Brain to blood efflux transport of adenosine: blood-brain barrier studies in the rat

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) efflux transport of [(14)C] adenosine was studied using the brain efflux index (BEI) technique. BEI increased linearly over the first 2 min after injection, with deviation from linearity thereafter; 90.12 +/- 1.5% of the injected [(14)C] radioactivity remained within the brain after 20 min. The remaining tracer appears to be mainly intracellular, trapped by phosphorylation, as an almost linear increase of BEI over 20 min was observed after intracerebral injection of [(14)C] adenosine together with 5-iodo tubercidin. The BBB efflux clearance of [(14)C] radioactivity was estimated to be 27.62 +/- 5.2 micro L/min/g, almost threefold higher than the BBB influx clearance estimated by the brain uptake index technique. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of blood plasma collected from the jugular vein after the intracerebral injection revealed metabolic breakdown of [(14)C] adenosine into nucleobases. The BBB efflux transport was saturable with apparent K(m) = 13.22 +/- 1.75 micro m and V(max) = 621.07 +/- 71.22 pmole/min/g, which indicated that BBB efflux in vivo is 6.2-12p mole/min/g, negligible when compared to the reported rate of adenosine uptake into neurones/glia. However, these kinetic parameters also suggest that under conditions of elevated ISF adenosine in hypoxia/ischaemia, BBB efflux transport could increase up to 25% of the uptake into neurones/glia and become an important mechanism to oppose the rise in ISF concentration. HPLC-fluorometry detected 93.6 +/- 5.25 nm of adenosine in rat plasma, which is 17- to 220-fold lower than the reported K(m) of adenosine BBB influx in rat. Together with the observed rapid degradation inside endothelial cells, this indicated negligible BBB influx of intact adenosine under resting conditions. Cross-inhibition studies showed that unlabelled inosine, adenine and hypoxanthine caused a decrease in BBB efflux of [(14)C] radioactivity in a concentration-dependent manner, with K(i) of 16.7 +/- 4.88, 65.1 +/- 14.1 and 71.1 +/- 16.9 micro m, respectively. This could be due to either competition of unlabelled molecules with [(14)C] adenosine or competition with its metabolites hypoxanthine and adenine for the same transport sites.     

Antibody blood-brain barrier efflux is modulated by glycan modification

BackgroundDrug delivery to the brain is a major roadblock to treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Recent results of the PRIME study indicate that increasing brain penetration of antibody drugs improves Alzheimer's treatment outcomes. New approaches are needed to better accomplish this goal. Based on prior evidence, the hypothesis that glycan modification alters antibody blood-brain barrier permeability was tested here.MethodsThe blood-brain barrier permeability coefficient Pe of different glycosylated states of anti-amyloid IgG was measured using in vitro models of brain microvascular endothelial cells. Monoclonal antibodies 4G8, with sialic acid, and 6E10, lacking sialic acid, were studied. The amount of sialic acid was determined using quantitative and semi-quantitative surface plasmon resonance methods.ResultsInflux of IgG was not saturable and was largely insensitive to IgG species and glycosylation state. By contrast, efflux of 4G8 efflux was significantly lower than both albumin controls and 6E10. Removal of α2,6-linked sialic acid group present on 12% of 4G8 completely restored efflux to that of 6E10 but increasing the α2,6-sialylated fraction to 15% resulted in no change. Removal of the Fc glycan from 4G8 partially restored efflux. Alternate sialic acid groups with α2,3 and α2,8 linkages, nor on the Fc glycan, were not detected at significant levels on either 4G8 or 6E10.ConclusionsThese results support a model in which surface-sialylated 4G8 inhibits its own efflux and that of asialylated 4G8.General significanceGlycan modification has the potential to increase antibody drug penetration into the brain through efflux inhibition.     

Brain-to-blood efflux transport of estrone-3-sulfate at the blood-brain barrier in rats

