Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Understanding the function of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in health and disease, as well as improving drug delivery across the BBB, remains a critical priority in neuroscience research. However, current in vitro models of the BBB have become increasingly complex and challenging to implement. In th...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Andrea Margari Simon Konig Vignesh Jayarajan Silvia Rizzato Giuseppe Maruccio Emad Moeendarbary |
| author_facet | Andrea Margari Simon Konig Vignesh Jayarajan Silvia Rizzato Giuseppe Maruccio Emad Moeendarbary |
| author_sort | Andrea Margari |
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| description | Understanding the function of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in health and disease, as well as improving drug delivery across the BBB, remains a critical priority in neuroscience research. However, current in vitro models of the BBB have become increasingly complex and challenging to implement. In this study, we present a simplified microfluidic BBB model in which human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are cultured as a monolayer along a fibrin gel containing human pericytes and astrocytes. Remarkably, within just three days, the 3D co-culture significantly enhanced barrier formation and upregulated the expression of tight-junction proteins in HUVECs. These findings demonstrate that HUVECs, which have been extensively used for over 50 years to study vascular endothelium due to their ease of isolation and culture, can adapt their phenotype towards that of BBB endothelial cells under appropriate conditions. This microfluidic BBB model offers a valuable tool for drug development and for advancing our understanding of BBB physiology in both health and disease contexts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-973bafccef574259835384b2b7bba2df |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-973bafccef574259835384b2b7bba2df2025-08-20T02:33:08ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-05-01141175910.3390/cells14110759Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsAndrea Margari0Simon Konig1Vignesh Jayarajan2Silvia Rizzato3Giuseppe Maruccio4Emad Moeendarbary5Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UKDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UKDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UKOmnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, CNR-Institute of Nanotechnology, INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyOmnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, CNR-Institute of Nanotechnology, INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UKUnderstanding the function of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in health and disease, as well as improving drug delivery across the BBB, remains a critical priority in neuroscience research. However, current in vitro models of the BBB have become increasingly complex and challenging to implement. In this study, we present a simplified microfluidic BBB model in which human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are cultured as a monolayer along a fibrin gel containing human pericytes and astrocytes. Remarkably, within just three days, the 3D co-culture significantly enhanced barrier formation and upregulated the expression of tight-junction proteins in HUVECs. These findings demonstrate that HUVECs, which have been extensively used for over 50 years to study vascular endothelium due to their ease of isolation and culture, can adapt their phenotype towards that of BBB endothelial cells under appropriate conditions. This microfluidic BBB model offers a valuable tool for drug development and for advancing our understanding of BBB physiology in both health and disease contexts.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/759blood–brain barrier (BBB)in vitro modelhuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)endothelial cell biology |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Margari Simon Konig Vignesh Jayarajan Silvia Rizzato Giuseppe Maruccio Emad Moeendarbary Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Cells blood–brain barrier (BBB) in vitro model human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) endothelial cell biology |
| title | Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells |
| title_full | Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells |
| title_fullStr | Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells |
| title_short | Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood–Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells |
| title_sort | examining stromal cell interactions in an in vitro blood brain barrier model with human umbilical vein endothelial cells |
| topic | blood–brain barrier (BBB) in vitro model human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) endothelial cell biology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/759 |
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