Integration of single-cell tracing tools into neuron-glia networks to study glial response and neurovascular unit adaptations

• Grant number: 24/03057-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: June 26, 2024
• End date: June 25, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Marimélia Aparecida Porcionatto
• Grantee: Lina Maria Delgado Garcia
• Supervisor: Laura Lopez Mascaraque
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Instituto Cajal, Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/04258-1 - Exploring neurovascular unit adaptations in the regulation of apoptosis and glial response after brain injury, BP.PD

Abstract

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a complex, dynamic structure made up of neurons, glia, and vascular cells. Recent data revealed how glia interactions might be fundamental for NVU function. Despite the vast knowledge of glia biology, some fundamental aspects remain unknown. For instance, the exact physiological implications of different glial lineages in neuron-glial networks and their contribution to NVU function during both health and disease are still unclear. Here, we focus on NVU regional adaptations, glia diversity, and their contribution to in vitro NVU network formation. Elucidating the relationship between glial diversity and NVU function will increase our knowledge of the brain at the single-cell level. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the organism's multicellular and molecular response to brain damage is fundamental for developing new therapeutic strategies.