Cagliari, SINS CONGRESS 2015

Cagliari, October 8th -11th, 2015
XVI Congress 
of the Italian Society for Neuroscience - SINS
www.congressosins2015.it

Friday 9 October, h 17:00 - 18:20
SYMPOSIUM
Intrinsic and extrinsic regulation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell self-renewal and differentiation

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) are parenchymal precursors that serve as primary source of myelinating oligodendrocytes in both the developing and adult central nervous system (CNS). The regulation of the balance between OPC self-renewal and differentiation is a multi-level and complex phenomenon in which extrinsic and cell-intrinsic factors are integrated to sustain myelin production, while assuring the persistence of the OPC pool in the CNS.

In this symposium we will present and discuss the exquisite nature of GABAergic communication to OPCs and how GABA may affect OPC proliferation and differentiation. Further, we will highlight the role of membrane receptors responsive to purinergic signals and inflammatory molecules in the modulation of OPC differentiation during CNS development and upon injury.

We will also underline how, beyond their receptivity to extrinsic stimuli, OPCs possess cell-intrinsic mechanisms that finely tune their turn-over to preserve the progenitor pool while preventing over-growth. Such mechanisms include molecular regulators of the OPC division modality and expression of specific adhesion molecules mediating cell-cell contact inhibition of cell proliferation. Alteration of such mechanisms can lead to either the exhaustion of the progenitor population, or its uncontrolled expansion and tumorigenesis.

This symposium brings together three young Italian researchers and one internationally renowned neuroscientist, and forms an excellent platform to examine the complexity of the regulation of OPC self-renewal and differentiation, and discuss how it can affect myelination, myelin repair and brain tumor development. The subject has a broad appeal for basic research and also a high clinical relevance.

Chairperson: Enrica Boda

Speakers
Maria Cecilia Angulo, PhD
Research Director, CNRS, Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie et Nouvelles Microscopies, INSERM U1128, Paris, FRANCE
Regulation of synaptic connectivity between GABAergic interneurons and NG2 cells during cortical oligodendrogenesis.

Davide Lecca, PhD
Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology of Purinergic Transmission, Dept. of Pharmacological and Experimental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, ITALY
New mechanisms regulating oligodendroglial differentiation: focus on the GPR17 receptor and related microRNAs

Enrica Boda, PhD
Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), ITALY
Balancing self-renewal and differentiation of the oligodendrocyte progenitor pool: insights into cell intrinsic regulatory mechanisms

Irene Appolloni, PhD
Laboratory of Gene Transfer, IRCCS San Martino Hospital, Genova, ITALY
Molecular mechanisms in oligodendroglioma infiltration and malignancy

With the support of The Company of Biologists - www.biologists.com