The Role of the N-type Calcium Channel CaV2.2 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Applicant: Dr. Janine Kutzsche
• Subject Area: Molecular and Cellular Neurology and Neuropathology ; Experimental Models for the Understanding of Nervous System Diseases
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 519747461

Multiple lines of evidence indicate that dysregulation of intracellular calcium ion concentration and homeostasis in neurons plays an important role for neuronal cell death in numerous neurological diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The N-type calcium channel (CaV2.2), which belongs to the class of voltagegated calcium channels (VGCCs), is expressed mainly in neurons and there are first evidences for an involvement of this channel in the early disease progression of ALS. The main objective of this proposal is to verify the hypothesis that the CaV2.2 plays a role in the progression of ALS and potentially also in other neuroinflammation driven diseases and therefore be a promising novel target for the development of new therapies against ALS. We subsequently aim to answer the question if the effect of the CaV2.2 on neurodegeneration in ALS is based on its overexpression on neurons or is mediated by the crosstalk between neurons, astrocytes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants