Katarzyna Kuter - Nowak, PhD


The main interest of my research is recognition of mechanisms active in the preclinical stages of Parkinson’s Disease. There are both, mechanisms leading to neuronal death as well as those compensating for the deficits in dopaminergic system. Those opposite processes are active in the brain at the same time and mask early disease symptoms. Therefore, reliable diagnosis at the preclinical stages of Parkinson’s disease is very difficult and prevents from using neuroprotective and disease modifying strategies.

   Our studies in animal models focus on several aspects of brain functioning at the level of neural circuits, groups of cells, cellular organelles and particular proteins.

MAIN SUBJECTS:

· Identification of mechanisms involved in compensation of dopaminergic neurons degeneration.

· Establishing the role of small, repeated oxidative stress in neurodegeneration - preconditioning.

· Protective role of glial cells and astrocyte – neuron cooperation in brain during compensation.

· The role of glia polarisation in neurodegeneration and its compensation and possibilities of pharmaological manipulation.

·  Influence of lifestyle (ketogenic diet, regular exercise) on the regenerative, compensatory and neuroprotective abilities of the brain.

· Regulation of cellular energetics and substrate needs during different stages of degeneration and its compensation. Role of carbohydrates and fatty acids.

· Functioning of mitochondria and regulation of composition and activity of respiratory oxphos complexes and supercomplexes.


KEYWORDS: neurodegeneration, compensation, early Parkinson's disease, animal models, glia, dopaminergic system, energetic regulation, mitochondrial proteins, tremor

More publications
  • Kuter, Cenci, Carta, The role of glia in Parkinson's disease: Emerging concepts and therapeutic applications, Progress in Brain Research Volume 252, 2020, Pages 131-168 Kuter K.Z., Cenci M.A., Carta A.R.

    "The role of glia in Parkinson's disease: Emerging concepts and therapeutic applications"

    Progress in Brain Research Volume 252, 2020, Pages 131-168

    part of Recent Advances in Parkinson's Disease, edited by Björklund and Cenci
    Elsevier
  • Astrocytes and microglia in Parkinson’s disease and its animal models. In: The Neuroscience of Parkinson's Disease. Vol 2. Genetics, neurology, behavior, and diet in Parkinson’s disease, 2020, Chapter 6, pp 83-101

    Katarzyna Kuter
    Astrocytes and microglia in Parkinson’s disease and its animal models. In: The Neuroscience of Parkinson's Disease. Vol 2. Genetics, neurology, behavior, and diet in Parkinson’s disease, 2020, Chapter 6, pp 83-101, Editors: Colin Martin and Victor Preedy, ISBN: 978-0-12-815950-7, published by Academic Press, Imprint of Elsevier, Published Date: 18th September 2020

  • grant NCN OPUS18 2019/35/B/NZ7/02862 Physical exercise as a natural mechanism inducing neuroregeneration. Search for the new protein markers and therapeutic targets for Parkinson’s disease - 2020-06-19 - 2023-06-18

  • - 2018-08-03 - 2021-08-02
    NCN grant, OPUS 14 [2018-08-03  -  2021-08-02]
    Title: "How microglia-astrocyte interaction affects neuronal functioning 
    in the dopaminergic system. Analysis of protective potential of drugs changing the glial phenotype"
  • - 2013-09-02 - 2016-03-31
    “MOBILNOSC PLUS” scholarship sponsored by Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
    Title: „Protective role of astrocytes in the process of neurodegeneration of dopaminergic cells and during functional compensation of this process. Analysis of function and architecture of mitochondrial oxphos complexes and supercomplexes in animal models of early Morbus Parkinson.”
    Performed during three 6 month visits at Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany in group of Prof. Norbert A. Dencher.
  • NCN grant, OPUS 3 - 2013-02-14 - 2017-02-15
    OPUS 3 grant nr 2012/05/B/NZ4/02599 financed by National Science Centre (NCN).
    Title: „The role of astrocytes and cellular metabolism in functional compensation of degeneration of dopaminergic system in threats brain. Analysis of expression of AMPK and energy sensing proteins in aspect of Parkinson's disease.”
    Performed in the Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences – project leader.
  • Team Scientific Award of the 5th Medical Sciences PAS for a series of 3 publications "The role of astrocytes in mechanisms compensating for the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and in the regulation of cellular energy of the black-striatal system in an animal model of early Parkinson's disease".
    2019-12-11
  • Award for publication woth high IF in 2018 granted by the Head of the Institute of Pharmacology
    0000-00-00

National

  • dr Monika Marcinkowska, Katedra Chemii Farmaceutyczne Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie

International

  • Prof. JM. Witkin, prof. J.Cook, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
  • Prof. M. Schwab, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich

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