Background:Our previous study found that mouse embryonic neural stem cell(NSC)-derived exosomes(EXOs)regulated NSC differentiation via the miR-9/Hes1 axis.However,the effects of EXOs on brain microvascular endothelial...Background:Our previous study found that mouse embryonic neural stem cell(NSC)-derived exosomes(EXOs)regulated NSC differentiation via the miR-9/Hes1 axis.However,the effects of EXOs on brain microvascular endothelial cell(BMEC)dysfunction via the miR-9/Hes1 axis remain unknown.Therefore,the current study aimed to determine the effects of EXOs on BMEC proliferation,migration,and death via the miR-9/Hes1 axis.Methods:Immunofluorescence,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,cell counting kit-8 assay,wound healing assay,calcein-acetoxymethyl/propidium iodide staining,and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to determine the role and mechanism of EXOs on BMECs.Results:EXOs promoted BMEC proliferation and migration and reduced cell death under hypoxic conditions.The overexpression of miR-9 promoted BMEC prolifera-tion and migration and reduced cell death under hypoxic conditions.Moreover,miR-9 downregulation inhibited BMEC proliferation and migration and also promoted cell death.Hes1 silencing ameliorated the effect of amtagomiR-9 on BMEC proliferation and migration and cell death.Hyperemic structures were observed in the regions of the hippocampus and cortex in hypoxia-induced mice.Meanwhile,EXO treatment improved cerebrovascular alterations.Conclusion:NSC-derived EXOs can promote BMEC proliferation and migra-tion and reduce cell death via the miR-9/Hes1 axis under hypoxic conditions.Therefore,EXO therapeutic strategies could be considered for hypoxia-induced vascular injury.展开更多
In the current landscape of endothelial cell isolation for building in vitro models of the blood-brain barrier,our work moves towards reproducing the features of the neurovascular unit to achieve glial compliance thro...In the current landscape of endothelial cell isolation for building in vitro models of the blood-brain barrier,our work moves towards reproducing the features of the neurovascular unit to achieve glial compliance through an innovative biomimetic coating technology for brain chronic implants.We hypothesized that the autologous origin of human brain mic rovascular endothelial cells(hBMECs)is the first requirement for the suitable coating to prevent the glial inflammato ry response trigge red by foreign neuroprosthetics.Therefo re,this study established a new procedure to preserve the in vitro viability of hBMECs isolated from gray and white matter specimens taken from neurosurge ry patients.Culturing adult hBMECs is generally considered a challenging task due to the difficult survival ex vivo and progressive reduction in proliferation of these cells.The addition of 10 nMβ-estradiol 17-acetate to the hBMEC culture medium was found to be an essential and discriminating factor promoting adhesion and proliferation both after isolation and thawing,suppo rting the well-known protective role played by estrogens on microvessels.In particular,β-estradiol 17-acetate was critical for both freshly isolated and thawed female-derived hBMECs,while it was not necessary for freshly isolated male-derived hBMECs;however,it did countera ct the decay in the viability of the latter after thawing.The tumo r-free hBMECs were thus cultured for up to 2 months and their growth efficiency was assessed befo re and after two periods of cryopreservation.Des pite the thermal stress,the hBMECs remained viable and suitable for re-freezing and storage for several months.This approach increasing in vitro viability of hBMECs opens new perspectives for the use of cryopreserved autologous hBMECs as biomimetic therapeutic tools,offering the potential to avoid additional surgical sampling for each patient.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the synergistic effect of Naoxintong Capsule(NXTC,脑心通胶囊)and Guhong Injection(GHI,谷红注射液)on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(丨/R)injury.Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divid...Objective:To investigate the synergistic effect of Naoxintong Capsule(NXTC,脑心通胶囊)and Guhong Injection(GHI,谷红注射液)on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(丨/R)injury.Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups:control group,oxygen and glucose deprivation(OGD)group,nimodipine group(9.375 mg/kg),NXTC group(0.5 g/kg),GHI group(5 mL/kg)and NXTC+GHI group(0.5 g/kg NXTC+5 mL/kg GHI),after the onset of reperfusion and once per day for the following 7 days.Blood was collected 1 h after final administration,and the sera were collected.Cultured primary rat brain microvascular endothelial cells(rBMECs)were subjected to OGD to establish a cell injury model.Untreated rBMECs were used as blank control.The cell counting kit-8 assay was used to assess cell viability using the sera.Malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Apoptosis was evaluated after Hoechst33342 staining using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.JC-1 staining was performed to assess changes in mitochondrial membrane potential.Results:Statistical analysis indicated that more than 95%of the cells were rBMECs.Compared with the OGD group,the cellular morphology of the all drug delivery groups improved.In particular,the combined drug group had the most significant effect.Compared with the OGD group,all drug intervention groups induced a decrease in the apoptotic rate of rBMECs,increased the SOD levels,and decreased the MDA levels(all P<0.01).Compared with the mono-therapy groups,the NXTC+GHI group exhibited a significant improvement in the number of apoptotic rBMECs(P<0.01).All drug intervention groups showed different degrees of increase in membrane potential,and the NXTC+GHI group was higher than the NXTC or GHI group(P<0.01).Conclusion:The combinationa application of NXTC and GHI on cerebral l/R injury clearly resulted in protective benefits.展开更多
Amyloid beta-peptides(Aβ) are known to undergo active transport across the blood-brain barrier, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy has been shown to be a prominent feature in the majority of Alzheimer's disease. Que...Amyloid beta-peptides(Aβ) are known to undergo active transport across the blood-brain barrier, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy has been shown to be a prominent feature in the majority of Alzheimer's disease. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid molecule and has been demonstrated to have potent neuroprotective effects, but its protective effect on endothelial cells under Aβ-damaged condition is unclear. In the present study, the protective effects of quercetin on brain microvascular endothelial cells injured by fibrillar Aβ_(1–40)(f Aβ_(1–40)) were observed. The results show that f Aβ_(1–40)-induced cytotoxicity in human brain microvascular endothelial cells(h BMECs) can be relieved by quercetin treatment. Quercetin increases cell viability, reduces the release of lactate dehydrogenase, and relieves nuclear condensation.Quercetin also alleviates intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and increases superoxide dismutase activity. Moreover, it strengthens the barrier integrity through the preservation of the transendothelial electrical resistance value, the relief of aggravated permeability, and the increase of characteristic enzyme levels after being exposed to f Aβ_(1–40). In conclusion, quercetin protects h BMECs from f Aβ_(1–40)-induced toxicity.展开更多
Neovascularization and angiogenesis in the brain are important physiological processes for normal brain development and repair/regeneration following insults. Integrins are cell surface adhesion receptors mediating im...Neovascularization and angiogenesis in the brain are important physiological processes for normal brain development and repair/regeneration following insults. Integrins are cell surface adhesion receptors mediating important function of cells such as survival, growth and development during tissue organization, differentiation and organogenesis. In this study, we used an integrin-binding array platform to identify the important types of integrins and their binding peptides that facilitate adhesion, growth, development, and vascular-like network formation of rat primary brain microvascular endothelial cells. Brain microvascular endothelial cells were isolated from rat brain on post-natal day 7. Cells were cultured in a custom-designed integrin array system containing short synthetic peptides binding to 16 types of integrins commonly expressed on cells in vertebrates. After 7 days of culture, the brain microvascular endothelial cells were processed for immunostaining with markers for endothelial cells including von Willibrand factor and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule. 5-Bromo-2′-dexoyuridine was added to the culture at 48 hours prior to fixation to assess cell proliferation. Among 16 integrins tested, we found that α5β1, αvβ5 and αvβ8 greatly promoted proliferation of endothelial cells in culture. To investigate the effect of integrin-binding peptides in promoting neovascularization and angiogenesis, the binding peptides to the above three types of integrins were immobilized to our custom-designed hydrogel in three-dimensional(3 D) culture of brain microvascular endothelial cells with the