The impact of genetic manipulation of laminin and integrins at the blood-brain barrier

• Published in: Fluids and barriers of the CNS Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 50
• Main Authors: Halder, Sebok K, Sapkota, Arjun, Milner, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 11.06.2022; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Biological Transport; Blood vessels; Blood-brain barrier; Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism; Blood–brain barrier integrity; Central nervous system; Electrical resistivity; Endothelium; Extracellular matrix; Fibronectin; Genetic engineering; Hypoxia; Inflammation; Integrins; Integrins - metabolism; Isoforms; Laminin; Laminin - metabolism; Multiple sclerosis; Pathogenesis; Pericytes; Pericytes - metabolism; Permeability; Proteins; Review; Blood–brain barrier integrity; Angiogenesis; Laminin; Blood vessels; Inflammation; Fibronectin; Integrins
• ISSN: 2045-8118; 2045-8118
• DOI: 10.1186/s12987-022-00346-8

Blood vessels in the central nervous system (CNS) are unique in having high electrical resistance and low permeability, which creates a selective barrier protecting sensitive neural cells within the CNS from potentially harmful components in the blood. The molecular basis of this blood-brain barrier (BBB) is found at the level of endothelial adherens and tight junction protein complexes, extracellular matrix (ECM) components of the vascular basement membrane (BM), and the influence of adjacent pericytes and astrocyte endfeet. Current evidence supports the concept that instructive cues from the BBB ECM are not only important for the development and maturation of CNS blood vessels, but they are also essential for the maintenance of vascular stability and BBB integrity. In this review, we examine the contributions of one of the most abundant ECM proteins, laminin to BBB integrity, and summarize how genetic deletions of different laminin isoforms or their integrin receptors impact BBB development, maturation, and stability.