The role of alpha-Klotho in neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

• Grant number: 19/26084-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 01, 2020
• End date: February 28, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Cristoforo Scavone
• Grantee: Paula Fernanda Kinoshita
• Supervisor: Frédéric Checler
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), France
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/14289-6 - The role of Klotho protein in Alzheimer's disease, BP.PD

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading neurodegenerative pathologies in the western world and represents a health and socioeconomic problem. In this context, understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of AD would be possible to identify new therapeutic options. Neuroinflammation has an important role in AD. Microglia, the macrophages of the central nervous system playing a role in the "non-autonomous" elimination of protein aggregates, seems to be important for AD's development and maintenance. However, the role of microglia and its interaction with neurons in AD still need to be explored. ±-Klotho is a transmembrane protein described as an anti-aging protein that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. ±-Klotho has been studied a lot since its discovery, even though its functions remain not completely understood especially in the brain and in AD. The project aims to investigate the role of ±-Klotho in the regulation of neuroinflammation associated to AD. We expect to decipher a new molecular mechanism involved in the onset and/or progression of AD and consider ±-Klotho as a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of AD. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

EYSERT, FANNY; KINOSHITA, PAULA FERNANDA; MARY, ARNAUD; VAILLANT-BEUCHOT, LOAN; CHECLER, FREDERIC; CHAMI, MOUNIA. Molecular Dysfunctions of Mitochondria-Associated Membranes (MAMs) in Alzheimer's Disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, v. 21, n. 24, DEC 2020. (19/26084-2)