scholarly journals Targeting Early Dementia: Using Lipid Cubic-Phase Nanocarriers to Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier

Author(s):  
Joseph S. D'Arrigo

Over past decades, a frequent co-morbidity of cerebrovascular pathology and Alzheimer's disease pathology has been observed. Numerous published studies indicate that preservation of healthy cerebrovascular endothelium can be an important therapeutic target. By incorporating appropriate drug(s) into biomimetic (lipid cubic-phase) nanocarriers, one obtains a multitasking combination therapeutic which targets certain cell-surface scavenger receptors, mainly class B type 1 (i.e., SR-BI), and crosses the blood-brain barrier. This targeting allows for various Alzheimer’s-related cell types to be simultaneously searched out for localized drug treatment in vivo.

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (15) ◽  
pp. 7591-7600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongwei Wang ◽  
Jinglin Sun ◽  
Harris Goldstein

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), introduced into the brain by HIV-1-infected monocytes which migrate across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), infects resident macrophages and microglia and initiates a process that causes HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders. The mechanism by which HIV-1 infection circumvents the BBB-restricted passage of systemic leukocytes into the brain and disrupts the integrity of the BBB is not known. Circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which can compromise the integrity of the BBB, is significantly increased in HIV-1-infected individuals. We hypothesized that HIV-1 infection increases monocyte capacity to migrate across the BBB, which is further facilitated by a compromise of BBB integrity mediated by the increased systemic LPS levels present in HIV-1-infected individuals. To investigate this possibility, we examined the in vivo BBB migration of monocytes derived from our novel mouse model, JR-CSF/EYFP mice, which are transgenic for both a long terminal repeat-regulated full-length infectious HIV-1 provirus and ROSA-26-regulated enhanced yellow fluorescent protein. We demonstrated that JR-CSF/EYFP mouse monocytes displayed an increased capacity to enter the brain by crossing either an intact BBB or a BBB whose integrity was partially compromised by systemic LPS. We also demonstrated that the JR-CSF mouse BBB was more susceptible to disruption by systemic LPS than the control wild-type mouse BBB. These results demonstrated that HIV-1 infection increased the ability of monocytes to enter the brain and increased the sensitivity of the BBB to disruption by systemic LPS, which is elevated in HIV-1-infected individuals. These mice represent a new in vivo system for studying the mechanism by which HIV-1-infected monocytes migrate into the brain.


2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 1879-1884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph M Zehendner ◽  
Heiko J Luhmann ◽  
Christoph RW Kuhlmann

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) closely interacts with the neuronal parenchyma in vivo. To replicate this interdependence in vitro, we established a murine coculture model composed of brain endothelial cell (BEC) monolayers with cortical organotypic slice cultures. The morphology of cell types, expression of tight junctions, formation of reactive oxygen species, caspase-3 activity in BECs, and alterations of electrical resistance under physiologic and pathophysiological conditions were investigated. This new BBB model allows the application of techniques such as laser scanning confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, fluorescent live cell imaging, and electrical cell substrate impedance sensing in real time for studying the dynamics of BBB function under defined conditions.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2036
Author(s):  
Yujin Ahn ◽  
Ju-Hyun An ◽  
Hae-Jun Yang ◽  
Dong Gil Lee ◽  
Jieun Kim ◽  
...  

Vascularization of tissues, organoids and organ-on-chip models has been attempted using endothelial cells. However, the cultured endothelial cells lack the capacity to interact with other somatic cell types, which is distinct from developing vascular cells in vivo. Recently, it was demonstrated that blood vessel organoids (BVOs) recreate the structure and functions of developing human blood vessels. However, the tissue-specific adaptability of BVOs had not been assessed in somatic tissues. Herein, we investigated whether BVOs infiltrate human cerebral organoids and form a blood–brain barrier. As a result, vascular cells arising from BVOs penetrated the cerebral organoids and developed a vessel-like architecture composed of CD31+ endothelial tubes coated with SMA+ or PDGFR+ mural cells. Molecular markers of the blood-brain barrier were detected in the vascularized cerebral organoids. We revealed that BVOs can form neural-specific blood-vessel networks that can be maintained for over 50 days.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey E Lubin ◽  
Gregory T. Knipp

