IMMORTALIZED LINES OF ENDOTHELIAL BRAIN CELLS AND THERAPEUTICAL APPLICATIONS THEREOF

摘要

The invention relates to optionally modified immortalized lines of endothelial brain cells of mammalians, as well as applications as preventive or curative drug and particularly for the treatment of primary and secondary, neurologic or psychiatric diseases, including brain tumors, and for stimulating the growth and reproduction of breeding animals. The invention also relates to the method for preparing said cell lines. The endothelial cell lines of mammalians disclosed are comprised of immortalized endothelial brain cells presenting at least one of the following characteristics of differentiated endothelial brain cells, in a stable way: the expression of endothelial markers, the secretion of vasoactive substances, the expression of molecules of the major histocompatilility complex (MHC), the expression of hormonal receptors, and the existence of tight junctions; said cell lines comprise a nucleic acid fragment having at least one immortalizing fragment of a viral or cellular oncogene, optionally associated with at least one selection gene, and an expression vector comprising a sequence coding for a polypeptide, a protein or a viral vector, optionally associated with at least one selection gene and optionally at least one marker gene, and they are capable in vivo to integrate brain vessels of a host mammalian and produce said polypeptide, said protein or said viral vector.