title: A new astrocytic cell line which is able to induce a blood-brain barrier property in cultured brain capillary endothelial cells.
abstract: Astrocytes, a member of the glial cell family in the central nervous system, are assumed to play a crucial role in the formation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vertebrates. It was shown that astrocytes induce BBB-properties in brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) in vitro. We now established an astroglial cell line of non-tumoral origin. The cloned cell line (A7) shows a highly increased proliferation rate and expresses the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. Furthermore, the clone A7 expresses S-100-protein and vimentin, which are also expressed by primary cultured astrocytes. This cell line therefore shows general astrocytic features. In addition, we were able to show that A7 cells re-induce the BBB-related marker enzyme alkaline phosphatase in BCEC, when these two cell types are co-cultured. Thus we have a cell line which can be readily cultured in large quantities, shows common astrocyte properties and is able to influence BCEC with respect to a BBB-related feature.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Wilhelm-Klemm-Straße 2, D-48149, Münster, F.R, Germany.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Beuckmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dernbach
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hakvoort
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Galla