scholarly journals MEK/MELK inhibition and blood–brain barrier deficiencies in atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaël H Meel ◽  
Miriam Guillén Navarro ◽  
Mark C de Gooijer ◽  
Dennis S Metselaar ◽  
Piotr Waranecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Xenograft Model ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Antitumor Efficacy ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Atypical Teratoid ◽  
Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumors ◽  
Rhabdoid Tumors

Abstract Background Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) are rare, but highly aggressive. These entities are of embryonal origin occurring in the central nervous system (CNS) of young children. Molecularly these tumors are driven by a single hallmark mutation, resulting in inactivation of SMARCB1 or SMARCA4. Additionally, activation of the MAPK signaling axis and preclinical antitumor efficacy of its inhibition have been described in AT/RT. Methods We established and validated a patient-derived neurosphere culture and xenograft model of sonic hedgehog (SHH) subtype AT/RT, at diagnosis and relapse from the same patient. We set out to study the vascular phenotype of these tumors to evaluate the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in AT/RT. We also used the model to study combined mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) and maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for AT/RT. Results We found MELK to be highly overexpressed in both patient samples of AT/RT and our primary cultures and xenografts. We identified a potent antitumor efficacy of the MELK inhibitor OTSSP167, as well as strong synergy with the MEK inhibitor trametinib, against primary AT/RT neurospheres. Additionally, vascular phenotyping of AT/RT patient material and xenografts revealed significant BBB aberrancies in these tumors. Finally, we show in vivo efficacy of the non-BBB penetrable drugs OTSSP167 and trametinib in AT/RT xenografts, demonstrating the therapeutic implications of the observed BBB deficiencies and validating MEK/MELK inhibition as a potential treatment. Conclusion Altogether, we developed a combination treatment strategy for AT/RT based on MEK/MELK inhibition and identify therapeutically exploitable BBB deficiencies in these tumors.

The PPARγ agonist pioglitazone crosses the blood–brain barrier and reduces tumor growth in a human xenograft model

2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 929-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Grommes ◽  
J. Colleen Karlo ◽  
Andrew Caprariello ◽  
D’Arbra Blankenship ◽  
Anne DeChant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Xenograft Model ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Pparγ Agonist

Modulation of tight junction structure in blood-brain barrier endothelial cells. Effects of tissue culture, second messengers and cocultured astrocytes

1994 ◽  
Vol 107 (5) ◽  
pp. 1347-1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Wolburg ◽  
J. Neuhaus ◽  
U. Kniesel ◽  
B. Krauss ◽  
E.M. Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Tight Junction ◽  
Tight Junctions ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Brain Endothelial Cells ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Camp Levels

Tight junctions between endothelial cells of brain capillaries are the most important structural elements of the blood-brain barrier. Cultured brain endothelial cells are known to loose tight junction-dependent blood-brain barrier characteristics such as macromolecular impermeability and high electrical resistance. We have directly analyzed the structure and function of tight junctions in primary cultures of bovine brain endothelial cells using quantitative freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and ion and inulin permeability. The complexity of tight junctions, defined as the number of branch points per unit length of tight junctional strands, decreased 5 hours after culture but thereafter remained almost constant. In contrast, the association of tight junction particles with the cytoplasmic leaflet of the endothelial membrane bilayer (P-face) decreased continuously with a major drop between 16 hours and 24 hours. The complexity of tight junctions could be increased by elevation of intracellular cAMP levels while phorbol esters had the opposite effect. On the other hand, the P-face association of tight junction particles was enhanced by elevation of cAMP levels and by coculture of endothelial cells with astrocytes or exposure to astrocyte-conditioned medium. The latter effect on P-face association was induced by astrocytes but not fibroblasts. Elevation of cAMP levels together with astrocyte-conditioned medium synergistically increased transendothelial electrical resistance and decreased inulin permeability of primary cultures, thus confirming the effects on tight junction structure and barrier function. P-face association of tight junction particles in brain endothelial cells may therefore be a critical feature of blood-brain barrier function that can be specifically modulated by astrocytes and cAMP levels. Our results suggest an important functional role for the cytoplasmic anchorage of tight junction particles for brain endothelial barrier function in particular and probably paracellular permeability in general.

Epigenetic Regulation of Ferroportin in Primary Cultures of the Rat Blood-Brain Barrier

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 3526-3539
Author(s):  
Steinunn Sara Helgudottir ◽  
Lisa J. Routhe ◽  
Annette Burkhart ◽  
Katrine Jønsson ◽  
Inge S. Pedersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Rat Blood ◽  
Blood Brain

scholarly journals Cerebromicrovascular endothelial cells are resistant to l-glutamate

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (4) ◽  
pp. R1099-R1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferenc Domoki ◽  
Béla Kis ◽  
Tamás Gáspár ◽  
Ferenc Bari ◽  
David W. Busija
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Cranial Window ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Microvascular Cells

Cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (CMVECs) have recently been implicated as targets of excitotoxic injury by l-glutamate (l-glut) or N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) in vitro. However, high levels of l-glut do not compromise the function of the blood-brain barrier in vivo. We sought to determine whether primary cultures of rat and piglet CMVECs or cerebral microvascular pericytes (CMVPCs) are indeed sensitive to l-glut or NMDA. Viability was unaffected by 8-h exposure to 1–10 mM l-glut or NMDA in CMVECs or CMVPCs isolated from both species. Furthermore, neither 1 mM l-glut nor NMDA augmented cell death induced by 12-h oxygen-glucose deprivation in rat CMVECs or by 8-h medium withdrawal in CMVPCs. Additionally, transendothelial electrical resistance of rat CMVEC-astrocyte cocultures or piglet CMVEC cultures were not compromised by up to 24-h exposure to 1 mM l-glut or NMDA. The Ca2+ ionophore calcimycin (5 μM), but not l-glut (1 mM), increased intracellular Ca2+ levels in rat CMVECs and CMVPCs assessed with fluo-4 AM fluorescence and confocal microscopy. CMVEC-dependent pial arteriolar vasodilation to hypercapnia and bradykinin was unaffected by intracarotid infusion of l-glut in anesthetized piglets by closed cranial window/intravital microscopy. We conclude that cerebral microvascular cells are insensitive and resistant to glutamatergic stimuli in accordance with their in vivo role as regulators of potentially neurotoxic amino acids across the blood-brain barrier.

scholarly journals BMSCs Regulate Astrocytes through TSG-6 to Protect the Blood-Brain Barrier after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Yilv Wan ◽  
Min Song ◽  
Xun Xie ◽  
Zhen Chen ◽  
Ziyun Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Blue Staining ◽  
Nissl Staining ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Bbb Permeability

Background. In patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), the damage of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can be life-threatening. Mesenchymal stem cells are widely used in clinical research due to their pleiotropic properties. This study is aimed at exploring the effect of BMSCs regulating astrocytes on the BBB after SAH. Methods. The SAH model was established by perforating the blood vessels. BMSCs were transfected with TSG-6 inhibitor plasmid and cocultured with astrocytes. Intravenous transplantation of BMSCs was utilized to treat SAH rats. We performed ELISA, neurological scoring, Evans blue staining, NO measurement, immunofluorescence, BBB permeability, Western blot, HE staining, Nissl staining, and immunohistochemistry to evaluate the effect of BMSCs on astrocytes and BBB. Results. SAH rats showed BBB injury, increased BBB permeability, and brain histological damage. BMSCs will secrete TSG-6 after being activated by TNF-α. Under the influence of TSG-6, the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways of astrocytes were inhibited. The expression of iNOS was reduced, while occludin, claudin 3, and ZO-1 expression was increased. The production of harmful substances NO and ONOO- decreased. The level of inflammatory factors decreased. The apoptosis of astrocytes was weakened. TSG-6 secreted by BMSCs can relieve inflammation caused by SAH injury. The increase in BBB permeability of SAH rats was further reduced and the risk of rebleeding was reduced. Conclusion. BMSCs can regulate the activation of astrocytes through secreting TSG-6 in vivo and in vitro to protect BBB.

scholarly journals Heparin-derived theranostic nanoprobes overcome the blood-brain barrier and target glioma in murine model

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumanta Samanta ◽  
Vadim Le Joncour ◽  
Olivia Wegrzyniak ◽  
Vigneshkumar Rangasami ◽  
Harri Ali-Loytty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Xenograft Model ◽  
Brain Parenchyma ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Mouse Strains ◽  
Tail Vein ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Theranostic Agents ◽  
The Brain

The poor permeability of theranostic agents across the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) significantly hampers the development of new treatment modalities for neurological diseases. We have discovered a new biomimetic nanocarrier using heparin (HP) that effectively passes the BBB and targets glioblastoma. Specifically, we designed HP coated gold nanoparticles (HP-AuNPs) that were labeled with three different imaging modalities namely, fluorescein (FITC-HP-AuNP), radioisotope 68Gallium (68Ga-HP-AuNPs), and MRI active gadolinium (Gd-HP-AuNPs). The systemic infusion of FITC-HP-AuNPs in three different mouse strains (C57BL/6JRj, FVB, and NMRI-nude) displayed excellent penetration and revealed uniform distribution of fluorescent particles in the brain parenchyma (69-86%) with some accumulation in neurons (8-18%) and microglia (4-10%). Tail-vein administration of radiolabeled 68Ga-HP-AuNPs in healthy rats also showed 68Ga-HP-AuNP inside the brain parenchyma and in areas containing cerebrospinal fluid, such as the lateral ventricles, the cerebellum, and brain stem. Finally, tail-vein administration of Gd-HP-AuNPs (that display ~3 fold higher relaxivity than that of commercial Gd-DTPA) in an orthotopic glioblastoma (U87MG xenograft) model in nude mice demonstrated enrichment of T1-contrast at the intracranial tumor with a gradual increase in the contrast in the tumor region between 1h-3h. We believe, our finding offers the untapped potential of HP-derived-NPs to deliver cargo molecules for treating neurological disorders.

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