The Brain Microvasculature, Hyaluronan, and Aging
Description: PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The vasculature of the aged brain is more vulnerable to injury than that of young brain, which can result in decreased perfusion and increased risk of exposure to deleterious substances from the systemic circulation. Brain microvasculature is surrounded by a hyaluronan (HA) and tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene-6 protein (TSG-6) -rich extracellular matrix (ECM) that is necessary for vascular integrity; however, little is known about how this ECM changes with aging. Using brains from young, middle-aged and aged mice and a combination of electron microscopy, dual-label immunofluorescence and isolated brain microvessels, this proposal will: 1) define HA thickness and relative distribution in the brain vasculature with aging; 2) identify the cell types that synthesize HA and TSG-6; and 3) measure changes in TSG-6 content and HA content/size with aging.
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: R03
Start date: 2015-08-15
End date: 2018-03-31
Investigator: MAY J REED
Institution: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Funded outputs count: 15
Funder award ID: R03AG051071
OpenAlex ID: G1268469515