How the Immune System Sculpts Brain Circuitry

Event Details

Type

Friday Lecture Series

Speaker(s)

Beth Stevens, Ph.D., associate professor of neurology, Harvard University; research associate in neurobiology, Boston Children's Hospital

Speaker bio(s)

One of the major unsolved mysteries in neuroscience is how synapses are eliminated in the developing and diseased brain. During development, synaptic pruning is required for precise brain wiring; however, the mechanisms that drive the elimination of specific synapses remain elusive. Emerging evidence implicates resident phagocytes, called microglia, and molecules traditionally associated with the immune system. The Stevens lab's recent studies support a model in which “weaker” or less active synapses in the developing brain are targeted by complement proteins and then eliminated by phagocytic microglia that express receptors for complement and other immune molecules. These findings raise the question of how microglia differentiate the synapses or axons to prune from those to leave intact. Microglia-mediated synaptic refinement appears to depend on a careful balance of “eat me” (ie. complement) and a group of novel immune-related “don't eat me” signals. Illuminating the mechanisms by which developing synaptic circuits are sculpted is providing important insight on understanding how to protect synapses in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders of synaptic dysfunction.

Dr. Stevens' most recent work seeks to uncover the role that microglial cells, the immune cells of the central nervous system, and their connectivity play in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, her work is providing novel insight into the mechanisms by which immune molecules regulate synaptic and cognitive dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, that could lead to new therapies and biomarkers.

Dr. Stevens received her B.S. at Northeastern University. She carried out her graduate research at the National Institutes of Health and received her Ph.D. from University of Maryland, College Park. She completed her postdoctoral research at Stanford University with Ben Barres.

Open to

Public

Host

Postdoctoral Researchers

Reception

Refreshments, 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Abby Lounge

Contact

Justin Sloboda

Phone

(212) 327-7785

Sponsor

Justin Sloboda
(212) 327-7785
jsloboda@rockefeller.edu

Readings

http://librarynews.rockefeller.edu/?p=5460