Role of E2-2 in Brain Functions

Abstract

family of E proteins. E2-2 is the only E protein that is continually expressed throughout the adult mouse brain. Earlier reports have established the importance of E2-2 in regulation of cellular morphology and cell fate maintenance of plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC), a myeloid cell-type of the immune system. Microglia are resident immune cells in the brain, and have a myeloid origin. Apart from their essential roles in immune protection against any infection or damage, importance of microglia in brain development, maintenance and homeostasis has recently been recognized. Our lab seeks to elucidate the molecular regulators that enable such diverse functionality of microglia under homeostasis and activation context. To this end, the lab is investigating the role of E2-2 in the regulation of microglia. Previous studies show that E2-2 mediated gene regulation can influence specific cellular properties that can be relevant to microglial biology. Furthermore, E2-2 is shown to be affected in multiple psychiatric disorders, some of which are also thought to be influenced by microglial dysregulation. The aim of the ongoing project in the lab is to gain a better understanding of the molecular regulation that underlie microglial function in the healthy brain and during pathologies. My project is part of the above mentioned study, where I have established primary microglia culture for in vitro studies. Alongside, I have also worked to standardize a laser microdissection protocol for isolating neural stem/progenitor cells from the hippocampal neurogenic region, the sub-granular zone (SGZ), in the adult brain.