Principal Investigators

    Torben Moos

    Institution

    Aalborg Universitet

    Contact information of lead PI

    Country

    Denmark

    Title of project or programme

    Combined anti-inflammatory- and iron chelation therapy in a preclinical model of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation

    Source of funding information

    Lundbeckfonden

    Total sum awarded (Euro)

    € 211,882

    Start date of award

    01/11/2015

    Total duration of award in years

    3

    Keywords

    Research Abstract

    The current project will examine the significance of anti-inflammatory therapy in combination with iron-chelation therapy in a pre-clinical model of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA). Experimental animals (rats) are subjected to a controlled lesion in the brain (the striatum) using stereotactic injection of glutamate, which leads to excitotoxicity and neuronal cell death in remote distance from the injection site due to glutamate toxicity (the substantia nigra pars reticulate) together with iron deposition and chronic inflammation. The experimental animals are treated with a GABA agonist (gaboxadol), iron-chelator (deferiprone), anti-inflammatory drugs (aminoguanidine, nimesulide), or combinations thereof. Their affection caused by the degenerative process is monitored in real time using MRI and scoring of motor performance. Post-mortem the substantia nigra pars reticulate is examined by stereological counting of neurons and macrophages, together with non-morphological measurement of iron and markers of oxidative damage in dissected ventro-lateral portions of the mesencephalon. Mechanistic studies are performed in cultured primary neurons subjected to glutamate and co-cultured with macrophages. It is expected that the studies can provide significant conclusions on the usage of iron-chelators and anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment in experimental NBIA.

    Further information available at:

Types: Investments < €500k
Member States: Denmark
Diseases: N/A
Years: 2016
Database Categories: N/A
Database Tags: N/A

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