Descobrir as vias moleculares induzidas pelo stress no envelhecimento intestinal e o papel mediador da microbiota

The proposed project aims to investigate the impact of stress on intestinal health and its contribution to the intestinal aging process, with a particular focus on the role of gut microbiota. By understanding these mechanisms, the project seeks to develop innovative solutions for the food and supplements industry to promote healthy aging. I. Understanding Stress-Mediated Intestinal Aging Mechanisms: The project aims to elucidate how stress mediators, such as cortisol, oxytocin, epinephrine and norepinephrine, or neuropeptides such as corticotropin-releasing factor influence cellular aging mechanisms in the intestine. Specifically, it will investigate their effects on cellular senescence and autophagy, through an innovative 3D cell model that mimics the intestinal epithelium. II. Assessment of Stress Mediators on Intestinal Tissue: The project plans to evaluate the impact of stress mediators on the composition, structure, and biological markers of intestinal tissue layers using ex vivo intestinal tissue explants. This assessment will include morphological changes, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, inflammatory cytokine expression, and barrier integrity. III. Impact of Stress Mediators on Gut Microbiota: The project aims to investigate how stress mediators affect the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota and how these changes influence intestinal cell aging. This will involve analyzing the microbial community structure and function in response to stressors. IV. Evaluation of Food Supplements as Potential Solutions: The project intends to test popular commercial food supplements known as adaptogens to determine if they can mitigate the effects of stress on the gut. These supplements will be assessed for their ability to attenuate cellular aging processes and promote healthy aging in the intestine. V. Establishment of Analytical Models: Robust analytical models will be developed to screen molecules with the capacity to evaluate the impact of stress mediators on intestinal cell aging. These models will facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets and the screening of candidate compounds or supplements. Overall, the project's specific objectives include understanding the effects of stress on intestinal aging mechanisms, assessing stress mediators' impact on intestinal tissue and microbiota, and evaluating the potential of food supplements to mitigate the adverse effects of stress on gut health and aging.