ABC transporters and the blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) form a very effective barrier to the free diffusion of many polar solutes into the brain. Many metabolites that are polar have their brain entry facilitated by specific inwardly-directed transport mechanisms. In general the more lipid soluble a molecule or drug is, the more readily it will tend to partition into brain tissue. However, a very significant number of lipid soluble molecules, among them many useful therapeutic drugs have lower brain permeability than would be predicted from a determination of their lipid solubility. These molecules are substrates for the ABC efflux transporters which are present in the BBB and BCSB and the activity of these transporters very efficiently removes the drug from the CNS, thus limiting brain uptake. P-glycoprotein (Pgp) was the first of these ABC transporters to be described, followed by the multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRP) and more recently breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). All are expressed in the BBB and BCSFB and combine to reduce the brain penetration of many drugs. This phenomenon of "multidrug resistance" is a major hurdle when it comes to the delivery of therapeutics to the brain, not to mention the problem of cancer chemotherapy in general. Therefore, the development of strategies for bypassing the influence of these ABC transporters and for the design of effective drugs that are not substrates and the development of inhibitors for the ABC transporters becomes a high imperative for the pharmaceutical industry.     

ATP-binding cassette transporters at the blood-brain barrier in ischaemic stroke

Ischaemic stroke is one of the most common diseases world-wide. Recent studies provide new insights into the role of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in brain ischaemia. Expressional and functional transporter changes that have been observed at the brain capillary endothelium during ischaemia impede the access of pharmacological compounds into the brain tissue. The current review summarizes the most important findings and discusses the role of hypoxia, inflammation, oxidative stress and lipids as factors regulating ABC transporters at the blood-brain barrier. A better understanding of biodistribution processes at the blood-brain barrier is urgently needed, so that the accumulation of drugs in the brain can be improved, enabling a successful translation of pharmacological treatments in ischaemic stroke.     

Interplay of drug metabolizing CYP450 enzymes and ABC transporters in the blood-brain barrier

The recent identification of drug-metabolizing enzymes cytochrome P450 (CYP) in the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) raises the question of whether these enzymes act in concert with ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters to limit the brain distributions of drugs. We recently demonstrated several CYP genes in freshly isolated human brain microvessels; the main isoforms expressed were CYP1B1 and CYP2U1. Many studies using different experimental approaches have revealed that P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, ABCG2) and the multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4, ABCC4) are the main ABC transporters in the human BBB. The first part of this review covers recent studies on the expression, regulation and function of CYP450 and ABC transporters in the rodent and human BBBs. The second part focuses on the possible interplay between some CYPs and certain ABC transporters at the BBB, which makes it a determining element of brain drug concentrations and thus of the effects of centrally acting drugs.     

Emerging role for drug transporters at the blood-testis barrier

Drug transporters are integral membrane proteins that transport a broad range of substrates into and out of cells, usually against a concentration gradient. Studies have shown that efflux pumps such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) localize at the blood-testis barrier (BTB), where they protect the testis from drugs and xenobiotics that are detrimental to spermatogenesis. At the same time, efflux pumps might also preclude entry of non-hormonal contraceptives to the testis. In more recent studies, P-gp function was correlated with BTB integrity. In this review, we discuss findings that have made a significant impact on our understanding of efflux pumps in the testis. Modulation of efflux pump function via specific inhibitors could help to deliver contraceptives to the testis in the future.     

Transport of carbamazepine and drug interactions at blood-brain barrier

AIM: To investigate the characteristics of carbamazepine (CBZ) transport and drug interactions at the blood-brain barrier. METHODS: Cultured rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (rBMEC) were used as an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). When cells became confluent, CBZ uptake over time was recorded by incubation of the cells in a medium containing 10 mg/L CBZ at 37 degree. The steady-state uptake of CBZ by rBMEC was tested for different CBZ concentrations at 37 degree. The effects of various agents on the steady-state uptake of CBZ and efflux of CBZ from rBMEC were also studied. RESULTS: The uptake of CBZ by rBMEC was time- and concentration-dependent. The steady-state uptake occurred at 30 min for incubation. The steady-state uptake was significantly increased (P<0.01) by treatment with dinitrophenol. The co-administration of cyclosporine A significantly increased the steady-state uptake of CBZ by the rBMEC, whereas co-administration of olanzapine significantly decreased the uptake in a concentration- and temperature-dependent manner. The efflux of CBZ from rBMEC was inhibited by CsA. CONCLUSION: The transport of CBZ at the BBB is mediated by many transporters. Some specific ABC (ATP-binding cassette, ABC) efflux transporters may be involved in the transport of CBZ. Drugs influence the transport of CBZ at the BBB in different ways.     

