Dott.ssa Maryam Khastkhodaei Ardakani
- NEUROSCIENZE
- Phd: 36th cycle
- Matriculation number: 943777
- ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8918-9377
Contacts
- Chiama maryam.kh1111
- maryam.khastkhodaeiardakani@unito.it
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin, Regione Gonzole, 10 ÔÇô 10043 Orbassano (Turin), Italy
- https://www.neurosciences.unito.it/do/studenti.pl/Show?943777
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Supervisor
Enrica BodaAnnalisa Buffo
Phd thesis
Aim1: Testing antioxidant pharmacological treatments as a therapeutic option for microcephaly (MCPH17) in its mouse model (Cit-K KO mice)
MCPH17 is a genetic form of microcephaly associated with mutations in a gene called CIT. This gene encodes for a protein (Cit-K) involved in cytoskeletal dynamics and DNA repair. As a consequence of CIT mutations (Cit-K loss of function), a prominent and widespread accumulation of DNA damage can be observed in the CNS of both MCPH17 microcephalic human subjects and in the Cit-K KO mouse, the mouse model of MCPH17. Both MCPH17 patients and Cit-K KO mice have smaller brains and cerebellum and die precociously. It remains to be determined whether the administration of an antioxidant agent could improve the phenotype/clinical conditions of animal models of microcephaly associated with DNA repair defects.
Aim2: Investigating OPCs heterogeneity and promoting myelination upon DNA damage
DNA damage in the CNS is a consistent feature of CNS aging and most neurodegenerative diseases. This can be also induced by specific anti-cancer treatments. Oligodendroglia depletion or dysfunction and myelin defects are frequently associated with DNA damage. We aim at determining the cellular mechanisms by which DNA damage affects oligodendroglia physiology and vulnerability.
Research activities
2023 The Introductory Course on Glial Cell Biology 2023- H.Kettenmann, A.Faissner, L.Dimou, C.Klämbt, C.Jakob, H.Neumann, V.Siffrin, S.Wolf, K.Biber, B.Berninger - held by Glia 2023 conference, Berlin, Germany. July 7th 2023 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 2022 2021 2020 2023 2022 2021 2020 2023 2022 2020 2023 2021 2023 Online training for presenting PhD research work in 3 minutes in an easy-to-understand way to a non-specialist audience in ENGLISH- Held by UNITA, April-June 2023. (7 hours) Awarded the 3rd place in "My three-minute PhD thesis" local competition- June 28th 2023, Turin, Italy.