Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases (DSB.AD004.370)

Area tematica

Scienze biomediche

Area progettuale

Struttura responsabile del progetto di ricerca

Istituto di Biochimica e Biologia Cellulare (IBBC)

Responsabile di progetto

FRANCESCA RUBERTI
Telefono: 06/90091
E-mail: francesa.ruberti@cnr.it

Abstract

Human brain physiology and pathology are regulated by intracellular and intercellular signalling of brain cells as well as by the Central Nervous System microenvironment. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the formation of Amyloid beta plaques, deriving from the Amyloid Precursor Protein, and deposition of phosphorylated tau in neurofibrillary tangles. Features of AD patients are memory impairment and a progressive cognitive decline leading to dementia. Neuronal and microglia genes are implicated in AD pathogenesis. Alteration of miRNA expression profiles has been described in AD human brain tissues. Dysregulation of miRNAs is implicated in APP expression, Abeta production/clearance, tau phosphorylation, and neuroinflammation, and it has been shown to contribute to AD pathology. Neurons and microglia reciprocally modulate their phenotypes by receptor ligand interactions, release of soluble molecules, as well as exosomes and extracellular vesicles containing miRNAs, cytokines and other components. The project will focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which neuronal or microglial gene modulations affect each other in AD.

Obiettivi

The development of cellular models, the study of pro-inflammatory stimuli and specific genes on microglia activation and synapses
remodeling could contribute to the identification and characterization of molecular signatures associated to relevant AD biological processes.

Data inizio attività

01/01/2022

Parole chiave

neurons/microglia co-cultures, microRNAs, Alzheimer's Disease

Ultimo aggiornamento: 04/05/2024