Researchers' Proposals

The research group investigate the distribution of P2X7-type ATP receptors (P2X7R) by gene expression strategies in the central nervous system and their functional role using physiological and neurochemical techniques, under normal and pathological neuronal activity. It appears that the P2X7R plays a critical role in excitotoxicity by increasing release of glutamate from excitatory presynaptic terminals in response to cellular damage. Furthermore being involved in microglial activation, cytotoxicity and remodelling process, P2X7R could contribute to pathophysiological cascade of neurodegeneration in additional pathways. Further studies will be made on this topic by utilizing the P2X7R knockout mice line, and generating transgenic mice lines which over-express P2X7R in astro-glial cells