Understanding blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease models

Parkinson’s disease is commonly described as a brain disorder, but recent research suggests that early events outside the brain (periphery) may influence Parkinson’s disease neuropathology. The blood-brain barrier is a structure that protects the vulnerable brain tissue from blood-borne toxins and circulating immune cells, but barrier function appears compromised in PD. A consequence, there may be increased entry of toxic peripheral elements and immune cells intro the brain, and these peripheral factors could reach brain cells and possibly accelerate disease progression. Astrocytes, crucial for BBB maintenance, become impaired in Parkinson’s disease, further weakening this barrier. A new 3D brain-chip model built using induced pluripotent stem cells enables detailed study of these interactions, but additional research is necessary to determine if the brain chip model recapitulates pathological changes documented in living organisms. The proposed research will compare findings collected using the human brain chip to vascular- and neuro-pathology observed in mouse models of the disease. This project will shed light on previously overlooked effects of Parkinson’s disease on the brain vasculature, which could uncover new targets to slow disease progression, offering hope for disease-modifying therapies.

Faculty Supervisor:

Aurelie de Rus Jacquet

Student:

Partner:

Institut National Polytechnique de Bordeaux (Bordeaux INP)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

Université Laval

Program: