HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Barančík Miroslav, RNDr., DrSc

Phone: 02/3229 5404, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RESEARCH WORKERS

Vrbjar Norbert, RNDr., PhD.

Research group leader

Phone: 02/3229 5413, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ferko Miroslav, Ing., PhD.

Research group leader

Phone: 02/3229 5428, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kaločayová, Barbora, Mgr., PhD.

Phone: 02/3229 5418, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jendruchová Veronika Ing., PhD.

Phone: 02/3229 5415, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Vlkovičová Jana, RNDr., PhD.

Phone: 02/3229 5415, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Šimončíková Petra, Ing., PhD.

Phone: 02/3229 5401, , E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RESEARCH ASSISTENT

Mézešová Lucia, Mgr.

Phone: 02/3229 5414, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fogarassyová Mária, Mgr.

Phone: 02/3229 5401, E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PhD students

Mgr. Magdaléna Jašová

Phone: 02/3229 5429 , E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mgr. Ivana Kancirová

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TECHNICAL ASSISTENTS

Zádorová Miroslava

Phone: 02/3229 5412

Janikovičová Ivona, Bc.

Phone: 02/3229 5412

AREAS OF RESEARCH:

• Intracellular signaling and its role in regulation of responses and adaptation of animal cells to different kinds of stress situations.

• The role of regulatory proteins (protein kinases, matrix metalloproteinases) in mechanisms of short-term and long-term adaptation of the heart.

• Molecular mechanisms of doxorubicin effects on the heart, modulation of toxic effects of doxorubicin by natural substances.

• The role of intracellular signaling in hypertension.

• Mitochondrial function in heart during physiological and pathophysiological conditions (ischemia, hypoxia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus). Interaction between intracellular organelles and membrane systems.

• Substrate and energy metabolism in the heart.

• Involvement of the Na,K-ATPase, a key system involved in maintaining the intracellular sodium ion concentration, in the development of various diseases like hypertension, streptozotocin-induced diabetes, lipid metabolism disorders, inflammation diseases, etc.

• Study the effect of various natural substances on functional properties of Na,K-ATPase for eventual protection of enzyme.

EXPERIMENTAL MODELS:

- model of spontaneous hypertension in rats

- model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus type I in rats

- model of remote preconditioning

- model of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity

- immortal cell lines and primary cell cultures

TECHNIQUES:

- basic laboratory analytical techniques

- isolation and purification of proteins, and subcellular membrane particles

- estimation of structurally-bound and soluble enzymes, investigation of kinetic parameters of the enzymes such as the Km and Vmax constants, the affinity of enzymes to their substrates and cofactors

- biochemical methods of determination of enzyme activities (zymography, enzyme kinetics)

- immunochemical methods (ELISA, Western blot analysis, and dot blot assay)

- methods of cell culture

- two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis

- isolation of heart mitochondria

- fluorescent spectroscopy

- liquid and mass spectrometry

RESEARCH PROJECTS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS

Projects realized until 2015

Projects supported by Scientific Grant Agency of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education (VEGA):

Title: Regulation of homeostasis of sodium and potassium ions in normal and pathophysiological conditions.

Grant number: VEGA 2/0115/10

Duration: 01/2010 – 12/2012

Principal investigator: N. Vrbjar

Title: The role of mitochondria in adaptation of cardiac energetics to various pathological stimuli and noxae: ischemia, diabetes, hypertension

Grant number: 2/0101/12

Duration: 01/2012 – 12/2014

Principal investigator: M. Ferko

Title: Mechanisms involved in the effects of doxorubicin on animal cells and searching for possibilities of modulation of doxorubicin-induced effects

Grant number: 2/0169/12

Duration: 01/2012 – 12/2014

Principal investigator: M. Barančík

Projects supported by Slovak Research and Development Agency:

Title: Calcium channels in neuronal excitability

Grant number: APVV-0212-10

Duration: 05/2011 – 10/2014

Coordinator (principal investigator): Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics SAS

