Revealing the brain’s secrets, one cell at a time
Exploring the advancements in single-cell neuroscience at VIB
August 26, 2024
The human brain is an enigma. This complex organ governs our thoughts, emotions, and actions, yet much of its inner workings remain mysterious. We still struggle to understand how brain diseases develop and how to effectively prevent or treat them. Fortunately, neuroscience paces ahead. The latest step forward? Single-cell research.
Single-cell research – what's in a name? - focuses on individual cells, their unique functions, interactions, and contributions to overall brain function. We are now able to create detailed cellular maps of the brain, revealing its intricate architecture and diversity of cell types.
At VIB, we are at the forefront of this exciting field, exploring the brain one cell at a time. We aim to uncover the fundamental mechanisms of neurobiology and brain diseases to find solutions for some of humanity's most pressing medical challenges.
Decoding the aging brain
The lab of Stein Aerts (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB.AI) integrates single-cell technologies with artificial intelligence. Big data, watch out! In a landmark achievement, they mapped the gene expression in every cell of an aging fly's brain, which allows them (and others; it’s a shared resource) to look in detail at gene expression changes that accompany brain aging. As an even more recent addition, they analyzed gene regulation in all cells of the fruit fly brain and uncovered how specific DNA segments guide the development and identity of brain cells throughout life.
Understanding how brain cells age, from fruit fly to human, can pave the way for interventions that slow down cognitive decline and prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Don't miss Prof. Aerts' talk on the cellular complexity of the brain at the upcoming Brain Mosaic Conference!Did you know? Fruit flies are more similar to humans than their appearance suggests. Of the approximately 14,000 protein-encoding genes in the fruit fly genome, about two-thirds have a human counterpart. Aside from key insights into the basic workings of biological mechanisms such as genetics and developmental biology, fruit flies have played a vital role in developing treatments for cancer, immune disease, and diabetes, to name just a few.
The cellular blueprint of brain disorders (and sleep)
The lab of Patrik Verstreken at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research (CBD) also uses single-cell sequencing to understand brain disorders. In a recent study, they explored why certain brain cells are more vulnerable to damage caused by proteins like alpha-synuclein and tau, which are linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They discovered that resilient cells have specific genes turned on that help them withstand damage, particularly in energy production and cellular organization. Single-cell research is bringing us closer to a reality in which treatments don't just address the symptoms of a disease but target the specific vulnerabilities of the cells themselves.
In the same center, the team of Bart De Strooper used single-cell sequencing to analyze the behavior of human microglia—immune cells in the brain—after transplanting them into a mouse model. This way, they could observe how human microglia integrate, function, and respond to disease environments in a valuable model for studying neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. Single-cell sequencing lets the researchers track gene expression at the level of individual microglia, providing detailed insights into their role in disease processes and revealing potential therapeutic targets.
Our single-cell brain research goes beyond studying diseases. We need good sleep too! Sha Liu's lab, also at CBD, revealed how glial cells, once considered ‘mere’ support cells, play a crucial role in regulating sleep-wake cycles. The interactions between glial cells, sleep drive signals, and circadian rhythms lift the veil on the cellular mechanisms behind sleep.
The future of single-cell neuroscience
Neuroscience and single-cell technologies are advancing rapidly. To make sure that our researchers have access to the latest expertise and technology available, the VIB Single Cell Core, part of VIB Technologies, offers state-of-the-art services and training for researchers who want to integrate single-cell omics workflows into their projects. This collaborative approach ensures that more scientists can leverage this powerful technology and contribute to the advancement of neuroscience.
Get in touch to enhance your research with our expertise in single-cell technologies.VIB is at the forefront of developing innovative single-cell technologies and applying them to address critical questions in brain biology. For example, Valeriya Malysheva's lab (VIB-UAntwerp Center for Molecular Neurology) is developing experimental and computational tools to dissect the complexities of the brain at the single-cell level. Lynette Lim and her team (CBD) focus on characterizing the diversity and maturation of interneurons, crucial cell types involved in brain function and neurodegeneration. Patrik Verstreken's lab (CBD) leverages single-cell sequencing in both fruit flies and hibernating hamsters to identify cellular vulnerabilities and protective mechanisms in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
Our researchers are revealing some of the great mysteries of the brain. One cell at a time.
Between 10 and 11 October, VIB organizes The Brain Mosaic conference in the beautiful city of Leuven, which will bring together experts from academia and industry to present their most recent discoveries.
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