Offering a unique and in-depth overview of the structure and function of the BBB, this guide furnishes the latest information on

• the immune properties of BBB cells in pathology and disease
• features of the BBB that are formed during embryogenesis and the neonatal period
• potential therapeutic strategies to modulate barrier permeability
• the affect of neuronal pathways on the dynamics of the BBB
• various transport systems that exist at the BBB
• the use of liposomes and non-viral vectors for delivery of drugs through the BBB to the CNS
• the role of inflammatory mediators in the control of BBB permeability and cellular migration
• imaging techniques to monitor BBB permeability in vivo
• the mechanisms of non-HIV viral entry into the CNS through interaction with the brain endothelium

This reference analyzes the cellular and molecular biology and mechanisms of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and presents the most recent studies on the role of the BBB in the development and initiation of a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions affecting the central nervous system.