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Without jeopardizing the generalization of the results, a well-defined part of the research of the group is focused on the alterations of the motor system in stress conditions, since from the aspect of explorative research its degeneration can be observed as a prototype of neurodegeneration. Indeed, even though their primary cause is mostly unknown several common mechanisms have been identified, which contribute to the loss of neurons during degeneration. These include excitotoxicity, oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding and aggregation, defects in axonal transport, immune-inflammatory dysfunction, impairment of the blood brain or spinal cord barrier (BBB, BSCB) and calcium mediated toxicity. According to a relatively new, but well-supported hypothesis, dysfunction of the BBB or BSCB is not only a consequence, but an active component, or even the starting point of some of these diseases. Therefore, one of the main research directions of the Molecular Neurobiology Unit is focused on understanding how the neurovascular unit functions on the molecular level in physiological and pathological conditions. Our research is aligned along two main topics. On the one hand, we aim at clarifying the role of the neurovascular unit in inflammation-associated conditions, like neurodegenerative disorders or aging. On the other hand, since the central nervous system parenchyma lacks classical lymphatic circulation, metastatic tumor cells can primarily reach the central nervous system through the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, our goal is to decipher the mechanisms of transmigration of tumor cells with the final purpose of preventing formation of brain metastases.
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