Models for 10,000 Human Diseases

Welcome to our new blog series about the blood brain barrier (BBB)! In Part 1, we will give a brief history on the discovery of the BBB, as well as introduce what we know about its composition and biological functions. The blood brain barrier or BBB is a highly regulated selective biological barrier situated at the blood to brain interface. In simple terms, the role of the BBB is to separate the brain from the rest of the body. This physical separation protects the neurons and glial cells and maintains brain homeostasis by preventing pathogens, drugs, and other potentially harmful agents (such as certain large water-soluble molecules) that may be present in circulating blood from...