Feifei Ma1, Xuejing Zhang1, Ke-Jie Yin1,2,*
1Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery, Department of Neurology, University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
2Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare
System, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
Abstract
Given the essential role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the central nervous system (CNS),
cumulative investigations have been performed to elucidate how modulation of BBB structural and
functional integrity affects the pathogenesis of CNS diseases such as stroke, traumatic brain
injuries, dementia, and cerebral infection. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs
(miRNAs) contribute to the maintenance of the BBB and thereby mediate CNS homeostasis. This
review summarizes emerging studies that demonstrate cerebral miRNAs regulate BBB function in
CNS disorders, emphasizing the direct role of miRNAs in BBB molecular composition. Evidence
presented in this review will encourage a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which
miRNAs regulate BBB function, and facilitate the development of new miRNAs-based therapies in
patients with CNS diseases.