Gliomagenesis induces profound changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the brain. In this study, we identified a cellular population responsible for the increased deposition of collagen I and fibronectin in glioblastoma. Elevated levels of the fibrillar proteins collagen I and fibronectin were associated with the expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP), which is predominantly found in pericyte-like cells in glioblastoma. FAP+ pericyte-like cells were present in regions rich in collagen I and fibronectin in biopsy material and produced substantially more collagen I and fibronectin in vitro compared to other cell types found in the GBM microenvironment. Using mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that 3D matrices produced by FAP+ pericyte-like cells are rich in collagen I and fibronectin and contain several basement membrane proteins. This expression pattern differed markedly from glioma cells. Finally, we have shown that ECM produced by FAP+ pericyte-like cells enhances the migration of glioma cells including glioma stem-like cells, promotes their adhesion, and activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling. Taken together, our findings establish FAP+ pericyte-like cells as crucial producers of a complex ECM rich in collagen I and fibronectin, facilitating the dissemination of glioma cells through FAK activation.

• Klíčová slova
• collagen type I, extracellular matrix proteins, fibronectin, glioblastoma, pericytes, proteomics,
• MeSH
• endopeptidasy MeSH
• extracelulární matrix * metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• fibronektiny * metabolismus   MeSH
• glioblastom patologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• gliom * patologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• kolagen typu I metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránové proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí fyziologie   MeSH
• nádory mozku * patologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• pericyty * metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• pohyb buněk fyziologie   MeSH
• serinové endopeptidasy metabolismus   MeSH
• želatinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• endopeptidasy MeSH
• fibroblast activation protein alpha MeSH Prohlížeč
• fibronektiny * MeSH
• kolagen typu I MeSH
• membránové proteiny MeSH
• serinové endopeptidasy MeSH
• želatinasy MeSH

Drug delivery to central nervous pathologies is compromised by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). A clinically explored strategy to promote drug delivery across the BBB is sonopermeation, which relies on the combined use of ultrasound (US) and microbubbles (MB) to induce temporally and spatially controlled opening of the BBB. We developed an advanced in vitro BBB model to study the impact of sonopermeation on the delivery of the prototypic polymeric drug carrier pHPMA as a larger molecule and the small molecule antiviral drug ribavirin. This was done under standard and under inflammatory conditions, employing both untargeted and RGD peptide-coated MB. The BBB model is based on human cerebral capillary endothelial cells and human placental pericytes, which are co-cultivated in transwell inserts and which present with proper transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Sonopermeation induced a significant decrease in TEER values and facilitated the trans-BBB delivery of fluorescently labeled pHPMA (Atto488-pHPMA). To study drug delivery under inflamed endothelial conditions, which are typical for e.g. tumors, neurodegenerative diseases and CNS infections, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was employed to induce inflammation in the BBB model. RGD-coated MB bound to and permeabilized the inflamed endothelium-pericyte co-culture model, and potently improved Atto488-pHPMA and ribavirin delivery. Taken together, our work combines in vitro BBB bioengineering with MB-mediated drug delivery enhancement, thereby providing a framework for future studies on optimization of US-mediated drug delivery to the brain.

• Klíčová slova
• Blood-brain barrier, Drug delivery, Microbubbles, Sonopermeation, Ultrasound,
• MeSH
• antivirové látky aplikace a dávkování   chemie   farmakologie   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• endoteliální buňky * účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• hematoencefalická bariéra * metabolismus   MeSH
• kokultivační techniky * MeSH
• lékové transportní systémy metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobubliny * MeSH
• oligopeptidy * chemie   aplikace a dávkování   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• pericyty * metabolismus   účinky léků   MeSH
• polymery chemie   aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• ribavirin aplikace a dávkování   chemie   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• ultrazvukové vlny MeSH
• zánět farmakoterapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antivirové látky MeSH
• arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• oligopeptidy * MeSH
• polymery MeSH
• ribavirin MeSH

