TY - JOUR
T1 - The "Frail" Brain Blood Barrier in Neurodegenerative Diseases
T2 - Role of Early Disruption of Endothelial Cell-to-Cell Connections
AU - Maiuolo, Jessica
AU - Gliozzi, Micaela
AU - Musolino, Vincenzo
AU - Scicchitano, Miriam
AU - Carresi, Cristina
AU - Scarano, Federica
AU - Bosco, Francesca
AU - Nucera, Saverio
AU - Ruga, Stefano
AU - Zito, Maria Caterina
AU - Mollace, Rocco
AU - Palma, Ernesto
AU - Fini, Massimo
AU - Muscoli, Carolina
AU - Mollace, Vincenzo
PY - 2018/9/10
Y1 - 2018/9/10
N2 - The main neurovascular unit of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) consists of a cellular component, which includes endothelial cells, astrocytes, pericytes, microglia, neurons, and oligodendrocytes as well as a non-cellular component resulting from the extracellular matrix. The endothelial cells are the major vital components of the BBB able to preserve the brain homeostasis. These cells are situated along the demarcation line between the bloodstream and the brain. Therefore, an alteration or the progressive disruption of the endothelial layer may clearly impair the brain homeostasis. The proper functioning of the brain endothelial cells is generally ensured by two elements: (1) the presence of junction proteins and (2) the preservation of a specific polarity involving an apical-luminal and a basolateral-abluminal membrane. This review intends to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying BBB function and their changes occurring in early stages of neurodegenerative processes in order to develop novel therapeutic strategies aimed to counteract neurodegenerative disorders.
AB - The main neurovascular unit of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) consists of a cellular component, which includes endothelial cells, astrocytes, pericytes, microglia, neurons, and oligodendrocytes as well as a non-cellular component resulting from the extracellular matrix. The endothelial cells are the major vital components of the BBB able to preserve the brain homeostasis. These cells are situated along the demarcation line between the bloodstream and the brain. Therefore, an alteration or the progressive disruption of the endothelial layer may clearly impair the brain homeostasis. The proper functioning of the brain endothelial cells is generally ensured by two elements: (1) the presence of junction proteins and (2) the preservation of a specific polarity involving an apical-luminal and a basolateral-abluminal membrane. This review intends to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying BBB function and their changes occurring in early stages of neurodegenerative processes in order to develop novel therapeutic strategies aimed to counteract neurodegenerative disorders.
KW - Blood-Brain Barrier/cytology
KW - Cell Communication
KW - Cell Polarity
KW - Endothelial Cells/cytology
KW - Humans
KW - Intercellular Junctions/metabolism
KW - Membrane Proteins/metabolism
KW - Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism
U2 - 10.3390/ijms19092693
DO - 10.3390/ijms19092693
M3 - Review article
C2 - 30201915
VL - 19
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
SN - 1661-6596
IS - 9
ER -