FIGURE 3

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 increases blood−brain barrier (BBB) permeability (in vitro study). Cocultures of astrocytes and mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (mBMEC) were exposed to MCP-1 (100 nmol/L) for 6 h. MCP-1 was added to the lower (abluminal side), upper (luminal side), or both compartments. Untreated cocultures served as controls. (A) Time course of changes in transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) with MCP-1 treatment. Results are means.d. of five different experiments. Each experiment was performed in triplicate (n=3). # indicates a significant difference between MCP-1-treated cells and controls at the P<0.001 level. (B) Time course of changes in the permeability (P) to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-albumin. There was no significant difference in the BBB permeability changes with route of administration of MCP-1. Presented data are from a group of experiments where MCP-1 was added to both compartments. Results are means.d. of five different experiments. Each experiment was performed in triplicate (n=3); # indicates a significant difference between MCP-1-treated cells and control cells at the P<0.001 level.