A5006000290- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Congenital heart defects research
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Chemical synthesis and alkaloids
- Wnt/β-catenin signaling in development and cancer
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- TGF-β signaling in diseases
- Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- RNA Research and Splicing
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Genomic variations and chromosomal abnormalities
KU Leuven
2015-2025
Allen Institute for Brain Science
2025
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research
2021-2024
University of Liège
2016
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology
2009-2013
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
2009-2012
Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie
2007-2012
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology
2009
European Molecular Biology Laboratory
2007
ZEB2 is a multi-zinc-finger transcription factor known to play significant role in early neurogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition–dependent tumor metastasis. Although the function of T lymphocytes unknown, activity closely related family member ZEB1 has been implicated lymphocyte development. Here, we find that expression up-regulated by activated cells, specifically KLRG1hi effector CD8+ cell subset. Loss results loss antigen-specific cells after primary secondary infection with...
Natural killer (NK) cell maturation is a tightly controlled process that endows NK cells with functional competence and the capacity to recognize target cells. Here, we found transcription factor (TF) Zeb2 was most highly induced TF during maturation. known control epithelial mesenchymal transition, but its role in immune mostly undefined. Targeted deletion of resulted impaired maturation, survival, exit from bone marrow. function preserved, mice lacking were more susceptible B16 melanoma...
Abstract Octopuses are mollusks that have evolved intricate neural systems comparable with vertebrates in terms of cell number, complexity and size. The brain types control their sophisticated behavioral repertoire still unknown. Here, we profile the diversity paralarval Octopus vulgaris to build a type atlas comprises mostly cells, but also multiple glial subtypes, endothelial cells fibroblasts. We spatially map vertical, subesophageal optic lobes. Investigation conservation reveals shared...
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are considered important regulators of neural development. However, results mainly from a wide set in vitro gain-of-function experiments conflicting since these show that BMPs can act either as inhibitors or promoters neurogenesis. Here, we report specific and non-redundant role for BMP7 cortical neurogenesis vivo using knockout mice. Bmp7 is produced regions adjacent to the developing cortex; hem, meninges, choroid plexus, be detected cerebrospinal fluid....
Abstract The common octopus, Octopus vulgaris , is an active marine predator known for the richness and plasticity of its behavioral repertoire, remarkable learning memory capabilities. other coleoid cephalopods, cuttlefish squid, possess largest nervous system among invertebrates, both cell counts body to brain size. O . has been at center a long-tradition research into diverse aspects biology. To leverage in this iconic species, we generated 270 Gb genomic sequencing data, complementing...
Soft-bodied cephalopods such as octopuses are exceptionally intelligent invertebrates with a highly complex nervous system that evolved independently from vertebrates. Because of elevated RNA editing in their tissues, we hypothesized regulation may play major role the cognitive success this group. We thus profiled messenger RNAs and small three cephalopod species including 18 tissues Octopus vulgaris. show innovation soft-bodied is an expansion microRNA (miRNA) gene repertoire. These...
Smad-interacting protein-1 (Sip1) [Zinc finger homeobox (Zfhx1b)] is a transcription factor implicated in the genesis of Mowat–Wilson syndrome humans. Sip1 expression dorsal telencephalon mouse embryos was documented from E12.5. We inactivated gene specifically cortical precursors. This resulted lack entire hippocampal formation. mutant mice exhibited death differentiating cells and decreased proliferation region prospective hippocampus dentate gyrus. The Wnt antagonist Sfrp1 ectopically...
During development, spinal motoneurons (MNs) diversify into a variety of subtypes that are specifically dedicated to the motor control particular sets skeletal muscles or visceral organs. MN diversification depends on coordinated action several transcriptional regulators including LIM-HD factor Isl1, which is crucial for survival and fate determination. However, how these cooperate establish each subtype remains poorly understood. Here, using phenotypic analyses single compound mutant mouse...
Worldwide, people are getting older, and this prolonged lifespan unfortunately also results in an increased prevalence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, contributing to a diminished life quality elderly. Age-associated neuropathies typically include diseases leading dementia (Alzheimer's Parkinson's disease), as well eye such glaucoma macular degeneration. Despite many research attempts aiming unravel aging processes their involvement neurodegeneration functional decline, achieving...
Cephalopods have evolved nervous systems that parallel the complexity of mammalian brains in terms neuronal numbers and richness behavioral output. How cephalopod brain develops has only been described at morphological level, it remains unclear where progenitor cells are located what molecular factors drive neurogenesis. Using histological techniques, we dividing cells, neural progenitors postmitotic neurons Octopus vulgaris embryos. Our results indicate an important pool progenitors,...
The young African turquoise killifish has a high regenerative capacity, but loses it with advancing age, adopting several aspects of the limited form mammalian regeneration. We deployed proteomic strategy to identify pathways that underpin loss power caused by aging. Cellular senescence stood out as potential brake on successful neurorepair. applied senolytic cocktail Dasatinib and Quercetin (D + Q) test clearance chronic senescent cells from aged central nervous system (CNS) well rebooting...
We identified a male patient presenting with intellectual disability and agenesis of the corpus callosum, carrying an apparently balanced, reciprocal, de novo translocation t(6;14)(q25.3;q13.2). Breakpoint mapping, using array painting, 2 interesting candidate genes, <i>ARID1B</i> <i>MRPP3</i>, disrupted in patient. Unexpectedly, rearrangement produced 3 in-frame reciprocal fusion transcripts that were further characterized. Formation is mainly reported acquired...
Octopus vulgaris has been an iconic cephalopod species for neurobiology research as well aquaculture. It is one of the most intelligent and well-studied invertebrates, possessing both long- short-term memory striking ability to perform complex cognitive tasks. Nevertheless, how common octopus developed these uncommon features remains enigmatic. O. females spawn thousands small eggs remain with their clutch during entire development, cleaning, venting protecting eggs. In fact, incubated...
The aging central nervous system (CNS) of mammals displays progressive limited regenerative abilities. Recovery after loss neurons is extremely restricted in the aged brain. Many research models fall short recapitulating mammalian hallmarks or have an impractically long lifespan. We established a traumatic brain injury model African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri), regeneration-competent vertebrate that evolved to naturally age fast. Stab-wound dorsal telencephalon unveils...
Gene expression analysis has been instrumental to understand the function of key factors during embryonic development many species. Marker is also used as a tool investigate organ functioning and disease progression. As these processes happen in three dimensions, technologies that enable detection gene whole or embryo essential. Here, we describe an optimized protocol mount multiplexed RNA situ hybridization chain reaction version 3.0 (HCR v3.0) combination with immunohistochemistry (IHC),...
Conditional deletion of Elp3 in the mouse forebrain leads to microcephaly at birth. In this study, we demonstrate that these mice also develop postnatal hydrocephalus, associated with an enlargement brain ventricles. wild-type mice, ependymal motile cilia are properly aligned facilitate circulation cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within Our findings reveal loss induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and upregulation ATF4 expression cell progenitors, which compromises Notch signaling accelerates...