Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Elham Ghasempour, Shilan Hesami, Elaheh Movahed, Saeed Heidari Keshel, Mohammad Doroudian
Summary: Brain tumors are a lethal type of cancer, and the blood-brain barrier presents a challenge for treatment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derived exosomes show potential in treating brain tumors.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Marc Vila Cuenca, Amy Cochrane, Francijna E. van den Hil, Antoine A. F. de Vries, Saskia A. J. Lesnik Oberstein, Christine L. Mummery, Valeria V. Orlova
Summary: The study developed a 3D vessel-on-chip model based on human induced pluripotent stem cells to recapitulate the crosstalk between endothelial cells and pericytes or vascular smooth muscle cells, enabling the study of vascular (patho)physiology and therapy. The hiPSC-derived vascular cells organized into stable microvascular networks within a fibrin hydrogel microenvironment and responded to vasoactive stimulation, demonstrating the model's potential for quantifying vascular organization and intracellular Ca2+ release kinetics.
Article
Immunology
Yuancheng Weng, Ningting Chen, Rui Zhang, Jian He, Xukai Ding, Guo Cheng, Qianqian Bi, Ying-mei Lu, Xiao Z. Shen, Shu Wan, Peng Shi
Summary: This study reveals that microglia is the primary cellular source of PDGFB in adults, and microglial PDGFB is crucial for maintaining BBB integrity in adult mice.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dipali Goyal, Sean W. Limesand, Ravi Goyal
Summary: A stem cell-like population is found in fetal carotid arteries, and the survival of these cells depends on the B-Raf kinase.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Tanya A. Barretto, Eugene Park, Tamar Telliyan, Elaine Liu, Denis Gallagher, Clifford Librach, Andrew Baker
Summary: HUCPVCs reduce vascular dysfunction after modeled TBI by preserving pericyte-endothelial interactions, leading to improved long-term outcomes.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gaku Yamanaka, Fuyuko Takata, Yasufumi Kataoka, Kanako Kanou, Shinichiro Morichi, Shinya Dohgu, Hisashi Kawashima
Summary: Pericytes are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and have been implicated in neuroinflammation associated with epilepsy. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that pericytes undergo morphological changes and redistribution in response to proinflammatory cytokines, potentially contributing to epilepsy pathogenesis and BBB permeability. Furthermore, pericytes may act as sensors of the inflammatory response and have potential as a therapeutic target for seizure disorders.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Daniel Spitzer, Maryam I. Khel, Tim Puetz, Jenny Zinke, Xiaoxiong Jia, Kathleen Sommer, Katharina Filipski, Frits Thorsen, Thomas M. Freiman, Stefan Guenther, Karl H. Plate, Patrick N. Harter, Stefan Liebner, Yvonne Reiss, Mariangela Di Tacchio, Sylvaine Guerit, Kavi Devraj
Summary: The neurovascular unit (NVU) is crucial for the proper functioning of the central nervous system and involves endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, and neurons. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), regulated by the NVU, is seen in various neurological diseases and is a major therapeutic target. In this study, the EPAM-ia method is introduced as a protocol for simultaneous isolation and analysis of NVU cells using flow cytometry. This method involves the differential processing and combination of NVU cell types followed by immunostaining and fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The EPAM-ia method has applications in transcriptomics, proteomics, and cell culture and can be employed for analyzing various cell types in neurological diseases associated with BBB dysfunction.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Philip M. Graybill, Edward J. Jacobs, Aniket Jana, Atharva Agashe, Amrinder S. Nain, Rafael V. Davalos
Summary: Ultra-thin and ultra-porous basement membrane mimics using precisely arranged nanofiber networks are developed for blood-brain barrier modeling. The nanofiber networks enable close contact between endothelial monolayers and pericytes, regulating barrier tightness. Co-cultures on the ultra-thin nanofiber membranes show higher transendothelial electrical resistance values, indicating a biological benefit.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Elizabeth E. Crouch, Loukas N. Diafos, Edward J. Valenzuela, Kaylee Wedderburn-Pugh, Janeth Ochoa Birrueta, Jaela Caston, Tara Joseph, Madeline G. Andrews, Aparna Bhaduri, Eric J. Huang
Summary: Angiogenesis and neurogenesis are functionally interconnected during brain development. This article presents a method to purify prenatal human brain vascular cells using FACS and utilize them in various downstream applications. The method is simple and efficient, generating high yields from small amounts of tissue. These vascular cells can be cultured and used in various in vitro assays. Additionally, the article describes how to use these cells for transplantation into cortical organoids to study neurovascular interactions in prenatal human brain development.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mansoureh Barzegar, Yuping Wang, Randa S. Eshaq, J. Winny Yun, Christen J. Boyer, Sergio G. Cananzi, Luke A. White, Oleg Chernyshev, Roger E. Kelley, Alireza Minagar, Karen Y. Stokes, Xiao-Hong Lu, Jonathan S. Alexander
Summary: Human placenta mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSC) and EVs derived from them show protective effects in experimental stroke models, indicating potential for rapid translation into clinical trials.
