Primary Appointment

The McCarty Lab studies how cell adhesion receptors and their extracellular matrix (ECM) protein ligands regulate the development and physiology of the central nervous system (CNS), and how abnormal regulation of these events lead to CNS pathologies, including birth defects, stroke and cancer. We are particularly interested in adhesion and signaling events between neural cells and blood vessels in the CNS. The billions of neurons and glial cells in the CNS are intertwined with a complex web of blood vessels. These various neural and vascular cell types dynamically interact with each other to form integrated complexes, or neurovascular units, that regulate the structural and functional integrity of the CNS and have causative links to many CNS pathologies. We have identified integrins and their ECM protein ligands as essential regulators of neurovascular development and physiology in the CNS. One integrin, alphaVbeta8, which is expressed in perivascular neuroepithelial cells and astrocytes, is of particular interest. This integrin is a receptor for latent TGFbeta's (LAP-TGFb's) which are expressed by cells as inactive ECM-associated complexes. Genetic ablation of alphaVbeta8 integrin or the TGFb's lead to strikingly similar developmental neurovascular defects, including abnormal CNS angiogenesis, hemorrhage and premature death. Hence, alphaVbeta8 integrin and latent TGFb's are components of an adhesion and signaling axis that link perivascualr glial cells, vascular basement membranes and cerebral endothelial cells. Current efforts in the lab involve characterizing mechanisms that link the components of this axis as well as using this axis as a foundation to identify other genes and signaling pathways important for neurovascular development and disease.

Current Lab Members:

1. Mohammad Hossain, Research Assistant II

2. Jessica Jung, Graduate Student Researcher

3. Aaron Mobley, Graduate Student Researcher

4. Steve Reyes, Graduate Student Researcher

5. Jaekyung Shin, Graduate Student Researcher

6. Jeremy Tchaicha, Graduate Student Researcher

Last updated: 9/2/2009