Chenghua Gu
Department of Neurobiology
Harvard Medical School
Goldenson Building, Rm 513
220 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Tel: 617-432-6364
Fax: 617-734-7557
Email: chenghua_gu@hms.harvard.edu
4 postdoctoral fellows, 2 students
Nervous and vascular systems share many features, despite their distinct functions. Developmentally, they are formed around the same time, and both continue to dynamically remodel throughout life. Anatomically, they are both highly-branched and complicated networks; yet both networks have remarkably stereotyped patterns. Moreover, even from the time of Vesalius and Da Vinci, it has been clear that nerves and vessels often run adjacent to each other. Functionally, neural activity and vascular dynamics are interdependent in the periphery and tightly coupled in the brain. Despite the importance of this intimate relationship, little is known at the molecular level about how these two systems are coordinately patterned during development and what permits ongoing neurovascular interactions in the adult. The goal of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms of how neural and vascular networks are coordinately developed, communicate, and evolve to work in concert during normal and disease states.
Using a combination of mouse genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry-based approaches, our research program currently explores 4 topics: 1. Characterize the intriguing neurovascular anatomical relationship in the brain. 2. Identify the molecular signaling cascade controlling neural and vascular patterning and their intercommunication. 3. Identify novel factors from endothelial cells that control neuronal function and vice versa. 4. Address how patterning cues influence human disease, involving both neural and vascular damage and repair. To study these questions in vivo, we frequently use genetically engineered mouse models with specific mutations and tracers combined with imaging and physiological approaches. To complement this work, we also perform studies in chick and a variety of in vitro assays to further reveal the mechanisms of action. With these approaches, we aim to understand the neurovascular interactions from a molecular level to a systems level.
References:
- Gelfand, M. V., Hong, S., Gu, C., (2009) Guidance from above: common cues direct distrinct signaling outcomes in vascular and neural patterning. Trends in Cell Biology. 19(3):99-110.
- Gu, C., Yoshida, Y., Livet, J., Reimert, D.V., Mann, F., Merte, J., Henderson, C.E., Jessell, T.M., Kolodkin, A.L., Ginty, D.D. (2005) Semaphorin3E and Plexin-D1 control vascular pattern independently of Neuropilins. Science. 307 (5707):265-268.
- Schwarz, Q., Gu, C., Fujisawa , H., Sabelko, K., Golding, M., Cheng, H., Marina Gertsenstein, M., Nagy, A., Taniguchi, M., Kolodkin, A.L., Ginty, D.D., Shima, D.T., Ruhrberg, C. (2004) Vascular endothelial growth factor cooperates with Sema3A to pattern different compartments of the facial nerve. Genes & Development . 18 (22) 2822-2834.
- Gu, C., Rodriguez, E.R., Reimert, D.V., Shu, T., Fritzsch, B., Richards, L.J., Kolodkin, A.L., Ginty, D.D. (2003) Neuropilin-1 conveys Semaphorin and VEGF signaling during neural and cardiovascular development. Developmental Cell. 5 (1):45-57.
BBS webpage updated 5/17/2010