TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, Sandra Marie
A1  - Ebert, Franziska
A1  - Raber, Georg
A1  - Meyer, Sören
A1  - Bornhorst, Julia
A1  - Hüwel, Stephan
A1  - Galla, Hans-Joachim
A1  - Francesconi, Kevin A.
A1  - Schwerdtle, Tanja
T1  - Effects of arsenolipids on in vitro blood-brain barrier model
JF  - Archives of toxicology : official journal of EUROTOX
N2  - Arsenic-containing hydrocarbons (AsHCs), a subgroup of arsenolipids (AsLs) occurring in fish and edible algae, possess a substantial neurotoxic potential in fully differentiated human brain cells. Previous in vivo studies indicating that AsHCs cross the blood–brain barrier of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster raised the question whether AsLs could also cross the vertebrate blood–brain barrier (BBB). In the present study, we investigated the impact of several representatives of AsLs (AsHC 332, AsHC 360, AsHC 444, and two arsenic-containing fatty acids, AsFA 362 and AsFA 388) as well as of their metabolites (thio/oxo-dimethylpropionic acid, dimethylarsinic acid) on porcine brain capillary endothelial cells (PBCECs, in vitro model for the blood–brain barrier). AsHCs exerted the strongest cytotoxic effects of all investigated arsenicals as they were up to fivefold more potent than the toxic reference species arsenite (iAsIII). In our in vitro BBB-model, we observed a slight transfer of AsHC 332 across the BBB after 6 h at concentrations that do not affect the barrier integrity. Furthermore, incubation with AsHCs for 72 h led to a disruption of the barrier at sub-cytotoxic concentrations. The subsequent immunocytochemical staining of three tight junction proteins revealed a significant impact on the cell membrane. Because AsHCs enhance the permeability of the in vitro blood–brain barrier, a similar behavior in an in vivo system cannot be excluded. Consequently, AsHCs might facilitate the transfer of accompanying foodborne toxicants into the brain.
KW  - Arsenolipids
KW  - Arsenic-containing hydrocarbons
KW  - Arsenic-containing fatty acids
KW  - In vitro blood-brain barrier model
Y1  - 2017
SN  - 0340-5761
SN  - 1432-0738
VL  - 92
IS  - 2
SP  - 823
EP  - 832
PB  - Springer
CY  - Heidelberg
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lohren, Hanna
A1  - Bornhorst, Julia
A1  - Fitkau, Romy
A1  - Pohl, Gabriele
A1  - Galla, Hans-Joachim
A1  - Schwerdtle, Tanja
T1  - Effects on and transfer across the blood-brain barrier in vitro-Comparison of organic and inorganic mercury species
JF  - BMC pharmacology & toxicology
N2  - Background: Transport of methylmercury (MeHg) across the blood-brain barrier towards the brain side is well discussed in literature, while ethylmercury (EtHg) and inorganic mercury are not adequately characterized regarding their entry into the brain. Studies investigating a possible efflux out of the brain are not described to our knowledge. Methods: This study compares, for the first time, effects of organic methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl), EtHg-containing thiomersal and inorganic Hg chloride (HgCl2) on as well as their transfer across a primary porcine in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier. Results: With respect to the barrier integrity, the barrier model exhibited a much higher sensitivity towards HgCl2 following basolateral incubation (brain-facing side) as compared to apical application (blood-facing side). These HgCl2 induced effects on the barrier integrity after brain side incubation are comparable to that of the organic species, although MeHgCl and thiomersal exerted much higher cytotoxic effects in the barrier building cells. Hg transfer rates following exposure to organic species in both directions argue for diffusion as transfer mechanism. Inorganic Hg application surprisingly resulted in a Hg transfer out of the brain-facing compartment. Conclusions: In case of MeHgCl and thiomersal incubation, mercury crossed the barrier in both directions, with a slight accumulation in the basolateral, brain-facing compartment, after simultaneous incubation in both compartments. For HgCl2, our data provide first evidence that the blood-brain barrier transfers mercury out of the brain.
KW  - Organic mercury
KW  - Inorganic mercury
KW  - Methylmercury
KW  - Thiomersal
KW  - Mercuric mercury
KW  - In vitro blood-brain barrier model
Y1  - 2016
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40360-016-0106-5
SN  - 2050-6511
VL  - 17
SP  - 422
EP  - 433
PB  - BioMed Central
CY  - London
ER  -