Central nervous system (CNS) barriers predominantly mediate the immune-privileged status of the brain, and are also important regulators of neuroimmune communication. It is increasingly appreciated that communication between the brain and immune system contributes to physiologic processes, adaptive responses, and disease states. In this review, we discuss the highly specialized features of brain barriers that regulate neuroimmune communication in health and disease. In section I, we discuss the concept of immune privilege, provide working definitions of brain barriers, and outline the historical work that contributed to the understanding of CNS barrier functions. In section II, we discuss the unique anatomic, cellular, and molecular characteristics of the vascular blood–brain barrier (BBB), blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier, and tanycytic barriers that confer their functions as neuroimmune interfaces. In section III, we consider BBB-mediated neuroimmune functions and interactions categorized as five neuroimmune axes: disruption, responses to immune stimuli, uptake and transport of immunoactive substances, immune cell trafficking, and secretions of immunoactive substances. In section IV, we discuss neuroimmune functions of CNS barriers in physiologic and disease states, as well as pharmacological interventions for CNS diseases. Throughout this review, we highlight many recent advances that have contributed to the modern understanding of CNS barriers and their interface functions.
Neuroimmune Axes of the Blood–Brain Barriers and Blood–Brain Interfaces: Bases for Physiological Regulation, Disease States, and Pharmacological Interventions
Published 2018 in Pharmacological Reviews
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2018
- Venue
Pharmacological Reviews
- Publication date
2018-04-01
- Fields of study
Biology, Medicine
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- blood-brain barrier
The vascular barrier formed by brain blood vessels that regulates exchange between blood and brain tissue.
Aliases: BBB
- blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier
The barrier interface that separates blood from cerebrospinal fluid and contributes to CNS homeostasis and signaling.
Aliases: BCSFB
- cns barriers
Specialized barrier structures in the central nervous system that separate and regulate exchange between neural tissue and peripheral compartments.
Aliases: brain barriers
- cns diseases
Diseases of the central nervous system that serve as the disease context for barrier-related pharmacological discussion.
Aliases: central nervous system diseases
- immune privilege
The relative restriction of immune activity in the brain that is used here as a framework for understanding CNS barrier function.
- immunoactive substances
Molecules with immune-related activity whose transport, uptake, or secretion across CNS barriers is discussed.
- neuroimmune axes
The five functional categories used to organize BBB-mediated neuroimmune interactions in the review.
- neuroimmune communication
Bidirectional signaling between the nervous system and immune system discussed as a core function of CNS barriers.
- pharmacological interventions
Drug-based approaches discussed in relation to modulating CNS barrier function in disease.
- tanycytic barriers
Barrier-like interfaces associated with tanycytes that participate in exchange between the CNS and surrounding fluids.