Dysregulated Astrocyte p38, Brain Inflammation, and Alzheimer's Pathology
Principal Investigator
Project Goals
Test the hypothesis that astrocyte p38 activation in response to inflammatory stress stimulates production of IL-33, which then propagates proinflammatory responses and leads to neuronal damage.
Project Summary
Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell type in the brain, become abnormally activated early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and can lead to detrimental brain inflammation and nerve cell damage. The p38 MAPK drives inflammation in microglia but its role in astrocytes is understudied. Our project will use novel mouse models and well-characterized human biospecimens to define the potential linkage between astrocyte p38, neuroinflammation, and AD neuropathologic change, thus providing new insight into mechanisms by which abnormal astrocyte activation in AD contributes to disease progression.
Publications
First published on: October 10, 2024
Last modified on: December 16, 2024