Figure 1.
Cellular and molecular properties of the BBB. (A) A schematic comparison of the BBB capillaries with the continuous nonfenestrated, continuous fenestrated, and discontinuous capillaries found in peripheral organs. (B–F) Schematics of the molecular composition of junctional complexes of BBB ECs (B) and of ECs in peripheral organs (C), peripheral endothelial fenestra (D), and transport mechanisms in CNS ECs (E) and peripheral ECs (F). (G and H) Electron micrographs of a mouse brain EC (G) and a mouse muscle EC, which is densely packed with vesicles (arrows; H). BCRP, breast cancer resistance protein; GLUT1, glucose transporter 1; ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule; JAM, junctional adhesion molecule; LAT1, L-type amino acid transporter 1; MRP, multidrug resistance-associated protein; PECAM-1, platelet and EC adhesion molecule 1; P-GP, p-glycoprotein; VE-cadherin, vascular endothelial cadherin; P-sel, P-selectin; E-sel, E-selectin.