Research report 2017 - Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine

Coordination of growth and functionality of brain capillaries

Authors
Herzog, Wiebke
Departments
Angiogenesis Laboratory
Summary
The circulatory system not only supplies the body with oxygen and nutrients, but might also carry toxic compounds and pathogens. To enhance protection of the brain, cerebral blood vessels build the so-called blood-brain barrier. Our studies of the zebrafish brain vasculature show that blood vessel growth and building of the blood-brain barrier are coordinated by two interacting signaling pathways. As the same principles also apply to mammalian cells, the balance of these signaling pathways could be of relevance for human pathological conditions and their treatment.

For the full text, see the German version.

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