Neurogenesis in the hypothalamus and the modulatory role of inate immune response

• Grant number: 13/04450-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Isaias Glezer
• Grantee: Juliana Mayumi Suzuki
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Farmacologia (INFAR). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The process of hypothalamic adult neurogenesis has been recently described. Although it is less known compared to the two neurogenic niches classic mature CNS, there is strong evidence that a site is capable of generating neurons effectors that regulate energy balance. Thus, the study of the molecular mechanisms that disrupt or modulate neurogenic this process is of great interest. As it is a brain region associated with the detection of systemic disorders and coordination of neuroendocrine responses, the hypothalamus is a candidate to be the target of cellular mechanisms of plasticity strongly modulated by immune reactivity. Although the neuroprotective role vs. deleterious inflammatory response in neurodegenerative processes remains under discussion, neurogenesis appears to be strongly affected by the pro-inflammatory activity exerted by microglia, the effector cells of innate immunity in the CNS. In this proposal, we aim to assess whether neurogenesis is disrupted by hypothalamic signaling triggered by activation of the innate immune response. (AU)