addition of vascular endothelial growth factor. Following a 7-day 3 D culture, the culture was fixed and processed for double labeling of phalloidin with von Willibrand factor or platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule and assessed under confocal microscopy. In the 3 D culture in hydrogels conjugated with the integrin-binding peptide, brain microvascular endothelial cells formed interconnected vascular-like network with clearly discernable lumens, which is reminiscent of brain microvascular network in vivo. With the novel integrin-binding array system, we identified the specific types of integrins on brain microvascular endothelial cells that mediate cell adhesion and growth followed by functionalizing a 3 D hydrogel culture system using the binding peptides that specifically bind to the identified integrins, leading to robust growth and lumenized microvascular-like network formation of brain microvascular endothelial cells in 3 D culture. This technology can be used for in vitro and in vivo vascularization of transplants or brain lesions to promote brain tissue regeneration following neurological insults.展开更多
Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A/basic fibroblast growth factor(VEGFA/b FGF)expression in the penumbra of cerebral ischemia can increase vascular volume,reduce lesion volume,and enhance neural cell...Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A/basic fibroblast growth factor(VEGFA/b FGF)expression in the penumbra of cerebral ischemia can increase vascular volume,reduce lesion volume,and enhance neural cell proliferation and differentiation,thereby exerting neuroprotective effects.However,the beneficial effects of endogenous VEGFA/b FGF are limited as their expression is only transiently increased.In this study,we generated multilayered nanofiber membranes loaded with VEGFA/b FGF using layer-by-layer self-assembly and electrospinning techniques.We found that a membrane containing 10 layers had an ideal ultrastructure and could efficiently and stably release growth factors for more than 1 month.This 10-layered nanofiber membrane promoted brain microvascular endothelial cell tube formation and proliferation,inhibited neuronal apoptosis,upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins,and improved the viability of various cellular components of neurovascular units under conditions of oxygen/glucose deprivation.Furthermore,this nanofiber membrane decreased the expression of Janus kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3(JAK2/STAT3),Bax/Bcl-2,and cleaved caspase-3.Therefore,this nanofiber membrane exhibits a neuroprotective effect on oxygen/glucose-deprived neurovascular units by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.展开更多
Biological studies typically rely on a simple monolayer cell culture,which does not reflect the complex functional characteristics of human tissues and organs,or their real response to external stimuli.Microfluidic te...Biological studies typically rely on a simple monolayer cell culture,which does not reflect the complex functional characteristics of human tissues and organs,or their real response to external stimuli.Microfluidic technology has advantages of high-throughput screening,accurate control of the fluid velocity,low cell consumption,long-term culture,and high integration.By combining the multipotential differentiation of neural stem cells with high throughput and the integrated characteristics of microfluidic technology,an in vitro model of a functionalized neurovascular unit was established using human neural stem cell-derived neurons,astrocytes,oligodendrocytes,and a functional microvascular barrier.The model comprises a multi-layer vertical neural module and vascular module,both of which were connected with a syringe pump.This provides controllable conditions for cell inoculation and nutrient supply,and simultaneously simulates the process of ischemic/hypoxic injury and the process of inflammatory factors in the circulatory system passing through the blood-brain barrier and then acting on the nerve tissue in the brain.The in vitro functionalized neurovascular unit model will be conducive to central nervous system disease research,drug screening,and new drug development.展开更多
