Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie

Research focus

The research focus of the section molecular pharmacology concerns the role of glia cells (astrocytes and microglia) in psychatric and neurodegenerative diseases. The human brain hosts more glia cells than neurons and the importance of glia cells in all brain functions has been recognized in the last 10 years.

Our major scientific interest relates to the protective function of glia cells that are based on the release of inflammatory mediators (cytokines and chemokines). Since these inflammatory mediators are most likely also important in psychiatric diseases like Alzheimers disease, depression or schizophrenia the role of these mediators in vitro and in vivo are investigated.

The several molecular and biochemical research projects are performed in close collaboration with the section Psychopharmakotherapy and the neurochemical lab.

Research projects

1. Adenosine A1-receptors in neuroprotection and mood disorders
2. Role of purine receptors in the regulation by glia cells of the inflammatory response in the brain
3. Purine driven regulation of neuron-microglia-astrocyte interaction 
4. Neuroprotective function of microglia in NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in organotypic hippocampal brain slices
5. Differential expression of microglia properties in various brain areas

Selected publications

• Rolyan H, Scheffold A, Heinrich A, Begus-Nahrmann Y, Langkopf BH, Hölter SM, Vogt-Weisenhorn DM, Liss B, Wurst W, Lie DC, Thal DR, Biber K, Rudolph KL. (2011) Telomere shortening reduces Alzheimer's disease amyloid pathology in mice. Brain. 134:2044-56.
• Biber K, Tsuda M, Tozaki-Saitoh H, Tsukamoto K, Toyomitsu E, Masuda T, Boddeke H, Inoue K. (2011) Neuronal CCL21 up-regulates microglia P2X4 expression and initiates neuropathic pain development. EMBO J. 2011 May 4;30(9):1864-73.
• de Jong EK, Vinet J, Stanulovic V, Wesseling EM, Meijer M, Schollema K, Boddeke HWGM, Biber K. (2008) Expression, transport and axonal sorting of neuronal CCL21 in large dense core vesicles. FASEB Journal, Dec;22(12):4136-45.
• De Haas AH, Boddeke HWMG, Biber K. (2008) Region-specific expression of immunregulatory proteins on microglia in the healthy CNS. Glia, 56:888-94.
• de Jong EK, Dijkstra IM, Hensens M, Brouwer N, Amerongen M, Liem RSB, Boddeke HWMG, Biber K (2005). Vesicle-mediated transport and release of CCL21 in endangered neurons: a possible explanation for microglia activation remote from a primary lesion. J. Neurosci. 25:7548-57.
   

Funding

• DFG FOR 1336 TP A4, BI 668/2-1 „ Microglia phenotypes in different brain regions: factors and function.”
• DFG CA 115/5-4 „Regulation der Expression, Signaltransduktion und Funktion von Adenosinrezeptoren im Zentralnervensystem“ In collaboration with section Psychopharmakotherapy
• BMBF Projekt: Kompetenznetz Degenerative Demenzen (KNDD)