Responsible person at the IHR SAS: N. Vrbjar

Title: Alterations in cell metabolism associated with drug transporter P-glycoprotein everexpression in leukemia cells

Grant number: APVV-0290-10

Duration: 05/2011 – 10/2014

Coordinator (principal investigator): Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics SAS

Responsible person at the IHR SAS: M. Barančík

Projects of EU Structural Funds

Title: Completion of infrastructure for modern research of civilization diseases

Grant number: ITMS: 26230120006

Duration: 10/2015 – 12/2015

Coordinator (principal investigator): Miroslav Barančík

Actual (running) projects

Projects supported by Scientific Grant Agency of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education (VEGA):

Title: Response of the Na,K-ATPase, representing one of the crucial systems in maintaining the sodium homeostasis, to civilization diseases namely: hypertension, diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia

Grant number: 2/0141/13

Duration: 01/2013 – 12/2016

Principal investigator: N. Vrbjar

Title: Bioenergetic aspects of myocardial protection by means of remote ischemic preconditioning. The role of cardiac mitochondria

Grant number: 2/0133/15

Duration: 01/2015 – 12/2017

Principal investigator: M. Ferko

Title: Molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of doxorubicin in rats with developed hypertension and ways of modulation of of these effects of doxorubicin by quercetin

Grant number: 2/0108/15

Duration: 01/2015 – 12/2017

Principal investigator: M. Barančík

Projects supported by Slovak Research and Development Agency:

Title: Study of regulation of radical and cellular signaling during hypertension and influence of novel therapies on this signaling.

Grant number: APVV-0348-12

Duration: 10/2013 – 09/2017

Coordinator (principal investigator): M. Barančík

Title: Compensatory salvage mechanisms as an efficient tool against increased energy deficiency in pathologically loaded myocardium. Advantageous perspective in modern experimental cardioprotection.

Grant number: APVV-15-0119

Duration: 07/2016 – 06/2020

Coordinator (principal investigator): M. Ferko

Title: Chemoenzymatic synthesis and evaluation of biological activities of natural glycophenols and their analogues

Grant number: APVV-846-12

Duration: 10/2013 – 09/2017

Coordinator (principal investigator): Institute of Chemistry SAS

Responsible person at the IHR SAS: M. Barančík

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Research group - Barančík et al.:

Špániková A, Ivanová M, Matejíková J, Ravingerová T, Barančík M. Influence of ischemia/reperfusion and modulation of PI3K/Akt kinase pathway on matrix metalloproteinase-2 in rat hearts.  Gen Physiol Biophys 29 (1), 2010, 31- 40

Ivanová M, Janega P, Matejíková J, Šimončíková P, Pancza D, Ravingerová T, Barančík M. Activation of Akt kinase accompanies increased cardiac resistance to ischemia/reperfusion in rats after short-term feeding with lard-based high-fat diet and increased sucrose intake. Nutr Res 31(8), 2011, 631-643

Ivanová M, Dovinová I, Okruhlicová Ľ, Tribulová N, Šimončíková P, Barteková M, Vlkovičová J, Barančík M. Chronic cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin involves activation of myocardial and circulating matrix metalloproteinases in rats. Acta Pharmacol Sin 33 (4), 2012, 459-469

Barančík M, Boháčová V, Gibalová L, Sedlák J, Sulová Z, Breier A. Potentiation of anticancer drugs: Effects of pentoxifylline on neoplastic cells. Int J Mol Sci 13 (1), 2012, 369-382

Majzúnová M, Dovinová I, Barančík M, Chan JY. Redox signaling in pathophysiology of hypertension. J Biomed Sci 20, 2013, article number 69

Dovinová I, Barančík M, Majzúnová M, Zorad Š, Gajdošechová L, Grešová L, Čačányiová S, Kristek F, Bališ P, Chan JYH. Effects of PPAR gamma Agonist Pioglitazone on Redox-Sensitive Cellular Signaling in Young Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. PPAR Res 2013, 2013, article number 541871

