Study of microglial cells

Anna Planas

Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB - CSIC), Spain

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in the world, affecting more than 12 million people each year and its incidence is increasing. It occurs for a variety of reasons, often when one of the blood vessels supplying the brain is blocked by a clot, causing an ischaemic stroke. It also happens when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures and spills blood into the brain; in this case, it is called a "haemorrhagic stroke". In both types of stroke, brain cells die, leading to disability and increasing the likelihood of depression and dementia. The treatment for ischaemic stroke involves restoring cerebral blood flow. Nevertheless, more than half of the patients suffer permanent disability, so new therapeutic strategies are needed.

This project will focus on studying microglia cells, a type of immune system cell residing in the brain. Following a stroke and during ageing, these cells accumulate small fat droplets in their cytoplasm, which are essential as a source of energy and participate in the immune response. However, chronic accumulation of fat droplets may cause defects in cellular functioning and enhance neurological dysfunction after a stroke. Inflammation promotes the formation of these fat droplets, which are typical of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis and cancer. However, their role in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases remains unknown.

The project aims to identify the key molecules involved in the accumulation of these fat droplets in microglial cells in response to stroke and their impact on neurological dysfunction, both in youth and in ageing. The ultimate goal is to find new ways to modulate fat droplets in microglial cells to optimise cellular function and improve stroke prognosis.

• Albert Pol, Institut de Recerques Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) - Fundació Clínic Barcelona, Spain

• Pablo Blinder, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Lipid droplets as key players in brain microgliosis after stroke

€996,675.00