Guest Editors
Carla Maria Nunes Lopes
University of Coimbra
Dr. Carla Lopes is an Assistant Researcher at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal. Dr. Lopes received her masters in Biomedical Engineering in 2010 and her PhD in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, branch of Neuroscience and Disease, from the University of Coimbra in 2015. As a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, she has thoroughly investigated mitochondrial-based mechanisms in Huntington´s disease (HD) patient-derived iPSC and differentiated neural stem cells and showed that metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction linked to transcriptional deregulation are early events in HD pathogenesis. Recently, she is focused on defining the mechanism involved in the pathogenic propagation of HD-related proteins and identifying specific exosomal microRNA that may rescue HD-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and striatal synaptic dysfunction.
Ana Patrícia Figueiredo Rocha Simões
University of Coimbra
Dr. Ana Simões is an Assistant Researcher at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Portugal. She obtained her BSc in Biochemistry in 2003 and her PhD in Biomedical Sciences in 2012 from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal. As a PhD student at the group ‘Purines at CNC’, headed by Dr. Rodrigo A. Cunha her work focused on the neuroprotective properties of selective antagonists for purine receptors. Most recently, Dr. Simões postdoctoral research focuses on identifying how adenosine A2A receptors modulate aversive memories, anxiety and depressive-like behavior in physiological and pathological conditions. Dr Simões long-term goal is to further understand the impact of A2AR in the amygdala, a brain region highly affected by stress and trauma.
Sandra Isabel Freitas Mota
University of Coimbra
Dr. Sandra Mota is an Assistant Researcher at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Portugal. She obtained her masters in Cellular Biology and Pharmacology from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University René Descartes of Paris, France, in 2008 and her PhD in Cellular Biology, specialty in Neurosciences from the University of Coimbra in 2013. Dr Mota carried out her Post-Doctoral research at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal. She is particularly interested in the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms associated to neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in cellular and animal models. Her current goal is to study the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress-associated pathways in neurodegenerative disorders and how moderate oxidative stress can be involved in long term toxicity through the alteration of mitochondrial dynamics and function
Paulo César da Silva Pinheiro
University of Coimbra
Dr. Paulo Pinheiro is an Assistant Researcher at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Portugal. He obtained his BSc in Biology from the University of Minho and his PhD in Biology from the University of Coimbra, having carried out postdoctoral research at the Bordeaux Neuroscience Institute and at the Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen. Dr. Pinheiro is currently part of the Synapse Biology group at CNC where he runs a subgroup dedicated to studying components of the membrane fusion machinery in the context of neuronal and synaptic physiology and how alterations in these processes may contribute to disease.
Collection Overview
Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system, responsible for receiving and processing external inputs and generating appropriate responses through synaptic communication and computation. Glial cells can modulate neuronal activity and regulate synaptic transmission and plasticity phenomena that underlie learning and memory. They fulfill important homeostatic functions that ensure the proper functioning of neuronal networks by i) providing structural and metabolic support (astrocytes), ii) mounting inflammatory responses and clearing cellular debris (microglia) and iii) are responsible for axonal myelination (oligodendrocytes). In the developmental stages they are fundamental for axonal guidance, synapse formation and synapse pruning. Thus, it is fundamental to investigate the bidirectional communication between glial cells and neurons to better understand both physiological and pathological phenomena in the brain.
Neuronal and glial health depend on proper mitochondrial function. At synapses, where high-energy demand processes require local ATP synthesis, mitochondria are recruited and form a dynamic and adaptable network. They also exert a fundamental role in Ca2+ buffering in neurons. Mitochondrial dysfunction accompanying synaptic degeneration is observed in several neurodegenerative disorders but the mechanisms linking both are unclear. The current Methods Collection aims at gathering original tools and advanced protocols to analyze neuronal and glial morphology, function, and interaction that will allow evaluating this crosstalk both in health and disease conditions. The Collection also includes advanced methods to study mitochondrial function, metabolism, and biogenesis in neurons and glial cells.
Articles
Abstracts
Isolation of Mouse Hyppocampal, Cortical, Striatal and Cerebelar Glia and Astrocytes
Aris Polyzos*1
1Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94605, USA
Autaptic neuron cultures for the electrophysiological analysis of synaptic function.
Elisa Corti1,
Paulo Pinheiro*1
1Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of Coimbra