Project description
Understanding Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, imposing substantial socio-economic burdens. Given the absence of a cure, understanding disease mechanisms and developing new therapies is crucial. Inhibiting prostaglandin 2 (PGE2) signalling, specifically PGE2 receptor 2 (EP2), has restored youthful hippocampal functions in ageing mice, but its specific impact on AD-related deficits remains unclear. The MSCA-funded immuno-ALZ project aims to study the effects of EP2 inhibition on cognitive decline in an APP-KI mouse model of AD. The project will compare brain-penetrant and non-brain-penetrant EP2 antagonists and assess their impact on memory, synaptic function, glucose metabolism, brain inflammation, and AD-like pathology spread. The study will involve behavioural tests, biochemical analyses, and live imaging.
Objective
Background and rationale: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia, with substantial socio-economic burdens. Due to the absence of a cure, understanding disease mechanisms and developing new therapies is crucial. Age-related systemic and brain inflammation contributes to cognitive decline. Inhibiting prostaglandin 2 (PGE2) - PGE2 receptor 2 (EP2) signalling has restored youthful hippocampal functions in ageing mice, but its specific impact on AD-related deficits remains unclear. Aim: We seek to explore the effect of EP2 inhibition on bioenergetic and cognitive decline in an amyloid precursor protein knock-in (APP-KI) mouse model of AD, using neurobiology, immunology and data science. Objective 1: We will compare the effects of brain-penetrant and non-brain-penetrant EP2 antagonists on memory, synaptic function, glucose metabolism, systemic/brain inflammation and amyloid-beta (A) pathology. Objective 2: We will study these effects in APP-KI mice injected with AD brain-derived pathological tau. We will then assess the impact of peripheral immune modulation on AD-like pathology spread. Objective 3: We will analyse the changes and interplay among synaptic dynamics, microglial activity, A/tau pathology progression after EP2 inhibition via real-time imaging. Methodology: The study will involve various assessments, including behavioural tests, biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses, multianalyte assays, as well as multi-omics approaches that combine transcriptomics and metabolomics. Additionally, it will utilise two- and three-photon microscopy for live imaging. Expected results: We anticipate gaining valuable insights into a) PGE2-EP2 inhibition effects on AD-driven deficits, and b) whether peripheral immune re-programming restores brain functions beyond the blood-brain barrier. Impact: The project could yield novel mechanistic and translational outcomes, guiding non-invasive therapeutic approaches to combat AD through peripheral modulations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4365 ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE
Luxembourg
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.