Descrizione del progetto
Svelare le complessità dell’asse cervello-intestino
L’asse cervello-intestino è un sistema di comunicazione bidirezionale tra il sistema nervoso centrale, compreso il cervello, e il sistema nervoso enterico, una complessa rete di neuroni presente all’interno del tratto gastrointestinale. Questa interazione svolge un ruolo cruciale nella regolazione di vari processi fisiologici, tra cui la digestione, l’appetito e il metabolismo energetico; tuttavia, la complessità anatomica di tale asse impedisce una comprensione approfondita dei meccanismi cellulari e molecolari che lo controllano. Finanziato dal Consiglio europeo della ricerca, il progetto GutSense impiega il modello della Drosophila per rivelare la plasticità funzionale dei neuroni enterici adulti, particolarmente rilevante al fine di regolare l’assunzione di alimenti in risposta al fabbisogno energetico dell’organismo. Inoltre, i ricercatori studieranno le modalità con cui i fattori ambientali, come il regime alimentare e l’attività fisica, influenzano l’asse cervello-intestino.
Obiettivo
A series of tightly controlled processes ensure that energy is either stored or consumed within an organism. This control is central to survival and prosperity of the animal, yet we only partly understand it. Communication between the brain and the gut, the so called “brain-gut axis”, has emerged as a key player in regulating aspects of animal physiology by directly affecting energy stores. Nevertheless, due to the astonishing anatomical complexity of the underlying neural circuits in mammals, an in depth understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling this axis is still lacking. Using the simpler yet functionally comparable Drosophila brain-gut axis as a model system, I have recently shown that adult enteric neurons are functionally plastic. This constitutes a physiological feature highly relevant for the adjustment of food intake by the animal to meet energy demands. I explored this in females in the context reproduction, where mechanisms underlying appetite regulation are evolutionary conserved across multiple species. Building on my expertise, I will now investigate the long-standing question on how environmental factors, such as dietary habits or levels of physical activity, impact the function of the brain-gut axis. For GutSense, I will leverage the unique experimental opportunities available in Drosophila to address the role of gut-neurons in metabolic adaptation: (a) characterize neurons which respond to these environmental cues, and the relevant neural circuits and mediators (b) identify the target tissues and the nature of inter-organ signals involved (c) investigate the impact of timing and duration of exposure to these factors, on metabolic adaptation. Through these, I will uncover basic and likely evolutionary conserved mechanisms and better understand the context-dependent tolerance of metabolic challenges. Such insight can lead the way in elucidating the contribution of brain-gut networks to the development of pathophysiology.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsIstituzione ospitante
75013 Paris
Francia