Article
Neurosciences
Jiru Zhou, Peiwen Guo, Mingxu Duan, Junhan Li, Xufang Ru, Lin Li, Zongduo Guo, John H. Zhang, Hua Feng, Yujie Chen, Xiaochuan Sun
Summary: Stressed astrocytes may serve as a secondary barrier to protect against brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and strategies for maintaining this barrier may be beneficial in alleviating early brain injury.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Weijun Wang, Nagore Marin-Ramos, Haiping He, Shan Zeng, Hee-Yeon Cho, Stephen D. Swenson, Long Zheng, Alan L. Epstein, Axel H. Schonthal, Florence M. Hofman, Ligang Chen, Thomas C. Chen
Summary: NEO100 was found to safely and reversibly open the BBB, allowing for increased brain entry of various therapeutics in both in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistic studies revealed its effects on different BBB transport pathways and the translocation of tight junction proteins in brain endothelial cells. This approach has the potential to provide a safe and widely available method to enhance brain entry of therapeutics.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Steven T. Proulx, Britta Engelhardt
Summary: The central nervous system maintains a unique relationship with the immune system through brain barriers, allowing for immune surveillance and protection of neural tissue without activating immune responses unless direct injury occurs.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Dylan Krajewski, Debayon Paul, Shujun Ge, Evan Jellison, Joel S. Pachter
Summary: In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), claudin-5 (CLN-5) was found on leukocytes in the blood and central nervous system (CNS), potentially facilitating leukocyte transendothelial migration (TEM) across the blood-brain barrier. Flow cytometry analysis showed CLN-5(+) populations among various leukocyte subtypes, with higher levels in CNS tissue than in blood, suggesting preferential access to the CNS. This novel mechanism may guide leukocytes to sites for diapedesis across the BBB.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Melanie E. M. Stamp, Michael Halwes, David Nisbet, David J. Collins
Summary: The blood-brain barrier is a selectively permeable membrane that protects neural tissue from harmful substances but also limits drug delivery to the brain. Physical approaches such as focused ultrasound have shown promise in disrupting the blood-brain barrier temporarily and locally, allowing drugs to enter specific regions of the brain. However, the safety, efficacy, and practicality of these physical approaches for clinical use are still being researched.
FLUIDS AND BARRIERS OF THE CNS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
A. Ben-Zvi, S. Liebner
Summary: The blood-brain barrier is crucial for maintaining tissue homeostasis in the central nervous system, achieved by microvascular endothelial cells forming a tight barrier that restricts the entry of water-soluble molecules. The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway plays a significant role in the development of these unique endothelial properties.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Valentina Castagnola, Lieselot Deleye, Alice Podesta, Edra Jaho, Fabrizio Loiacono, Doriana Debellis, Martina Trevisani, Dinu Zinovie Ciobanu, Andrea Armirotti, Francesco Pisani, Emmanuel Flahaut, Ester Vazquez, Mattia Bramini, Fabrizia Cesca, Fabio Benfenati
Summary: Due to their biocompatibility and high cargo capability, graphene-based materials are considered as an ideal brain delivery system. In this study, we used two in vitro models to investigate the interactions between graphene oxide and few-layer graphene with the blood-brain barrier. Our results show that the two graphene materials have good biocompatibility and do not significantly affect the integrity and functionality of the barrier, but their translocation across the barrier is rare.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
America Vera-Montecinos, Jordi Galiano-Landeira, Monica Roldan, Francisco Vidal-Domenech, Enrique Claro, Belen Ramos
Summary: METTL7A is mainly located in the endoplasmic reticulum and lipid droplets, with limited cellular expression in the brain. Reduced protein levels of METTL7A have been found in schizophrenia. Our study shows that METTL7A is highly expressed in Bergmann glia and has contacts with Purkinje neurons. The localization of METTL7A may play a role in maintaining cerebellar homeostasis and modulating cerebellar circuits.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Ece Bayir, Aylin Sendemir
Summary: The blood-brain barrier is a highly selective cellular monolayer unique to the central nervous system microvasculature, mediating communication with the body by regulating the passage of molecules. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of intermediate filaments in the formation and function of cell-cell junctions, particularly vimentin in endothelial cells. Intermediate filaments may have been overlooked as key targets in regulating blood-brain barrier permeability in health and disease.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Lars Winkler, Rosel Blasig, Olga Breitkreuz-Korff, Philipp Berndt, Sophie Dithmer, Hans C. Helms, Dmytro Puchkov, Kavi Devraj, Mehmet Kaya, Zhihai Qin, Stefan Liebner, Hartwig Wolburg, Anuska Andjelkovic, Andre Rex, Ingolf E. Blasig, Reiner F. Haseloff
Summary: The study shows that Cldn3 and occludin play a protective role in the stroke by maintaining the integrity of TJ and BBB, but also contribute to the development of edema and infarction.
JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Federico Saltarin, Adrian Wegmuller, Leire Bejarano, Ece Su Ildiz, Pascale Zwicky, Andrej Vianin, Florentin Spadin, Klara Soukup, Vladimir Wischnewski, Britta Engelhardt, Urban Deutsch, Ines J. Marques, Martin Frenz, Johanna A. Joyce, Ruth Lyck
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying melanoma cell extravasation across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to prevent brain metastasis formation. They found that melanoma cells exclusively use the junctional pathway to intercalate into the BBB and that proteases play a crucial role in this process. The compromised BBB barrier properties were shown to facilitate melanoma cell extravasation both in vitro and in vivo. Preserving BBB integrity is an important measure to limit the formation of melanoma-brain metastasis.
Article
Neurosciences
Shanshan Zhang, Lin Gan, Fengye Cao, Hao Wang, Peng Gong, Congcong Ma, Li Ren, Yubo Lin, Xianming Lin
Summary: This review provides an overview of the three barriers formed between the cerebrovascular and the brain parenchyma, focusing on the composition and function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It discusses the limitations of the BBB for drug delivery and explores potential strategies for improving CNS drug delivery.
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Erik Axel Andersson, Eridan Rocha-Ferreira, Henrik Hagberg, Carina Mallard, Carl Joakim Ek
Summary: The study investigated the impact of GMH on the BBB using a rat model, showing that GMH causes temporary dysfunction in the BBB that normalizes within 5 days. Tight-junction proteins were identified as potential biomarkers for GMH.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Guoliang Zhang, Xiangfei Liu, Weichang Xie, Can Hong, Yingying Xu, Wei Zhang, Siyu Zhao, Hongbo Xin, Xiaolei Wang
Summary: A study explored the use of beard nanoscale particles (BNPs) derived from young Asian males to load antidepressants and demonstrated therapeutic effects on depression. BNPs showed favorable photothermal conversion capability, prominent BBB permeability under near-infrared irradiation, reliable biocompatibility, and a pivotal role in redox equilibrium for scavenging ROS induced by depression. Additionally, behavioral and biochemical experiments confirmed significant depression-ameliorating effects in vivo.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Xiaoshu Chen, Xinru Pang, Abrey J. Yeo, Siwen Xie, Mengting Xiang, Bin Shi, Gongchang Yu, Chao Li
Summary: The blood-brain barrier is an important protective barrier of the central nervous system that prevents harmful substances from entering. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier is an early sign of nervous system diseases. Recent studies have focused on ferroptosis, a novel cell death mode caused by iron-mediated lipid peroxidation accumulation, and its potential role in blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Understanding the relationship between ferroptosis and blood-brain barrier dysfunction may lead to new treatment targets for brain diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)