Biophysics Seminar: Emilia Favuzzi

Date
Mon, Nov 4, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
IPST 1116

Description

Speaker: Emilia Favuzzi (Yale University)

Title: Neuroimmune interactions: Glial and Immune Mechanisms Regulating Brain Wiring and Function

Abstract: To better understand complex systems, biomedical sciences need to adopt a holistic, multi-organ perspective. Bidirectional neuroimmune communication has emerged as a key mechanism for coordinating organismal physiology in both health and disease, but our understanding of these interactions remains limited. Microglia, the primary immune cells in the brain, play a crucial role in organizing neural circuits by fine-tuning synapses. We identified a subset of microglia responsive to GABA, which selectively remodels inhibitory synapses. Disrupting these specialized microglia results in lasting defects in inhibitory connectivity, leading to behavioral abnormalities without affecting excitatory synapses. Further, we recently discovered that these interactions are regulated by neuronal activity. This newly recognized specificity in neuroimmune interactions within the brain led us to expand our research to the organismal level. Using mouse models of colitis and respiratory allergy, we found that while these conditions do not activate microglia, but trigger dynamic, cell-type-specific neuronal activation and circuit plasticity. These findings highlight the specificity of the interplay between immune signals and neuronal circuits, which may link immune responses to behavioral and physiological outcomes.

Hosted by the Biophysics Graduate Student Association

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