Role of oligodendroglial cells in Alzheimer’s Disease pathology

Description

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), by its exceptional prominence in people aged 75 and above, represents a major public health issue worldwide. Unfortunately, compared to other neurodegenerative diseases, the failure rate in clinical trials of AD drugs in one of the highest. One explanation could be that we still do not completely understand disease onset and progression. Past studies have mainly been focused on the repercussions of amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary tangles accumulation around and within neuronal cells only. Recently, new evidence, on human post-mortem tissues and AD murine models, have highlighted the importance to extend our research to glial cells, such as oligodendroglial cells.
If many data support an oligodendroglial contribution in AD pathology, how oligodendroglial cell lineage could have a causal role in AD onset and progression is still largely unknown.

We will test whether age-related dysregulation of oligodendroglial functions could result in defective neuro-oligodendroglial communication, thereby impacting neuronal function, inducing early neurodegeneration and disease onset in AD models.
This project will combine behavioral work, transcriptomic analysis, and cell tissue cultures to better characterize the molecular and phenotypic mechanisms underlying oligodendroglial dysfunction in AD.

Profil recherché

The ideal candidate should be a master student in cell biology or neurosciences, an interest in glial cells, aging, and in neurodegenerative diseases.
Required skills: Mouse handling, team player, motivation, organization skills, communication skills.
Appreciated skills: cell culture, histology, microscopy and/or live-imaging, animal behavior, electrophysiology, bioinformatics.

Établissement d'accueil

The Moyon lab is opening in June 2023 at the Institute of NeuroPhysiopathology, on the hospital Timone campus Aix-Marseille University (Marseille, Paris). We aim at better understanding the role of oligodendroglial cells in the central nervous system, and how their functions are dysregulated in aging and in age-related diseases. We are also committed to promote diversity and inclusivity in science, by building personalized mentorship agreements with each team member.
The INP is a center of training and research that combines basic and translational research to study the organization, function and interaction of neural cells, as well as the molecular and cellular basis of major brain diseases. The INP is part of the Centre of Excellence in Neurodegeneration (CoEN) and offers an internationally competitive research environment with state-of-the-art facilities. The project will be developed at the Faculty of Medicine, located in the centre of Marseille, a few kilometers from the magnificent seafront, the Calanques National Park and the charm of inland Provence, all ideally suited to outdoor and cultural activities.