Seeking discoveries at the intersection of Neuroscience and Clinical Neurology
Microglia (pictured above) are said to be the ‘garbage collectors’ of the central nervous system. We study how they (mis)behave in brain tumors
The Toedebusch laboratory seeks to further understand the mechanisms by which resident brain microglia, the immune cells of the brain, contribute to brain tumor progression. Specifically, we study gliomas, which are the most common human primary brain tumor and the second most common primary brain tumor in dogs. Gliomas, for both humans and dogs, are uniformly fatal. Understanding how microglia facilitate glioma growth and invasion in humans and dogs may lead to the development of novel treatment strategies for man and his best friend.
Microglia contribute to glioma progression in dogs
Similar to human glioblastoma, microglia heavily infiltrate canine glioma and produce molecules to promote tumor growth and brain invasion.
Unraveling the signals that promote pro-tumorigenic microglia
There are many signals in the tumor microenvironment that reprogram microglia to release molecules that promote tumor growth and invasion in the brain. We are currently studying the role of a novel glycoprotein in microglia phenotype determination and role in glioma progression. Stay tuned!
Microglia in a culture dish. We use these to study and answer questions about their behavior and molecular functions