Figure 1.

Schematic representation of non-contact EC-NPC co-culture systems. ECs are cultured on a transwell membrane (PET membrane, 3 μm pores) and stimulated at 10 dynes/cm² (dynamic culture) or not exposed to shear stress (static culture). Shear stress in the dynamic culture is generated by the rotation of a 1° angle cone parallel to the EC monolayer. NPCs are cultured on the bottom of the well plates (on PLO coated glass) to be positioned 1 mm from the EC monolayer or on a 1 mm gasket as to be positioned ~ 10 μm (transwell membrane thickness) directly opposed to the EC monolayer.