The contributions of plasma composition to neurovascular dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is mostly known for the extensive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain that results in motor impairments in patients living with the disease. The causes for this neuronal death are under active investigation, and recent studies suggest that disease onset/progression could originate from or be aggravated by peripheral factors. Therefore, molecules located both inside and outside the brain could contributes to the pathology. In this project, we propose to investigate how plasma composition affects changes to the blood-brain barrier, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in a novel model of Parkinson’s disease. We will perform these experiments in a human brain microfluidic chip that reproduces the complexity of the blood-brain barrier in vitro. Successful completion of this project will shed new light onto the potentially detrimental effects of plasma molecules that accumulate in the blood of PD patients, and could lead to the identification of endothelial targets to develop new therapeutic strategies for people with PD.

Faculty Supervisor:

Aurelie de Rus Jacquet

Student:

Partner:

Université de Lille

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

Université Laval

Program: