Molecular mechanisms of mast cell - endothelial cell communication in controlling the blood-brain barrier (A28*)

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Increasing evidence suggests a critical role of mast cells (MCs) in neuroinflammatory disorders, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. A28N aims to characterize cerebral MCs in detail and to study their intercellular communication within the neurovascular unit by intravital 2-photon microscopy. Furthermore, the impact of MCs on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and vascular activation under acute and chronic inflammation will be studied in vivo using intravital imaging, MC-deficient mice and MC-specific TNF inactivation. In addition, specialized in vitro techniques will be applied for a detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms of the BBB regulation by MCs.