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Life
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The Brain Barriers: Functions and Implications
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The Brain Barriers: Functions and Implications

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 2903

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ana Catarina Duarte

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: choroid plexus; brain barriers; chemical surveillance; taste signaling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Telma Quintela

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CICS-UBI–Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: circadian rhythm; blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier; drug delivery; chronotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Brain function is ensured by the presence of important interfaces, the brain barriers, that separate the central nervous system from the blood. There are three main barriers: the blood–brain barrier (BBB), the blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), and the arachnoid barrier (AB). The BBB presents an extensive surface area and is mainly formed by brain capillary endothelial cells, but also by astrocytes, pericytes, and neurons. The BCSFB is composed of choroid plexus epithelial cells that, besides barrier function, are also responsible for most of the CSF production and secretion into brain ventricles, biosynthesis of proteins and hormones, and chemical surveillance. The AB, composed of epithelial cells of meninges, is another interface between the blood and the CSF and participates in CSF formation. At all three barriers, the paracellular pathway is highly restricted by the tight junctions that connect the brain endothelial cells, choroid plexus epithelial cells, or epithelial cells of meninges. In addition, they present specific transporters and metabolic enzymes that ensure the composition of brain fluids and central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis. Therefore, the dysfunction of these structures has been related to CNS disorders. On the other hand, brain barriers, particularly the BBB and BCSFB, have been a major obstacle to brain drug delivery. For this reason, the development of drugs that can cross these structures and reach their targets in the brain remains a challenge.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the pathophysiological mechanisms of brain barriers, contributing to a better understanding of brain barriers function and how their impairment can be related to CNS disorders, including neurodegenerative disorders, tumors, and cancer. Additionally, it is also of utmost importance to investigate new drug targets at brain barriers. Thus, we invite experts working in the field of brain barriers to contribute with their recent research.

Dr. Ana Catarina Duarte
Dr. Telma Quintela
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • brain barriers
  • brain homeostasis
  • neurodegeneration
  • neuroinflammation
  • brain drug delivery

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

17 pages, 4719 KiB  
Review
The Brain Endothelial Cell Glycocalyx Plays a Crucial Role in the Development of Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
by Melvin R. Hayden
Life 2023, 13(10), 1955; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13101955 - 24 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1588
Abstract
The brain endothelial cell (BEC) glycocalyx (ecGCx) is a BEC surface coating consisting of a complex interwoven polysaccharide (sweet husk) mesh-like network of membrane-bound proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) covering the apical luminal layer of the brain endothelial cells. The ecGCx may be [...] Read more.
The brain endothelial cell (BEC) glycocalyx (ecGCx) is a BEC surface coating consisting of a complex interwoven polysaccharide (sweet husk) mesh-like network of membrane-bound proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) covering the apical luminal layer of the brain endothelial cells. The ecGCx may be considered as the first barrier of a tripartite blood–brain barrier (BBB) consisting of (1) ecGCx; (2) BECs; and (3) an extravascular compartment of pericytes, the extracellular matrix, and perivascular astrocytes. Perturbations of this barrier allow for increased permeability in the postcapillary venule that will be permissive to both fluids, solutes, and proinflammatory peripherally derived leukocytes into the perivascular spaces (PVS) which result in enlargement as well as increased neuroinflammation. The ecGCx is known to have multiple functions, which include its physical and charge barrier, mechanical transduction, regulation of vascular permeability, modulation of inflammatory response, and anticoagulation functions. This review discusses each of the listed functions in detail and utilizes multiple transmission electron micrographs and illustrations to allow for a better understanding of the ecGCx structural and functional roles as it relates to enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS). This is the fifth review of a quintet series that discuss the importance of EPVS from the perspective of the cells of brain barriers. Attenuation and/or loss of the ecGCx results in brain barrier disruption with increased permeability to proinflammatory leukocytes, fluids, and solutes, which accumulate in the postcapillary venule perivascular spaces. This accumulation results in obstruction and results in EPVS with impaired waste removal of the recently recognized glymphatic system. Importantly, EPVS are increasingly being regarded as a marker of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative pathology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Brain Barriers: Functions and Implications)
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16 pages, 2691 KiB  
Review
Approaches to Minimise the Neurodevelopmental Impact of Choroid Plexus Carcinoma and Its Treatment
by Jenny Adamski, Vikki Langford and Jonathan L. Finlay
Life 2023, 13(9), 1855; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13091855 - 01 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1003
Abstract
Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPC) are rare aggressive tumours that primarily affect very young children. Treatment for CPC typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Whilst considered necessary for a cure, these therapies have significant neurocognitive consequences for patients, negatively impacting [...] Read more.
Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPC) are rare aggressive tumours that primarily affect very young children. Treatment for CPC typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Whilst considered necessary for a cure, these therapies have significant neurocognitive consequences for patients, negatively impacting cognitive function including memory, attention, executive functioning, and full-scale intelligence quotients (FSIQ). These challenges significantly impact the quality of life and ultimately socioeconomic parameters such as the level of educational attainment, marital status, and socioeconomic status. This review looks at the tumour- and treatment-related causes of neurocognitive damage in CPC patients and the progress made in finding strategies to reduce these. Opportunities to mitigate the neurodevelopmental consequences of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are explored in the context of CPC treatment. Evaluation of the pathological and biological mechanisms of injury has identified innovative approaches to neurocognitive protection and neurorehabilitation, which aim to limit the neurocognitive damage. This review aims to highlight multiple approaches physicians can use when treating young children with CPC, to focus on neurocognitive outcomes as a measure of success. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Brain Barriers: Functions and Implications)
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