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Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

Gonçalo Castelo-Branco @gocastelobranco.bsky.social · 1d

Developing Brains on!

João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · 1d

5/ Our findings highlight #astrocytes —not just neurons— as active players in #adult #brain #plasticity and #behavior. Astrocytic mGluR5 pathway is a promising target
🧠🔬 #Neuroscience #Astrocytes #mGluR5 #BrainPlasticity #Behavior #ScienceThread
@icvs-uminho.bsky.social
@institutocajal.bsky.social

João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · 1d

4/ Next, we flipped the switch—overexpressed mGluR5 in hippocampal astrocytes. This enhanced behavior flexibility but impaired place memory. A double-edged effect.

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · 1d

3/ This pointed us to the #hippocampus as a key region. We then deleted mGluR5 specifically in hippocampal astrocytes using AAVs.
This affected both basal synaptic transmission and plasticity. Behaviorally, it reproduced anxiety and social deficits, plus long-term memory loss.

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · 1d

2/ So we deleted mGluR5 across the brain.
The result? Mice showed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, reduced sociability, and impaired memory.

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · 1d

🧵1/ We explored how #astrocytes influence adult brain function using #genetic manipulation in #mice + #calcium #imaging + #exvivo #Ephys + #behavior.
First discovery: #adult mouse astrocytes show #robust mGluR5-dependent #calcium #signaling.
@samalves1510.bsky.social

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Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

European Microglia Webinar Series @microgliaseries.bsky.social · 2d

This is happening tomorrow, see you all there!

European Microglia Webinar Series @microgliaseries.bsky.social · 9d

📢 New webinar coming soon 📢
Ozgun Gokce @gokcegroup.bsky.social from German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases will be our next speaker on October 7th. Check all the information in the flyer and add it to your calendar!

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · 3d

What an outstanding meeting!
I was thrilled to participate in the #Health #Research Meeting 2025. Meeting other grantees and discussing the future of research in the international context, we sought a bright #future for Europe, one fostered by research, in these challenging times.
Thank you, CR!

caixaresearch.bsky.social @caixaresearch.bsky.social · 6d

1/ ¡Empieza el Health Research Meeting 2025!

En los jardines de Cap Roig, ciencia y naturaleza se unen en 2 jornadas que reunirán a los investigadores/as de la convocatoria de Investigación en Salud 2021.

Vivienne Parry, periodista científica y conductora del evento, nos da la bienvenida:

João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Aug 19

Here is our constructive reflection on the announced Agency for Research and Innovation (AI2) for PT Science @publico.pt

"there will be no quality science without budgetary reinforcement and explicit protection of fundamental science."

@publico.pt

www.publico.pt/2025/08/19/c...

Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

Peter Rupprecht @ptrrupprecht.bsky.social · Aug 11

New blog post, where I review some recent interesting papers on the role of cell organelles for neuronal calcium signaling: gcamp6f.com/2025/08/11/i...
Featuring work by @lorenabenedetti.bsky.social, O'Hare et al. and Lin et al.!

Interesting papers on the role of cell organelles in neuronal dendrites for calcium signaling

Researchers utilize calcium imaging to track neuronal activity in the brain, highlighting the role of calcium as a signaling molecule. Recent studies investigate intracellular calcium dynamics, par…

gcamp6f.com

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Aug 7

It was an awesome year for my team, with exciting "ups" and also some painful "downs".
Before a well-deserved vacation pause, we reflected and prepared for the future... together!
@icvs-uminho.bsky.social

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Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

European Glial Meeting 2027 | Bologna @gliameeting.bsky.social · Aug 4

📢 Call for Social Media Ambassadors!
Help us grow the #GLIA community online & get a free registration for GLIA 2027 in Bologna!
We're looking for 5 voices from the field – content, updates, community vibes.
⏰ Apply by Aug 26!
👉 [email protected]

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Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

Nature Neuroscience @natneuro.nature.com · Jul 31

Astrocyte specification in the mouse septum is shaped by both developmental origin and local signals

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Astrocyte specification in the mouse septum is shaped by both developmental origin and local signals - Nature Neuroscience

The relative contribution of intrinsic and extrinsic factors to astrocyte heterogeneity is unknown. Using heterotropic transplantation of septal astrocytes with distinct lineage origins, we show that ...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

Michael Williamson @m-r-williamson.bsky.social · Jul 22

We have a new review out in TINS!

