title: Brain barriers: Crosstalk between complex tight junctions and adherens junctions.
abstract: Unique intercellular junctional complexes between the central nervous system (CNS) microvascular endothelial cells and the choroid plexus epithelial cells form the endothelial blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the epithelial blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), respectively. These barriers inhibit paracellular diffusion, thereby protecting the CNS from fluctuations in the blood. Studies of brain barrier integrity during development, normal physiology, and disease have focused on BBB and BCSFB tight junctions but not the corresponding endothelial and epithelial adherens junctions. The crosstalk between adherens junctions and tight junctions in maintaining barrier integrity is an understudied area that may represent a promising target for influencing brain barrier function.
authors.affiliation: Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tietz
authors.affiliation: Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland bengel@tki.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D055806:Microvessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology*