Team 1: ‘Nutrition - Functional Food & Vascular Health’ Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Monastir (Monastir, Tunisia) and Lab. Biochemistry, University of Sousse (Sousse, Tunisia)
Key members: Dr Amira Zarrouk (Ph.D; Ass.Prof); Prof. Mohamed Hammami (Ph.D); Prof. Sonia Hammami (MD, Ph.D)
Contacts: zarroukamira@gmail.com ; mohamed.hammami@fmm.rnu.tn; sonia.hammami@fmm.rnu.tn
Research activities: The primary focus of our research is to investigate the role of lipid metabolism in aging and in some age-related diseases. In this context, we focus on different lipid types, such as oxysterols and fatty acids, and we are interested identifying lipids, including oxysterols as biomarkers of age-related diseases (Alzheimer, sarcopenia). 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. We attempt to identify plant extracts as well as edible oils able to prevent oxidative stress, known to play major roles in the development of degenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s diseases, sarcopenia), and in the cytotoxicity of several oxysterols.
Key papers related to ENOR:
Ghzaiel I, Zarrouk A, Essadek S, Martine L, Hammouda S, Yammine A, Ksila M, Nury T, Meddeb W, Tahri Joutey M, Mihoubi W, Caccia C, Leoni V, Samadi M, Acar N, Andreoletti P, Hammami S, Ghrairi T, Vejux A, Hammami M, Lizard G. Protective effects of milk thistle (Sylibum marianum) seed oil and α-tocopherol against 7β-hydroxycholesterol-induced peroxisomal alterations in murine C2C12 myoblasts: Nutritional insights associated with the concept of pexotherapy. Steroids. 2022; 183: 109032.
Ghzaiel I, Zarrouk A, Nury T, Libergoli M, Florio F, Hammouda S, Ménétrier F, Avoscan L, Yammine A, Samadi M, Latruffe N, Biressi S, Levy D, Bydlowski SP, Hammami S, Vejux A, Hammami M, Lizard G. Antioxidant Properties and Cytoprotective Effect of Pistacia lentiscus L. Seed Oil against 7β-Hydroxycholesterol-Induced Toxicity in C2C12 Myoblasts: Reduction in Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial and Peroxisomal Dysfunctions and Attenuation of Cell Death. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021; 10(11): 1772.
Zarrouk A, Hammouda S, Ghzaiel I, Hammami S, Khamlaoui W, Ahmed SH, Lizard G, Hammami M. Association Between Oxidative Stress and Altered Cholesterol Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease Patients. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2020; 17(9): 823-834.
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.
Team 2: Molecular bases of human diseases, University of Sfax (Sfax, Tunisia)
Key members: Dr Meriam Messedi (Ph.D; Post Doc); Dr Wassim Guidara (Ph.D ; Post-Doc) ; Prof. Fatma Makni-Ayadi (MD)
Contacts: meriammessedi@gmail.com; ayadi_fatma@medecinesfax.org
Research activities: The primary focus of our research is to investigate the role of lipid metabolism in neuropsychiatric disorders and in inflammatory diseases. In this context, we focus on different lipid types, such as oxysterols, phytosterols and fatty acids, and we are interested to identify lipids, especially oxysterols and phytosterols as biomarkers of autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disease and schizophrenia as well as in inflammatory conditions (Behçet’s disease, metabolic syndromes).
Key papers related to ENOR:
Guidara W, Messedi M, Naifar M, Maalej M, Khrouf W, Grayaa S, Maalej M, Bonnefont-Rousselot D, Lamari F, Ayadi F. Plasma oxysterols in drug-free patients with schizophrenia. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2022; 221: 106123.
Messedi M, Guidara W, Grayaa S, Khrouf W, Snoussi M, Bahloul Z, Bonnefont-Rousselot D, Lamari F, Ayadi F. Selected plasma oxysterols as a potential multi-marker biosignature panel for Behçet's Disease. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2022; 221: 106122.
Guidara W, Messedi M, Maalej M, Naifar M, Khrouf W, Grayaa S, Maalej M, Bonnefont-Rousselot D, Lamari F, Ayadi F. Plasma oxysterols: Altered level of plasma 24-hydroxycholesterol in patients with bipolar disorder. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2021; 211: 105902.
Grayaa S, Zerbinati C, Messedi M, HadjKacem I, Chtourou M, Ben Touhemi D, Naifar M, Ayadi H, Ayedi F, Iuliano L. Plasma oxysterol profiling in children reveals 24-hydroxycholesterol as a potential marker for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Biochimie. 2018 ; 153: 80-85.
Team 3: Edilible Mediterranean oils and phytosterols
Key members: Dr Leila Rezig (PhD) ; Dr Yosr Zina Abdelkrim (PhD)
Contact: l_rezig@yahoo.fr
Research activities:
Our research is focused on the lipid profiles (fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, polyphenols) of Mediterranean edible oils, on their polyphenols content and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The richness of these oils in bioactive compounds could have a great interest in nutritherapy since they could prevent several diseases, especially age related diseases.
A possible incorporation of phytosterols in food matrices is being studied.
Key papers related to ENOR:
Rezig L, Abdelkrim YZ. Phytosterols: Potential Therapeutic Effects and Challenges in Food Industry. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2024;1440:453-462. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-43883-7_22.
Rezig L, Ghzaiel I, Ksila M, Yammine A, Nury T, Zarrouk A, Samadi M, Chouaibi M, Vejux A, Lizard G. Cytoprotective activities of representative nutrients from the Mediterranean diet and of Mediterranean oils against 7-ketocholesterol- and 7β-hydroxycholesterol-induced cytotoxicity: Application to age-related diseases and civilization diseases. Steroids. 2022;187:109093. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2022.109093.
Rezig L, Martine L, Nury T, Msaada K, Mahfoudhi N, Ghzaiel I, Prost-Camus E, Durand P, Midaoui AE, Acar N, Latruffe N, Vejux A, Lizard G. Profiles of Fatty Acids, Polyphenols, Sterols, and Tocopherols and Scavenging Property of Mediterranean Oils: New Sources of Dietary Nutrients for the Prevention of Age-related Diseases. J Oleo Sci. 2022;71(8):1117-1133. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess22110.