Keywords: Blood-brain barrier; Astrocytes; Endothelial cells; Neuroregeneration; Cytokines; Trafficking; Spinal cord injury; EAE; Neuroinflammation; Obesity

The BBB Group is composed of two laboratories that share resources and provide mutual support.

Blood-Brain Barrier Laboratory - I

General Theme - To determine the role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in neuroinflammation and neuroregeneration.

Current Projects

• Regulation of the interleukin-15 (IL15) system in the CNS

• Functional implications of upregulated transport

• Signal modification at the BBB

• Cytokines, sleep, and thermoregulation

• Cytokines and neuropsychiatric presentations - how cytokines interact with classical neurotransmitters

• Astrocytes in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and epilepsy

Blood-Brain Barrier Laboratory - II

Goal - To determine the role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in neuroendocrine control, particularly related to peptides/polypeptides involved in feeding behavior.

Current Projects

• Astrocytic leptin signaling in gliovascular and metabolic coupling

• Regulation of astrogliosis and astrocytic phenotype by metabolic and traumatic factors

• Pro-Leu-Gly-amide (MIF-1) in neuroregeneration

• How cytokines affect nutrient transport

Figure from Pan et al., J Neuroimmunol 07: TNF transport across the mouse BBB after iv injection. The EM autoradiography shows the TNF molecule (black silvergrain) transversing the lumen of microvessels to reach CNS parenhyma (in collaboration with the von Bartheld lab at Univ of Nevada).

Figure from Hsuchou H et al., Peptides 09: Astrocytes (green, GFAP) express leptin receptor (red, ObR mRNA). Double-labeling fluorescent in-siti hybridization was analyzed by confocal microscopy. In this hypothalamic section from a normal rat, ObR mRNA is seen in both neurons and astrocytes.