ProjectAging and neurodegeneration in a human brain tissue model
Basic data
Title:
Aging and neurodegeneration in a human brain tissue model
Duration:
01/08/2022 to 31/07/2026
Abstract / short description:
Aging is the biggest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. In the brain glia cells are important drivers of aging and microglia-related inflammation leads to alterations in neuronal function. We hypothesize that microglia, neuron-intrinsic characteristics and soluble factors in the cerebrospinal fluid modulate neuronal function and drive neurodegeneration.
During the pilot phase we successfully established a human long-term ex vivo brain slice culture model of proteopathic disease, allowing for the first time to investigate the dynamics and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease in aged human tissue in unprecedented detail.
Taking this approach to the next level and dissecting the molecular-cellular underpinnings of reserve and vulnerability to proteopathy holds great potential for providing insight into disease pathogenesis with translational applicability to affected patients. For phase II of this project we will therefore focus on neurodegenerative insults in the context of different stages of human life and address not only cellular but also soluble factors that mediate cell-to-cell communication. We will significantly extent on our preceding work and create heterochronous brain slice cultures combining human brain tissue derived from patients of different age with progressively matured/aged microglia and CSF. Electrophysiology, targeted ‘omics’ and imaging will enable to identify how microglia drive age-related neuronal vulnerability, to reveal soluble (glial) aging factors interfering with neuronal function and how young/old neurons maintain/lose resilience to these processes. Thus, this project has the potential to contribute transformative insights into mechanisms underlying human aging and neurodegeneration that can uncover new avenues for therapy.
During the pilot phase we successfully established a human long-term ex vivo brain slice culture model of proteopathic disease, allowing for the first time to investigate the dynamics and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease in aged human tissue in unprecedented detail.
Taking this approach to the next level and dissecting the molecular-cellular underpinnings of reserve and vulnerability to proteopathy holds great potential for providing insight into disease pathogenesis with translational applicability to affected patients. For phase II of this project we will therefore focus on neurodegenerative insults in the context of different stages of human life and address not only cellular but also soluble factors that mediate cell-to-cell communication. We will significantly extent on our preceding work and create heterochronous brain slice cultures combining human brain tissue derived from patients of different age with progressively matured/aged microglia and CSF. Electrophysiology, targeted ‘omics’ and imaging will enable to identify how microglia drive age-related neuronal vulnerability, to reveal soluble (glial) aging factors interfering with neuronal function and how young/old neurons maintain/lose resilience to these processes. Thus, this project has the potential to contribute transformative insights into mechanisms underlying human aging and neurodegeneration that can uncover new avenues for therapy.
Keywords:
neurodegenerative disorder
neurodegenerative Erkrankung
Glia-Zellen
Mikroglia
Involved staff
Managers
University Department of Neurology
Hospitals and clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Hospitals and clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Contact persons
University Department of Neurology
Hospitals and clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Hospitals and clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Local organizational units
Department of Cell Biology of Neurological Diseases
Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH)
Non-clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Non-clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Funders
Redwood City, Kalifornien, United States