Validating these in vitro findings, signs of BBB compromise were also observed in some brain regions of human cases of neonatal kernicterus, including albumin presence in the brain parenchyma, increased vascularization and microvascular hyperpermeability (Brito et al., 2012, 2013), reduced pericyte vascular coverage and loss of basement membrane components (Palmela et al., submitted). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is kernicterus.