TY - JOUR
T1 - In Vivo Targeting of the Neurovascular Unit
T2 - Challenges and Advancements
AU - Naranjo, Oandy
AU - Osborne, Olivia
AU - Torices, Silvia
AU - Toborek, Michal
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Grants MH122235, MH072567, HL126559, DA044579, DA039576, DA040537, DA050528, and DA047157 and by the NSC Grant 2019/35/B/NZ7/03155. Dr. Torices was supported by an American Heart Association (AHA) postdoctoral fellowship (20POST35211181).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is essential for the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Functions of the BBB are performed by the neurovascular unit (NVU), which consists of endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, basement membrane, and neurons. NVU cells interact closely and together are responsible for neurovascular coupling, BBB integrity, and transendothelial fluid transport. Studies have shown that NVU dysfunction is implicated in several acute and chronic neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The mechanisms of NVU disruption remain poorly understood, partially due to difficulties in selective targeting of NVU cells. In this review, we discuss the relative merits of available protein markers and drivers of the NVU along with recent advancements that have been made in the field to increase efficiency and specificity of NVU research.
AB - The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is essential for the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Functions of the BBB are performed by the neurovascular unit (NVU), which consists of endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, basement membrane, and neurons. NVU cells interact closely and together are responsible for neurovascular coupling, BBB integrity, and transendothelial fluid transport. Studies have shown that NVU dysfunction is implicated in several acute and chronic neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The mechanisms of NVU disruption remain poorly understood, partially due to difficulties in selective targeting of NVU cells. In this review, we discuss the relative merits of available protein markers and drivers of the NVU along with recent advancements that have been made in the field to increase efficiency and specificity of NVU research.
KW - Blood–brain barrier
KW - Cre mouse models
KW - Imaging
KW - Neurovascular unit
KW - Protein expression
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U2 - 10.1007/s10571-021-01113-3
DO - 10.1007/s10571-021-01113-3
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85107491974
JO - Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
JF - Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
SN - 0272-4340
ER -