Publications by authors named "Alexandra Lopes Costa"

Resveratrol (RSV) is a small compound first identified as an activator of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a key factor in mediating the effects of caloric restriction. Since then, RSV received great attention for its widespread beneficial effects on health and in connection to many diseases. RSV improves the metabolism and the mitochondrial function, and more recently it was shown to restore fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) capacities in patient fibroblasts harboring mutations with residual enzyme activity.

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The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Complex I (CI) deficiencies are understood only partially which severely limits the treatment of this common, devastating, mitochondrial disorder. Recently, we have shown that resveratrol (RSV), a natural polyphenol, has beneficial effects on CI deficiency of nuclear origin. Here, we demonstrate that RSV is able to correct the biochemical defect in oxygen consumption in five of thirteen CI-deficient patient cell lines.

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Mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) disorders are the most prevalent inborn metabolic diseases and remain without effective treatment to date. Up-regulation of residual enzyme activity has been proposed as a possible therapeutic approach in this group of disorders. As resveratrol (RSV), a natural compound, was proposed to stimulate mitochondrial metabolism in rodents, we tested the effect of this compound on mitochondrial functions in control or in Complex I (CI)- or Complex IV (CIV)-deficient patients' fibroblasts.

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Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2 (CPT2) and very-long-chain Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiencies are among the most common inborn mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) disorders. Despite advances in their clinical and molecular characterizations, few therapeutic approaches exist for these diseases. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenol extensively studied for its potential health benefits.

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