Projects

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All-for-one and one-for-all: Microglia-centric networks with neurons and astrocytes. University of Antwerp

Renzo Mancuso
VIB CMN - Microglia and Inflammation in Neurological Disorders (MIND) lab
The key to explaining neurodegenerative disease may lie in our understanding of microglial interactions with other CNS cells, which I plan to unravel using a combined human xenotransplantation model and barcoded rabies virus approach. Microglia (MG) are the resident immune cells of the brain, constantly extending and retracting their processes to monitor the surrounding environment. However they are not mere responders to disease or damage. ...

Modulation of astrocyte activation in murine iPSC-derived neurospheroids. University of Antwerp

Peter Ponsaerts
Laboratory for Experimental Hematology (LEH)
Neurospheroids cultured from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) represent an important research tool to study neuron-astrocyte interactions, during development, homeostasis and stress. In course of the EU MSCA ITN PMSMatTrain project, the UAntwerp partner developed a 5-week old murine iPSC-derived neurospheroid model containing mature neurons and astrocytes in order to evaluate the therapeutic potential of several neuro-protective/modulating ...

Functional and molecular profiling of immune-competent neurospheroids under stroke-like conditions. University of Antwerp

Peter Ponsaerts
Laboratory for Experimental Hematology (LEH)
Due to the enormous impact of stroke on the patient's quality of life and on society, decades of research resulted in the identification of thousands of candidate neuroprotective drugs. Unfortunately, none have led to an effective therapy to date. This can partially be attributed to the lack of in vitro systems able to accurately recapitulate human ischemic responses. Fortunately, the advent of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-technology has ...

Investigation of functional immune cell-astrocyte interaction and its contribution to Neuroinflammation KU Leuven

Lidia Yshii
Adaptive Immunology

Neurological function and dysfunction are controlled by complex biological responses involving the coordinated activities of multiple cell types in the central nervous system (CNS). A growing body of evidence points to the importance of the reciprocal communication between CNS-resident cells and the immune system for CNS physiology. Integration of the glial compartment as an active participant in neuroimmune processes is paramount. My key ...

Danio rerio: a “humanized” in vivo model for the study of non-cell autonomous mechanisms in ALS KU Leuven

Ludo Van Den Bosch
Molecular Biodiscovery, Laboratory for Neurobiology (VIB-KU Leuven)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of both upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). In this regard, in the last years the non-cell autonomous contribution of reactive astrocytes has been considered as extremely influential to the course of the pathology. Unfortunately, in-vitro 2D cultures and mouse models are not capable to fully recapitulate molecular pathological features and motor ...

SECRET - Evaluation of the neuro-protective properties of perinatal derivatives using murine iPSC-derived neurospheroids. University of Antwerp

Peter Ponsaerts
Laboratory for Experimental Hematology (LEH)
Perinatal tissues encompass a large and diverse cell/tissue family obtained from term pregnancies. Perinatal derivatives (PnDs) include amniotic membrane, chorion, Wharton's jelly, amniotic fluid, and the cells isolated from these tissues, as well as the factors that these cells release. PnD have drawn much attention due to their immune-modulatory and tissue-protecting properties, making them attractive candidates in regenerative medicine. ...

the functional characterization of immune cells-astrocyte interactionsduring CNS inflammation KU Leuven

Lidia Yshii
Adaptive Immunology
Our key focus is to study the complex multi-cell interactions involving CNS-resident and recruited peripheral cells, in the context of MS. Here, the objective is to study T cell / B cell interaction with astrocytes during MS and other neurological disorders. In particular, we aim to study functional immune cell-astrocyte interactions, their contribution to the pathogenesis of MS, and their value as therapeutic targets.Understanding these complex ...

Defining key regulators of neural stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. University of Antwerp

Kristien Reekmans
Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO)
Although neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation holds great promise as a potential cellular therapy for several central nervous system disorders, a number of major challenges remain in this research field. One of the limitiations in NSC transplantation research to date is the lack of an unambiguous marker to identify undifferentiated neural stem cells. The shared expression of marker proteins between NSC and astrocytes greatly complicates the ...

Cell subtype-specific neuron-glia contributions to cortical plasticity KU Leuven

Lut Arckens
Laboratory of Glia Biology (VIB-KU Leuven), Animal Physiology and Neurobiology
Understanding brain plasticity is of a broad general clinical relevance, particularly for the treatment of neurological injuries and disorders in an aging population. Whereas we begin to understand the contributions of subtypes of neurons, astrocytes are only now emerging as essential to the phenomenon. Yet these glial cells are morphologically and molecularly ideally equipped to participate in brain plasticity. In this project, we aim to ...