Chair: Bernadeta Szewczyk (Maj Institute of Pharmacology, PAS, Cracow, Poland)

Symposium 1: Zinc and the Brain: Unlocking Neurobiological Secrets

A symposium on Neurobiology and Health that explores the pivotal role of zinc in brain function, development, and disease. Leading researchers will discuss zinc’s impact on neural signaling, cognition, and its involvement in neurological disorders. Attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge findings on zinc’s molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential.


Andreas M. Grabrucker, Professor, University of Limerick, Bernal Institute, Limerick, Ireland

Zinc as a regulator of neuroinflammatory signalling in Autism Spectrum Disorders

An impaired development of neural circuitry has been proposed as key pathology of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Astrocytes are important regulators of neuronal development and activity. Increased reactive astrocytes were reported in ASD and may significantly impact the balance between synapsę maturation and elimination, thereby modulating neural circuitry. Therefore, attenuating astrocyte activation may be an important approach for preventing and treating ASD. Intriguingly, zinc deficiency has been consistently linked to increased pro-inflammatory signalling and ASD1. We identified a cellular zinc-dependent signalling pathway that leads to astrocyte activation2. In this talk, the mechanism of how low zinc levels activate inflammatory-driven crosstalk between astrocytes and neurons is presented.

References:
1. Sauer AK, et al. Prenatal Zinc Deficient Mice as a Model for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Int J Mol Sci., 2022. doi: 10.3390/ijms23116082
2. Stanton J, et al. Zinc signaling controls astrocyte-dependent synapse modulation via the PAF receptor pathway, J Neurochem., 2024. doi: 10.1111/jnc.16252


Jerome Ezan, PhD, Neurocentre Magendie – Inserm U1215, Bordeaux University, France

Impact of Zinc (dys)homeostasis on the development of the axon and its initial segment


Artur Krężel, PhD, Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Wrocław, Poland

TBA


Bernadeta Szewczyk, PhD, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Cracow, Poland

Zinc Deficiency and Chronic Stress: Exploring Their Impact on Depression and Antidepressant Effectiveness

Clinical and preclinical studies provide evidence that chronic stress and nutritional deficits, particularly in dietary zinc (Zn) intake, may act as risk factors for the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). Additionally, there may be potential links between low serum Zn levels and the emergence of treatment-resistant depression. This talk will explore the effects of chronic restraint stress (CRS) and a low-zinc diet (ZnD) on the efficacy of antidepressants in mice. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects will be discussed.

References:
1. Pochwat B, et al. Combined hyperforin and lanicemine treatment instead of ketamine or imipramine restores behavioral deficits induced by chronic restraint stress and dietary zinc restriction in mice. Front Pharmacol., 2022, doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.933364

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