title: β1-integrin/matrix interactions support blood-brain barrier integrity.
abstract: Brain microvascular endothelium forms an active permeability barrier, the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In neurologic disorders, barrier properties of the BBB are often lost indicating their dependance on molecular cues of the brain microenvironment. In this issue, Osada et al demonstrate that the endothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) provides one of these cues. Their study shows that β1-integrin-mediated adhesion of brain endothelial cells to the surrounding ECM is critical for stabilizing claudin-5 in BBB tight junctions (TJs) and BBB integrity. These observations point to a novel intracellular signaling pathway from β1-integrin/ECM endothelial adhesions to BBB TJs contributing to BBB integrity.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D062507:Claudin-5; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D062507:Claudin-5; C491511:Cldn5 protein, mouse; D019012:Integrin beta1; D008565:Membrane Proteins