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Characterizing the heterogeneity of the blood-brain barrier using a transcriptomics approach
One major obstacle for effective treatment of e.g. neurological diseases is delivery of therapeutics into brain parenchyma. Characterizing the properties of the brain vasculature`s tight barrier lining (blood-brain barrier) can help to pave the way to improved drug delivery.
In this study we use a systems genetics approach to characterize the heterogeneity of the blood-brain barrier`s healthy status. Information about transcriptomic variation of the healthy blood-brain barrier is essential to find relevant pathological changes in diseased states e.g. neurodegeneration. Furthermore, different characteristics of the blood-brain barrier and the neurovascular unit will be assesed. To evaluete this healthy state of the blood-brain barrier and neurovascular unit, three different methods will be used: Transcriptomic analysis using bulk RNA sequencing, morphological characterization using confocal microscopy and blood-brain barrier permeability analysis using a fluorescent tracer. Having this infromation we may be able to better understand specific changes resulting in different neurological diseases, as well as to identify ways for elevated brain penetration of drugs. Furthermore, the data can serve as a publicly available dataset for other studies.
In this study we use a systems genetics approach to characterize the heterogeneity of the blood-brain barrier`s healthy status. Information about transcriptomic variation of the healthy blood-brain barrier is essential to find relevant pathological changes in diseased states e.g. neurodegeneration. Furthermore, different characteristics of the blood-brain barrier and the neurovascular unit will be assesed. To evaluete this healthy state of the blood-brain barrier and neurovascular unit, three different methods will be used: Transcriptomic analysis using bulk RNA sequencing, morphological characterization using confocal microscopy and blood-brain barrier permeability analysis using a fluorescent tracer. Having this infromation we may be able to better understand specific changes resulting in different neurological diseases, as well as to identify ways for elevated brain penetration of drugs. Furthermore, the data can serve as a publicly available dataset for other studies.
With this study we aim to unravel basic variation of healthy young blood vessels in the brain to better identify relevant changes during various diseases. Moreover, we aim to use the occurring dataset to better characterize the blood-brain barrier as major obstacle for drug delivery into brain parenchyma. This may pave the way to facilitated drug penetration into the brain.
With this study we aim to unravel basic variation of healthy young blood vessels in the brain to better identify relevant changes during various diseases. Moreover, we aim to use the occurring dataset to better characterize the blood-brain barrier as major obstacle for drug delivery into brain parenchyma. This may pave the way to facilitated drug penetration into the brain.
Johanna Schaffenrath
UniversitätsSpital Zürich
Neurosurgery Department
0432538473
johanna.schaffenrath@usz.ch
Johanna Schaffenrath UniversitätsSpital Zürich Neurosurgery Department 0432538473 johanna.schaffenrath@usz.ch