A functional perspective on astrocyte heterogeneity

www.cell.com/trends/neuro...

A functional perspective on astrocyte heterogeneity

Astrocytes are glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that perform an array of diverse functions that are essential for brain activity. Studies on the functional diversity of astrocytes sugge...

www.cell.com

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Jul 23

We are excited to share our latest work showing:
1 - the existence of robust #mGluR5-dependent #astrocytic Ca2+ signaling in the #adult #brain that
2 - is involved in processing of #emotional and #cognitive behaviors
Fruitful collab with Gertru Perea

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Astrocytic mGluR5 signaling tunes emotional and cognitive processing in the adult brain

The hippocampus is a brain region involved in both emotion regulation and higher cognitive functions. Astrocytes have emerged as active modulators of synaptic activity, capable of sensing, integrating...

www.biorxiv.org

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Jul 23

Interesting approach to provide an alternative view on the understanding of #astrocyte #network connections #across (classically described) #brain #regions.
Why does the brain need such alternative #highways?

Shane Liddelow @liddelowsa.bsky.social · Jul 22

fantastic work from @melcooperphd.bsky.social - what are these beautiful networks doing in our brains?

bioRxiv Neuroscience @biorxiv-neursci.bsky.social · Jul 22

Astrocytes connect specific brain regions through plastic gap junctional networks https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.18.665573v1

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Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

Francesco Ulloa Severino @ulloaseverinolab.bsky.social · Jul 12

This has been my first @gliameeting.bsky.social and it will definitely NOT be my last! Such a great conference on glia and an incredible opportunity to meet new people and old frieds with the same shared passion for glia biology. @institutocajal.bsky.social @csic.es @csicdivulga.bsky.social

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Jul 11

It was great meeting you too! Let’s keep in touch!

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Jul 11

@vkellner.bsky.social

João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Jul 11

@soriafn.bsky.social @chenneberger.bsky.social @carmenfalcone.bsky.social Laura Civiero @ulloaseverinolab.bsky.social @dr-vmosienko.bsky.social

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Jul 11

What an amazing #glia #meeting in Marseille.
It was great to have a symposium with @inbalgoshen.bsky.social @julimrosa.bsky.social and Mattias Ollivier.
It was also great to meet good old friend-shining scientists, and make some new too!

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Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

Carmen Falcone @carmenfalcone.bsky.social · Jul 11

Fun to participate to the #GliaNetworks joint booth, see you next time!!🙌

Learn more about what all of these network do here: www.networkglia.eu/resources/re...

#IGN #GLIA2025 @gliameeting.bsky.social

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Reposted by João Filipe Oliveira

French Glial Cell Club @glialclub.bsky.social · Jul 8

Network Glia!
The French Glial Cell Club is present @Glia2025 as @italianglianetwork.bsky.social
@ukglia.bsky.social
@gliameeting.bsky.social
@gliameeting.bsky.social
@atglianet.bsky.social

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Jun 5

We needed a trolley to carry all the new ideas ;)
You girls rock @navarrete-llinas.bsky.social @julimrosa.bsky.social and Lucile Ben Haim! It's always great to meet old friends!

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João Filipe Oliveira @joaofoliveira.bsky.social · Jun 5

Still digesting the past few weeks, full of excellent scientific discussions and fun. @esnsociety.bsky.social meeting was excellent: our gender unbalanced symposium on #astrocyte regulation of #brain #circuits was a success.

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