title: Targeting the neurovascular unit: development of a new model and consideration for novel strategy for Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease involves the complex and interconnected cascade of cellular and molecular events. Only a few treatments are available to slow the course of the disease at present. Recent studies suggest that neurovascular unit serves to maintain cerebral homeostasis, and pathological interactions between components of neurovascular unit lead to cerebral dysfunction. In present study, we established a functional unit trying to target major components of the neurovascular unit by the co-culture of rat cortical parenchymal culture and cerebral microvascular endothelial cells. This entity allowed the application of techniques such as immunofluorescent imaging and biological assays under defined conditions. The morphology of cell types, blood-brain barrier function and neuronal activation were investigated. The insight revealed that targeting components of the neurovascular unit, rather than just the neuron, might be a priority in Alzheimer's disease and more likely to provide cerebroprotection.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Pharmaceutical Screening, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tian-tai
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cai-xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Guan-hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D000109:Acetylcholine