Engaging neuroscience to advance translational research in brain barrier biology

Nat Rev Neurosci. 2011 Mar;12(3):169-82. doi: 10.1038/nrn2995.

Abstract

The delivery of many potentially therapeutic and diagnostic compounds to specific areas of the brain is restricted by brain barriers, of which the most well known are the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. Recent studies have shown numerous additional roles of these barriers, including an involvement in neurodevelopment, in the control of cerebral blood flow, and--when barrier integrity is impaired--in the pathology of many common CNS disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / drug effects
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Humans
  • Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy
  • Nervous System Diseases / metabolism*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Neurosciences / methods
  • Neurosciences / trends*
  • Translational Research, Biomedical / methods
  • Translational Research, Biomedical / trends*

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents