Laboratory of Neuroglial Interactions
We are interested in the mechanisms of interactions between neurons and oligodendrocyte lineage cells under different physiological and pathological conditions, especially in epilepsy. Neuronal activity can regulate myelin formation by oligodendrocytes which might have a profound feedback effect on the patterns of activity in neuronal circuits. Many pathologies of the central nervous system are accompanied by changes in myelin content in the nervous tissue, including epilepsy, where hypomyelination is usually described. This is in contrast to the expected activity-dependent myelination. Our aim is to find out how pathological synchronized neuronal activity in epilepsy affects the function of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and what is the cause of hypomyelination in epilepsy.
We are using a mouse model of focal cortical dysplasia and our experimental approaches include immunohistochemistry, single cell transcriptomics, electrophysiology (patch clamp) and calcium imaging in acute brain slices in combination with in vivo 2-photon imaging.
Helena Pivonkova, MD, PhD
Team Leader
Dr. Bohdana Hruskova, PhD
Senior Scientist
Dr. Petra Mrozkova, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Adam Bogdanovic, MSc
PhD student
Nikola Vrskova, MD
PhD student
Lucie Cerna
Medical Student
Pavla Hosenseidlova, Bc
Student
Vojtech Novak
Student
Sana Saffarzadeh, MD
Scientist
Research areas
Myelination in epilepsy
The aim of the project is to uncover the mechanisms of hypomyelination in focal cortical dysplasia
Synaptic and non-synaptic communication between neurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells in epilepsy
Mechanisms of epileptogenesis and ictogenesis in focal cortical dysplasia type I and MOGHE (Mild malformation of cortical development with oligodendroglial hyperplasia in epilepsy)
The impact of neurosteroids on neuronal hyperactivity
Joint project with Dr. Kudová’s group at Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences
The impact of Tsc mutation on homeostatic functions in astrocytes
Joint project with Department of Cellular Neurophysiology at the Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences
Selected publications
Pivonkova H et al
Heterogeneity in oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation is dynamic and driven by passive bioelectrical properties
Cell Reports 2024
Dossi E et al
Astroglial gap junctions strengthen hippocampal network activity by sustaining afterhyperpolarization via KCNQ channels.
Cell Reports 2024
de Faria Jr O et al
Periods of synchronized myelin changes shape brain function and plasticity
Nature Neuroscience 2021
Current grant projects
The role of disrupted glial cell functions in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases
National Institute for Neurology Research
Workpackage 3.2
2022-2025
Mechanism of oligodendrocyte lineage cells loss in focal cortical dysplasia
Grant Agency of Charles University
Principal investigator: Adam Bogdanovič
2024-2026
International cooperation
Prof. Ragnhildur Thóra Káradóttir group
University of Cambridge, UK & University of Iceland, Reykjavik
Keywords
oligodendrocyte precursor cells, oligodendrocytes, myelin, glial cells, epilepsy, focal cortical dysplasia, patch clamp, calcium imaging, ion channels, glutamate receptors