Miriam Echevarria Irusta, Ph.D

Research

Our laboratory is interested in studying the molecular mechanisms that regulate Aquaporins (AQPs) expression by hypoxia and inflammation. Our work has recently contributed to describe the participation of AQPs on water permeation in peripheral nerve chemoreceptors´s and more importantly, the capability of these proteins to increases O2 permeation across specific cell membranes. To study the transcription factors responsible for AQPs regulation under hypoxia as well as to understand the participation of these proteins in cell proliferation, migration and thus in tumor progression, using diverse cellular and animal models constitute our main research goals. At the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville we work in close contact with clinics of the HUVR-Hospital, and that is bringing us the possibility to do a more translational research, exploring the role that AQPs may play in pathological situations such brain edema, autoimmune diseases (NMO), Parkinson disease and tumors development.