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Cortical development

Cardoso - Represa Lab

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Research interests

Our team investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms of Malformations of Cortical Development (MCDs). MCDs correspond to either macroscopic (e.g. subcortical band heterotopia) or microscopic abnormalities of the cerebral cortex that arise as a consequence of an interruption to the normal steps of formation of the cortical network. Indeed, normal cortical development requires a very precise and orchestrated mobilisation of various neuron subtypes arising from different regions of the brain, and born at various times, in order to achieve specific laminar positioning and connections with other cells. Until the availability of magnetic resonance imaging, MCDs were thought to be extremely rare disorders. It is now recognized that MCDs are a significant cause of epilepsy (20-40% of drug-resistant childhood epilepsies) and intellectual disability (ID), with most patients presenting in childhood. MCDs may be a result of genetic mutations and/or environmental causes such as in utero infection or ischemia. Mutations of many genes linked to several pathways known to regulate neuronal migration and maturation have been recently described in MCD patients, but the physiopathological mechanisms are poorly understood. Our goal is not only to increase our knowledge on genetically determined MCDs, but also to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for treating seizures and other MCDs based on the comprehension of the pathophysiological mechanisms. For this purpose, we conduct integrated multidisciplinary studies involving morphologists, molecular biologists and electrophysiologists. We have also established national and international collaborations with clinicians and geneticists (through the European consortium “DESIRE”, the EPINEXT”–DHU Aix-Marseille University network and the “DECIPHER”-EraNet Neuron funded project) providing us with a transversal appreciation of our researches.

Specific projects

  • aMolecular mechanisms that underlie functional cortical network development in health and disease.
  • bNeuronal basis of epileptic seizure generation and new therapies.
a

Molecular mechanisms that underlie functional cortical network development in health and disease.

Our aim is to decipher the mechanisms that control cortical network development through investigation of genetic mutations associated with MCDs. More precisely, we propose to investigate if and how mutations in MCD genes are involved in the morpho-functional changes underlying the development of cortical connections and networks by answering the following questions: i) what are the roles of MCD genes in neuronal migration?; ii) are these genes involved in axon outgrowth, dendritogenesis or synaptogenesis ?; iii) what are the consequences of mutations in MCD genes on morphology and functional maturation of cortical neurons ?

b
Acute neocortical slice containing RFP-expressing neocortical neurons (red), mounted on the top of a microelectrode array chip (microphotograph: L Petit

Neuronal basis of epileptic seizure generation and new therapies.

Our group has accumulated several evidence in favor of a common underlying mechanism for altered excitability in MCD rodent models, namely an altered neocortical excitation-inhibition (E/I) balance. Our data also indicate that cortical areas surrounding the heterotopia undergo reactive-type changes that severely modify E/I balance and affect neocortical circuitry, thus contributing to epileptogenesis. Our objectives are to precisely identify the seizure-generating zone, to describe its properties and the mechanisms of seizure generation, and to suggest new therapeutic approaches.

Key words

Brain development, Epilepsy, Cerebral Cortex, Malformation of Cortical Development, Neuronal Migration, Animal Models

Experimental approaches

Histological and Neuroanatomical Methods, Cellular and Molecular Biology (RNAi interference, in utero electroporation), Cell and Slice Culture, Extracellular Multi-site Recordings with Microelectrode Arrays, Time-lapse Imaging

Collaborators and past memberss

Collaborators: – Renzo Guerrini (Florence University, Italy), – Massimo Pasqualetti (Pisa University, Italy) – Heiko Luhman (Mainz University, Germany) – Jamel Chelly (Institut Cochin, Paris, France) – William B. Dobyns (University of Chicago, USA) – Rikke S. Moller (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) – Hiroshi Kawasaki (University of Tokyo, Japan) Past members: – James Ackman (Yale University) – Sabrina Khantane (Invitrogen) – Irina Popova – Aurélie Carabalona (Columbia University)

Funding

– Communauté Européenne (EC contract number LSH-CT-2006-037315 (EPICURE) FP6 – Thematic priority LIFESCIHEALTH) – ANR: 2006 neurosciences neurologie et phychiatrie (ANR-06-NEURO-008-01 contract number RPV06055ASA) – ANR: 2009 Programme Retour Post-doctorants (contract number RPV09010AAA) to JB Manent – Fondation J Lejeune to JB Manent – FRC Rotary to A Represa – Europe/INSERM/Région PACA – PhD fellowship to A Carabalona

Join our team

Our team has open positions for undergraduate students, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. Applications should be sent to Carlos Cardoso or Alfonso Represa.

Nos publications

An epilepsy-related ARX polyalanine expansion modifies glutamatergic neurons excitability and morphology without affecting GABAergic neurons development.

Beguin S, Crépel V, Aniksztejn L, Becq H, Pelosi B, Pallesi-Pocachard E, Bouamrane L, Pasqualetti M, Kitamura K, Cardoso C, Represa A

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) - Jun 2013

A glial origin for periventricular nodular heterotopia caused by impaired expression of Filamin-A.

Carabalona A, Beguin S, Pallesi-Pocachard E, Buhler E, Pellegrino C, Arnaud K, Hubert P, Oualha M, Siffroi JP, Khantane S, Coupry I, Goizet C, Gelot AB, Represa A, Cardoso C

Human molecular genetics - Mar 2012

Cell-autonomous and cell-to-cell signalling events in normal and altered neuronal migration.

Manent JB, Beguin S, Ganay T, Represa A

The European journal of neuroscience - Nov 2011

The clinicopathologic spectrum of focal cortical dysplasias: a consensus classification proposed by an ad hoc Task Force of the ILAE Diagnostic Methods Commission.

Blümcke I, Thom M, Aronica E, Armstrong DD, Vinters HV, Palmini A, Jacques TS, Avanzini G, Barkovich AJ, Battaglia G, Becker A, Cepeda C, Cendes F, Colombo N, Crino P, Cross JH, Delalande O, Dubeau F, Duncan J, Guerrini R, Kahane P, Mathern G, Najm I, Ozkara C, Raybaud C, Represa A, Roper SN, Salamon N, Schulze-Bonhage A, Tassi L, Vezzani A, Spreafico R

Epilepsia - Jan 2011

Spontaneous epileptic manifestations in a DCX knockdown model of human double cortex.

Lapray D, Popova IY, Kindler J, Jorquera I, Becq H, Manent JB, Luhmann HJ, Represa A

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) - Nov 2010

Periventricular heterotopia, mental retardation, and epilepsy associated with 5q14.3-q15 deletion.

Cardoso C, Boys A, Parrini E, Mignon-Ravix C, McMahon JM, Khantane S, Bertini E, Pallesi E, Missirian C, Zuffardi O, Novara F, Villard L, Giglio S, Chabrol B, Slater HR, Moncla A, Scheffer IE, Guerrini R

Neurology - Mar 2009
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