Brain Disorders & Therapy

Prasun K Datta

Prasun K Datta
Department of Neuroscience
Temple University, USA

Biography

Dr. Prasun K. Datta is assistant professor of neuroscience and neurovirology, Temple University, USA. He recieved Postdoctoral Fellowship in Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Biology from Chicago Medical School, USA.

Research Interest

Glutamate transport is central to neurotransmitter functions in the brain. The Excitatory amino acid transporter-2 (EAAT2) is the major glutamate transporter expressed predominantly by astrocytes in the brain. Dysregulation of glutamate transport induces neurotoxicity associated with numerous pathological processes, including HIV-1-associated dementia, Alzheimers disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington′s disease, and stroke/ischemia. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the role of epigenetics in the regulation of EAAT2 expression in the context of NeuroAIDS. Our long term goal is to identifying therapeutic approaches that are capable of modulating EAAT2 expression that could potentially inhibit, ameliorate, or prevent various neurodegenerative diseases. The complement system is one of the key players in the innate immune defense against pathogens. Complement activation in excess can promote inflammation and tissue damage. Numerous studies in the last one and half decade have demonstrated that the complement system is activated by HIV and the system plays a significant role in HIV pathogenesis. Complement factor C3 up-regulation has been demonstrated in brain of SIV-infected macaques and in mice model of HIV infection.