Efflux transport of estrogens such as estrone-3-sulfate (E1S), and estrone (E1) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was evaluated using the Brain Efflux Index (BEI) method. The apparent BBB efflux rate constant (Keff) of [3H]E1S, and [3H]E1 was 6.63 x 10(-2) +/- 0.77 x 10(-2) min(-1), and 6.91 x 10(-2) +/- 1.23 x 10(-2) min(-1), respectively. The efflux transport of [3H]E1S from brain across the BBB was a saturable process with Michaelis constant (Km) of 96.0 +/- 34.4 microM and 93.4 +/- 22.0 microM estimated by two different methods. By determining [3H]E1S metabolites using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after intracerebral injection, significant amounts of [3H]E1S were found in the jugular venous plasma, providing direct evidence that most of [3H]E1S is transported from brain across the BBB in intact form. To compare the apparent efflux clearance across the BBB of E1S with that of E1, the brain distribution volume of E1S and E1 was estimated using the brain slice uptake method. The apparent efflux clearance of [3H]E1S was determined to be 74.9 +/- 3.8 microl/(min x g brain) due to the distribution volume of 1.13 +/- 0.06 ml/g brain. By contrast, the apparent efflux clearance of E1 was more than 227 +/- 3 microl/(min x g brain), since the distribution volume of [3H]E1 at 60 min was 3.28 +/- 0.13 ml/g. The E1S efflux transport process was inhibited by more than 40% by coadministration of bile acids (taurocholate, and cholate), and organic anions (sulfobromophthalein, and probenecid), whereas other organic anions did not affect the E1S efflux transport. The [3H]E1S efflux was significantly reduced by 48.6% after preadministration of 5 mM dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. These results suggest that E1S is transported from brain to the circulating blood across the BBB via a carrier-mediated efflux transport system.     

Cationic amino acid transport across the blood-brain barrier is mediated exclusively by system y+

Cationic amino acid (CAA) transport is brought about by two families of proteins that are found in various tissues: Cat (CAA transporter), referred to as system y+, and Bat [broad-scope amino acid (AA) transporter], which comprises systems b0,+, B0,+, and y+L. CAA traverse the blood-brain barrier (BBB), but experiments done in vivo have only been able to examine the BBB from the luminal (blood-facing) side. In the present study, plasma membranes isolated from bovine brain microvessels were used to identify and characterize the CAA transporter(s) on both sides of the BBB. From these studies, it was concluded that system y+ was the only transporter present, with a prevalence of activity on the abluminal membrane. System y+ was voltage dependent and had a Km of 470 +/- 106 microM (SE) for lysine, a Ki of 34 microM for arginine, and a Ki of 290 microM for ornithine. In the presence of Na+, system y+ was inhibited by several essential neutral AAs. The Ki values were 3-10 times the plasma concentrations, suggesting that system y+ was not as important a point of access for these AAs as system L1. Several small nonessential AAs (serine, glutamine, alanine,and glycine) inhibited system y+ with Ki values similar to their plasma concentrations, suggesting that system y+ may account for the permeability of the BBB to these AAs. System y+ may be important in the provision of arginine for NO synthesis. Real-time PCR and Western blotting techniques established the presence of the three known nitric oxide synthases in cerebral endothelial cells: NOS-1 (neuronal), NOS-2 (inducible), and NOS-3 (endothelial). These results confirm that system y+ is the only CAA transporter in the BBB and suggest that NO can be produced in brain endothelial cells.     

Phosphate transport by capillaries of the blood-brain barrier.

Capillaries were isolated from bovine brain cortex and used for phosphate transport studies. The influx of phosphate through capillary membranes was studied by incubation with [32Pi]phosphate followed by a rapid filtration technique. Phosphate uptake by brain capillaries was mediated by a saturable high-affinity system which is independent of the sodium concentration in the incubation medium. The apparent half-saturation constant (Km) and maximal influx (Vmax) were estimated to 160 microM and 0.37 nmol/mg protein/30 s. Transport was inhibited by the phosphate analogues arsenate and phosphonoformic acid with apparent inhibition constants of 5 and 11 mM, respectively. The metabolic inhibitors cyanide and ouabain had no effect on the transport activity. Competition experiments showed that phosphate uptake was inhibited up to 41% by various anions (pyruvate, acetate, citrate, glutamate, and sulfate). In addition, phosphate uptake was significantly decreased by two selective inhibitors of anionic exchangers, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid. Chloride was not a substrate of the phosphate carrier as the replacement of external chloride, by nitrate, thiocyanate, or gluconate, did not increase phosphate transport. Aminohippuric acid and N'-methylnicotinamide, two specific substrates of anionic and cationic drug exchangers, did not compete with the phosphate carrier of cerebral capillaries. However, trans-stimulation with bicarbonate increased phosphate transport by 28%, and this stimulation was inhibited by 1 mM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, suggesting that the carrier of the cerebral capillaries could exchange phosphate with bicarbonate.     

Upregulation of the transport system for TNFalpha at the blood-brain barrier

The transport system for the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) enables an enhanced yet saturable entry of TNFalpha from blood to the CNS. This review focuses on the selective upregulation of the transport system for TNFalpha at the BBB that is specific for type of pathology, region, and time. The upregulation is reflected by increased CNS tissue uptake of radiolabeled TNFalpha after iv injection in mice and by inhibition of this increase with excess non-radiolabeled TNFalpha. (1) Spinal cord injury (SCI): upregulation of TNFalpha uptake after thoracic transection is seen in the delayed phase of BBB disruption at the lumbar spinal cord. Thoracic SCI by compression, however, has a longer lasting impact on TNFalpha transport that involves thoracic and lumbar spinal cord, in contrast to the upregulation confined to the lumbar region in lumbar SCI by compression. Regardless, the uptake of TNFalpha by spinal cord does not parallel BBB disruption as measured by the leakage of radiolabeled albumin. (2) Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE): the increase in the differential permeability to TNFalpha is seen in all CNS regions (brain and cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord) and has a distinct time course and reversibility. Exogenous TNFalpha has biphasic effects in modulating functional scores. The BBB, a dynamically regulated barrier, is actively involved in disease processes.     

