Human cerebral endothelial cells are a potential source for bioactive BDNF.
Inflammatory stimuli within the central nervous system may not only induce tissue damage but may also convey neuroprotection. It has been shown that brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neuroprotective candidate. Here we show that BDNF is constitutively expressed in cultured human cerebral endothelial cells (HCEC) and can further be upregulated under proinflammatory conditions. TNF-alpha treatment resulted in an increase in BDNF mRNA expression and protein levels were significantly elevated after 72 h (69+/-33%, P<0.01). Using functional assays it was demonstrated that BDNF produced by HCEC is bioactive and supports motoneuron survival. In contrast, BDNF expression was reduced by TNF-alpha in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We conclude that HCEC likely to contribute to neuronal survival under physiological and inflammatory conditions.
Clinical Research Unit for Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Germany. antonios.bayas@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
A
A
Bayas
V
V
Hummel
B A
BA
Kallmann
C
C
Karch
K V
KV
Toyka
P
P
Rieckmann
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016207:Cytokines