R01AG081840

Pericyte control of capillary perfusion in the Alzheimer's disease brain - In Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (AD/ADRD), aberrant contraction of capillary pericytes contributes to cerebral hypoperfusion. However, our understanding of the vasoactive signals and intracellular mechanisms underlying pericyte contractility remains lacking.

Pericytes express high levels of endothelin-1 type A receptors (ETAR) and thromboxane A2 receptors (TXA2R). Our central hypothesis is that ETAR and TXA2R signaling is essential to optimize blood flow through brain capillary networks, and that aberrant activity through these receptors during amyloid beta (A) accumulation contributes to hypoperfusion.

To address this hypothesis, we will use an in vivo-ex vivo pipeline with innovative imaging approaches and a novel murine Cre-driver to genetically target CNS pericytes. The work will be conducted by investigators with complementary expertise in in vivo two-photon imaging of blood flow, ex vivo brain slice experiments, pericyte biology, and ETAR and TXA2R signaling mechanisms.

Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that ETAR and TXA2R signaling in pericytes provides basal capillary tone and orchestrates optimization of flow through brain capillary networks. ETAR (EDNRA gene), and separately, TXA2R (TBXA2R gene), will be conditionally deleted in capillary pericytes of normal mice. In vivo deep two-photon imaging will be used to study capillary flow dynamics across cortical layers and into callosal white matter of awake mice. A battery of vascular metrics, tissue hypoxia, neuroinflammation, and behavioral outcomes will be assessed.

Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that G-protein signaling downstream of ETAR and TXA2R requires actomyosin contractile machinery in capillary pericytes, despite low expression of α-smooth muscle actin. We will use chemogenetics to drive G-protein activation, as seen downstream of ETAR and TXA2R signaling. Pericytes will be chemogenetically contracted in ex vivo brain slices and blockers of actomyosin and cytoskeletal machinery will be administered to dissect their roles in pericyte contraction. Further, chemogenetic activation of CNS capillary pericytes in vivo will be characterized as a new model of cerebral hypoperfusion.

Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that aberrant ETAR and TXA2R signaling drives deficiency in capillary perfusion and cognitive decline during A accumulation. Conditional genetic deletion of ETAR or TXA2R, and separately, chronic administration of ETAR/TXA2R inhibitors will be examined in two models of AD-like pathology (TG-SWDI and 5XFAD). Effects on cerebral blood flow, brain health, and behavioral metrics will be examined.

This project will advance our understanding of brain hypoperfusion in AD/ADRD by: (1) deciphering mechanisms of pericyte contractility in the normal and AD brain; (2) leveraging a novel capillary pericyte-specific mouse line to dissect pericyte contributions to blood flow; (3) characterizing a novel model of capillary-driven hypoperfusion in vivo; (4) employing advanced in vivo imaging approaches to study deep capillary networks most strongly affected in AD/ADRD; (5) providing proof of concept preclinical studies to test if modulation of ETAR and TXA2R signaling in pericytes can improve capillary network flow and cognition in AD/ADRD.

Seattle Children's Hospital

TO ENCOURAGE BIOMEDICAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING DIRECTED TOWARD GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGING PROCESS AND THE DISEASES, SPECIAL PROBLEMS, AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE AS THEY AGE. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING HAS ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS TO PURSUE THESE GOALS. THE DIVISION OF AGING BIOLOGY EMPHASIZES UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF AGING. THE DIVISION OF GERIATRICS AND CLINICAL GERONTOLOGY SUPPORTS RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE ABILITIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO RESPOND TO THE DISEASES AND OTHER CLINICAL PROBLEMS OF OLDER PEOPLE. THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH SUPPORTS RESEARCH THAT WILL LEAD TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT BOTH THE PROCESS OF GROWING OLD AND THE PLACE OF OLDER PEOPLE IN SOCIETY. THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE FOSTERS RESEARCH CONCERNED WITH THE AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE RELATED SENSORY, PERCEPTUAL, AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH AGING AND HAS A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.866 - Aging Research

National Institute on Aging (NIA) [HHS - NIH]

Seattle, Washington 981011304 United States

Single Zip Code

Mechanisms of Brain Hypoperfusion in AD/ADRD (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-AG-23-014)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 282% from $890,037 to $3,401,406.