Vascular biology of the human blood-nerve barrier

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our long-term objective is to study the vascular biology of the human blood-nerve barrier. Specifically, we are interested in studying the role of GDNF and its signaling pathways in restoring blood-nerve barrier function following injury. This project is designed to address a fundamental question: Is GDNF sufficient and essential to the recovery of the blood-nerve barrier following peripheral nerve injury and degeneration? Based on our exciting new preliminary data, we propose the following hypothesis: GDNF sufficiently restores human endoneurial endothelial cell tight junction function following injury primarily by cytoskeletal reorganization that results in more continuous intercellular contacts and fewer intercellular gaps. This occurs without significantly enhancing adherens and tight junction associated protein expression in vitro. GDNF sufficiently restores human endoneurial endothelial cell tight junction barrier function following injury via RET-Tyrosine kinase/ Ras-MAP kinase signaling pathways in vitro. Using a novel conditional GDNF knockout mouse model, we hypothesize that GDNF is essential for the early and persistent restoration of blood-nerve barrier function following sciatic nerve crush injury. GDNF sufficiently restored human blood-nerve barrier resistance following serum withdrawal in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Our preliminary data specifically implicates the RET-Tyrosine kinase/ Ras-MAP kinase signaling pathways in vitro. Membrane localization of F-actin microfilaments and more continuous intercellular adherens and tight junctions occurred following GDNF treatment of the serum-deprived blood-nerve barrier. We did not observe significant changes in ¿-catenin, VE cadherin, ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5 expression or alterations in claudin-5 tyrosine phosphorylation compared to the untreated injured blood-nerve barrier in vitro. In order to address these hypotheses, we will confirm the sufficient effect of GDNF in restoring blood-nerve barrier function using well-established endothelial barrier experimental assays. Similarly, we will determine that the RET-Tyrosine kinase/ Ras-MAP kinase signaling pathway is responsible for the GDNF-mediated effect following serum withdrawal in vitro, using specific cell-permeable inhibitors in the above experimental assays. Finally, we will evaluate effect of GDNF in restoring blood-nerve barrier function following peripheral nerve injury in vivo using a novel tamoxifen-inducible conditional GDNF knockout mouse strain. Very little is known about the vascular biology of the human blood-nerve barrier. Phenotypic and functional differences between vascular endothelial cells provide the rationale to specifically study the biology of the human blood-nerve barrier in health and disease. Alternations in blood-nerve barrier function have been implicated in many peripheral neuropathies and neuropathic pain. Restoration of blood-nerve barrier function by GDNF could accelerate recovery from these prevalent, disabling medical problems.