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An in vitro blood-brain barrier model combining shear stress and endothelial cell/astrocyte co-culture

Takeshita Y, Obermeier B, Cotleur A, Sano Y, Kanda T, Ransohoff RM

Journal of neuroscience methods, 2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models can be useful for understanding leukocyte-endothelial interactions at this unique vascular-tissue interface. Desirable features of such a model include shear stress, non-transformed cells and co-cultures of brain microvascular endothelial cells with astrocytes. Recovery of transmigrated leukocytes for further analysis is also appealing.

NEW METHODS: We report an in vitro BBB model for leukocyte transmigration incorporating shear stress with co-culture of conditionally immortalized human endothelial cell line (hBMVEC) and human astrocyte cell line (hAST). Transmigrated leukocytes can be recovered for comparison with input and non-transmigrated cells.

RESULT: hBMVEC and hAST exhibited physiological and morphological BBB properties when cocultured back-to-back on membranes. In particular, astrocyte processes protruded through 3 μm membrane pores, terminating in close proximity to the hBMVEC with a morphology reminiscent of end-feet. Co-culture with hAST also decreased the permeability of hBMVEC. In our model, astrocytes promoted transendothelial leukocyte transmigration.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: This model offers the opportunity to evaluate whether BBB properties and leukocyte transmigration across cytokine-activated hBMVEC are influenced by human astrocytes.

CONCLUSIONS: We present a BBB model for leukocyte transmigration incorporating shear stress with co-culture of hBMVEC and hAST. We demonstrate that hAST…

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