Carles Solsona Sancho

Professor of Cell Biology
Catedràtic d'Universitat de Biologia Cel.lular
E-mail: solsona@ub.edu

Phone: +3493 4035809

Research Interests

The main goal of my research is to find cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the neurodegenerative diseases, especially those related with the communication between neurons and their targets.

Because ATP is present inside synaptic vesicles and it is exocyted during synaptic transmission I have found the interaction of ATP into the luminal synaptic vesicle matrix. However, other alternative cellular pathways may be activated to allow the release of intracellular ATP release. We have found that at least two molecules: NTPDases and connexins, are implicated in making the plasma membrane permeable to ATP.

Because it has been demonstrated that Connexin 32 is implicated in the development of Charcot Marie Tooth disease linked to chromosome X, at present my major focus of interest is how connexins form the so called hemichannels or connexons and their physiological role controlling ATP release and its putative role in the pathogenis of CMTX. I’m also investigating about the possible implication of purinergic signaling in the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

I also collaborate with Professor Antonio Felipe, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, looking for the activity of potassium channels in the immune response.

Current Projects

SAF 2005-00736. CONNEXINS AND ATP RELEASE. ROLE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF X-LINKED CHARCOT MARIE TOOTH DISEASE. Ministry of Science and Education. Spanish Government.
Selected Recent Publications

Endogenous hemichannels play a role in the release of ATP from Xenopus oocytes. Bahima L, Aleu J, Elias M, Martin-Satue M, Muhaisen A, Blasi J, Marsal J,Solsona C.
J Cell Physiol. 2006 Jan;206(1):95-102

Effect of galantamine on the human alpha7 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and spontaneous cholinergic synaptic activity.
Texido L, Ros E, Martin-Satue M, Lopez S, Aleu J, Marsal J, Solsona C.
Br J Pharmacol. 2005 Jul;145(5):672-8.

Pattern of Kv beta subunit expression in macrophages depends upon proliferation and the mode of activation.
Vicente R, Escalada A, Soler C, Grande M, Celada A, Tamkun MM, Solsona C,Felipe A.
J Immunol. 2005 Apr 15;174(8):4736-44.

Gadolinium inhibition of ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase activity in Torpedo electric organ.
Escalada A, Navarro P, Ros E, Aleu J, Solsona C, Martin-Satue M.
Neurochem Res. 2004 Sep;29(9):1711-4.

Modulation of aqueous humor outflow by ionic mechanisms involved in trabecular meshwork cell volume regulation.
Soto D, Comes N, Ferrer E, Morales M, Escalada A, Pales J, Solsona C, Gual A, Gasull X.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004 Oct;45(10):3650-61.

Differential voltage-dependent K+ channel responses during proliferation and activation in macrophages.
Vicente R, Escalada A, Coma M, Fuster G, Sanchez-Tillo E, Lopez-Iglesias C, Soler C, Solsona C, Celada A, Felipe A.
Biol Chem. 2003 Nov 21;278(47):46307-20. Epub 2003 Aug 15. Erratum in: J Biol Chem. 2005 Apr 1;280(13):13204.

Kainate-triggered currents in Xenopus oocytes injected with chick retinal membrane fragments: effect of guanine nucleotides.
Burgos JS, Aleu J, Barat A, Solsona C, Marsal J, Ramirez G.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003 Jul;44(7):3124-9.

Control of neurotransmitter release by an internal gel matrix in synaptic vesicles.
Reigada D, Diez-Perez I, Gorostiza P, Verdaguer A, Gomez de Aranda I, Pineda O, Vilarrasa J, Marsal J, Blasi J, Aleu J, Solsona C.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Mar 18;100(6):3485-90. Epub 2003 Mar 10.

Release of ATP induced by hypertonic solutions in Xenopus oocytes.
Aleu J, Martin-Satue M, Navarro P, Perez de Lara I, Bahima L, Marsal J,Solsona C.
J Physiol. 2003 Feb 15;547(Pt 1):209-19. Epub 2002 Dec 20.

Calcium-dependent acetylcholine release from Xenopus oocytes: simultaneous ionic currents and acetylcholine release recordings.
Aleu J, Blasi J, Solsona C, Marsal J.
Eur J Neurosci. 2002 Oct;16(8):1442-8.
Effects of bis(7)-tacrine on spontaneous synaptic activity and on the nicotinic ACh receptor of Torpedo electric organ.
Ros E, Aleu J, Gomez de Aranda I, Canti C, Pang YP, Marsal J, Solsona C.
J Neurophysiol. 2001 Jul;86(1):183-9.

The pharmacology of novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, (+/-)-huprines Y and X, on the Torpedo electric organ.
Ros E, Aleu J, Gomez de Aranda I, Munoz-Torrero D, Camps P, Badia A, Marsal J, Solsona C.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2001 Jun 8;421(2):77-84.