Acute inflammation is characterized by increased microvascular permeability to plasma proteins and leukocyte recruitment into inflammatory sites. A large increase in permeability of the microvessel wall is a critical event resulting in edema formation and organ dysfunction. The long-term goal of our research is to investigate the mechanisms that regulate microvessel permeability under inflammatory conditions. The objective of this proposal is to investigate the direct correlation between vascular structural changes, transport pathway formations, signal transduction pathways, and the magnitude and time course of the permeability changes in intact microvessels in response to different stimuli.
Three specific aims are proposed: 1) Investigate the cellular mechanisms of endothelial gap formation and inflammatory mediator-induced permeability increases in intact microvessels under acute and chronic inflammatory conditions;2) Investigate the role of pericytes and the basement membranes in the regulation of microvessel permeability under acute and chronic inflammatory conditions;and 3) Identify the cellular mechanisms responsible for ROS-induced permeability increases under acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.
These aims will be accomplished using combined confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, with quantitative assessments of microvessel permeability in intact microvessels. Our newly established methods enable us to three- dimensionally visualize and quantify inflammatory mediator-induced gap formation, characterize the changes in endothelial adhesion proteins, as well as to detect changes in actin cytoskeleton in endothelial cells and pericytes in individually perfused microvessels. The electron microscopy study allows ultrastructural changes to be correlated with confocal image findings. The proposed research will provide new information and possibly new concept for a better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate fluid and solute transport when permeability is increased under inflammatory conditions. The insight gained will be directly applied to the identification of an effective target to prevent the permeability increase and contribute to the development of targeted and clinically applicable anti-inflammatory therapies.

Public Health Relevance

The long-term goal of our research is to investigate the cellular mechanisms that regulate permeability in intact microvessels. Accumulated clinical and experimental evidence indicate that an inflammation-associated increase in vascular permeability is the initiating event for a variety of cardiovascular diseases (such as atherosclerosis, diabetes) as well as promoting tumor growth and tumor metastasis. A better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate microvessel permeability is crucial to defining the pathogenesis of many disease conditions, and to aid in the development of novel therapeutic approaches.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HL056237-11A2
Application #
7631768
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CVS-N (02))
Program Officer
Goldman, Stephen
Project Start
1996-12-01
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2009-06-01
Budget End
2010-05-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$366,250
Indirect Cost
Name
West Virginia University
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
191510239
City
Morgantown
State
WV
Country
United States
Zip Code
26506
Feng, Qilong; Stork, Christian J; Xu, Sulei et al. (2018) Increased circulating microparticles in streptozotocin-induced diabetes propagate inflammation contributing to microvascular dysfunction. J Physiol :
Begum, Gulnaz; Song, Shanshan; Wang, Shaoxia et al. (2018) Selective knockout of astrocytic Na+ /H+ exchanger isoform 1 reduces astrogliosis, BBB damage, infarction, and improves neurological function after ischemic stroke. Glia 66:126-144
Xu, Sulei; Li, Xiang; LaPenna, Kyle Brian et al. (2017) New insights into shear stress-induced endothelial signalling and barrier function: cell-free fluid versus blood flow. Cardiovasc Res 113:508-518
Dang, Thanh Q; Yoon, Nanyoung; Chasiotis, Helen et al. (2017) Transendothelial movement of adiponectin is restricted by glucocorticoids. J Endocrinol 234:101-114
Xu, Sulei; Li, Xiang; Liu, Yuxin et al. (2016) Development and Characterization of In Vitro Microvessel Network and Quantitative Measurements of Endothelial [Ca2+]i and Nitric Oxide Production. J Vis Exp :
Park, Kyoungmin; Mima, Akira; Li, Qian et al. (2016) Insulin decreases atherosclerosis by inducing endothelin receptor B expression. JCI Insight 1:
Li, Xiang; Xu, Sulei; He, Pingnian et al. (2015) In vitro recapitulation of functional microvessels for the study of endothelial shear response, nitric oxide and [Ca2+]i. PLoS One 10:e0126797
Yuan, Dong; Xu, Sulei; He, Pingnian (2014) Enhanced permeability responses to inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat venules: Rho-mediated alterations of actin cytoskeleton and VE-cadherin. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 307:H44-53
Xu, Sulei; Zhou, Xueping; Yuan, Dong et al. (2013) Caveolin-1 scaffolding domain promotes leukocyte adhesion by reduced basal endothelial nitric oxide-mediated ICAM-1 phosphorylation in rat mesenteric venules. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 305:H1484-93
Zhou, Xueping; Yuan, Dong; Wang, Mingxia et al. (2013) H2O2-induced endothelial NO production contributes to vascular cell apoptosis and increased permeability in rat venules. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 304:H82-93

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