The Blood–Brain Barrier

Abstract

Blood vessels are critical to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all of the tissues and organs throughout the body. The blood vessels that vascularize the central nervous system (CNS) possess unique properties, termed the blood-brain barrier, which allow these vessels to tightly regulate the movement of ions, molecules, and cells between the blood and the brain. This precise control of CNS homeostasis allows for proper neuronal function and also protects the neural tissue from toxins and pathogens, and alterations of these barrier properties are an important component of pathology and progression of different neurological diseases. The physiological barrier is coordinated by a series of physical, transport, and metabolic properties possessed by the endothelial cells (ECs) that form the walls of the blood vessels, and these properties are regulated by interactions with different vascular, immune, and neural cells. Understanding how these different cell populations interact to regulate the barrier properties is essential for understanding how the brain functions during health and disease.

Dynamic interactions ofPlasmodiumspp. with vascular endothelium

“…For example, in the brain where maintaining strict metabolic homeostasis while preserving a high integrity barrier is paramount, the microvascular endothelial cells are surrounded by pericytes, a basement membrane, and astrocytes with foot processes that are in contact with neurons. 9 The relative importance of stromal cells in maintaining the BBB phenotype is supported by recent evidence that pericyte-deficient mice have increased permeability to water and different solutes through an increase in transcytosis, a process that can be inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib. 10 Interestingly, the distribution of junctional proteins in the mutant cells remained unaltered, although irregular stretches of endothelial overlap were commonly seen.…”

Disrupting the blood–brain barrier by focused ultrasound induces sterile inflammation

“…The BBB consists of specialized endothelial cells connected through various tight junction proteins (TJP), astrocyte endplates, and a basement membrane. These components form part of the neurovascular unit (NVU) that is comprised of vessels, pericytes, microglia, astrocytes, and neurons along with the extracellular matrix (1,3,4,8). BBBD secondary to ischemia or trauma leads to increases in endothelial caveolae and down-regulation of TJP, transcytosis of plasma proteins (i.e., albumin), and vasogenic edema (1,6,(8)(9)(10)(11).…”

“…pulsed focused ultrasound | microbubbles | blood-brain barrier | sterile inflammation | magnetic resonance imaging T he temporal proteomic profile in response to blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBD) consists of molecular features that are common across noninfectious insults such as ischemia, trauma, or autoimmune diseases (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). The main purpose of the bloodbrain barrier (BBB) is to maintain homeostasis, preventing the passive crossing of cells and molecules that could induce inflammation or damage to cells.…”

Endothelial depletion of murine SRF/MRTF provokes intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke

“…5E), may be regulated indirectly by SRF. Third, both tight junctions and adherens junctions derive mechanical strength by linkage to cytoskeletal actin microfilaments (5). Actin genes are prototypical SRF/MRTF target genes (8) and Actb RNA was downregulated in SRF knockdown mECs (Fig.…”