炎症小体在机体血脑屏障损伤中的作用机制研究进展

血脑屏障(blood-brain barrier,BBB)是一种天然的结构和功能屏障,可抑制病原体的进入并严格控制分子进入脑实质,完整的血脑屏障对于维持中枢神经系统内稳态至关重要。这一屏障功能是由特殊的多细胞结构决定的,每一种组成的细胞类型对血脑屏障的完整性都有不可或缺的贡献。炎症小体(inflammasome)是先天免疫系统最重要的组成部分之一,是一种多蛋白复合体。当病原侵入或机体产生过度免疫反应时,能够激活炎症小体并介导大量细胞因子以及趋化因子分泌。细胞因子及趋化因子表达上调会引起血脑屏障破坏,导致病原突破血脑屏障进入中枢神经系统,引发机体各种脑内疾病。本文就感染性疾病与非感染性疾病这两种情况下,对炎症小体介导机体血脑屏障的损伤进行综述,并列举了当前针对血脑屏障损伤的不同修复方式。     

血脑屏障体外模型研究进展

脑毛细血管上的特殊结构单元为大脑提供氧气和养分,与此同时形成一种限制性屏障,称为血脑屏障(BBB),该结构单元由单层脑微血管内皮细胞构成,内皮细胞外侧的周细胞、基膜以及星形胶质细胞的足突也参与了血脑屏障的形成.血脑屏障是一种选择性渗透屏障,大多数中枢神经系统候选药物在血脑屏障中的渗透性差,用实验动物进行药物筛选具有成本高、周期长、成功率低等缺点.此外,直接在人体中试验有违道德伦理,但建立可靠的体外血脑屏障模型可以简化实验过程、缩短试验周期、实验结果更易测定,因此建立体外BBB模型可以极大地加快中枢神经系统药物的研发.目前已研究的模型主要可以分为3类:单培养、共培养、三培养,这些模型由简单到复杂,与体内血脑屏障的相似性也越来越高.本文就目前现有的血脑屏障模型进行综述,以期未来在体外BBB模型设计中有新的思路.     

超声联合微泡介导血脑屏障开放及其在中枢神经系统疾病治疗中的作用

血脑屏障(blood-brain barrier, BBB)是一种介于外周循环系统与中枢神经系统之间的动态结构,起着守门员的作用,在维持机体内环境稳定的同时也阻碍了大多数治疗性药物进入大脑。聚焦超声联合微泡以非侵入的方式瞬时、局部可逆开放BBB,有利于药物分子的跨脑转运和中枢神经系统疾病的多功能诊疗。该文详细介绍了血脑屏障的结构、功能以及超声与微泡的发展历程,对聚焦超声联合微泡开放BBB的潜在机制、影响因素以及在脑部疾病中的最新研究进展进行了总结,并对其在临床实践中的应用前景进行了展望。     

小鼠肠道微生物群对血脑屏障通透性的影响

血脑屏障可控制循环系统和脑之间的物质进出及分子、营养物质交换,保障了中枢神经系统内环境的稳定。完善的血脑屏障是脑发育和功能的关键。但血脑屏障通透性改变的确切机制尚不清楚。近期,瑞典卡罗林斯卡学院的Braniste等研究者提出血脑屏障通透性可能受小鼠肠道微生物群的影响。紧密连接蛋白Occludin及Claudin-5在上皮组织调节屏障功能。研究人员将胚期的无菌的小鼠和携带有正常肠道菌群的     

血脑屏障上的药物转运体P-糖蛋白

血脑屏障(Blood-brain Barrier,简称BBB)是维护脑内环境稳态的重要功能单位,它不仅可以阻止血液中的有害物质进入脑组织,而且能够清除脑内的有毒代谢产物。BBB上表达的转运系统在积极转运营养物质入脑和选择性外排药物的两个方面均发挥了重要作用。其中P-糖蛋白由于自身结构功能的特异性和作用底物的广泛性而备受关注。本文主要论述了BBB上P-糖蛋白的特性、表达、转运底物及其体内外研究的进展情况。P-糖蛋白作为BBB的重要组成部分在中枢神经系统治疗药物的摄取、分布和排泄中发挥了越来越重要的作用。因此,对P-糖蛋白的研究将有助于阐明药物脑部转运机制,为增加药物的BBB通透性、提高脑内靶点药物浓度提供新的研究思路。     

