1
|
Amin N, Abbasi IN, Wu F, Shi Z, Sundus J, Badry A, Yuan X, Zhao BX, Pan J, Mi XD, Luo Y, Geng Y, Fang M. The Janus face of HIF-1α in ischemic stroke and the possible associated pathways. Neurochem Int 2024; 177:105747. [PMID: 38657682 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Stroke is the most devastating disease, causing paralysis and eventually death. Many clinical and experimental trials have been done in search of a new safe and efficient medicine; nevertheless, scientists have yet to discover successful remedies that are also free of adverse effects. This is owing to the variability in intensity, localization, medication routes, and each patient's immune system reaction. HIF-1α represents the modern tool employed to treat stroke diseases due to its functions: downstream genes such as glucose metabolism, angiogenesis, erythropoiesis, and cell survival. Its role can be achieved via two downstream EPO and VEGF strongly related to apoptosis and antioxidant processes. Recently, scientists paid more attention to drugs dealing with the HIF-1 pathway. This review focuses on medicines used for ischemia treatment and their potential HIF-1α pathways. Furthermore, we discussed the interaction between HIF-1α and other biological pathways such as oxidative stress; however, a spotlight has been focused on certain potential signalling contributed to the HIF-1α pathway. HIF-1α is an essential regulator of oxygen balance within cells which affects and controls the expression of thousands of genes related to sustaining homeostasis as oxygen levels fluctuate. HIF-1α's role in ischemic stroke strongly depends on the duration and severity of brain damage after onset. HIF-1α remains difficult to investigate, particularly in ischemic stroke, due to alterations in the acute and chronic phases of the disease, as well as discrepancies between the penumbra and ischemic core. This review emphasizes these contrasts and analyzes the future of this intriguing and demanding field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nashwa Amin
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Aswan University, Egypt; Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Irum Naz Abbasi
- Institute of Systemic Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Wu
- Institute of Systemic Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongjie Shi
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Javaria Sundus
- Institute of Systemic Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Azhar Badry
- Institute of Systemic Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xia Yuan
- Institute of Systemic Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bing-Xin Zhao
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Jie Pan
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Xiao-Dan Mi
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Research Institute of Zhejiang Province, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuhuan Luo
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Geng
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Neurology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Marong Fang
- Institute of Systemic Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Troise D, Infante B, Mercuri S, Piccoli C, Lindholm B, Stallone G. Hypoxic Inducible Factor Stabilization in Pericytes beyond Erythropoietin Production: The Good and the Bad. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:537. [PMID: 38790642 PMCID: PMC11118908 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13050537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The paracrine signaling pathways for the crosstalk between pericytes and endothelial cells are essential for the coordination of cell responses to challenges such as hypoxia in both healthy individuals and pathological conditions. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), one of the causes of cellular dysfunction and death, is associated with increased expression of genes involved in cellular adaptation to a hypoxic environment. Hypoxic inducible factors (HIFs) have a central role in the response to processes initiated by IRI not only linked to erythropoietin production but also because of their participation in inflammation, angiogenesis, metabolic adaptation, and fibrosis. While pericytes have an essential physiological function in erythropoietin production, a lesser-known role of HIF stabilization during IRI is that pericytes' HIF expression could influence vascular remodeling, cell loss and organ fibrosis. Better knowledge of mechanisms that control functions and consequences of HIF stabilization in pericytes beyond erythropoietin production is advisable for the development of therapeutic strategies to influence disease progression and improve treatments. Thus, in this review, we discuss the dual roles-for good or bad-of HIF stabilization during IRI, focusing on pericytes, and consequences in particular for the kidneys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dario Troise
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
- Renal Medicine and Baxter Novum, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Barbara Infante
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Silvia Mercuri
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Claudia Piccoli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Bengt Lindholm
- Renal Medicine and Baxter Novum, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giovanni Stallone
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ogunshola OO, Tsao CC. Harnessing the power of pericytes and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 to modulate stroke outcome. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:473-474. [PMID: 37721259 PMCID: PMC10581568 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.380902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Omolara O. Ogunshola
