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Biomedical subjects

N Yanai

Publications and source records attributed to N Yanai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fetal intracranial hemorrhage (fetal stroke): does grade matter?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the severity of antenatally diagnosed hemorrhagic fetal brain insults and fetal stroke detected by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) predicts postnatal neurodevelopmental prognosis. METHODS: The in-utero presentation and postnatal neurodevelopmental outcome of sonographically detected subdural hematoma or fetal stroke presenting as intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or intraparenchymal brain hemorrhage were investigated. RESULTS: Of 33 fetuses diagnosed with hemorrhagic brain lesions, 17 were electively terminated and two suffered intrauterine fetal demise. Thirteen were liveborn, seven by Cesarean delivery and six by spontaneous vaginal delivery. One case was lost to follow-up. Eight neonates had moderate to severe neurological deficit by a mean age of 35 (range, 6-96) months. One died at 2 months of age. These nine were diagnosed with Grade III-IV IVH in utero. Four neonates had normal neurological outcome by a mean age of 41 (range, 30-48) months; these four were diagnosed with subdural hematoma (n = 1) or Grade I-II IVH (n = 3) in utero. Fourteen cases were followed up with MRI, which confirmed ultrasound findings in 10 (71%) cases. In three (21%) cases MRI diagnosis was more accurate and the severity of grading was greater than that obtained on ultrasound imaging. Unilateral left hemispheric lesions were much more common than right-sided lesions (13 vs. 1, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: An antenatal sonographic diagnosis of fetal stroke with IVH Grade III-IV or with brain parenchymal involvement appears to be associated with poor neurological outcome. MRI may contribute to the accuracy of diagnosis, particularly in Grade II and III lesions. Left-sided unilateral lesions are more common than right-sided ones.

Developmental Disabilities↗

Spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and hyperreactio luteinalis are entities in continuum.

Hyperreactio luteinalis (HL) and spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) are both rare conditions during pregnancy. The clinical presentation of HL and OHSS are comparable and both should be differentiated from ovarian carcinoma. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman who was initially seen with markedly enlarged multicystic ovaries and ascites in the 13th week of a spontaneously conceived pregnancy. Ultrasonographic follow-up and magnetic resonance imaging of the ovaries were employed in order to avoid exploratory laparotomy and rule out ovarian carcinoma. The patient received supportive therapy and delivered a healthy child at term. The increasing use of ultrasonography may lead to more frequent findings of multicystic ovaries in spontaneously conceived pregnancies. Making the distinction between HL and spontaneous OHSS in these cases may be difficult though clinically irrelevant as the approach to treatment is similar in both.

Adult↗

Fetal hydrops, associated with maternal propylthiouracil exposure, reversed by intrauterine therapy.

Thyroid hormone is essential for fetal neurological development. Among other etiologies, fetal hypothyroidism may be caused by maternal exposure to antithyroid drugs (ATDs). The most common presentation of fetal hypothyroidism is fetal goiter, which can cause dystocia, in addition to airway obstruction in the neonate. Intra-amniotic treatment with levothyroxine normalizes fetal thyroid status and reduces goiter size. We present a case of fetal hypothyroidism diagnosed in a patient who was treated with propylthiouracil (PTU) for Grave's disease. The fetus had marked hydrops fetalis and a large goiter. In addition, anal stenosis, vesicovaginal fistula, bilateral pyelectasia and polydactyly were diagnosed in the neonate. Intra-amniotic treatment with levothyroxine resulted in a regression of the hydrops and a reduction in the goiter size. A euthyroid, non-edematous, non-goitrous neonate was delivered. At the age of 27 months the child's psychomotor development was normal. The present case indicates that hydrops fetalis may be an unusual manifestation of fetal hypothyroidism, caused by intrauterine exposure to maternal antithyroid drugs (ATDs), and that it may be resolved by treatment with intra-amniotic levothyroxine.

Adult↗

Conservative management of two ectopic pregnancies implanted in previous uterine scars.

