Regulation of adult neurogenesis by neuroinflammation (IZKF SchwJ3/001/11)

Basic data for this project

Description

The replacement of neurons that degenerate during neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease (PD) could be mediated by endogenously present neural stem cells. Unfortunately, these neurodegenerative diseases also induce a chronic inflammatory reaction that is inhibiting neural stem cells. Therefore, the regenerative potential of adult neural stem cells is hampered during those diseases. This project aims to use modern imaging technology (PET, SPECT, BLI) to non-invasively visualize PD-associated neuroin-flammation and neurodegeneration in a PD mouse model. The activity of endogenous neural stem cells will be imaged by employing lentiviral-based reporter vectors and shall be correlated to the extent of neuroin-flammation. Finally, we aim to inhibit the inflammatory reaction to enhance regeneration that is mediated by endogenous neural stem cells.