Astrocytes induce several blood-brain barrier properties in non-neural endothelial cells.
The passage of immunocompetent cells across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is regulated at the level of the cerebral capillaries which have specific morphological and biochemical properties. We have developed and characterized an in vitro model of the BBB using immortalized human endothelial cells (ECV 304) induced by rat astrocytes. In this model, endothelial cells are attached together by continuous intercellular junctions with numerous tight junctions, develop a permeability barrier having a significant transcellular electrical resistance, possess high activities of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) and express the brain-type glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1). These parameters are also characteristic of brain capillary endothelial cells. Under the culture conditions used, the ECV 304 cells express the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the external plasma membrane at concentrations which could permit lymphocyte adhesion to be studied.
Kuchler-Bopp
S
S
Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Moléculaire des Interactions Cellulaires, UPR 416 du CNRS, Strasbourg, France.
Delaunoy
J P
JP
Artault
J C
JC
Zaepfel
M
M
Dietrich
J B
JB
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000032:analysis
D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; C495677:SLC2A1 protein, human; C495679:Slc2a1 protein, rat; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase