The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is essential for the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Functions of the BBB are performed by the neurovascular unit (NVU), which consists of endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, basement membrane, and neurons. NVU cells interact closely and together are responsible for neurovascular coupling, BBB integrity, and transendothelial fluid transport. Studies have shown that NVU dysfunction is implicated in several acute and chronic neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The mechanisms of NVU disruption remain poorly understood, partially due to difficulties in selective targeting of NVU cells. In this review, we discuss the relative merits of available protein markers and drivers of the NVU along with recent advancements that have been made in the field to increase efficiency and specificity of NVU research.

血脑屏障（BBB）对于中枢神经系统（CNS）的稳态至关重要。 BBB 的功能由神经血管单元 (NVU) 执行，该单元由内皮细胞、周细胞、星形胶质细胞、小胶质细胞、基底膜和神经元组成。 NVU 细胞紧密相互作用，共同负责神经血管耦合、血脑屏障完整性和跨内皮液体运输。研究表明，NVU 功能障碍与多种急性和慢性神经系统疾病有关，包括阿尔茨海默病、多发性硬化症和中风。 NVU 破坏的机制仍然知之甚少，部分原因是选择性靶向 NVU 细胞的困难。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了 NVU 可用蛋白质标记和驱动因素的相对优点，以及该领域为提高 NVU 研究效率和特异性而取得的最新进展。