Neuroseminar: Dorian B. McGavern and Gregory Dussor

In collaboration with Neuroscience Academy Denmark, Hashmat Ghanizada and Sarah Louise Christensen (Center for Translational Neuromedicine, UCPH) are pleased to invite you to a double neuroseminar featuring two excellent scientists:

Dr. Dorian B. McGavern, Senior Investigator, NINDS, NIH, Viral Immunology & Intravital Imaging Section, Neuroimmunology & Neurovirology Division.

Title: Rethinking CNS Barriers: Immune Surveillance at Dynamic Vascular Interfaces

The central nervous system (CNS) is protected by a network of specialized vascular barriers that regulate communication between the brain and the periphery. Traditionally viewed as static structures that restrict immune cell entry, these barriers are increasingly recognized as dynamic interfaces that actively participate in tissue surveillance, host defense, and the maintenance of neural homeostasis. Recent discoveries have revealed unexpected roles for vascular and meningeal compartments surrounding the brain in coordinating interactions between the nervous and immune systems during both health and disease. In this lecture, I will discuss emerging concepts in CNS barrier immunology, focusing on how innate and adaptive immune cells monitor and protect dynamic vascular interfaces. I will highlight recent findings demonstrating how barrier-associated immune networks contribute to pathogen defense, regulation of cerebrospinal fluid and vascular function, and responses to neurological injury and inflammation. Together, these studies support a revised view of CNS barriers as active neuroimmune interfaces that integrate vascular, immune, and neural functions to preserve brain health.

Professor Gregory Dussor, James Bartlett Chair in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Dallas

Title: Translational investigation of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) as a therapeutic target for migraine

Protease-activated receptor type 2 (PAR2) is a GPCR that is activated by proteases released from numerous cell types, most notably immune cells.  These proteases cleave the extracellular N-terminus, creating a tethered ligand that acts as an agonist to induce intracellular signaling. A role for PAR2 in both migraine and pain has been demonstrated in numerous prior preclinical studies.  In rodents, PAR2 activation in the meninges leads to robust migraine-like behaviors despite its expression in only a small percentage of sensory neurons.  In contrast, PAR2 expression in human sensory neurons is substantially broader than rodent, suggesting it makes a larger contribution to sensory signaling and disease. This presentation will cover both preclinical work describing a role for PAR2 in migraine models as well as work with human sensory neurons showing the receptor can be functionally activated in a large population of neurons. Translational work will also be presented that is focused on developing novel antagonists of PAR2 to be used for migraine and pain.

Please join us prior to the talk for coffee and cookies.