Euridice Carmona

TITLE

• Assistant Professor
• Postdoctorate, OHRI, Ottawa, Canada (1999-2001).
• Postdoctorate, BRI, NRC, Montreal, Canada (1992-1994).
• Ph.D., Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil (1984-1988).
• M.Sc., Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil (1981-1983).

DISTINCTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2007 – Junior Faculty Travel Award – Society for the Study of Reproduction.
• 2002 – Best Research Paper – Annual Ottawa Reproductive Biology Workshop.

RESEARCH TEAM

• Adriana Mari Orimoto, Research Assistant
• Paule Héléna Yoffou, M.Sc. Student

RESEARCH INTERESTS

In our Research Unity, we study the role of somatic hyaluronidases (Hyal-1, Hyal-2 and Hyal-3) in ovarian follicle maturation (Project 01) as well as ovarian tumor progression (Project 02). 

Project 01

During ovarian folliculogenesis, the vast majority of follicles never become mature and instead, they undergo atresia primarily through apoptosis cell death. Therefore, only a few dominant follicles mature and ovulate. Our results have shown that hyaluronidases induce apoptosis and are involved in the process of ovarian atresia. These enzymes might influence the fate of a follicle and we are currently investigating the physiological relevance of our findings by studying ovarian functions, e.g. ovulation, fertility and folliculogenesis, in knock-out mice for Hyal-1 and Hyal-3 genes. At the molecular level, we want to understand how gonadotropins (FSH and LH) regulate the gene expression of these enzymes.

Project 02

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is ranked fifth in causes of cancer deaths because of its asymptomatic growth, the lack of effective screening methods and the high frequency of peritoneal metastasis. It is of utmost importance to better understand the events that underlie EOC progression. Our results have shown that Hyal-1 is down-regulated in aggressive EOC cell lines when compared to normal ovarian epithelial surface cells as well as less aggressive (non-metastatic) EOC cells. We are currently investigating the pro-apoptotic effects of this enzyme in several EOC cell lines and characterizing the molecular mechanisms involved in this process, as well as investigating the effects of Hyal-1 silencing in EOC metastatic behaviour.

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selected papers

Orimoto A.M., Dumaresq-Doiron K., Jiang J.-Y., Tanphaichitr N., Tsang B.K. and Carmona E. Mammalian hyaluronidase induces ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis and is involved in follicular atresia. Endocrinology, under revision, 2008.

Atmuri V., Martin D., Hemming R., Gustol A., Byers S., Sahebjam S., Mort J., Carmona E., Anderson J., Dakshinamurti S. and Triggs-Raine B. Hyaluronidase 3 (HYAL3) knockout mice do not display evidence of hyaluronan accumulation. Mol. Cell. Biol., submitted.

Wu A., Anupriwan A., Lamsaard S., Chakrabandhu K., Santos D.C., Rupar T., Tsang B.K., Carmona E. and Tanphaichitr N. Sperm surface arylsulfatase A can disperse the cumulus matrix of cumulus oocyte complexes. J. Cell Physiol., 213: 201-211, 2007.

Tanphaichitr N., Carmona E., Khalil M.B., Xu H., Berger T. and Gerton L. New insights into sperm-zona pellucida interaction: involvement of sperm lipid rafts. Frontiers in Bioscience 12, 1748-1766, 2007.

Lefebvre J., Fan J., Chevalier S., Sullivan R., Carmona E. and Manjunath P. Genomic structure and tissue-specific expression of human and mouse genes encoding homologues of the major bovine seminal plasma proteins. Molecular Human Reproduction 13: 45–53, 2007.

Khalil M.B., Chakrabandhu K., Xu H., Weerachatyanukul W., Buhr M., Berger T., Carmona E., Vuong N., Kumarathasan P., Wong P.T., Carrier D. and Tanphaichitr N. Sperm capacitation induces an increase in lipid rafts having zona pellucida binding ability and containing sulfogalactosylglycerolipid. Dev Biol. 290(1): 220-35, 2006.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Techniques used

• Cell culture
• Transient and stable transfection
• Western blotting
• Histology
• Molecular biology (PCR, cloning, gene expression, etc.)
• Manipulation of transgenic and knockout mice
• Apoptosis and ovarian function analyses
• Xenotransplantation, etc.

Active Funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.
Operating grant:
Candidates and group members: Tsang B.K., Carmona E., Basak A.
Total amount: $630 615
Period: 2007-2012

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC):

Involvement of hyaluronidases 1, 2 and 3 in ovarian folliculogenesis; studies using transgenic and knockout mice.
Discovery Grants – Individual:
Candidates and group members: Carmona E.
Total amount: $172 665
Period: 2004-2009

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