Pericytes and capillary blood flow in Alzheimer's disease
Pericyte control of capillary perfusion in the Alzheimer's disease brain
This project looks at how tiny support cells called pericytes affect capillary blood flow in Alzheimer's disease to help protect brain blood supply for people living with Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285477 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use genetically modified mice that develop amyloid-related Alzheimer's pathology and a new pericyte-specific Cre driver to selectively remove two receptors (ETAR and TXA2R) from pericytes. They will perform deep in vivo two-photon imaging in awake mice and complementary ex vivo brain slice experiments to measure capillary flow dynamics and pericyte contractility across brain regions. The team will compare normal and Alzheimer's-model animals to see whether altering these receptors prevents pericyte-driven capillary constriction and hypoperfusion during amyloid accumulation. Molecular and physiological measurements will be combined to map the signaling pathways that control pericyte tone.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project uses mouse models and does not enroll human participants, so there are no patient eligibility criteria for this grant.
Not a fit: Because this is preclinical animal research, people seeking immediate treatments will not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify drug targets to restore capillary blood flow and potentially slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown pericyte-driven capillary constriction in Alzheimer's models, but specifically targeting ETAR and TXA2R in pericytes is a newer approach that has not been tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shih, Andy Y — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Shih, Andy Y
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.