Cesarean section scar pregnancy is rare. A variety of interventions have been implemented to terminate the pregnancy and preserve the uterus; however, the optimal treatment is unknown. We describe two cases of this rare condition diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound. In the first case the diagnosis of an 8-week non-viable gestation in a uterine scar was made sonographically in a 40-year-old woman. The patient was treated with intramuscular methotrexate. Myometrial integrity was suggested both by ultrasound findings and laparoscopic findings. In the second case, an early cervicoisthmic pregnancy in a uterine scar was diagnosed by sonography in a 39-year-old woman. This patient was treated successfully with a full course of intramuscular methotrexate. Complete disappearance of the gestational sac took place 4 months following beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin normalization. Intramuscular methotrexate may be a treatment alternative for Cesarean section scar pregnancies.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗

Conditionally immortalized retinal capillary endothelial cell lines (TR-iBRB) expressing differentiated endothelial cell functions derived from a transgenic rat.

The objective of this study was to establish and characterize a retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB) from a newly developed transgenic rat harboring the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (SV 40) large T-antigen gene (Tg rat). Retinal capillary endothelial cells were isolated from a Tg rat and cultured in collagen-coated dishes at 37 degrees C for a period of 48 hr. Cells were subsequently cultured at 33 degrees C to activate the large T-antigen. At the third passage, cells were cloned by colony formation and isolated from other cells. Nine immortalized cell lines of retinal capillary endothelial cells (TR-iBRB1 approximately 9) were obtained from a Tg rat. These cell lines had a spindle-fiber shape morphology, expressed the typical endothelial marker, von Willebrand factor, and internalized acetylated-low density lipoprotein. Moreover, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 was expressed in TR-iBRBs. TR-iBRBs expressed a large T-antigen and grew well at 33 degrees C with a doubling time of 19-21 hr. In contrast, cells did not grow at 37 and 39 degrees C due to the reduced expression of large T-antigen, supporting temperature-dependent cell growth. TR-iBRBs expressed GLUT1 and exhibited 3- O -methyl- D -glucose (3-OMG) uptake activity. This 3-OMG uptake was saturable with a Michaelis-Menten constant of 5.56 +/- 0.51 m M and a maximum uptake rate of 45.3 +/- 2.6 nmol min(-1) mg protein(-1). P-Glycoprotein, with a molecular weight of approximately 180 KDa, was expressed in TR-iBRBs. In addition, mdr 1a, mdr 1b and mdr 2 were detected in TR-iBRB2 using RT-PCR. In conclusion, conditionally immortalized retinal capillary endothelial cell lines were established from a transgenic rat harboring the temperature-sensitive SV 40 large T-antigen gene and these lines were shown to exhibit the properties of retinal capillary endothelial cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Characterization of the amino acid transport of new immortalized choroid plexus epithelial cell lines: a novel in vitro system for investigating transport functions at the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.

PURPOSE: To establish and characterize a choroid plexus epithelial cell line (TR-CSFB) from a new type of transgenic rat harboring the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (ts SV 40) large T-antigen gene (Tg rat). METHODS: Choroid plexus epithelial cells were isolated from the Tg rat and cultured on a collagen-coated dish at 37 degrees C during the first period of 3 days. Cells were subsequently cultured at 33 degrees C to activate large T-antigen. At the third passage, cells were cloned by colony formation and isolated from other cells using a penicillin cup. RESULTS: Five immortalized cell lines of choroid plexus epithelial cells (TR-CSFB 1 approximately 5) were obtained from two Tg rats. These cell lines had a polygonal cell morphology, expressed the typical choroid plexus epithelial cell marker, transthyretin, and possessed Na+, K+-ATPase on their apical side. TR-CSFBs cells expressed a large T-antigen and grew well at 33 degrees C with a doubling-time of 35 approximately 40 hr. [3H]-L-Proline uptake by TR-CSFB cells took place in an Na+-dependent, ouabain-sensitive, energy-dependent, and concentration-dependent manner. It was also inhibited by alpha-methylaminoisobutylic acid, suggesting that system A for amino acids operates in TR-CSFB cells. When [3H]-L-proline uptake was measured using the Transwell device, the L-proline uptake rate following application to the apical side was five-fold greater than that following application to the basal side. In addition, both Na+-dependent and Na+-independent L-glutamic acid (L-Glu) uptake processes were present in TR-CSFB cells. CONCLUSIONS: Immortalized choroid plexus epithelial cell lines were successfully established from Tg rats and have the properties of choroid plexus epithelial cells, and amino acid transport activity was observed in vivo.

