A new in vitro model for blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier transport studies: an immortalized choroid plexus epithelial cell line derived from the tsA58 SV40 large T-antigen gene transgenic rat

The blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) plays a key role in the influx and efflux transport of drugs and endogenous substrates in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To clarify the molecular mechanism of the BCSFB transport system, a new in vitro BCSFB model, i.e. an immortalized rat choroid plexus epithelial cell line (TR-CSFB), has been established from transgenic rats harboring a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. TR-CSFB cells grow well at 33 degrees C because of activation of the temperature-sensitive large T-antigen. These cells have a polygonal epithelial cell morphology and express typical choroid plexus epithelial cell markers, such as transthyretin (TTR) and Na+, K+ -ATPase, as well as the transporters, system A and ABCC1/mrp1. The localization of Na+, K+ -ATPase, and the transport direction of system A are polarized in TR-CSFB cells as is the case in vivo. TR-CSFB cells exhibit L-proline and L-glutamic acid uptake activities and may reflect the CSF-to-blood efflux transport functions involving these amino acids in vivo. Using TR-CSFB cells, we found for the first time that oatp3 is expressed at the BCSFB. TR-CSFB cells appear to be a useful in vitro model of the BCSFB for the study of drug transport, BCSFB transporters, and the regulation of BCSFB functions.     

Characterization of the Amino Acid Transport of New Immortalized Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cell Lines: A Novel In Vitro System for Investigating Transport Functions at the Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier

Purpose. To establish and characterize a choroid plexus epithelial cell line (TR-CSFB) from a new type of transgenic rat harboring the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (ts SV 40) large T-antigen gene (Tg rat).Methods. Choroid plexus epithelial cells were isolated from the Tg rat and cultured on a collagen-coated dish at 37°C during the first period of 3 days. Cells were subsequently cultured at 33°C to activate large T-antigen. At the third passage, cells were cloned by colony formation and isolated from other cells using a penicillin cup.Results. Five immortalized cell lines of choroid plexus epithelial cells (TR-CSFB 15) were obtained from two Tg rats. These cell lines had a polygonal cell morphology, expressed the typical choroid plexus epithelial cell marker, transthyretin, and possessed Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase on their apical side. TR-CSFBs cells expressed a large T-antigen and grew well at 33°C with a doubling-time of 3540 hr. [³H]-L-Proline uptake by TR-CSFB cells took place in an Na⁺-dependent, ouabain-sensitive, energy-dependent, and concentration-dependent manner. It was also inhibited by -methylaminoisobutylic acid, suggesting that system A for amino acids operates in TR-CSFB cells. When [³H]-L-proline uptake was measured using the Transwell device, the L-proline uptake rate following application to the apical side was fivefold greater than that following application to the basal side. In addition, both Na⁺-dependent and Na⁺-independent L-glutamic acid (L-Glu) uptake processes were present in TR-CSFB cells.Conclusions. Immortalized choroid plexus epithelial cell lines were successfully established from Tg rats and have the properties of choroid plexus epithelial cells, and amino acid transport activity was observed in vivo.     

Recent advances in the brain-to-blood efflux transport across the blood-brain barrier

Elucidating the details of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) transport mechanism is a very important step towards successful drug targeting to the brain and understanding what happens in the brain. Although several brain uptake methods have been developed to characterize transport at the BBB, these are mainly useful for investigating influx transport across the BBB. In 1992, P-glycoprotein was found to act as an efflux pump for anti-cancer drugs at the BBB using primary cultured bovine brain endothelial cells. In order to determine the direct efflux transport from the brain to the circulating blood of exogenous compounds in vivo, the Brain Efflux Index method was developed to characterize several BBB efflux transport systems. Recently, we have established conditionally immortalized rat (TR-BBB) and mouse (TM-BBB) brain capillary endothelial cell lines from transgenic rats and mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene to characterize the transport mechanisms at the BBB in vitro. TR-BBB and TM-BBB cells possess certain in vivo transport functions and express mRNAs for the BBB. Using a combination of newly developed in vivo and in vitro methods, we have elucidated the efflux transport mechanism at the BBB for neurosteroids, excitatory neurotransmitters, suppressive neurotransmitters, amino acids, and other organic anions to understand the physiological role played by the BBB as a detoxifying organ for the brain.     

