Decoding intercellular communication at the BBB interface

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly specialized vascular interface that safeguards the brain by regulating the exchange between the circulation and neural tissue, while its dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a critical driver of neurological disease. At the BBB, endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes work together as a functional unit to maintain vascular and neural homeostasis. We investigate how these cells communicate with one another and how their interactions are dynamically remodeled under physiological and pathological conditions. Integrating single-cell, spatial, and functional approaches, our work seeks to uncover the molecular signals and mechanisms that govern communication at the BBB interface, particularly during injury, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases.
(Gray: endothelial cells; Red: pericytes; Green: astrocyte endfeet.)