Extracellular matrix proteins in construction and function of in vitro blood-brain barrier models

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly impermeable separating circulating blood and brain tissue. A functional BBB critical for health, dysfunction has been linked to the pathophysiology of diseases such as stroke Alzheimer’s disease. variety models have developed study formation maintenance BBB, ranging from in vivo animal vitro consisting primary cells or differentiated human pluripotent stem (hPSCs). These must consider composition source cellular components neurovascular unit (NVU), including microvascular endothelial (BMECs), pericytes, astrocytes, neurons, how these cell types interact. In addition, non-cellular microenvironment, vascular basement membrane (BM) that direct contact with NVU, also play key roles function. Here, we review extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins BM affect particular focus on studies using hPSC-derived models, discuss future are needed advance our understanding ECM affects improve model performance expand knowledge BBB.