Amino Acids↗

Establishment of gingival epithelial cell lines from transgenic mice harboring temperature sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene.

We established two gingival epithelial cell lines (GE1 and GE6), originating from transgenic mice harboring the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. GE1 and GE6 grew at a permissive temperature (33 degrees C) in a pavement arrangement and solely formed multilayers that exhibited morphological features similar to those of the stratified oral epithelium, with neither the use of stromal equivalents nor feeder layers. Both GE cells underwent apoptosis at a non-permissive temperature (39 degrees C). Characteristic keratin peptides, keratin 4 and 13, for mucosal epithelium were obviously expressed in the suprabasal cells, and keratohyalin granules and involucrin were present in the surface flat cells in the multilayered culture. Keratin 10 (one of the markers for higher keratinized gingival epithelium) was rarely found in some uppermost cells, and filaggrin (a component of keratohyalin granules) appeared sparsely in uppermost desquamating cells in the older cultures. These observations indicated that GE1 and GE6 cells exhibited the phenotype characterizing nonkeratinized sulcular epithelium, which possessed the potency undergoing keratinization in such highly stratified cultures as oral gingival epithelium. GE cells increased the expression levels of mRNA of interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha by the stimulation of lipopolysaccharide and extracellular substances of oral streptococci. The GE cell lines thus could serve as an excellent experimental system for further studies on the physiology of gingival epithelium and corresponding diseases, such as periodontal disease, epithelial hyperplasia, and gingival tumors.

Animals↗

Acidic amino acid transport characteristics of a newly developed conditionally immortalized rat type 2 astrocyte cell line (TR-AST).

To characterize acidic amino acid transport in type 2 astrocytes, we established conditionally immortalized rat astrocyte cell lines (TR-AST) from newly developed transgenic rats harboring temperature-sensitive SV40 large T-antigen gene. TR-AST exhibited positive immunostaining for anti-GFAP antibody and A2B5 antibody, characteristics associated with type 2 astrocytes, and expressed glutamine synthetase. Acidic amino acid transporters, GLT-1 and system xc-, which consists of xCT and 4F2hc, were expressed in all TR-ASTs by RT-PCR. On the other hand, GLAST expression was found in TR-AST3 and 5. The characteristics of [3H]L-glutamic acid (L-Glu) uptake by TR-AST5 include an Na+-dependent and Na+-independent manner, concentration-dependence, and inhibition by L-aspartic acid (L-Asp) and D-aspartic acid (D-Asp). The corresponding Michaelis-Menten constants for the Na+-dependent and Na+-independent process were 36.3 microM and 155 microM, respectively. [3H]L-Asp and [3H]D-Asp uptake by TR-AST5 had an Na+-dependent and Na+-independent manner. This study demonstrated that GLT-1, system xc-, and GLAST were expressed in TR-AST, which has the characteristics of type 2 astrocytes and is able to transport acidic amino acids.

Amino Acid Transport Systems, Acidic↗

Stromal cells provide signals different from cytokines for STAT5 activation in hematopoietic cells.

After detachment from the stromal cells, hematopoietic stem cells are thought to differentiate to the cytokine-dependent stages where their growth and differentiation are promoted by these cytokines. To examine the stromal regulation of hematopoietic stem cells, we previously established a primitive hematopoietic stem-like cell line, THS119, whose growth was dependent on the bone marrow stromal cell line, TBR59, and from which IL-3- (THS119/IL-3) or IL-7- (THS119/IL-7) dependent cell lines were then generated. Using these cell lines, we examined the difference in signals mediated by the stromal cells and cytokines. The cytokine-dependent cell lines (THS119/IL-3 and THS119/IL-7) showed induction of STAT5 phosphorylation and target genes for STAT5 such as CIS, pim-1, p21 and bcl-xL upon addition of IL-3 or IL-7. IL-3 or IL-7 also induced STAT5 phosphorylation and STAT5 target genes of the stromal cell-dependent cell line, THS119, in the absence of stromal cells at levels similar to the cytokine-dependent cell lines. However, quite interestingly, TBR59 stromal cells could not induce STAT5 phosphorylation of THS119 cells, although they did induce STAT5 target genes in THS119 cells. In addition, the mRNAs for STAT5 target genes in THS119 cells on the stromal cells seemed to be more stable than those in the cytokine-dependent cell lines. Expression of the antiapoptotic genes bcl-2 and bcl-xL was higher in the stromal cell-dependent cell line than in the cytokine-dependent cell lines. These results suggested that stromal cells and cytokines may provide different signals for growth and differentiation of the hematopoietic cells.

