Roger Lefort, PhD

Synaptic dysfunction and the loss of dendritic spines are invariable occurrences in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The focus in our lab is to elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) by which synapses are abnormally pruned in the disease. Our research has implicated the Rho-family GTPases, RhoA and Rac1, as key mediator of the synaptotoxic effects of Abeta in neurons. RhoA and Rac1 play critical roles in regulating dendritic spines dynamics by regulating the actin cytoskeleton. RhoA and Rac1 have antagonistic effects: Rac1 favors the formation and stabilization of new spines, whereas RhoA blocks their sprouting and promotes their destabilization. This implies that an imbalance in RhoA/Rac1 signaling may have deleterious effects on dendritic maintenance. Consistent with this idea, our studies show that spine loss in neurons exposed to Aβ correlates with increased RhoA and decreased Rac1 activity. Moreover, blocking RhoA activity neurons completely abrogates the synaptotoxic effects of Aβ suggesting that RhoA may be a therapeutic target for AD. We are actively investigating this possibility through a series of studies using a combination of molecular biological, cellular, and mouse genetic approaches. In a second related project we are characterizing molecules and receptors that play important roles in Abeta signaling, leading to neurodegeneration and/or synaptic dysfunction with a specific focus on Ephrin and APP signaling. Interestingly, recent GWAS studies have identified EphA1 as a risk factor for AD, through a mechanism that has yet to be explored. We are using molecular biological tools to investigate the mechanism by which such intrinsic signals mediate the effects of Abeta in pyramidal neurons.