The blood –brain barrier and its regulation by NF-κB

AbstractThe brain is protected by a  tight barrier between the blood and parenchyma. This so-called blood–brain barrier protects the brain from invading pathogens, infiltrating immune cells, and the extravasation of serum proteins. Beside pericytes and astrocytes mainly endothelial cells form this barrier.Inflammation leads to an increase in the permeability of the blood –brain barrier. NF-κB is activated during inflammation and is a key regulator of inflammatory processes. In brain endothelial cells NF-κB protects the blood–brain barrier. Loss of the NF-κB activating protein NEMO in brain endothelial cells leads to endothelial cell death, increased permeabi lity, and epilepsy in mice as well as in humans with the hereditary diseaseincontinentia pigmenti. Therefore, inflammatory mediators are able to disturb but also to protect the blood –brain barrier.

Source: e-Neuroforum - June 1, 2016 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research