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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Physiology of the adult carotid body stem cell niche

Objective

The discovery of adult neural stem cells (NSCs) has broaden our view of the physiological plasticity of the nervous system,
and has opened new perspectives on the possibility of tissue regeneration and repair in the brain. NSCs reside in specialized
niches in the adult mammalian nervous system, where they are exposed to specific paracrine signals regulating their
behavior. These neural progenitors are generally in a quiescent state within their niche, and they activate their proliferation
depending on tissue regenerative and growth needs. Understanding the mechanisms by which NSCs enter and exit the
quiescent state is crucial for the comprehension of the physiology of the adult nervous system. In this project we will study
the behavior of a specific subpopulation of adult neural stem cells recently described by our group in the carotid body (CB).
This small organ constitutes the most important chemosensor of the peripheral nervous system and has neuronal glomus
cells responsible for the chemosensing, and glia-like sustentacular cells which were thought to have just a supportive role.
We recently described that these sustentacular cells are dormant stem cells able to activate their proliferation in response to a
physiological stimulus like hypoxia, and to differentiate into new glomus cells necessary for the adaptation of the organ.
Due to our precise experimental control of the activation and deactivation of the CB neurogenic niche, we believe the CB is
an ideal model to study fundamental questions about adult neural stem cell physiology and the interaction with the niche. We
propose to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which these carotid body stem cells enter and exit the quiescent
state, which will help us understand the physiology of adult neurogenic niches. Likewise, understanding this neurogenic
process will improve the efficacy of using glomus cells for cell therapy against neurological disease, and might help us
understand some neural tumors.

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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ERC-2010-StG_20091118
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Funding Scheme

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ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA
EU contribution
€ 1 476 000,00
Address
CALLE S. FERNANDO 4
41004 Sevilla
Spain

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Region
Sur Andalucía Sevilla
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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Beneficiaries (1)

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