Abstract
We report that extracellular matrix and neurons modulate the expression of occludin, one of the main components of tight junctions, by rat brain endothelial cells (RBE4.B). Of the three extracellular matrix proteins which we tested (collagen I, collagen IV, and laminin), collagen IV stimulated at the best the expression of occludin mRNA. The corresponding protein, however, was not synthesized. Significant amounts of occludin accumulated only when RBE4.B cells were cultured on collagen IV-coated inserts, in the presence of cortical neurons, plated on laminin-coated companion wells. Finally, occludin segregated at the cell periphery, only when endothelial cells were co-cultured with neurons for > or = 1 week.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
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Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology
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Brain / cytology
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Brain / metabolism*
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Cells, Cultured
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Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
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Collagen / pharmacology
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Endothelium, Vascular / chemistry*
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Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
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Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
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Extracellular Matrix / drug effects
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Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
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Fetus
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
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Immunohistochemistry
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Laminin / pharmacology
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Membrane Proteins / genetics*
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
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Neurofilament Proteins / metabolism
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Occludin
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Tight Junctions / drug effects
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Tight Junctions / metabolism
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Time Factors
Substances
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
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Laminin
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Membrane Proteins
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Neurofilament Proteins
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Occludin
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Ocln protein, rat
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RNA, Messenger
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Collagen