Liane Dahm

Date of birth
August 8th, 1981

Place of birth
Wiesbaden, Germany

EDUCATION

Liane Dahm

College / University
Martin-Luther-University Halle
Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Degree
Diploma in Biochemistry

Major Subjects

• Biochemistry

• Molecular biology

• Cell biology

Lab Experience

• Cell culture

• Dissection of embryonic mouse brain

• Immunocytochemistry

• In-situ-Hybridisation

• RNA Isolation and quality control

• Western blot

Affiliation-Address:

Dept. Clinical Neurosciences
Max Plack Institute for Experimental Medicine
Hermann-Rein-Str. 3
37075 Göttingen

phone: +49 (0) 551 3899-605
e-mail:

Further Information:
Dept. of Neurobiology

PROJECTS / RESEARCH

Current title of PhD project: "Effect of erythropoietin on mitochondrial function and morphology of neurons as mechanisms of neuroprotection and neuroregeneration."

Erythropoietin (EPO) is known to be neuroprotective and neuroregenerative. The mechanisms explaining these effects, however, are still only scarcely understood. In animal models of stroke for example, EPO leads to speedy clinical recovery, reduces infarct size, and decreases the damage caused by oxidative stress. These effects are mediated by EPO receptors (EPOR), leading to activation of the Jak2/Stat5 and PI3K/Akt pathways. Additionally, antiapoptotic factors like Bcl-XL are upregulated by EPO. Recent literature indirectly indicates that also mitochondria may be a target of EPO action. Mitochondria as the organelles for energy supply play an important role in synaptic transmission and therefore in synaptic plasticity. They are involved in the regulation of apoptosis, ROS production, degeneration and the aging process. The aim of my PhD-Project is to characterize the effect of EPO on neuronal mitochondria under basal conditions and under conditions of neuronal distress in primary hippocampal cultures of mice. Dynamics of intracellular localization, fusion and fission rate and activity of mitochondria will be investigated as potential readouts of EPO function. In a next step, the results of these studies will be translated to an in vivo model. In combination with EPO induced modulation of synaptic activity/neuronal plasticity, EPO effects on mitochondria, and thus on cellular energy supply, may help to understand the improvement of cognitive functions observed after EPO treatment.

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

I’m interested in signalling pathways and the relationship to diseases and I’m more and more specializing in Neuroscience. My goal for the next three years is to find new signalling pathways (focused on mitochondria) of Erythropoietin in neuronal primary cultures, to explain the neuroprotective function of EPO in diseases like Schizophrenia and Multiple Sclerosis.

SOURCE OF FUNDING

MPIEM work contract

POSTER PRESENTATION

Adamcio B, Hagemeyer N, Dahm L, Sperling S, Walkinshaw G, Ehrenreich H (2009). Hypoxia inducible factor stabilization leads to lasting improvement of hippocampal memory in healthy mice, 8th International Luebeck Conference on Pathophysiology and Pharmacology of Erythropoietin and Other Hematopoietic Growth Factors.