GLIA-GLIA AND GLIA-NEURON INTERACTIONS GROUP
Our group is interested in understanding the role of glial cells in the mammalian central nervous system and the mechanisms by which glial cells and neurons interact to support normal communication in the CNS. We try to understand the role of glial cells in the mammalian central (CNS) and peripheral nervous systems (PNS), and the mechanisms by which glial cells and neurons interact to support normal sensory processing and perception. We are developing and using a set of interdisciplinary and complementary tools (electrophysiology, chemogenetics, 2-photon Ca2+ imaging, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and behavior) and approaches to selectively manipulate and monitor glial cell signaling and investigate its effects in synaptic transmission, plasticity, and memory underlying sensory processing. From these studies, we hope to resolve some glial cell functions, and open up entirely new areas of investigation and potential treatments of diseases. Indeed, astrocytes play a major role in many neurological disorders, and it has become clear that sensory perception, notably visual perception, touch and proprioception, are impaired in some of them.
Research topics
- THEME 1: Roles of astrocyte and satellite glial cell signaling in synaptic transmission, plasticity, memory and sensory processing
- THEME 2: Roles of astrocyte signaling and satellite glial cells in neuroinflammation: implications for neurodevelopmental (schizophrenia and autism) and neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia) disorders
- THEME 3: Astrocytic – microglia interactions
TEAM MEMBERS
Permanent researchers

Cendra AGULHON
CR, HDR CNRS
Team leader Deputy director of the Center

Marie PIERON
IR CNRS

Jacques STINNAKRE
DR CNRS
Consultant
Visiting scientists

Nicholas PRIEBE
Invited Pr U.Texas USA
Support staff

Sophie GUINOISEAU
Assistant Engineer
Post docs, PhD and Master students

Elsie MOUKARZEL
PhD student
Teaching assistant (ATER)

Bruna RUBINO
PhD student

Pauline MERIAU
PhD student

Valentin RITOU
M2 student

Adrien ZAMMOUR
M1 student
︾ PUBLICATIONS ︾
Articles
- Juricek L, Carcaud J, Pelhaitre A, Riday TT, Chevallier A, Lanzini J, Auzeil N, Laprévote O, Dumont F, Jacques S, Letourneur F, Massaad C, Agulhon C, Barouki R, Beraneck M, Coumoul X. AhR-deficiency as a cause of demyelinating disease and inflammation. Sci Rep, 2017, 7 (1), pp.9794.
- Li D, Agulhon C, Schmidt E, Oheim M, Ropert N. New tools for investigating astrocyte-to-neuron communication. Front Cell Neurosci, 2013.
- Sagné C, Agulhon C, Ravassard P, Darmon M, Hamon M, El Mestikawy S, Gasnier B, Giros B. Identification and characterization of a lysosomal transporter for small neutral amino acids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2001, 98 (13), pp.7206-11.
GLIA-GLIA AND GLIA-NEURON INTERACTIONS GROUP
Our group is interested in understanding the role of glial cells in the mammalian central nervous system and the mechanisms by which glial cells and neurons interact to support normal communication in the CNS. We try to understand the role of glial cells in the mammalian central (CNS) and peripheral nervous systems (PNS), and the mechanisms by which glial cells and neurons interact to support normal sensory processing and perception. We are developing and using a set of interdisciplinary and complementary tools (electrophysiology, chemogenetics, 2-photon Ca2+ imaging, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and behavior) and approaches to selectively manipulate and monitor glial cell signaling and investigate its effects in synaptic transmission, plasticity, and memory underlying sensory processing. From these studies, we hope to resolve some glial cell functions, and open up entirely new areas of investigation and potential treatments of diseases. Indeed, astrocytes play a major role in many neurological disorders, and it has become clear that sensory perception, notably visual perception, touch and proprioception, are impaired in some of them.
RESEARCH TOPICS ︾
Theme 1: Roles of astrocyte and satellite glial cell signaling in synaptic transmission, plasticity, memory and sensory processing
Theme 2: Roles of astrocyte signaling and satellite glial cells in neuroinflammation: implications for neurodevelopmental (schizophrenia and autism) and neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia) disorders
Theme 3: Astrocytic – microglia interactions
TEAM MEMBERS
Permanent researchers

Cendra AGULHON
CR CNRS, HDR
Team leader, Deputy director of the Center

Marie PIERON
IR CNRS

Jacques STINNAKRE
DR CNRS, Consultant
Visiting scientists

Nicholas PRIEBE
Invited PR U.Texas USA
Support staff

Sophie GUINOISEAU
Assistant Engineer
Post docs, PhD & Master students

Elsie MOUKARZEL
PhD student, Teaching assistant (ATER)

Bruna RUBINO
PhD student

Pauline MERIAU
PhD student

Valentin RITOU
M2 student

Adrien ZAMMOUR
M1 student
PUBLICATIONS ︾
Articles
- Juricek L, Carcaud J, Pelhaitre A, Riday TT, Chevallier A, Lanzini J, Auzeil N, Laprévote O, Dumont F, Jacques S, Letourneur F, Massaad C, Agulhon C, Barouki R, Beraneck M, Coumoul X. AhR-deficiency as a cause of demyelinating disease and inflammation. Sci Rep, 2017, 7 (1), pp.9794.
- Li D, Agulhon C, Schmidt E, Oheim M, Ropert N. New tools for investigating astrocyte-to-neuron communication. Front Cell Neurosci, 2013.
- Sagné C, Agulhon C, Ravassard P, Darmon M, Hamon M, El Mestikawy S, Gasnier B, Giros B. Identification and characterization of a lysosomal transporter for small neutral amino acids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2001, 98 (13), pp.7206-11.