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chih-Chieh Tsao
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hunter R, Baird B, Garcia M, Begay J, Goitom S, Lucas S, Herbert G, Scieszka D, Padilla J, Brayer K, Ottens AK, Suter MA, Barrozo ER, Hines C, Bleske B, Campen MJ. Gestational ozone inhalation elicits maternal cardiac dysfunction and transcriptional changes to placental pericytes and endothelial cells. Toxicol Sci 2023; 196:238-249. [PMID: 37695302 PMCID: PMC10682975 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ozone (O3) is a criteria air pollutant with the most frequent incidence of exceeding air quality standards. Inhalation of O3 is known to cause lung inflammation and consequent systemic health effects, including endothelial dysfunction. Epidemiologic data have shown that gestational exposure to air pollutants correlates with complications of pregnancy, including low birth weight, intrauterine growth deficiency, preeclampsia, and premature birth. Mechanisms underlying how air pollution may facilitate or exacerbate gestational complications remain poorly defined. The current study sought to uncover how gestational O3 exposure impacted maternal cardiovascular function, as well as the development of the placenta. Pregnant mice were exposed to 1PPM O3 or a sham filtered air (FA) exposure for 4 h on gestational day (GD) 10.5, and evaluated for cardiac function via echocardiography on GD18.5. Echocardiography revealed a significant reduction in maternal stroke volume and ejection fraction in maternally exposed dams. To examine the impact of maternal O3 exposure on the maternal-fetal interface, placentae were analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. Mid-gestational O3 exposure led to significant differential expression of 4021 transcripts compared with controls, and pericytes displayed the greatest transcriptional modulation. Pathway analysis identified extracellular matrix organization to be significantly altered after the exposure, with the greatest modifications in trophoblasts, pericytes, and endothelial cells. This study provides insights into potential molecular processes during pregnancy that may be altered due to the inhalation of environmental toxicants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Russell Hunter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Brenna Baird
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Marcus Garcia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jessica Begay
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Siem Goitom
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Selita Lucas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Guy Herbert
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - David Scieszka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Jamie Padilla
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Kathryn Brayer
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Andrew K Ottens
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Melissa A Suter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Enrico R Barrozo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Curt Hines
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Barry Bleske
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Matthew J Campen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Perrotta M, Carnevale D, Carnevale L. Mouse models of cerebral injury and cognitive impairment in hypertension. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1199612. [PMID: 37539342 PMCID: PMC10394515 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1199612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertension is a major risk factor for dementia, including both vascular and neurodegenerative etiologies. With the original aim of studying the effect of blood pressure elevation on canonical target organs of hypertension as the heart, the vasculature or the kidneys, several experimental models of hypertension have sprouted during the years. With the more recent interest of understanding the cerebral injury burden caused by hypertension, it is worth understanding how the main models of hypertension or localized cerebral hypertension stand in the field of hypertension-induced cerebral injury and cognitive impairment. With this review we will report main genetic, pharmacological and surgical models of cognitive impairment induced by hypertension, summarizing how each specific category and model can improve our understanding of the complex phenomenon of cognitive loss of vascular etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Perrotta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Research Unit of Neuro and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, IRCCS Neuromed, Department of Angiocardioneurology and Translational Medicine, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Daniela Carnevale
- Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Research Unit of Neuro and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, IRCCS Neuromed, Department of Angiocardioneurology and Translational Medicine, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Carnevale
- Research Unit of Neuro and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, IRCCS Neuromed, Department of Angiocardioneurology and Translational Medicine, Pozzilli, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Keep RF, Jones HC, Drewes LR. Genetic disorders and genetic manipulation at the blood-brain barriers. Fluids Barriers CNS 2023; 20:29. [PMID: 37081497 PMCID: PMC10120270 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00428-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Richard F Keep
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, R5018 BSRB 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA.
