Purinergic Neuroinflammation and Brain Disorders

Research subject

Neurological disorders are alterations of the central or peripheral nervous system caused by alterations in neuronal transmission or more global neuroinflammatory disturbances of local circuits involving glial cells.
The scientific goal of our team is to understand the contribution of neuronal versus inflammatory signaling in certain brain disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and co-morbid pathologies such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anxiety-related disorders.

Our research focuses on the involvement of three types of modulation of neuronal transmission:

1. Purinergic signaling and, more specifically, P2X ATP receptors capable of regulating the activity of neurons and microglia under normal and pathological conditions as well as developmental processes.
2. Peptidergic signaling involved in chronic pain processes and associated neuropsychiatric disorders. We are particularly interested in peptides of the relaxin family.
3. Inflammatory signaling and its consequences on the modulation of neuronal circuit activity

We combine cellular, anatomical, functional and behavioral approaches using different models, including cell cultures, the Xenopus model for neurodevelopmental studies, and various pharmacological, lesional, and transgenic mouse models.
We hope to define new innovative therapeutic strategies and cellular targets to cure these neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.

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