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Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Isolation of Region-specific Microglia from One Adult Mouse Brain Hemisphere for Deep Single-cell RNA Sequencing
Published on: December 3, 2019
Transcriptome analysis of human brain microvascular endothelial cells response to Neisseria meningitidis and its
Evelína Káňová1, Zuzana Tkáčová1, Katarína Bhide1
1Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Komenskeho 73, 04001, Kosice, Slovakia.
Abstract:
Interaction of Neisseria meningitidis (NM) with human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) initiates of multiple cellular processes, which allow bacterial translocation across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). NM is equipped with several antigens, which interacts with the host cell receptors. Recently we have shown that adhesin MafA (UniProtKB-X5EG71), relatively less studied protein, is one of those surface exposed antigens that adhere to hBMECs. The present study was designed to comprehensively map the undergoing biological processes in hBMECs challenged with NM or MafA using RNA sequencing. 708 and 726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in hBMECs exposed to NM and MafA, respectively. Gene ontology analysis of the DEGs revealed that several biological processes, which may alter the permeability of BBB, were activated. Comparative analysis of DEGs revealed that MafA, alike NM, might provoke TLR-dependent pathway and augment cytokine response. Moreover, both MafA and NM were able to induce genes involved in cell surface modifications, endocytosis, extracellular matrix remodulation and anoikis/apoptosis. In conclusion, this study for the first time describes effect of NM on the global gene expression in hBMECs using high-throughput RNA-seq. It also presents ability of MafA to induce gene expression, which might aid NM in breaching the BBB.
Insights
Neisseria meningitidis (NM) and its adhesin MafA trigger gene expression changes in human brain endothelial cells, potentially aiding bacterial invasion across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study reveals MafA
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Background:
- Neisseria meningitidis (NM) invades the blood-brain barrier (BBB) via interactions with human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs).
- The adhesin MafA is a surface-exposed antigen of NM that binds to hBMECs, but its role in BBB interaction is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively map the biological processes in hBMECs upon challenge with NM or MafA using RNA sequencing.
- To compare the gene expression profiles induced by NM and MafA in hBMECs.
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing of hBMECs exposed to NM or MafA.
- Differential gene expression analysis.
- Gene ontology analysis.
Main Results:
- NM and MafA induced 708 and 726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in hBMECs, respectively.
- Gene ontology analysis revealed activation of processes potentially altering BBB permeability.
- MafA, similar to NM, may activate TLR-dependent pathways and cytokine responses, alongside genes for cell surface modification, endocytosis, ECM remodeling, and apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first global gene expression analysis of hBMECs challenged with NM using RNA-seq.
- MafA induces gene expression changes in hBMECs that may contribute to NM's ability to breach the BBB.