Article
Immunology
Eliza Gil, Cristina Venturini, David Stirling, Carolin Turner, Liku B. Tezera, Giuseppe Ercoli, Tina Baker, Katharine Best, Jeremy S. Brown, Mahdad Noursadeghi
Summary: Excessive neutrophil extravasation can lead to immunopathology, but the mechanisms that amplify this process are not well understood. This study shows that human brain vascular pericytes (HBVP) contribute to neutrophil extravasation by enhancing endothelial barrier formation and promoting neutrophil transmigration. This process is mediated by paracrine signaling from monocyte derived macrophages, which upregulates the production of neutrophil chemokines by pericytes. Understanding the role of pericytes in amplifying neutrophil extravasation may provide new therapeutic targets for reducing neutrophil mediated pathology in pyogenic meningitis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Julia Mamana, Gabrielle M. Humber, Eric R. Espinal, Soojung Seo, Nadine Vollmuth, Jon Sin, Brandon J. Kim
Summary: Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a common human pathogen that can cause fatal aseptic meningo-encephalitis, particularly in young children. The mechanisms by which CVB3 gains access to the brain and the virus-host interactions at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are poorly understood. This study utilized human induced-pluripotent stem cell-derived brain-like endothelial cells (iBECs) to investigate the effects of CVB3 infection on BBB function and overall survival. The results showed that CVB3 infection of iBECs resulted in high extracellular virus release and disruption of transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) at later infection stages, suggesting potential mechanisms for viral entry and prolonged shedding.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
H. H. T. Middelkamp, A. H. A. Verboven, A. G. De Sa Vivas, C. Schoenmaker, T. M. Klein Gunnewiek, R. Passier, C. A. Albers, P. A. C. t Hoen, N. Nadif Kasri, A. D. van der Meer
Summary: In vitro neuronal models are crucial for studying neurological functions, disease mechanisms, and treatments. Organ-on-chip models with microfluidic systems can emulate neurovascular unit (NVU) physiology, but there are significant gene expression changes observed when culturing NVU cell types on microfluidic chips compared to conventional culture plates, indicating the impact of microfluidic systems on cellular behavior and maturity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Marie Piantino, Fiona Louis, Yukari Shigemoto-Mogami, Kimiko Kitamura, Kaoru Sato, Tomoko Yamaguchi, Kenji Kawabata, Syunsuke Yamamoto, Shinji Iwasaki, Hideki Hirabayashi, Michiya Matsusaki
Summary: This study compared HBEC and hiPS-BMEC and found that hiPS-BMEC had higher expressions of transporters and tight junction proteins, resembling the BBB more accurately. Additionally, it confirmed the presence of transferrin receptor in hiPS-BMEC and its functionality in the RMT pathway.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Konstantin N. Yarygin, Daria D. Namestnikova, Kirill K. Sukhinich, Ilya L. Gubskiy, Alexander G. Majouga, Irina V. Kholodenko
Summary: Mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in stroke treatment shows promise, especially with intra-arterial administration. However, further research is needed to understand the interactions between transplanted cells and the blood-brain barrier.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Laura Rodriguez-Arco, Alessandro Poma, Lorena Ruiz-Perez, Edoardo Scarpa, Kamolchanok Ngamkham, Giuseppe Battaglia
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaohe Tian, Sajid Hussain, Cesare de Pace, Lorena Ruiz-Perez, Giuseppe Battaglia
CHEMISTRY-AN ASIAN JOURNAL
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lei Luo, Qi Zhang, Yonghuang Luo, Zhonggui He, Xiaohe Tian, Giuseppe Battaglia
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meng Liu, Azzurra Apriceno, Miguel Sipin, Edoardo Scarpa, Laura Rodriguez-Arco, Alessandro Poma, Gabriele Marchello, Giuseppe Battaglia, Stefano Angioletti-Uberti
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Polymer Science
Cecilia Z. Bueno, Alexsandra C. Apolinario, Aroa Duro-Castano, Alessandro Poma, Adalberto Pessoa, Carlota O. Rangel-Yagui, Giuseppe Battaglia
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Sanchez-Guzman, Sonja Boland, Oliver Brookes, Claire Mc Cord, Rene Lai Kuen, Valentina Sirri, Armelle Baeza Squiban, Stephanie Devineau
Summary: The human bronchial epithelium serves as the first line of defense against atmospheric particles, pollutants, and respiratory pathogens. The developed 3D model using Calu-3 cells demonstrated viability and functionality for 21 days without subculturing, providing a tool for investigating chronic exposure effects and drug toxicity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Carlos Noble Jesus, Rhys Evans, Joe Forth, Carolina Estarellas, Francesco Luigi Gervasio, Giuseppe Battaglia
Summary: The study presents the design, simulation, synthesis, and reversible self-assembly of nanofibrils using polyhistidine-based oligopeptides. The inclusion of aromatic amino acids in the histidine block leads to the formation of amyloid-like fibrils with distinct antiparallel beta-strands. The structures undergo self-assembly in response to pH changes, offering potential for biotechnological and biomedical applications with pH-responsive fibrils in a physiologically relevant range.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aroa Duro-Castano, Laura Rodriguez-Arco, Lorena Ruiz-Perez, Cesare De Pace, Gabriele Marchello, Carlos Noble-Jesus, Giuseppe Battaglia
Summary: This study presents a one-pot synthesis method for oxidation-sensitive supramolecular micelles and vesicles, utilizing polymerization-induced self-assembly to form various nanoscale structures under specific conditions. The obtained vesicles and wormlike micelles demonstrated degradation under controlled oxidant conditions, expanding their potential applications in drug release and cellular scaffolding in tissue engineering.
