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Brief overview: Protective roles of astrocyte-derived pentraxin-3 in blood-brain barrier integrity
Brooke Bonsack1, Mia C Borlongan1, Eng H Lo2, Ken Arai2
1 Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, College of Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani, Tampa, FL, USA
2 Department of Radiology; Department of Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Ken Arai
Department of Radiology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Neurology, Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/bc.bc_37_19
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Stroke is one of the world's leading causes of mortality and morbidity. Greater understanding is required of the underlying relationships in ischemic brains in order to prevent stroke or to develop effective treatment. This review highlights new findings about the relationship of blood–brain barrier with astrocytes, pentraxin-3 (PTX3), and other factors expressed during or after ischemic stroke. These are discussed with respect to their ameliorative or deleterious effects. These effects are measured in vivo in animal models as well as in vitro in cell cultures. Evidence was found to suggest that astrocytes play a key role in stroke by expressing PTX3, which, in turn, enhances endothelial tightness, increases tight junction proteins, and inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor. The role of astrocytes and PTX3 is examined in relation to hypoxic stress and conditioning as well as mitochondrial transfer. Astrocytes and PTX3 are placed in the context of brain circulation and related areas.
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