血脑屏障的研究进展

血脑屏障精密控制血液与脑组织的物质交换,对维持脑内微环境的稳定至关重要。血脑屏障是脑内的毛细血管内皮细胞彼此紧密相连,同时与周围的周细胞和星形胶质细胞相互作用形成的屏障系统。组成血脑屏障的细胞通过表达紧密和黏附连接蛋白、转运体、及相关信号分子,调节血脑屏障的发育和功能。神经元和小胶质细胞在生理和病理状态下也参与血脑屏障的功能调节。近年来研究显示,多种神经系统疾病的发生与发展,都伴随着血脑屏障结构和功能的破坏。因此,对血脑屏障的研究,将深化对神经-血管相互作用的认识,为神经系统疾病的诊疗提供重要的理论依据。本文概要总结血脑屏障的研究现状和进展,并对未来发展作出展望。     

炎症介质在高原暴露下血脑屏障通透性改变中的作用及相互关系

目的:探讨炎症介质在高原暴露下血脑屏障通透性改变中的作用及与脑含水量的关系。方法:应用放射免疫法测定脑组织内TNFα、ET含量,化学法测定脑内NO含量,应用伊文思蓝(EB)透过率测定血脑屏障(BBB)通透性,脑湿干比重法测定脑含水量百分率。结果:高原暴露下,大鼠脑内TNFα、ET、NO含量随着海拔增高而逐渐增高,随着暴露时间延长而逐渐增高,以暴露于5000m的高海拔区第9d增高最明显。与此同时,脑内EB含量和脑内含水量逐渐增高。脑内TNFα、ET、NO含量与脑含水量之间有明显的正相关关系。结论:TNFα、ET、NO在BBB通透性增高中起了重要作用,是高原环境下BBB通透性增高的重要因素。     

模式动物斑马鱼在组织屏障发育及功能研究中的进展

斑马鱼作为一种新型的模式动物,以其独特的优势,已经成为现代遗传学、发育生物学等研究的重要模式生物。与人类及其他高等脊椎动物相似,斑马鱼同样具有不同的组织屏障系统。近年来,此领域的研究者利用斑马鱼对血脑屏障等组织屏障的研究取得了重要的进展。这对揭示诸多生理屏障相关的人类疾病的发病机制,以及探讨通过调控组织屏障通透性来达到药物有效投递的可行性等研究具有重要的启示作用。本文将介绍近年来斑马鱼作为模式动物在血脑屏障、血-视网膜屏障、皮肤表皮屏障、肠黏膜上皮屏障等组织屏障发育和功能研究中的最新进展。     

血脑屏障的研究进展北大核心CSCD

血脑屏障精密控制血液与脑组织的物质交换,对维持脑内微环境的稳定至关重要。血脑屏障是脑内的毛细血管内皮细胞彼此紧密相连,同时与周围的周细胞和星形胶质细胞相互作用形成的屏障系统。组成血脑屏障的细胞通过表达紧密和黏附连接蛋白、转运体、及相关信号分子,调节血脑屏障的发育和功能。神经元和小胶质细胞在生理和病理状态下也参与血脑屏障的功能调节。近年来研究显示,多种神经系统疾病的发生与发展,都伴随着血脑屏障结构和功能的破坏。因此,对血脑屏障的研究,将深化对神经-血管相互作用的认识,为神经系统疾病的诊疗提供重要的理论依据。本文概要总结血脑屏障的研究现状和进展,并对未来发展作出展望。     

