BBB and MS

Question 1

where is the BBB found

Answer 1

• brain parenchymal capillary endothelium
• arachnoid epithelium
• choroid plexus epithelium

Question 2

the neurovascular unit is made up of

Answer 2

• cerebral microvascular endothelium (have more mitochondria, no fenestrations, minial pinocytic activity, and have tight junctions)
• basal lamina
• pericytes
• astrocytes

Question 3

role of pericytes

Answer 3

• shaping and stabilising blood vessels
• maturation of endothelium
• maintain BBB integrity
• regulatory processes

Question 4

role of astrocytes

Answer 4

act as mediators between neurons

• express aquaporin 4
• have a supportive role and produce growth factors SHH
• help maintain BBB integrity

Question 5

diapedesis routes

Answer 5

• paracellular: migration across adjacent endothelial cells

- transcellular: the lymphocyte migrates through a single endothelial cell (preferred in inflammatoy state)

Question 6

neuroinflammation can be

Answer 6

neuroprotective and neurotoxic

Question 7

where can lymphocyte recruitement occur

Answer 7

choroid plexus, glia limitans, and subventrivular zone

Question 8

what are the routes of delivery to the brain

Answer 8

local delivery
intranasal delivery
systemic delivery

Question 9

define MS

Answer 9

is a chronic, CNS disease characterised by impaired BBB, immune cell trafficking, inflammation, demyelination, axonal loss, gliosis, neurodegeneration

Question 10

drugs for MS

Answer 10

interferon B 1a/1b

• copolymer (glatiramer acetate)
• dimethyl fumarate
• teriflunomide

SECOND LINE:

• fingolimod
• natalizumab
• alemtuzumab

EMERGING:

• rituximab
• ocrelizumab
• daclirumab
• cladribine
• siponimod