Structure and Junctional Complexes of Endothelial, Epithelial and Glial Brain Barriers

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Mariana Castro Dias¹  JosephineA. Mapunda¹  Mykhailo Vladymyrov¹  Britta Engelhardt¹ 

[1] Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland;

关键词: brain barriers;    blood-brain barrier;    neurovascular unit;    blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier;    arachnoid barrier;    glia limitans;    tight junctions;    adherens junctions;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms20215372

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS) is ensured by the endothelial, epithelial, mesothelial and glial brain barriers, which strictly control the passage of molecules, solutes and immune cells. While the endothelial blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the epithelial blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) have been extensively investigated, less is known about the epithelial and mesothelial arachnoid barrier and the glia limitans. Here, we summarize current knowledge of the cellular composition of the brain barriers with a specific focus on describing the molecular constituents of their junctional complexes. We propose that the brain barriers maintain CNS immune privilege by dividing the CNS into compartments that differ with regard to their role in immune surveillance of the CNS. We close by providing a brief overview on experimental tools allowing for reliable in vivo visualization of the brain barriers and their junctional complexes and thus the respective CNS compartments.

【 授权许可】

Unknown