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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 |
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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 |
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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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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 |
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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) |