On Friday, 24 January 2024, the Horizon Europe-funded GEMSTONE Project and Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University’s (ACU) Neuroscience PhD Programme proudly hosted a seminar led by Asst. Prof. Busra Sengul Yediel from the Neuroimmunology Department at Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa’s Institute of Neurological Sciences. The event, held at ACU’s Kerem Aydinlar Campus, delved into groundbreaking research on the pivotal role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases.
Titled “Effects of Alpha-Synuclein and Amyloid Beta on Growth Factors and Inflammatory Parameters in Human Astrocytes,” the seminar provided invaluable insights into how astrocytes – key support cells in the central nervous system – respond to neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dr. Sengul Yediel shared compelling findings from her study, which examined the effects of amyloid beta (Aβ) and α-synuclein on the production of growth factors and inflammatory responses in human astrocyte cultures.
Her research demonstrated significant alterations in astrocyte profiles following Aβ1-42 treatment and α-synuclein overexpression, identifying key inflammatory mediators and growth factors that could serve as potential therapeutic targets. The study highlighted the dual role of reactive astrocytes – both as protectors and contributors to pathological processes – in neurodegenerative diseases.
Asst. Prof. Busra Sengul Yediel is a distinguished scholar in molecular neuroimmunology. After earning her undergraduate degree in biology from Istanbul University in 2014, she completed her Master’s degree in medical biology in 2017 and was awarded her PhD in 2023. Currently an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroimmunology at Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa, Dr. Sengul Yediel specializes in primary human astrocyte culture, neuron-astrocyte co-culture, cell-based assays, and RNA/protein analyses, including immunoprecipitation.
News Date: 28/01/2025
Last update date: 28/01/2025
