Junctional proteins of the blood-brain barrier: New insights into function and dysfunction

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly complex and dynamic barrier. It is formed by an interdependent network of brain capillary endothelial cells, endowed with barrier properties, and perivascular cells (astrocytes and pericytes) responsible for inducing and maintaining those properties. One of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tissue barriers 2016-01, Vol.4 (1), p.e1154641-e1154641
Main Authors: Stamatovic, Svetlana M, Johnson, Allison M, Keep, Richard F, Andjelkovic, Anuska V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
actin cytoskeleton
adherens junction
Animals
Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism
brain endothelial cells
Capillary Permeability
cell-cell contact
gap junction
Humans
Mutation
Protein Processing, Post-Translational
Review
tight junction
Tight Junction Proteins - chemistry
Tight Junction Proteins - genetics
Tight Junction Proteins - metabolism
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Summary:The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly complex and dynamic barrier. It is formed by an interdependent network of brain capillary endothelial cells, endowed with barrier properties, and perivascular cells (astrocytes and pericytes) responsible for inducing and maintaining those properties. One of the primary properties of the BBB is a strict regulation of paracellular permeability due to the presence of junctional complexes (tight, adherens and gap junctions) between the endothelial cells. Alterations in junction assembly and function significantly affect BBB properties, particularly barrier permeability. However, such alterations are also involved in remodeling the brain endothelial cell surface and regulating brain endothelial cell phenotype. This review summarizes the characteristics of brain endothelial tight, adherens and gap junctions and highlights structural and functional alterations in junctional proteins that may contribute to BBB dysfunction.
ISSN:2168-8362
2168-8370
2168-8370
DOI:10.1080/21688370.2016.1154641