Analyzing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier by microbial traversal through microvascular endothelial cells

Abstract

The human blood-brain barrier (BBB) is characterized by a very low permeability for biomolecules in order to protect and regulate the metabolism of the brain. The BBB is mainly formed out of endothelial cells embedded in collagen IV and fibronectin-rich basement membranes. Several pathologies result from dysfunction of the BBB followed by microbial traversal, causing diseases such as meningitis. In order to test the effect of multiple parameters, including different drugs and anesthetics, on the permeability of the BBB we established a novel human cell culture model mimicking the BBB with human brain microvascular endothelial cells. The endothelial cells are grown on collagen IV and fibronectin-coated filter units until confluence and can then be treated with different compounds of interest. In order to demonstrate a microbial traversal, the upper chamber with the apical surface of the endothelial cells is inoculated with bacteria. After an incubation period, samples of the lower chamber are plated on agar plates and the obtained colonies are counted, whereby the number of colonies correlate with the permeability of the BBB. Endogenous cellular factors can be analyzed in this experimental set-up in order to elucidate basic cellular mechanisms of the endothelial cells contributing to the BBB. In addition, this platform allows performing a screen for compounds that might affect the permeability of the endothelial cells. Finally, bacterial traversal can be studied and linked to different pathologies, such as meningitis. It might be possible to extend the model and analyze the pathways of the bacteria through the BBB. In this article, we provide a detailed protocol of the described method to investigate the permeability of the BBB.