Circular RNAs modulate neuronal vulnerability, neuroinflammation and regeneration and are affected by TBI comorbidities (B05)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells ; Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology ; Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology ; Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiobiology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 251293561

In the 2nd funding period, we demonstrated that ethanol activated the neuronal and glial IL-13/STAT6 pathway, reduced microgliosis and decreased serum damage biomarkers upon TBI. Ethanol upregulated IL-13 in neurons, and IL-13 and its receptor were found to be synaptic proteins involved in neuroprotection. Chemogenetics and genetically-encoded Ca2+ buffers showed that neuronal activity reduces neuronal vulnerability and neuroinflammation upon TBI. In the 3rd funding period, we will explore new activity-dependent mechanisms related to non-coding circulating RNA: they are upregulated in human and mouse samples at the 3-, 24-h and 7-day timepoints and Klhl2 circRNA overexpression upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNS) and accelerates recovery of cognitive performance after TBI.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1149: Danger Response, Disturbance Factors and Regenerative Potential after Acute Trauma
• Applicant Institution: Universität Ulm
• Project Head: Professor Francesco Roselli, Ph.D.