Research

Brain Vasculature Development and Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) function

• Q. What mechanism is responsible for establishing brain vasculature?

-Angiogenesis mechanism during brain development 

(Publications) 

1. Gelfand M. V., Hagan N., Tata A., Oh W.-J., Lacoste B., Kang K.-T., Bischoff J., Wang J. and Gu C. (2014) Neuropilin-1 functions as a VEGFR2 co-receptor to guide developmental angiogenesis independent of ligand binding. eLife, 3:e03720

2. Kim J.-H.,* Oh W.-J.,* Gaiano N., Yoshida Y., and Gu C. (2011) Semaphorin3E- Plexin-D1 signaling regulates VEGF function in developmental angiogenesis via a feedback mechanism. Genes & Dev, 25: 1399-1411

-Proper maintenance and remodeling of adult brain vasculature

(Publications)

1. Yu, R., Kim, N.-S., Li, Y., Jeong, J.-Y., Park, S.-J., Zhou, B. and Oh, W.-J. (2021) Vascular Sema3E-Plexin-D1 signaling reactivation promotes post-stroke recovery through VEGF downregulation in mice. Translational Stroke Research, 13:142-159.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12975-021-00914-4

• Q. What are the functional and structural characteristics of neurovascular unit (NVU) and BBB?

-Screening for novel molecules involved in NVU formation

(Publications)

1. Kim, N., Jun, M.-H., Jeong, J.-Y. and Oh, W.-J. (2022) Optimized protocol for translatome analysis of mouse brain endothelial cells. Plos One 17(9): e0275036. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275036

-Drug delivery strategy using BBB-specific signaling

Molecular Mechanism of Neuro-Vascular Interaction

• Q. What is the molecular mechanism underlying neurovascular interaction in the brain?

-Molecular and cellular mechanisms of crosstalk between the nervous and vascular system in the brain

(Publications) 

1. Oh W.-J. and Gu C. (2013) Establishment of neurovascular congruency in the mouse whisker system by an independent patterning mechanism. Neuron, 80: 458-469

-Neuronal activation-responsive gene expression profile in the brain vasculature

Neuronal circuitry formation through axon guidance signaling

• Q. What is the molecular mechanism establishing synapses through the common molecules of the nervous and vascular system?

-Synaptic recognition and circuit formation mechanisms through Sema3E-Plexin-D1 signaling

(Publications) 

1. Ding J. B.* Oh W.-J.,* Sabatini B. L., and Gu C. (2012) Semaphorin3E-Plexin-D1 signaling controls pathway-specific synapse formation in the striatum. Nat. Neurosci, 15: 215-223

2. Kim, N.,* Li, Y.,* Yu, R., Kwon, H.-S., Song, A., Jun, M.-H., Jeong, J.-Y., Lee, J. H., Lim, H.-H., Kim, M.-J., Kim, J.-W. and Oh, W.-J. (2024) Repulsive Sema3E-Plexin-D1 signaling coordinates both axonal extension and steering via activating an autoregulatory factor, Mtss1. eLife, 13:e96891. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.96891 

Neurodegeneration mechanism through Neurovascular unit impairment

• Q. What are the vascular effects on progressing neurodegenerative diseases?

-Pathological process of Parkinson's disease and vascular effect on the disease progress

 (Publications) 

1. Choi, M.-G., Kim, M.-J., Kim, D.-G., Yu, R., Jang, Y.-N. and Oh, W.-J. (2018) Sequestration of synaptic proteins by alpha-synuclein aggregates leading to neurotoxicity is inhibited by small peptide. PLoS One 13(4); e0195339

2. Jeong, J.-Y., Lee, H. J., Kim N., Li, Y., Rah J.-C. and Oh, W. -J. (2023) Impaired neuronal activity as a potential factor contributing to the underdeveloped cerebrovasculature in a young Parkinson's disease mouse model. Sci Reports 13:22613. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-49900-w  

(Patent) Choi, M.-G. and Oh, W.-J. (2018) 알파-시누클레인 응집체 매개 세포독성을 억제하는 방법 (Korea, 10-1896182)

Collaboration works

 (Publications) 

1. Kim, J.-H, Ko, P.-W., Lee, H.-W., Jeong, J.-Y., Lee, M.-G., Kim, J.-H., Lee, W.-H., Yu, R., Oh, W.-J. and Suk, K. (2017) Astrocyte-derived lipocalin-2 mediates hippocampal damage and cognitive deficits in experimental models of vascular dementia. Glia; 1-20

2. Yoon, B.-K., Kang, Y.-H., Oh, W.-J., Roh, C.-R., Kim, D.-K. and Kang, C.-D. (2020) 17β-Estradiol inhibits lysophosphatidylcholine-induced apoptosis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. J. Menopausal Med; 26:1-8

3. Yoon, B.-K., Kang, Y.-H., Oh, W.-J., Lee, D.-Y., Kim, D.-K., Kessel, B. and Kang, C.-D. (2020) Effects of 17β-Estradiol on the plasminogen activator system in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells treated with lysophosphatidylcholine. J. Menopausal Med; 26:9-17

4. Yoo, K.-S., Lee, K., Lee, Y.-S., Oh, W.-J. and Kim, H. K. (2020) Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 4 (Arhgef4) deficiency enhances spatial and object recognition memory.  Exp. Neurobiol; 29(5): 334-343