Histamine induces Alzheimer's disease-like blood brain barrier breach and local cellular responses in mouse brain organotypic cultures

Jonathan C. Sedeyn, Hao Wu, Reilly D. Hobbs, Eli C. Levin, Robert G. Nagele, Venkat Venkataraman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Among the top ten causes of death in the United States, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the only one that cannot be cured, prevented, or even slowed down at present. Significant efforts have been exerted in generating model systems to delineate the mechanism as well as establishing platforms for drug screening. In this study, a promising candidate model utilizing primary mouse brain organotypic (MBO) cultures is reported. For the first time, we have demonstrated that the MBO cultures exhibit increased blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability as shown by IgG leakage into the brain parenchyma, astrocyte activation as evidenced by increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neuronal damage-response as suggested by increased vimentin-positive neurons occur upon histamine treatment. Identical responses - a breakdown of the BBB, astrocyte activation, and neuronal expression of vimentin - were then demonstrated in brains from AD patients compared to age-matched controls, consistent with other reports. Thus, the histamine-treated MBO culture system may provide a valuable tool in combating AD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number937148
JournalBioMed Research International
Volume2015
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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