Exploiting nutrient transporters at the blood-brain barrier to improve brain distribution of small molecules

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major physiological barrier for drugs that target CNS receptors or enzymes. Several methods exist by which permeability to the CNS can be increased, one of which is using native nutrient transporters to carry these drugs through the endothelial cells of the BBB. In this review, we focus on work that characterizes the use of nutrient transporters of the BBB in delivering drugs to the CNS.     

Opioid transport by ATP-binding cassette transporters at the blood-brain barrier: implications for neuropsychopharmacology

Some of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters like P-glycoprotein (P-gp; ABCB1, MDR1), BCRP (ABCG2) and MRPs (ABCCs) that are present at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) influence the brain pharmacokinetics (PK) of their substrates by restricting their uptake or enhancing their clearance from the brain into the blood, which has consequences for their CNS pharmacodynamics (PD). Opioid drugs have been invaluable tools for understanding the PK-PD relationships of these ABC-transporters. The effects of morphine, methadone and loperamide on the CNS are modulated by P-gp. This review examines the ways in which other opioid drugs and some of their active metabolites interact with ABC transporters and suggests new mechanisms that may be involved in the variability of the response of the CNS to these drugs like carrier-mediated system belonging to the solute carrier (SLC) superfamily. Exposure to opioids may also alter the expression of ABC transporters. P-gp can be overproduced during morphine treatment, suggesting that the drug has a direct or, more likely, an indirect action. Variations in cerebral neurotransmitters during exposure to opioids and the release of cytokines during pain could be new endogenous stimuli affecting transporter synthesis. This review concludes with an analysis of the pharmacotherapeutic and clinical impacts of the interactions between ABC transporters and opioids.     

慢性肝损伤对大鼠脑内P-GP及MRP2功能和表达的影响

血脑屏障（BBB）通过其特有的紧密连接结构和多种药物外排转运体表达以达到限制外周物质进入脑内,保持脑内环境稳态作用。在BBB上主要介导药物/毒物外排的转运体是ATP结合盒（ABC）转运体,包括P-糖蛋白（P-gp）、乳腺癌耐药蛋白（BCRP）和多药耐药相关蛋白（MRPs）。ABC转运体可促进脑内毒物外排或限制毒物入脑,防止脑内毒物蓄积,但这也是多种中枢疾病治疗药物难以入脑,导致治疗失败的原因之一。近来研究显示一些疾病包括中枢神经疾病、糖尿病和肝损伤均可改变BBB上ABC转运体功能与表达,使药物脑内分布改变,导致药物中枢活性或毒性增加。概述几种神经系统疾病、糖尿病和肝损伤等疾病状态下,BBB上ABC转运体功能与表达改变及其临床意义,以期为各疾病状态下的药物-药物相互作用研究提供参考,并为新治疗策略提供思路。

     

Molecular mechanisms of drug influx and efflux transport at the blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) segregates the circulating blood from interstitial fluid in the brain and restricts drug permeability into the brain. Recent studies have revealed that the BBB exhibits not only blood-to-brain influx transport for the supply of nutrients, but also brain-to-blood efflux transport to excrete drugs and endogenous compounds. The influx transport system allows drugs to enter the brain. (L)-DOPA is transported into the brain by the large neutral amino acid transport system, system L. A cationic mu-opioid peptide analogue enters the brain by adsorptive-mediated endocytosis. In contrast, efflux transport limits the distribution of drugs in the brain. The ATP binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1) mediates the efflux transport of lipophilic drugs at the BBB by using ATP energy. Furthermore, organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) is expressed at the BBB and mediates the efflux transport of homovanillic acid, a dopamine metabolite. This efflux transport is also likely to be involved in the transport of anionic drugs such as 6-mercaptopurine and acyclovir. Clarifying the BBB transport could give us important information allowing the development of better CNS drugs and improving our understanding of the relationship between CNS diseases and BBB functions.     

Endocytosis at the blood-brain barrier: from basic understanding to drug delivery strategies

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the central nervous system (CNS) from potentially harmful xenobiotics and endogenous molecules. Anatomically, it comprises the brain microvasculature whose functionality is nevertheless influenced by associated astrocyte, pericyte and neuronal cells. The highly restrictive paracellular pathway within brain microvasculature restricts significant CNS penetration to only those drugs whose physicochemical properties afford ready penetration into hydrophobic cell membranes or are capable of exploiting endogenous active transport processes such as solute carriers or endocytosis pathways. Endocytosis at the BBB is an essential pathway by which the brain obtains its nutrients and affords communication with the periphery. The development of strategies to exploit these endocytic pathways for the purposes of drug delivery to the CNS is still an immature field although some impressive results have been documented with the targeting of particular receptors. This current article initially provides an overview of general endocytosis processes and pathways showing evidence of their functional existence within the BBB. Subsequent sections provide, in an entity-specific manner, comprehensive reviews on BBB transport investigations of endocytosis involving: transferrin and the targeting of the transferrin receptor; hormones; cytokines; cell penetrating peptides; microorganisms and toxins, and nanoparticles aimed at more effectively delivering drugs to the CNS.     

