GPCR Question Elucidating
the role of inflammation and neurovascular
unit/blood brain barrier dysfunction in
cognitive decline and dementia
Niemann Pick type-C (NPC) is a fatal neurodegenerative
lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the
NPC1 and NPC2 genes. Mutations in the NPC genes cause
the lack of expression of these proteins, and the
consequent abnormal intracellular accumulation of
cholesterol in several tissues, including the liver,
spleen, and brain. Progressive and severe
degeneration of neurons in different regions of the
brain, but more severely in the cerebellum and
thalamus, is accompanied by neuroinflammation and
severe neurological phenotypes such as cerebellar
ataxia and dementia. However the contribution of
neuroinflammation to NPC disease progression has not
been elucidated.
The Soto laboratory is investigating the relative
timing of inflammatory molecules expression and
monocyte infiltration in the NPC1nmf164 mouse
brain. In addition, the structural and
functional changes in the neurovascular unit of
NPCnmf164 mice and their correlation with
inflammatory responses in the brain will be also
characterized. Undergraduate students in
the Soto lab will research the interaction of two
important and complex biological systems: the immune
and the nervous system, learn about brain anatomy
and function, neurodegeneration, inflammation,
cellular and molecular processes, and behavioral
outcomes. In addition students will develop and
acquire skills that would include mouse handling,
simple behavioral tests, tissue dissection and
processing for histology, immunohistochemistry, in
situ hybridization, qPCR, and microscopy.
GPCR Question
GPCR Question
Contact:
Ileana Soto, PhD
Dept of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences
Rowan University
Science Hall, 256D
201 Mullica Hill Rd.
Glassboro NJ, 08028
Tel. (856) 256 4500 ext 53585
Email: sotoreyes@rowan.edu