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MicroCOPS |
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We are a EU-funded
consortium of scientists from Paris, Göttingen, Cologne and Hamburg, working
together to decipher the communication between microglia cells and neurons.
Microglia are specialized immune cells in the brain. With their constantly
moving processes, they scan the extracellular space, using a vast array of
different sensors on their surface. They are able to send chemical messages
to neurons and other types of glia cells, most notably when they detect sick
or dying cells. They also eat and digest cell fragments and other waste they
encounter and are thought to support and protect neurons. However, in
diseases such as Alzheimer’s, microglia become overwhelmed with danger
signals and secrete pro-inflammatory substances, potentially damaging
neurons. MicroCOPS is short for ‚Microglia controlling physiological
brain states‘. Our goal is to understand the signals
being sent between neurons and glia in the healthy brain, creating a Rosetta
stone for this inter-cellular language. The acronym fits, as microglia are
also the policemen of the brain, constantly on the beat to identify and
neutralize threats. We use modern imaging methods to observe these
interactions in live brain tissue. We generate novel transgenic mouse lines
in which we can monitor and control microglia signaling with light
(optogenetics) or designer drugs (chemogenetics).
RNA and protein analysis methods allow us to determine the signaling state of
microglia under specific conditions. We have found evidence that very
different subtypes of microglia share the same neighborhoods in the brain,
pointing to different jobs in supporting neural computations. To find out
more about our research, please follow the links to our labs below: |
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Max Planck Institute for
Biology of Ageing, Cologne |
Max Planck Institute for
Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen |
Antoine Triller & Alain Bessis Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris |
Center for Molecular
Neurobiology, Hamburg |
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This project has received funding from the European Research Council
(ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 951515).
Document last changed June 7, 2023 by
thomas.oertner@zmnh.uni-hamburg.de