Leon Tai is funded by University of Illinois Chicago start-up funds.

All experiments follow the University of Illinois, Chicago Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocols.
1. General Preparation
NOTE: The brain microvascular endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3) is an extensively characterized immortalized human BEC line14,15,16,18,19. Culture the hCMEC/D3 cells on tis...

<ol>
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The authors have nothing to disclose.

The methods described can be utilized to address several fundamental biological questions surrounding cerebrovascular coverage24. Specifically, they can identify which receptors and signaling pathways play a role in angiogenesis, vessel coverage in cancer tissue, and peripheral endothelial cells relevant to the brain. Examples include angiogenic growth factor receptors, nitric oxide, mitogen activated protein kinase signaling and calcium signaling25,<sup class="x...

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) of cerebral capillaries is the largest interface of blood-to-brain contact and plays a central role in the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS)1,2. Dynamic processes at the BBB prevent the uptake of unwanted molecules from the blood, remove waste products from the CNS, supply essential nutrients and signaling molecules to the CNS, and modulate neuroinflammation1,2,3,4,5. BBB damage is prevalent during aging and several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD), multiple sclerosis and stroke1,2,3,4,5,6. Therefore, BBB dysfunction may play a key role in neurodegenerative disorders, including as a therapeutic target.
Maintaining vessel coverage is important for the homeostatic functions of the BBB. However, in vivo and in vitro data conflict on whether the processes involved in neurodegenerative disorders cause higher or lower BBB coverage6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13, particularly in AD. Therefore, there is a strong rationale for the development of in vitro models using relevant cell types to assess and more comprehensively understand the dynamics of BBB coverage. Cerebral capillaries are composed of astrocytes, pericytes and brain endothelial cells (BECs)3. All cell types contribute to the function of the BBB through structural support and via the secretion of effector molecules such as angiogenic growth factors, cytokines and chemokines that act in paracrine- and autocrine-like fashion. However, the major effector cells of the BBB are BECs3. In general, the cell culture techniques for assessing BBB function are permeability assays performed on cells grown on filter inserts, or assessing levels of key BEC proteins, both after the addition of stressors14,15,16. Although important, these assays do not focus on the cerebrovascular coverage.
Here, our previous methods17 are detailed to assess BEC coverage and meshwork-like structures 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. The goal was to demonstrate the detrimental effect of oA&#946;, which is considered an important contributor to AD progression, on BEC coverage. The protective effect of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) highlights the potential of the technique as a therapeutic screening tool. The technique has several broad applications for basic and applied research including: 1) delineating the role of specific pathways on angiogenesis and vessel coverage, 2) evaluating the effects of disease and aging-relevant factors on angiogenesis and vessel coverage, and 3) identifying pharmacological targets.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="847">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">hCMEC/D3 cells</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Milipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SCC066</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">EBM-2 basal media&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Lonza</td>
			<td>CC-3156</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Collagen Type 1</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A1064401&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">HBSS, calcium, magnesium, no phenol red</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14025092</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">HBSS, no calcium, no magnesium, no phenol red</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14175095</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%)</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">25200056</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:379px;">Final concentrations of the SingleQuot growth factor supplements for EBM2 media</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Lonza</td>
			<td>CC-4147</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">5% FBS</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Lonza</td>
			<td>CC-4147</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10% Ascorbic acid</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Lonza</td>
			<td>CC-4147</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10% Gentamycin sulphate</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Lonza</td>
			<td>CC-4147</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">25% Hydrocortisone</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Lonza</td>
			<td>CC-4147</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="78">
			<td height="78" style="height:78px;width:379px;">1/4 volume of the supplied growth factors: fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Lonza</td>
			<td>CC-4147</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Puromycin hydrochloride</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">80503-312</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">MEM-HEPES&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Thermo Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">12360-038</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Papain cell dissociation system (papain and DNase1)</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Worthington Biochemical</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">LK003150</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Human pericytes</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Sciencell</td>
			<td>1200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Pericyte basal media</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Sciencell</td>
			<td>1201</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Pericyte growth supplement</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Sciencell</td>
			<td>1252</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Human Astrocytes</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Sciencell</td>
			<td>1800</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Astrocyte media</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Sciencell</td>
			<td>1801</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Astrocyte growth supplement</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Sciencell</td>
			<td>1852</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Basement membrane (Matrigel Growth Factor Reduced)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">356231</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Angiogenesis m-plates (96-well)</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">ibidi</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">89646</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Human Epidermal growth factor&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Shenendoah Biotechnology</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">100-26</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">CellTracker green&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>C7025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">CellTracker orange</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>C34551</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">CellTracker blue&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>C2110</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Poly-l-lysine</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Sciencell</td>
			<td>0403</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">10% Neutral Buffered Formalin</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>HT5012-60ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">C57BL mice</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">na</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">PCR tube strips</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">GeneMate</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T-3014-2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:379px;">Zeiss stereo discover v.8 dissecting microscope</td>
			<td style="width:183px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">na</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

in vitro assays to assess blood-brain barrier mesh-like vessel formation and disruption

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-&#946; (oA&#946;), which is an important contributor to Alzheimer&#39;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 oA&#946; 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.

