Permeability of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells in vitro: barrier tightening by a factor released from astroglioma cells.

It has been shown both in vivo and in culture that astrocytes communicate with brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMECs) to induce many of the blood-brain barrier characteristics attributed to these unique cells. However, the results using cultured cells are conflicting as to whether this communication is dependent upon cell-cell contact. In this study we used primary cultures of bovine BMECs grown as monolayers on polycarbonate filters to study the formation of the barrier in vitro and examine its modulation by rat C6 glioma cells. Effects were examined by treating postconfluent BMEC monolayers with medium conditioned continually by C6 cells from the basolateral side to mimic the in vivo orientation. Cell monolayer integrity was assessed using electrical resistance and by measuring diffusion of uncharged molecules. BMEC monolayers form a functionally polarized and leaky barrier, with maximal resistance of 160 omega . cm2 and significant flux of molecules of molecular weight less than 350 Da. Treatment with rat or human astroglioma cells rather than pericytoma cells or transformed fibroblasts results in a concentration-dependent 200-440% increase in electrical resistance and a coincident 50% decrease in permeability to sucrose and dextran (70 kDa). The decrease in passive diffusion is most likely due to a change in tight junctions and not to transcellular vesicular traffic. The findings support that astroglioma cells release one or more signals that are required for cultured BMECs to express a "differentiated" phenotype associated with a tighter barrier, increased gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity, and decreased pinocytic activity. The relative ease and quickness of this culture system makes it amenable to studies on cell-cell interaction and regulation of barrier maintenance.     

Hexose uptake in primary cultures of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells. II. Effects of conditioned media from astroglial and glioma cells.

Regulation of glucose uptake by an astroglial cell secreted factor(s) was studied in primary cultures of brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMECs). Uptake of a non-metabolizable glucose analog, 3-O-[3H]methyl-D-glucose ([3H]3MG), was measured after the BMECs were treated with media conditioned by primary cultures of rat astrocytes (Astrocyte Conditioned Media: ACM) or rat C6 glioma cells (Glioma Cell Conditioned Media: GCM). Uptake of [3H]3MG was significantly increased by ACM (30-50%) and GCM (60-200%) treatments, whereas conditioned medium from 3T3 fibroblasts (3T3) caused no significant effect. The elevation in [3H]3MG uptake increased with increasing time of exposure of BMECs to these conditioned media (CM), and the effect was shown to be reversible. Glucose depletion of CM was shown not to be a factor. The presence of cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, during treatment of the BMECs with ACM and GCM blocked the increase in [3H]3MG uptake by the cells. These results suggested that ACM or GCM treatment elevated de novo synthesis of brain-type glucose transporter (GLUT1). Indeed, enhanced GLUT1 expression by these treatments in BMECs was demonstrated directly by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibodies against human GLUT1. After trypsinization of ACM and GCM, both conditioned media still induced significant stimulation of [3H]3MG uptake by BMECs. A significant increase in [3H]3MG uptake was also observed when ACM or GCM was exposed to BMECs through a dialysis membrane with a molecular weight cutoff of 1000. To examine whether the effects were specific to brain endothelial cells, [3H]3MG uptake experiments were performed employing aortic endothelial cells (AECs), pulmonary microvessel endothelial cells (PMECs), and 3T3 cells. ACM treatment did not alter 3MG uptake by these cells, suggesting that the ACM effect was specific to BMECs. On the other hand, [3H]3MG uptake by AECs and PMECs treated with GCM was significantly enhanced. The present study demonstrated that some factor(s) of relatively small molecular weight, which was released from astrocytes or glioma cells, stimulated glucose uptake by enhancing GLUT1 synthesis in BMECs.     

Glucocorticoids synergize with IL-1β to induce TLR2 expression via MAP Kinase Phosphatase-1-dependent dual Inhibition of MAPK JNK and p38 in epithelial cells

Background  

Despite the importance of glucocorticoids in suppressing immune and inflammatory responses, their role in enhancing host immune and defense response against invading bacteria is poorly understood. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) has recently gained importance as one of the major host defense receptors. The increased expression of TLR2 in response to bacteria-induced cytokines has been thought to be crucial for the accelerated immune response and resensitization of epithelial cells to invading pathogens.     

Breaking androgen receptor addiction of prostate cancer by targeting different functional domains in the treatment of advanced disease

In the last decade, treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer has changed markedly, impacting symptom control and longevity for patients. However, a large proportion of cases progress despite androgen deprivation therapy and chemotherapy, while still being fit enough for several more lines of treatment. Overstimulation of the androgen receptor (AR) activity is the main driver of this cancer. Targeting biological functions of the AR or its co-regulators has proven very effective in this disease and led to the development of several highly effective drugs targeting the AR signalling axis. Drugs such as enzalutamide demonstrated that the improvement in anti-tumour efficacy is closely correlated with an affinity for the AR and its activity and have established the paradigm that AR remains activity in aggressive disease. However, as importantly, key insights into mechanisms of resistance are guiding the development of the next generation of AR-targeted drugs. This review outlines the historical development of these highly specific agents, their mechanism of action in the context of defective AR activity, and explores the potential for the upcoming next-generation AR inhibitors (ARI) for prostate cancer by targeting the alternative domains of AR, rather than by the conventional ligand-binding domain approach. There is huge potential in these approaches to develop new drugs with high clinical activity and further improve the outlook for patients.     

Role of uteroferrin in transplacental iron transport in the pig

The pig possesses a noninvasive, diffuse type of epitheliochorial placentation in which the blood supply of the mother is well separated from the absorptive surface of the chorion, a feature that must complicate the movement of nutrient molecules across the placenta. Evidence is presented that a protein synthesized and secreted by the glandular epithelial cells of the maternal uterus of the pig is involved in iron transport to the fetus. This protein, uteroferrin, is induced by progesterone; is purple, which results from an unusual iron center; and possesses acid phosphatase activity. Secreted uteroferrin is taken up by specialized chorionic epithelial cells located in domed structures, called areolae, overlying the mouth of each uterine gland. Uteroferrin then enters the placental venous drainage and its iron is efficiently incorporated into fetal hemoglobin. It is taken up by the fetal liver or cleared by the kidney. The liver is the main site of erythropoiesis in the fetus. From the kidney uteroferrin enters the allantoic sac where it exchanges its iron with fetal transferrin. The rate of uteroferrin biosynthesis in the uterus and its rate of metabolism in the fetus can theoretically provide sufficient iron for the needs of pregnancy, at least until around day 70 of the 115-day gestation. Uteroferrin and transferrin, the iron transport protein of plasma, appear to be unrelated proteins.