High-resolution insights into the in vitro developing blood-brain barrier: Novel morphological features of endothelial nanotube function
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Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers Media
Abstract
High-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) imaging of the in vitro blood-brain barrier
(BBB), is a promising modality for investigating the dynamic morphological interplay
underpinning BBB development. The successful establishment of BBB integrity is
grounded in the brain endothelial cells (BEC’s) ability to occlude its paracellular
spaces of brain capillaries through the expression of the intercellular tight junction (TJ)
proteins. The impermeability of these paracellular spaces are crucial in the regulation of
transcellular transport systems to achieve homeostasis of the central nervous system.
To-date research describing morphologically, the dynamics by which TJ interaction
is orchestrated to successfully construct a specialized barrier remains undescribed.
In this study, the application of HREM illuminates the novel, dynamic and highly
restrictive BEC paracellular pathway which is founded based on lateral membrane
alignment which is the functional imperative for the mechanical juxtapositioning of
TJ zones that underpin molecular bonding and sealing of the paracellular space.
Description
Keywords
Blood-brain barrier, Nanovesicles, Tunneling nanotubes, Tethering nanotubes, High-resolution electron microscopy
Citation
Mentor, S., & Fisher, D. (2021). High-resolution insights into the in vitro developing blood-brain barrier: Novel morphological features of endothelial nanotube function. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 15,661065. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnana.2021.661065