JCI:血脑屏障突破允许递送药物治疗脑病和癌症

正在最近发表于《Journal of Clinical Investigation》期刊的研究中,康奈尔大学研究人员发现一种穿透血脑屏障(BBB)的新方法,可能很快允许递送药物直接进入大脑以治疗疾病,比如阿尔茨海默氏病和化疗耐药癌症。血脑屏障是一层内皮细胞,选择性允许大脑功能所需的分子进入(大脑),比如氨基酸、氧气、葡萄糖和水,同时将其他物质排除在外。     

In vivo monitoring blood‐brain barrier permeability using spectral imaging through optical clearing skull window

The blood‐brain barrier (BBB) plays a key role in the health of the central nervous system. Opening the BBB is very important for drug delivery to brain tissues to enhance the therapeutic effect on brain diseases. It is necessary to in vivo monitor the BBB permeability for assessing drug release with high resolution; however, an effective method is lacking. In this work, we developed a new method that combined spectral imaging with an optical clearing skull window to in vivo dynamically monitor BBB opening caused by 5‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA)‐mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT), in which the Evans blue dye (EBd) acted as an indicator of the BBB permeability. Using this method, we effectively monitored the cerebrovascular EBd leakage process. Moreover, the analysis of changes in the vascular and extravascular EBd concentrations demonstrated that the PDT‐induced BBB opening exhibited spatiotemporal differences in the cortex. This spectral imaging method based on the optical clearing skull window provides a low‐cost and simply operated tool for in vivo monitoring BBB opening process. This has a high potential for the visualization of drug delivery to the central nervous system. Thus, it is of tremendous significance in brain disease therapy. Monitoring the changes in PDT‐induced BBB permeability by evaluating the EBd concentration using an optical clearing skull window. (A) Entire brains and coronal sections following treatment of PDT with/without an optical clearing skull window after injection of EBd. (B) Typical EBd distribution maps before and after laser irradiation captured by the spectral imaging method. (Colorbar represents the EBd concentration).      

P-Glycoprotein Mediated Efflux Limits the Transport of the Novel Anti-Parkinson's Disease Candidate Drug FLZ across the Physiological and PD Pathological In Vitro BBB Models

FLZ, a novel anti-Parkinson''s disease (PD) candidate drug, has shown poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration based on the pharmacokinetic study using rat brain. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) are two important transporters obstructing substrates entry into the CNS as well as in relation to PD neuropathology. However, it is unclear whether P-gp and BCRP are involved in low BBB permeability of FLZ and what the differences of FLZ brain penetration are between normal and Parkinson''s conditions. For this purpose, in vitro BBB models mimicking physiological and PD pathological-related BBB properties were constructed by C6 astroglial cells co-cultured with primary normal or PD rat cerebral microvessel endothelial cells (rCMECs) and in vitro permeability experiments of FLZ were carried out. High transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and low permeability for sodium fluorescein (NaF) confirmed the BBB functionality of the two models. Significantly greater expressions of P-gp and BCRP were detected in PD rCMECs associated with the lower in vitro BBB permeability of FLZ in pathological BBB model compared with physiological model. In transport studies only P-gp blocker effectively inhibited the efflux of FLZ, which was consistent with the in vivo permeability data. This result was also confirmed by ATPase assays, suggesting FLZ is a substrate for P-gp but not BCRP. The present study first established in vitro BBB models reproducing PD-related changes of BBB functions in vivo and demonstrated that poor brain penetration of FLZ and low BBB permeability were due to the P-gp transport.     

Mouse models of neurological disorders: A view from the blood–brain barrier

The number of disease models that involve an aspect of blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysregulation have increased tremendously. The main factors contributing to this expansion have been an increased number of diseases in which the BBB is known to be involved, an increase in the known functions of the BBB, and an increase in the number of models and tools with which those diverse functions can be studied. In many cases, the BBB may be a target of disease; current thinking would include hypertensive encephalopathy and perhaps stroke in this category. Another category are those diseases in which special attributes of the BBB may predispose to disease; for example, the ability of a pathogen to cross the BBB often depends on the pathogen's ability to invoke transcytotic pathways in the brain endothelial or choroid plexus cell. Of special interest are those diseases in which the BBB may be the primary seat of disease or play a major role in the onset or progression of the disease. An increasing number of diseases are so categorized in which BBB dysfunction or dysregulation plays a major role; this review highlights such roles for the BBB including those proposed for Alzheimer's disease and obesity.     