Hypoxanthine transport through the blood-brain barrier

The unidirectional influx of hypoxanthine across cerebral capillaries, the anatomical locus of the blood=brain barrier, was measured with an in situ rat brain perfusion technique employing [³H]hypoxanthine. Hypoxanthine was transported across the blood-brain barrier by a saturable system with a one-half saturation concentration of approximately 0.4 mM. The permeability-surface area product was 3×10^–4 sec^–1 with a hypoxanthine concentration of 0.02 M in the perfusate. Adenine (4 mM) and uracil and theophylline (both 10 mM), but not inosine (10 mM) or leucine (1 mM), inhibited hypoxanthine transfer through the blood-brain barrier. Thus, hypoxanthine is transported through the blood-brain barrier by a high-capacity, saturable transport system with a half-saturation concentration about 100 times the plasma hypoxanthine concentration. Although involved in the transport hypoxanthine from blood into brain, this system is not powerful enough to transfer important quantities of hypoxanthine from blood into brain.     

Myo-inositol transport through the blood-brain barrier

The unidirectional transport of [³H]myo-inositol across cerebral capillaries, the anatomical locus of the blood-brain barrier, was measured using an in situ rat brain perfusion technique. Myo-inositol was transported across the blood-brain barrier by a low capacity, saturable system with a one-half saturation concentration of 0.1 mM. The permeability surface-area product was 6.2×10^–5S^–1 with a myo-inositol concentration of 0.02 mM in the perfusate. The myo-inositol stereoisomer scyllo-inositol but not (+)-chiro-inositol (both 1 mM) inhibited myo-inositol transfer through the blood-brain barrier. These observations provide evidence that myo-inositol is transferred through the blood-brain barrier by simple diffusion and a stereospecific, saturable transport system.     

Niacinamide transport through the blood-brain barrier

The unidirectional influx of niacinamide across cerebral capillaries, the anatomical locus of the blood-brain barrier, was measured with an in situ rat brain perfusion technique employing [¹⁴C]niacinamide. Niacinamide was transported rapidly across the blood-brain barrier by a system that was not saturable with 10 mM niacinamide in the perfusate. However, with periods of perfusion longer than 30 seconds, there was substantial backflow of [¹⁴C]niacinamide into the perfusate. Niacinamide (1.7 M) transport through the blood-brain barrier was not significantly inhibited by 3-acetylpyridine. Thus, niacinamide is transported rapidly and bidirectionally through the blood-brain barrier by a high capacity transport system. Although involved in the transfer of niacinamide between blood and brain, this transport system does not play an important regulatory role in the synthesis of NMN, NAD, and NADP from niacinamide in brain.     

The l-isomer-selective transport of aspartic acid is mediated by ASCT2 at the blood-brain barrier

Aspartic acid (Asp) undergoes l-isomer-selective efflux transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This transport system appears to play an important role in regulating l- and d-Asp levels in the brain. The purpose of this study was to identify the responsible transporters and elucidate the mechanism for l-isomer-selective Asp transport at the BBB. The l-isomer-selective uptake of Asp by conditionally immortalized mouse brain capillary endothelial cells used as an in vitro model of the BBB took place in an Na+- and pH-dependent manner. This process was inhibited by system ASC substrates such as l-alanine and l-serine, suggesting that system ASC transporters, ASCT1 and ASCT2, are involved in the l-isomer selective transport. Indeed, l-Asp uptake by oocytes injected with either ASCT1 or ASCT2 cRNA took place in a similar manner to that in cultured BBB cells, whereas no significant d-Asp uptake occurred. Although both ASCT1 and ASCT2 mRNA were expressed in the cultured BBB cells, the expression of ASCT2 mRNA was 6.7-fold greater than that of ASCT1. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis suggests that ASCT2 is localized at the abluminal side of the mouse BBB. These results suggest that ASCT2 plays a key role in l-isomer-selective Asp efflux transport at the BBB.     

