Formation of Intercellular Junction of Brain Endothelial Cells Cultured on a Compressed Collagen Construct

• Published in: 生体医工学 Vol. Annual62; no. Abstract; p. 221_1
• Main Authors: 坂元, 尚哉, 髙橋, 幸慈, 山崎, 雅史, 藤江, 裕道
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 公益社団法人 日本生体医工学会 2024
• ISSN: 1347-443X; 1881-4379
• DOI: 10.11239/jsmbe.Annual62.221_1

In this study, we constructed a three-dimensional co-culture model of brain endothelial cells and astrocytes with a centrifugally compressed collagen construct, and evaluated the effect of the elastic modulus of the construct on the formation of endothelial cell-cell junctions that contributes to blood-brain barrier integrity. In the co-culture model, the gene expression of Zonula occludens (ZO)-1, one of the molecules associated with the endothelial tight junction, increased with the construct elastic modulus. In contrast, no significant relationship was observed between the elastic modulus and ZO-1 gene expression in monocultured endothelial cells. The transendothelial electrical resistance in the co-culture model also increased compared with that in the monocultured endothelial cells. The result indicates that the increased elastic modulus promotes the formation of tight junctions in brain endothelial cells under the coculture condition with astrocytes.