Explorer le cerveau pour aider à lutter contre la sclérose en plaques

This presentation delves into brain cells, likening the brain to a bustling city and a symphony orchestra. It introduces three cell types: oligodendrocytes, which produce myelin to speed up brain signals; excitatory neurons, which activate functions like movement and thinking; and inhibitory neurons, which regulate and calm to maintain balance. These cells communicate via synapses, critical connection points for brain function. The balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons (E/I) is vital, illustrated by the orchestra analogy: excitatory neurons are the musicians, and inhibitory neurons are the conductor. Demyelination, the loss of myelin, disrupts this balance, particularly affecting inhibitory neurons and causing chaos in the "orchestra." The team studies these processes using microscopes to observe synapses, measuring neuronal communication. We found that demyelination disrupts the E/I balance, but the brain can self-repair through remyelination, partially restoring harmony. Acknowledgments: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 945298-ParisRegionFP. The European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) postdoctoral research fellowship programme for financial support. Grants from FRM Equipe, ANR CoLD, ANR Myelex and Fondation ARSEP.