KRIT1/Cerebral Cavernous Malformation 1 Protein Localizes to Vascular Endothelium, Astrocytes, and Pyramidal Cells of the Adult Human Cerebral Cortex

Abstract

Although KRIT1 expression is seen in every endothelium studied, cerebral cavernous malformation lesions are seen almost exclusively in the central nervous system, suggesting that additional cell type(s) contribute to the pathophysiology of cerebral cavernous malformations. Here, we demonstrate that KRIT1 is also present in cells and structures integral to the cerebral angiogenesis and formation of the blood-brain barrier, namely, endothelial cells and astrocytic foot processes, as well as pyramidal neurons in the cerebral cortex.