The Ohm-azing custom-made Transendothelial Electrical Resistance measuring device (and why is it a current sensation?)

Abstract

The endothelial and epithelial cells form biological barriers, the unique anatomical structures that control substance movement between circulation and i.e., organs. Measuring trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) is a standard method that enables the evaluation of barrier integrity. The capability of a novel measuring system (MS) that combines innovative components, customized electrodes, and user-friendly software tailored to provide accurate and adjustable measurements of endothelial barrier integrity. We demonstrated MS usage in TEER measurement of rat brain microvascular endothelial cell line (RBE-4), primary rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (PBMEC), rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC), and human intestinal epithelial cell line (HIEC-6). The MS was successfully applied to measure the TEER of cultured cell monolayers, finding that i) the device records stable values; ii) cells treated with ammonium chloride had lower TEER values compared to untreated cells, which was verified with permeability measurements with fluorescein dye and confocal microscopy. In conclusion, we invented a low-cost MS capable of accurate TEER measures in relevant biological ranges. The MS instrument facilitates long-time, real-time monitoring of the cellular barriers, giving vital insights into cell barrier stability, permeability, and the effects of pharmacological substances. The customized measurement duration and electrode configuration meet a broad range of experimental designs.