*2.1.10 Measuring caspase activity of cultured cells*

Caspase 3 activity was measured fluorometrically using an oncogene caspase-3 activity kit, as previously described [39]. Cultured blood-brain barrier cells were lysed, and the lysate was added to the caspase substrate: L-aspartyl-L-glutamyl-L-valyl-L-aspartic acid amide (DEVD) tagged with the fluorescent molecule 7-amino-4-trifluoromethyl coumarin (AFC). Cleaved AFC was fluorescent, and was quantified at an excitation wavelength of 390 nm, and an emission wavelength of 510 nm.
