Laboratory of Neurobiology and Genetics

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to memory loss and death. The β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) has been implicated in AD by analysis of genetic mutations linked to early onset cases of the disease. However, the mechanism of how Aβ contributes to cognitive decline is unknown.  Much evidence suggests that AD has a vascular component. Read more »

Peripheral nerve function depends on a regulated process of axon and Schwann cell development. Schwann cells interact with peripheral neurons to sort and ensheath individual axons. Ablation of laminin γ1 in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) arrests Schwann cell development prior to radial sorting of axons. Read more »

Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein laminin contributes to excitotoxic cell death in the hippocampus, but the mechanism of this effect is unknown. To study this process, we disrupted laminin gamma1 (lamgamma1) expression in the hippocampus. Read more »

The protection of the brain parenchyma from toxic material in the blood is dependent on the blood brain barrier (BBB), which consists of four components: endothelial cells with tight junctions, pericytes that surround the endothelia, astrocytic end feet that ensheath the endothelia and pericytes, and a basal lamina contributed by endothelia and astrocytes.
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