Three-dimensional (3D) tissue-engineered models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) recapitulate in vivo shear stress, cylindrical geometry, and cell-ECM interactions. Here we address four issues associated with BBB models: cell source, barrier function, cryopreservation, and matrix stiffness. We reproduce a directed differentiation of brain microvascular endothelial cells (dhBMECs) from two fluorescently labeled human induced pluripotent stem cell lines (hiPSCs) and demonstrate physiological permeability of Lucifer yellow over six days. Microvessels formed from cryopreserved dhBMECs show expression of BBB markers and maintain physiological barrier function comparable to non-cryopreserved cells. Microvessels displaying physiological barrier function are formed in collagen I hydrogels with stiffness matching that of human brain. The dilation response of microvessels was linear with increasing transmural pressure and was dependent on matrix stiffness. Together these results advance capabilities for tissue-engineered BBB models.

Background: During brain development, chemical cues released by developing neurons, cellular signaling with pericytes, and mechanical cues within the brain extracellular matrix (ECM) promote angiogenesis of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). Angiogenesis is also associated with diseases of the brain due to pathological chemical, cellular, and mechanical signaling. Existing in vitro and in vivo models of brain angiogenesis have key limitations. Methods: Here, we develop a high-throughput in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) bead assay of brain angiogenesis utilizing 150 μm diameter beads coated with induced pluripotent stem-cell (iPSC)derived human BMECs (dhBMECs). After embedding the beads within a 3D matrix, we introduce various chemical cues and extracellular matrix components to explore their effects on angiogenic behavior. Based on the results from the bead assay, we generate a multi-scale model of the human cerebrovasculature within perfusable three-dimensional tissue-engineered blood-brain barrier microvessels. Results: A sprouting phenotype is optimized in confluent monolayers of dhBMECs using chemical treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and wnt ligands, and the inclusion of proangiogenic ECM components. As a proof-of-principle that the bead angiogenesis assay can be applied to study pathological angiogenesis, we show that oxidative stress can exert concentration-dependent effects on angiogenesis. Finally, we demonstrate the formation of a hierarchical microvascular model of the human blood-brain barrier displaying key structural hallmarks. Conclusions: We develop two in vitro models of brain angiogenesis: the BBB bead assay and the tissue-engineered BBB microvessel model. These platforms provide a tool kit for studies of physiological and pathological brain angiogenesis, with key advantages over existing two-dimensional models. Background Brain angiogenesis is a multistage process by which new capillaries sprout from existing blood vessels. The culmination of brain angiogenesis during development results in a 600 km network of capillaries forming the blood-brain barrier (BBB) [1]. Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs),

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of cytosine–adenine–guanine (CAG) repeats in the huntingtin gene, which leads to neuronal loss and decline in cognitive and motor function. Increasing evidence suggests that blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction may contribute to progression of the disease. Studies in animal models, in vitro models, and post-mortem tissue find that disease progression is associated with increased microvascular density, altered cerebral blood flow, and loss of paracellular and transcellular barrier function. Here, we report on changes in BBB phenotype due to expansion of CAG repeats using an isogenic pair of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiated into brain microvascular endothelial-like cells (iBMECs). We show that CAG expansion associated with juvenile HD alters the trajectory of iBMEC differentiation, producing cells with ~ two-fold lower percentage of adherent endothelial cells. CAG expansion is associated with diminished transendothelial electrical resistance and reduced tight junction protein expression, but no significant changes in paracellular permeability. While mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) aggregates were not observed in HD iBMECs, widespread transcriptional dysregulation was observed in iBMECs compared to iPSCs. In addition, CAG expansion in iBMECs results in distinct responses to pathological and therapeutic perturbations including angiogenic factors, oxidative stress, and osmotic stress. In a tissue-engineered BBB model, iBMECs show subtle changes in phenotype, including differences in cell turnover and immune cell adhesion. Our results further support that CAG expansion in BMECs contributes to BBB dysfunction during HD.

KEYWORDSbrain angiogenesis; induced pluripotent stem cells; brain microvascular endothelial cells; microvascular tissue engineering; blood-brain barrier; brain capillaries 2 Abstract Background: During brain development, chemical cues released by developing neurons, cellular signaling with pericytes, and mechanical cues within the brain extracellular matrix (ECM) promote angiogenesis of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). Angiogenesis is also associated with diseases of the brain due to pathological chemical, cellular, and mechanical signaling. Existing in vitro and in vivo models of brain angiogenesis have key limitations.Methods: Here, we develop a high-throughput in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) bead assay of brain angiogenesis utilizing 150 μm diameter beads coated with induced pluripotent stem-cell (iPSC)derived human BMECs (dhBMECs). After embedding the beads within a 3D matrix, we introduce various chemical cues and extracellular matrix components to explore their effects on angiogenic behavior. Based on the results from the bead assay, we generate a multi-scale model of the human cerebrovasculature within perfusable three-dimensional tissue-engineered blood-brain barrier microvessels. Results:A sprouting phenotype is optimized in confluent monolayers of dhBMECs using chemical treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and wnt ligands, and the inclusion of proangiogenic ECM components. As a proof-of-principle that the bead angiogenesis assay can be applied to study pathological angiogenesis, we show that oxidative stress can exert concentration-dependent effects on angiogenesis. Finally, we demonstrate the formation of a hierarchical microvascular model of the human blood-brain barrier displaying key structural hallmarks. Conclusions:We develop two in vitro models of brain angiogenesis: the BBB bead assay and the tissue-engineered BBB microvessel model. These platforms provide a tool kit for studies of physiological and pathological brain angiogenesis, with key advantages over existing two-dimensional models. BackgroundBrain angiogenesis is a multistage process by which new capillaries sprout from existing blood vessels. The culmination of brain angiogenesis during development results in a 600 km network of capillaries forming the blood-brain barrier (BBB) [1]. Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs),

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of cytosine–adenine–guanine (CAG) repeats in the huntingtin gene, which leads to neuronal loss and decline in cognitive and motor function. Increasing evidence suggests that blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction may contribute to progression of the disease. Studies in animal models, in vitro models, and post-mortem tissue suggest that disease progression is associated with increased microvascular density, altered cerebral blood flow, and loss of paracellular and transcellular barrier function. Here we report on changes in BBB phenotype due to expansion of CAG repeats using an isogenic pair of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiated into brain microvascular endothelial-like cells (iBMECs). We show that CAG expansion alters the trajectory of iBMEC differentiation, producing cells with ~ 2-fold lower purity of adherent endothelial cells. CAG expansion is associated with lower transendothelial electrical resistance, lower tight junction protein expression, and unique gene expression profiles, but no significant changes in paracellular permeability. In addition, CAG expansion results in unique responses to pathological and therapeutic perturbations including angiogenic factors, oxidative stress, and osmotic stress. In a tissue-engineered BBB model, iBMECs show subtle changes in phenotype, including differences in cell turnover and immune cell adhesion. Our results further support that CAG expansion in BMECs may alter BBB phenotype during HD.