An intact blood-retinal barrier (BRB) is critical for the maintenance of the health of the retina. The endothelial cells of the retinal blood vessels along with the surrounding pericytes and astrocytes form a neurovascular unit with strong barrier properties. Very little is known about the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the development and maintenance of the BRB. We hypothesize that retinoic acid (RA) plays a critical role in the regulation of BRB formation as well as maintenance. We will test this hypothesis using a novel zebrafish model that we have developed, which allows the longitudinal in vivo visualization and testing of the BRB.
An intact Blood Retinal Barrier (BRB) is crucial for the health of the retina. Loss of BRB integrity results in loss of vision in a number of ocular diseases. While VEGF inhibitors are currently in use to inhibit retinal vascular leakage we are limited in our fundamental understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to the development and maintenance of the BRB. We will utilize a novel in vivo zebrafish model to identify these mechanisms as well as factors involved in retinal vascular regeneration.
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