Topic
Blood–brain barrier
About: Blood–brain barrier is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10705 publications have been published within this topic receiving 582325 citations. The topic is also known as: BBB & blood brain barrier.
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TL;DR: Specific interactions between the brain endothelium, astrocytes and neurons that may regulate blood–brain barrier function are explored to lead to the development of new protective and restorative therapies.
Abstract: The blood-brain barrier, which is formed by the endothelial cells that line cerebral microvessels, has an important role in maintaining a precisely regulated microenvironment for reliable neuronal signalling. At present, there is great interest in the association of brain microvessels, astrocytes and neurons to form functional 'neurovascular units', and recent studies have highlighted the importance of brain endothelial cells in this modular organization. Here, we explore specific interactions between the brain endothelium, astrocytes and neurons that may regulate blood-brain barrier function. An understanding of how these interactions are disturbed in pathological conditions could lead to the development of new protective and restorative therapies.
4,578 citations
TL;DR: Using in vivo two-photon imaging in neocortex, it is found that microglial cells are highly active in their presumed resting state, continually surveying their microenvironment with extremely motile processes and protrusions.
Abstract: Microglial cells represent the immune system of the mammalian brain and therefore are critically involved in various injuries and diseases. Little is known about their role in the healthy brain and their immediate reaction to brain damage. By using in vivo two-photon imaging in neocortex, we found that microglial cells are highly active in their presumed resting state, continually surveying their microenvironment with extremely motile processes and protrusions. Furthermore, blood-brain barrier disruption provoked immediate and focal activation of microglia, switching their behavior from patroling to shielding of the injured site. Microglia thus are busy and vigilant housekeepers in the adult brain.
4,458 citations
TL;DR: The structure and function of the BBB is summarised, the physical barrier formed by the endothelial tight junctions, and the transport barrier resulting from membrane transporters and vesicular mechanisms are described.
3,783 citations
TL;DR: These findings support developments of new therapeutic approaches for chronic neurodegenerative disorders directed at the blood-brain barrier and other nonneuronal cells of the neurovascular unit.
2,797 citations
TL;DR: These findings localize, at a fine structural level, a "barrier" to the passage of peroxidase at the endothelium of vessels in the cerebral cortex in mice, particularly with reference to a recent study in which similar techniques were applied to capillaries in heart and skeletal muscle.
Abstract: Horseradish peroxidase was administered to mice by intravenous injection, and its distribution in cerebral cortex studied with a recently available technique for localizing peroxidase with the electron microscope. Brains were fixed by either immersion or vascular perfusion 10–60 min after administration of various doses of peroxidase. Exogenous peroxidase was localized in the lumina of blood vessels and in some micropinocytotic vesicles within endothelial cells; none was found beyond the vascular endothelium. Micropinocytotic vesicles were few in number and did not appear to transport peroxidase while tight junctions between endothelial cells were probably responsible for preventing its intercellular passage. Our findings therefore localize, at a fine structural level, a "barrier" to the passage of peroxidase at the endothelium of vessels in the cerebral cortex. The significance of these findings is discussed, particularly with reference to a recent study in which similar techniques were applied to capillaries in heart and skeletal muscle.
2,476 citations