中国科学院动物研究所焦建伟小组近日取得一项新成果。经过不懈努力，他们的最新研究揭示了解码人类皮层血脑屏障的时空发展。该研究于2026年3月23日发表于国际一流学术期刊《细胞—干细胞》杂志上。

通过单细胞时空转录组学，该研究团队研究了6-21孕周（GWs）人类血脑屏障的发育，并观察到在发育过程中所有脑内皮亚细胞中广泛表达血脑屏障特异性转运蛋白。该研究组确定了人类BBB样转录特征在GW8时开始，并证明神经细胞可以通过CADHERIN-2（CDH2）诱导脑内皮细胞（ECs）中BBB特异性转运蛋白的表达。该课题组人员还证明神经祖细胞促进壁细胞的增殖。随着BBB样转录信号的启动，内皮细胞和壁细胞之间的通讯信号开始增强。此外，研究小组揭示了人类和小鼠之间保守的血脑屏障发育，并证明H2A.Z.1调节血管生成和血脑屏障的发育。总的来说，这些发现为理解人类血脑屏障的发生和确定血脑屏障相关疾病的治疗靶点提供了独特的见解。

研究人员表示，血脑屏障（BBB）对维持中枢神经系统的稳态至关重要。然而，人类血脑屏障形成的过程仍不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: Decoding the spatiotemporal development of the blood-brain barrier in human cortex

Author: Zhongqiu Li, Yanxin Li, Ziqing He, Changliang Wang, Yuehong Zhang, Rong Li, Lei Jin, Jin Jiao, Fen Ji, Bing Zhu, Jingjing Zhang, Peng Du, Ji Dong, Jianwei Jiao

Issue&Volume: 2026-03-23

Abstract: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is essential for maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system. However, the processes of BBB formation in humans remain unclear. Here, using single-cell spatiotemporal transcriptomics, we investigate human BBB development from 6 to 21 gestational weeks (GWs) and observe widespread expression of BBB-specific transporters in all brain-endothelial subclusters during development. We determine the onset of the human BBB-like transcriptional signature at GW8 and prove that neural cells can induce the expression of BBB-specific transporters in brain endothelial cells (ECs) via CADHERIN-2 (CDH2). We also demonstrate that neural progenitor cells promote the proliferation of mural cells. Concomitant with the initiation of the BBB-like transcriptional signature, communication signals between ECs and mural cells begin to intensify. In addition, we reveal conserved BBB development between humans and mice and demonstrate that H2A.Z.1 regulates angiogenesis and BBB development. Collectively, these findings provide unique insights into understanding human BBB ontogeny and identifying therapeutic targets for BBB-related disorders.

DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2026.02.010

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909(26)00080-9