Marta Alcalde

Ms. Marta Alcalde


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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28 February 2023 in Non-Coding RNA
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
LGLaia Gomez-Muñoz
Laia Gomez-Muñoz
DPDavid Perna-Barrull
David Perna-Barrull
MVMarta Murillo Valles
Marta Murillo Valles
MAMaria Pilar Armengol
Maria Pilar Armengol
MAMarta Alcalde
Marta Alcalde
MVMarta Vives-Pi
Marta Vives-Pi
The partial remission (PR) phase of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an underexplored period characterized by endogenous insulin production and downmodulated autoimmunity. To comprehend the mechanisms behind this transitory phase and develop precision medicine strategies, biomarker discovery and patient stratification are unmet needs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression and modulate several biological processes, functioning as biomarkers for many diseases. Here, we identify and validate a unique miRNA signature during PR in pediatric patients with T1D by employing small RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR. These miRNAs were mainly related to the immune system, metabolism, stress, and apoptosis pathways. The implication in autoimmunity of the most dysregulated miRNA, miR-30d-5p, was evaluated in vivo in the non-obese diabetic mouse. MiR-30d-5p inhibition resulted in increased regulatory T cell percentages in the pancreatic lymph nodes together with a higher expression of CD200. In the spleen, a decrease in PD-1+ T lymphocytes and reduced PDCD1 expression were observed. Moreover, miR-30d-5p inhibition led to an increased islet leukocytic infiltrate and changes in both effector and memory T lymphocytes. In conclusion, the miRNA signature found during PR shows new putative biomarkers and highlights the immunomodulatory role of miR-30d-5p, elucidating the processes driving this phase.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MLMarina López-Martínez
Marina López-Martínez
MAMaria Pilar Armengol
Maria Pilar Armengol
IPIrina Pey
Irina Pey
XRXavier Farre Ribas
Xavier Farre Ribas
PRPaula Rodríguez-Martínez
Paula Rodríguez-Martínez
MDMaruja Navarro Díaz
Maruja Navarro Díaz
This study aimed to investigate obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) at cellular, structural, and transcriptomic levels. Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into two groups: 15 rats were fed with a standard diet (SD-rats), and 15 rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD-rats). After 10 weeks, the weight, kidney function, histological features, and transcriptomic changes were assessed. HFD-rats gained significantly more weight (55.8% vs. 29.2%; p < 0.001) and albuminuria (10,384.04 ng/mL vs. 5845.45 ng/mL; p < 0.001) compared to SD-rats. HFD-rats exhibited early stages of ORG, with predominant mesangial matrix increase and podocyte hypertrophy (PH). These lesions correlated with differentially expressed (DE) genes and miRNAs. Functional analysis showed that miR-205, which was DE in both the kidneys and urine of HFD-rats, negatively regulated the PTEN gene, promoting lipid endocytosis in podocytes. The downregulation of PTEN was proved through a higher PTEN/nephrin ratio in the SD-rats and the presence of lipid vacuoles in HFD-podocytes. This study has found a specific targetome of miRNAs and gene expression in early stages of ORG. Also, it emphasizes the potential value of miR-205 as a urinary biomarker for detecting podocyte injury in ORG, offering a tool for early diagnosis, and opening new avenues for future therapeutic research of obesity-related glomerulopathy.

12 September 2025 in Journal of Open Source Software
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MDMike Du
Mike Du
NMNúria Mercadé-Besora
Núria Mercadé-Besora
MAMarta Alcalde
Marta Alcalde
XCXihang Chen
Xihang Chen
YGYuchen Guo
Yuchen Guo
MCMartí Català
Martí Català
Package provides a flexible and efficient way to create synthetic datasets in OMOP CDM format, facilitating the testing and validation of packages and analytic codes.

1 June 2024
Verified
Dataset
Closed access
EBEdward Burn
Edward Burn
MCMartí Català
Martí Català
NMNuria Mercade-Besora
Nuria Mercade-Besora
MAMarta Alcalde
Marta Alcalde
MDMike Du
Mike Du
ERElin Rowlands
Elin Rowlands


3 May 2024 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
MLMarina López-Martínez
Marina López-Martínez
MAMaria Pilar Armengol
Maria Pilar Armengol
IPIrina Pey
Irina Pey
XRXavier Farre Ribas
Xavier Farre Ribas
PRPaula Rodríguez-Martínez
Paula Rodríguez-Martínez
MDMaruja Navarro Díaz
Maruja Navarro Díaz
This study aimed to investigates obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) at cellular, structural, and transcriptomic levels. Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into two groups: control (n=15) and study groups (n=15) that were fed a standard (SD) and high-fat diet (HFD), respectively. After 10 weeks, the weight, kidney function, histological features, and transcriptomic changes were assessed. HFD group exhibited increased weight gain (55.8% vs 29.2%; P< 0.001) and albuminuria (10384.04 ng/ml vs 5845.45 ng/ml; P<0.001) compared to controls. The HFD group exhibited early stages of ORG lesions, with a predominance of mesangial matrix increase and podocyte hypertrophy (PH). These lesions correlated with differentially expressed (DE) genes and miRNAs. Functional analysis showed that four DE miRNAs in the kidneys of the HFD group negatively regulated the PTEN gene, which promotes podocyte endocytosis of lipids in ORG. Among these four miRNAs, miR-205 was upregulated in the urine of the HFD group. HFD-fed Wistar rats developed early stages of ORG, with a specific targetome of miRNAs and gene expression. The upregulation of miR-205 in the kidney and its isolation in urine are associated with lipid endocytosis in podocytes, which could become a plausible biomarker of the early stages of ORG and lead to future therapeutic research.