title: [Blood-nerve barrier and peripheral nerve regeneration].
abstract: Blood-nerve barrier (BNB) restricts the movement of soluble mediators and leukocytes from the blood contents to the peripheral nervous system (PNS) parenchyma and thus maintains the endoneurial homeostasis. However, it interferes the supply of various neurotrophic factors from the blood constituents and stops the drainage of toxic substances out of the PNS parenchyma, resulting in the inhibition of peripheral nerve regeneration. If the manipulation of BNB function is possible, regeneration of peripheral nerve may be facilitated via the alteration of peripheral nerve microenvironment and ample supply of neurotrophic substances. A possible method to manipulate the BNB for therapeutic purposes is to modify the endothelial function using siRNAs, oligonucleotides and virus vectors. Another possible method is to modify BNB pericytes: small hydrophobic substances that can reach the pericyte membrane through the endothelial monolayer and strengthen the pericytic activity, including the release of various cytokines/chemokines that influence endothelial function, may also be useful as drug candidates to control the BNB function.
authors.affiliation: Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049428:Blood-Nerve Barrier / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D020286:Pericytes / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*