Tight junctions of the blood–brain barrier: development, composition and regulation

H Wolburg, A Lippoldt - Vascular pharmacology, 2002 - Elsevier
1. The blood–brain barrier is essential for the maintenance and regulation of the neural
microenvironment. The main characteristic features of blood–brain barrier endothelial cells
are an extremely low rate of transcytotic vesicles and a restrictive paracellular diffusion
barrier. 2. Endothelial blood–brain barrier tight junctions differ from epithelial tight junctions,
not only by distinct morphological and molecular properties, but also by the fact that
endothelial tight junctions are more sensitive to microenvironmental than epithelial factors …