Analysis of TNF-alpha-Mediated Cerebral Pericyte Remodeling

  • Jennifer V. Welser-Alves
  • Amin Boroujerdi
  • Ulrich Tigges
  • Richard Milner
Protocol
First Online:
Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 1155)

Abstract

As well as being a central regulator of inflammatory and immune-mediated events, TNF-α also influences vascular remodeling, resulting in alterations in the structure and function of blood vessels. In addition to endothelial cells, pericytes are another type of vascular cell that significantly contribute to the development, maturation, stabilization, and remodeling of blood vessels. To investigate the regulatory influence of different factors on pericyte behavior, we recently described a novel yet simple approach of isolating and culturing highly pure, high density cultures of mouse brain pericytes. In this chapter, we briefly describe this culture system, as well as methods for examining different aspects of pericyte behavior, including cell adhesion, cell migration, and cell proliferation. These assays can be used to examine the influence of TNF-α or any other factor on pericyte behavior.

Key words

TNF-α Pericyte Brain endothelial cell (BEC) Culture Purity Adhesion Migration Proliferation 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Harry Weaver Neuroscience Scholar Award (R.M.), and Postdoctoral Fellowship (J.V.W.-A.), by the American Heart Association (Western State Affiliate) Postdoctoral Fellowship (A.B.), and by the NIH grant RO1 NS060770.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jennifer V. Welser-Alves
    • 1
  • Amin Boroujerdi
    • 1
  • Ulrich Tigges
    • 1
  • Richard Milner
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Molecular and Experimental MedicineThe Scripps Research InstituteLa JollaUSA

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