A5009301816- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Barrier Structure and Function Studies
- Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Connexins and lens biology
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
- interferon and immune responses
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- Thermal Regulation in Medicine
- Renal cell carcinoma treatment
- Lymphatic System and Diseases
- Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Heat shock proteins research
- Biomarkers in Disease Mechanisms
- Cancer Cells and Metastasis
- Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Neurogenetic and Muscular Disorders Research
- RNA modifications and cancer
Virginia Tech
2010-2025
Biomedical Research Institute
2019-2025
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
2018-2025
Imperial College London
2017
Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
2010-2014
Abstract Notch and Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1)/Tie2 pathways are crucial for vascular maturation stability. Here we identify the transcription factor ERG as a key regulator of endothelial signalling. We show that controls balance between ligands by driving Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) while repressing Jagged1 (Jag1) expression. In vivo , this regulation occurs selectively in maturing plexus mouse developing retina, where Ang1/Tie2 signalling is active. find mediates Ang1-dependent required...
Abstract Extracellular vesicles have emerged as promising nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery, but their therapeutic potential is limited by challenges related to administration route, loading, delivery and production at scale. Here, we report an innovative approach of peptides injured tissues using milk-derived small extracellular (mEVs) abundant, safe, orally administrable nanoplatform. We demonstrate that a sub-population mEVs naturally contain Connexin 43 (Cx43) its Carboxyl-Terminal...
We examined the role of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in expression chemokine mRNA and proteins brain during chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii using BALB/c BALB/c-background IFN-γ knockout (IFN-γ(-/-)) mice. mice are genetically resistant to development toxoplasmic encephalitis establish a latent, through IFN-γ-mediated immune responses. Amounts for CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP-10, CXCL11/I-TAC, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL5/RANTES significantly increased brains wild-type after infection. were most...
Vascular pericytes stabilize blood vessels and contribute to their maturation, while playing other key roles in microvascular function. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about involvement of precursors the earliest stages vascular development, specifically during vasculogenesis.
ABSTRACT Reactivation of chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii can cause life-threatening toxoplasmic encephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. We examined the role VCAM-1/α4β1 integrin interaction T cell recruitment to prevent reactivation brain. SCID mice were infected and treated sulfadiazine establish a infection. VCAM-1 ICAM-1 endothelial adhesion molecules detected on cerebral vessels wild-type animals. Immune cells from anti-α4 or control antibodies transferred into nude mice,...
Abstract Pericytes are critical for microvascular stability and maintenance, among other important physiological functions, yet their involvement in vessel formation processes remains poorly understood. To gain insight into pericyte behaviors during vascular remodeling, we developed two complementary tissue explant models utilizing ‘double reporter’ animals with fluorescently-labeled pericytes endothelial cells (via Ng2:DsRed Flk-1:eGFP genes, respectively). Time-lapse confocal imaging of...
We examined whether tachyzoite proliferation in the brains of immunocompetent hosts during chronic stage infection with Toxoplasma gondii induces production IgG antibodies that recognize parasite antigens different from those recognized by infected do not have growth. For this purpose, two groups CBA/J mice, which display continuous growth their later infection, were infected, and one group received treatment sulfadiazine to prevent infection. T. these mice compared using immunoblotting...
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene mutations induce neural tissue hemangioblastomas, as well highly vascularized clear cell renal carcinomas (ccRCCs). Pathological vessel remodeling arises from misregulation of HIFs and VEGF, among other genes. Variation in disease penetrance has long been recognized relation to genotype. We show Vhl also disrupt Notch signaling, causing mutation-specific vascular abnormalities, e.g., type 1 (null) vs. 2B (murine G518A representing human R167Q). In conditional...
Feedback mechanisms are critical components of many pro-angiogenic signaling pathways that keep vessel growth within a functional range. The Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A) pathway utilizes the decoy VEGF-A receptor Flt-1 to provide negative feedback regulation signaling. In this study, we investigated how genetic loss flt-1 differentially affects branching complexity vascular networks in tissues despite similar effects on endothelial sprouting. We selectively ablated...
Confident identification of pericytes (PCs) remains an obstacle in the field, as a single molecular marker for these unique perivascular cells elusive. Adding to this challenge is recent appreciation that PC populations may be heterogeneous, displaying range morphologies within capillary networks. We found additional support on ultrastructural level classification subtypes-"thin-strand" (TSP), mesh (MP), and ensheathing (EP)-based distinct morphological characteristics. Interestingly, we...
The platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) pathway provides critical regulation of cerebrovascular pericytes, orchestrating their investment and retention within the brain microcirculation. Dysregulated PDGF Receptor-beta (PDGFRβ) signaling can lead to pericyte defects that compromise blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity cerebral perfusion, impairing neuronal activity viability, which fuels cognitive memory deficits. Receptor tyrosine kinases such as PDGF-BB vascular endothelial factor-A...
ABSTRACT/SUMMARY Unequivocal pericyte identification remains a limitation in the field of vascular biology given lack unique molecular marker. Compounding this challenge are recently described heterogeneities morphology across microvascular networks. Here, we found further support on ultrastructural level for classifying pericytes into sub-types – “thin-strand” (TSPs), mesh (MP), and ensheathing (EP) based their architecture mouse brain microcirculation. We also observed several instances an...
Abstract Chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasitic infections in humans. Formation tissue cysts basis persistence parasite infected hosts and this cyst stage has generally been regarded as untouchable. Here we provide first evidence that immune system can eliminate T. from brains when T cells are transferred into immunodeficient animals have already developed large numbers cysts. This cell-mediated process was associated accumulation microglia macrophages...
Voltage-gated sodium channels, crucial for the action potential upstroke in cardiomyocytes, consist primarily of a single pore-forming α-subunit and 1 or 2 accessory β-subunits. SCN1B encodes two variants: β1, transmembrane cell adhesion molecule, β1B, typically described as soluble secreted protein. While β1 β1B share identical sequences amino-terminal (NT) extracellular Ig domain, they differ their carboxy-terminal (CT) sequence. The domain β1/β1B has been deemed critical maintaining...
The platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) pathway provides critical regulation of cerebrovascular pericytes, orchestrating their investment and retention within the brain microcirculation. Dysregulated PDGF Receptor-beta (PDGFRβ) signaling can lead to pericyte defects that compromise blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity cerebral perfusion, impairing neuronal activity viability, which fuels cognitive memory deficits. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) like PDGF-BB vascular endothelial...