The blood-brain barrier (BBB), constituted by an extensive network of endothelial cells (ECs) together with neurons and glial cells, including microglia, forms the neurovascular unit (NVU). The crosstalk between these cells guarantees a proper environment for brain function. In this context, changes in the endothelium-microglia interactions are associated with a variety of inflammation-related diseases in brain, where BBB permeability is compromised. Increasing evidences indicate that activated microglia modulate expression of tight junctions, which are essential for BBB integrity and function. On the other hand, the endothelium can regulate the state of microglial activation. Here, we review recent advances that provide insights into interactions between the microglia and the vascular system in brain diseases such as infectious/inflammatory diseases, epilepsy, ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative disorders.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an abundant bioactive phospholipid, with multiple functions both in development and in pathological conditions. Here, we review the literature about the differential signaling of LPA through its specific receptors, which makes this lipid a versatile signaling molecule. This differential signaling is important for understanding how this molecule can have such diverse effects during central nervous system development and angiogenesis; and also, how it can act as a powerful mediator of pathological conditions, such as neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer progression. Ultimately, we review the preclinical and clinical uses of Autotaxin, LPA, and its receptors as therapeutic targets, approaching the most recent data of promising molecules modulating both LPA production and signaling. This review aims to summarize the most update knowledge about the mechanisms of LPA production and signaling in order to understand its biological functions in the central nervous system both in health and disease.

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Glioblastomas (GBMs) are considered to be one of the deadliest human cancers, characterized by a high proliferative rate, aggressive invasiveness and insensitivity to radio- and chemotherapy, as well as a short patient survival period. Moreover, GBMs are among the most vascularized and invasive cancers in humans. Angiogenesis in GBMs is correlated with the grade of malignancy and is inversely correlated with patient survival. One of the first steps in tumor invasions is migration. GBM cells have the ability to infiltrate and disrupt physical barriers such as basement membranes, extracellular matrix and cell junctions. The invasion process includes the overexpression of several members of a super-family of zinc-based proteinases, the Metzincin, in particular a sub-group, metalloproteinases. Another interesting aspect is that, inside the GBM tissue, there are up to 30% of microglia or macrophages. However, little is known about the immune performance and interactions of the microglia with GBMs. These singular properties of GBMs will be described here. A sub-population of cells with stem-like properties may be the source of tumors since, apparently, GBM stem cells (GSCs) are highly resistant to current cancer treatments. These cancer therapies, while killing the majority of tumor cells, ultimately fail in GBM treatment because they do not eliminate GSCs, which survive to regenerate new tumors. Finally, GBM patient prognostic has shown little improvement in decades. In this context, we will discuss how the membrane-acting toxins called cytolysins can be a potential new tool for GBM treatment.

Recent clinical studies have shown that sepsis survivors may develop long-term cognitive impairments. The cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in these events are not well understood. This study investigated synaptic deficits in sepsis and the involvement of glial cells in this process. Septic animals showed memory impairment and reduced numbers of hippocampal and cortical excitatory synapses, identified by synaptophysin/PSD-95 co-localization, 9 days after disease onset. The behavioral deficits and synaptophysin/PSD-95 co-localization were rescued to normal levels within 30 days post-sepsis. Septic mice presented activation of microglia and reactive astrogliosis, which are hallmarks of brain injury and could be involved in the associated synaptic deficits. We treated neuronal cultures with conditioned medium derived from cultured astrocytes (ACM) and microglia (MCM) that were either non-stimulated or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic deficits in sepsis. ACM and MCM increased the number of synapses between cortical neurons in vitro, and these effects were antagonized by LPS stimulation. LPS-MCM reduced the number of synapses by 50%, but LPS-ACM increased the number of synapses by 500%. Analysis of the composition of these conditioned media revealed increased levels of IL-1β in LPS-MCM. Furthermore, inhibition of IL-1β signaling through the addition of a soluble IL-1β receptor antagonist (IL-1 Ra) fully prevented the synaptic deficit induced by LPS-MCM. These results suggest that sepsis induces a transient synaptic deficit associated with memory impairments mediated by IL-1β secreted by activated microglia.