Abstract

Extracellular Vesicles in Synapse Formation

Alissa Weaver, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Neuronal synapse formation is critical for brain development and depends on secreted factors from astrocytes. We investigated the role of small extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this process and found that small EVs secreted from primary astrocytes, but not from neurons or C6 glioma cells, greatly enhance spine and synapse formation by primary cortical neurons.  I will discuss the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs.