Endothelial cell activation in central nervous system inflammation

: Leukocyte migration across the endothelial barrier plays an essential role in CNS inflammation. The migration process requires complex endothelial adhesion molecules concentrated at the junctions of endothelial cells. Recent findings suggest that cerebral endothelial cells play an active role in the pathogenesis of CNS inflammatory diseases. This review describes our current understanding of the effects of various inflammatory mediators of leukocyte migration on cerebral endothelial cells, the mechanisms underlying the leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions, and the crosstalk between endothelial cells and glial cells or platelets. These emerging mechanisms may provide new therapeutic strategies for a variety of CNS inflammatory diseases.