Topic: pericytes

Examine how endothelial cells, smooth-muscle cells and pericytes establish vascular networks and sustain organ function through development and aging. Mechanistic sessions connect RNA and chromatin regulation with organelle signalling, mechanotransduction and tissue remodelling. Studies of vascular heterogeneity and inter-organ communication link these processes to malformations and disease, while imaging, multimodal omics and computational methods provide routes toward therapeutic discovery. 10–15 January: Sunday check-in starts at 14:00 and scientific introductions at 19:30; Friday departur

A growing number of studies indicate the possible involvement of astrocytes in triggering or modulating neurovascular coupling (NVC), i.e. the local dilation of blood vessels in the brain in response to neuronal activity [1]. Their endfeet, surrounding arterioles and capillaries, are ideally positioned to deliver vasodilators to mural cells, either vascular smooth muscle cells or pericytes. Additionnaly, recent EM data suggest contact between endfeet and synapses [2], indicating direct interactions. At the interface between synapses and vessels, endfeet are perfect candidates to mediate NVC. R

Neuro-implants designed to provide direct brain stimulation are increasingly common in the alleviation of ranged pathologies: from real-time responsive stimulation to hinder seizure activity to the recovery of primitive sight upon the loss of functional visual sensory organs through the direct stimulation of the visual cortex. Though studies of respective neuronal and glial cell types have increased the precision of these artificial stimulation therapies, the study of neurovascular responses to such stimulatory protocols remains comparatively under-studied. A better understanding and quantific

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent form of dementia, primarily affecting those aged 65 and older, known as late-onset or sporadic AD (sAD). It is characterized by the accumulation of βeta-amyloid protein aggregates and tau protein neurofibrillary tangles. Recent research highlights the crucial link between AD and dysfunction in the blood-brain barrier (BBB), primarily composed of brain endothelial cells (BECs), pericytes, and astrocytes, which regulate homeostasis in the brain. Transporter-mediated regulation at the BBB is pivotal, with dysregulation implicated in AD pathology. Non-invasi

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves an acute injury (primary damage), which may evolve in the hours to days after impact (secondary damage). Cortical spreading depolarization (CSD) is a metabolically demanding processes that may worsen the secondary brain injury. Metabolic stress has been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, including impaired calcium homeostasis and elevated ROS production. However, the association between mitochondrial impairment and vascular function after TBI is poorly understood. We therefore aimed to 1) Identify the role of CSD on neurological outcome after TBI,

BBB disruption is a disease-driving feature of several neurological disorders, including ALS, yet today no treatment exists to repair the BBB. Here, we screened the effect of a subcommissural organ-spondin-derived peptide (NX210c), known to promote functional recovery in several models of neurological disorders, on BBB integrity.Mouse endothelial cell (EC) monolayers and human BBBs (EC, astrocytes, pericytes) in static or microfluidic conditions, were treated with NX210c (1-100μM) or its vehicle. In mouse EC, NX210c induced a transient increase in occludin levels after 24h treatment (+37%, 100

AIM: Hypertension is known to impair microcirculation in the brain, leading to cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), which correlates strongly with cognitive impairment. Studies have shown a high prevalence of hypertension-related cranial MRI lesions, including arteriosclerosis and various forms of brain damage. Pericytes, a component of the neurovascular unit, are implicated in controlling blood flow and have been linked to Alzheimer's disease pathology, but their role in hypertension-related microcirculation disorders and vascular dementia has not been extensively studied. The study aims to

The development of the brain’s vascular system is a predominantly prenatal process in mammalian species and is required for neurogenesis and further brain development. Our recent work on fetal pig has revealed that many neurodevelopmental processes start well before birth and proceed rapidly reaching near-mature status already around birth. Here, we analyzed the development of vasculature in the cortical layers from embryonic day (E) 70 onwards (gestation in pig lasts 114 days). In all cortical layers, vessel volume from total brain volume at E100 resembled that of a postnatal day (P) 30 pigle