# RNA Profiling of Brain Microvessels Reveals Altered Morphology and Signaling in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

## TL;DR

This study introduces a new method to analyze RNA in brain microvessels, revealing changes in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models.

## Contribution

The paper presents an RNA-friendly microvessel isolation technique combined with RNAscope for spatial RNA visualization.

## Key findings

- Microvessels from 5XFAD mice show reduced pericyte presence compared to wild-type mice.
- TYROBP mRNA expression is increased in microvessels of 5XFAD mice.
- The method enables spatial RNA visualization while preserving BBB histology.

## Abstract

Disruptions in pericyte and endothelial cell expression can compromise the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), leading to neurovascular dysfunction and the development of neurological disorders. However, the study of microvessel RNAs has been limited to tissue homogenates, with spatial visualization only available for protein targets. We introduce an innovative microvessel isolation technique that is RNA-friendly for the purpose of coupling with RNAscope analysis. RNA-friendly microvessel isolation combined with RNAscope analysis enables the visualization of cell-specific RNA within the spatial and histological context of the BBB. Using this approach, we have gained valuable insights into the structural and functional differences associated with the microvessels of 5XFAD mice, a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). RNAscope analysis revealed a decrease in pericytes from microvessels isolated from 5XFAD mice in comparison to wild-type mice. Additionally, the microvessels of 5XFAD mice exhibited an increase in TYROBP mRNA expression. These findings significantly advance our understanding of neurovascular interactions and hold great promise for guiding the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. This innovative approach enables visualization of cell RNA while preserving the spatial and histological context of the BBB, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying neurovascular unit communication.