Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40497935›Full record

ArticleCells2025

Examining Stromal Cell Interactions in an In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Model with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

Andrea Margari, Simon Konig, Vignesh Jayarajan, Silvia Rizzato, Giuseppe Maruccio, Emad Moeendarbary

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cells, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Andrea MargariDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID 0009-0004-5949-0670
Simon KonigDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1052-0304
Vignesh JayarajanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1185-3274
Silvia RizzatoOmnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, CNR-Institute of Nanotechnology, INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3908-4796
Giuseppe MaruccioOmnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, CNR-Institute of Nanotechnology, INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7669-0253
Emad MoeendarbaryDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-7019-3907

Funding

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BB/V001418/1Cancer Research UK C57744/A22057Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EP/W009889/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Understanding the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in health and disease, as well as improving drug delivery across the BBB, remains a critical priority in neuroscience research. However, current in vitro models of the BBB have become increasingly complex and challenging to implement. In this study, we present a simplified microfluidic BBB model in which human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are cultured as a monolayer along a fibrin gel containing human pericytes and astrocytes. Remarkably, within just three days, the 3D co-culture significantly enhanced barrier formation and upregulated the expression of tight-junction proteins in HUVECs. These findings demonstrate that HUVECs, which have been extensively used for over 50 years to study vascular endothelium due to their ease of isolation and culture, can adapt their phenotype towards that of BBB endothelial cells under appropriate conditions. This microfluidic BBB model offers a valuable tool for drug development and for advancing our understanding of BBB physiology in both health and disease contexts.

Indexed as

Blood-Brain BarrierCell CommunicationHuman Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsModels, BiologicalStromal CellsAstrocytesCoculture TechniquesHumansPericytesblood–brain barrier (BBB)endothelial cell biologyhuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)in vitro model

Identifiers

PMID40497935
PMCPMC12153851

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.