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) targets the central nervous system (CNS), leading to potentially severe neurological complications. The neurovascular unit plays a fundamental role in the CNS and in the neuroinvasion of TBEV. However, the role of human brain pericytes, a key component of the neurovascular unit, during TBEV infection has not yet been elucidated. In this study, TBEV infection of the primary human brain perivascular pericytes was investigated with highly virulent Hypr strain and mildly virulent Neudoerfl strain. We used Luminex assay to measure cytokines/chemokines and growth factors. Both viral strains showed comparable replication kinetics, peaking at 3 days post infection (dpi). Intracellular viral RNA copies peaked at 6 dpi for Hypr and 3 dpi for Neudoerfl cultures. According to immunofluorescence staining, only small proportion of pericytes were infected (3% for Hypr and 2% for Neudoerfl), and no cytopathic effect was observed in the infected cells. In cell culture supernatants, IL-6 production was detected at 3 dpi, together with slight increases in IL-15 and IL-4, but IP-10, RANTES and MCP-1 were the main chemokines released after TBEV infection. These chemokines play key roles in both immune defense and immunopathology during TBE. This study suggests that pericytes are an important source of these signaling molecules during TBEV infection in the brain.

• Klíčová slova
• CCL5, CXCL10, chemokine, flavivirus, human pericytes, infection, inflammation, tick-borne encephalitis virus,
• MeSH
• chemokin CCL5 * metabolismus   MeSH
• chemokin CXCL10 * metabolismus   MeSH
• cytokiny metabolismus   MeSH
• klíšťová encefalitida * virologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek * virologie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• pericyty * virologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• replikace viru MeSH
• viry klíšťové encefalitidy * fyziologie   patogenita   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• CCL5 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• chemokin CCL5 * MeSH
• chemokin CXCL10 * MeSH
• CXCL10 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytokiny MeSH

Lung fibrosis is a serious human pathology. MiR-146b-5p is down-regulated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and the Notch1/PDGFRβ/ROCK1 pathway is activated. However, the relation between miR-146b-5p and the Notch1/PDGFRβ/ROCK1 pathway in lung fibrosis remains unclear. To investigate the function of miR-146b-5p in lung fibrosis, an in vivo model of lung fibrosis was established in mice by bleomycin. The fibrosis in lung tissues of mice was observed by HE, Masson and Sirius Red staining. Lung pericytes were isolated and identified by fluorescence microscopy. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to investigate the expression of desmin, NG2, collagen I and α-SMA. CCK8 assay was used to assess the cell viability, and flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the cell cycle in pericytes. Furthermore, the correlation between miR-146b-5p and Notch1 was analysed by Spearman analysis. The mechanism by which miR-146b-5p affects pericytes and lung fibrosis via the Notch1/ PDGFRβ/ROCK1 pathway was explored by RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining and dual luciferase reporter gene assay. In bleomycin-treated mice, miR-146b-5p was down-regulated, while Notch1 was up-regulated. Up-regulation of miR-146b-5p significantly inhibited the viability and induced G1 phase arrest of lung pericytes. MiR-146b-5p mimics up-regulated miR-146b-5p, desmin, and NG2 and down-regulated α-SMA and collagen I in the lung pericytes. Additionally, miR-146b-5p was negatively correlated with Notch1, and miR-146b-5p interacted with Notch1. Over-expression of miR-146b-5p inactivated the Notch1/PDGFRβ/ROCK1 pathway. Our results indicate that up-regulation of miR-146b-5p inhibits fibrosis in lung pericytes via modulation of the Notch1/PDGFRβ/ROCK1 pathway. Thus, our study might provide a novel target against lung fibrosis.

