Abstract
The isolation and culture of spinal cord microvascular endothelial cells (SCMEC), which form the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), is described. Though morphologically similar to brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) that form the blood-brain barrier (BBB), SCMEC express reduced amounts of several prominent BBB proteins, including tight junction-associated proteins ZO-1 and occludin, adherens junction-associated proteins beta-catenin and VE-cadherin, and the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein. These distinguishing features may reflect more widespread differences between the BBB and BSCB that impact physiological and pathophysiological processes.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
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Adherens Junctions / metabolism
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Animals
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Antigens, CD / metabolism
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Blood-Brain Barrier / cytology
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Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
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Cadherins / metabolism
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Cell Culture Techniques / methods
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Cell Separation / methods*
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Cells, Cultured
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Endothelial Cells / cytology*
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Endothelial Cells / physiology
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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Mice
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Microcirculation / cytology*
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Microcirculation / physiology
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Occludin
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Phosphoproteins / metabolism
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Spinal Cord / blood supply*
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Spinal Cord / cytology
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Tight Junctions / metabolism
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Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
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beta Catenin / metabolism
Substances
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
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Antigens, CD
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Cadherins
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Membrane Proteins
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Occludin
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Ocln protein, mouse
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Phosphoproteins
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Tjp1 protein, mouse
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Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
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beta Catenin
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cadherin 5