In Vitro Assays to Assess Blood-brain Barrier Mesh-like Vessel Formation and Disruption

J Vis Exp. 2017 Jun 20:(124):55846. doi: 10.3791/55846.

Abstract

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) coverage plays a central role in the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB is dynamically maintained by astrocytes, pericytes and brain endothelial cells (BECs). Here, we detail methods to assess BBB coverage using single cultures of immortalized human BECs, single cultures of primary mouse BECs, and a humanized triple culture model (BECs, astrocytes and pericytes) of the BBB. To highlight the applicability of the assays to disease states, we describe the effect of oligomeric amyloid-β (oAβ), which is an important contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression, on BBB coverage. Further, we utilize the epidermal growth factor (EGF) to illuminate the drug screening potential of the techniques. Our results show that single and triple cultured BECs form meshwork-like structures under basal conditions, and that oAβ disrupts this cell meshwork formation and degenerates the preformed mesh structures, but EGF blocks this disruption. Thus, the techniques described are important for dissecting fundamental and disease-relevant processes that modulate BBB coverage.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / cytology
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Astrocytes / pathology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / cytology*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology*
  • Capillaries / cytology*
  • Capillaries / drug effects
  • Capillaries / pathology*
  • Cell Culture Techniques / methods*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Pericytes / cytology
  • Pericytes / drug effects
  • Pericytes / pathology

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Epidermal Growth Factor