Abstract
Recent work has contributed to understanding of the physiology of the brain endothelial cells forming the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and their interaction with the associated cells of the neurovascular unit (NVU) including pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, and neurons. Improved methods for monitoring the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid (ISF), and their interactions show that brain fluids work as an integrated homeostatic system, mediating and regulating the distribution of nutrients and other agents to the cells of the brain, and contributing to their clearance. There has been progress in molecular understanding of the mechanisms responsible for BBB integrity, especially the role and regulation of junctional proteins. The chapter also highlights that newer and complementary approaches will be developed to tackle disease states much earlier, ideally before significant neuronal cell death has occurred.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Blood-Brain Barrier in Drug Discovery: Optimizing Brain Exposure of CNS Drugs and Minimizing Brain Side Effects for Peripheral Drugs |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Pages | 567-579 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781118788523 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781118788356 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Jan 2015 |
Keywords
- Blood-brain barrier (BBB)
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Interstitial fluid (ISF)
- Neuronal cell death
- Neurovascular unit (NVU)