Seminar on "Differential role of presenilines on GDNF expression".
Eric Martineau, young Canadian researcher and working within Alzheimer Dementia research's group, will present his results before going back to Université de Montréal. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloïd plaques in the brain. Amyloïd plaques are composed of toxic Amyloïd β (Aβ) aggregates, which are produced by cleavage of the Amyloïd Precursor Protein (APP) by the γ-secretase complex. However, a microarray analysis identified that GDNF (Glial-derived neutrophic factor), among others, is regulated by both APP and presenilin 1 and 2, the catalytic sub-units of the complex. GDNF is a neutrophic factor involved in embryonic developpement and synaptic maintenance in the adult brain. Moreover, it has a role in protection of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease (PD), of motor neurons in Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and possibly of hippocampal neurons against Aβ-toxicity in AD. Here we discuss about the mechanisms by which each presenilin regulates GDNF expression and the involvement of APP in these mechanisms.
This seminar will take place at Séminaire 42 C at 12:00.