{"id":8515,"date":"2024-07-25T17:01:49","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T15:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/lcsb-en\/?post_type=news&p=8515"},"modified":"2024-11-06T10:13:36","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T09:13:36","slug":"building-bridges-between-cells-for-brain-health","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/lcsb-en\/news\/building-bridges-between-cells-for-brain-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Building bridges between cells for brain health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The brain contains many cell types, from the prominent neurons to the lesser-known microglia. The latter are integral to the brain’s immune system and play a crucial role as the brain’s cleanup crew. A recent study conducted by researchers from the University Hospital Bonn<\/a> and the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine<\/a> (LCSB) at the University of Luxembourg, in collaboration with colleagues from France, Hungary, and Germany, highlights that microglia establish connections with neurons through tunnelling nanotubes. The researchers observed that microglia utilise these tubes to facilitate the clearance of toxic proteins from neurons and to promote neuronal health. These findings, published in the scientific journal Neuron<\/em><\/a>, suggest that this mechanism has a pivotal role in mitigating the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

The accumulation of pathological proteins is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Proteins such as alpha-synuclein and tau can abnormally aggregate inside neurons, disrupting essential cellular function. \u201cWe knew that microglia play a role in clearing these protein aggregates but we only learned recently that they can form tunnelling nanotubes, long extensions that can connect distant cells in the brain,\u201d explains Prof. Michael Heneka<\/a>, director of the LCSB, head of the Neuroinflammation group<\/a> and lead author of the article. \u201cWith this study, we wanted to better understand the transfer of cargo between neurons and microglia via these nanotubes and explore the consequences of this exchange for cellular health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers employed cultures of neurons and microglia, derived from either mouse models or human stem cells, and used cutting-edge imaging technology to demonstrate that microglia establish contact with neurons through tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs) to alleviate them from toxic protein accumulations. Additionally, the microglia transfer healthy mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cells, to affected neurons, which significantly reduces oxidative stress, restores vital functions and ultimately rescues these nerve cells.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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\nLive imaging of tunnelling nanotubes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Using live cell imaging microscopy, the scientists observed the formation of connections between neurons and microglia. \u201cFurther research is needed to understand the formation and function of TNTs in detail, but it was thrilling to observe that microglia play an active role in maintaining neuronal health and supporting neurons in times of need,\u201d details Dr Hannah Scheiblich<\/a>, first author of the article who worked with Prof. Heneka at the University Hospital Bonn<\/a> and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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