title: In vitro study of the effects of Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae extracts on apoptosis and dysfunction in the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
abstract: It has been hypothesized that blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection might be due to the apoptosis of the hosts' BBB cells. Here, we evaluated this hypothesis through several methods, all based on an in vitro mouse BBB model consisting of primary culture brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and brain astrocytic cells (BACs). In the present study, a four-hour percolation and HRP permeability experiment showed that A. cantonensis larvae extracts can increase the permeability of the BBB. Apoptosis among BMECs and BACs after exposure to larvae extracts was monitored by TUNEL and annexin-V-FITC/PI double staining. A. cantonensis larvae extracts were found to induce apoptosis in both BMECs and BACs. For this reason, we concluded that the induction of apoptosis might participate in the BBB dysfunction observed during angiostrongyliasis. Improved fundamental understanding of how A. cantonensis induces apoptosis may lead to new approaches to the treatment or prevention of this parasitic disease.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Laboratory Science, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jiang-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Fei-Fei
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Er-Peng
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zeng-Mei
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hui-Cong
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fang-Jun
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Chang-Wang
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D017185:Angiostrongylus cantonensis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000469:parasitology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation; D007814:Larva; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008833:Microcirculation; D010539:Permeability; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000469:parasitology