biostudies-literatureSpeidel AEberhard Karls Universität Tübingen104014https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8933718biostudies-literatureUnknown25(4)<i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> is the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis. The parasite transmigrates from blood vessels across the choroid plexus epithelium to enter the central nervous system, a process that leads to the manifestation of second stage sleeping sickness. Using an <i>in vitro</i> model of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, we investigated the mechanism of the transmigration process. For this, a monolayer of human choroid plexus papilloma cells was cultivated on a permeable membrane that mimics the basal lamina underlying the choroid plexus epithelial cells. Plexus cells polarize and interconnect forming tight junctions. Deploying different <i>T. brucei brucei</i> strains, we observed that geometry and motility are important for tissue invasion. Using fluorescent microscopy, the parasite's moving was visualized between plexus epithelial cells. The presented model provides a simple tool to screen trypanosome libraries for their ability to infect cerebrospinal fluid or to test the impact of chemical substances on transmigration.iScienceTransmigration of <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> across an <i>in vitro</i> blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.PMC89337182465-0-0Theile MDuszenko MSchwerk CSchroten HPfeiffer LMogk SFigarella KHerrmann ASpeidel AIshikawa HfalseTransmigration of <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> across an <i>in vitro</i> blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.<i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> is the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis. The parasite transmigrates from blood vessels across the choroid plexus epithelium to enter the central nervous system, a process that leads to the manifestation of second stage sleeping sickness. Using an <i>in vitro</i> model of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, we investigated the mechanism of the transmigration process. For this, a monolayer of human choroid plexus papilloma cells was cultivated on a permeable membrane that mimics the basal lamina underlying the choroid plexus epithelial cells. Plexus cells polarize and interconnect forming tight junctions. Deploying different <i>T. brucei brucei</i> strains, we observed that geometry and motility are important for tissue invasion. Using fluorescent microscopy, the parasite's moving was visualized between plexus epithelial cells. The presented model provides a simple tool to screen trypanosome libraries for their ability to infect cerebrospinal fluid or to test the impact of chemical substances on transmigration.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Apr2025-04-18T20:23:31.967Z2025-04-07T08:19:22.807ZS-EPMC89337183531369810.1016/j.isci.2022.104014