Habibeh Khoshbouei

This study shows that alpha-synuclein elevates firing rates and impairs homeostatic regulation in SNc dopamine neurons, but not VTA neurons, before neurodegeneration occurs.

This study shows midbrain dopamine neurons modulate splenic immunity via a brain-to-body circuit involving the DVC and celiac ganglion, reducing spleen weight and naive CD4+ T-cell populations.

This study shows that C1q-dependent engulfment of alpha-synuclein by ENS macrophages leads to their exhaustion and worsens Parkinson's-like gut pathology.

The paper shows that inhibiting LRRK2 kinase activity rescues dopamine deficits in VPS35 p.D620N knock-in mice by normalizing DAT function and reducing hyperlocomotion.

The paper identifies lateralized vagal sensory neurons with distinct roles in satiety and food preference, revealing asymmetrical gut-brain circuits that control feeding behavior.

This study identifies a DAT-mediated immuno-modulatory mechanism in human macrophages, showing dopamine transport regulates innate immune responses to LPS and is disrupted in disease.

The paper develops a sensitive Bio-ELISA to measure TH in immune cells and finds that TNFα increases TH expression in monocytes from Parkinson's patients.

The paper shows that dopamine transporter regulates network connectivity differences between substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurons.

The paper investigates how α-synuclein dysregulation affects D2 receptor activity in dopamine neurons, showing it contributes to neuronal vulnerability and identifies potential therapeutic targets.