The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is very important because it helps keep our brain stable and safe from harmful substances. But sometimes, when there’s inflammation in the brain, this barrier isn’t working well. This can lead to various neurological problems. Let’s break down how this happens.
Cytokine Release: When there’s neuroinflammation, our body releases substances called pro-inflammatory cytokines, like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. These substances can make the BBB "leaky" by changing important proteins that hold the barrier together. For example, TNF-α can reduce a key protein called claudin-5 that helps keep the barrier strong.
Oxidative Stress: Inflammation can produce damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These can harm the cells that make up the BBB. High levels of oxidative stress can lead to cell death and make the barrier even weaker.
Immune Cell Recruitment: During inflammation, immune cells like microglia and T-cells get activated and move into the central nervous system (CNS). This can make the BBB more damaged because these immune cells can directly contact the barrier and release more inflammatory substances.
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs): These are enzymes that our body makes when it's inflamed. They can break down proteins that help keep the BBB intact. For instance, MMP-9 is linked to making the BBB more leaky in diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): In MS, the body's immune system wrongly attacks the myelin in the brain. This inflammation leads to damage in the BBB, letting immune cells invade the CNS.
Alzheimer's Disease: A build-up of a protein called amyloid-beta can cause inflammation, which leads to BBB problems and makes the disease worse.
By understanding how these processes work, we can create better treatments to help fix the BBB when it isn’t working right in neuroinflammatory diseases.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is very important because it helps keep our brain stable and safe from harmful substances. But sometimes, when there’s inflammation in the brain, this barrier isn’t working well. This can lead to various neurological problems. Let’s break down how this happens.
Cytokine Release: When there’s neuroinflammation, our body releases substances called pro-inflammatory cytokines, like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. These substances can make the BBB "leaky" by changing important proteins that hold the barrier together. For example, TNF-α can reduce a key protein called claudin-5 that helps keep the barrier strong.
Oxidative Stress: Inflammation can produce damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These can harm the cells that make up the BBB. High levels of oxidative stress can lead to cell death and make the barrier even weaker.
Immune Cell Recruitment: During inflammation, immune cells like microglia and T-cells get activated and move into the central nervous system (CNS). This can make the BBB more damaged because these immune cells can directly contact the barrier and release more inflammatory substances.
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs): These are enzymes that our body makes when it's inflamed. They can break down proteins that help keep the BBB intact. For instance, MMP-9 is linked to making the BBB more leaky in diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): In MS, the body's immune system wrongly attacks the myelin in the brain. This inflammation leads to damage in the BBB, letting immune cells invade the CNS.
Alzheimer's Disease: A build-up of a protein called amyloid-beta can cause inflammation, which leads to BBB problems and makes the disease worse.
By understanding how these processes work, we can create better treatments to help fix the BBB when it isn’t working right in neuroinflammatory diseases.