title: NKIM-6, a new immortalized human brain capillary endothelial cell line with conserved endothelial characteristics.
abstract: Primary human brain capillary endothelial cells (hBCECs) are available only in small quantities and have a short life span in vitro; this restricts their use as in vitro model for the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To overcome these limitations, we have established an immortalized hBCEC line (NKIM-6) by transfection with pLXSN16E6E7, which encodes the human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 genes. The cell line exhibits an extended life span in vitro and retains its characteristic endothelial morphology, endothelial markers, and physiology. Likewise, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), NKIM-6 cells express BBB markers, and the lack of glial, neuronal, and epithelial markers confirms their endothelial origin. Moreover, with quantitative RT-PCR, we have been able to demonstrate that several ATP-binding cassette-transporters are expressed in NKIM-6 cells with a conserved expression order compared with primary hBCECs. Our results suggest that this cell line might be suitable as in vitro model for several aspects of the BBB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nahal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ketabi-Kiyanvash
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herold-Mende
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kashfi
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tommasino
authors.forename: Walter E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Haefeli
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011422:Propionates / Q000494:pharmacology; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D015415:Biomarkers; D011422:Propionates; D011804:Quinolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C059141:verlukast