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The Blood-Brain and Other Neural Barriers pp 379–399Cite as

Methods to Assess Pericyte-Endothelial Cell Interactions in a Coculture Model

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 686))

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) comprises the microvascular endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes, which are connected by the extracellular matrix (ECM). Current BBB models focus solely on the microvascular endothelial cells which constitute a physical barrier by formation of tight junctions (TJs), while the impact of pericytes on barrier regulation is poorly understood. We established a coculture model from primary porcine brain capillary endothelial cells (PBCECs) and pericytes (PBCPs) to approach the in vivo situation. This model allows the examination of pericyte impact on pharmacological, transport, migration, and metabolic activity of the BBB. In vivo the interaction between pericytes and endothelial cells is partly controlled by the ECM which is remodeled by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Both endothelial cells and pericytes secrete MMPs which are important not only for ECM remodeling but also for TJ cleavage. In this chapter, current methods to study the interactions of these cell types by ECM signaling as well as MMP secretion are described.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Sabine Hüwel for his comments on this work, technical assistance and helpful discussions. This work was supported by a fellowship awarded to Gokulan Thanabalasundaram by the International Graduate School of Chemistry, Münster.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Münster, Germany

    Gokulan Thanabalasundaram, Jehad El-Gindi, Mira Lischper & Hans-Joachim Galla

Authors
  1. Gokulan Thanabalasundaram
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  2. Jehad El-Gindi
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  3. Mira Lischper
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  4. Hans-Joachim Galla
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Banting Institute, Dept. Laboratory Med. & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, College St. 100, Toronto, M5G 1L5, Ontario, Canada

    Sukriti Nag

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Thanabalasundaram, G., El-Gindi, J., Lischper, M., Galla, HJ. (2011). Methods to Assess Pericyte-Endothelial Cell Interactions in a Coculture Model. In: Nag, S. (eds) The Blood-Brain and Other Neural Barriers. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 686. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-938-3_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-938-3_19

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-937-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-938-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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