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Volume 9
Journal of Neurology & Neurophysiology
ISSN: 2155-9562
Cognitive Neuroscience 2018
October 18-19, 2018
Page 53
Notes:
conference
series
.com
October 18-19, 2018 | Warsaw, Poland
27
th
International conference on
Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience
Stephen D Skaper, J Neurol Neurophysiol 2018, Volume 9
DOI: 10.4172/2155-9562-C8-081
Neuroinflammation, microglia and mast cells in the pathophysiology of neurocognitive disorders
C
ells of the immune system and the central nervous system are capable of interacting with each other. The former cell populations
respond to infection, tissue injury and trauma by releasing substances capable of provoking an inflammatory reaction.
Inflammation is now recognized as a key feature in nervous system pathologies such as chronic pain, neurodegenerative diseases,
stroke, spinal cord injury, and neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety/depression and schizophrenia. Neuroinflammation may
also raise the brain’s sensitivity to stress, thereby effecting stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders like anxiety or depression. The
cytokine network plays a large part in how immune systemcells influence the central nervous system. Further, inflammation resulting
from activation of innate immune system cells in the periphery can impact on central nervous system behaviors, such as depression
and cognitive performance. Here, we will present the current state of knowledge which implicates both microglia and mast cells,
two of the principle innate immune cell populations, in neuroinflammation. Further, we shall make the case that dysregulation of
microglia and mast cells may impact cognitive performance and, even more importantly, how their cell-cell interactions can work
to not only promote but also amplify neuroinflammation. Finally, we will use this information to provide a starting point to propose
therapeutic approaches based upon naturally-occurring lipid signaling molecules.
Biography
Stephen D Skaper has completed his PhD in Biochemistry at University of South Dakota and; Laurea in Chemistry at the University of Padua, Italy. He is Adjunct Professor
in Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences at University of Padua. Prior to this, he was a Senior Group Leader for Neurodegeneration Research,
GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development Limited, UK, and also held academic research positions at the University of California, San Diego. He has authored/co-
authored over 300 research papers, book chapters and monographs, and he is the Editor-in-Chief of CNS and Neurological Disorders Drug Targets. His research interests
focus on the role of immune cells and their interactions in neuroinflammation.
stephen.skaper@unipd.itStephen D Skaper
University of Padua, Italy