ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) deficiency does not attenuate the brain-to-blood efflux transport of human amyloid-beta peptide (1-40) at the blood-brain barrier.

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mediates apolipoprotein-dependent cholesterol release from cellular membranes. Recent studies using ABCA1 knockout mice have demonstrated that ABCA1 affects amyloid-beta peptide (A beta) levels in the brain and the production of senile plaque. Cerebral A beta(1-40) was eliminated from the brain to the circulating blood via the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which expresses ABCA1.

mRNA expression levels of tight junction protein genes in mouse brain capillary endothelial cells highly purified by magnetic cell sorting.

Tight junctions (TJs) are an important component of the blood-brain barrier, and claudin-1, -3, -5 and -12 have been reported to be localized at the TJs of brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs). To understand the contribution of each claudin subtype to TJ formation, we have measured the mRNA expression levels of claudin subtypes (claudin-1 to -23) and other relevant proteins in highly purified mouse BCECs. Mouse BCECs were labeled with anti-platelet endothelial cellular adhesion molecule-1 antibody and 2.

Altered expression of basement membrane-related molecules in rat brain pericyte, endothelial, and astrocyte cell lines after transforming growth factor-beta1 treatment.

The basement membrane at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays important roles in maintaining the structure and function of capillary vessels. The BBB is constructed from endothelial cells, astrocytes and pericytes, but their interactions in the formation or maintenance of basement membrane have not been established. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is known to increase fibronectin in brain capillary basement membrane with deposition of beta-amyloid.

Establishing a method to isolate rat brain capillary endothelial cells by magnetic cell sorting and dominant mRNA expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 and 4 in highly purified rat brain capillary endothelial cells.

Purpose: To establish a method for isolating highly purified brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) from rat brain by using magnetic cell sorting, and clarify the expression levels of multidrug resistance-associated protein (Mrp) subtypes in these highly purified BCECs.

Methods: The cells were prepared from the capillary enriched-fraction by enzyme digestion, and reacted with anti-PECAM-1 antibody. The cell sorting was performed by autoMACS.

Exogenous expression of claudin-5 induces barrier properties in cultured rat brain capillary endothelial cells.

Claudins are thought to be major components of tight junctions (TJs), and claudin-5 and -12 are localized at TJs of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Claudin-5-deficient mice exhibit size-selective (<800 Da) opening of the BBB. The purpose of this study was to clarify the expression levels of claudin-5 and -12 in rat brain capillary endothelial cells, and to examine the ability of claudin-5 to form TJs in cultured rat brain capillary endothelial cells (TR-BBB).

Hyperammonemia induces transport of taurine and creatine and suppresses claudin-12 gene expression in brain capillary endothelial cells in vitro.

Ammonia is a key neurotoxin involved in the neurological complications of acute liver failure. The present study was undertaken to study the effects of exposure to pathophysiologically relevant concentrations of ammonium chloride on cultured brain capillary endothelial cells in order to identify mechanisms by which ammonia may alter blood-brain barrier function. Conditionally immortalized mouse brain capillary endothelial cells (TM-BBB) were used as an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier.

ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 mediates the efflux of phototoxins on the luminal membrane of retinal capillary endothelial cells.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the localization and function of the ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 (ABCG2; BCRP/MXR/ABCP) in retinal capillary endothelial cells, which form the inner blood-retinal barrier, as an efflux transport system.

Methods: The expression was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The localization was identified by immunostaining.

Distinct spatio-temporal expression of ABCA and ABCG transporters in the developing and adult mouse brain.

Using in situ hybridization for the mouse brain, we analyzed developmental changes in gene expression for the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter subfamilies ABCA1-4 and 7, and ABCG1, 2, 4, 5 and 8. In the embryonic brains, ABCA1 and A7 were highly expressed in the ventricular (or germinal) zone, whereas ABCA2, A3 and G4 were enriched in the mantle (or differentiating) zone. At the postnatal stages, ABCA1 was detected in both the gray and white matter and in the choroid plexus.

Establishment of conditionally immortalized rat retinal pericyte cell lines (TR-rPCT) and their application in a co-culture system using retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2).

The purpose of this study was to establish and characterize a retinal pericyte cell line from retinal capillaries of transgenic rats harboring the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene (tsA58 Tg rat), and to apply this to the co-culture with a retinal capillary endothelial cell line. The conditionally immortalized rat retinal pericyte cell lines (TR-rPCTs), which express a temperature-sensitive large T-antigen, were obtained from two tsA58 Tg rats. These cell lines had a multicellular nodule morphology and reacted positively with von Kossa staining, a marker of calcification.

Rat brain pericyte cell lines expressing beta2-adrenergic receptor, angiotensin II receptor type 1A, klotho, and CXCR4 mRNAs despite having endothelial cell markers.

Pericytes are an integral component of blood capillaries, but their involvement in a variety of conditions and diseases, including hypertension and multiple sclerosis, is poorly understood. In order to analyze the mRNA expression of markers related to hypertension and multiple sclerosis in rat brain pericytes, we have established brain capillary pericyte cell lines from temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen transgenic rats. The newly established clones showed similar biochemical and morphological properties to primary pericytes.

Polarized glucose transporters and mRNA expression properties in newly developed rat syncytiotrophoblast cell lines, TR-TBTs.

In this study, we have established new syncytiotrophoblast cell lines (TR-TBTs) from the recently developed transgenic rat harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene (Tg-rat). Four conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines (TR-TBT 18d-1 approximately 4) were obtained from pregnant Tg-rats at gestational day 18. These cell lines had a syncytium-like morphology, could be prepared as monolayers, expressed cytokeratins and rat syncytiotrophoblast markers, and exhibited apical or basal GLUT1 localizations and apical GLUT3 localizations.

Newly developed rat brain pericyte cell line, TR-PCT1, responds to transforming growth factor-beta1 and beta-glycerophosphate.

Brain pericytes form an incomplete envelope around endothelial cells and within the microvascular basement membrane of capillaries and postcapillary venules. Recently, it has been reported that brain pericytes exhibit pluripotency, regulation of endothelial cell activity, and macrophage activity. However, many molecular and cellular aspects of brain pericytes remain unclear.