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.
Institut für Biochemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
J
J
Rauh
J
J
Meyer
C
C
Beuckmann
H J
HJ
Galla
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