Red cell phenylalanine is not available for transport through the blood-brain barrier

The possibility that red cell-sequestered amino acids such as phenylalanine are available for transport through the brain capillary wall, i.e., the blood-brain barrier (BBB), in vivo was investigated in the present studies with the carotid artery injection technique. Control studies included the examination of the availability of red cell-sequestered solutes such as phenylalanine ord-glucose to liver cells in vivo using a portal vein injection technique. The results show that red cell-sequestered phenylalanine is not available for transport through the BBB or into rat liver in vivo, but human red cell-sequesteredd-glucose is available for uptake by liver following portal injection. Therefore, given favorable kinetics it is possible for red cell-sequestered solute to be available for uptake by tissues. However, in the case of neutral amino acids such as phenylalanine, red cell-sequestered amino acid is not available for transport through the BBB in vivo.     

Impaired transport of leptin across the blood-brain barrier in obesity is acquired and reversible

Leptin resistance is a major cause of obesity in humans. A major component of this resistance is likely an impaired transport of leptin across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The fattest subgroup of otherwise normal 12-mo-old CD-1 mice have severely impaired transport of leptin across the BBB. However, it is unknown whether these mice are born with a BBB impairment or acquire it with aging and obesity. Here, we found within an otherwise normal population of CD-1 mice that the 10% fattest mice gained weight throughout a 12-mo-life span, whereas the 10% thinnest mice gained little weight after 3 mo of age. The fattest mice acquired a progressive impairment in their ability to transport leptin across the BBB, whereas the thinnest mice had a rate of transport that did not change with age. Fasting fat mice for 24 h or treating them with leptin resulted in modest weight reduction and development of transport rates for leptin across the BBB similar to those of thin mice. These results show that, in obese CD-1 mice, the impaired transport of leptin across the BBB develops in tandem with obesity and is reversible with even modest weight reduction.     

Saturable transport of peptides across the blood-brain barrier

Peptides can be transported across the blood-brain barrier by saturable transport systems. One system, characterized with radioactively labeled Tyr-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-amide), is specific for some of the small peptides with an N-terminal tyrosine, including Tyr-MIF-1, the enkephalins, beta-casomorphin, and dynorphin (1-8). Another separate system transports vasopressin-like peptides. The choroid plexus has at least one system distinguishable from those above that is capable of uptake and possibly transport of opiate-like peptides. The possibility of saturable transport of other peptides has been investigated to a varying degree. Specificity, stereo-specificity, saturability, allosteric regulation, modulation by physiologic and pharmacologic manipulations, and noncompetitive inhibition have been demonstrated to occur in peptide transport systems and suggest a role for them in physiology and disease.     

Brain endothelial barrier passage by monocytes is controlled by the endothelin system

Homeostasis of the brain is dependent on the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This barrier tightly regulates the exchange of essential nutrients and limits the free flow of immune cells into the CNS. Perturbations of BBB function and the loss of its immune quiescence are hallmarks of a variety of brain diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), vascular dementia, and stroke. In particular, diapedesis of monocytes and subsequent trafficking of monocyte-derived macrophages into the brain are key mediators of demyelination and axonal damage in MS. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is considered as a potent pro-inflammatory peptide and has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Here, we studied the role of different components of the endothelin system, i.e., ET-1, its type B receptor (ET(B)) and endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) in monocyte diapedesis of a human brain endothelial cell barrier. Our pharmacological inhibitory and specific gene knockdown studies point to a regulatory function of these proteins in transendothelial passage of monocytes. Results from this study suggest that the endothelin system is a putative target within the brain for anti-inflammatory treatment in neurological diseases.     

Tyr-MIF-1 and Met-enkephalin share a saturable blood-brain barrier transport system

Previous studies have shown that methionine enkephalin and Tyr-MIF-1 are transported from the brain to the blood by a saturable, stereospecific, carrier-mediated process. It was not established by these studies whether Tyr-MIF-1 and methionine enkephalin were transported by the same system or by separate, but overlapping systems. This issue was investigated in anesthetized mice receiving injections containing both 131I-methionine enkephalin and 125I-Tyr-MIF-1 into the lateral ventricle of the brain. Mice were decapitated and the brain to blood transport rate was derived from the residual counts in the brain. It was found that in individual mice, the transport rate for Tyr-MIF-1 correlated highly with the transport rate for methionine enkephalin but not with the transport of iodide. This shows that the transport of Tyr-MIF-1 is closely coupled to the transport of methionine enkephalin but dissociable from the brain to blood transport of iodide. Furthermore, the inability of varying doses of Tyr-MIF-1 or of methionine enkephalin to preferentially self-inhibit is radiolabeled form in comparison with the other peptide shows that, functionally, only a single system exists. Aluminum, a noncompetitive inhibitor of Tyr-MIF-1 transport, was also without preferential inhibition. Thus, under the conditions of these studies, only a single system could be functionally demonstrated for the transport of both Tyr-MIF-1 and methionine enkephalin.