Double function at the blood-brain barrier

摘要

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, this cellular interface helps to maintain a constant, optimal environment for neuronal function through a combination of barriers and selective transport systems that regulate the passage of wanted and unwanted molecules. But on the other hand, it presents a formidable challenge to medicine because it stops most drugs from passing from the bloodstream to the brain. Two papers in this issue add considerably to our rudimentary understanding of the BBB: Nguyen et al. (page 503) unravel how an essential omega-3 fatty acid is transported across it, and Ben-Zvi et al. (page 507) identify a mechanism involved in suppressing the vesicle-mediated transfer of blood-plasma constituents to the brain.