Impedance-based cell monitoring: barrier properties and beyond
<p>Abstract</p> <p>In multicellular organisms epithelial and endothelial cells form selective permeable interfaces between tissue compartments of different chemical compositions. Tight junctions which connect adjacent cells, control the passage of molecules across the barrier and,...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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BMC
2013-01-01
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Series: | Fluids and Barriers of the CNS |
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Online Access: | http://www.fluidsbarrierscns.com/content/10/1/5 |
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author | Benson Kathrin Cramer Sandra Galla Hans-Joachim |
author_facet | Benson Kathrin Cramer Sandra Galla Hans-Joachim |
author_sort | Benson Kathrin |
collection | DOAJ |
description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>In multicellular organisms epithelial and endothelial cells form selective permeable interfaces between tissue compartments of different chemical compositions. Tight junctions which connect adjacent cells, control the passage of molecules across the barrier and, in addition, facilitate active transport processes. The cellular barriers are not static but can be deliberately modulated by exposure to specific external stimuli. <it>In vitro</it> models representing the essential absorption barriers of the body are nowadays available, thus allowing investigation of the parameters that control permeability as well as transport processes across those barriers. Independent of the origin of the barrier forming cells, techniques are needed to quantify their barrier integrity. One simple assay is to measure the permeability for given hydrophilic substrates possessing different molecular weights like sucrose or dextrans. However, this technique is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover, radioactive or fluorescently-labeled substrates are needed to allow easy analytical detection. Finally, if transport processes are investigated, the standard permeant may interfere with the transport process under investigation or might even alter the barrier integrity by itself. Thus, independent, non-invasive techniques are needed to quantify the barrier integrity continuously during the experiment. Such techniques are available and are mainly based on the measurement of the transendothelial or transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of barrier forming cells grown on porous membranes. Simple devices using two sets of electrodes (so-called Voltohmeters) are widely used. In addition, an easy-to-use physical technique called impedance spectroscopy allows the continuous analysis of both the TEER and the electrical capacitance giving additional information about the barrier properties of cells grown on permeable membranes. This technique is useful as a quality control for barrier forming cells. Another impedance-based approach requires cells to be grown directly on solid, micro-structured electrodes. Here, we will discuss the physical background of the different techniques; advantages, disadvantages, and applications will be scrutinized. The aim is to give the reader a comprehensive understanding concerning the range and limits of the application, mainly focusing on endothelial cells.</p> |
first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:36:06Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-d0b544b1a45b47679cf8fa046c616bca |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2045-8118 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:36:06Z |
publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
publisher | BMC |
record_format | Article |
series | Fluids and Barriers of the CNS |
spelling | doaj.art-d0b544b1a45b47679cf8fa046c616bca2022-12-22T03:10:20ZengBMCFluids and Barriers of the CNS2045-81182013-01-01101510.1186/2045-8118-10-5Impedance-based cell monitoring: barrier properties and beyondBenson KathrinCramer SandraGalla Hans-Joachim<p>Abstract</p> <p>In multicellular organisms epithelial and endothelial cells form selective permeable interfaces between tissue compartments of different chemical compositions. Tight junctions which connect adjacent cells, control the passage of molecules across the barrier and, in addition, facilitate active transport processes. The cellular barriers are not static but can be deliberately modulated by exposure to specific external stimuli. <it>In vitro</it> models representing the essential absorption barriers of the body are nowadays available, thus allowing investigation of the parameters that control permeability as well as transport processes across those barriers. Independent of the origin of the barrier forming cells, techniques are needed to quantify their barrier integrity. One simple assay is to measure the permeability for given hydrophilic substrates possessing different molecular weights like sucrose or dextrans. However, this technique is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover, radioactive or fluorescently-labeled substrates are needed to allow easy analytical detection. Finally, if transport processes are investigated, the standard permeant may interfere with the transport process under investigation or might even alter the barrier integrity by itself. Thus, independent, non-invasive techniques are needed to quantify the barrier integrity continuously during the experiment. Such techniques are available and are mainly based on the measurement of the transendothelial or transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of barrier forming cells grown on porous membranes. Simple devices using two sets of electrodes (so-called Voltohmeters) are widely used. In addition, an easy-to-use physical technique called impedance spectroscopy allows the continuous analysis of both the TEER and the electrical capacitance giving additional information about the barrier properties of cells grown on permeable membranes. This technique is useful as a quality control for barrier forming cells. Another impedance-based approach requires cells to be grown directly on solid, micro-structured electrodes. Here, we will discuss the physical background of the different techniques; advantages, disadvantages, and applications will be scrutinized. The aim is to give the reader a comprehensive understanding concerning the range and limits of the application, mainly focusing on endothelial cells.</p>http://www.fluidsbarrierscns.com/content/10/1/5Barrier forming cellsEndotheliumEpitheliumBlood–brain barrierElectrical resistanceTEERImpedance spectroscopy |
spellingShingle | Benson Kathrin Cramer Sandra Galla Hans-Joachim Impedance-based cell monitoring: barrier properties and beyond Fluids and Barriers of the CNS Barrier forming cells Endothelium Epithelium Blood–brain barrier Electrical resistance TEER Impedance spectroscopy |
title | Impedance-based cell monitoring: barrier properties and beyond |
title_full | Impedance-based cell monitoring: barrier properties and beyond |
title_fullStr | Impedance-based cell monitoring: barrier properties and beyond |
title_full_unstemmed | Impedance-based cell monitoring: barrier properties and beyond |
title_short | Impedance-based cell monitoring: barrier properties and beyond |
title_sort | impedance based cell monitoring barrier properties and beyond |
topic | Barrier forming cells Endothelium Epithelium Blood–brain barrier Electrical resistance TEER Impedance spectroscopy |
url | http://www.fluidsbarrierscns.com/content/10/1/5 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT bensonkathrin impedancebasedcellmonitoringbarrierpropertiesandbeyond AT cramersandra impedancebasedcellmonitoringbarrierpropertiesandbeyond AT gallahansjoachim impedancebasedcellmonitoringbarrierpropertiesandbeyond |