[141] Progéniteurs neuronaux
We are interested in using neural stem/progenitor cells for the study
of brain plasticity and neural repair. We seek to understand the
molecular control of neural progenitor migration and to develop
strategies to direct these cells to sites of injury to achieve
structural repair. For this purpose, we developed cell-based in vitro
models including organotypic cultures of the cerebral cortex, to
analyze the migratory behavior of multipotential neural progenitors
using video time-lapse microscopy. Additionally, we investigate the
potential of implanted stem/progenitor cells to induce functional
recovery in an animal model of neonatal ischemia. We focus on the
somatosensory barrel cortex by taking advantage of a recently
established methodology for epicranial multielectrode recordings of
somatosensory evoked potential that allows for monitoring functional
deficit and recovery after injury. Exploring new strategies to improve
the integration of grafted cells into recipient host circuits, we
employ lentivirus-based genetic engineering to introduce controllable
expression of candidate molecules in transplanted cells. These studies
are carried out in collaboration with various clinical departments
within the framework of the in vivo platform we recently established in
the Department.
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