Interferon-γ blocks signalling through PDGFRβ in human brain pericytes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption are common features of many brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and motor neuron disease. Inflammation is thought to be a driver of BBB breakdown, but the underlying mechanisms for this are unclear. Brain pericytes are critical cells for maintaining the BBB and are immunologically active. We sought to test the hypothesis that inflammation regulates the BBB by altering pericyte biology.

Methods

We exposed primary adult human brain pericytes to chronic interferon-gamma (IFNγ) for 4 days and measured associated functional aspects of pericyte biology. Specifically, we examined the influence of inflammation on platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRβ) expression and signalling,

SUBMITTER: Jansson D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5031293 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature