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Using stem cells to investigate the effects of interleukin-1a on astrocyte morphology, function, and gene expression in Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is characterised by a loss of nerve cells in the midbrain that produces a chemical called dopamine. The loss of dopamine results in symptoms such as slowness of movement and postural instability. Previous research focused on the survival and death of nerve cells and there is debate as to why these cells are so vulnerable in this disorder. Recent findings are pointing to the fact that other brain cells, namely astrocytes, become dysfunctional and so have a negative impact on nerve cells. Astrocytes are star shaped cells and their normal function is to provide support to nerve cells. However, they can become activated in a stressful situation such as in response to a factor released by a stimulated immune-system. Indeed our knowledge of the role our immune-system may play in conditions such as Parkinson’s is growing and has recently become a very active area of research. One aspect of the immune-system will be studied in this project. This will be tested by examining the effects of a protein, interleukin-1-alpha (IL-1a), that is released by the immune cell of our brain, the microglia, when its stressed. It will be added to human astrocytes that we have generated in the lab from the skin of a person with Parkinson’s and an aged matched control. This will include determination of how the shape and size of the astrocyte changes, examination of what factors the astrocyte releases such as the protein interleukin-6 (IL-6) which we know astrocytes secrete when they are stressed.