GDNF and cAMP significantly enhance in vitro blood-brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell model

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial membrane safeguarding neural tissue by controlling the molecular exchange between blood and the brain. However, assessing BBB permeability presents challenges for central nervous system (CNS) drug development. In vitro studies of BBB-permeable agents before ani...

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Main Authors: Phongthon Kanjanasirirat, Witchuda Saengsawang, Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron, Nithi Asavapanumas, Suparerk Borwornpinyo, Sunhapas Soodvilai, Suradej Hongeng, Sitthivut Charoensutthivarakul
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024153741
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author Phongthon Kanjanasirirat
Witchuda Saengsawang
Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron
Nithi Asavapanumas
Suparerk Borwornpinyo
Sunhapas Soodvilai
Suradej Hongeng
Sitthivut Charoensutthivarakul
author_facet Phongthon Kanjanasirirat
Witchuda Saengsawang
Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron
Nithi Asavapanumas
Suparerk Borwornpinyo
Sunhapas Soodvilai
Suradej Hongeng
Sitthivut Charoensutthivarakul
author_sort Phongthon Kanjanasirirat
collection DOAJ
description Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial membrane safeguarding neural tissue by controlling the molecular exchange between blood and the brain. However, assessing BBB permeability presents challenges for central nervous system (CNS) drug development. In vitro studies of BBB-permeable agents before animal testing are essential to mitigate failures. Improved in vitro models are needed to mimic physiologically relevant BBB integrity. Here, we established an in vitro human-derived triculture BBB model, coculturing hCMEC/D3 with primary astrocytes and pericytes in a transwell format. This study found that the triculture BBB model exhibited significantly higher paracellular tightness (TEER 147.6 ± 6.5 Ω × cm2) than its monoculture counterpart (106.3 ± 1.0 Ω × cm2). Additionally, BBB permeability in the triculture model was significantly lower. While GDNF and cAMP have been shown to promote BBB integrity in monoculture models, their effect in our model was previously unreported. Our study demonstrates that both GDNF and cAMP increased TEER values (around 200 Ω × cm2 for each; 237.6 ± 17.7 Ω × cm2 for co-treatment) compared to untreated control, and decreased BBB permeability, mediated by increased claudin-5 expression. In summary, this humanized triculture BBB model, enhanced by GDNF and cAMP, offers an alternative for exploring in vitro drug penetration into the human brain.
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spelling doaj-art-b1084fd222ea4a389b0741271da328ba2025-08-20T02:13:59ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-10-011020e3934310.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39343GDNF and cAMP significantly enhance in vitro blood-brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell modelPhongthon Kanjanasirirat0Witchuda Saengsawang1Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron2Nithi Asavapanumas3Suparerk Borwornpinyo4Sunhapas Soodvilai5Suradej Hongeng6Sitthivut Charoensutthivarakul7School of Bioinnovation and Bio-Based Product Intelligence, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Excellent Center for Drug Discovery (ECDD), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, ThailandDepartment of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USAChakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Samut Prakarn, 10540, ThailandChakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Samut Prakarn, 10540, ThailandExcellent Center for Drug Discovery (ECDD), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, ThailandExcellent Center for Drug Discovery (ECDD), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, ThailandExcellent Center for Drug Discovery (ECDD), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, ThailandSchool of Bioinnovation and Bio-Based Product Intelligence, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Excellent Center for Drug Discovery (ECDD), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Corresponding author. School of Bioinnovation and Bio-Based Product Intelligence, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, 272 Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial membrane safeguarding neural tissue by controlling the molecular exchange between blood and the brain. However, assessing BBB permeability presents challenges for central nervous system (CNS) drug development. In vitro studies of BBB-permeable agents before animal testing are essential to mitigate failures. Improved in vitro models are needed to mimic physiologically relevant BBB integrity. Here, we established an in vitro human-derived triculture BBB model, coculturing hCMEC/D3 with primary astrocytes and pericytes in a transwell format. This study found that the triculture BBB model exhibited significantly higher paracellular tightness (TEER 147.6 ± 6.5 Ω × cm2) than its monoculture counterpart (106.3 ± 1.0 Ω × cm2). Additionally, BBB permeability in the triculture model was significantly lower. While GDNF and cAMP have been shown to promote BBB integrity in monoculture models, their effect in our model was previously unreported. Our study demonstrates that both GDNF and cAMP increased TEER values (around 200 Ω × cm2 for each; 237.6 ± 17.7 Ω × cm2 for co-treatment) compared to untreated control, and decreased BBB permeability, mediated by increased claudin-5 expression. In summary, this humanized triculture BBB model, enhanced by GDNF and cAMP, offers an alternative for exploring in vitro drug penetration into the human brain.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024153741Blood-brain barrier permeabilityBlood-brain barrier integrityNeurovascular unitDrug developmentIn vitro blood-brain barrierTriculture model
spellingShingle Phongthon Kanjanasirirat
Witchuda Saengsawang
Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron
Nithi Asavapanumas
Suparerk Borwornpinyo
Sunhapas Soodvilai
Suradej Hongeng
Sitthivut Charoensutthivarakul
GDNF and cAMP significantly enhance in vitro blood-brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell model
Heliyon
Blood-brain barrier permeability
Blood-brain barrier integrity
Neurovascular unit
Drug development
In vitro blood-brain barrier
Triculture model
title GDNF and cAMP significantly enhance in vitro blood-brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell model
title_full GDNF and cAMP significantly enhance in vitro blood-brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell model
title_fullStr GDNF and cAMP significantly enhance in vitro blood-brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell model
title_full_unstemmed GDNF and cAMP significantly enhance in vitro blood-brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell model
title_short GDNF and cAMP significantly enhance in vitro blood-brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell model
title_sort gdnf and camp significantly enhance in vitro blood brain barrier integrity in a humanized tricellular transwell model
topic Blood-brain barrier permeability
Blood-brain barrier integrity
Neurovascular unit
Drug development
In vitro blood-brain barrier
Triculture model
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024153741
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