as biomarkers in cancer

MicroRNA molecules post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. They bind to specific nucleotide sequences of mRNAs in a manner that alters (usually decreases) the amount of protein production encoded by these mRNAs. The biological effect exerted by microRNAs largely depends on the "context", i.e. the expression profile of other mRNAs and microRNAs. The studies we conduct in the Department not only analyze the expression level of specific microRNAs in cells of a given type (e.g. cancer and normal cells in the same organ). We also verify the mechanism of action of these molecules by selective exclusion or overexpression of microRNAs in cells.

Due to their stability, microRNA molecules are very good diagnostic and prognostic markers in many diseases. We are currently investigating the role of microRNAs in prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. The level of microRNA expression varies in cancerous tumors. We can assess this through laser microdissection studies.

Microdissection

Large macroscopic tissue sections are composed of many diverse cell populations, and the result of examining such material reflects the "averaged" content of the element under study.  Microdissection is a technique that allows the isolation of very small tissue fragments, even single groups of cells, from histological preparations. It requires a microscope coupled to a laser, whose beam cuts out designated areas of the preparation and transfers it to a tube (video).

Such microscopic tissue fragments are sufficient for determinations using highly sensitive analytical methods such as PCR or mass spectrometry. 

Microdissection allows for determination of components present in groups of homogeneous cells or small fragments of intercellular matrix. 

In our facility, we conduct research projects using microdissection to study various cell populations that form cancerous tumors.