Human Brain Capillary Endothelial Cells Research Articles

Plasmodium falciparum: Cytoadherence of malaria-infected erythrocytes to human brain capillary and umbilical vein endothelial cells—A comparative study of adhesive ligands

The cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (FCR-3 line) to human brain capillary endothelial cells (HBEC), C32 amelanotic melanoma cells, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was studied. The adhesion of infected red cells was HBEC > amelanotic melanoma > HUVEC. The presence or absence of the adhesive ligands ICAM-1 (CD54 or intercellular adhesion molecule 1), ICAM-2, and CD36 (=glycoprotein IV) was determined for each of these cells by indirect immunofluorescence using the monoclonal antibodies RR1/1, 6D5, and OKM 5/OKM 8, respectively. It appeared that a major ligand for the FCR-3 line of P. falciparum with amelanotic melanoma cells and HBECs was CD36. Binding to HUVECs was very low, presumably due to their lack of expression of CD36. HBECs, because of their ease of in vitro propagation, long-term maintenance of cytoadherent properties, and their high degree of adhesiveness, will be useful for in vitro studies of adherence.

Cultured human brain capillary endothelial cells are permissive for infection by human cytomegalovirus

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is associated with a variety of systemic and neurologic diseases. In vitro HCMV growth is usually studied in fibroblasts, while in vivo HCMV growth is frequently observed in a wide variety of cell types including glia, neurons, and human brain capillary endothelial (HBCE) cells. To examine the biology of HCMV in HBCE cells, we have established a procedure for isolating these cells from human brain temporal lobectomies. Greater than 99.0% of these cultured cells were identified as HBCE cells on the basis of positive staining for factor VIII-related antigen-Von Willebrand's factor (F VIII) and Ulex Europaeus agglutinin I (UEA I[t HCMV antigens were detected by immunocytochemistry in HBCE cells after infection with strain AD 169. Intracellular virions were observed in infected cells by electron microscopy and infectious virus was released from HBCE cells. In addition, infected cells were confirmed as endothelial cells by double staining with antibodies to F VIII and HCMV.

Serum folate concentrations during pregnancy in women with epilepsy: relation to antiepileptic drug concentrations, number of seizures, and fetal outcome.

Serum folate concentrations, blood counts, and antiepileptic drug concentrations were measured during 133 pregnancies of 125 women with epilepsy. There was an inverse correlation between serum folate concentrations and concentrations of phenytoin and phenobarbitone. The number of epileptic seizures during pregnancy showed no association with serum folate concentrations. No cases of maternal tissue folate deficiency or fetal damage attributable to low maternal serum folate were observed. Maternal serum folate concentrations for infants with structural birth defects, "fetal hydantoin syndrome," or perinatal death were similar to those for healthy babies. A low dose (100 to 1000 micrograms daily) of folate supplement appeared sufficient for pregnant women with epilepsy despite the antifolic action of antiepileptic medication. Monitoring folate concentrations in pregnant women with high serum concentrations of phenytoin or phenobarbitone is recommended.