Cell Division↗

A mouse bone marrow stromal cell line, TBR-B, shows inducible expression of smooth muscle-specific genes.

We established an in vitro culture system which mimicked the differentiation pathway of smooth muscle cell, using TBR-B, a bone marrow stromal cell line derived from transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive SV40 large T-antigen gene. TBR-B cells have the potential to express smooth muscle-specific genes including h1-calponin, h-caldesmon, SM22alpha and alpha-actin, only after cultured in the differentiation medium for 2 weeks. The differentiation state of TBR-B was well controlled by using different culture medium. Using this cell line, we also found that ascorbic acid is a potent factor inducing the expression of h1-calponin and alpha-actin. TBR-B cells will serve as a useful tool for elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of smooth muscle-specific gene expression, and for identifying compounds that regulate the differentiation state of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Actins↗

Sphingosine-1-phosphate and lysophosphatidic acid trigger invasion of primitive hematopoietic cells into stromal cell layers.

A new primitive hematopoietic cell line (THS119), exhibiting Lin(-)/Sca-1(+)/c-Kit(+) a surface phenotype, grew and survived underneath stromal cells (TBR59). The ability of the THS119 cells to invade these stromal cell layers was dependent on the inclusion of serum in the culture medium. This was apparently due to a requirement for lipids contained in serum. Their invasion of the stromal cell layers in serum-free cultures could be triggered by addition of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) or lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and was dependent on both Rho- and Ras-signaling pathways. Between the 2 possible receptors of S1P and LPA, edg-1 and edg-2, expression of edg-2 only was found to be correlated with immaturity and/or invasive activity of the primitive hematopoietic cells. These results suggest the importance of specific lipids and their specific receptors on the invasive activity of primitive hematopoietic cells in the hematopoietic microenvironment.

Animals↗

Isolation of a novel PDZ-containing myosin from hematopoietic supportive bone marrow stromal cell lines.

Stromal cells in bone marrow provide an optimal microenvironment for hematopoiesis. The established stromal cell lines from bone marrow showed various cellular heterogeneities and differed in their hematopoietic supportive ability. By a differential display method, we cloned a gene whose expression levels were correlated with the hematopoietic supportive ability of stromal cells. Its deduced amino acid sequence shows a structure similar to myosins, except that it lacks an actin binding site. Interestingly, it contains a KE-rich sequence and a PDZ domain in the NH(2)-terminal, which are protein-protein interaction domains; therefore we termed this novel myosin Myosin containing PDZ domain (MysPDZ). Western blot analysis showed that its protein levels positively correlated with the supportive ability of stromal cells and immunostaining suggested that MysPDZ was present at cytoskeleton in a filamentous and/or network form. Thus MysPDZ may be involved in the maintenance of the stromal cell architectures required for cell to cell contact.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Multipotency of a bone marrow stromal cell line, TBR31-2, established from ts-SV40 T antigen gene transgenic mice.

Bone marrow is believed to contain multipotential stromal stem cells which can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and myoblasts (Prockop, D. J. Science 276, 71-74, 1997). Therefore, characterization and identification of the stem-like cell within the stromal cells are important to understand bone marrow function in relation to the hematopoietic microenvironment, and repair/regeneration of tissue defects. TBR31-2 cell, a bone marrow stromal cell line established from bone marrow of transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive (ts) simian virus (SV) 40T-antigen gene for immortality, is induced toward both adipocytic and osteogenic cells under conditions of the inactivation of T-antigen (Okuyama, R., Yanai, N., Obinata, M. Exp. Cell Res. 218, 424-429, 1995). In this work, using a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, mRNA expressions of tissue-specific differentiation markers for adipocyte (lipoprotein lipase), osteoblast (type I collagen and osteocalcin), chondrocyte (type II and X collagen), and muscle cell (desmin) were examined during a long-term culture of the cell. In addition, histochemical studies showed the appearance of adipocytic, osteoblastic, chondrocytic, and muscle cells during this long-term culture. Thus, TBR31-2, which has characteristics of an undifferentiated cell, has the potential to express the multipotential cell lineages. These results indicated that a multipotential progenitor cell including potential to differentiate into a muscle cell and which is situated in the mesenchymal cell lineage was first obtained.

