Effects of Ang II and hypoxia on the blood-brain barrier

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the United States, stroke is the third leading cause of death and hypertension is a major risk factor for the severity and occurrence of stroke. Physiologically, angiotensin II (Ang II) is important in regulating blood pressure and fluid homeostasis. During stroke there is a disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which leads to changes in tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin, ZO-1, ZO-2) and cerebral vasogenic edema. However, the cellular mechanisms leading to this disruption are not well known. Hypoxia (associated with stroke) increases BBB permeability by altering the tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin, ZO-1, ZO-2), and this change in BBB permeability has been shown to involve nitric oxide and changes in intracellular Ca 2+. Ang II, acting via the Ang II type I receptor, has also been shown to cause increases in BBB permeability. However, the molecular mechanisms behind these effects are unknown. Classic Ang II-mediated responses utilize PKC (alpha, beta-I ,beta-II, gamma) and PKC can modify the tight junctions. Recently, it has been demonstrated that hypoxia activates PKC in BBB endothelial cells. The hypothesis of this proposal is that upregulation of intracellular mechanisms by Ang II in endothelial cells of the BBB alters cell permeability and potentiates changes in BBB paracellular permeability due to hypoxic insult. The goal is to investigate the effects of Ang II and hypoxia on PKC(alpha, beta-I, beta-II, gamma) expression and activity and its effects on tight junctions and BBB permeability.