Investigating microglia inflammasome activation and regulation in Alzheimer disease

Microglial cells are the resident mononuclear phagocytes of the central nervous system (CNS) and
have a functional role in both immune defense and CNS maintenance. These cells may however
also acquire a detrimental pro-inflammatory phenotype that involves the formation of
inflammasomes - cytosolic multi-protein complexes responsible for the production of proinflammatory
cytokines - and the induction of pyroptosis, a lytic form of cell death that provokes
further inflammation. Although activated microglia and the inflammasome have been frequently
implicated in many inflammatory disorders, very little is known about their contribution towards
neuroinflammation and Alzheimer (AD) pathophysiology. The proposed study aims to fill this gap
by focusing on particular components in this pathway. Specifically, we will focus on the caspases -1
and -11 that are activated upon inflammasome assembly, and in turn cleave and activate the
classic pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1b and IL-18 to sustain a neuroinflammatory condition. We
will also investigate the role of A20, a potent brake on the central pro-inflammatory NF-B
pathway, in controlling microglial activation, inflammasome assembly, and the downstream proinflammatory
effects.
Through the use of novel and accurate mouse models, and a variety of in-vivo, in-vitro and ex-vivo
techniques, this project will provide an insight into the molecular mechanisms of
neuroinflammation and its importance for the pathology of AD.