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Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation is a complex reaction of the immune system to infections or injuries within the central nervous system. It plays a major role both in physiological defense and pathological processes. Neuroinflammation involves the activation of various immune cells, including microglia and astrocytes and the release of several signaling molecules.

While neuroinflammation serves as a protective mechanism against threats like pathogens or toxins, its dysregulation can contribute to the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and others.

Neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune diseases, and traumatic brain injuries are associated with chronic neuroinflammation and consequently long-standing activation of immune cells and release of proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, neuroinflammation leads to increased oxidative and nitrosative stress in different cell types. Therefore, neuroinflammation represents a promising target for potential therapeutic compounds, not only in the above-mentioned diseases but also in a variety of other indications.

QPS Neuropharmacology offers a wide range of in vitro models of neuroinflammation with high translational value to facilitate the transition to the next preclinical stages. We perform experiments to determine the beneficial effects of potential therapeutic compounds on a regular basis and in a wide range of cell systems using established protocols and assays.

Neuroinflammation can be stimulated in different types of cell culture models using pro-inflammatory agents, like lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At QPS Neuropharmacology, we can progressively monitor the resulting cytokine release within the same cultures by single or multiplex analyses, using the Mesoscale Discovery platform, which allows simultaneous measurement of up to 10 cytokines from a single sample, with a selection of multiple different cytokines to suit your needs. Furthermore, we offer assays to quantify inflammasome components, including NLRP3, across various cell systems.

Real-time assessment of phagocytosis, using pHrodo™ staining has been established for Aβ1-42 as a model for AD, using the IncuCyte live cell imaging system in various microglial cultures. As the field of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived cell types continues to grow, we continuously develop new protocols to explore neuroinflammation’s intricacies. Furthermore, we are happy to discuss customized approaches for your next neuroinflammation study.

animal models

QPS Neuropharmacology is highly experienced in generating, characterizing, and maintaining transgenic disease models and using them for drug testing projects for more than 20 years.
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behavioral testing

QPS Neuropharmacology provides a wide range of behavioral tests for various indications. Most tests are evaluated using rater-independent digital animal tracking systems.
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histology services

QPS Neuropharmacology offers a full set of histology services ranging from collection of tissue samples to delivering study reports that contain all experimental procedures and their outcome.
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biomarkers

QPS Neuropharmacology Department of Translational Medicine offers a selection of molecular biological methods for the investigation of various diseases. The unit supports in vitro and in vivo studies performed at QPS Austria.
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