Head of the Laboratory
Abdurasulova Irina Nikolaevna, кандидат биологических наук
e-mail: abdurasulova.i@iemspb.ru
Phone: (812) 234-94-75
Brief History of the Laboratory
In early 1980-s, under the leadership of Doctor of Medicine V.M. Klimenko the Laboratory of Immunophysiology in the Department of General Pathology and Pathophysiology of the Institute of Experimental Medicine was established. Laboratory studies were aimed at studying the participation of various animal brain structures in immune responses. Conducting research at the intersection of Physiology of HNA and Neuroimmunophysiology – studying the physiological mechanisms of ‘sickness behavior’ – a nonspecific brain reaction that occurs in response to activation of the immune system in bacterial, viral infections, Ischemia, Hypoxia, injuries and other pathological conditions become a new direction of research. A detailed description of the molecular-cellular mechanisms underlying the reduced psychomotor activity, decrease in food and research motivation accompanying the disease is obtained. The role of immune factors in impaired behavior formation in early ontogenesis was proved.
The Laboratory of Immunophysiology was transferred to the I.P. Pavlov Department of Physiology in 1995. This Laboratory was expanded and renamed as the Laboratory of Neurobiology of Integrative Functions of the Brain. The ideas about the formation in ontogenesis of individual characteristics of cognitive functions, primarily research behavior, and about factors affecting its manifestations were developing that time. A lot of studies are aimed at studying changes in brain function due to activation of the immune system in adults and children. The study of pathogenetic mechanisms of brain dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases begins: Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis has begun in animal models.
Main Area of Research
The Laboratory works in the sphere of studying the genetic and molecular foundations of the regulation of the central nervous system response to adverse environmental factors and the formation of neurodegenerative diseases (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease), ischemic and traumatic brain injuries, mental disorders and minimal brain dysfunctions. Researcher assistants search strategies for treatment of these diseases. Particular attention is paid to the role of microbiota and neuro-immune interactions in these processes.
Main Academic results for the past 5 years
The connection between the main pathogenic processes that trigger the death of nerve cells in various neurodegenerative diseases: neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity and oxidative stress.
It is proved that the proinflammatory cytokines secreted by activated lymphocytes and monocytes during inflammatory processes of any etiology act in the brain mediate the central components of the body’s response to activation of the immune system, defining the standard set of patient’s behavioral responses, which is called ‘sickness behavior’ in international literature.
It is proved that a moderate increase in the level of IL-1 at the critical time of early postnatal ontogenesis leads to long-term (detected in adult animals) changes in research behavior and various types of memory.
The presence of neurodegeneration is proved in the autoimmune CNS pathology. The conjugation of the action of inflammatory and excitotoxic factors is shown, the involvement of glutamate receptors in this process is revealed, methods of neuroprotection using NMDA and / or AMPA receptor blockers and suppression of the hyperactivation of the calpain system using calpastatin mimetics are developed.
Priority data were obtained on the protective and stress-limiting properties of the galanin neuropeptide. Allelic variants of the galanin gene in Wistar rats and peculiarities of the reaction to stress and the administration of neurotoxins in animals with differences in the structure of the promoter region of the galanin gene were revealed.
New mechanisms of calpain involvement in the regulation of the activity of the dopaminergic system in the normal state and during the development of Parkinson’s disease were identified.
It is proved that cognitive and emotional disturbances during Alzheimer’s disease can be associated with an increase in the phase release of dopamine in the shell of the adjacent nucleus and its simultaneous weakening in the dorsal striatum.
It was shown that in patients with Multiple Sclerosis and when modeling this disease in animals, qualitative and quantitative changes in intestinal Microbiocenosis (Dysbiosis) occur. Animal experiments have shown that the use of probiotics for this disease can help reduce the severity of the condition.
Research Assistants of the Laboratory
Klimenko Victor Matveevich
Research interests:
Lyudino Victoria Iosifovna
Research interests: Нейропептиды, галанин, аллели, нуклеотидный полиморфизм, экспрессия генов.
Mukhin Valery Nikolaevich
Research interests: нейродегенеративные заболевания (болезнь Альцгеймера), дофамин, β-амилоид, быстросканирующая циклическая вольтамперометрия.
Trofimov Alexander Nikolaevich
Research interests: Нейрофизиология, нейроиммунохимия.
Matsulevich Anna Viktorovna
Research interests:
Tarasova Elena Anatolyevna
Research interests: Нейроиммунные взаимодействия, микробиота кишечника, молекулярная диагностика.