title: Molecular targets in radiation-induced blood-brain barrier disruption.
abstract: Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a key feature of radiation injury to the central nervous system. Studies suggest that endothelial cell apoptosis, gene expression changes, and alteration of the microenvironment are important in initiation and progression of injury. Although substantial effort has been directed at understanding the impact of radiation on endothelial cells and oligodendrocytes, growing evidence suggests that other cell types, including astrocytes, are important in responses that include induced gene expression and microenvironmental changes. Endothelial apoptosis is important in early BBB disruption. Hypoxia and oxidative stress in the later period that precedes tissue damage might lead to astrocytic responses that impact cell survival and cell interactions. Cell death, gene expression changes, and a toxic microenvironment can be viewed as interacting elements in a model of radiation-induced disruption of the BBB. These processes implicate particular genes and proteins as targets in potential strategies for neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nordal
authors.forename: C Shun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002450:Cell Communication; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000528:radiation effects; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051793:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1