title: Neurovascular pathways to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and other disorders.
abstract: The neurovascular unit (NVU) comprises brain endothelial cells, pericytes or vascular smooth muscle cells, glia and neurons. The NVU controls blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and cerebral blood flow, and maintains the chemical composition of the neuronal 'milieu', which is required for proper functioning of neuronal circuits. Recent evidence indicates that BBB dysfunction is associated with the accumulation of several vasculotoxic and neurotoxic molecules within brain parenchyma, a reduction in cerebral blood flow, and hypoxia. Together, these vascular-derived insults might initiate and/or contribute to neuronal degeneration. This article examines mechanisms of BBB dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders, notably Alzheimer's disease, and highlights therapeutic opportunities relating to these neurovascular deficits.
authors: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration at the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 1501 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA. bzlokovi@usc.edu
authors: Berislav V
authors: BV
authors: Zlokovic
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D001814:Blood-Testis Barrier / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000473:pathology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D020286:Pericytes / Q000502:physiology