ABSTRACT
In the past, the neuron has been the focal point of brain injury research. However, in recent years, the pathophysiology of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has become increasingly more studied. The BBB’s primary role is to create a restrictive barrier between the central nervous system and the rest of the body, barring the entry of unwanted blood-borne factors. The BBB’s microvessels are made up of endothelial cells linked by tight junctions, but neighboring glial cells such as astrocytes and microglial are also critical to BBB function. These glial cells physically interact with endothelial cells, communicating via paracrine signaling. Together, this special group of interacting cells is known as the neurovascular unit (NVU).1
