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Control of brain endothelial permeability.
1Physiology Group, Biomedical Sciences Division, King's College, London, United Kingdom.
Cerebrovascular and Brain Metabolism Reviews
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Brain endothelial cells form a tight barrier, regulating what enters the brain. This blood-brain barrier permeability is influenced by cell shape and inflammation, offering potential physiological advantages.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- The brain microvasculature endothelium exhibits exceptionally low permeability compared to other body regions.
- This unique characteristic is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the central nervous system.
- Astrocytic glial cells are implicated in establishing and maintaining this low permeability state.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the factors influencing brain endothelial permeability.
- To understand the mechanisms behind the tight junctions in the blood-brain barrier.
- To compare brain endothelium with other barrier systems like the blood-nerve barrier.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on endothelial permeability.
- Analysis of factors affecting transendothelial transport routes.
- Comparison of brain endothelium with peripheral nerve perineurium.
Main Results:
- Brain endothelium has limited transendothelial transfer routes, resulting in low permeability.
- Permeability is largely unaffected by hypoxia or plasma ion changes but is increased by cell stretch/shrinkage and inflammatory mediators.
- Increased permeability is linked to elevated intracellular calcium and contractile events disrupting tight junctions.
Conclusions:
- Brain endothelial barrier function is modulated by mechanical stress and inflammatory signals.
- Mechanisms involving intracellular calcium appear central to permeability changes.
- Understanding these modulations may reveal physiological advantages in pathological conditions.