Immortalized Mouse Cerebral Capillary Endothelial Cells (cEND)

Homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS) is maintained by the blood brain barrier (BBB) and disruptions to the BBB are linked to many disorders of the CNS. The Immortalized Mouse Cerebral Capillary Endothelial Cell Line (cEND) provides a useful model for studies involving the differentiation and regulation of BBB as it shares principal features of the BBB in vivo, specifically in that 1) it retains the endothelial markers VE-Cadherin and PECAM-1; 2) it displays tight junction associated markers such as occludin, claudin-3, -5, -12, 3) it expresses the BBB marker protein Glut-1 and 4) it shows high electrical resistance, representing barrier properties. This cell line is also responsive to glucocorticoid, estrogen-treatment and pro-inflammatory mediator such as TNFα, making this cell line valuable in elucidating cellular responses of endothelial cells to different stimuli. Together with the Immortalized Mouse Cerebellar Capillary Endothelial Cell Line (cerebEND), the two cell lines represent important in vitro model system for these different brain regions.

Immortalization Method: Transformation with oncoprotein of murine Polyomavirus, Polyoma middle T antigen (PymT)

BioSafety Level: II

Species: MOuse

Source Organ: Cerebral cortex

Growth Properties: Adherent

Morphology: Spindle shaped

Population Doubling: 60-80 hours

Seeding Density: 30,000-35,000 cells/cm²; Recommended split ratio: no greater than 1:4

Markers: Claudin-5, Occuldin, Glut-1, VE-Cadherin

Donor Age: N/A

Donor Gender: N/A

Donor Ethnicity: N/A

Propagation: The base medium for this cell line is Prigrow III medium available at abm (TM003). To make the completed growth medium, add the following components to the base medium: heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum to final concentration of 10% and Penicillin/Streptomycin Solution (G255) to a final concentration of 1%
Carbon dioxide (CO₂): 5%, Temperature: +37.0°C.
The Differentiation Medium is composed of 2% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum instead of 10%. Culturing cEND cells in serum-reduced medium leads to an increase in TER (from 150 Ωcm² in the presence of 10% serum to 500 Ωcm² in the presence of 2% serum), as well as change in cell morphology (from spindle-shaped to cobble-stone like). TER can be further increased by the addition of 110nM hydrocortisone (800 Ωcm² ) or 1µM insulin (1000 Ωcm² ) into the differentiation medium.

Quality Control: 1) Endothelial marker VE-Cadherin and PECAM-1 assessed by immunostainning; 2) Tight junction protein Claudin-5 assessed by immunostainning and claudin-1, -3 and -12 detected in mRNA level; 2) BBB marker protein Glut-1 and tight junction-associated protein occludin measured by western blot analysis. The cell line's response to pro-inflammatory stimuli was measured by 1) TER, 2) western blot and 3) gene expression analysis using RT-PCR.

Shipping Condition: Dry Ice

Storage Condition: liquid nitrogen or -180°C