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The role of AQP4 and TRPV4 channels in the ischemic brain edema: focusing on glial cells
Kročianová, Daniela ; Anděrová, Miroslava (advisor) ; Máčiková, Lucie (referee)
Cerebral ischemia, also known as stroke, is one of the most common causes of death. It is accompanied by the formation of edema, which can be characterized as an influx of water and osmolytes into the brain, causing volume alterations. We recognize two types of cerebral edema - vasogenic, characterized by the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and increase of the extracellular volume, and cytotoxic, caused by the increase of the volume of cells, mainly glia. The major contributors to the formation of cytotoxic edema are the astrocytes, which, in physiological conditions, are responsible for the maintenance of the BBB and keeping the homeostasis of the brain and spinal cord or central nervous system. The mechanism responsible for the process of volume and osmotic changes are the transmembrane channels, mainly aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). AQP4 is the main pathway for water influx as well as efflux when the edema subsides. TRPV4 is likely responsible for the maintenance of the osmotic balance of the organism, although its precise role in the formation of the edema has not yet been fully elucidated. The main aim of this thesis was to categorize the types of cerebral ischemia and edema, and to describe the process of cerebral edema formation and the...
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Glial cells and their role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Vaňátko, Ondřej ; Anděrová, Miroslava (advisor) ; Černý, Jan (referee)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It affects upper and lower motor neurons in the brain motor cortex, the brain stem and the spinal cord, causing their death, which results in denervation of voluntary muscles. Progressive muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the entire body gradually leads to worsening of the ability to move, speak, chew, swallow and eventually breath. Ultimately it results in affected individual's death due to respiratory muscle failure. Although first identified in 1869, no cure for ALS has been yet found. While early studies focused mainly on the research of motor neurons themselves, the attention has shifted towards glial cells in the past two decades. Glial cells are essential for proper neuron functioning and survival and it appears that they play a major role in ALS progression. The goal of this thesis is to review and summarize findings on the role of glial cells in ALS over the last years, focusing on four specific types of glial cells, namely astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and NG2-glia. Key words: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, motor neuron, glia, astrocyte, microglia, oligodendrocyte, NG2-glia
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Glutamate receptors in NG2-glial cells: gene profiling and functional changes after ischemic brain injury
Waloschková, Eliška ; Anděrová, Miroslava (advisor) ; Růžička, Jiří (referee)
Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain and its transmission is responsible for higher brain functions, such as learning, memory and cognition. Glutamate action is mediated by a variety of glutamate receptors, though their properties were until now studied predominantly in neurons. Glutamate receptors are expressed also in NG2-glia, however their role under physiological conditions as well as in pathological states of the central nervous system is not fully understood. The aim of this work is to elucidate the presence, composition and function of these receptors in NG2-glia under physiological conditions and following focal cerebral ischemia. For this purpose we used transgenic mice, in which NG2-glia are labeled by a fluorescent protein for their precise identification. To analyze the expression pattern of glutamate receptors in NG2-glia we employed single-cell RT-qPCR. Furthermore, we used calcium imaging to characterize their functional properties.
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Proliferation and differentiation of NG2-glia following ischemic brain injuries
Kirdajová, Denisa ; Anděrová, Miroslava (advisor) ; Machová Urdzíková, Lucia (referee)
NG2-glia, a fourth major glial cell population, were shown to posses wide proliferation and differentiation potential in vitro and in vivo, therefore the aim of this study was to compare the rate of proliferation and differentiation potential of NG2-glia after different types of brain injuries, such as global and focal cerebral ischemia (GCI, FCI) or stab wound (SW), as well as during aging. Moreover, we aimed to determine the role of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) in NG2-glia proliferation/differentiation after FCI. We used transgenic mice, in which tamoxifen triggers the expression of red fluorescent protein (tdTomato) in NG2-glia and cells derived therefrom. Proliferation and differentiation potential of tdTomato+ cells in sham operated animals (controls) and those after injury were determined by immunohistochemistry employing antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen and glial fibrillary acidic protein. FCI was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, GCI by carotid occlusion with hypotension and SW by sagittal cortical cut. Shh signaling in vivo was activated or inhibited by Smoothened agonist or Cyclopamine, respectively. Compared to controls, the proliferation rate of tdTomato+ cells was increased after all types of injuries, while it declined in aged mice (15-18- months-old) after...
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