title: Targeting brain microvascular endothelial cells: a therapeutic approach to neuroprotection against stroke.
abstract: Brain microvascular endothelial cells form the interface between nervous tissue and circulating blood, and regulate central nervous system homeostasis. Brain microvascular endothelial cells differ from peripheral endothelial cells with regards expression of specific ion transporters and receptors, and contain fewer fenestrations and pinocytotic vesicles. Brain microvascular endothelial cells also synthesize several factors that influence blood vessel function. This review describes the morphological characteristics and functions of brain microvascular endothelial cells, and summarizes current knowledge regarding changes in brain microvascular endothelial cells during stroke progression and therapies. Future studies should focus on identifying mechanisms underlying such changes and developing possible neuroprotective therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3330-5145
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Chang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: blood-brain barrier; brain microvascular endothelial cells; cerebral infarction; endothelin; gap junction; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; subarachnoid hemorrhage; thromboxane A2