On going Project

Neuroimmunology

Damage to the BBB induces influx of peripheral immune cells into the brain that resultantly induces autoimmune brain diseases. We investigate the role of the BBB integrity to regulate the immune responses in the brain and the detrimental effect of its damage using experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) a good animal model mimicking multiple sclerosis to explain the importance of the BBB in the neuroimmune responses. Currently, we are expanding these knowledge from autoimmune animal model system toward understanding the pathophysiological roles of BBB damage in explaining the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurovascular Coupling

Brain requires tremendous amount of the oxygen and glucose for its neuronal activation which is followed by influx of blood toward the stimulated region of the brain. This is called the neurovascular coupling (NVC) that is the basis of functional MRI. Our laboratory is hypothesizing that the direct stimulation of brain endothelial cells by neurotransmitters released from the neuronal cells may be the driving force of these phenomenon and it may induce delivery of nutritious molecules toward brain parenchyma and dissecting this mechanism using in vitro and in vivo models

Metabolic signature of the brain endothelial cells

Brain endothelial cells delivers glucose and nutrients to the brain parenchyma and its utilization of these molecules is important for the brain parenchyma for its utilization of these molecules for its survival and activation. Therefore, it is very important to dissect the metabolic signature on these key molecules in the brain endothelial cells and we are analyzing these using several cutting edge techniques.

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