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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

In Vitro Assays to Assess Blood-brain Barrier Mesh-like Vessel Formation and Disruption
Published on: June 20, 2017
Vascular-Apoptotic Crosstalk in Alzheimer's Disease: The Possible Role of Vascular Senescence in Blood-Brain Barrier
Carlangelo Carrese1, Chiara Giuseppina Bonomi1, Francesca Bernocchi1
1Memory Clinic and Neurodegenerative Dementia Research Unit, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
Background:
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is an early feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), influenced by amyloid pathology, astrocyte activation, and vasoactive mediators such as endothelin-1 (ET-1). ET-1 has been implicated in apoptosis and vascular senescence through induction of p53, a pro-apoptotic factor, whereas BCL-X exerts antiapoptotic effects. We investigated the interplay between ET-1, p53, and BCL-X in AD and their contribution to BBB permeability.
Methods:
We studied 101 individuals (70 AD, 31 controls) who underwent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis for Aβ42, p-tau, ET-1, p53, BCL-X, and the CSF/serum albumin quotient (QAlb), an index of BBB permeability. Correlations between biomarkers were explored, followed by multiple regression and mediation analysis to assess whether p53 mediated the ET-1-BBB relationship.
Results:
No absolute differences in ET-1, p53, or BCL-X were found between AD and controls. However, in AD, ET-1 correlated positively with p53 and negatively with BCL-X, whereas no such associations were seen in controls. None of these biomarkers related to the p-tau/Aβ42 ratio. Regression analysis identified both ET-1 and p53 as independent predictors of BBB permeability. Mediation analysis further revealed that ET-1 influenced BBB permeability both directly and indirectly through p53.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that AD is characterized less by absolute biomarker changes and more by altered interrelationships linking ET-1, apoptosis, and BBB integrity. ET-1 may promote BBB dysfunction partly via p53, which is consistent with the mechanisms of vascular senescence. These results highlight apoptosis-vascular interactions as potential drivers of BBB impairment in AD.
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