Human blood-brain barrier co-culture model mimicking the neurovascular unit
2018
University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
Human in vitro models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are a promising tool for drug development and understanding mechanisms in health and disease. This study addresses the generation of a neurovascular unit (NVU) by standard differentiation of adherent hiPS cells into BBB endothelial cells and neural stem cells (NSCs). Both cell types are combined with primary astrocytes and pericytes to develop complex, physiological BBB in vitro models. The endothelial cells in the apical compartment of the transwell models are separated from the basolateral seeded co-culture mixture by a synthetic membrane, which simplifies analyses. The integrity and functionality of the endothelial barrier are enhanced by the specific mixture of NVU niche cells, as determined here by decreasing paracellular permeability of sodium fluorescein and measuring transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER).
Establishment of a human blood-brain barrier co-culture model mimicking the neurovascular unit using induced pluripotent stem cells
Antje Appelt-Menzel
Added on: 07-07-2022
[1] https://currentprotocols.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpsc.62
