Traumatic injuries affecting the brain or spinal cord due to traffic or work accidents, sports activities or violence, constitute in Uruguay the main cause of death and disability in people under 40 years. These injuries are in many cases progressive, and could trigger psychiatric pathologies, in particular depression and dementias like Alzheimer disease.
The objective of our group is to understand the consequences that these traumas could have for the nervous system, and in this way decipher how to reduce them. The main responsible for the progression of the traumatic damage is the inflammatory process that is triggered after the trauma. Our hypothesis is that by stimulating the positive part of this process (tissue cleansing and healing) and restraining its negative components (oedema-swelling, toxic mediators) by means of modulating immune receptors, we may promote functional recovery.
We focus on the study of molecules capable of acting as checkpoints of inflammation, called immune inhibitory receptors such as CD300f or CD200R1. Also, working with experts from the State Insurance Bank of Uruguay (Banco de Seguros del Estado-BSE), we search for possible blood molecules that may represent biomarkers of the progression of these injuries in traumatic brain injury patients.
Through the administration of recombinant proteins (proteins produced outside our body) or the use of gene therapy (introduction or manipulation of genes in cells of the brain or spinal cord), we aim to stimulate cells to produces a specific therapeutic protein that modulates the response of the tissue towards the alleviation of inflammation.
Modulation of the microglial and macrophage phenotype by activation of the CD200R1 immune receptor after traumatic injuries in the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve.
Modulation of the microglial and macrophage phenotype by the CD300f immune receptor and its role after traumatic injuries of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerve.
Role of the CD300f immune receptor in psychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder or autistic spectrum disorder.
Preclinical and clinical research in traumatic brain injuries in association with the State Insurance Bank (BSE). Determination of blood biomarkers that could contribute to improve patient stratification and precision medicine approaches.
“Brain trauma: From preclinical research to the clinic”. April 9-14, 2018. Institut Pasteur de Montevideo. Organizers: IP Montevideo (Hugo Peluffo y Natalia Lago) Banco de Seguros del Estados (Vida Patiño, Ingrid Kasek y Alicia Silveira) and Universidad de la República (Hugo Peluffo).
2019-2020 – “Cannabis y autism: characterization, extraction and effects in animal and cellular models” Subproject Principal Investigator at the IPMon: Natalia Lago, Project Alianza, ANII-Canapur-IPMon-UDELAR.
2017-2019 – “Imunoreceptors as therapeutic target for the treatment of spinal cord injury: role of CD200-CD200R”. Principal Investigators: Natalia Lago/Hugo Peluffo. Universidad de la República, CSIC (CSIC I+D 2016), Uruguay.
2017-2020 – “Precision medicine applied to traumatic brain injury: a strategic alliance BSE-IP Montevideo”. Principal Investigators at the IP Montevideo/UDELAR: Hugo Peluffo/Natalia Lago. Banco de Seguros del Estado, Uruguay.
2015-2019 – “Neuroinflamation and glia”. Principal Investigators: Patricia Cassina/Luis Barbeito. Universidad de la República, CSIC (R&D groups 2014-143), Uruguay.
Mouse brain on-line Atlas: Allen Brain Atlas
Monkey Brain on-line Atlas: Braininfo Altas