Defects in the endothelial cell barrier accompany diverse malfunctions of the central nervous system such as neurodegenerative diseases,stroke,traumatic brain injury,and systemic diseases such as sepsis,viral and bact...Defects in the endothelial cell barrier accompany diverse malfunctions of the central nervous system such as neurodegenerative diseases,stroke,traumatic brain injury,and systemic diseases such as sepsis,viral and bacterial infections,and cancer.Compromised endothelial sealing leads to leaking blood vessels,followed by vasogenic edema.Brain edema as the most common complication caused by stroke and traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death.Brain microvascular endothelial cells,together with astrocytes,pericytes,microglia,and neurons form a selective barrier,the so-called blood-brain barrier,which regulates the movement of molecules inside and outside of the brain.Mechanisms that regulate blood-brain barrier permeability in health and disease are complex and not fully understood.Several newly discovered molecules that are involved in the regulation of cellular processes in brain microvascular endothelial cells have been described in the literature in recent years.One of these molecules that are highly expressed in brain microvascular endothelial cells is protocadherin gamma C3.In this review,we discuss recent evidence that protocadherin gamma C3 is a newly identified key player involved in the regulation of vascular barrier function.展开更多
Bloodebrain barrier(BBB)damage after ischemia significantly influences stroke outcome.Compound LFHP-1 c was previously discovered with neuroprotective role in stroke model,but its mechanism of action on protection of ...Bloodebrain barrier(BBB)damage after ischemia significantly influences stroke outcome.Compound LFHP-1 c was previously discovered with neuroprotective role in stroke model,but its mechanism of action on protection of BBB disruption after stroke remains unknown.Here,we show that LFHP-1 c,as a direct PGAM5 inhibitor,prevented BBB disruption after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion(tMCAO)in rats.Mechanistically,LFHP-1 c binding with endothelial PGAM5 not only inhibited the PGAM5 phosphatase activity,but also reduced the interaction of PGAM5 with NRF2,which facilitated nuclear translocation of NRF2 to prevent BBB disruption from ischemia.Furthermore,LFHP-1 c administration by targeting PGAM5 shows a trend toward reduced infarct volume,brain edema and neurological deficits in nonhuman primate Macaca fascicularis model with t MCAO.Thus,our study identifies compound LFHP-1 c as a firstly direct PGAM5 inhibitor showing amelioration of ischemia-induced BBB disruption in vitro and in vivo,and provides a potentially therapeutics for brain ischemic stroke.展开更多
Owing to the widespread distribution of mosquitoes capable of transmitting Zika virus, lack of clinical vaccines and treatments, and poor immunity of populations to new infectious diseases, Zika virus has become a glo...Owing to the widespread distribution of mosquitoes capable of transmitting Zika virus, lack of clinical vaccines and treatments, and poor immunity of populations to new infectious diseases, Zika virus has become a global public health concern. Recent studies have found that Zika virus can continuously infect human brain microvascular endothelial cells.These cells are the primary components of the blood–brain barrier of the cerebral cortex, and further infection of brain tissue may cause severe damage such as encephalitis and fetal pituitary disease. The present study found that a biologically active base, piperlongumine(PL), inhibited Zika virus replication in human brain microvascular endothelial cells, Vero cells, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. PL also significantly increased heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) gene expression, while silencing HO-1 expression and using the reactive oxygen species scavenger, N-acetylcysteine, attenuated the inhibitory effect of PL on Zika virus replication. These results suggest that PL induces oxidative stress in cells by increasing reactive oxygen species. This, in turn, induces an increase in HO-1 expression, thereby inhibiting Zika virus replication. These findings provide novel clues for drug research on the prevention and treatment of Zika virus.展开更多
Objective Shunaoxin Dropping Pills(SDPs),a Chinese patent medicine,has been used widely in China for the treatment of headache,amnesia,and insomnia.The aim of the present study is to observe the effect of SDPs on indu...Objective Shunaoxin Dropping Pills(SDPs),a Chinese patent medicine,has been used widely in China for the treatment of headache,amnesia,and insomnia.The aim of the present study is to observe the effect of SDPs on inducing angiogenesis and neurogenesis in vitro.Methods The present testing system using the serum obtained from animals ig treated with SDPs and a co-culture system in vitro was used to investigate if SDPs promotes brain microvascular endothelial cells(BMECs)tube formation and neural differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells(NSPCs),which plays important roles in angiogenesis and neurogenesis.Results The SDPs serum sampled from rats ig treated with SDPs for 3 d dose-dependently promoted the tube like structure formation of cultured BMECs,and enhanced the fraction of MAP-2 positive cells of NSPCs,which co-cultured with the BMECs and astrocyte.In addition,there was no significant change in the percentage of glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cells.Conclusion Our results show that SDPs serum can induce neural differentiation and BMECs tube formation in vitro.展开更多
