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Fig. 2 | Fluids and Barriers of the CNS

Fig. 2

From: The role of plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein in pathological breakdown of blood–brain and blood–retinal barriers: potential novel therapeutic target for cerebral edema and diabetic macular edema

Fig. 2

PLVAP functions as physical sieve in endothelium. PLVAP homodimers assemble in diaphragms in a wheel-like fashion. The larger part of PLVAP is extracellular, but PLVAP dimers are stabilized in the cell membrane by prominent N-glycosylation near its transmembrane domain (not shown) and its intracellular connections to cytoskeletal filaments (not shown). Through this distinct organization, PLVAP regulates size-dependent passage of molecules. It is hypothesized that PLVAP allows the passage of molecules smaller than 6 nm in diameter only. EC endothelial cell, TEC transendothelial channel

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Fluids and Barriers of the CNS

ISSN: 2045-8118