Grant: Project Grant

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. A key player in ischemic stroke is astrocytes, the main glial cells in the brain. Upon stroke, astrocytes quickly transform to a reactive state but intriguingly exhibit distinct functions with both beneficial and detrimental consequences. Here we propose that primary cilia, small signaling sensors of extracellular cues in astrocytes, play an important role in activating and guiding astrocyte reaction to ischemic stroke and can significantly impact stroke outcome. By establishing the functional link between primary cilia and reactive astrocytes, this work will break new ground by unraveling a novel cellular mechanism central for CNS injury response, repair, and inflammation involved in almost all major neurological disorders. By understanding how astrocyte reaction is modulated to protect and repair the injured brains this work will form the basis for dissecting the harmful versus beneficial effects of reactive astrocytes and for developing effective therapies that promote regeneration and recovery after stroke.