MORE | Spring 2020

Utilizing Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi) to Alleviate Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Pathology

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Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), the body initiates pro-inflammatory responses which in excess, may lead to neurodegeneration. Recent studies report histone deacetylases (HDAC) as a key player in modulating neuroinflammation, rendering it as an attractive target for TBI therapeutics. Current HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) has shown efficacious treatment in cancer applications by modulating gene expressions of cancerous cells. However, there has been limited research selecting the most effective and potent HDACi for TBI applications. This project aims to test the efficacy of HDACi in reducing neuroinflammation in vitro using human astrocyte cultures.