Morphofunctional aspects of the blood-brain barrier. 2012

Beatrice Nico, and Domenico Ribatti
Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari Medical School, Policlinico, Bari, Italy. nico@histology.uniba.it

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) selectively controls the homeostasis of the Central Nervous System (CNS) environment by the specific structural and biochemical features of the endothelial cells, pericytes and glial endfeet, which represent the cellular components of the mature BBB. Endothelial tight junctions (TJs) are the most important structural component of the BBB, and molecular alteration in the phosphorylation state of some TJs proteins, like ZO-1 or occludin, are crucial in determining alterations in the control of BBB vascular permeability. Astrocytes endfeet enveloping the vessels wall, are considered important in the induction and maintenance of the BBB, through secretion of soluble factors, which modulate the expression of enzymatic complexes and antigens by endothelial cells and TJs - associated proteins. Moreover, astrocytes control water flux at BBB site by expressing a specific water channel, namely aquaporin-4 (AQP4), involved in the molecular composition of the orthogonal particles arrays (OAPs) on the perivascular glial endfeet and tightly coupled with the maintenance of the BBB integrity. Disruption of the BBB is a consistent event occurring in the development of several CNS diseases, including demyelinating lesions in the course of relapsing multiple sclerosis, stroke, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but also mechanical injures, neurological insults, septic encephalopathy, brain tumors, permanent ischemia or transient ischemia followed by reperfusion. In most cases, these pathological conditions are associated with an increase in microvascular permeability, vasogenic edema, swollen atrocyte endfeet, and BBB disruption.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D001812 Blood-Brain Barrier Specialized non-fenestrated tightly-joined ENDOTHELIAL CELLS with TIGHT JUNCTIONS that form a transport barrier for certain substances between the cerebral capillaries and the BRAIN tissue. Brain-Blood Barrier,Hemato-Encephalic Barrier,Barrier, Blood-Brain,Barrier, Brain-Blood,Barrier, Hemato-Encephalic,Barriers, Blood-Brain,Barriers, Brain-Blood,Barriers, Hemato-Encephalic,Blood Brain Barrier,Blood-Brain Barriers,Brain Blood Barrier,Brain-Blood Barriers,Hemato Encephalic Barrier,Hemato-Encephalic Barriers
D002199 Capillary Permeability The property of blood capillary ENDOTHELIUM that allows for the selective exchange of substances between the blood and surrounding tissues and through membranous barriers such as the BLOOD-AIR BARRIER; BLOOD-AQUEOUS BARRIER; BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER; BLOOD-NERVE BARRIER; BLOOD-RETINAL BARRIER; and BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER. Small lipid-soluble molecules such as carbon dioxide and oxygen move freely by diffusion. Water and water-soluble molecules cannot pass through the endothelial walls and are dependent on microscopic pores. These pores show narrow areas (TIGHT JUNCTIONS) which may limit large molecule movement. Microvascular Permeability,Permeability, Capillary,Permeability, Microvascular,Vascular Permeability,Capillary Permeabilities,Microvascular Permeabilities,Permeabilities, Capillary,Permeabilities, Microvascular,Permeabilities, Vascular,Permeability, Vascular,Vascular Permeabilities
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001253 Astrocytes A class of large neuroglial (macroglial) cells in the central nervous system - the largest and most numerous neuroglial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes (from "star" cells) are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those with "end feet" which form the glial (limiting) membrane and directly and indirectly contribute to the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and "reactive astrocytes" (along with MICROGLIA) respond to injury. Astroglia,Astroglia Cells,Astroglial Cells,Astrocyte,Astroglia Cell,Astroglial Cell,Astroglias,Cell, Astroglia,Cell, Astroglial
D042783 Endothelial Cells Highly specialized EPITHELIAL CELLS that line the HEART; BLOOD VESSELS; and lymph vessels, forming the ENDOTHELIUM. They are polygonal in shape and joined together by TIGHT JUNCTIONS. The tight junctions allow for variable permeability to specific macromolecules that are transported across the endothelial layer. Capillary Endothelial Cells,Lymphatic Endothelial Cells,Vascular Endothelial Cells,Capillary Endothelial Cell,Cell, Capillary Endothelial,Cell, Endothelial,Cell, Lymphatic Endothelial,Cell, Vascular Endothelial,Cells, Capillary Endothelial,Cells, Endothelial,Cells, Lymphatic Endothelial,Cells, Vascular Endothelial,Endothelial Cell,Endothelial Cell, Capillary,Endothelial Cell, Lymphatic,Endothelial Cell, Vascular,Endothelial Cells, Capillary,Endothelial Cells, Lymphatic,Endothelial Cells, Vascular,Lymphatic Endothelial Cell,Vascular Endothelial Cell
D019108 Tight Junctions Cell-cell junctions that seal adjacent epithelial cells together, preventing the passage of most dissolved molecules from one side of the epithelial sheet to the other. (Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, p22) Occluding Junctions,Zonula Occludens,Junction, Occluding,Junction, Tight,Junctions, Occluding,Junctions, Tight,Occluden, Zonula,Occludens, Zonula,Occluding Junction,Tight Junction,Zonula Occluden
D020286 Pericytes Unique slender cells with multiple processes extending along the capillary vessel axis and encircling the vascular wall, also called mural cells. Pericytes are imbedded in the BASEMENT MEMBRANE shared with the ENDOTHELIAL CELLS of the vessel. Pericytes are important in maintaining vessel integrity, angiogenesis, and vascular remodeling. Rouget Cells,Cells, Rouget,Pericyte

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