RF1NS130334

Perivascular Fibroblasts, Vascular Fibrosis, and Their Contributions to Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy - Project Summary

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a disease that occurs when amyloid beta (Aβ) forms deposits on brain blood vessels. CAA frequently co-occurs with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is a significant risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage and dementia. There are no approved treatments for CAA, and the molecular etiology of the disease remains unclear, which has prevented the development of effective therapeutic interventions.

Here, we propose to study cerebral perivascular fibroblasts and vascular fibrosis signaling pathways as potential contributors to CAA pathology. More than 20 years ago, pioneering work showed that astrocyte-specific upregulation of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1), a master regulator of tissue fibrosis, could specifically induce Aβ pathology in the cerebrovasculature that was reminiscent of CAA. However, the mechanistic actions of TGFβ1 that could drive such a response were never elucidated.

In studying postmortem human brain tissue from CAA patients, we have found that cerebral perivascular fibroblasts acquire myofibroblast markers around vessels with Aβ deposition and fibrotic signatures. This phenotype is observed specifically in CAA but not AD or age-matched controls. Further, this phenotype is replicated in 5XFAD mice after intracerebroventricular injections of human vascular-derived human Aβ seeds, which yields CAA-like pathology. Hence, we hypothesize that activation of perivascular fibroblasts and fibrotic signaling pathways in the perivascular niche leads to Aβ deposition, vascular fibrosis, and acquisition of the CAA phenotype.

In Aim 1, we will explore this hypothesis within two complementary mouse models using three-dimensional tissue imaging techniques, single-cell RNA sequencing, and blood flow measurements. In Aim 2, we will leverage a novel bioengineered model of human cerebral arterioles to understand how TGFβ1 shapes the fibrotic microenvironment through multicellular crosstalk. In Aim 3, again in mouse models, we will target cerebral perivascular fibroblasts and fibrotic signaling pathways using gene silencing techniques and small molecule treatments and determine if CAA pathology is lessened.

Collectively, these studies will unveil and characterize how perivascular fibroblasts and vascular fibrosis contribute to CAA pathology. Moreover, these investigations will identify potential preclinical drug development strategies focused on targeting fibroblast activation and signaling pathways that contribute to a pro-fibrotic microenvironment in CAA.

Vanderbilt University

(1) TO SUPPORT EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) INCLUDING: BASIC RESEARCH THAT EXPLORES THE FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING THESE DISORDERS, RESEARCH ON THE NATURAL COURSE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, IMPROVED METHODS OF DISEASE PREVENTION, NEW METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, DRUG DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL DEVICES, CLINICAL TRIALS, AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE. THE INSTITUTE IS THE LARGEST FUNDER OF BASIC NEUROSCIENCE IN THE US AND SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON TOPICS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: DEVELOPMENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, INCLUDING NEUROGENESIS AND PROGENITOR CELL BIOLOGY, SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN DEVELOPMENT AND PLASTICITY, AND PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH, SYNAPSE FORMATION, FUNCTION, AND PLASTICITY, LEARNING AND MEMORY, CHANNELS, TRANSPORTERS, AND PUMPS, CIRCUIT FORMATION AND MODULATION, BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE, SENSORIMOTOR LEARNING, INTEGRATION AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEMS, SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS, AND SENSORY AND MOTOR SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL STUDIES ON A NUMBER OF DISORDERS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO): STROKE, TRAUMATIC INJURY TO THE BRAIN, SPINAL CORD AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS, MOVEMENT DISORDERS, BRAIN TUMORS, CONVULSIVE DISORDERS, INFECTIOUS DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, IMMUNE DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, INCLUDING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, DISORDERS RELATED TO SLEEP, AND PAIN. PROGRAMMATIC AREAS, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE, ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE DIVISION OF EXTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES, THE DIVISION OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, THE DIVISION OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, THE OFFICE OF TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE OFFICE OF PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE NEUROSCIENCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES. (2) TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (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. TO UTILIZE THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM, TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND 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 of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NNDS) [HHS - NIH]

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

Nashville, Tennessee 37203 United States

Single Zip Code

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-185)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 07/31/25 to 07/31/27 and the total obligations have increased 65% from $2,333,228 to $3,851,096.