Department of Respiration Physiology

Head
Prof. Katarzyna Kaczyńska, PhD, phone: +48 22 60 86 520; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Research staff
Kryspin Andrzejewski, PhD- phone: +48 22 60 86 525; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monika Jampolska, PhD - phone: +48 22 60 86 525; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ewelina Russjan PhD - phone: +22 60 86 496;This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dominika Zając, PhD - phone: +48 22 60 86 496; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PhD students
Ilona Mojzych, MSc (MISDoMP) - phone: +48 22 60 86 520; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Agnieszka Wrzesień, MSc - phone: +48 22 60 86 525; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 


Research profile
• Mechanisms of chemical and neural regulation of breathing in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases
• Role of neuropeptides and opioids in peripheral control of breathing. Cardiovascular and respiratory patterns evoked by endogenous neuropeptides and opioids. Reversal of post-opioid respiratory depression
• Investigation of anti-inflammatory and anti-constrictor potency of various chemicals in murine model of asthma

Grants

  • Development of a product innovation—food for special medical purposes in the form of an ODT formulation to be taken during the perioperative period to prevent the development of postoperative pulmonary complications. NCBR. FENG.01.01-IP.01-A13R/25-00.SMART. MMRI Project Coordinator: prof. Katarzyna Kaczyńska (2026-2029).
  • The effect of resistin on the development of non-atopic asthma in non-obese animals. FBW-053-IMDiK. Principal Investigator: dr Dominika Zając (2024-2025).
  • The effect of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist on inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity in a model of non-atopic asthma in obese mice. NCN 2023/07/X/NZ7/01602. Principal Investigator: dr Ewelina Russjan (2023)
  • Investigation of respiratory disturbances in Parkinson’s disease using an in vivo model: the role of the serotonergic system. Principal Investigator: prof. Katarzyna Kaczyńska (2020-2021)
  • Effects of activation of cholinergic, noradrenergic, and serotonergic systems on respiratory impairment in Alzheimer's disease. Grant NSC 2022/45/B/NZ7/00221. Principal investigator: Katarzyna Kaczyńska (2023-2027)
  • Influence of proinflammatory cytokines IL1, IL6 and TNF-α and acute intermittent hypoxia on respiratory activity in obesity. NSC 2022/06/X/NZ5/00782. Principal investigator: Monika Jampolska (2022-2023).  
  • Exploring pro-inflammatory interleukins as major players in the link carotid body - metabolic deregulation in obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. NAWA BPN/BPT/2021/1/00063. Joint research project with Portuguese partner. Coordinator: Kryspin Andrzejewski (2022-2023)
  • Preparation of carotid body and registration of sinus nerve activity. NSC 2019/03/X/NZ4/00315. Principal investigator: Kryspin Andrzejewski (2019-2020)
  • Influence of “Wieliczka” brine inhalation on inflammatory process and bronchial reactivity in murine model of nonatopic asthma. Grant NSC 2017/01/X/NZ5/00325. Principal investigator: Dominika Zając (2017-2018)
  • Impact of intracerebroventricular and systemic injection of neuropeptide FF on breathing pattern and post-opioid depression of ventilation in anesthetized rats. NSC 2017/01/X/NZ4/00465. Principal investigator: Piotr Wojciechowski (2017-2018)
  • Impact of opioid-neurotensin chimera (PK20) on inflammation in murine model of contact sensitivity reaction and non-atopic asthma - comparison with action of neurotensin and endomorphin 2 pharmacophore. NCN 2014/13/B/NZ7/02247. Principal investigator: Katarzyna Kaczyńska (2015-2017)

Collaboration
domestic
• Department of Pharmacodynamics, Medical university of Warsaw
• Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw
• Department of Chemistry, Warsaw University
• Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Warsaw
• National Medicines Institute, Warsaw
foreign
• Nova Medical School, Lisbona, Portugalia
• Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Italy

Research equipment
• pneumotachograph (Hans Rudolph inc.)
• whole body rodent plethysmograph (Buxco Electronics)
• blood pressure monitor (Columbus Instruments)
• capnograph (Engstrom eliza)
• blood gas analyzer (VetStat)
• respiratory pump (Ugo Basile)
• spectrophotometr (GBC Scientific Equipment Ltd.)
• microplate reader Epoch (BioTek Instruments)
• centrifuge cytospin 4 (Thermo Scientific)
• light microscope (Nikon)
• mikroskop świetlny (Nikon)

Research methods
• measurement of respiratory parameters in anesthetized and awake animals during hypoxia and hypercapnia
• recording of electrophysiological activity of phrenic and hypoglossal nerves (NeuroLog)
• registration of blood pressure and heart rate in anesthetized animals
• stereotacxic operations and dug injections to specific brain structures
• the experimental models used (in vivo): asthma, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease

Selected publications

  • Russjan E, Zając D, Kaczyńska K. Therapeutic Potential of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Respiratory Disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2026, 26, 5803

  • Jampolska M,  Kaczyńska K. The Effect of Dopaminergic Therapies in Parkinson’s Disease on Non-Motor Symptoms. Int J Mol Sci. 2025, 26, 11996.

