Pericytes regulate the blood–brain barrier

作者：Annika Armulik, Guillem Genové, Maarja Andaloussi Mäe, Maya H. Nisancioglu, Elisabet Wallgard, Colin Niaudet, Liqun He, Jenny Norlin, Per Henrik Lindblom, Karin Strittmatter, Bengt R. Johansson, Christer Betsholtz · 发表于：Nature · 年份：2010 · DOI：10.1038/nature09522 · 被引用次数：2895 · 研究领域：Barrier Structure and Function Studies、Caveolin-1 and cellular processes、Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms

The blood–brain barrier is a gatekeeper between the central nervous system and the rest of the body, and is made up of vascular endothelial cells. Previous work upheld the notion that the barrier was formed postnatally as a result of signalling from non-neuronal cells called astrocytes to endothelial cells. Now, two independent studies demonstrate that the barrier is in fact formed during embryogenesis, with the critical factor being the interaction between blood-vessel-surrounding cells called pericytes and epithelial cells. A better understanding of the tight relationship between pericytes, neuroendothelial cells and astrocytes in blood–brain barrier function will contribute to our understanding of the breakdown of the barrier during central nervous system injury and disease. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is made up of vascular endothelial cells and was thought to have formed postnatally from astrocytes. Two independent studies demonstrate that this barrier forms during embryogenesis, with pericyte/endothelial cell interactions being critical to regulate the BBB during development. A better understanding of the relationship among pericytes, neuroendothelial cells and astrocytes in BBB function will contribute to our understanding of BBB breakdown during central nervous system injury and disease. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) consists of specific physical barriers, enzymes and transporters, which together maintain the necessary extracellular environment of the central nervou...