Investigating the Role of Aging and Senescence in Astrocyte-Mediated Synapse Phagocytosis
Astrocytes are support cells in the brain that can regulate communication between neurons by remodeling synapses, the connections that allow neurons to transmit signals. This process, known as synapse phagocytosis, contributes to the maintenance of healthy brain circuits. However, little is known about how aging affects this function. Evidence suggests that with age, astrocytes can undergo cellular senescence, a state in which they stop dividing and release inflammatory molecules that may impair their normal behavior. In this project, Dr. Jorge Sanz Ros will investigate how aging and senescence influence astrocyte-mediated synapse phagocytosis using advanced viral labeling and super resolution imaging in mice, as well as human brain tissue samples. Complementary in vitroexperiments will test how inflammatory factors linked to senescence impact astrocyte phagocytosis of synapses. This work will provide fundamental insights into how astrocyte dysfunction contributes to age-related synaptic dysfunction, memory decline, and risk of neurodegenerative disease.
