Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
06:19
Reconstruction of the Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro to Model and Therapeutically Target Neurological Disease
Published on: October 20, 2023
Vascular matrix adhesion and the blood-brain barrier
G J Del Zoppo1, R Milner, T Mabuchi
1Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, MEM 132, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. grgdlzop@scripps.edu
Biochemical Society Transactions
|November 1, 2006
Summary
Matrix adhesion receptors are vital for maintaining the blood-brain barrier's integrity. Their modulation impacts barrier function during brain injury, highlighting their crucial role in cerebral microvasculature health.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The cerebral microvasculature's integrity relies on cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions.
- Matrix adhesion receptors, including integrins and dystroglycans, are present in the central nervous system on vascular, neuronal, and glial cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the functional significance of matrix adhesion receptors in the cerebral microvasculature.
- To investigate the role of these receptors in maintaining blood-brain barrier function and their alterations during brain injury.
Main Methods:
- The study focuses on the expression and localization of integrins and dystroglycans in cerebral microvessels, endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons.
- It examines changes in these receptors and their ligands during focal cerebral ischemia.
Main Results:
- Integrins and dystroglycans are expressed on endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons, playing a role in basal lamina formation and barrier function.
- Significant alterations in these receptors and matrix ligands are observed during focal cerebral ischemia.
Conclusions:
- Matrix adhesion receptors are essential for maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain permeability barrier.
- Modulation of these receptors contributes to blood-brain barrier dysfunction following brain injury.
Related Concept Videos
00:49The Blood-brain Barrier
Overview
01:25Physiological Barriers
Physiological barriers are semi-permeable cellular structures restricting drug diffusion into intracellular compartments and tissues. There are six types of physiological barriers: blood endothelial, cell membrane, blood-brain, blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood-placenta, and blood-testis barriers.
The blood endothelial barrier is the most porous of these. It allows all small ionized, un-ionized, and lipophilic molecules to pass through the endothelial lining into the interstitial space...
The blood endothelial barrier is the most porous of these. It allows all small ionized, un-ionized, and lipophilic molecules to pass through the endothelial lining into the interstitial space...
01:24Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions
The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...