Decoding the spatiotemporal development of the blood-brain barrier in human cortex - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #neurodevelopment
- #blood-brain barrier
- #transcriptomics
- The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is crucial for central nervous system homeostasis, but its formation in humans is not well understood.
- Single-cell spatiotemporal transcriptomics was used to study human BBB development from 6 to 21 gestational weeks (GWs).
- BBB-specific transporters were found in all brain-endothelial subclusters during development.
- The human BBB-like transcriptional signature begins at GW8, induced by neural cells via CADHERIN-2 (CDH2).
- Neural progenitor cells promote mural cell proliferation.
- Communication between endothelial cells (ECs) and mural cells intensifies with BBB initiation.
- Conserved BBB development between humans and mice was observed, with H2A.Z.1 regulating angiogenesis and BBB development.
- Findings offer insights into human BBB ontogeny and potential therapeutic targets for BBB-related disorders.