Topic: neurodevelopmental diseases

Maternal infections and prenatal inflammation are recognized risk factors for neurodevelopmental diseases. Astrocytes are glial cells essential for synapse formation and refinement, but they also may react to inflammatory environment affecting neuronal network homeostasis. However, how an inflammatory episode occurring during fetal development influences astrocyte generation and phenotype remains largely unknown.In the brain, the innate immune molecule Pentraxin3 (PTX3) is produced by astrocytes and promotes the maturation of excitatory synapses. Its expression is induced by inflammatory stimu

Ether phospholipid synthesis has been genetically and physiologically linked to neurodevelopmental diseases like ADHD and autism. However, so far it is unclear whether plasmalogen or non-plasmalogen ether lipid species mediate this association. To address this, we compared two distinct mouse models, namely Gnpat KO and Peds1 KO, and wild-type controls. Glyceronephosphate O-acyltransferase (GNPAT) initiates the formation of the defining ether bond inside peroxisomes; lack of this enzyme abolishes the biosynthesis of all ether lipids. Plasmanylethanolamine desaturase (PEDS1, TMEM189) completes p