| | | | - Lester R Drewes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Soles A, Selimovic A, Sbrocco K, Ghannoum F, Hamel K, Moncada EL, Gilliat S, Cvetanovic M. Extracellular Matrix Regulation in Physiology and in Brain Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7049. [PMID: 37108212 PMCID: PMC10138624 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounds cells in the brain, providing structural and functional support. Emerging studies demonstrate that the ECM plays important roles during development, in the healthy adult brain, and in brain diseases. The aim of this review is to briefly discuss the physiological roles of the ECM and its contribution to the pathogenesis of brain disease, highlighting the gene expression changes, transcriptional factors involved, and a role for microglia in ECM regulation. Much of the research conducted thus far on disease states has focused on "omic" approaches that reveal differences in gene expression related to the ECM. Here, we review recent findings on alterations in the expression of ECM-associated genes in seizure, neuropathic pain, cerebellar ataxia, and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Next, we discuss evidence implicating the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in regulating the expression of ECM genes. HIF-1 is induced in response to hypoxia, and also targets genes involved in ECM remodeling, suggesting that hypoxia could contribute to ECM remodeling in disease conditions. We conclude by discussing the role microglia play in the regulation of the perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized form of ECM in the central nervous system. We show evidence that microglia can modulate PNNs in healthy and diseased brain states. Altogether, these findings suggest that ECM regulation is altered in brain disease, and highlight the role of HIF-1 and microglia in ECM remodeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Soles
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Adem Selimovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kaelin Sbrocco
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ferris Ghannoum
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katherine Hamel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Emmanuel Labrada Moncada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Stephen Gilliat
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ivnitsky JJ, Schäfer TV, Rejniuk VL, Golovko AI. Endogenous humoral determinants of vascular endothelial dysfunction as triggers of acute poisoning complications. J Appl Toxicol 2023; 43:47-65. [PMID: 35258106 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The vascular endothelium is not only the semipermeable membrane that separates tissue from blood but also an organ that regulates inflammation, vascular tone, blood clotting, angiogenesis and synthesis of connective tissue proteins. It is susceptible to the direct cytotoxic action of numerous xenobiotics and to the acute hypoxia that accompanies acute poisoning. This damage is superimposed on the preformed state of the vascular endothelium, which, in turn, depends on many humoral factors. The probability that an exogenous toxicant will cause life-threatening dysfunction of the vascular endothelium, thereby complicating the course of acute poisoning, increases with an increase in the content of endogenous substances in the blood that disrupt endothelial function. These include ammonia, bacterial endotoxin, indoxyl sulfate, para-cresyl sulfate, trimethylamine N-oxide, asymmetric dimethylarginine, glucose, homocysteine, low-density and very-low-density lipoproteins, free fatty acids and products of intravascular haemolysis. Some other endogenous substances (albumin, haptoglobin, haemopexin, biliverdin, bilirubin, tetrahydrobiopterin) or food-derived compounds (ascorbic acid, rutin, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, etc.) reduce the risk of lethal vascular endothelial dysfunction. The individual variability of the content of these substances in the blood contributes to the stochasticity of the complications of acute poisoning and is a promising target for the risk reduction measures. Another feasible option may be the repositioning of drugs that affect the function of the vascular endothelium while being currently used for other indications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jury Ju Ivnitsky
- Golikov Research Clinical Center of Toxicology under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Timur V Schäfer
- State Scientific Research Test Institute of the Military Medicine of Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir L Rejniuk
- Golikov Research Clinical Center of Toxicology under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexandr I Golovko
- Golikov Research Clinical Center of Toxicology under the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Al-Ahmad AJ. Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Model of the Blood-Brain at 10 Years: A Retrospective on Past and Current Disease Models. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 281:141-156. [PMID: 36943490 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The initial discovery and derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by Yamanaka and colleagues in 2006 revolutionized the field of personalized medicine, as it opened the possibility to model diseases using patient-derived stem cells. A decade of adoption of iPSCs within the community of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) significantly opened the door for modeling diseases at the BBB, a task until then considered challenging, if not impossible.In this book chapter, we provided an extensive review of the literature on the use of iPSC-based models of the human BBB to model neurological diseases including infectious diseases (COVID-19, Streptococcus, Neisseria) neurodevelopmental diseases (adrenoleukodystrophy, Allan-Herndon-Dudley Syndrome, Batten's disease, GLUT1 deficiency syndrome), and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, the current findings and observations, but also the challenges and limitations inherent to the use of iPSC-based models in reproducing the human BBB during health and diseases in a Petri dish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abraham J Al-Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Central Nervous System Pericytes Contribute to Health and Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101707. [PMID: 35626743 PMCID: PMC9139243 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful neuroprotection is only possible with contemporary microvascular protection. The prevention of disease-induced vascular modifications that accelerate brain damage remains largely elusive. An improved understanding of pericyte (PC) signalling could provide important insight into the function of the neurovascular unit (NVU), and into the injury-provoked responses that modify cell–cell interactions and crosstalk. Due to sharing the same basement membrane with endothelial cells, PCs have a crucial role in the control of endothelial, astrocyte, and oligodendrocyte precursor functions and hence blood–brain barrier stability. Both cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases impair oxygen delivery and functionally impair the NVU. In this review, the role of PCs in central nervous system health and disease is discussed, considering their origin, multipotency, functions and also dysfunction, focusing on new possible avenues to modulate neuroprotection. Dysfunctional PC signalling could also be considered as a potential biomarker of NVU pathology, allowing us to individualize therapeutic interventions, monitor responses, or predict outcomes.
Collapse
|