Novel strategy to alter the internal milieu of peripheral nervous system targeting BNB-forming pericytes

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26670443
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: KANDA Takashi 山口大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (40204797)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 血液神経関門 / ペリサイト / 内皮細胞 / 脂溶性分子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We construct a novel blood-nerve barrier (BNB) model incorporating bi-cultured system of conditionally immortalized human BNB cell lines (microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes). In this system, pericytes were cultured onto the luminal side of insert (3 um pores). Sheet-like confluent EC cultured on the UpCell plate, which achieves detachment of cell layer by changes of temperature, was transferred onto the pericyte monolayer. As compared with the conventional co-culture system employing pericytes on abluminal side of the insert and endothelial cells on luminal side, the values of permeability were significantly low in our new BNB model. Using this novel model, a screening system to find hydrophobic substances which can activate BNB pericytes and enhance BNB properties was successfully established.

Free Research Field

神経内科学