FIGURE 2.

In healthy conditions, the GCX acts as a regulator of permeability and inflammation at the BBB: These GCX specific functions include (A) acting as a physical and charge barrier to circulating molecules, (B) adhesion molecule shielding, (C) stabilizing tight junction complexes and localizing ZO-1 to the cell membrane through mechanotransduction, (D) docking permeability inducing factors such as VEGF and FGF2, and (E) regulating cytokine and ROS production (Jin et al., 2021; Zhao et al., 2021; Deore et al., 2022). Created with BioRender.com.