Astrocytes functionally integrate multiple synapses via specialized leaflet domains

Thrilled to share this manuscript from my lab where we looked at how glycopolymers that compose the glycocalyx influence protein folding and protein-protein interactions via macromolecular crowding. TLDR: The Glycocalyx stabilizes protein folding and PPIs www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Dopamine dynamics in the nucleus accumbens core reflected decision confidence during evaluation of decisions in an economic foraging task in mice, as well as both past and future value during re-evaluation and change-of-mind @perothwell.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Absolutely thrilled to share the first half of my PhD work! Super proud to see it finally out! www.nature.com/articles/s41... Thread below for a quick (10 point) recap of what we found! 🧵🧪🧠

Sharing a new paper from the lab. This paper, led by Sangyoon Ko, represents a merging of two longstanding research themes in the lab-- adult neurogenesis and systems consolidation. rdcu.be/el18q A short thread follows for those interested. 1/n

Excited to share our new work demonstrating a role for astrocytic inflammasome signaling in modulating hippocampal plasticity. @cp-immunity.bsky.social All credit to Kristine Zengeler, who was the brains🧠 and muscle💪 behind this project and is a wonderful collaborator. www.cell.com/immunity/ful...

Thrilled to announce that my lab is now open at Ohio State! We study astrocytes as gene therapy targets for brain repair after ischemic stroke and in vascular dementia, developing new viral tools along the way. If you're interesting in joining or collaborating, please reach out! gleichmanlab.com

Our lab's 1st paper, led by @fchrisbennett.bsky.social & @waisenberg.bsky.social. A decade thinking how to directly assess the impact of microglia replacement. Yrs of hard work. This kind of work is needed to expand brain disease care for kids & the vision for safer, more effective cell therapy.

Really cool and important work with interferon at the podium composing a glial symphony (alongside a visiting lymphocyte ensemble) geared towards repair!

In our latest edition of “This paper changed my life,” @liddelowsa.bsky.social explains how two papers from Ben Barres’ lab completely changed the way the field studies astrocytes and enabled everything discovered in glia research since. #neuroskyence www.thetransmitter.org/this-paper-c...

Our new paper is out in Science. What is the synaptic plasticity rule in the brain, we asked. It turns out there are multiple, even within individual neurons. Congrats Jake! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

🚨 A new Daneman Lab preprint!! 🚨 Reid Larsen, one of the brightest scientists I know, studied the BBB glycocalyx, identified its structure, composition, and function and uncovered what makes the CNS glycocalyx unique. It was a true pleasure to be a part of this seminal study! shorturl.at/Wkhxr

1/ Why do patients with late-stage cancer lose motivation & sink into apathy? 🔥 Our new Science paper shows chronic inflammation activates a cytokine-sensing brain circuit that lowers motivation. Huge team effort: Aelita Zhu, Sarah Starosta, Pignatelli & Janowitz labs! 🧵 🔗 doi.org/10.1126/scie...

Refreshing to see @moeneuro.bsky.social deliver a home-run on empathy and compassion in a time that needs more of it.

🚨iGluSnFR4 is finally out!🚨🧪 We present iGluSnFR4f and 4s, a novel pair of genetically-encoded glutamate indicators designed for high-fidelity imaging of synaptic activity in the living brain. ⬇️ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 🎥 Below: iGluSnFR4s detecting minis in cultures w/ TTX #Neuroscience

this exciting work comes from studying sex differences - reactivation of the silent X chromosome in aging female mice reveals factors that promote cognition in old XX and XY mice. super cool, congrats to all - lets keep studying what makes us different! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Microglia dysfunction, neurovascular inflammation and focal neuropathologies are linked to IL-1- and IL-6-related systemic inflammation in COVID-19 @natureneuro.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Defining the molecular identity and morphology of glia limitans superficialis astrocytes in vertebrates: Cell Reports www.cell.com/cell-reports...

LET’S DO THIS UCSD #standupforscienceUCSD

Talked for 1+ hour with my Trump-supporting grandma and succeeded in convincing her to call her AL representatives to protect a strong American investment in science and to end the chaos. Have these difficult conversations, provide detail, and you will be surprised of their power.

☀️☀️☀️ NEW WEBSITE IS UP! ☀️☀️☀️ www.standupforscience2025.org Read about us, our policy goals, and ways to get involved. This website will also continue to grow as we do, so keep an eye on it!

Teaching citizens about science 🤝 Teaching students about being a citizen

Petition to Reverse the NIH Indirect Cost Cap initiated by Tom Maniatis. Please amplify Sign the Petition: chng.it/kK2HMP5pGk "Share with Leadership & Faculty. Reach out to professional societies, biotech and pharma leaders, and philanthropic organizations to raise awareness and mobilize support."

