Abstract
It is important to understand the cellular properties of endoneurial microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes which constitute blood-nerve barrier（BNB），since this barrier structure in the peripheral nervous system（PNS）may play pivotal pathophysiological roles in various PNS disorders including inflammatory neuropathy and diabetic neuropathy. However, in contrast to blood-brain barrier（BBB），very few studies have been directed to BNB and no adequate cell lines originating from BNB had been launched. We successfully established human immortalized cell lines originating from BNB using temperature-sensitive SV40 large T antigen and the cellular properties of human cell lines are demonstrated in this manuscript. The humoral factors including bFGF and GDNF secreted by pericytes strengthened the barrier properties of PnMECs, suggesting that in the PNS, peripheral nerve pericytes support the BNB function and play the same role of astrocytes in the BBB. Furthermore, AGEs increased the expression of basement membrane molecules including fibronectin and collagen type IV in pericytes via TGF-β and VEGF signaling. Further accumulation of the knowledge concerning the cellular properties of BNB-forming cells will open the door to novel therapeutic strategies for diabetic neuropathy.
