Dr Alexandra Grubman, VIC : "Distinct microglial phenotypes in Alzheimer’s disease are controlled by amyloid plaque phagocytosis"
Speaker:
Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800
Title: "Distinct microglial phenotypes in Alzheimer’s disease are controlled by amyloid plaque phagocytosis"
Abstract: Microglia are brain immune cells that remove cellular and extracellular debris and regulate synaptic plasticity, maturation and removal. Recently altered microglial genomics, epigenomics and functions emerged as key contributors to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nonetheless, whether toxic microglial inflammatory cytokine secretion and aberrant synapse overpruning outweigh the beneficial amyloid clearance functions of microglia in AD remains highly controversial. To address these questions, we explored whether functional differences in amyloid plaque phagocytosis in a plaque-depositing AD mouse result from or contribute to the underlying molecular and functional diversity of microglia in AD. Using a combination of bulk and single cell RNA-seq, and proteomics approaches, we showed that the amyloid plaque phagocytic subset of microglia are molecularly distinct from physiological microglia and from non-plaque containing microglia in AD brains. For instance, several later onset AD risk factors and their direct interacting partners are differentially expressed in plaque-containing microglia. We are now using stem cell derived microglia like cells to manipulate the signaling pathways involved in generating the plaque-associated microglial signature.
About Neuroscience Seminars
Neuroscience seminars at the QBI play a major role in the advancement of neuroscience in the Asia-Pacific region. The primary goal of these seminars is to promote excellence in neuroscience through the exchange of ideas, establishing new collaborations and augmenting partnerships already in place.
Seminars in the QBI Auditorium are held on Wednesdays at 12-1pm, which are sometimes simulcast on Zoom (with approval from the speaker). We also occassionally hold seminars from international speakers via Zoom. The days and times of these seminars will vary depending on the time zone of the speaker. Please see each seminar listed below for details.
