Open AccessTargeting the Neurovascular Unit in Brain Trauma
Author(s) -
Lok Josephine,
Wang XiaoShu,
Xing ChangHong,
Maki TakaKuni,
Wu LiMin,
Guo ShuZhen,
Noviski Natan,
Arai Ken,
Whalen Michael J.,
Lo Eng H.,
Wang XiaoYing
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cns neuroscience and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1755-5949
pISSN - 1755-5930
DOI - 10.1111/cns.12359
Subject(s) - neurovascular bundle , neuroscience , excitotoxicity , medicine , stroke (engine) , traumatic brain injury , biology , pathology , glutamate receptor , psychiatry , mechanical engineering , receptor , engineering
Summary Although the neurovascular unit was originally developed as a conceptual framework for stroke, it is now recognized that these cell–cell interactions play critical roles in many other CNS disorders as well. In brain trauma, perturbations within the neurovascular unit may be especially important. Changes in neurovascular coupling may disrupt blood flow and metabolic regulation. Disruption of transmitter release‐reuptake kinetics in neurons and astrocytes may augment excitotoxicity. Alterations in gliovascular signaling may underlie blood–brain barrier disruptions and traumatic edema. Perturbations in cell–cell signaling between all neuronal, glial, and vascular compartments may increase susceptibility to cell death. Finally, repairing the brain after trauma requires the integrated restoration of all neural, glial, and vascular connectivity for effective functional recovery. Just as in stroke, saving neurons alone may also be insufficient for treating brain trauma. In this minireview, we attempt to briefly highlight some of these pathways to underscore the importance of rescuing the entire neurovascular unit in brain trauma.