Abstract Background: The in vivo restrictive properties of the blood brain barrier (BBB) largely arise from astrocyte and pericyte synergistic cell signaling interactions that underlie the brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMEC). In vivo relevant direct contact between astrocytes, pericytes, and BMECS, to our knowledge, has not been established in conventional Transwell® based in vitro screening models of the BBB. We hypothesize that a design of experiments (DOE) optimized direct contact layered triculture model will offer more in vivo relevance for screening in comparison to indirect models. Methods: Plating conditions including the seeding density of all three cell types, matrix protein, and culture time were assessed in DOEP. DOEP was followed by DOEM1 and DOEM2 to assess the influence of medium additives on barrier properties. The permeability of 4 kD dextran, a paracellular marker, was the measured response to arrive at the optimal plating conditions. The optimized model was further assessed for p-glycoprotein function using a substrate and inhibitor along with a set of BBB paracellular and transcellular markers at varying permeation rates.Results: DOEP revealed that length of culture post endothelial cell plating correlated highest with paracellular tightness. In addition, seeding density of the endothelial cell layer influenced paracellular tightness at earlier times of culture, and its impact decreased as culture is extended. Medium additives had varying effects on barrier properties as seen from DOEM1 and DOEM2. At optimal conditions, the model revealed P-gp function along with the ability to differentiate between BBB positive and negative permeants. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that the implementation of DOE based optimization for biologically based systems is an expedited method to establish multi-component in vitro cell models. The direct contact BBB triculture model reveals that the physiologically relevant layering of the three cell types is a practical method of culture to establish a screening model compared to indirect plating methods that incorporate physical barriers between cell types. Additionally, the ability of the model to differentiate between BBB positive and negative permeants suggests that this model may be an enhanced screening tool for potential neuroactive compounds.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0271678X2110395
Author(s):  
Mehdi Taslimifar ◽  
Martin Faltys ◽  
Vartan Kurtcuoglu ◽  
François Verrey ◽  
Victoria Makrides

In the CNS, amino acid (AA) neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter precursors are subject to tight homeostatic control mediated by blood-brain barrier (BBB) solute carrier amino acid transporters (AATs). Since the BBB is composed of multiple closely apposed cell types and opportunities for human in vivo studies are limited, we used in vitro and computational approaches to investigate human BBB AAT activity and regulation. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) of the human BBB endothelial cell model hCMEC/D3 (D3) was used to determine expression of selected AAT, tight junction (TJ), and signal transduction (ST) genes under various culture conditions. L-leucine uptake data were interrogated with a computational model developed by our group for calculating AAT activity in complex cell cultures. This approach is potentially applicable to in vitro cell culture drug studies where multiple “receptors” may mediate observed responses. Of 7 Leu AAT genes expressed by D3 only the activity of SLC7A5-SLC3A2/LAT1-4F2HC (LAT1), SLC43A2/LAT4 (LAT4) and sodium-dependent AATs, SLC6A15/B0AT2 (B0AT2), and SLC7A7/y+LAT1 (y+LAT1) were calculated to be required for Leu uptake. Therefore, D3 Leu transport may be mediated by a potentially physiologically relevant functional cooperation between the known BBB AAT, LAT1 and obligatory exchange (y+LAT1), facilitative diffusion (LAT4), and sodium symporter (B0AT2) transporters.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Potjewyd ◽  
Katherine Kellett ◽  
Nigel M Hooper

The neurovascular unit (NVU), consisting of neurons, glial cells, vascular cells (endothelial cells, pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells) together with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), is an important interface between the peripheral blood and the brain parenchyma. Disruption of the NVU impacts on blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulation and underlies the development and pathology of multiple neurological disorders, including stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. The ability to differentiate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to the different cell types of the NVU and incorporate them into physical models provides a reverse engineering approach to generate human NVU models to study BBB function. To recapitulate the in vivo situation such NVU models must also incorporate the ECM to provide a 3D environment with appropriate mechanical and biochemical cues for the cells of the NVU. In this review we provide an overview of the cells of the NVU and the surrounding ECM, before discussing the characteristics (stiffness, functionality and porosity) required of hydrogels to mimic the ECM when incorporated into in vitro NVU models. We summarise the approaches available to measure BBB functionality and present the techniques in use to develop robust and translatable models of the NVU, including transwell models, hydrogel models, 3D-bioprinting, microfluidic models and organoids. The incorporation of iPSCs either without or with disease-specific genetic mutations into these NVU models provides a platform in which to study normal and disease mechanisms, test BBB permeability to drugs, screen for new therapeutic targets and drugs, or to design cell-based therapies.


1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 494-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Zünkeler ◽  
Richard E. Carson ◽  
Jeffrey Olson ◽  
Ronald G. Blasberg ◽  
Mary Girton ◽  
...  

✓ Hyperosmolar blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption remains controversial as an adjuvant therapy to increase delivery of water-soluble compounds to extracellular space in the brain in patients with malignant brain tumors. To understand the physiological effects of BBB disruption more clearly, the authors used positron emission tomography (PET) to study the time course of BBB permeability in response to the potassium analog rubidium-82 (82Rb, halflife 75 seconds) following BBB disruption in anesthetized adult baboons. Mannitol (25%) was injected into the carotid artery and PET scans were performed before and serially at 8- to 15-minute intervals after BBB disruption. The mean influx constant (K1), a measure of permeability-surface area product, in ipsilateral, mannitol-perfused mixed gray- and white-matter brain regions was 4.9 ± 2.4 µl/min/ml (± standard deviation) at baseline and increased more than 100% (ΔK1 = 9.4 ± 5.1 µl/min/ml, 18 baboons) in brain perfused by mannitol. The effect of BBB disruption on K1 correlated directly with the total amount of mannitol administered (p < 0.005). Vascular permeability returned to baseline with a halftime of 24.0 ± 14.3 minutes. The mean brain plasma volume rose by 0.57 ± 0.34 ml/100 ml in ipsilateral perfused brain following BBB disruption. This work provides a basis for the in vivo study of permeability changes induced by BBB disruption in human brain and brain tumors.


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