Monique

F.

Stins

,

PhD

My research interests focus on the role that the blood vessels in the brain play in modulating neurological function under different stress conditions, including microbial exposure such as Plasmodium. I am specifically interested in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria (CM) and its neurologic sequelae. Since 2004 my laboratory has been in studying the activation of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and its relation to CM. My research efforts focus on the responses of the BBB endothelial cells to Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes (PRBC) (Tripathi et al publications). I find this particularly interesting as most neurotropic pathogens first invade the central nervous system before conveying neuro-dysfunction, however, PRBC don’t do this and remain INSIDE the vasculature while causing seizures and coma. Upon clearance of infection patients are often left with neurologic sequelae, such as cognitive and psychological problems, seizures and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders.
The unique lining of the blood vessels in the brain -the BBB endothelium- differs from other endothelia (such as fenestrated liver endothelium), as it possesses tight junctions that form a strong barrier and play a crucial role in protecting the brain’s homeostatic environment to allow for normal neuronal function. The position of the BBB-endothelium in between events occurring in the periphery (sequestration of PRBC) and inside the brain (neurological dysfunction), makes the BBB the target of my investigations. We have shown that the BBB-endothelium is not a passive surface only guiding blood through the brain, but an interactive "relay station", communicating between the blood and brain compartment.