Sunday ponderings at the microscope on how to convince the average American that knowing the mysteries buried within this image (and others) is important and that sustained public funding (including sufficient indirect support) remains as important as ever.

However hard it may be, we must find common ground (where possible) with Trump supporting friends and family. We need them to pressure their representatives to protect shared values and priorities (e.g. public investment in science). Some issues aren’t possible, but for many, science still is.

This is the most relevant article to NIH and research cuts I’ve seen. Imagine if this was today , how many people would be saying “Why are we studying Gila Monsters and their impact on diabetes ? That’s wasted money !” globalnews.ca/news/9793403...

Thinking back on all this I better understand the pain I feel to see science under devastating attack here. It’s not just about my livelihood or my university. It’s about my identity. And it’s about a pursuit that I see as standing along with art, literature, and music as among our highest callings.

This is the end of science as we know it if it stands—15% IDCs for all NIH Grants. grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

Got my first small grant as a PI. This is much welcomed news amidst the chaos of the moment.

Tetanus on demand! (not for bioweapons, but for neuroscience research) Tetanus toxin induces paralysis by using a protease to cleave VAMP2, a protein required for synaptic vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. To harness this toxicity and use it as a beneficial tool for neuroscience,

What are they doing!?! Mouse astrocytes in an ocean of HS. In uncertain times, images like these give me both wonder and hope that the curiosity that infects our diverse community will never be extinguished. This was taken by a talented tech as part of her first independent project.

Hear from @marisosa.bsky.social, @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social, @andrewmendiola.bsky.social and myself in this @thetransmitter.bsky.social coverage of the DEI order's impact on NIH grants: www.thetransmitter.org/funding/neur...

Are you using 5xFAD mice to study Alzheimer’s disease? Our work out today @cp-neuron.bsky.social may be relevant to you 🐁🧠 Age and sex are known to influence Aβ plaque burden in these mice. Here, we found that the transgene parentage is another strong determinant. Thread below: (1/11)

It is Faculty interview season, so I created a doc with compiled Chalk Talk advice! Please share widely- this shouldn't be hidden curriculum... there is a recipe for success! I will also share videos of my practice and actual UCSD chalk talk with anyone who wants it! DM me!

Neuroinflammation affects the blood-brain barrier in many ways. This study from Yonsei University (Seoul) provides new insight into how peripheral LPS challenges the BBB doi.org/10.1038/s414... #BloodBrainBarrier #Cerebrovascular

Beautiful image of human induced astrocytes (as part of a collaboration) taken by a talented rotation student. Some interesting heterogeneity at hand. More to come!

Posting this nice two-photon imagine of GCaMP8f in astrocytes for #fluoresencefriday 🧪 Credit - @astroantho.bsky.social

Really enjoyed seeing this story develop and very excited to dive into the full product. Beautiful and important work, Kurshan Lab!

First 🦋 post! Very excited to share our lab's latest work exploring the shared and divergent aspects of human astrocyte development and glioblastoma. This effort spans many fields from developmental #glial biology to #stem cells and #tumor biology. rdcu.be/d5ADz A 🧵

Our paper on ketamine’s effect on astrocytes and behavior is out in Neuron by Marc Duque, Alex Chen, Eric Hsu, and colleagues @marcduque.bsky.social @alexbchen.bsky.social @ehsu6.bsky.social, with the Engert, Fishman, & Bergles labs, www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Hallmarks of brain aging from a comprehensive single-cell sequencing of 1.2 million cells Specific cell-type pattern, role of immune response, inflammation, and a potential hypothalamus (near 3rd ventricle) hot spot for aging www.nature.com/articles/s41... @nature.com @alleninstitute.bsky.social

A great read - How to thank you lab mates: eight ways to show gratitude at the end of the year - www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Astrocytic mitochondrial transfer to brain endothelial cells and pericytes in vivo increases with aging doi.org/10.1177/0271...

Has anyone used Hamilton syringes for stereotaxic injections in neonatal mice (P0-P3)? Any suggestions are much appreciated. I am used to using glass needles, but our current shared setup won’t accommodate this.

Leaving lab for a week to spend the holidays with friends and family. Here is a holiday gfap(+) astrocyte decorated with Kir4.1, astrocytic Nrxn1, and vGluT2. Much to celebrate and be grateful 9 months into having a lab filled with some talented folks.

This is an excellent and important read… “we risk assembling all of these stories into a misunderstanding of evolution that obscures the real mechanisms, many of which may be marvelously complex”

Beautiful and insanely important work!

This was a fun interview and shoot. Thanks for writing this up, @mattreynolds.bsky.social!