# Impact of the Gut Microbiome on Astrocyte Barrier Function

> **NIH NIH K01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $282,108

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This proposes a comprehensive 5-year physician scientist career development plan for Dr. Stephanie Tankou.
Dr. Tankou completed her postdoctoral fellowship training in Multiple Sclerosis at the Brigham and Women’s
Hospital. During her fellowship years, she was involved in several preclinical and clinical studies investigating
the role of the gut microbiome in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its mouse model experimental autoimmune
encephalomyelitis (EAE). Since joining Mount Sinai as a tenure track faculty, she has been conducting several
studies to investigate the effect of vancomycin on neuroinflammation in EAE mice. Studies from her laboratory
revealed that vancomycin is a potent modulator of the gut-brain axis and they also identified 50 gut commensals
that regulate neuroinflammation in EAE mice. This work has been recently accepted for publication in
Microbiome and Dr. Tankou is the corresponding and senior author. The application builds on Dr. Tankou’s
preliminary data supporting a key role for butyrate-producing bacteria in regulating astrocyte function and is
structured to transition Dr. Tankou from trainee to fully independent investigator by leveraging intellectual and
material resources at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Scott Russo has mentored successful
trainees and will guide Dr. Tankou throughout her training. Dr. Russo is an established investigator and
recognized leader in blood brain barrier permeability in the context of neuropsychiatric diseases. An advisory
committee composed of highly regarded principal investigators in glial cell research, gut-brain axis and the role
of the gut microbiome in immune mediated diseases will provide additional guidance. Dr. Tankou’s career
development plan is comprehensive, including frequent meetings, specific relevant coursework, and
departmental support centered on mentoring early career investigators. She has and will continue to attend
seminars as well as national and international conferences where she will present her research, establish
collaborations, and learn of recent advances in the field. Dr. Tankou’s research utilizes cutting-edge approaches
to advance understanding of the role of the gut microbiota on astrocyte barrier function. She proposes to identify
communities of gut microbes and their metabolites that regulate astrocyte barrier function and their impact on
central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. Dr. Tankou preliminary data have demonstrated that butyrate-
producing bacteria as well as butyrate modulate astrocyte barrier function via induction of astrocytic claudin-4.
In the first specific aim, experiments will be conducted to identify human gut derived bacteria and gut microbiota
derived metabolites that modulate astrocytic CLDN4 expression. The second aim will examine the effect of
butyrate on (1) astrocytic CLDN4 expression, (2) immune cell trafficking across the glia limitans and (3) CNS
inflammation in EAE mice. The Icahn School...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10909795
- **Project number:** 5K01NS133057-02
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Stephanie Tankou
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $282,108
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10909795

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10909795, Impact of the Gut Microbiome on Astrocyte Barrier Function (5K01NS133057-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10909795. Licensed CC0.

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