Modulation of P-glycoprotein at the blood-brain barrier: opportunities to improve central nervous system pharmacotherapy

Pharmacotherapy of central nervous system (CNS) disorders (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, brain cancer, and neuro-AIDS) is limited by the blood-brain barrier. P-glycoprotein, an ATP-driven, drug efflux transporter, is a critical element of that barrier. High level of expression, luminal membrane location, multispecificity, and high transport potency make P-glycoprotein a selective gatekeeper of the blood-brain barrier and thus a primary obstacle to drug delivery into the brain. As such, P-glycoprotein limits entry into the CNS for a large number of prescribed drugs, contributes to the poor success rate of CNS drug candidates, and probably contributes to patient-to-patient variability in response to CNS pharmacotherapy. Modulating P-glycoprotein could therefore improve drug delivery into the brain. Here we review the current understanding of signaling mechanisms responsible for the modulation of P-glycoprotein activity/expression at the blood-brain barrier with an emphasis on recent studies from our laboratories. Using intact brain capillaries from rats and mice, we have identified multiple extracellular and intracellular signals that regulate this transporter; several signaling pathways have been mapped. Three pathways are triggered by elements of the brain's innate immune response, one by glutamate, one by xenobiotic-nuclear receptor (pregnane X receptor) interactions, and one by elevated beta-amyloid levels. Signaling is complex, with several pathways sharing common signaling elements [tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1, endothelin (ET) B receptor, protein kinase C, and nitric-oxide synthase), suggesting a regulatory network. Several pathways include autocrine/paracrine elements, involving release of the proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-alpha, and the polypeptide hormone, ET-1. Finally, several steps in signaling are potential therapeutic targets that could be used to modulate P-glycoprotein activity in the clinic.     

Effects of aripiprazole and its active metabolite dehydroaripiprazole on the activities of drug efflux transporters expressed both in the intestine and at the blood-brain barrier

The inhibition potencies of aripiprazole and its active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole, on the activities of human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1/ABCB1; P‐glycoprotein), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) and multidrug resistance‐associated protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4), that are drug efflux transporters expressed both in the intestine and at the blood–brain barrier (BBB), were investigated. Aripiprazole and dehydroapripiprazole showed relatively strong inhibitory effects on human MDR1 with IC₅₀ values of 1.2 and 1.3 µm in human MDR1‐transfected Mardin‐Darby canine kidney (MDCKII‐MDR1) cells, respectively. The inhibition potencies of other atypical antipsychotics (risperidone, paliperidone, olanzapine and ziprasidone) for human MDR1 were also evaluated using the same in vitro experimental system and IC₅₀ values were more than 10‐fold higher than those of the two compounds. Aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole also had inhibition potencies against human BCRP with IC₅₀ values of 3.5 and 0.52 µm , respectively. The ratios of steady‐state unbound concentrations of aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole to their IC₅₀ values against human MDR1 and BCRP activities were less than 0.1, whereas the theoretically maximum gastrointestinal concentration of aripiprazole ([I]₂) to its IC₅₀ values was much higher than the cut‐off value of 10, proposed by the International Transporter Consortium (ITC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In contrast, aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole showed almost no inhibitory effect against the activity of human MRP4. These findings indicate that aripiprazole is unlikely to cause drug–drug interactions (DDIs) at the BBB when co‐administered with substrate drugs of these drug transporters investigated. However, interactions at the intestinal absorption process may be of concern. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

跨血脑屏障靶向递药系统研究进展

脑组织局部及相关疾病的药物治疗一直是一个难题,由于血脑屏障的存在,一方面保护了脑组织免于各种有害物质的损伤,但另一方面也增加了药物到达治疗部位的难度。随着脑部疾病发病率增加,加上其较高的致残率和致死率,药物的脑靶向递送成为目前研究的一个热点。本文主要综述近年来药物脑靶向递送相关领域的研究进展。     

The blood-brain barrier efflux transporters as a detoxifying system for the brain

