Carmen Milagros Pérez-Pérez

Dr. Carmen Milagros Pérez-Pérez


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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6 December 2025 in Biomolecules
Verified
Journal Article
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CPCarmen Milagros Pérez-Pérez
Carmen Milagros Pérez-Pérez
ARAdlin Rodríguez-Muñoz
Adlin Rodríguez-Muñoz
GMGerardo Mackenzie
Gerardo Mackenzie
KMKaren Matsukuma
Karen Matsukuma
MCMaría R. Castro-Achi
María R. Castro-Achi
CTCarlos A Torres-Ramos
Carlos A Torres-Ramos
Mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity are increasingly recognized as key contributors to liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the role of mtDNA repair in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis during liver injury remains poorly understood. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1), encoded by the Apex1 gene, is the primary endonuclease mediating base excision repair of mtDNA. We hypothesize that APE1 is required to preserve mtDNA integrity in response to genotoxic stress in the liver. To test this, wild-type (WT) and Apex1 haploinsufficient mice (Apex1+/−) were treated with the alkylating agent azoxymethane (AOM), a carcinogen bioactivated in the liver, and tissues were collected 20 weeks after the last exposure. Apex1+/− mice exhibited a 3.2-fold increase in mtDNA lesions and a 55% reduction in mtDNA abundance, changes not observed in WT mice. Bioenergetics profiling revealed a 1.5-fold increase in the ATP5β/GAPDH ratio in WT mice and a 2.5-fold increase in Apex1+/− mice, indicating a more pronounced shift toward oxidative phosphorylation in the absence of full APE1 function. Histological analysis indicated increased nuclear inclusions and ductular proliferation in both strains, whereas fibrosis was attenuated in Apex1+/− mice. Collectively, these findings show that APE1 is essential for preserving mtDNA integrity and regulating bioenergetics and histopathological responses to alkylation-induced liver injury, highlighting its dual role in mitochondrial maintenance and modulating inflammatory outcomes.