Treatment with outgrowth endothelial cells protects cerebral barrier against ischemic injury

Kadir, Rais Reskiawan A.; Alwjwaj, Mansour; Bayraktutan, Ulvi

Abstract

Background and aims: We have previously reported that outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) restore cerebral endothelial cell integrity through effective homing to the injury site. This study further investigates whether treatment with OECs can restore blood–brain barrier (BBB) function in settings of ischemia-reperfusion injury both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: An in vitro model of human BBB was established by co-culture of astrocytes, pericytes, and human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) before exposure to oxygen-glucose deprivation alone or followed by reperfusion (OGD±R) in the absence or presence of exogenous OECs. Using a rodent model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), we further assessed the therapeutic potential of OECs in vivo. Results: Owing to their prominent antioxidant, proliferative, and migratory properties, alongside their inherent capacity to incorporate into brain vasculature, treatments with OECs attenuated the extent of OGD±R injury on BBB integrity and function, as ascertained by increases in transendothelial electrical resistance and decreases in paracellular flux across the barrier. Similarly, intravenous delivery of OECs also led to better barrier protection in MCAO rats as evidenced by significant decreases in ipsilateral brain edema volumes on day 3 after treatment. Mechanistic studies subsequently showed that treatment with OECs substantially reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis in HBMECs subjected to ischemic damages. Conclusion: This experimental study shows that OEC-based cell therapy restores BBB integrity in an effective manner by integrating into resident cerebral microvascular network, suppressing oxidative stress and cellular apoptosis.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 8, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 16, 2022
• Publication Date: May 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 25, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 17, 2023
• Journal: Cytotherapy
• Print ISSN: 1465-3249
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-2566
• Publisher: Elsevier BV
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 489-499
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.11.005
• Keywords: Cancer Research; Transplantation; Cell Biology; Genetics (clinical); Oncology; Immunology; Immunology and Allergy
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6788436
• Publisher URL: https://www.isct-cytotherapy.org/article/S1465-3249(22)00003-2/fulltext
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1465324922000032
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Treatment with outgrowth endothelial cells protects cerebral barrier against ischemic injury; Journal Title: Cytotherapy; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.11.005; Content Type: article; Copyright: 38; Gene Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.