Animals↗

Self-renewal and differentiation of a novel bipotent myeloid progenitor clone in the stroma-dependent culture.

To understand regulation of myeloid development, it is necessary to obtain the myeloid progenitor cell lines with self-renewal and differentiation capacities. Because prolonged hematopoiesis occurs with the production of myeloid cells at all stages of differentiation in the Dexter-type long-term bone marrow cultures, we tried to obtain stroma-dependent myeloid progenitor cells starting from the long-term bone marrow culture. Murine cobblestone areas generated in long-term bone marrow cultures were serially passaged every 10 days. After 4 months, the resultant hematopoietic cells, designated as DFC, were passaged on a monolayer of established spleen stromal cell line, MSS62. After 10-12 passages of DFC cells on MSS62, several clones were obtained by colony formation on MSS62 cell layer. Among these clones, DFC-a cells could be maintained for a long period by coculturing with the established stromal cell line, MSS62.DFC-a cells proliferated by forming cobblestones and contained blast cells, granulocytes, and macrophages. Cell sorting and coculture experiments indicated that the blast type cells exhibiting c-Kit(+) Gr-1(-) Mac-1(-), stroma-dependently self-renewed, and spontaneously differentiated toward granulocytes (c-Kit(+) Gr-1(+) Mac-1(+)) and macrophages (c-Kit(low/+) Gr-1(-) Mac-1(high)). Although most of DFC-a cells expressed c-Kit, SCF-c-Kit interaction was not always necessary for their growth. In the presence of stromal cells, growth and differentiation of DFC-a cells were stimulated by GM-CSF or IL-3. Without stromal cells, DFC-a was transiently expanded by GM-CSF or IL-3 but could not be maintained constantly by these cytokines. The present study demonstrated that DFC-a is a novel bipotent myeloid progenitor cell clone as a simple model system of stroma-dependent myeloid development. It may reflect distinct properties for the earliest myeloid progenitor cells in vivo. It is of interest to know what signals are provided by MSS62 stromal cells to maintain the myeloid progenitor cells.

Animals↗

Effect of human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) on lymphoid and myeloid differentiation of sorted hematopoietic stem cells from hGM-CSF receptor gene transgenic mice.

Bone marrow lineage-negative (Lin(-)) c-Kit(+) Sca-1(+) hematopoietic cells from human GM-CSF receptor gene transgenic mice were cultured on established bone marrow stromal cell (TBR59) layers and on semisolid medium. In the semisolid assay, an increasing number of larger colonies were observed in the presence of hGM-CSF. By coculture with the stromal cells, cobblestones containing myeloid and lymphoid lineages of cells were formed from the stem cell enriched fraction, and addition of hGM-CSF strongly stimulated formation of the cobblestones containing both lineages. Repeating passages of the cobblestones on TBR59 stromal cells in the presence of hGM-CSF gradually decreased cobblestone formation and inversely increased macrophages and granulocytes, while mast cells were generated when the cells derived from the semisolid assay were cultured in a liquid medium containing hGM-CSF. These results consistently suggest that cytokines such as GM-CSF may costimulate the immature hematopoietic cells at their stroma-dependent phase before lineage commitment, and after commitment that occurs by an intrinsic program of the cells, they may stimulate maintenance and maturation of progenitor cells.

Animals↗

Conditionally immortalized brain capillary endothelial cell lines established from a transgenic mouse harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene.