基金Program of Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai,Grant/Award Number:21ZR1453800 and 22ZR1452400Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:82370057+3 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Grant/Award Number:22120220562Program of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission,Grant/Award Number:20204Y0384Program of National Key Research and Development Project of China,Grant/Award Number:2023YFC2509500。
文摘Background:Our previous study found that mouse embryonic neural stem cell(NSC)-derived exosomes(EXOs)regulated NSC differentiation via the miR-9/Hes1 axis.However,the effects of EXOs on brain microvascular endothelial cell(BMEC)dysfunction via the miR-9/Hes1 axis remain unknown.Therefore,the current study aimed to determine the effects of EXOs on BMEC proliferation,migration,and death via the miR-9/Hes1 axis.Methods:Immunofluorescence,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction,cell counting kit-8 assay,wound healing assay,calcein-acetoxymethyl/propidium iodide staining,and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to determine the role and mechanism of EXOs on BMECs.Results:EXOs promoted BMEC proliferation and migration and reduced cell death under hypoxic conditions.The overexpression of miR-9 promoted BMEC prolifera-tion and migration and reduced cell death under hypoxic conditions.Moreover,miR-9 downregulation inhibited BMEC proliferation and migration and also promoted cell death.Hes1 silencing ameliorated the effect of amtagomiR-9 on BMEC proliferation and migration and cell death.Hyperemic structures were observed in the regions of the hippocampus and cortex in hypoxia-induced mice.Meanwhile,EXO treatment improved cerebrovascular alterations.Conclusion:NSC-derived EXOs can promote BMEC proliferation and migra-tion and reduce cell death via the miR-9/Hes1 axis under hypoxic conditions.Therefore,EXO therapeutic strategies could be considered for hypoxia-induced vascular injury.
基金supported by EnTimeMent H2020-FETPROACT-824160(to LF)。
文摘In the current landscape of endothelial cell isolation for building in vitro models of the blood-brain barrier,our work moves towards reproducing the features of the neurovascular unit to achieve glial compliance through an innovative biomimetic coating technology for brain chronic implants.We hypothesized that the autologous origin of human brain mic rovascular endothelial cells(hBMECs)is the first requirement for the suitable coating to prevent the glial inflammato ry response trigge red by foreign neuroprosthetics.Therefo re,this study established a new procedure to preserve the in vitro viability of hBMECs isolated from gray and white matter specimens taken from neurosurge ry patients.Culturing adult hBMECs is generally considered a challenging task due to the difficult survival ex vivo and progressive reduction in proliferation of these cells.The addition of 10 nMβ-estradiol 17-acetate to the hBMEC culture medium was found to be an essential and discriminating factor promoting adhesion and proliferation both after isolation and thawing,suppo rting the well-known protective role played by estrogens on microvessels.In particular,β-estradiol 17-acetate was critical for both freshly isolated and thawed female-derived hBMECs,while it was not necessary for freshly isolated male-derived hBMECs;however,it did countera ct the decay in the viability of the latter after thawing.The tumo r-free hBMECs were thus cultured for up to 2 months and their growth efficiency was assessed befo re and after two periods of cryopreservation.Des pite the thermal stress,the hBMECs remained viable and suitable for re-freezing and storage for several months.This approach increasing in vitro viability of hBMECs opens new perspectives for the use of cryopreserved autologous hBMECs as biomimetic therapeutic tools,offering the potential to avoid additional surgical sampling for each patient.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81630105,81973560)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.LZ17H270001,LZ18H270001)Zhejiang Provincial Program for the Cultivation of High-level Innovative Health Talents。
