Benoît Vanhollebeke (PhD) is a faculty member of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB, Belgium) and director of the NeuroVascular Signaling Laboratory, at the Department of Molecular Biology and ULB Neuroscience Institute.
The lab of Benoît explores the processes of brain angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier formation by combining genetic approaches and single-cell resolution imaging in zebrafish embryos. Elaborating on the findings permitted by this potent genetic discovery model, they seek to reach a mechanistic understanding of the processes that couple vascular and neural development through complementary approaches in cell biology, mouse genetics as well as cell-free biochemical and biophysical technologies.
Proper brain function relies on intricate communications between the neural and vascular systems. Endothelial cells lining the brain blood vessels elaborate a convoluted tubular network, keeping the high energy-consuming neurons within a few microns distance from blood-borne nutrients and dissolved gases. The fluctuating composition of the blood plasma being incompatible with reliable synaptic communications, brain endothelial cells are in addition endowed with a set of molecular, cellular, and metabolic adaptations that stringently orchestrate the molecular and cellular transit at the interface between the brain and the circulatory system. Collectively called the blood-brain barrier (BBB), they result from complex and dynamic communications within the neurovascular unit and ensure brain homeostasis. Through its neuroprotective function, the BBB represents a stubborn obstacle for CNS drug delivery, impeding an overwhelming majority of neuroactive molecules from reaching effective concentrations in target brain regions. Conversely, BBB breakdown contributes to a large set of neurological disorders, including stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, we need to better understand neurovascular signaling in health and disease.
Research lines
- Brain angiogenesis: identifying and exploring organ-specific angiogenic regulators and pathways through a combination of targeted mutagenesis (CRISPR/Cas9, TALEN), genetic mosaics, and single-cell resolution real-time imaging
- Blood-brain barrier formation: exploring the BBB formation and function in genetically tractable zebrafish models
Contact & links
- Affiliation: University of Brussels (ULB), Belgium
- Unit: Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling
- Location: 12, rue des Profs. Jeener et Brachet 6041 Gosselies Belgium
Selected publications
- A brain-specific angiogenic mechanism enabled by tip cell specialization. Schevenels G. et al. Nature. 2024 Apr 3. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07283-6.
- Engineered Wnt ligands enable blood-brain barrier repair in neurological disorders. Martin M. et al. Science. 2022 Feb 18;375(6582):eabm4459 doi.org/10.1126/science.abm4459
- A molecular mechanism for Wnt ligand-specific signaling. Eubelen M, Bostaille N, Cabochette P, Gauquier A, Tebabi P, Dumitru AC, Koehler M, Gut P, Alsteens D, Stainier DYR, Garcia-Pino A, Vanhollebeke B. Science. 2018 Aug 17;361(6403):eaat1178. doi.org/10.1126/science.aat1178
- Tip cell-specific requirement for an atypical Gpr124- and Reck-dependent Wnt/β-catenin pathway during brain angiogenesis. Vanhollebeke B. et al. Elife. 2015 Jun 8;4:e06489 doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06489. PMID: 26051822
