The Blood Brain Barrier
CRACKING THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER
#Neuroscience
Today we are taking a close look at a 3D view of the blood-brain barrier (BBB)! This view allows us to clearly distinguish the human brain capillary endothelium (colored magenta) & it’s surrounding collagen matrix which contains human pericyte cells (seen as the brown projections). The BBB is the brain’s plumbing system that separates our peripheral blood circulation from our central nervous system (CNS). Tight junctions between the endothelial cells restrict paracellular diffusion of water-soluble substances from the blood to the brain, which means only specific substances & drugs are able to pass through this barrier! The brown pericyte cells & the BBB have recently been in the forefront of Alzheimer’s disease research. Since pericytes work with other BBB cells to transport nutrients & waste molecules between the blood & the interstitial brain fluid, new theories have suggested that the toxic effects of increased beta-amyloid protein deposition on pericytes in aged blood vessels may lead to a breakdown of the BBB & a reduced ability to clear amyloid protein from the brain. In turn, the progressive accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain & death of pericytes may become a damaging feedback loop that causes dementia. If true, then pericytes & other BBB cells may be new therapeutic targets for treating Alzheimer’s disease!
#MEDspiration
Written by Student Doctor: @medspired ©04/13/2016 All Rights Reserved.
Video Credit: @harvardmed & @wyssinstitute on Instagram
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This research on the BBB was published in the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM) on December 13, 2013.
(http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-r...)
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