Research interests
In my group, we are working on the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) producing enzymes in metabolism with focus on a various spectrum of diseases spanning from liver steatosis, cardiometabolic diseases to cancer. Our current research focuses on the role of the H2S producing enzymes MPST and CTH in the liver macrophages and endothelium with the hope to discover new promising pharmacological targets for the treatment of liver steatosis, a disease that at the moment lacks any specific pharmacological treatments in humans. My current (2023-2027) research is fully funded by the Excellence Emerging Investigator Grant in Endocrinology and Metabolism by Novo Nordisk Foundation https://researchleaderprogramme.com/recipients/maria-peleli-pedersen/ .
My previous research as postdoctoral fellow at BRFAA in Greece (2018-2019), has shown that MPST is a very important regulatory and metabolic enzyme in the cardiovascular system playing a significant antioxidant role in various organisms. More recently (2020-2022) and in collaboration with Uppsala University in Sweden, SDU in Denmark and BRFAA in Greece, we showed that CTH is a very important regulatory enzyme in the brain vasculature and in CNS in general controlling the vascular reactivity of brain arterioles and promoting the formation of CNS tumors such asglioblastoma.
Methods
Mouse models of liver steatosis with associated metabolic and inflammatory comorbidities in other organs (collaboration with Daniel Ketelhuth group).
Genetically modified mice with impaired H2S production.
Investigations of patient material (collaboration with Odense University Hospital).
Biochemical and molecular assays related to analyses of gasotransmitters and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated gene delivery in mice (collaboration with Lasse Bach Steffensen group).
Cell culture (human and mouse primary cells and cell lines i.e., bone marrow macrophages, hepatocytes, endothelial cells) and functional in vitro assays.
Advanced microscopy techniques (stereology analyses, TEM, SEM): in collaboration with Associate Professor Kirsten Madsen (OUH and SDU, Odense, Denmark) and researchers at Mads Clausen Institute, SDU, Sønderborg, Denmark
Group members
Gitte Kitlen - Lab technician (collaboration with Daniel Ketelhuth group)
Kristoffer Rosenstand- Lab technician (collaboration with Daniel Ketelhuth group)
Ann Sofie Elkjær Madsen (collaboration with Daniel Ketelhuth group)
Odysseia Savvoulidou, PhD student (primary co-supervisor)
Turtushikh (Turu) Damba, postdoctoral research fellow (supervisor)
Network of National and International Collaborators
Professor Daniel Ketelhuth, SDU, Denmark
Associate Professor Lasse Bach Steffensen, SDU, Denmark
Associate Professor Kirsten Madsen, Odense University Hospital (OUH) and SDU, Denmark
Professor Andreas Papapetropoulos, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens (BRFAA) & School of Pharmacy, Athens, Greece
Professor Arisitidis Moustakas, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Sweden
Information for students
We welcome curious and motivated master or bachelor students to contact Maria Peleli-Pedersen. Moreover, PhD students interested in performing a postdoc at SDU are welcome to contact me for investigating opportunities for external funded postdoctoral programs.