文摘Objective:To investigate the synergistic effect of Naoxintong Capsule(NXTC,脑心通胶囊)and Guhong Injection(GHI,谷红注射液)on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(丨/R)injury.Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups:control group,oxygen and glucose deprivation(OGD)group,nimodipine group(9.375 mg/kg),NXTC group(0.5 g/kg),GHI group(5 mL/kg)and NXTC+GHI group(0.5 g/kg NXTC+5 mL/kg GHI),after the onset of reperfusion and once per day for the following 7 days.Blood was collected 1 h after final administration,and the sera were collected.Cultured primary rat brain microvascular endothelial cells(rBMECs)were subjected to OGD to establish a cell injury model.Untreated rBMECs were used as blank control.The cell counting kit-8 assay was used to assess cell viability using the sera.Malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Apoptosis was evaluated after Hoechst33342 staining using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.JC-1 staining was performed to assess changes in mitochondrial membrane potential.Results:Statistical analysis indicated that more than 95%of the cells were rBMECs.Compared with the OGD group,the cellular morphology of the all drug delivery groups improved.In particular,the combined drug group had the most significant effect.Compared with the OGD group,all drug intervention groups induced a decrease in the apoptotic rate of rBMECs,increased the SOD levels,and decreased the MDA levels(all P<0.01).Compared with the mono-therapy groups,the NXTC+GHI group exhibited a significant improvement in the number of apoptotic rBMECs(P<0.01).All drug intervention groups showed different degrees of increase in membrane potential,and the NXTC+GHI group was higher than the NXTC or GHI group(P<0.01).Conclusion:The combinationa application of NXTC and GHI on cerebral l/R injury clearly resulted in protective benefits.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81373388, 81473374 and 81102830)
文摘Amyloid beta-peptides(Aβ) are known to undergo active transport across the blood-brain barrier, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy has been shown to be a prominent feature in the majority of Alzheimer's disease. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid molecule and has been demonstrated to have potent neuroprotective effects, but its protective effect on endothelial cells under Aβ-damaged condition is unclear. In the present study, the protective effects of quercetin on brain microvascular endothelial cells injured by fibrillar Aβ_(1–40)(f Aβ_(1–40)) were observed. The results show that f Aβ_(1–40)-induced cytotoxicity in human brain microvascular endothelial cells(h BMECs) can be relieved by quercetin treatment. Quercetin increases cell viability, reduces the release of lactate dehydrogenase, and relieves nuclear condensation.Quercetin also alleviates intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and increases superoxide dismutase activity. Moreover, it strengthens the barrier integrity through the preservation of the transendothelial electrical resistance value, the relief of aggravated permeability, and the increase of characteristic enzyme levels after being exposed to f Aβ_(1–40). In conclusion, quercetin protects h BMECs from f Aβ_(1–40)-induced toxicity.
基金supported by NIH grant RO1 NS093985 (to DS, NZ, XW) and RO1 NS101955 (to DS)the VCU Microscopy Facility,supported,in part,by funding from NIH-NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059。
文摘Neovascularization and angiogenesis in the brain are important physiological processes for normal brain development and repair/regeneration following insults. Integrins are cell surface adhesion receptors mediating important function of cells such as survival, growth and development during tissue organization, differentiation and organogenesis. In this study, we used an integrin-binding array platform to identify the important types of integrins and their binding peptides that facilitate adhesion, growth, development, and vascular-like network formation of rat primary brain microvascular endothelial cells. Brain microvascular endothelial cells were isolated from rat brain on post-natal day 7. Cells were cultured in a custom-designed integrin array system containing short synthetic peptides binding to 16 types of integrins commonly expressed on cells in vertebrates. After 7 days of culture, the brain microvascular endothelial cells were processed for immunostaining with markers for endothelial cells including von Willibrand factor and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule. 5-Bromo-2′-dexoyuridine was added to the culture at 48 hours prior to fixation to assess cell