Development of an in vitro cell culture system to mimic the blood-brain barrier.
Primary cultures of brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) cocultured together with astroglia cells were used to investigate the induction of blood-brain barrier (BBB) characteristics in vitro. By immunofluorescence, histochemical staining, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and enzyme activity tests we are able to show that BCECs in vitro loose typical blood-brain barrier properties but not their common endothelial phenotype. Astrocytes induce the expression of the blood-brain barrier characteristic enzymes gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase but only in a coculture system with direct cell to cell contact between BCECs and astroglia cells. C6-glioma cells also re-establish the BBB phenotype but were less effective compared to astrocytes. The susceptibility of the BCECs to an astroglial stimulus depends on the proliferative state of the BCECs.
Rauh
J
J
Institut für Biochemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
Meyer
J
J
Beuckmann
C
C
Galla
H J
HJ
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002196:Capillaries; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A