Regulation of Cerebrovascular Resistance in Health and Disease: From Molecules to Humans

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 13 February 2026 | Viewed by 1213

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Institute of Translational Medicine, HUN-REN-SE, Cerebrovascular and Neurocognitive Disease Research Group, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
2. Research Center for Sport Physiology, Hungarian University of Sports Science, Budapest, Hungary
3. Department of Physiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
Interests: regulation of cerebral blood flow in heath and diseased conditions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Optimal cerebrovascular perfusion is vital for maintaining healthy brain function. This complete task is achieved by different and appropriate mechanisms regulating the resistance of various extracranial and intracranial vessels, such as arteries, arterioles, and even venules.

One of the specific attributes of cerebral circulation is its well-developed autoregulation. This tight control of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is crucial to maintaining a relatively constant blood supply of the brain, as well as intracranial blood volume, and at the same time to comply with the limited space available in the skull.

Thus, small intracranial cerebral arteries have a well-developed constrictor function. On the other hand, this limitation does not affect extracranial arteries, allowing them to dilate freely, thus providing increased blood flow to the brain. Hemodynamic forces play an important role in the autoregulation of CBF, as previous studies have established that it is achieved by pressure- and flow-sensitive vasomotor mechanisms. In addition to these, other cellular, metabolic, and neural factors also play important roles in enabling brain tissues to control cerebrovascular resistance and thus blood supply, mechanisms collectively called neurovascular coupling.

In diseased conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, pre-eclampsia, traumatic brain injury, aging, etc., these mechanisms can become impaired, leading to stroke, micro-bleeding, edema, Alzheimer-like dementia, and so on.

Many of the underlying molecular and functional pathomechanisms are still unresolved; thus, both basic and clinical research are needed to elucidate them.

We invite the submission of manuscripts to this Special Issue that will contribute to improving our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the appropriate supply and autoregulation of cerebral blood flow and reveal the pathomechanisms responsible for disease relate conditions fostering the development of appropriate preventions and therapies.

Dr. Akos Koller
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cerebral blood flow
  • hemodynamic forces
  • cerebrovascular resistance
  • endothelium
  • smooth muscle
  • arachidonic acid metabolites
  • reactive oxygen species
  • molecular mediators
  • protein and mRNA expressions
  • brain disease conditions
  • transcranial Doppler measurement
  • EEG
  • lifestyle

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 1715 KiB  
Article
Differential Gene and Protein Expressions Responsible for Vasomotor Signaling Provide Mechanistic Bases for the Opposite Flow-Induced Responses of Pre- and Post-Circle of Willis Arteries
by Zoltan Nemeth, Krisztian Eros, Gyongyi Munkacsy and Akos Koller
Life 2025, 15(6), 856; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15060856 - 26 May 2025
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Abstract
Increases in flow elicit dilations in the basilar artery (BA) supplied by the posterior cerebral circulation (PCC), and ensuring efficient blood supply to the circle of Willis in which blood flow and pressure can distribute and equalize, and thus provide the appropriate supply [...] Read more.
Increases in flow elicit dilations in the basilar artery (BA) supplied by the posterior cerebral circulation (PCC), and ensuring efficient blood supply to the circle of Willis in which blood flow and pressure can distribute and equalize, and thus provide the appropriate supply for the daughter branches to reach certain brain areas. In contrast, increases in flow elicit constrictions in the middle cerebral artery (MCA), supplied by the anterior cerebral circulation (ACC) and regulating the blood pressure and flow in distal cerebral circulation. Mediators of flow-dependent responses include arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites and nitric oxide (NO). We hypothesized that mediators of flow-dependent responses are differentially expressed in cerebral arteries of the PCC (CAPCC) and ACC (CAACC). The expressions of key enzymes of the AA pathway—cyclooxygenases (COX1/COX2), cytochrome P450 hydroxylases (Cyp450), thromboxane synthase (TXAS), thromboxane A2 (TP) receptor, prostacyclin synthase (PGIS), prostacyclin (IP) receptor (IP); neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)—in the BA and MCA from rats (n = 20) were determined by western blotting. Transcriptome analysis in CAPCC and CAACC from rats (n = 25) was assessed by RNA sequencing. In BA compared to MCA, COX1/2 and Cyp450 protein expressions were lower, PGIS was higher, TXAS and nNOS/eNOS were similar, TP receptors were lower, and IP receptors were higher. Gene expressions of vasodilator canonical pathways were higher in CAPCC; vasoconstriction canonical pathways were higher in CAACC. Mediators of flow-dependent vasomotor signaling are differentially expressed in cerebral arteries of the posterior and anterior circulation, corresponding to their vasomotor function. Full article
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Review

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20 pages, 1126 KiB  
Review
Review of the Role of TRAF7 in Brain Endothelial Integrity and Cerebrovascular Aging
by Jennifer Ihuoma, Sherwin Tavakol, Sharon Negri, Cade Ballard, Khanh Phan, Albert Orock, Zeke Reyff, Madison Milan, Eva Troyano-Rodriguez, Rakesh Rudraboina, Anna Csiszar, Anthony C. Johnson, Ian F. Dunn and Stefano Tarantini
Life 2025, 15(8), 1280; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15081280 - 12 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 7 (TRAF7) is a signal transducer in the TNF receptor superfamily. TRAF7 is unique among its superfamily in that it does not contain a TRAF-C domain but does contain WD-40 domains. TRAF7 interacts with mitogen-activated protein kinases [...] Read more.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 7 (TRAF7) is a signal transducer in the TNF receptor superfamily. TRAF7 is unique among its superfamily in that it does not contain a TRAF-C domain but does contain WD-40 domains. TRAF7 interacts with mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), which are known regulators of inflammation and shear stress response. Notably, these molecular interactions have profound implications for the function of brain endothelial cells (ECs), which are pivotal for sustaining the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), orchestrating neurovascular coupling (NVC), and modulating the vascular architecture. By directly influencing MAPK signaling pathways, particularly the shear stress-responsive MAPK kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3)–MAPK kinase 5 (MEK5)–extracellular-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) cascade, TRAF7 contributes to vascular homeostasis, as exemplified by its role in phosphorylating ERK5. Such molecular events underpin the capacity of brain ECs to regulate substance exchange, adjust blood flow in response to neural activity, and maintain efficient cerebral perfusion, all of which are essential for preserving brain health and cognitive performance. By synthesizing the current evidence regarding TRAF7’s molecular functions and its impact on brain endothelial integrity, cerebrovascular aging, and exploring implications for therapeutic strategies targeting vascular dysfunction in the aging brain, this review fills a crucial gap in the literature. Given the limited number of original studies directly addressing these contexts, the review will integrate broader insights from related literature to provide a foundational overview for future research in this developing field. The culmination of this literature will provide a rationale for the development of novel TRAF7-targeted therapies to restore vascular integrity in the context of aging, which could maintain cognitive health. Although TRAF7 has been implicated in regulating endothelial permeability during inflammation, its precise functions in brain ECs and the subsequent effects on cerebrovascular structure and cognitive function remain to be fully elucidated. Full article
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