In single cultures, both the hCMEC/D3 cells (Figure 3A) and the primary mouse BECs (Figure 3B) form meshwork-like structures throughout the well. The structures are characterized by a meshwork of interlinked nodes (Figure 3). In all the paradigms described (Figure 1), the meshwork-like structures are similar after 24 h in the control groups, forming ~20 meshwork-like str...

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

Maintaining blood-brain barrier coverage is key for the homeostasis of the central nervous system. This protocol describes in vitro techniques to delineate the fundamental and pathological processes that modulate blood-brain barrier coverage.

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

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) coverage plays a central role in the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB is dynamically maintained by ...

The goals of this assay are to dissect the role of disease-relevant processes in blood brain-barrier coverage disruption, identify the underlying mechanisms, and test potential treatments in vitro.This method can answer key basic and applied research questions in the blood-brain barrier and neuro-degeneration fields.For example, by addressing whether disease-relevant stresses disrupt preformed network structures and identifying the underlying pathways.Through further screening, treatments can be identified that prevent stress-induced blood-brain barrier disruption for future in vivo testing.The implications of this technique extend towards mechanistic understanding of and treatment for Alzheimer's disease, because of the importance of the homeostatic functions of the blood-brain barrier on cognition.Though this method can provide insight into the blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, it can also be applied to other neurodegenerative disorders with blood-brain barrier dysfunction, such as stroke.Begin by passaging hCMEC/D3 immortal endothelial cells at a ratio of one to five by incubating the cell sheet with calcium and magnesium-free HBSS for three minutes.Then detach the cells using five milliliters of 0.25%trypsin EDTA for five minutes.Neutralize the trypsin by adding five milliliters of EBM-2 complete medium.Collect the cells, and centrifuge at 290 times g for five minutes at four degrees Celsius.Following centrifugation, discard the supernatant, and resuspend the pellet in EBM-2 complete medium.Then, replate the cells at a one to five ratio.To prepare endothelial cells from the mouse brain, remove the brain stems and cerebella from seven euthanized mice with forceps.Then, detach the meninges by carefully rolling the brains on gauss.Then, place the brain tissue into a petri dish containing minimal essential medium with HEPES, and use a sterile razor blade to mince the remaining brain tissue.Then transfer the minced brain tissue to a 15 milliliter conical tube.And centrifuge at 290 times g for five minutes at four degrees Celsius.After removing the supernatant, add papain and DNase solution, and incubate in a 37 degree Celsius water bath for one hour to digest the tissue.Following the incubation, triturate the homogenate using a 19-gauge needle, and then a 21-gauge needle.Once triturated, add one volume of 22%bovine serum albumin solution.Then centrifuge at 1, 360 times g for 10 minutes at four degrees Celsius.Resuspend the resulting pellet in one milliliter of EBM-2 complete, and then centrifuge at 290 times g for five minutes at four degrees Celsius.After the centrifugation, again use one milliliter of EBM-2 complete medium to resuspend the cells, and plate the cells at one milliliter per well in collagen-coated, six-well plates.24 hours later, replace the medium with EBM-2 complete medium containing four micrograms per milliliter of puromycin hydrochloride, and continue to culture the cells until they reach full confluence at one times 10 to the fifth cells per square centimeter.Lastly, 24 hours prior to the assay, incubate the fully confluent brain endothelial cells in EBM-2 basal medium.On the day of the assay, pipette 10 microliters of basement membrane matrix into each well of a 96-well plate, and allow to set for one hour at 37 degrees Celsius.Suspend the lyophilized green cell tracking dye in 10 microliters of DMSO to generate a 10-millimolar stock solution.Dilute this solution to 10-micromolar in EBM-2 basal medium.Remove the medium from the six-well plate containing brain endothelial cells, and replace with EBM-2 basal containing the green cell tracking dye.Incubate the cells for 20 to 30 minutes at 37 degrees Celsius.Following the incubation, remove the medium with cell tracking dye, wash the cell sheet, and attach the cells with trypsin.Neutralize the trypsin with EBM-2 containing 10%FBS, and transfer the cells to centrifuge tubes.Centrifuge at 240 time g for five minutes at four degrees Celsius.Following centrifugation, resuspend the cell pellets in one milliliter of EBM-2 basal medium, plate the labeled cells in multiple 96-well plates at 10, 000 cells per well, and return the cells to the incubator until oligomeric oa

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8.4K Görüntüleme.  University of Illinois at Chicago. The goals of this assay are to dissect the role of disease-relevant processes in blood brain-barrier coverage disruption, identify the underlying mechanisms, and test potential treatments in vitro.This method can answer key basic and applied research questions in the blood-brain barrier and neuro-degeneration fields.For example, by addressing whether disease-relevant stresses disrupt preformed network structures and identifying the underlying pathways.Through further screening, treatments can...