Barteková M, Barančík M, Pokusa M, Prokopová B, Radošinská J, Rusnák A, Breier A, Ježová D. Molecular changes induced by repeated restraint stress in the heart: the effect of oxytocin receptor antagonist atosiban. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 93(9): 2015; 827-834

Barteková M, Šimončíková P, Fogarassyová M, Ivanová M, Okruhlicová Ľ, Tribulová N, Dovinová I, Barančík M. Quercetin improves postischemic recovery of heart function in doxorubicin-treated rats and prevents doxorubicin-induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 activation and apoptosis induction. Int J Mol Sci. 16(4): 2015, 8168-8185

Research group - Ferko et al.:

MUJKOŠOVÁ J., ULIČNÁ O., WACZULÍKOVÁ I., VLKOVIČOVÁ J., VANČOVÁ O., FERKO M., POLÁK Š., ZIEGELHÖFFER A. Mitochondrial function in heart and kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats: influence of captopril treatment. Gen Physiol Biophys. 29 (2), 2010: 203-207.

ZIEGELHÖFFER A., WACZULÍKOVÁ I., FERKO M., ŠIKUROVÁ L., MUJKOŠOVÁ J., RAVINGEROVÁ T. Involvement of membrane fluidity in endogenous protective processes running on subcellular membrane systems of the rat heart. Physiol Res. 61(suppl. 2), 2012: S11-S21

ZIEGELHÖFFER A., MUJKOŠOVÁ J., FERKO M., VRBJAR N., RAVINGEROVÁ T.,  ULIČNÁ O., WACZULÍKOVÁ I., ZIEGELHÖFFER B. Dual influence of spontaneous hypertension on membrane properties and ATP production in heart and kidney mitochondria in rat: effect of captopril and nifedipine, adaptation and dysadaptation. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 90(9), 2012: 1311-1323

BARLAKA E., LEDVÉNYIOVÁ V., GALATOU E., FERKO M., ČARNICKÁ S., RAVINGEROVÁ T., LAZOU A. Delayed cardioprotective effects of WY-14643 are associated with inhibition of MMP-2 and modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins through PPAR-α activation in rat hearts subjected to global ischaemia-reperfusion. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 91(8), 2013: 608-616

ČARNICKÁ S., FERKO M., LEDVÉNYIOVÁ V., KHANDELWAL V.K.M., BARTEKOVÁ M., RAVINGEROVÁ T. Remote ischemic preconditioning: A promising strategy to protect the heart. Exp Clin Cardiol. 18(suppl. A), 2013: 11A-16A

NEMČEKOVÁ M., ČARNICKÁ S., FERKO M., MURÁRIKOVÁ M., LEDVÉNYIOVÁ V., RAVINGEROVÁ T. Treatment of rats with hypolipidemic compound pirinixic acid protects their hearts against ischemic injury: are mitochondrial K(ATP) channels and reactive oxygen species involved? Physiol Res. 62(5), 2013: 577- 584

FERKO M., KANCÍROVÁ I., JAŠOVÁ M., ČARNICKÁ S., MURÁRIKOVÁ M., WACZULÍKOVÁ I., SUMBALOVÁ Z., KUCHARSKÁ J., ULIČNÁ O., RAVINGEROVÁ T., ZIEGELHÖFFER A. Remote Ischemic Preconditioning of the Heart: Protective Responses in Functional and Biophysical Properties of Cardiac Mitochondria. Physiol Res. 63(suppl. 4), 2014: S469-S478

FERKO M., KANCÍROVÁ I., JAŠOVÁ M., WACZULÍKOVÁ I., ČARNICKÁ S., KUCHARSKÁ J., ULIČNÁ O., VANČOVÁ O., MURÁRIKOVÁ M., RAVINGEROVÁ T., ZIEGELHÖFFER A. Participation of heart mitochondria in myocardial protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury: benefit effects of short-term adaptation processes. Physiol Res. 64(suppl. 5), 2015: S617-S625

