Alicia Villacampa

Dr. Alicia Villacampa


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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Journal Article
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LTLucia Tejedor-Santamaria
Lucia Tejedor-Santamaria
LELaura Márquez Expósito
Laura Márquez Expósito
AVAlicia Villacampa
Alicia Villacampa
VMVanessa Marchant
Vanessa Marchant
ABAntonio Battaglia-Vieni
Antonio Battaglia-Vieni
Marta Ruiz-OrtegaMarta Ruiz-Ortega
Marta Ruiz-Ortega
Cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2, also known as CTGF) is a complex protein that regulates numerous cellular functions. This biomolecule exhibits dual functions, depending on the context, and can act as a matricellular protein or as a growth factor. CCN2 is an established marker of fibrosis and a well-known mediator of kidney damage, involved in the regulation of inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, cell death, and activation of tubular epithelial cell (TECs) senescence. In response to kidney damage, cellular senescence mechanisms are activated, linked to regeneration failure and progression to fibrosis. Our preclinical studies using a total conditional CCN2 knockout mouse demonstrate that CCN2 plays a significant role in the development of a senescence phenotype after exposure to a nephrotoxic agent. CCN2 induces cell growth arrest in TECs, both in the early phase and in the chronic phase of folic acid nephropathy (FAN), associated with cell-death/necroinflammation and fibrosis, respectively. Renal CCN2 overexpression was found to be linked to excessive collagen accumulation in tubulointerstitial areas, microvascular rarefaction, and a decline in renal function, which were observed three weeks following the initial injury. All these findings were markedly diminished in conditional CCN2 knockout mice. In the FAN model, injured senescent TECs are associated with microvascular rarefaction, and both were modulated by CCN2. In primary cultured endothelial cells, as previously described in TECs, CCN2 directly induced senescence. The findings collectively demonstrate the complexity of CCN2, highlight the pivotal role of cellular senescence as an important mechanism in renal injury, and underscore the critical function of this biomolecule in kidney damage progression.