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Neuropharmacology
group
Emmanuel
Hermans Jean-Marie
Maloteaux Molecular
and cellular mechanisms of the regulation of glutamate
transporters |
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Primary
cultured astrocytes(GFAP/DAPI staining)
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[UCL][Faculties][Faculty of Medicine] |
Neuropharmacology
group
Emmanuel Hermans
Jean-Marie
Maloteaux
Molecular
and cellular mechanisms of the regulation of glutamate
transporters |
Topics |
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For several years, our research has concerned the homologous regulation of a variety of membrane receptor to neurotransmitters (muscarinic receptors, benzodiazepine receptor, neurotensin receptor, dopamine receptors …). Since 2001, we have focused our attention on the regulation of glutamate transporters, in particular their modulation by intracellular signallings which are activated by membrane receptors. The amino acid glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. The simplicity of the chemical structure of this transmitter contrasts with the complexity of biological molecules involved in its specific recognition and uptake. More than 4 families of cell surface receptors and 5 subtypes of specific transporters have been identified. In response to physiological and pharmacological stimuli, the expression, the subcellular localisation and the activity of these proteins are timely controlled. Glutamate is not metabolised within the extracellular space, and its clearance is highly dependent on the activity of high affinity, specific glutamate transporters which are principally localised on glial cells. For this reason, astrocytes play a critical role in the protection of neuronal cells against the potential toxicity of excessive glutamate concentrations. Heterologous
regulation of glutamate transporters in cultured astrocytes and glioma
cells - Céline Vermeiren and Mustapha Najimi (collaboration with PEDI
Unit, UCL-Brussels) Characterization of
functional glutamate transporters in astrocytic cells derived from neural
stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells (Isabelle de
Hemptinne) Pharmacological
modulation of glutamate transporters in the spinal cord of neuropathic
rats (Sebastien Tilleux) |
Neuropharmacology
group
Emmanuel Hermans
Jean-Marie
Maloteaux
Molecular
and cellular mechanisms of the regulation of glutamate
transporters |
Research
team |
|
The team is headed by Pr. Emmanuel Hermans, who has been working in the field of neuropharmacology for more than 10 years. After his PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (in neurochemistry), he spent six months in Paris (Laboratory of neuroendocrinology, Pr W. Rostène) and two years in Leicester, UK (Dpt of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, Pr S.R. Nahorski). Since 1998, Emmanuel Hermans is permanent researcher and associate professor in the laboratory. The team is composed of 3-4 PhD students or Post-docs and one or two students. Céline Vermeiren (4th year PhD in Biomedical Sciences), Isabelle de Hemptinne (3th year PhD in Biomedical Sciences) Sébastien Tilleux (1st year PhD) Nicolas Vanhoutte (Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences) |
Neuropharmacology
group
Emmanuel Hermans
Jean-Marie
Maloteaux
Molecular
and cellular mechanisms of the regulation of glutamate
transporters |
Equipment |
|
Cell culture
facilities Fluorescence
inverted microscope Cryostat Paw thermal
stimulator Protein
electrophoresis Brandel
Harvester (for radioligand binding assays) Rat
stereotaxic frame Scintillation
counters Ultracentrifuge Local animal
housing facility Image
analysis station (MCID and Till photonics) |
Neuropharmacology
group
Emmanuel Hermans
Jean-Marie
Maloteaux
Molecular
and cellular mechanisms of the regulation of glutamate
transporters |
Techniques |
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·
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Cell
culture ·
Radioligand
binding assays ·
Second
messenger assays (intracellular calcium, inositol
phosphates) ·
Protein
biochemistry (Wetstern blot, immunoprecipitation) ·
Autoradiography ·
Image
analysis ·
Molecular biology
(cloning, RT-PCR, Real-time PCR, transfection, Northern
blot,…) ·
Immunocytochemistry
and immunohistochemistry ·
In situ
hybridisation ·
Stereotaxic
injections in the CNS ·
Pain
evaluation |
Neuropharmacology
group
Emmanuel Hermans
Jean-Marie
Maloteaux
Molecular
and cellular mechanisms of the regulation of glutamate
transporters |
Recent
publications |
|
Hermans
E. Generation
of Model Cell Lines Expressing Recombinant G-Protein-Coupled
Receptors. Receptor
Signal Transduction Protocols 259, 137-154 (Humana Press - ISBN
1-58829-329-7) [abstract] Peeters
M., Romieu P., Maurice T., Su T.P., Maloteaux J.M., Hermans E.
(2004) Geurts
M., Maloteaux J.M., Hermans E. (2003) Skrzydelski
D., Lhiaubet A.M., Lebeau A., Forgez P., Yamada M., Hermans E., William
Rostene W., Pelaprat D. (2003) Hermans
E. (2003) Peeters
M., Maloteaux J.M., Hermans E. (2003) Geurts
M., Hermans E., Maloteaux J.M. (2002) Page,
G., Chalon, S., Emond, P., Maloteaux, J-M. and Hermans, E. (2002)
Peeters,
M., Page, G., Maloteaux, J-M. and Hermans E. (2002) Najimi,
M., Gailly, P., Maloteaux, J-M. and Hermans, E. (2002) Najimi,
M., Maloteaux, J-M. and Hermans, E. (2002) Grisshammer,
R. and Hermans, E. (2001) Hermans,
E. and Challiss R.A.J.(2001) Najimi,
M., Hermans, E., Rostène, W. and Forgez, P. (2001) Page,
G., Peeters, M., Najimi, M., Maloteaux, J.M. and Hermans, E. (2001)
Robinet,
E.A, Geurts, M., Maloteaux, J.M. and Pauwels, P.J. (2001) Gailly,
P., Najimi, M. and Hermans, E. (2000) Page,
G., Peeters, M., Maloteaux, J.M. and Hermans, E. (2000) |
Neuropharmacology
group
Emmanuel Hermans
Jean-Marie
Maloteaux
Molecular
and cellular mechanisms of the regulation of glutamate
transporters |
Collaborations |
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Pr
Roland Pochet (Brussels, Belgium) Pr
Didier Lambert (Brussels, Belgium) Dr Guylène Page
(Poitiers, France) Dr Tangui
Maurice (Montpellier, France) Pr
Bernard Rogister (Liège, Belgium) Dr Didier Pelaprat (Paris,
France) Dr Christian Damblon
(Leicester, United Kingdom) Pr Philippe Gailly (Brussels,
Belgium) Dr Mustapha Najimi
(Brussels, Belgium) |