A5037505777- Connexins and lens biology
- Barrier Structure and Function Studies
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- S100 Proteins and Annexins
- Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Migraine and Headache Studies
- Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
- Biochemical effects in animals
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Burn Injury Management and Outcomes
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
University of Auckland
2015-2024
Brain Research New Zealand
2013-2016
University of Canterbury
2001-2002
University of Otago
1998-2000
University of Leeds
1990
Connexin43 (Cx43) is up-regulated after spinal cord injury (SCI). The authors tested whether mimetic peptides, corresponding to short sequences of rat Cx43, would reduce the severity damage in a rodent ex vivo model SCI. Eleven peptides (peptides 1 11) amino acid extracellular loops Cx43 were tested. Two these peptide4 (corresponding Gap27) and peptide5, significantly reduced degree swelling SCI this model. Peptide5 produced more significant reduction was analyzed further. Treatment with...
Connexin43 gap junction protein is expressed in astrocytes and the vascular endothelium central nervous system. It upregulated following system injury recognized as playing an important role modulating extent of damage. Studies that have transiently blocked connexin43 spinal cord epileptic models reported neuronal rescue. The purpose this study was to investigate rescue retinal ischaemia-reperfusion by blocking activity using a mimetic peptide. A further aim evaluate effect on permeability...
The vasculature of the brain is composed endothelial cells, pericytes and astrocytic processes. cells are critical interface between blood CNS parenchyma a component blood-brain barrier (BBB). These innately programmed to respond myriad inflammatory cytokines or other danger signals. IL-1β TNFα well recognised pro-inflammatory mediators, here, we provide compelling evidence that they regulate function immune response profile human cerebral microvascular (hCMVECs) differentially. We used...
The xCELLigence technology is a real-time cellular biosensor, which measures the net adhesion of cells to high-density gold electrode arrays printed on custom-designed E-plates. strength influenced by myriad factors that include cell type, viability, growth, migration, spreading and proliferation. We therefore hypothesised biosensor would provide valuable platform for measurement drug responses in multitude different experimental, clinical or pharmacological contexts. In this manuscript, we...
Abstract Vascular degeneration plays a significant role in contributing to neurodegenerative conditions such as A lzheimer's disease. Our understanding of the vascular components P arkinson's disease ( PD ) is however limited. We have examined morphology human brain tissue from both and control cases using immunohistochemical staining image analysis. The degenerative seen included formation endothelial cell “clusters,” which may be contributed by fragmentation capillaries. When compared...
Connexin hemichannels can open during ischemia, resulting in loss of membrane potential, calcium influx, and release glutamate. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that opening after cerebral ischemia may contribute to delayed evolution injury.We infused a mimetic peptide blocks connexin 43 into lateral ventricle chronically instrumented fetal sheep utero at 128 ± 1 days gestation (term is 147 days), starting 90 minutes 30 severe induced by reversible bilateral carotid artery occlusion,...
Pericytes and endothelial cells are critical cellular components of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) play an important role in neuroinflammation. To date, majority inflammation-related studies endothelia pericytes have been carried out using immortalised cell lines or non-human-derived cells. Whether these representative primary human is unclear systematic comparisons inflammatory responses brain-derived has yet to be performed.To study effects neuroinflammation at BBB, brain were isolated from...
Migraine is a prevalent and disabling neurological disease. Its genesis poorly understood, there remains unmet clinical need. We aimed to identify mechanisms thus novel therapeutic targets for migraine using human models of translational in animals, with emphasis on amylin, close relative calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).Thirty-six without aura patients were enrolled randomized, double-blind, 2-way, crossover, positive-controlled trial study receive infusion an amylin analogue...
Abstract Neuronal models are a crucial tool in neuroscientific research, helping to elucidate the molecular and cellular processes involved disorders of nervous system. Adapting these high-throughput format enables simultaneous screening multiple agents within single assay. SH-SY5Y cells have been widely used as neuronal model, yet commonly an undifferentiated state that is not representative mature neurons. Differentiation necessary step obtain express markers. Despite this understanding,...
Electrically modulated delivery of proteins provides an avenue to target local tissues specifically and tune the dose application. This approach prolongs enhances activity at site whilst reducing off-target effects associated with systemic drug delivery. The work presented here explores electrically active composite material comprising a biocompatible hydrogel, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), generating polymer hydrogel. In this paper, key...
Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors are a promising system for transgene delivery into the central nervous (CNS) based on their safety profile and long-term gene expression. Gene to CNS has largely been neuron centric but advances in AAV technology facilitating development of approaches enable transduction glial cells. Considering role astrocytes on-going secondary damage spinal cord injury (SCI), an vector that targets could show benefit as potential treatment. Transduction efficiency,...
In this paper, we demonstrate the application of electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) technology for measuring differences in formation a strong and durable endothelial barrier model. addition, highlight capacity ECIS to model parameters physical associated with (I) paracellular space (referred as Rb) (II) basal adhesion cells (α, alpha). Physiologically, both are very important correct barriers. is only commercially available that can measure these independently each other,...
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 7000 bp of the mitochondrial genome, encompassing 15 coding regions from COI to ND5, were characterized by single strand polymorphism analysis and confirmed DNA sequencing. About 2.4% normozoospermic men 8.4% with poor semen quality had at least one substitution. Most substitutions occurred third codon did not change amino acid. Hydrophobicity plots proteins changes an acid as a result substitution suggested that they affect function protein. The two...
Purpose: Drugs that regulate connexin43 (Cx43) gap junction channels can reduce the spread of injury and improve functional outcomes after nervous system trauma. In eye, Cx43 expression increases in choroid following light damage. The aim this study was to investigate whether hemichannel block could preserve retinal function postinjury. Methods: Light damage induced by exposure adult albino Sprague-Dawley rats 2700 Lux for 24 hours. Intravitreal injections a mimetic peptide blocker,...
Three-dimensional bioprinting continues to advance as an attractive biofabrication technique employ cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds in the creation of precise, user-defined constructs that can recapitulate native tissue environment. Development and characterisation new bioinks expand existing library helps open avenues support a diversity engineering purposes fulfil requirements terms both printability supporting cell attachment. In this paper, we report development agarose-gelatin (AG-Gel)...
Abstract Background The upper cervical dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are important for the transmission of sensory information associated with back head and neck, contributing to pain. Calcitonin receptor (CTR)-based receptors, such as amylin 1 (AMY ) receptor, ligands, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) amylin, have been linked migraine However, contribution this system nociception involving DRG is unclear. Therefore, study aimed determine relative distribution CTR, CGRP, in DRG. Methods...
Blocking of Connexin43 hemichannels, the main gap junction protein located on astrocytes in central nervous system, has been shown to reduce neural injury a number models. We demonstrated previously that local administration mimetic peptide, Peptide5, reduces secondary tissue damage after spinal cord (SCI). Here, we investigated whether acute systemic delivery Peptide5 is also protective model SCI. Rats were subjected mild contusion using Multicentre Animal Spinal Cord Injury Study impactor...