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Laboratory of Neuronal and Glial Physiology

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RESEARCH

Our research focuses on understanding the role of NG2-glia during spinal cord injury (SCI).

The World Health Organization reports that 300.000 – 500.000 people suffer SCI every year, and recovery after SCI is slow and incomplete. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic approaches for promoting functional repair after SCI.

The NG2-glia, glial cells expressing the proteoglycan neuron-glia antigen 2 (NG2), are widespread in grey and white matter of the brain and the spinal cord of animals and humans. These cells are intriguing because on the one hand, they have properties of immature progenitors being able to migrate, proliferate, and differentiate, while on the other hand, they persist in high numbers in the adult central nervous system, express complex set of ion channels and receptors, receive synaptic input from neurons, and sense neuronal activity in a pattern-specific fashion.

NG2-glia is an important player during SCI: these cells are the major components of glial scar, but also represent the source of new oligodendrocytes for re-myelination of neuronal axons. In our laboratory, we use a clinically relevant mouse model of SCI to study functional role of ion channels and receptors in NG2-glia during SCI.

Our research is expected to highlight new molecules and new signaling pathways playing a role in the pathogenesis of SCI and, over the long-term, may lead to the generation of new drugs for management of SCI injury.

PROGRAMME

TECHNIQUES

In our laboratory, we use mouse model of spinal cord injury, in vivo viral gene delivery approaches, immunohistochemistry, FACS, state-of-the-art imaging techniques, and electrophysiology.

FUNDING

Our work is supported by the IKERBASQUE (Basque Foundation for Science), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (grant PID2019-110195RB-I00), and the Basque Government PIBA Project (PIBA 2020_1_0030).

People

Principal Investigator

Predoctoral Researcher

Latest publications

  1. Understanding the Role of the Glial Scar through the Depletion of Glial Cells after Spinal Cord Injury

    Perez-Gianmarco, Lucila; Kukley, Maria
    Cells (Jul, 2023) DOI: 10.3390/cells12141842
  2. Technical approaches and challenges to study AMPA receptors in oligodendrocyte lineage cells: Past, present, and future

    Perez-Gianmarco, Lucila; Kurt, Begüm; Kukley, Maria
    Glia (Apr, 2023) DOI: 10.1002/glia.24305
  3. Recent Insights into the Functional Role of AMPA Receptors in the Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells In Vivo

    Kukley, Maria
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Feb, 2023) DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044138
  4. Editorial: Journey to the Center of the Brain: Cell Physiology and Intercellular Communication in White Matter

    Flower, Grace; Hamilton, Nicola B.; Kukley, Maria
    Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (Mar, 2022) DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.864368
  5. Altered Expression of Ion Channels in White Matter Lesions of Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: What Do We Know About Their Function?

    Boscia, Francesca; Elkjaer, Maria Louise; Illes, Zsolt; Kukley, Maria
    Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (Jun, 2021) DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.685703