proliferation. Among 16 integrins tested, we found that α5β1, αvβ5 and αvβ8 greatly promoted proliferation of endothelial cells in culture. To investigate the effect of integrin-binding peptides in promoting neovascularization and angiogenesis, the binding peptides to the above three types of integrins were immobilized to our custom-designed hydrogel in three-dimensional(3 D) culture of brain microvascular endothelial cells with the addition of vascular endothelial growth factor. Following a 7-day 3 D culture, the culture was fixed and processed for double labeling of phalloidin with von Willibrand factor or platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule and assessed under confocal microscopy. In the 3 D culture in hydrogels conjugated with the integrin-binding peptide, brain microvascular endothelial cells formed interconnected vascular-like network with clearly discernable lumens, which is reminiscent of brain microvascular network in vivo. With the novel integrin-binding array system, we identified the specific types of integrins on brain microvascular endothelial cells that mediate cell adhesion and growth followed by functionalizing a 3 D hydrogel culture system using the binding peptides that specifically bind to the identified integrins, leading to robust growth and lumenized microvascular-like network formation of brain microvascular endothelial cells in 3 D culture. This technology can be used for in vitro and in vivo vascularization of transplants or brain lesions to promote brain tissue regeneration following neurological insults.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81974207(to JH),82001383(to DW)the Special Clinical Research Project of Health Profession of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission,No.20204Y0076(to DW)。
文摘Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A/basic fibroblast growth factor(VEGFA/b FGF)expression in the penumbra of cerebral ischemia can increase vascular volume,reduce lesion volume,and enhance neural cell proliferation and differentiation,thereby exerting neuroprotective effects.However,the beneficial effects of endogenous VEGFA/b FGF are limited as their expression is only transiently increased.In this study,we generated multilayered nanofiber membranes loaded with VEGFA/b FGF using layer-by-layer self-assembly and electrospinning techniques.We found that a membrane containing 10 layers had an ideal ultrastructure and could efficiently and stably release growth factors for more than 1 month.This 10-layered nanofiber membrane promoted brain microvascular endothelial cell tube formation and proliferation,inhibited neuronal apoptosis,upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins,and improved the viability of various cellular components of neurovascular units under conditions of oxygen/glucose deprivation.Furthermore,this nanofiber membrane decreased the expression of Janus kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3(JAK2/STAT3),Bax/Bcl-2,and cleaved caspase-3.Therefore,this nanofiber membrane exhibits a neuroprotective effect on oxygen/glucose-deprived neurovascular units by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.
基金supported by the Stem Cell Clinical Research Project of China,No.CMR-20161129-1003Liaoning Province Excellent Talent Program Project of China,No.XLYC1902031the Dalian Innovation Technology Foundation of China,No.2018J11CY025(all to JL).
文摘Biological studies typically rely on a simple monolayer cell culture,which does not reflect the complex functional characteristics of human tissues and organs,or their real response to external stimuli.Microfluidic technology has advantages of high-throughput screening,accurate control of the fluid velocity,low cell consumption,long-term culture,and high integration.By combining the multipotential differentiation of neural stem cells with high throughput and the integrated characteristics of microfluidic technology,an in vitro model of a functionalized neurovascular unit was established using human neural stem cell-derived neurons,astrocytes,oligodendrocytes,and a functional microvascular barrier.The model comprises a multi-layer vertical neural module and vascular module,both of which were connected with a syringe pump.This provides controllable conditions for cell inoculation and nutrient supply,and simultaneously simulates the process of ischemic/hypoxic injury and the process of inflammatory factors in the circulatory system passing through the blood-brain barrier and then acting on the nerve tissue in the brain.The in vitro functionalized neurovascular unit model will be conducive to central nervous system disease research,drug screening,and new drug development.
