Robin da Silva, BSc, PhD

Research summary

The da Silva lab studies metabolism and the role of metabolites as signaling molecules that regulate the function of immune cells. We mainly focus on the folate and B12 dependent amino acid and nucleotide metabolic pathways.

One of our main interests is furthering our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of fibrosis in liver disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are prevalent conditions in developed countries affecting approximately 35% of the population. Liver diseases progress to serious fibrotic liver disease for which there are no effective treatments. Fibrosis is the primary predictor of organ failure. We believe that a better understanding of the crosstalk between metabolism and immune signaling are key to the discovery of novel therapies for this condition.

Tryptophan: Stellate cells are key immune cells in the liver that can differentiate into myofibroblasts and cause fibrosis. We are currently investigating the role of endogenous and gut microbial tryptophan metabolites in the activation of hepatic stellate cells through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in liver fibrosis.

Adenosine: Adenosine receptors are G-protein coupled receptors that regulate immune cell function. The role of adenosine receptors is not clear in the literature and the regulation of cellular adenosine production is unknown. We have discovered that augmenting the metabolism of methionine can influence adenosine signaling in macrophages that regulates phagocytosis.

Research themes

• Adenosine receptor function in immune cells
• Amino acid metabolism
• Creatine biosynthesis
• Fibrosis in liver disease
• Omics for discovery (metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics)

Keywords

• Liver fibrosis
• Metabolic syndrome
• Metabolism
• NAFLD

Research groups

Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases 

Dr. da Silva hails from St. John’s Newfoundland and is now an assistant professor in physiology and pathophysiology in the Rady faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

Dr. da Silva obtained his initial training in biochemistry and amino acid metabolism at Memorial University of Newfoundland with a focus on creatine biosynthesis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. He then worked as a post-doctoral researcher studying lipid metabolism as a part of the Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids group at the University of Alberta.

Prior to Manitoba Dr. da Silva was an assistant professor in food science and human nutrition at the University of Florida developing studies on the functions of Adenosine receptors in immune cells.

Dr. da Silva has developed several successful collaborations including work with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studying interactions of HIV treatments on vitamin B3 (niacin) status and Pellagra in Malawi.

Education

• Post-doctoral fellow, University of Alberta (2012 - 2016)
• Biochemistry PhD, Memorial University of Newfoundland (2012)
• Biochemistry BSc, Memorial University of Newfoundland (2005)

Awards

• Invited speaker Folic acid, Vitamin B12 and One-carbon Metabolism SRC (2018)
• Canadian Lipoprotein Conference Post-Doctoral Poster Award (2013)
• Canadian Lipoprotein Conference Post Doctoral Oral Presentation Award (2013)