Donor Variability Alters the Characteristics of Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Ya, Jingyuan; Bayraktutan, Ulvi

Abstract

Primary brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) are widely used in a large number of in vitro studies each year to better mimic their physiological characteristics in vivo. However, potential changes in primary endothelial cells stemming from donor variability or culture conditions may affect the reliability and reproducibility of the experiments. While working on a project regarding BMEC senescence, we noticed behav-ioral differences between two different batches of cells. Comparative analyses of cellular characteristics revealed that while one batch of BMECs developed a typical cobblestone morphology, the other batch displayed a spindle-shape morphology. Despite showing similar tubulogenic and barrier-forming capacities, the spindle-shaped BMECs displayed greater proliferation rates, stronger staining for CD34, a marker of stemness and higher resistance to oxidative stress-induced senescence and replicative senescence. Conversely, the spindle-shaped cells demonstrated a much weaker staining for the endothelial marker CD31. Taken together, these findings indicate that it is important to scrutinize endothelial characteristics to ensure experimental accuracy when cellular responses markedly vary between the so-called endothelial cells.

Citation

Ya, J., & Bayraktutan, U. (in press). Donor Variability Alters the Characteristics of Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 47(2), Article 73. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47020073

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 22, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Jan 23, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jan 24, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 24, 2025
• Journal: Current Issues in Molecular Biology
• Print ISSN: 1467-3037
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-3045
• Publisher: Horizon Scientific Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: 73
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47020073
• Keywords: primary cell; endothelial cell; donor difference; blood-brain barrier; senescence
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/44427864
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/2/73