Ru-Rong JI, Ph.D.
September 21(Thu) - September 21(Thu), 2023
Online ZOOM (ID: 728-142-6028)
Neuro@noon Seminar
Date: 10am, Thu, Sep 21th
Speaker: Ru-Rong JI, Ph.D. (Duke)
Title: Role of immune checkpoint pathway in cognition, anesthesia, and pain
Abstract: Immunotherapies targeting the immune checkpoint pathways have achieved great success in medicine and saved millions of lives of cancer patients. Programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 constitute an immune checkpoint pathway. However, the role of this checkpoint pathway in the nervous system remains unclear. I will show evidence that functional PD-1 is expressed not only by immune cells and glial cell but also by neurons in the peripheral and central nervous system. We recently reported that neuronal PD-1 signaling regulates learning and memory in health and disease. Mice lacking PD-1 exhibit enhanced LTP and memory. Selective deletion of PD-1 in excitatory neurons (but not microglia) also enhances LTP and memory. Furthermore, traumatic brain injury impairs learning and memory, which is rescued by Pdcd1 deletion or intraventricular PD-1 blockade. Thus, targeting the PD-L1/PD-1 signaling could promote memory in both physiological and pathological conditions. Furthermore, I will show evidence that that PD-1 is critically involved in the modulation of pain, opioid analgesia, and anesthesia.