• MeSH
• bleomycin metabolismus   MeSH
• desmin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• kinázy asociované s Rho genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• kolagen genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikro RNA * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• pericyty metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• plíce metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• plicní fibróza * genetika   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• receptor Notch1 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• upregulace genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bleomycin MeSH
• desmin MeSH
• kinázy asociované s Rho MeSH
• kolagen MeSH
• mikro RNA * MeSH
• NOTCH1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• receptor Notch1 MeSH
• ROCK1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is the second most common cause of cognitive deficit after Alzheimer's disease. Since VCI patients represent an important target population for prevention, an ongoing effort has been made to elucidate the pathogenesis of this disorder. In this review, we summarize the information from animal models on the molecular changes that occur in the brain during a cerebral vascular insult and ultimately lead to cognitive deficits in VCI. Animal models cannot effectively represent the complex clinical picture of VCI in humans. Nonetheless, they allow some understanding of the important molecular mechanisms leading to cognitive deficits. VCI may be caused by various mechanisms and metabolic pathways. The pathological mechanisms, in terms of cognitive deficits, may span from oxidative stress to vascular clearance of toxic waste products (such as amyloid beta) and from neuroinflammation to impaired function of microglia, astrocytes, pericytes, and endothelial cells. Impaired production of elements of the immune response, such as cytokines, and vascular factors, such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), may also affect cognitive functions. No single event could be seen as being the unique cause of cognitive deficits in VCI. These events are interconnected, and may produce cascade effects resulting in cognitive impairment.

• Klíčová slova
• IGF-1, glial cells, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, vascular cognitive impairment,
• MeSH
• Alzheimerova nemoc metabolismus   MeSH
• amyloidní beta-protein metabolismus   MeSH
• astrocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• cytokiny metabolismus   MeSH
• endoteliální buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor I metabolismus   MeSH
• kognice * MeSH
• kognitivní dysfunkce metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikroglie metabolismus   MeSH
• modely u zvířat MeSH
• mozek metabolismus   MeSH
• oxid dusnatý MeSH
• oxidační stres MeSH
• pericyty metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• amyloidní beta-protein MeSH
• cytokiny MeSH
• IGF1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• insulinu podobný růstový faktor I MeSH
• oxid dusnatý MeSH

The interest in investigating brain pericytes is growing due to their diverse influences on neuronal function. While numerous studies have investigated the particular properties and functions of pericytes, complex insight into their functional histology is often lacking. In this work, we review and combine the current knowledge regarding brain pericyte function in normal physiology and its role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and tumorigenesis. Special attention is paid to the interaction between the components of the neurovascular unit. Finally, approaches used to detect brain pericytes and the methods for generating qualitative and quantitative data to assess pericyte changes are described.

• Klíčová slova
• Brain, Histological identify, Neurodegeneration, Pericyte, Tumor,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mozek * MeSH
• pericyty * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Hepcidin is a peptide hormone belonging to the defensin family of cationic antimicrobial molecules that has an essential role in systemic iron homeostasis. The peptide is synthesised by hepatocytes and transported in the circulation to target tissues where it regulates the iron export function of the ferrous iron permease, ferroportin. In the brain hepcidin protein has been identified using immuno-histochemistry and mRNA by real-time PCR but not by in situ hybridisation raising the question of whether there is measurable transcription of the hepcidin gene in the central nervous system. Alternatively hepcidin could be transported as a hormone to the brain via the circulation. RESULTS: By RT-PCR hepcidin mRNA was present at low level throughout normal rat brain while in situ hybridisation to detect low-abundant mRNA revealed that transcripts were restricted to endothelium of blood vessels and choroid plexus. In contrast, hepcidin protein analysed by immuno-histochemistry was highly expressed in blood vessels, in endothelium and in pericytes. Hepcidin was also present in glial cells and in the olfactory bulb, sub-ventricular zone and dentate gyrus, areas where neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity are maintained throughout adult life. The hepcidin species identified by Western blotting in sub-ventricular zone, cortex and hippocampus migrated as a ~2.8 kDa band, identical in size to hepcidin present in normal rat serum suggesting that hepcidin in brain was the full-length biologically active 25 amino acid peptide. Hepcidin co-localised with ferroportin in ependymal cells of the sub-ventricular zone and in the corpus callosum consistent with a regulatory role in iron metabolism at these sites. CONCLUSIONS: Hepcidin protein was widely expressed in brain parenchyma while levels of hepcidin gene transcription appeared to be below the limits of detection of the in situ hybridisation probes. This disparity suggests that not all hepcidin in the brain is transcribed in situ and may originate in part outside the brain. The properties of hepcidin as a cationic peptide hormone are reflected in the finding of hepcidin in the walls of blood vessels and in pericytes and glia, cells that may be involved in transporting the peptide into brain interstitium.

