1342-TGF-β1 Signaling in Aging BBB Leakage
The study investigates the molecular mechanisms behind blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown during aging, revealing that leakage begins in midlife due to increased endothelial caveolar transcytosis. Research shows that elevated levels of TGF-β1 in the brain and blood suppress the lipid transporter Mfsd2a, a protein essential for maintaining barrier integrity by inhibiting vesicular transport. This downregulation of Mfsd2a is driven by TGF-β1-induced Tgfbr2-Smad2/4 signaling within the brain's microvascular endothelial cells. Experiments on aged mice demonstrate that blocking TGF-β signaling or…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.