# Exosomal miRNA in neuron to astroglial communication in the CNS

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 2022 · $62,700

## Abstract

Summary
 This diversity supplement aims to provide an opportunity for Rashed Alananzeh who meets the NIH
diversity candidate criteria, to carry out a post-Baccalaureate study in my lab. In this project, Rashed will
characterize the secretion of neuronal exosomes from either soma or axon terminals and the subsequent
internalization of neuronal exosomes into astrocytes. Although intraluminal vesicles (ILVs), precursors for
secreted exosomes, are largely localized in the somatodendritic compartment of cultured neurons, it is unknown
whether these ILVs are preferentially secreted from neuronal soma or axons in vivo, given that vesicular
secretion of neurotransmitters are predominantly released from axon terminals. By employing sciatic nerve
injection model to selectively label spinal motor neuron (SMN) exosomes and intravitreal injection to selectively
label retina ganglion cells (RGC), Rashed will specifically investigate and compare whether neuronal exosomes
are differentially released from either somatodendritic or axon terminal compartments and whether these
exosomes are also differentially taken up into surrounding astrocytes.
 Understanding the predominant location of exosome secretion from such a polarized cell type as neurons
will give important insights into the potential function of those exosomes. By carrying out this project, it will give
him the opportunity to understand how to see a project through from conception to finish, learn various injection
techniques, deal with the troubleshooting and optimization that are always needed in scientific experiments and
learn the best ways to analyze images and data. Overall, this diversity supplement award will greatly prepare
Rashed for his research career development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10621422
- **Project number:** 3R01NS118747-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Yongjie Yang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $62,700
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10621422

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10621422, Exosomal miRNA in neuron to astroglial communication in the CNS (3R01NS118747-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10621422. Licensed CC0.

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