NICOP - Microglial activation and neural stem cells cross talk post Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Abstract

Title: Microglial activation and neural stem cells cross talk post TBIMild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) is the most common type o"f head injury and results in neurologic and cognitive deficits especially in attention and memory. Microglia, the central nervous sy"stem resident immune cells become activated after TBI in a normal response to clear injured cells. Persistent inflammation can lead to neurologic deficits partly attributable to impaired neurogenesis. Neurogenesis refers to the generation of new neurons from endo"genous stem cells. This process takes place in specialized brain regions such as the subventricular zone and hippocampus, and is lin"ked to learning and memory. We hypothesize that microglia play an important role in TBI and they can be beneficial or damaging depen"ding on their state of activation. In this proposal, we will explore how TBI leads to activation of microglia (inflammation), and ho""w chronic activation of microglia impairs neurogenesis, leading to behavioral deficits. The objectives of this study are:" To characterize the role of microglial activation at different time points after an experimental TBI using mouse models of mild a"nd severe TBI. We will examine the distribution and timing of microglia activation anatomically and molecularly. Further, we will as"sess the effect of TBI on neural stem cells (NSCs) multiplication and differentiation in live animals and the mechanism of microglial effects on NSCs. Finally; the behavioral deficits post severe and mild TBI including spontaneous object and location recognition memory and relate the outcomes with neural injury and inflammatory markers

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
May 05, 2017
Source ID
N629091712059

Entities

People

  • Samia Khoury

Organizations

  • American University of Beirut
  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Neuroscience
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Cognitive Aging in the Guam and Border Populations Affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Tau-Associated Dementias.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology