Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction

Dear Colleagues,

The blood–brain barrier comprises a highly specialised complex of cells within the neurovascular unit, and is responsible for tightly regulating homeostasis within the central nervous system, which is critical to maintain neuronal function.  Dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier is a key pathological feature of a range of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease, cerebrovascular disorders including stroke and vascular dementia, and neuroinflammatory diseases including multiple sclerosis. Loss of blood–brain barrier integrity can result in pathological permeability resulting in the entry of immune cells and/or molecules into the central nervous system which stimulate a neuroinflammatory response, as well as ion dysregulation and altered signalling homeostasis, processes that contribute to neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration.  Deciphering the mechanisms underlying dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier is an important area to identify and develop potential disease-modifying treatments. 

This Special Issue of IJMS provides a comprehensive synopsis of current blood–brain barrier research from cellular to molecular mechanisms, the relationship between blood–brain barrier dysfunction and the neuroinflammatory response, and animal/cell models to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of blood–brain barrier disruption.

You are warmly invited to submit original research and review articles related to any of these aspects.

Prof. Dr. Julie E. Simpson
Dr. Claire J. Garwood
Guest Editors

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