Cerebrovascular disease of the central nervous system (CNS) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US. Ischemic injury following vascular occlusion is often dictated by the extent of endothelial cell loss and subsequent repair and remodeling of pre-existing collateral vessels. One approach to minimizing the extent of neural damage is to encourage collaterogenesis as a means of restoring blood flow to the vulnerable adjacent tissue. An extensive vascular network has been shown to support collateral blood flow and mitigate the resulting neurovascular defects;however, the mechanism(s) regulating native formation and injury-induced re-establishment of the collateral vascular network are largely unknown. The current proposal outlines proof-of-principle experiments that will advance our understanding of how ephrin/Eph signaling may Recently, EphA4 receptor loss-of-function studies demonstrate robust surface pial arteriole collateral vessel formation. These and other preliminary data are one of the first demonstrations of increased collateral vessel numbers in the cerebral cortex following gene ablation. Based on previous and preliminary experiments, we propose to test the hypothesis that EphA4 receptor is upregulated in the cortex after ischemic stroke and negatively regulates collaterogenesis, thereby limiting restoration of blood flow and tissue preservation.
In Aim 1 we will examine the expression pattern of EphA4 on surface pial arterioles and endothelial associated astrocytes in the cortex of na?ve, sham and ischemic-injured mice.
In Aim 2 we will evaluate how cell-specific EphA4 deletion on endothelial cells and/or astrocytes effects collaterogenesis, post-occlusion blood flow and infarct volume after stroke. Finally, we will determine whether therapeutic delivery of commercially available blockers of EphA4 also can promote collateral blood flow and impede the process of collaterogenesis. repair in Aim 3. Overall, these studies will assess t he functional role of EphA4 on collaterogenesis of surface This investigation will also add some exciting progress in basic and translational vascular research. Thus, the proposed research is relevant to the NIH's mission to foster innovative research strategies to advance the nation's capacity to improve health and expose research trainees to hands on experience in a biomedical laboratory setting. pial arterioles using both transgenic mice and drug delivery approaches.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal will examine a unique mechanism that restricts collateral vessel formation and remodeling after ischemic stroke. Successful completion of these studies may lead to the development of novel clinical therapies that enhance newly formed conduits for the delivery of the local blood supply and growth-promoting drugs after stroke and other traumatic CNS injuries.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) (R15)
Project #
1R15NS081623-01A1
Application #
8625968
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MDCN-R (96))
Program Officer
Bosetti, Francesca
Project Start
2013-09-15
Project End
2016-08-31
Budget Start
2013-09-15
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$483,000
Indirect Cost
$183,000
Name
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
003137015
City
Blacksburg
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
24061
Okyere, Benjamin; Creasey, Miranda; Lebovitz, Yeonwoo et al. (2018) Temporal remodeling of pial collaterals and functional deficits in a murine model of ischemic stroke. J Neurosci Methods 293:86-96
Theus, Michelle H; Brickler, Thomas; Meza, Armand L et al. (2017) Loss of NLRX1 Exacerbates Neural Tissue Damage and NF-?B Signaling following Brain Injury. J Immunol 199:3547-3558
Greer, Kisha; Chen, Jiang; Brickler, Thomas et al. (2017) Modulation of gap junction-associated Cx43 in neural stem/progenitor cells following traumatic brain injury. Brain Res Bull 134:38-46
Theus, Michelle H; Sparks, Joshua B; Liao, Xiaofeng et al. (2017) All- Trans-Retinoic Acid Augments the Histopathological Outcome of Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration in Lupus-Prone MRL/lpr Mice. J Histochem Cytochem 65:69-81
Powell, Chadwick R; Foster, Jeffrey C; Okyere, Benjamin et al. (2016) Therapeutic Delivery of H2S via COS: Small Molecule and Polymeric Donors with Benign Byproducts. J Am Chem Soc 138:13477-13480
Okyere, Benjamin; Giridhar, Kaavya; Hazy, Amanda et al. (2016) Endothelial-Specific EphA4 Negatively Regulates Native Pial Collateral Formation and Re-Perfusion following Hindlimb Ischemia. PLoS One 11:e0159930
Brickler, Thomas; Gresham, Kisha; Meza, Armand et al. (2016) Nonessential Role for the NLRP1 Inflammasome Complex in a Murine Model of Traumatic Brain Injury. Mediators Inflamm 2016:6373506