Main Objective of the Action
To gain new understanding of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes as they occur in Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease,
To facilitate development of improved therapies by drawing together knowledge from study of individual diseases. BM0603
Main Objective of the Action
To gain new understanding of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes as they occur in Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease,
To facilitate development of improved therapies by drawing together knowledge from study of individual diseases. BM0603
Fundamental concept underlying this Action
MS is considered to be primarily a neuroinflammatory disease
AD is considered to be primarily a neurodegenerative disease
Both diseases show both inflammatory and degenerative aspects
We feel that that each can learn from the other
Objectives -
Novel reagents, experimental models, protocols,
+ new applications of existing models
Focused projects that bridge degeneration and inflammation research
Integrated cross-trained cadre of researchers
Key statistics
At time of CSO Approval 20-11-2006
9 EU countries + 1 non-COST country
Now -
15 EU countries + 2 non-COST + 1 non COST-application
First MC meeting 05-06-2007
1 Core group MC+WG meeting in 2007, 2 planned for 2008
1 STSM approved and completed in 2007
1 STSM applied in 2007, approved and underway in 2008
User-friendly STSM guide on website
New
New
New
New New
New Non-COST: Georgia (Revaz Solomonia, Chachavadze State University, Tbilisi), Canada (Jack Antel, McGill University, Montreal), Australia (application under consideration by MC)
Structure
Chair / Secretary Trevor Owens, Denmark (Stine Sonne Carstensen)
Vice-chair Francesca Aloisi, Italy
4 Working groups
WG1 Triggers Hugh Perry (UK), Francesca Aloisi (Italy)
WG2 Interactions Burkhard Becher (Switzerland)
Spyros Georgopoulos (Greece)
WG3 CNS response Bente Finsen (Denmark) Knut Biber (Netherlands)
WG4 Protection,Repair Alon Monsonego (Israel) Hans Lassmann (Austria)
STSM committee
Jon Laman Netherlands (Chair)
Lesley Probert Greece
Hugh Perry UK
Alon Monsonego Israel
Training
Joana Palha Portugal
Ingo Bechmann Germany
Website
http://www1.sdu.dk/multi/neurinfnet/
Opened May 2007
Hit counter installed 04-02-2008
Over 100 hits since then
Downloads available:
Minutes of MC meetings
WG meeting programs, WG reports
COST guidelines (via link to COST website)
Neurinfnet in-house guidelines (STSM)
Password-protected area for data-sharing, protocols
Links
COST website
Individual homepages, email contacts
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Scientific progress in Year 1
Core meeting of all WG’s Zürich November 2007
Focus on infection as a trigger (MC+WG meetings Rome May 2008, Southampton November 2008)
Genetic models for selective depletion of glial cells and pathways in models of MS and AD (STSM)
Relative role of microglia vs. astroglia in MS and AD
Stem cells - potential benefits and drawbacks
The effect of migrating BM-derived cells in CNS disease
Chronic glial activation impact on NPC differentiation and survival in hippocampus.
Immune regulation and neuronal repair properties of NPC
The effect of cytokines on axonal outgrowth
Mission statement to be published as a jointly co-authored paper in 2008.
Challenges
Neuropathology of MS versus AD
Animal models
Controversies
Involvement of young scientists
Publications
Budgets and COST procedures
DTR transgenic system allows specific killing of oligodendrocytes and induction of demyelination
A wave of cell death starting 1 week after ODC death was assumed to be dying neurons, constituting a secondary degenerative process triggered by demyelination.
The purpose of the STSM was to investigate this in detail.
Results of STSM
The CNS of diseased mice showed loss of axons in the cerebellum and other regions of the CNS.
Significant neuronal death as early as 1 week after application of DT.
Buch and Bechmann are currently investigating in detail when the different cell types start to die. STSM of Thorsten Buch (Zürich) in the laboratory of Ingo Bechmann (Frankfurt) 23.10.07-2.11.07
COST-STSM-BM0603-2449: Morphology of microglial cells in wildtype mice versus CD39-/- and CD73-/- mice
Microglial
ectonucleotidases ATP AMP adenosine CD39 CD73 Ph.D. Student, Larisa Bulavina, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin Buch
Host: Dr. B. Finsen, Medical Biotechnology Center, University of Southern Denmark AIM: To compare morphological parameters
of microglial activation in the dentate gyrus
Estimates of microglia:
- Numbers and density
- Process length
Stereological principles of sampling and counting
- Largest and smallest somal diameter
- Proximal process diameter
Conventional morphometry
- Volume of dentate molecular layer
Cavalieri volume estimator
Future plans
“Acquired and imposed immunity in Alzheimer’s disease”.
Southampton November 17/18 2008
Organizers Hugh Perry, James Nicoll
Future plans
“Acquired and imposed immunity in Alzheimer’s disease”.
Southampton November 17/18 2008
Organizers Hugh Perry, James Nicoll
Training school
The Life and Health Sciences Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal
‘The aim of this training school is to provide the basic language on neuroscience and immunology for the attendees to more easily profit from and provide input to the various research lines gathered together through this COST action.’
Spring 2009 Organizer Joana Palha (with Euron, FENS)
Future plans
“Acquired and imposed immunity in Alzheimer’s disease”.
Southampton November 17/18 2008
Organizers Hugh Perry, James Nicoll
Training school
The Life and Health Sciences Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho Portugal
‘The aim of this training school is to provide the basic language on neuroscience and immunology for the attendees to more easily profit from and provide input to the various research lines gathered together through this COST action.’
Spring 2009 Organizer Joana Palha (with Euron, FENS)
Neuropathology ‘hands-on’ workshop, rotating to different centers.
2008/2009 Frankfurt, Organizer Ingo Bechmann
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