Research
The broad goal of the lab is to decipher the mechanisms dictating the diversity of peripheral glial cells to achieve a better understanding of their role in the context of disease and injury
Peripheral glia cells represent a highly diverse cell population that contributes to peripheral nervous system function, controlling sensory and motor behaviors.
Dysfunction of peripheral glia has been linked to many pathologies, including neurodegenerative disease, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and chronic pain syndrome. Yet, we know very little about the underlying molecular mechanisms, which stem mostly from our inability to study peripheral glia in a cell-specific manner.
The lab combines developmental biology and molecular neuroscience to define the molecular signature and properties of the different peripheral glia populations.
We will facilitate the development of novel glial-targeted tools for the restoration of neuronal function in injuries, neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Peripheral Glia Cells
Glial cells constitute a large proportion of the central and peripheral nervous systems and are critical for the correct development and function of neuronal networks. In the peripheral nervous system, a glia sheath covers almost the entire surface of the neuronal cell, from the ganglion to the nerve endings. Peripheral glial cells originate from multipotent neural crest progenitors, reside in different locations throughout the body, and play vital multifunctional roles, including neuronal support, axon myelination, regulation of sensory processing, and participation in the maintenance and regeneration of the peripheral nervous system. To date, a major limitation in the glial field is the lack of reliable cell-type and stage-specific markers that will allow the study of these diverse populations in a cell-specific manner.
Projects in the lab
Generating Molecular Tools for lineage tracing of the diverse glia populations
Lineage tracing analysis has been an essential tool for exploring neural crest cell fate and migration routes. By marking progenitor cells, one can observe their subsequent locations and the cell types into which they differentiate. The lab will establish advanced techniques, combining extensive cell profiling and lineage tracing, that will uncover novel markers of specific peripheral glia subtypes. This research will lay the foundations for future in-depth mechanistic studies of peripheral glial populations in health and in disease.
Exploring glia-neuron interactions in development and injury
Peripheral glia cells contribute to neuronal function. However, how they interact and communicate with the neurons is mainly unexplored. Recent studies have generated molecular profiles of peripheral neurons and glia. Those include many receptor-ligand pairs expressed on both neurons and glia. We will explore the mechanisms in which glia interact with neurons during the formation of the nervous system and how those interactions change upon injury to the nervous system.
Chick embryo in-ovo electroporation
