# Identification and characterization of a new pericyte subset: Role in blood-brain barrier breakdown

> **NIH NIH F31** · EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2021 · $30,036

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is commonly noted in association with numerous neurocognitive disorders
and can exacerbate persistent neurological issues by allowing the leakage of toxic and pathogenic materials into
the brain. While this disruption is often associated with neuroinflammation which therapeutically difficult to target,
our recent research in rhesus macaques has led to the observation of morphologically abnormal pericytes in
regions of BBB breakdown. These phenotypically distinct pericytes, named type 2 pericytes (PC2), have been
shown to increase in number with age and infection status and are specifically associated with vessels
demonstrating decreased tight junction protein levels and increased fibrinogen extravasation. Our studies
indicate that PC2 may be a valuable therapeutic target to reduce BBB breakdown and maintain selective
permeability. We hypothesize that BBB supportive type 1 pericytes (PC1) are becoming PC2 during BBB
disruption and that PC2 have differential expression from PC1 in pathways known to regulate BBB homeostatic
function. In this study, we propose to investigate the differentiation of PC2 by determining whether known BBB-
disrupting factors can initiate a PC1-to-PC2 transition in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we will analyze the
transcriptomic and proteomic differences between PC1 and PC2 to determine differentially regulated pathways
that may impact BBB health in the hopes of identifying potential therapeutic targets. The fulfilment of these aims
will improve our understanding of how PC2 develop in vivo and why PC2 are less supportive of the BBB than
PC1.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10318090
- **Project number:** 5F31NS116926-02
- **Recipient organization:** EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** Diana Gail Bohannon
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $30,036
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-18 → 2023-09-17

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10318090

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10318090, Identification and characterization of a new pericyte subset: Role in blood-brain barrier breakdown (5F31NS116926-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10318090. Licensed CC0.

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