Aberrant crosstalk between BBB-composed cells and pericytes in the progression of cerebrovascular disease.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K09394
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56010:Neurosurgery-related
• Research Institution: Fukuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Nakagawa Shinsuke 福岡大学, 薬学部, 准教授 (10404211)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 血液脳関門 / 脳血管障害 / ペリサイト / SHRSP

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Brain pericytes cover the outside of cerebral capillaries and have various functions, such as stabilization of blood vessels and regulation of cerebral circulation. Pericyte dysfunction is thought to impair cerebrovascular function; however, this has not been investigated in detail. Therefore, to elucidate the role of pericytes in cerebrovascular disorders, we performed functional analysis using pericytes derived from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP/Izm), a rat model of cerebrovascular disorders. It was found that SHRSP-derived pericytes have altered crosstalk with BBB-constituting cells. In addition, it was found that the contraction/relaxation and inflammatory responses induced by bioactive substances were altered. These functional changes in pericytes are associated with the progression of cerebrovascular diseases.

Free Research Field

血液脳関門

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年，脳微小血管におけるペリサイトの重要性が指摘され始めたが、多彩な機能を持つペリサイトの病態下での役割解明はいまだ発展途上である。本研究では、脳血管障害においてペリサイトがどのような役割を担っているのかを検討し、ペリサイトの機能変化が脳血管障害の発症や進展に関与する可能性を見出した。本研究成果は、脳血管障害の病態解明や、ペリサイトを標的とした新たな脳血管障害の治療法へとつながる可能性がある。