Exosomal miRNA in neuron to astroglial communication in the CNS

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Summary This diversity supplement aims to provide an opportunity for Rashed Alananzeh who meets the NIH diversity candidate criteria, to carry out a post-Baccalaureate study in my lab. In this project, Rashed will characterize the secretion of neuronal exosomes from either soma or axon terminals and the subsequent internalization of neuronal exosomes into astrocytes. Although intraluminal vesicles (ILVs), precursors for secreted exosomes, are largely localized in the somatodendritic compartment of cultured neurons, it is unknown whether these ILVs are preferentially secreted from neuronal soma or axons in vivo, given that vesicular secretion of neurotransmitters are predominantly released from axon terminals. By employing sciatic nerve injection model to selectively label spinal motor neuron (SMN) exosomes and intravitreal injection to selectively label retina ganglion cells (RGC), Rashed will specifically investigate and compare whether neuronal exosomes are differentially released from either somatodendritic or axon terminal compartments and whether these exosomes are also differentially taken up into surrounding astrocytes. Understanding the predominant location of exosome secretion from such a polarized cell type as neurons will give important insights into the potential function of those exosomes. By carrying out this project, it will give him the opportunity to understand how to see a project through from conception to finish, learn various injection techniques, deal with the troubleshooting and optimization that are always needed in scientific experiments and learn the best ways to analyze images and data. Overall, this diversity supplement award will greatly prepare Rashed for his research career development.