The blood brain barrier (BBB) is a physical barrier formed by the arrangement of endothelial cells and tight junctions that line the capillaries which supply blood to the brain. The tissue proteins of the BBB are also present in the enteric nervous system (ENS). The complex ENS network resides in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, the myenteric plexus and the submucosal plexus.
The ENS controls aspects of gut function, including motility, microvascular circulation, epithelial secretion of fluid, ions and bioactive peptides and intestinal barrier function.
Associated With: Individuals training for professional sports (saliva), Inflammatory bowel disease (saliva), Traumatic brain injury (serum)
References:
Badizadagan et al. Presence of intramucosal neuroglial cells in normal and aganglionic human colon. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, 2014; 307:G1002-1012.
Savidge et al. Starring roles for astroglia in barrier pathologies of gut and brain. Lab Invest, 2007; 87:731-736.
Michetti et al. Saliva S100B in professional sportsmen: high levels at resting conditions and increased after vigorous physical activity. Clin Biochem, 2011; 44(2-3):245-247.
Manolakis et al. Calprotectin, calgranulin C, and other members of the S100 protein family in inflammatory bowel disease. Digest Dis Sci, 2011; 56(6):1601-1611.
Vojdani. Brain-reactive antibodies in traumatic brain injury. Funct Neurol Rehabil Ergon, 2013; 3(2-3):173-181.
Marchi et al. Consequences of repeated blood-brain barrier disruption in football players. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8(3):e56805.
Kharrazian. Traumatic brain injury and the effect on the brain-gut axis. Altern Ther Health Med, 2015; 21(suppl3):28-33.
Bansal et al. Traumatic brain injury and intestinal dysfunction: uncovering the neuro-enteric axis. J Neurotrauma, 2009; 26:1353-1359.
Gazzolo et al. Neurological abnormalities in full-term asphyxiated newborns and salivary S100B testing: the “Cooperative Multitask against Brain Injury of Neonates” (CoMBINe) international study. PLoS ONE, 2015; 10(1):e0115194.
Blood-Brain Barrier Proteins IgA+IgM
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