Human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMVEC), together with astrocytes and pericytes, construct the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to protect the brain from toxins and pathogens via paracellular, transcellular, transporter, and extracellular matrices, and tight junction proteins. The BBB also inhibits many therapeutic substances from entering the brain, making it challenging to design drugs that can migrate through the BBB effectively. The objective of the project was to understand the detrimental effects of psychological stimulants (cocaine, THC, Amphetamine) and HIV Tat proteins on the integrity of the BBB, and to inform the potential therapeutic strategies. The hBMVEC cell culture was treated with the stimulants and two different constructs of HIV Tat proteins. Western blot and RT-qPCR techniques were used to detect pyroptosis and apoptosis proteins that could lead to endothelial cell death. We found that proteins involved in apoptosis (PEA-15, caspase-3, and caspase-8) were more expressed and upregulated comparing to proteins involved in pyroptosis (caspase-1, gasdermin D) and cytokine proteins (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18).
Support or Funding Information
I want to thank the HSI stem grant for allowing me to perform this research under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Yufeng Wei of the Chemistry Department at New Jersey City University. I would also like to thank US Education Department Title III Part F HSI-STEM Grant # P031C160155, US Education Department Title V DHSI Grant # P031S20012 to Dr. Grew and NIH National Institute on Drug abuse grant #R21DA046223 to Dr. Wei.
I wantamp;nbsp;to thank the HSI stem grant for allowing me to perform this research under the guidance and supervision of Dr.amp;nbsp;Yufengamp;nbsp;Wei of theamp;nbsp;Chemistryamp;nbsp;Department at New Jersey City University.amp;nbsp;amp;nbsp;I would also like to thank US Education Department Title III Partamp;nbsp;Famp;nbsp;HSI-STEM Grant # P031C160155,amp;nbsp;US Education Department Title V DHSI Grant # P031S20012amp;nbsp;to Dr. Grewamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;NIH National Institute on Drug abuse grant #R21DA046223amp;nbsp;to Dr. Wei.amp;nbsp;
