Team: LR-NAFS ‘Nutrition - Functional Food & Vascular Health’ Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Monastir (Tunisia) and Lab. Biochemistry, University of Sousse (Tunisia)
Key members: Dr Amira Zarrouk (Ph.D; Ass.Prof); Prof. Mohamed Hammami (Ph.D); Mrs Randa Sghaier, Imen Ghzaiel, and Souha Hammouda (Ph.D students).
Contacts: zarroukamira@gmail.com; mohamed.hammami@fmm.rnu.tn
Research activities: The primary focus of our research is to investigate the role of lipid metabolism in aging and age-related diseases. In this context, we focus on different lipid types, such as oxysterols, and we are interested to identify lipids, including oxysterols as biomarkers of age-related diseases. We also aim to find natural molecules able to promote healthy aging, counter the development of age-related diseases, and facilitate the treatment of chronic pathologies. Indeed, we attempt to identify plant extracts as well as animal and vegetable oils able to prevent oxidative stress, known to play a major role in the development of degenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s diseases, multiple sclerosis), and in the cytotoxicity of several oxysterols.
Key papers related to ENOR:
Zarrouk A, Nury T, Karym EM, Vejux A, Sghaier R, Gondcaille C, Andreoletti P, Trompier D, Savary S, Cherkaoui-Malki M, Debbabi M, Fromont A, Riedinger JM, Moreau T, Lizard G. Attenuation of 7-ketocholesterol-induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species, apoptosis, and autophagy by dimethyl fumarate on 158N murine oligodendrocytes. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2017; 169: 29-38.
Zarrouk A, Nury T, Samadi M, O'Callaghan Y, Hammami M, O'Brien NM, Lizard G, Mackrill JJ. Effects of cholesterol oxides on cell death induction and calcium increase in human neuronal cells (SK-N-BE) and evaluation of the protective effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6 n-3). Steroids. 2015; 99(Pt B): 238-47.
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Zarrouk A, Debbabi M, Bezine M, Karym EM, Badreddine A, Rouaud O, Moreau T, Cherkaoui-Malki M, El Ayeb M, Nasser B, Hammami M, Lizard G. Lipid Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2017. doi:10.2174/1567205014666170505101426.
Zarrouk A, Vejux A, Mackrill J, O'Callaghan Y, Hammami M, O'Brien N, Lizard G. Involvement of oxysterols in age-related diseases and ageing processes. Ageing Res Rev. 2014; 18: 148-62.