RAVINGEROVÁ T., LEDVÉNYIOVÁ-FARKAŠOVÁ V., FERKO M., BARTEKOVÁ M., BERNÁTOVÁ I., PECHÁŇOVÁ O., ADAMEOVÁ A., KOLÁŘ F., LAZOU A. Pleiotropic preconditioning-like cardioprotective effects of hypolipidemic drugs in acute ischemia-reperfusion in normal and hypertensive rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 93, 2015:  495–503

KANCÍROVÁ I., JAŠOVÁ M., WACZULÍKOVÁ I., RAVINGEROVÁ T., ZIEGELHÖFFER A., FERKO M. Effect of antihypertensive agents - captopril and nifedipine - on the functional properties of rat heart mitochondria. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 19(6), 2016:615-623

Research group - Vrbjar et al.:

Vlkovičová J., Javorková V., Mézešová L., Pecháňová O., Andriantsitohaina R., Vrbjar N. Dual effect of polyphenolic compounds on cardiac Na+,K+-ATPase during development and persistance of hypertension in rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 87(12), 2010: 1046-1054

Javorková V., Mézešová L., Vlkovičová J., Vrbjar N. Influence of sub-chronic diabetes mellitus on functional properties of renal Na,K-ATPase in both genders of rats. Gen Physiol Biophys 29(3), 2010: 266-274

Mézešová L., Barteková M., Javorková V., Vlkovičová J., Breier A., Vrbjar N. Effect of quercetin on kinetic properties of renal Na,K-ATPase in normotensive and hypertensive rats. J Physiol Pharmacol 61(5), 2010: 593-598

Wachalová K., Vlkovičová J., Javorková V., Mézešová L., Takáč P., Kozánek M., Labuda M., Nuttal P., Vrbjar N. Effect of saliva from horse fly Hybomitra bimaculata on kinetic properties of Na,K-ATPase: possible role in regulation of relaxation. Interdisciplinary Toxicology 4(3), 2011: 154-158

Vrbjar N., Mézešová L., Javorková V., Vlkovičová J., Mitašíková M., Dlugošová K., Okruhlicová Ľ., Tribulová N. Gender specific influence of fish oil or atorvastatin on functional properties of renal Na,K-ATPase in healthy wistar and hypertriglyceridemic rats. Physiol Re. 60(6). 2011: 887-897

Mézešová L., Jendruchová-Javorková V., Vlkovičová J., Kyselova Z., Navarová J., Bezek S., Vrbjar N. Antioxidant SMe1EC2 may attenuate the disbalance of sodium homeostasis in the organism induced by higher intake of cholesterol. Mol Cell Biochem. 366 (1-2), 2012: 41-48

Mézešová L., Jendruchová-Javorková V., Vlkovičová J., Okruhlicová Ľ., Frimmel K., Navarová J., Kyselova-Brnoliaková Z., Vrbjar N.: Supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to lipopolysaccharide-induced rats improved inflammation and functional properties of renal Na,K-ATPase. Nutr Res. 33, 2013: 772-779

Mézešová L., Vlkovičová J., Kaločayová B., Jendruchová V., Barančík M., Fulöp M., Slezák J., Babál P., Janega P., Vrbjar N. Effect of gamma-irradiation on Na,K-ATPase in cardiac sarcolemma. Mol Cell Biochem. 388, 2014: 241-247

Kaločayová B, Mézešová L, Barteková M, Vlkovičová J, Jendruchová V, Vrbjar N. Effect of duration of diabetes mellitus type 1 on properties Na,K-ATPase in cerebral cortex. Mol Cell Biochem 405(1-2), 2015: 41-52

Radosinska J, Mezesova L, Okruhlicova L, Frimmel K, Breierova E, Bartekova M, Vrbjar N. Effect of yeast biomass with high content of carotenoids on erythrocyte deformability, NO production and Na,K-ATPase activity in healthy and LPS treated rats. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2016 Mar 14. [Epub ahead of print]