NARILIS lunch seminar | Dr. Danijela BATAVELJIC, UAntwerp

We are pleased to invite you to a seminar given by

Dr. Danijela Bataveljic ^PhD

Senior researcher at the University of Antwerp, Experimental Neurobiology Unit (ENU)

Her seminar is entitled

A role for astrocytes in Fragile X syndrome?

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a common inherited form of intellectual disability caused by the loss of mRNA-binding fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) leading to neuronal hyperexcitability and behavioral impairments. Neuronal activity is dynamically regulated by glial cells astrocytes and their strict control of ion and neurotransmitter homeostasis in the synaptic microenvironment. By focusing on the role of astrocytes, we here aim to decipher molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal and behavioral deficits in FXS.

Using Fmr1 knockout mouse (KO) model of FXS, we identify abnormal extracellular potassium homeostasis, along with impaired astrocyte potassium channel Kir4.1 expression and function. Furthermore, we reveal that Kir4.1 mRNA is a binding target of FMRP. Importantly, astrocyte-specific expression of Kir4.1 in Fmr1 KO hippocampus rescues normal astrocyte potassium uptake, neuronal excitability, and behavioral phenotypes. Our findings uncover an important role for astrocyte dysfunction in the pathophysiology of FXS and provide compelling evidence that astrocyte Kir4.1 deficits drive neuronal hyperexcitability and several behavioral defects in FXS.

Invited by Prof. Charles Nicaise, UNamur, URPhyM