The blood-brain barrier in EAE

Abstract

The normal function of the blood brain barrier (BBB) is the maintenance of the central nervous system homeostasis. The normal structure, development, differentiation and maintenance (and in particular the role of tight junctions) of the BBB are discussed in this chapter, followed by a description of the pathological changes in the BBB during EAE: leakiness, molecular changes in the tight junctions, the crossing of encephalitogenic T cells and the immunological factors responsible for the BBB breakdown during EAE.