• MeSH
• biochemická analýza krve MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• endoteliální buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• fluorescenční protilátková technika MeSH
• hepcidiny metabolismus   MeSH
• hybridizace in situ MeSH
• kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• messenger RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mozek krevní zásobení   metabolismus   MeSH
• neuroglie metabolismus   MeSH
• pericyty metabolismus   MeSH
• potkani Sprague-Dawley MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• HAMP protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• Hamp protein, rat MeSH Prohlížeč
• hepcidiny MeSH
• messenger RNA MeSH

Placentas from pregnancies complicated by Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM 1) display altered vascular morphology and function. Here we studied the extent of pericyte coverage in microvessels of normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by DM 1. We used smooth muscle actin (SMA) as a marker for quantitation of pericyte coverage in placental capillaries. The extent of pericyte coverage around the vessel circumference was 38 ± 11% in normal vs. 33 ± 10% in DM 1 pregnancies. We found that there is no statistically significant difference in the extent of pericyte coverage around the capillary circumference between DM 1 and normal pregnancies.

• MeSH
• diabetes mellitus 1. typu patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrocévy patologie   MeSH
• pericyty patologie   MeSH
• placenta krevní zásobení   patologie   MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• těhotenství při diabetu patologie   MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Ultrastructural study of skin biopsies in two cases of Gaucher disease (GD) patients (types II and III) revealed hitherto unknown alteration of the blood capillary endothelial cells (ECs) featured by hypertrophy and numerous subplasmalemmal microvesicles underneath both the apical and basal membranes. There was also prominent apical membrane folding with formation of filiform and large cytoplasmic projections, with occasional transcapillary cytoplasmic bridges. Similar, though less frequently expressed, changes were manifested at the basal membrane by numerous cytoplasmic projections into the subendothelial space. Regressive changes with EC breakdown were rare. Lysosomal storage was always absent. Besides EC hypertrophy, there was also increased EC density in the capillary lumen, leading to pronounced changes in capillary architecture with loose or incomplete EC anchoring. There were also signs of EC sprouting. Some pericytes displayed an increase in size and number of cytoplasmic processes, which often extended into distant pericapillary regions. The spectrum of changes suggests that a significant positive growth effect on EC occurs in GD. The putative mechanisms triggered by GBA1 deficiency leading to EC involvement are discussed. The authors are well aware of the fact the results, based on a nontraditional type of bioptic samples, are preliminary, but they are worth following, as further ultrastructural and functional studies of blood endothelium in GD may open a novel field in molecular cell pathophysiology of the disorder: endothelial dysfunction.

• MeSH
• biopsie metody   MeSH
• cévní endotel diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• cytoplazma metabolismus   MeSH
• fibroblasty metabolismus   MeSH
• Gaucherova nemoc diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• kapiláry diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• kůže krevní zásobení   diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lyzozomy metabolismus   MeSH
• patologická angiogeneze MeSH
• pericyty metabolismus   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ultrasonografie MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

• MeSH
• antihypertenziva farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• blokátory receptorů AT1 pro angiotensin II farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• dřeň ledvin krevní zásobení   cytologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• hypertenze farmakoterapie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• losartan aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• pericyty cytologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• potkani inbrední SHR MeSH
• renální oběh účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• komentáře MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antihypertenziva MeSH
• blokátory receptorů AT1 pro angiotensin II MeSH
• losartan MeSH