Neurovascular damage in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: a target for pharmacological control

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is composed of a continuous endothelial layer with pericytes and astrocytes in close proximity to offer homeostatic control to the neurovasculature. The human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis and the animal counterpart experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) are characterized by enhanced permeability of the BBB facilitating oedema formation and recruitment of systemically derived inflammatory-type cells into target tissues to mediate eventual myelin loss and neuronal dysfunction. EAE is considered a useful model for examining the pathology which culminates in loss of BBB integrity and the disease is now proving valuable in assessing compounds for efficacy in limiting damage at neurovascular sites. The precise mechanisms culminating in EAE-induced BBB breakdown are unclear although several potentially disruptive mediators have been implicated and have been previously identified as potent effectors of cerebrovascular damage in non-disease related conditions of the central nervous system. The review considers evidence that common mechanisms may mediate cerebrovascular permeability changes irrespective of the initial insult and discusses therapeutic approaches for the control of BBB leakage in the demyelinating diseases.     

Glial‐cell‐mediated re‐induction of the blood‐brain barrier phenotype in brain capillary endothelial cells: A differential gel electrophoresis study

In the neurovascular unit, brain microvascular endothelial cells develop characteristic barrier features that control the molecular exchanges between the blood and the brain. These characteristics are partially or totally lost when the cells are isolated for use in in vitro blood‐brain barrier (BBB) models. Hence, the re‐induction of barrier properties is crucial for the relevance of BBB models. Although the role of astrocyte promiscuity is well established, the molecular mechanisms of re‐induction remain largely unknown. Here, we used a DIGE‐based proteomics approach to study endothelial cellular proteins showing significant quantitative variations after BBB re‐induction. We confirm that quantitative changes mainly concern proteins involved in cell structure and motility. Furthermore, we describe the possible involvement of the asymmetric dimethylarginine pathway in the BBB phenotype re‐induction process and we discuss asymmetric dimethylarginine's potential role in regulating endothelial function (in addition to its role as a by‐product of protein modification). Our results also suggest that the intracellular redox potential is lower in the in vitro brain capillary endothelial cells displaying re‐induced BBB functions than in cells with limited BBB functions.     

The effect of aging on brain barriers and the consequences for Alzheimer’s disease development

Life expectancy has increased in most developed countries, which has led to an increase in the proportion of elderly people in the world’s population. However, this increase in life expectancy is not accompanied by a lengthening of the health span since aging is characterized with progressive deterioration in cellular and organ functions. The brain is particularly vulnerable to disease, and this is reflected in the onset of age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Research shows that dysfunction of two barriers in the central nervous system (CNS), the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier (BCSFB), plays an important role in the progression of these neurodegenerative diseases. The BBB is formed by the endothelial cells of the blood capillaries, whereas the BCSFB is formed by the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus (CP), both of which are affected during aging. Here, we give an overview of how these barriers undergo changes during aging and in Alzheimer’s disease, thereby disturbing brain homeostasis. Studying these changes is needed in order to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of aging at the brain barriers, which might lead to the development of new therapies to lengthen the health span (including mental health) and reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease.     

Immunoglobulin G transport increases in an in vitro blood–brain barrier model with amyloid-β and with neuroinflammatory cytokines

Immunotherapies are a promising strategy for the treatment of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), however, transport of antibodies to the brain is severely restricted by the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Furthermore, molecular transport at the BBB is altered in disease, which may affect the mechanism and quantity of therapeutic antibody transport. To better understand the transport of immunotherapies at the BBB in disease, an in vitro BBB model derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) was used to investigate the endocytic uptake route of immunoglobulin G (IgG). In this model, uptake of fluorescently labeled IgGs is a saturable process. Inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, caveolar endocytosis, and macropinocytosis demonstrated that macropinocytosis is a major transport route for IgGs at the BBB. IgG uptake and transport were increased after the addition of stimuli to mimic AD (Aβ_1–40 and Aβ_1–42) and neuroinflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6). Lastly, caveolar endocytosis increased in the AD model, which may be responsible for the increase in IgG uptake in disease. This study presents an iPSC-derived BBB model that responds to disease stimuli with physiologically relevant changes to molecular transport and can be used to understand fundamental questions about transport mechanisms of immunotherapies in health and neurodegenerative disease.     

