Defining the Impact of Astrocyte-Microglia Crosstalk via IL-33 in Alzheimer’s Disease

This project aims to determine the mechanistic impact of a key immune pathway in AD pathology, potentially leading to novel approaches for AD immunotherapies.

Immune signals regulate brain homeostasis and are also a major driver of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. This proposed study aims to investigate how astrocyte-microglia crosstalk via IL-33 cytokine impacts Alzheimer’s disease pathology and behavior. This work will determine the mechanistic impact of a key immune pathway in AD pathology and suggest the novel hypothesis that ECM disruption is linked to AD pathology.

I will use strategies for targeted manipulation of cytokine signaling. Viral-mediated cytokine delivery by glial cells will be utilized as a gain-of-function strategy. The study will provide new insight into the mechanisms of glial involvement in amyloid pathology.

This work will determine the mechanistic impact of a key immune pathway in Alzheimer’s disease pathology. The study will provide new insights into the mechanisms of tissue damage and how immune signals impact amyloid pathology.