Effects of neuromyelitis optica–IgG at the blood–brain barrier in vitro. Issue 1 (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takeshita, Yukio; Obermeier, Birgit; Cotleur, Anne C.; Spampinato, Simona F.; Shimizu, Fumitaka; Yamamoto, Erin; Sano, Yasuteru; Kryzer, Thomas J.; Lennon, Vanda A.; Kanda, Takashi; Ransohoff, Richard M.
• Is Part Of: Neurology. Volume 4:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: Neuroimmunology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000000311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2332-7812

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To address the hypothesis that physiologic interactions between astrocytes and endothelial cells (EC) at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) are afflicted by pathogenic inflammatory signaling when astrocytes are exposed to aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies present in the immunoglobulin G (IgG) fraction of serum from patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), referred to as NMO-IgG. Methods: We established static and flow-based in vitro BBB models incorporating co-cultures of conditionally immortalized human brain microvascular endothelial cells and human astrocyte cell lines with or without AQP4 expression. Results: In astrocyte–EC co-cultures, exposure of astrocytes to NMO-IgG decreased barrier function, induced CCL2 and CXCL8 expression by EC, and promoted leukocyte migration under flow, contingent on astrocyte expression of AQP4. NMO-IgG selectively induced interleukin (IL)-6 production by AQP4-positive astrocytes. When EC were exposed to IL-6, we observed decreased barrier function, increased CCL2 and CXCL8 expression, and enhanced leukocyte transmigration under flow. These effects were reversed after application of IL–6 neutralizing antibody. Conclusions: Our results indicate that NMO-IgG induces IL-6 production by AQP4-positive astrocytes and that IL-6 signaling to EC decreases barrier function, increases chemokine production, and enhances leukocyte transmigration under flow.