Five immortalized brain capillary endothelial cell lines (TM-BBB1-5) were established from 3 transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene (Tg mouse). These cell lines expressed active large T-antigen and grew well at 33 degrees C with a doubling time of about 20 to 30 hours. TM-BBBs also grew at 37 degrees C but not at 39 degrees C. However, growth was restored when the temperature of the culture was lowered to 33 degrees C. Although significant amounts of large T-antigen were shown to be present in the cell culture at 33 degrees C, there was less of this complex at 37 degrees C and 39 degrees C. TM-BBBs expressed the typical endothelial marker, von Willebrand factor, and exhibited acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake activity. The alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity in TM-BBBs were -10% and 50% to 80% of brain capillary fraction of normal mice, respectively. D-mannitol transport in the both apical-to-basal and basal-to-apical directions across the TM-BBB was 2-fold greater than for inulin. TM-BBBs were found to express GLUT-1 but not GLUT-3, and exhibited concentration-dependent 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG) uptake activity with a Michaelis-Menten constant of 6.59 +/- 1.16 mmol/l. Moreover, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) with a molecular weight of -170 kDa was expressed in all TM-BBBs. Both mdr1a and mdr1b mRNA were detected in TM-BBB4 using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. [3H]-Cyclosporin A uptake by TM-BBB was significantly increased in the presence of 100 micromol/l verapamil and vincristine, suggesting that TM-BBB exhibits efflux transport activity via P-gp. In conclusion, conditional brain capillary endothelial cell lines were established from Tg mice. This cell line expresses endothelial markers and transporters at the BBB and is able to regulate cell growth, due to the amount of active large T-antigen in the cell, by changing the culture temperature.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Stroma-dependent maintenance of cytokine responsive hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from long-term bone marrow culture.

Hematopoietic cells maintained for long periods on primary cultures of bone marrow stromal cells formed cobblestone colonies (Dexter's long-term bone marrow culture, LTBC). These stably maintained hematopoietic cells (for 4 months) were transferred to a coculture on an established spleen stromal cell line (MSS62), and maintained under stromal cell layer, where they retained their invasive ability in the restricted space between the stromal cell layer and culture substratum (DFC culture). DFC contained lineage-negative (Lin-), c-Kit+, Sca-1- cells and spontaneously produced Mac-1+, Gr-1+ cells. DFC could not grow in the absence of MSS62 stromal cells, although, GM-CSF, IL-3, or IL-7 stimulated its growth. Production of granulocyte and monocytic cells was maintained by GM-CSF or IL-3 while it was decreased by IL-7. RT-PCR analysis showed that the IL-7 responsive cell population expressed early lymphoid markers (Ikaros, Pax-5, Oct-2, Rag-1, TdT, IL-7R and Imu), while lacking expression of receptors for G-CSF (G-CSFR) and for M-CSF (M-CSFR), or myeloperoxidase (MPO). These results suggested that DFC simultaneously contained lymphoid-committed progenitors and myeloid-committed progenitors, and that cytokines may expand their responding progenitor cells under the influence of signals provided by the stromal cells. Such a stromal cell-dependent culture system may be useful to analyze the switching mechanism from constitutive to inducible hematopoiesis in vitro.

Animals↗

mRna expression and transport characterization of conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell lines; a new in vitro BBB model for drug targeting.

Brain capillary endothelial cell lines (TR-BBB) were established from a recently developed transgenic rat harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (ts SV 40) large T-antigen gene (Tg rat) and used to characterize the endothelial marker, transport activity, and mRNA expression of transporters and tight-junction strand proteins at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These cell lines expressed active large T-antigen and grew well at 33 degrees C with a doubling-time of about 22-31 hr, but did not grow at 39 degrees C. TR-BBBs expressed the typical endothelial marker, von Willebrand factor, and exhibited acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake activity. Although the gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity in TR-BBBs was approximately 13% of that of the brain capillary fraction of a normal rat, it was localized in the apical side, suggesting that it reflects the functional polarity of the in vivo BBB. The mRNA of tight-junction strand proteins such as claudine-5, occludin, and junctional adhesion molecule are expressed in TR-BBB13. Drug efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein, with a molecular weight of 170 kDa was expressed in all TR-BBBs and mdr 1a, mdr 1b, and mdr 2 mRNA were detected in TR-BBBs using RT-PCR. Moreover, mrp1 mRNA was expressed in all TR-BBBs. Influx transporter, GLUT-1, expressed at 55 kDa was revealed by Western blot analysis. It had 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG) uptake activity which was concentration-dependent with a Michaelis-Menten constant of 9.86 +/- 1.20 mM. The mRNA of large neutral amino acid transporter, which consists of LAT-1 and 4F2hc was expressed in TR-BBBs. In conclusion, the conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell lines (TR-BBB) had endothelial makers, expressed mRNA for tight-junction strand proteins and the influx and efflux transporters and produced GLUT-1, which is capable of 3-OMG transport activity.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