Article
Cell Biology
Valentina Sirri, Jeremy Berthelet, Oliver Brookes, Pascal Roussel
Summary: Natural or synthetic naphthoquinones interfere with biological systems and exhibit anticancer properties. They generate reactive oxygen species and react with nucleophiles, inhibiting the activity of the enzyme Sirtuin 7. This inhibition of Sirtuin 7 may be crucial in defining naphthoquinones as anti-tumor agents.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Silvia Acosta-Gutierrez, Diana Matias, Milagros Avila-Olias, Virginia M. Gouveia, Edoardo Scarpa, Joe Forth, Claudia Contini, Aroa Duro-Castano, Loris Rizzello, Giuseppe Battaglia
Summary: This study demonstrates that the promiscuity of a single ligand can be used to create multiplexed-multivalent carriers for phenotypic targeting. The researchers developed a theoretical model and validated it experimentally to understand the interaction between polymersomes and cell glycocalyx. They also showed that the polymersomes can be used to target monocytes in vivo due to their promiscuous interaction with certain receptors.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Safa Almadhi, Joe Forth, Laura Rodriguez-Arco, Aroa Duro-Castano, Ian Williams, Lorena Ruiz-Perez, Giuseppe Battaglia
Summary: A bottom-up approach for fabricating monodisperse, two-component polymersomes with phase-separated chemical topology is introduced and compared with existing top-down methods. The bottom-up, solvent-switch self-assembly approach presented in this study produces a high yield of nanoparticles with the desired size, morphology, and surface topology for drug delivery applications, specifically patchy polymersomes with a diameter of approximately 50 nm. Additionally, an image processing algorithm is developed for automatically calculating polymersome size distributions from transmission electron microscope images.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Maria del Moral, Maximilian Loeck, Eameema Muntimadugu, Guillem Vives, Vy Pham, Peter Pfeifer, Giuseppe Battaglia, Silvia Muro, Alexander K. Andrianov
Summary: This study investigated the impact of lactide:glycolide ratio on the encapsulation, characteristics, stability, and release of enzymes in PLGA nanoparticles. The results showed that PLGA nanoparticles with a lactide:glycolide ratio of 60:40 had the highest encapsulation efficiency and stability. These findings provide guidance for future studies on using PLGA nanoparticles for enzyme replacement therapy in lysosomal storage disorders.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Antonio Garcia-Guerra, Ruth Ellerington, Jens Gaitzsch, Jonathan Bath, Mahnseok Kye, Miguel A. Varela, Giuseppe Battaglia, Matthew J. A. Wood, Raquel Manzano, Carlo Rinaldi, Andrew J. Turberfield
Summary: Nucleic acid therapeutics require effective delivery systems to overcome challenges such as accumulation in cells and escape from the endosomal pathway. Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), which consist of a gold nanoparticle supported by a corona of oligonucleotides, have promising properties for nucleic acid delivery. However, they face vulnerability to lysosomal degradation or recycling exocytosis. In this study, an alternative SNA core based on a pH-sensitive polymer is investigated. These polymeric SNAs are used to deliver siRNA duplexes against a genetic target called C9orf72, achieving effective knock-down in motor neuron-like cells.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Belen Sola-Barrado, Diana M. Leite, Edoardo Scarpa, Aroa Duro-Castano, Giuseppe Battaglia
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Radiom, M. Sarkis, O. Brookes, E. K. Oikonomou, A. Baeza-Squiban, J-F Berret
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
