Cracking the Code: Genetic Signal Unveils Blood-Brain Barrier Formation

Scientists at Harvard Medical School have identified a gene called spock1 that plays a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier. The study, conducted in zebrafish and mice, found that a signal originating from neurons and produced by the spock1 gene is essential for the proper development of the barrier during embryonic stages and helps maintain its integrity in adulthood. If replicated in further animal testing and eventually in humans, these findings could lead to better strategies for drug delivery to the brain and combating barrier damage caused by neurodegeneration or stroke.