The role played by efflux transport systems across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the disposition of xenobiotics in the brain is described. Several drugs and organic anions are transported across the BBB via P-glycoprotein and other carrier-mediated efflux transport systems. Studies using in vitro cultured brain capillary endothelial cells, kinetic analysis, and mdr1a gene knock-out mice have shown that P-glycoprotein, located on the BBB, restricts the entry of vincristine and quinidine to the brain. Brain microdialysis studies have demonstrated that the brain interstitial fluid (ISF) concentrations of quinolone antibiotics are significantly lower than their corresponding unbound serum concentrations. A distributed model analysis supports the finding that efflux transport systems on the BBB restrict distribution of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (DDI), and quinolone antibiotics. A brain efflux index (BEI) method has been developed to provide direct evidence of an efflux transport system for carrying substrates from the cerebrum to the circulating blood across the BBB. The BEI method revealed the existence of carrier-mediated efflux organic anion transport systems for compounds such as p-aminohippuric acid, AZT, DDI, taurocholic acid, BQ-123, and estron sulfate. Moreover, cerebral neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, L-glutamic acid, and L-aspartic acid are transported from brain to the circulating blood in the intact form via a carrier-mediated efflux transport system. The BBB not only restricts nonspecific permeation from the circulating blood to the brain, but also functions as an active efflux transport system for xenobiotics. Accordingly, the BBB plays a very important role by pumping xenobiotics and some endogenous compounds out of the brain, acting as a central nervous system (CNS)-specific detoxifying system supporting and maintaining normal cerebral function.     

血脑屏障上ABC转运体与中枢神经系统疾病相关性的研究进展

ABC转运体作为血脑屏障上一类重要的外排转运体,介导了内源性物质、药物及环境毒素的外排过程。疾病状态下,ABC转运体的功能及表达会发生改变,有些疾病会导致转运体过表达或者活性增强,引发耐药现象;还有一些疾病会引起转运体损伤,导致毒素蓄积脑内,加剧疾病的发展。将各种脑部疾病与ABC转运体之间的关系研究清楚,将有助于阐明致病机制,并可为改善脑部耐药及治疗中枢神经疾病提供思路和策略。本文就这一问题,综述了血脑屏障ABC转运体在多种疾病状态下功能与表达的变化,及这些改变对疾病产生的影响,并初步探讨了相关机制,提出了一些改善耐药和治疗疾病的策略。     

Strategies to improve drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB), together with the blood-cerebrospinal-fluid barrier, protects and regulates the homeostasis of the brain. However, these barriers also limit the transport of small-molecule and, particularly, biopharmaceutical drugs such as proteins, genes and interference RNA to the brain, thereby limiting the treatment of many brain diseases. As a result, various drug delivery and targeting strategies are currently being developed to enhance the transport and distribution of drugs into the brain. In this review, we discuss briefly the biology and physiology of the BBB as the most important barrier for drug transport to the brain and, in more detail, the possibilities for delivering large-molecule drugs, particularly genes, by receptor-mediated nonviral drug delivery to the (human) brain. In addition, the systemic and intracellular pharmacokinetics of nonviral gene delivery, together with targeted brain imaging, are reviewed briefly.     

Methods to assess drug permeability across the blood-brain barrier

Much research has focussed on the development of novel therapeutic agents to target various central nervous system disorders, however less attention has been given to determining the potential of such agents to permeate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a factor that will ultimately govern the effectiveness of these agents in man. In order to assess the potential for novel compounds to permeate the BBB, various in-vitro, in-vivo and in-silico methods may be employed. Although in-vitro models (such as primary cell culture and immortalized cell lines) are useful as a screening method and can appropriately rank compounds in order of BBB permeability, they often correlate poorly to in-vivo brain uptake due to down-regulation of some BBB-specific transporters. In-vivo models (such as the internal carotid artery single injection or perfusion, intravenous bolus injection, brain efflux index and intracerebral microdialysis) provide more accurate information regarding brain uptake, and these can be complemented with novel imaging techniques (such as magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography), although such methods are not suited to high-throughput permeability assessment. This paper reviews current methods used for assessing BBB permeability and highlights the particular advantages and disadvantages associated with each method, with a particular focus on methods suitable for moderate- to high-throughput screening.     

Physiological function of blood-brain barrier transporters as the CNS supporting and protecting system

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) segregates the circulating blood from interstitial fluid in the brain and restricts drug permeability into the brain. Our latest studies have revealed that the BBB transporters play important physiological roles in maintaining the brain environment. For an energy-storing system, the creatine transporter localized at the brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) mediates the supply of creatine from the blood to the brain. The BBB is involved in the brain-to-blood efflux transport of gamma-aminobutyric acid, and GAT2/BGT-1 mediates this transport process. BCECs also express serotonin and norepinephrine transporters. Organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3) and ASCT2 are localized at the abluminal membrane of the BCECs. OAT3 is involved in the brain-to-blood efflux of a dopamine metabolite, a uremic toxin, and thiopurine nucleobase analogues. ASCT2 plays a role in L-isomer-selective aspartic acid efflux transport at the BBB. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and small neutral amino acids undergo brain-to-blood efflux transport mediated by organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 and ATA2, respectively. The BBB transporters are regulated by various factors: ATA2 by osmolarity, taurine transporter by tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and L-cystine/L-glutamic acid exchange transporter by oxidative stress. Clarifying the physiological roles of BBB transport systems should give important information allowing the development of better central nervous system (CNS) drugs and improving our understanding of the relationship between CNS disorders and BBB function.