THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER TO NEUROTOXINS AND NEUROTROPHINS

ABBA J. KASTIN AND WEIHONG PAN(1)

(1)Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA  

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the interface between the peripheral circulation and the central nervous system. This multi-dimensional structure is composed of specialized cerebral and spinal microvessels and surrounding cells and matrix. It serves important regulatory functions by differential permeability. It is also subject to modification by many pathophysiological factors. This talk will present ongoing BBB studies in our own laboratory and others, focusing on the following topics: (1) neurotoxins penetrating the BBB to induce neuropathology; (2) neurotoxins that increase the general permeability of the BBB or affect transport systems for other essential substances; (3) neurotrophins as pro-drugs to penetrate the BBB in either the native state or after modification by biotechnology; (4) circulating peptides that serve as either neurotoxins or trophic factors besides regulating behavior; and (5) how cytokine transport across the BBB affects neuroplasticity. Thus, the aim is to provide an overview of the regulatory nature of the BBB, and to show the importance of the endothelial interactions of some neurotoxins as well as trophic factors.  

KEY WORDS: peptides; neurotoxins; blood-brain barrier; neurotrophic factors

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: NIH

CORRESPONDENCE TO: Abba J. Kastin, M.D., Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA. Phone: 1 225 763 0266, Fax: 1 225 763 0265, Email: peptides@pbrc.edu