Brain microvascular endothelial cell plasma membrane (BMEC plasma membrane)

The brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMEC) plasma membrane is the primary physical and metabolic component of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which maintains the homeostatic environment of the central nervous system [PMID: 30013157]. It is distinguished by the presence of continuous tight junctions that restrict the paracellular movement of ions and polar molecules [PMID: 26431203]. This membrane expresses a variety of specific transport systems, including carrier-mediated transporters like GLUT1 for glucose and receptor-mediated transcytosis systems for larger molecules like transferrin [PMID: 29460252]. Additionally, it contains potent efflux transporters such as P-glycoprotein that actively remove xenobiotics from the brain [PMID: 28107447]. Dysfunction of the BMEC plasma membrane is a hallmark of several neurological conditions, including stroke, where barrier breakdown leads to vasogenic edema, and Alzheimer's disease, where transport mechanisms are impaired [PMID: 32051548]. For drug developers, this membrane represents the most significant hurdle for CNS-targeted therapies, requiring specialized delivery strategies to bypass its restrictive properties [PMID: 23839168].

Other names

Blood-brain barrier endothelial membraneBrain capillary endothelial cell membraneBMEC membraneBBB endothelial plasma membrane

Osmotic disruption of tight junctions, carrier-mediated transport, receptor-mediated transcytosis, and inhibition of efflux transporters.