Senescence and associated blood-brain barrier alterations in vitro

Histochem Cell Biol. 2021 Sep;156(3):283-292. doi: 10.1007/s00418-021-01992-z. Epub 2021 May 27.

Abstract

Progressive deterioration of the central nervous system (CNS) is commonly associated with aging. An important component of the neurovasculature is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), majorly made up of endothelial cells joined together by intercellular junctions. The relationship between senescence and changes in the BBB has not yet been thoroughly explored. Moreover, the lack of in vitro models for the study of the mechanisms involved in those changes impede further and more in-depth investigations in the field. For this reason, we herein present an in vitro model of the senescent BBB and an initial attempt to identify senescence-associated alterations within.

Keywords: Aging; Blood–brain barrier; CNS diseases; In vitro model; Senescence.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / cytology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological