Figure 5.

Immunocytochemistry of brain pericytes and human brain-like endothelial cells. (a) Brain pericytes were characterized by immunostaining for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-β receptor, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2). Brain-like endothelial cells in static and dynamic conditions were characterized by immunostaining followed by fluorescence intensity evaluation (n = 12–14) for: (a–c) junctional proteins claudin-5, zonula occludens – 1 and β-catenin; (e-f) efflux pump P-glycoprotein (PGP) and solute carrier glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1); (g-h) cell adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Scale bar: 20 μm. Unpaired t-test, **p < 0.01, n.s. non significant.