Cellular communication at the blood-brain barrier
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized barrier that separates the central nervous system (CNS) from the bloodstream and plays a crucial role in maintaining brain homeostasis. It protects the brain from potentially harmful substances and at the same time regulates the selective transport of nutrients and waste products. This highly specialized structure consists mainly of endothelial cells, which are tightly interconnected by tight junctions, as well as astrocyte endfeet and pericytes, which together form a functional unit.
A central element of the functionality of the blood-brain barrier is cellular communication between the different cell types that comprise it. This communication occurs through a variety of mechanisms, including direct cell-cell contacts, soluble factors and vesicle-mediated signalling. Understanding these complex interactions is fundamental to unraveling the physiological and pathological processes that affect the integrity and function of the BBB.
Impaired cellular communication at the blood-brain barrier is associated with a variety of neurological disorders, including stroke, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of cellular communication at the BBB could therefore enable new therapeutic approaches to treat these diseases.
In this project, we investigate the different aspects of cellular communication at the blood-brain barrier, with a particular focus on the molecular mechanisms that control the interactions between endothelial cells, astrocytes and pericytes. We address the question of how these interactions contribute to the functionality of the BBB and what consequences disturbances of these communication pathways may have for the development and progression of various diseases.