Team research topics:

Astrocytes exert a predominant influence on the cerebrovascular system. Their regulations occur at the level of the gliovascular unit (GVU), a specialized interface composed of perivascular astrocytic extensions (PvAPs) that completely cover the cerebral vessels. This morphological and functional polarity is of crucial importance for the brain physiology and is modified in a large number of pathologies. Thus, how astrocytes accomplish their regulatory functions at the brain vascular interface is a key question from a medical point of view. Our recent work has unveiled important molecular and functional aspects of gliovascular regulations. We developed molecular and imaging approaches dedicated to the study of the GVU. We showed that PvAPs develop from birth to the postnatal day 15 in the mouse and undergo a postnatal molecular maturation. We showed that these developmental processes are altered in megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC), a rare type of leukodystrophy. We discovered that astrocytes organize a specific local protein synthesis in PvAPs, probably essential for their identity and functional polarity.

Following this work, we now want to further explore some important aspect of the GVU in physiology  and physiopathology: Its architecture which remains yet undetermined, developing an astrocytic specific multicolor-imaging strategy; Its plasticity and the potential therapeutic value of such property in MLC; the organization of local translation in PvAPs and its role in their molecular and functional polarity. Overall our project constitutes an original and essential field of research in neurobiology and neuropathology which will lay the groundwork for the knowledge of astroglial-cerebrovascular regulations, their implication in human brain diseases, and their therapeutic relevance.

 

Main techniques used:

Molecular biology ; Histology ; Imaging ; Transcriptomic ; Proteomic.

Address :
11, place Marcelin-Berthelot 75231 Paris Cedex 05

Team leader :
Martine Cohen-Salmon
Name of co-team leader :

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Key words : Astrocytes ; Système vasculaire cérébral ; Interfaces neuro-glio-vasculaires ; Traduction locale ; Physiopathologie Cerebrovascular system ; Neuro-glio-vascular interface ; Local translation ; Physiopathology