Blood-brain barrier dysfunction underlying Alzheimer's disease is induced by an SSAO/VAP-1-dependent cerebrovascular activation with enhanced Aβ deposition

Dysfunctions of the vascular system directly contribute to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) shows signs of malfunction at early stages of the disease. When Abeta peptide (Aβ) is deposited on brain vessels, it induces vascular degeneration by producing reactive oxygen species and promoting inflammation. These molecular processes are also related to an excessive SSAO/VAP-1 (semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase) enzymatic activity, observed in plasma and in cerebrovascular tissue of AD patients. We studied the contribution of vascular SSAO/VAP-1 to the BBB dysfunction in AD using in vitro BBB models. Our results show that SSAO/VAP-1 expression is associated to endothelial activation by altering the release of pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic angioneurins, most highly IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF. It is also related to a BBB structure alteration, with a decrease in tight-junction proteins such as zona occludens or claudin-5. Moreover, the BBB function reveals increased permeability and leukocyte adhesion in cells expressing SSAO/VAP-1, as well as an enhancement of the vascular Aβ deposition induced by mechanisms both dependent and independent of the enzymatic activity of SSAO/VAP-1. These results reveal an interesting role of vascular SSAO/VAP-1 in BBB dysfunction related to AD progression, opening a new window in the search of alternative therapeutic targets for fighting AD.     

Characterization and use of human brain microvascular endothelial cells to examine β-amyloid exchange in the blood-brain barrier

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by excessive cerebrovascular deposition of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). The investigation of Aβ transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been hindered by inherent limitations in the cellular systems currently used to model the BBB, such as insufficient barrier properties and poor reproducibility. In addition, many of the existing models are not of human or brain origin and are often arduous to establish and maintain. Thus, we characterized an in vitro model of the BBB employing human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) and evaluated its utility to investigate Aβ exchange at the blood-brain interface. Our HBMEC model offers an ease of culture compared with primary isolated or coculture BBB models and is more representative of the human brain endothelium than many of the cell lines currently used to study the BBB. In our studies, the HBMEC model exhibited barrier properties comparable to existing BBB models as evidenced by the restricted permeability of a known paracellular marker. In addition, using a simple and rapid fluormetric assay, we showed that antagonism of key Aβ transport proteins significantly altered the bi-directional transcytosis of fluorescein-Aβ (1–42) across the HBMEC model. Moreover, the magnitude of these effects was consistent with reports in the literature using the same ligands in existing in vitro models of the BBB. These studies establish the HBMEC as a representative in vitro model of the BBB and offer a rapid fluorometric method of assessing Aβ exchange between the periphery and the brain.     

Matrix Metalloproteinase-Mediated Neuroinflammation in Vascular Cognitive Impairment of the Binswanger Type

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a heterogeneous group of diseases linked together by cerebrovascular disease. Treatment of VCI has been hindered by the lack of a coherent pathophysiological process that could provide molecular targets. Of the several forms of VCI, the small vessel disease form is both the most prevalent and generally has a progressive course. Binswanger’s disease (BD) is the small vessel form of VCI that involves extensive injury to the deep white matter. Growing evidence suggests that there is disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) secondary to an inflammatory state. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are increased in the brain and CSF of patients with BD, and have been shown to disrupt the BBB in animal studies, suggesting that they may be biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Multimodal biomarkers derived from clinical, neuropsychological, imaging, and biochemical data can be used to narrow the VCI population to the progressive inflammatory form that will be optimal for treatment trials. This review describes the role of the MMPs in pathophysiology and their use as biomarkers.