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Published on: September 28, 2010
Regulation of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Circadian Rhythms and Sleep
Vishnu Anand Cuddapah1, Shirley L Zhang2, Amita Sehgal2
1Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, Chronobiology Program, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an evolutionarily conserved, structural, and functional separation between circulating blood and the central nervous system (CNS). By controlling permeability into and out of the nervous system, the BBB has a critical role in the precise regulation of neural processes. Here, we review recent studies demonstrating that permeability at the BBB is dynamically controlled by circadian rhythms and sleep. An endogenous circadian rhythm in the BBB controls transporter function, regulating permeability across the BBB. In addition, sleep promotes the clearance of metabolites along the BBB, as well as endocytosis across the BBB. Finally, we highlight the implications of this regulation for diseases, including epilepsy.
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