Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold a great promise for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In order to obtain uniform hESC cultures without spontaneous differentiation, which is of interest for basic investigations as well as the development of future therapeutic pr ...
Conventionally, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are cultured on feeder cells. The most commonly used feeder cells are mouse embryonic fibroblasts. It is thought that the feeder cells provide an optimal microenvironment for the undifferentiated growth of hESCs by supplying curren ...
The integrity, or barrier function, of the intestinal epithelium is of paramount importance in �maintaining good health. This is largely imparted by a single layer of epithelial cells linked by the transmembrane tight junction protein complex near their apical surface. Disruption of ep ...
In vitro permeability assays are a valuable tool for scientists during lead compound optimization. As a majority of discovery projects are focused on the development of orally bioavailable drugs, correlation of in vitro permeability data to in vivo absorption results is critical for und ...
The intestinal barrier is formed by a monolayer of columnar epithelial cells. This barrier is effectively maintained despite the high turnover of epithelial cells in the gut. Defects in the mechanism by which barrier function is maintained are believed to play a central role in the pathogenes ...
Infants born prematurely have an enhanced intestinal permeability compared to healthy term infants. This enhanced permeability might be a contributing factor in the development of Necrotising Enterocolitis. The assessment of intestinal permeability in premature neonates ...
In rodents, embryo implantation is an invasive process, which begins with its attachment to the uterine wall and culminates in the formation of the definitive placenta several days later. It is critical that the endometrium provide a supportive environment for the implanting embryo duri ...
A defective skin epidermal permeability barrier (EPB) is responsible for a high mortality rate in premature infants and is an important risk factor in inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema. We report here fast and accurate methods for measurement of EPB in animal models or in human patients u ...
The mammalian epidermis is a self-renewing stratified squamous epithelium. Its basal cell layer contains proliferating keratinocytes that exit the cell cycle when they move into the suprabasal compartment. These cells activate a gene differentiation program aimed at building a p ...
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption following cerebral ischemia (stroke) contributes to the development of life-threatening brain edema. Recent studies suggested that the ischemic BBB disruption is not uniform throughout the affected brain region. The aim of this study was to e ...
Highly optimized methods for skin segmentation are provided using tape stripping in combination with infrared absorption measurements for stratum corneum (SC) and cryosectioning for deeper skin layers. Furthermore, an example is calculated for demonstration of the respecti ...
The normal blood–brain barrier (BBB) consists of tight interendothelial cell junctions and adjacent astrocyte end feet separated by a basal lamina surrounding the endothelium. The interactions between the different cell types of BBB are disrupted in distinct patterns in the microe ...
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent inducer of angiogenesis and vascular leak involved in development, wound healing, tumor growth, macular degeneration, and ischemia. Studying the effects of VEGF in vitro is not always sufficient to approximate the complex in vivo res ...
The neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn, mediates endocytic recycling pathway that prevents degradation of IgG and is expressed in most endothelial cells. The blood–brain barrier (BBB), formed by brain endothelial cells sealed with tight junctions, restricts transport of IgG from the blood to the ...
Blood–brain barrier (BBB) constituted primarily by the capillary endothelial cells functions to maintain a constant environment for the brain, by preventing or slowing down the passage of a variety of blood-borne substances, such as serum proteins, chemical compounds, ions, and hormo ...
Assessment of tight junction integrity in vitro is fundamental when studying molecular processes that may be implicated in barrier dysfunction. At the blood brain and inner blood retina barrier (BBB and iBRB, respectively) adjacent endothelial cells lining the microvasculature h ...
The methods for assessment of endothelial barrier permeability are vital tools of experimental biology. They allow us to measure permeability of endothelial monolayer in cell culture and in lung vessels or to determine formation of tissue edema resulting from increased permeabili ...
Increased vascular permeability is the hallmark of inflammation. Here, we describe three methods to assess vascular permeability in cell culture: (1) Impedance measurements of endothelial cell monolayers that allow to monitor changes in cell shape in real time. (2) Diffusion of fluore ...
Endothelial permeability measurements of intact vascular beds and monolayer cultures are used to describe transport of small molecules (ions, water, and nutrients), macromolecules and plasma protein across the vascular endothelia. Disruption of the endothelial barrier lea ...
Alterations in endothelial permeability are a hallmark of inflammation as well as the underlying cause of many clinical syndromes. Quantifying changes in endothelial barrier properties to water and macromolecules can be an important means of assessing the degree of cellular injury ...