Mapping cellular stress and lipid dysregulation in Alzheimer-related progressive neurodegeneration using label-free Raman microscopy.

Aβ plaques are a main feature of Alzheimer's disease, and pathological alterations especially in their microenvironment have recently come into focus. However, a holistic imaging approach unveiling these changes and their biochemical nature is still lacking. In this context, we leverage confocal Raman microscopy as unbiased tool for non-destructive, label-free differentiation of progressive biomolecular changes in the Aβ plaque microenvironment in brain tissue of a murine model of cerebral amyloidosis.

Designing a Small Fluorescent Inhibitor to Investigate Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Engagement in Living Cells.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a promising target for a number of inflammation-related diseases. In addition, inhibition of sEH has been shown to reduce neuroinflammation, which plays a critical role in the development of central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we present the rational design of a small fluorescent sEH inhibitor.

Microglia Phenotypes Converge in Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease.

Microglia, the primary immune cells of the central nervous system, hold a multitude of tasks in order to ensure brain homeostasis and are one of the best predictors of biological age on a cellular level. We and others have shown that these long-lived cells undergo an aging process that impedes their ability to perform some of the most vital homeostatic functions such as immune surveillance, acute injury response, and clearance of debris. Microglia have been described as gradually transitioning from a homeostatic state to an activated state in response to various insults, as well as aging.

Neurovascular Interactions in the Nervous System.

Molecular cross talk between the nervous and vascular systems is necessary to maintain the correct coupling of organ structure and function. Molecular pathways shared by both systems are emerging as major players in the communication of the neuronal compartment with the endothelium. Here we review different aspects of this cross talk and how vessels influence the development and homeostasis of the nervous system.