@article{PieperMarekUnterbergetal.2014,
  author    = {Pieper, Christian and Marek, Jasmin Jacqueline and Unterberg, Marlies and Schwerdtle, Tanja and Galla, Hans-Joachim},
  title     = {Brain capillary pericytes contribute to the immune defense in response to cytokines or LPS in vitro},
  series = {Brain research : an international multidisciplinary journal devoted to fundamental research in the brain sciences},
  volume    = {1550},
  journal   = {Brain research : an international multidisciplinary journal devoted to fundamental research in the brain sciences},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0006-8993},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.brainres.2014.01.004},
  pages     = {1 -- 8},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {The prevention of an inflammation in the brain is one of the most important goals the body has to achieve. As pericytes are located on the abluminal side of the capillaries in the brain, their role in fighting against invading pathogens has been investigated in some points, mostly in their ability to behave like macrophages. Here we studied the potential of pericytes to react as immune cells under inflammatory conditions, especially regarding the expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) molecules, CD68, as well as the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), and their ability in phagocytosis. Quantitative real time PCR and western blot analysis showed that pericytes are able to increase the expression of typical inflammatory marker proteins after the stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1 beta), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), or lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Depending on the different specific pro-inflammatory factors pericytes changed the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha SMA), the most predominant pericyte marker. We conclude that the role of the pericytes within the immune system is regulated and fine-tuned by different cytokines strongly depending on the time when the cytokines are released and their concentration. The present results will help to understand the pericyte mediated defense mechanisms in the brain.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{CramerTackeBornhorstetal.2014,
  author    = {Cramer, Sandra and Tacke, Sebastian and Bornhorst, Julia and Klingauf, J{\"u}rgen and Schwerdtle, Tanja and Galla, Hans-Joachim},
  title     = {The Influence of Silver Nanoparticles on the Blood-Brain and the Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier in vitro},
  series = {Journal of Nanomedicine \& Nanotechnology},
  volume    = {5},
  journal   = {Journal of Nanomedicine \& Nanotechnology},
  number    = {5},
  issn      = {2157-7439},
  doi       = {10.4172/2157-7439.1000225},
  pages     = {12},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {The use of silver nanoparticles in medical and consumer products such as wound dressings, clothing and cosmetic has increased significantly in recent years. Still, the influence of these particles on our health and especially on our brain, has not been examined adequately up to now. We studied the influence of AgEO- (Ethylene Oxide) and AgCitrate-Nanoparticles (NPs) on the protective barriers of the brain, namely the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (blood-CSF) barrier in vitro. The NPs toxicity was evaluated by examining changes in membrane integrity, cell morphology, barrier properties, oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions. AgNPs decreased cell viability, disturbed barrier integrity and tight junctions and triggered oxidative stress and DNA strand breaks. However, all mentioned effects were, at least partly, suppressed by a Citrate-coating and were most pronounced in the cells of the BBB as compared to the epithelial cells representing the blood-CSF barrier. AgEO- but not AgCitrate-NPs also triggered an inflammatory reaction in porcine brain capillary endothelial cells (PBCEC), which represent the BBB. Our data indicate that AgNPs may cause adverse effects within the barriers of the brain, but their toxicity can be reduced by choosing an appropriate coating material.},
  language  = {en}
}