About this Research Topic
The role of the neurovascular unit (NVU) has been extensively studied in both health and disease. It is central to the neurovascular coupling and to the blood brain barrier (BBB), a key element regulating the communication with peripheral organs (e.g., gut- brain; heart-brain; kidney-brain axes). Circulation to the brain is very crucial not only for delivering important nutrients across BBB but also in regulating many cerebral processes. Receptor mediated transport of solutes across BBB has also been explored for drug delivery to the brain.
One example of circulating factors influencing brain physiology is dampening of adult neurogenesis by chemokines. Recently, a startlingly large number of plasma proteins were detected in the brain under physiological conditions. Exact role of these circulating factors in brain physiology and their precise mode of entry into the brain are poorly studied. Cells of the NVU must be encountering a large repertoire of circulating factors with each heartbeat (e.g., cytokines, chemokines, growth hormones).
Our overview and understanding on how circulating factors interacts with the NVU and can be transported through the BBB is limited. Moreover, this interaction is likely to be affected in aging and in disease conditions. Indeed, in aging, receptor mediated transport is partially replaced by unspecific caveolae mediated BBB transport. Given how circulating factors influence brain homeostasis, their surveillance and modulation could serve as valuable diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in many disease conditions.
Our research topic aims to address the growing need of data on the physiological role of circulating factors on the NVU and their transport across the BBB. We intend to bring research from diverse neuroscience fields to enlighten the importance of the crosstalk between the periphery and the NVU in health and diseases.
One example of circulating factors influencing brain physiology is dampening of adult neurogenesis by chemokines. Recently, a startlingly large number of plasma proteins were detected in the brain under physiological conditions. Exact role of these circulating factors in brain physiology and their precise mode of entry into the brain are poorly studied. Cells of the NVU must be encountering a large repertoire of circulating factors with each heartbeat (e.g., cytokines, chemokines, growth hormones).
Our overview and understanding on how circulating factors interacts with the NVU and can be transported through the BBB is limited. Moreover, this interaction is likely to be affected in aging and in disease conditions. Indeed, in aging, receptor mediated transport is partially replaced by unspecific caveolae mediated BBB transport. Given how circulating factors influence brain homeostasis, their surveillance and modulation could serve as valuable diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in many disease conditions.
Our research topic aims to address the growing need of data on the physiological role of circulating factors on the NVU and their transport across the BBB. We intend to bring research from diverse neuroscience fields to enlighten the importance of the crosstalk between the periphery and the NVU in health and diseases.
Keywords: Circulating Mediators, Neurovascular Unit, Blood-Brain Barrier, Health, Disease
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