文摘Defects in the endothelial cell barrier accompany diverse malfunctions of the central nervous system such as neurodegenerative diseases,stroke,traumatic brain injury,and systemic diseases such as sepsis,viral and bacterial infections,and cancer.Compromised endothelial sealing leads to leaking blood vessels,followed by vasogenic edema.Brain edema as the most common complication caused by stroke and traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death.Brain microvascular endothelial cells,together with astrocytes,pericytes,microglia,and neurons form a selective barrier,the so-called blood-brain barrier,which regulates the movement of molecules inside and outside of the brain.Mechanisms that regulate blood-brain barrier permeability in health and disease are complex and not fully understood.Several newly discovered molecules that are involved in the regulation of cellular processes in brain microvascular endothelial cells have been described in the literature in recent years.One of these molecules that are highly expressed in brain microvascular endothelial cells is protocadherin gamma C3.In this review,we discuss recent evidence that protocadherin gamma C3 is a newly identified key player involved in the regulation of vascular barrier function.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81973512,81822041,21977116,and 81673305)National Science&Technology Major Project“Key New Drug Creation and Manufacturing Program”(No.2018ZX09711002006-013,China)+7 种基金Science&Technology Major Project of Zhongshan City(No.2019A4020,China)Double First-Class Project of China Pharmaceutical University(CPU2018GY06,CPU2018GY18,and CPU2018GY20,China)the Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines(SKLNMZZCX 201824 and SKLNMZZ202029,China)the Open Project Program of the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research(SIMM2004KF-08,China)the Open Project of Zhejiang Provincial Preponderant and Characteristic Subject of Key University(Traditional Chinese Pharmacology,China)Zhejiang Chinese Medical University(No.ZYAOX2018001,China)State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis,Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia Fund(SKL-HIDCA-2018-1,China)supported by the Six Talent Peaks Project of Jiangsu Province to Tao Pang
文摘Bloodebrain barrier(BBB)damage after ischemia significantly influences stroke outcome.Compound LFHP-1 c was previously discovered with neuroprotective role in stroke model,but its mechanism of action on protection of BBB disruption after stroke remains unknown.Here,we show that LFHP-1 c,as a direct PGAM5 inhibitor,prevented BBB disruption after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion(tMCAO)in rats.Mechanistically,LFHP-1 c binding with endothelial PGAM5 not only inhibited the PGAM5 phosphatase activity,but also reduced the interaction of PGAM5 with NRF2,which facilitated nuclear translocation of NRF2 to prevent BBB disruption from ischemia.Furthermore,LFHP-1 c administration by targeting PGAM5 shows a trend toward reduced infarct volume,brain edema and neurological deficits in nonhuman primate Macaca fascicularis model with t MCAO.Thus,our study identifies compound LFHP-1 c as a firstly direct PGAM5 inhibitor showing amelioration of ischemia-induced BBB disruption in vitro and in vivo,and provides a potentially therapeutics for brain ischemic stroke.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation (Nos. 31670168, 31470271 and 81730110)National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFC1602206)Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology (No. 2018B020207006)。
文摘Owing to the widespread distribution of mosquitoes capable of transmitting Zika virus, lack of clinical vaccines and treatments, and poor immunity of populations to new infectious diseases, Zika virus has become a global public health concern. Recent studies have found that Zika virus can continuously infect human brain microvascular endothelial cells.These cells are the primary components of the blood–brain barrier of the cerebral cortex, and further infection of brain tissue may cause severe damage such as encephalitis and fetal pituitary disease. The present study found that a biologically active base, piperlongumine(PL), inhibited Zika virus replication in human brain microvascular endothelial cells, Vero cells, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. PL also significantly increased heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) gene expression, while silencing HO-1 expression and using the reactive oxygen species scavenger, N-acetylcysteine, attenuated the inhibitory effect of PL on Zika virus replication. These results suggest that PL induces oxidative stress in cells by increasing reactive oxygen species. This, in turn, induces an increase in HO-1 expression, thereby inhibiting Zika virus replication. These findings provide novel clues for drug research on the prevention and treatment of Zika virus.
基金Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University(PCSIR)National Science Foundation of China(30873395)+1 种基金Special Fund Project of Tianjin Science and Technology Innovation(08FDZDSH01405)Key Projects in the National Science and Technology Pillar Program(2007BAI47B01)
文摘Objective Shunaoxin Dropping Pills(SDPs),a Chinese patent medicine,has been used widely in China for the treatment of headache,amnesia,and insomnia.The aim of the present study is to observe the effect of SDPs on inducing angiogenesis and neurogenesis in vitro.Methods The present testing system using the serum obtained from animals ig treated with SDPs and a co-culture system in vitro was used to investigate if SDPs promotes brain microvascular endothelial cells(BMECs)tube formation and neural differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells(NSPCs),which plays important roles in angiogenesis and neurogenesis.Results The SDPs serum sampled from rats ig treated with SDPs for 3 d dose-dependently promoted the tube like structure formation of cultured BMECs,and enhanced the fraction of MAP-2 positive cells of NSPCs,which co-cultured with the BMECs and astrocyte.In addition,there was no significant change in the percentage of glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cells.Conclusion Our results show that SDPs serum can induce neural differentiation and BMECs tube formation in vitro.
