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A Human Blood-Brain Interface Model to Study Barrier Crossings by Pathogens or Medicines and Their Interactions with the Brain
Published on: April 9, 2019
8.8K
[Blood-Brain Barrier Transwell Modeling].
A V Petrovskaya1, E P Barykin1, A M Tverskoi1
1Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991 Russia.
Molekuliarnaia Biologiia
|December 7, 2022
Summary
Improving the in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model is crucial for studying neurological disorders. This study identifies key cultivation parameters to enhance BBB model integrity for more accurate research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Context:
- In vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models using brain endothelial cells on transwell membranes are vital for studying BBB disorders.
- These models often exhibit lower integrity (higher permeability) than physiological BBBs, complicating research.
- Enhancing BBB model integrity is essential for accurate assessment of therapeutic agents.
Purpose:
- To identify optimal cultivation conditions for improving the integrity of in vitro BBB models.
- To assess the impact of various factors, including medium, cell seeding density, transwell membrane, neurons, and matrigel, on BBB permeability.
- To analyze the effect of fetal bovine serum on claudin-5 expression.
Summary:
- Mouse brain endothelial cells (bEnd.3) were cultured under varied conditions on transwell membranes to evaluate BBB integrity.
- Factors investigated included cultivation medium, cell density, membrane surface, co-culture with neurons, and use of matrigel.
- Immunocytochemistry assessed claudin-5 expression, a key tight junction protein, in response to fetal bovine serum.
Impact:
- Provides data-driven cultivation parameters to significantly enhance the integrity of the in vitro BBB transwell model.
- Brings the in vitro BBB model closer to physiological relevance, improving its utility in drug discovery and disease research.
- Facilitates more reliable evaluation of agents intended to modulate BBB function and treat neurological disorders.
