SFB / Transregio 23
"Vascular Differentiation and Remodeling"

Mannheim - Heidelberg - Frankfurt

Dr. Stefan Liebner Institute of Neurology (Edinger-Institute) Medical School Goethe University Frankfurt Heinrich-Hofmann-Str. 7 D-60528 Frankfurt/Main Phone: 0049 (0)69 6301 84154 / 84155 Lab Homepage
	stefan.liebner(at)kgu.de
B7: Molecular analysis of the Wnt/β-catenin and sonic hedgehog pathway in endothelial differentiation and remodeling
In endothelial cells, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is particularly active during angiogenesis of the CNS, contributing to the differentiation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Recently, also hedgehog (Hh) signaling, driven by its ligand sonic hedgehog, has been found to promote BBB integrity. However, the interaction of the Wnt/β-catenin and the Hh pathway in endothelial cells during angiogenesis and barrier formation is currently unknown. In the next funding period we will determine how Wnt and Hh interact in the endothelium at the BBB in the CNS, using conditional transgenic mouse models in vivo and endothelial cells in vitro, and investigate their role in pathological angiogenesis.

EC-derived, as well as neuroectodermal derived, Wnts potentially participate
in brain angiogenesis, BBB establishment and maintenance.