Abstract
A versatile experimental model for the investigation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), including the neuro-vascular unit, is the isolated brain microvessel preparation. Brain microvessels are primarily comprised of endothelial cells, but also include pericytes, pre-capillary arteriolar smooth muscle cells, astrocyte foot processes, and occasional nerve endings. These microvessels can be isolated from brain with a 3 h procedure, and the microvessels are free of brain parenchyma. Brain microvessels have been isolated from fresh animal brain, fresh human brain obtained at neurosurgery, as well as fresh or frozen autopsy human brain. Brain microvessels are the starting point for isolation of brain microvessel RNA, which then enables the production of BBB cDNA libraries and a genomics analysis of the brain microvasculature. Brain microvessels, combined with quantitative targeted absolute proteomics, allow for the quantitation of specific transporters or receptors expressed at the brain microvasculature. Brain microvessels, combined with specific antibodies and immune labeling of isolated capillaries, allow for the cellular location of proteins expressed within the neuro-vascular unit. Isolated brain microvessels can be used as an “in vitro” preparation of the BBB for the study of the kinetic parameters of BBB carrier-mediated transport (CMT) systems, or for the determination of dissociation constants of peptide binding to BBB receptor-mediated transport (RMT) systems expressed at either the animal or the human BBB. This review will discuss how the isolated brain microvessel model system has advanced our understanding of the organization and functional properties of the BBB, and highlight recent renewed interest in this 50 year old model of the BBB.
Highlights
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the free diffusion of nutrients, hormones, and pharmaceuticals between blood and brain in either the blood-to-brain direction, or the brain-toblood direction
Subsequent to Isolated Brain Microvessel the isolation of brain microvessels, these structures can be used in a multitude of applications (Figure 1), including genomics, proteomics, cultured endothelium and in vitro BBB models, and biochemical investigations of BBB carrier-mediated transporters (CMT) and receptor-mediated transporters (RMT); the isolation of microvessels from human brain can provide the basis for understanding the role of the brain microvasculature in the etiology of neurological disease
The isolated brain microvessel is a robust experimental model of either the BBB or the neurovascular unit (NVU) which can be applied in many experimental applications, including proteomics, genomics, ex vivo transport and receptor binding, and the development of in vitro models of BBB transport
Summary
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the free diffusion of nutrients, hormones, and pharmaceuticals between blood and brain in either the blood-to-brain direction, or the brain-toblood direction. There are multiple experimental models for the investigation of BBB transport and regulation of the NVU. Of these models, the most versatile is the isolated brain microvessel. Isolated Brain Microvessel the isolation of brain microvessels, these structures can be used in a multitude of applications (Figure 1), including genomics, proteomics, cultured endothelium and in vitro BBB models, and biochemical investigations of BBB carrier-mediated transporters (CMT) and receptor-mediated transporters (RMT); the isolation of microvessels from human brain can provide the basis for understanding the role of the brain microvasculature in the etiology of neurological disease.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
