# Investigating the role of Alpha5Beta1 integrin in cognitive dysfunction

> **NIH NIH RF1** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2024 · $119,115

## Abstract

Title: Investigating the role of α5β1 integrin in cognitive dysfunction
Key words: eNOS, Vascular Dementia, α5β1 integrin, exercise, therapeutics
Abstract:
One common element between VaD and COVID-19 is the involvement of α5β1 integrin: a viable
receptor for SARS-CoV-2 and whose expression levels increase with age in the bilateral carotid
artery stenosis (BCAS) model of VaD. While the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to enter and alter brain
function is still being debated, VaD associated cognitive decline is better understood as a result
of chronic failure and disruption of the cerebrovasculature. As VaD is a progressive disease, of
which both physiology and symptoms worsen over time, the age-associated increase in α5β1
expression may be contributing to the ultimate development of cognitive dysfunction. Moreover,
if the binding of SARS-CoV-2 to α5β1 leads to overactivation or increase in expression of the
integrin, then COVID-19-associated cognitive decline may occur in a similar manner to that of
VaD. Exercise has been shown to improve VaD associated cognitive dysfunction, but the
mechanism and whether α5β1 integrin is involved is unknown. Thus, α5β1 integrin’s relationship
to cognitive decline and its potential to enhance exercise induced benefits through the following
project aims will be explored: using eNOS-deficient mice as a model of VaD, I will correlate
integrin α5β1 expression to age-related pathology (Aim 1) and determine if the combined
treatment of ATN-161 and exercise provides synergistic improvements to VaD outcome (Aim 2).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11040843
- **Project number:** 3RF1AG078677-01A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** TIONE BURANDA
- **Activity code:** RF1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $119,115
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11040843

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11040843, Investigating the role of Alpha5Beta1 integrin in cognitive dysfunction (3RF1AG078677-01A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11040843. Licensed CC0.

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