Effects of Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Oligomers on Blood–Brain Barrier Using a 3D Microfluidic Vasculature-on-a-Chip Model
Source abstract
Abstract
The disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is largely influenced by amyloid beta (Aβ). In this study, we developed a high-throughput microfluidic BBB model devoid of a physical membrane, featuring endothelial cells interacting with an extracellular matrix (ECM). This paper focuses on the impact of varying concentrations of Aβ1–42 oligomers on BBB dysfunction by treating them in the luminal. Our findings reveal a pronounced accumulation of Aβ1–42 oligomers at the BBB, resulting in the disruption of tight junctions and subsequent leakage evidenced by a barrier integrity assay. Additionally, cytotoxicity assessments indicate a concentration-dependent increase in cell death in response to Aβ1–42 oligomers (LC50 ~ 1 µM). This study underscores the utility of our membrane-free vascular chip in elucidating the dysfunction induced by Aβ with respect to the BBB.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Barrier Structure and Function Studies · Alzheimer's disease research and treatments · Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Chemical, Biological, and Bioengineering, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526, Owerri 460114, Nigeria
Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 114 16th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
Neurosurgery, Anesthesiology & Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Funding
National Science Foundation · Cure Alzheimer’s Fund · National Institutes of Health
References (45)
Show source-provided references
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