  • Andrzejewski K, Wrzesień A, Zaremba M, Joniec-Maciejak I, Conde SV, Kaczyńska K. Impaired breathing during exposure to hypoxia and carotid body dysfunction in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. Comp Physiol. 2025; 15:e70035

  • Wojciechowski P, Zając D, Górski A, Kamysz W, Kleczkowska P, Kaczyńska K. Respiratory and cardiovascular activity of LENART01, an analgesic dermorphin–ranatensin hybrid peptide, in anesthetized rats. Int J Mol Sci.2025, 26, 7188 

  • Andrzejewski K, Orłowska ME, Zaremba M, Joniec-Maciejak I, Kaczyńska K. Activation of serotonergic system with fluoxetine or 5-HTP restores blunted hypercapnic ventilatory response in Parkinson’s disease model. Sci Rep. 2025 16;15(1):25712

  • Zając D, Jampolska M, Wojciechowski P. Molecular Hydrogen in the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 26, 4116

  • Mojzych I,  Zawadzka A, Andrzejewski K, Jampolska M, Bednarikova Z, Gancar M, Gazova Z, Mazur M, Kaczyńska K. A Novel Tetrahydroacridine Derivative with Potent Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Properties and Dissociative Capability against Aβ42 Fibrils Confirmed by In Vitro Studies. Int J Mol Sci. 2024, 25, 10072

  • Kaplińska-Kłosiewicz PM, Fura Ł, Kujawska T, Andrzejewski K, Kaczyńska K, Strzemecki D, Sulejczak M, Chrapusta SJ, Macias M, Sulejczak D. Study of Biological Effects Induced in Solid Tumors by Shortened-Duration Thermal Ablation Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound. Cancers 2024, 16, 2846

  • Andrzejewski K, Orłowska ME, Zaremba M, Joniec-Maciejak I, Kaczyńska K*. Impact of Serotonergic 5HT1A and 5HT2A Receptor Activation on the Respiratory Response to Hypercapnia in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2024, 25, 4403

  • Wrzesień A, Andrzejewski K, Jampolska M, Kaczyńska K. Respiratory Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease—Consequence or Underlying Cause? Applying Animal Models to the Study of Respiratory Malfunctions. Int J Mol Sci. 2024, 25, 2327

  • Mojzych I, Zawadzka A, Kaczyńska K, Wojciechowski P, Zając D, Chotkowski M, Wiktorska K, Maurin J, Mazur M. Tetrahydroacridine derivative and its conjugate with gold nanoparticles: Promising agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2023; 25 (25): 16796

  • Jampolska M, Andrzejewski K, Boguszewski PM, Kaczyńska K. L-DOPA improves ventilation but not the ventilatory response to hypercapnia in a reserpine model of Parkinson’s Disease. Brain Sci.2023, 13[5], 775

  • Kaczyńska K, Jampolska M, Wojciechowski P, Sulejczak D, Andrzejewski K, Zając D. Potential of Lactoferrin in the treatment of lung diseases. Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16, 192

  • Andrzejewski K, Jampolska M, Mojzych I, Conde SV, Kaczyńska K. Hypoxic and Hypercapnic Responses in Transgenic Murine Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Overexpressing Human AβPP: The Effects of Pretreatment with Memantine and Rivastigmine. Int J Mol Sci. 2022, 23, 6004

  • Kowalczyk P, Kaczyńska K, Kleczkowska P, Bukowska-Ośko I, Kramkowski K, Sulejczak D. The Lactoferrin Phenomenon-A Miracle Molecule. Molecules 2022, 27, 2941, 

  • Kaczyńska K, Orłowska ME, Andrzejewski K. Respiratory Abnormalities in Parkinson’s Disease. What Do We Know from Studies in Humans and Animal Models? Int J Mol Sci. 2022, 23, 3499; doi.org/ 10.3390/ijms23073499

  • Kaczyńska K, Zając D, Wojciechowski P, Jampolska M. Regulatory Peptides in Asthma. Int J Mol Sci. 2021, 22, 13656

  • Kaczyńska K, Wojciechowski P. Non-Opioid Peptides Targeting Opioid Effects. Int J Mol Sci. 2021, 22, 13619

  • Jampolska M, Andrzejewski K, Zaremba M, Joniec-Maciejak I, Kaczyńska K*. Deficiency of Biogenic Amines Modulates the Activity of Hypoglossal Nerve in the Reserpine Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Cells 2021, 10, 531

  • Russjan E, Zając D, Sulejczak D, Kleczkowska P, Kaczyńska K. Contribution of opioid and neurotensin receptors in the anti-inflammatory activity of PK20 hybrid compound in murine airways. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2021, 00: 1-9

Patent
Pat.234708 - „Conjugates of selenium and isothiocyanate nanoparticles for use in the treatment of tumors” (2019)