Rhesus macaque brain microvessel endothelial cells behave in a manner phenotypically distinct from umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Activation of endothelium is a critical step in leukocyte recruitment to the CNS and in development of neurological diseases, such as HIV-associated dementia. Due to limited availability of early disease course data, it is important to develop in vitro models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that can be used to address these early events. No such model of the BBB has been established for the macaque. Here, we characterize rhesus microvascular brain endothelial cells (MBEC), comparing them with rhesus umbilical vein endothelial cells (RUVEC), and discuss their suitability for future use in developing in vitro models of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) neuropathogenesis. We conclude that MBEC are distinct from RUVEC with respect to growth characteristics, culture requirements, morphology and expression of surface molecules important for leukocyte adhesion and immune activation.
MacLean
A G
AG
New England Regional Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, 01772-9102, Southborough, MA, USA.
Orandle
M S
MS
Alvarez
X
X
Williams
K C
KC
Lackner
A A
AA
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002455:Cell Division; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine