Abstract

Periphery-Brain Communication via Extracellular Vesicles

Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke, Associate Professor, Ghent University, Group Leader at VIB

Our brain is protected from the periphery via the presence of different brain barriers, including the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. While this blocks access to the brain for most molecules, recent research has shown that some extracellular vesicles (EVs) are able to cross these barriers. In this talk, I will focus on the consequences of this phenomenon, including the impact of bacterial-derived EVs on the brain and the use of EVs to deliver therapeutics to the brain.