Purpose: The effects of cathepsin L on claudin-1 expression were investigated under hyperthermic condition in a blood-brain barrier (BBB) model in vitro, in order to estimate the potential effects of hyperthermia on BBB dysfunction. Materials and methods: Brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) and astrocytes were obtained from rat brain. The BBB models were randomly divided into a sham (37 degrees C) group, a 39 degrees C group, a 37 degrees C+cathepsin L group and a 39 degrees C+cathepsin L group. The permeability of BBB was judged. The expressions of cathepsin L in astrocytes and claudin-1 in BMECs were detected using immunohistochemistry method and western blot assay. Results: The permeability of BBB models was higher in the 39 degrees C group than in the sham group. The cathepsin L expression in astrocytes was higher in the 39 degrees C group than in the sham group (P <0.01), whereas the claudin-1 expression in BMECs was lower in the 39 degrees C group than in the sham group (P<0.01). The claudin-1 expression in BMECs was significantly lower in the 37 degrees C+cathepsin L group than in the sham group (P<0.01). At the same time point, the claudin-1 expression in BMECs was significantly lower in the 39 degrees C+cathepsin L group than in the 37 C+cathepsin L group (P <0.01). Conclusion: Hyperthermia can probably decrease claudin-1 expression in BMECs by upregulating cathepsin L expression in astrocytes in a BBB model in vitro. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.
(8.0+极速模式)