mRna expression and transport characterization of conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell lines; a new in vitro BBB model for drug targeting

Brain capillary endothelial cell lines (TR-BBB) were established from a recently developed transgenic rat harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (ts SV 40) large T-antigen gene (Tg rat) and used to characterize the endothelial marker, transport activity, and mRNA expression of transporters and tight-junction strand proteins at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These cell lines expressed active large T-antigen and grew well at 33 degrees C with a doubling-time of about 22-31 hr, but did not grow at 39 degrees C. TR-BBBs expressed the typical endothelial marker, von Willebrand factor, and exhibited acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake activity. Although the gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity in TR-BBBs was approximately 13% of that of the brain capillary fraction of a normal rat, it was localized in the apical side, suggesting that it reflects the functional polarity of the in vivo BBB. The mRNA of tight-junction strand proteins such as claudine-5, occludin, and junctional adhesion molecule are expressed in TR-BBB13. Drug efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein, with a molecular weight of 170 kDa was expressed in all TR-BBBs and mdr 1a, mdr 1b, and mdr 2 mRNA were detected in TR-BBBs using RT-PCR. Moreover, mrp1 mRNA was expressed in all TR-BBBs. Influx transporter, GLUT-1, expressed at 55 kDa was revealed by Western blot analysis. It had 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG) uptake activity which was concentration-dependent with a Michaelis-Menten constant of 9.86 +/- 1.20 mM. The mRNA of large neutral amino acid transporter, which consists of LAT-1 and 4F2hc was expressed in TR-BBBs. In conclusion, the conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell lines (TR-BBB) had endothelial makers, expressed mRNA for tight-junction strand proteins and the influx and efflux transporters and produced GLUT-1, which is capable of 3-OMG transport activity.     

Advances in the cell biology of transport via the inner blood-retinal barrier: establishment of cell lines and transport functions

The retinal capillary endothelial cells are connected to each other by tight junctions that play a key role in permeability as the inner blood-retinal barrier (inner BRB). Thus, understanding the inner BRB transport mechanism is an important step towards drug targeting of the retina. Nevertheless, inner BRB transport studies have been very limited in number since it is not easy to use the retinal capillaries, which are very small in size, for in vitro transport studies. Conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cells (TR-iBRB), pericytes (TR-rPCT) and Müller cell lines (TR-MUL) have been established from transgenic rats harboring the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. These cell lines possess respective cell type markers and maintain certain in vivo functions. Using a combination of newly developed cell lines and in vivo studies, we have elucidated the mechanism whereby vitamin C, L-cystine, and creatine are supplied to the retina. TR-iBRB cells are also able to identify transporters and apply to study regulation of transporters under pathophysiological conditions. Furthermore, these cell lines permit the investigation of cell-to-cell interactions and the expression of inner BRB-specific genes between TR-iBRB and other cell lines.     

Potential role of ABC transporters as a detoxification system at the blood-CSF barrier

Exchange of compounds between blood and brain occurs at two barriers, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). The barrier function is mainly a result of the functionality of the cerebral endothelial cells and choroidal epithelial cells, respectively. These cell types have restricted permeability due to the presence of tight junctions between the cells. Furthermore, these cells express a broad range of transporters. So far, the BBB has been viewed as the most important barrier, especially as its surface is about 3 orders of magnitude larger than that of the BCSFB. Today, there is a shift in the appreciation of the contribution of the BCSFB. In a few recent studies, it has been shown that the BCSFB expresses two types of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, being the multidrug transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the multidrug resistance-related protein 1 (MRP1). The knowledge on the function of these transporters in the BCSFB is relatively scarce, but in general, it seems that MRP1 transport is directed towards the blood side, which makes this transporter helpful in elimination of harmful compounds from the CSF. Thereby MRP1 potentially contributes to detoxification of the brain, as a whole, as it is also expressed at the level of the BBB. P-gp, however, while also functional as an efflux pump at the BBB, has an opposite transport direction at the level of the BCSFB, towards the CSF. P-gp may therefore raise the concentration of neurotoxic P-gp substrates in the CSF. Whether this will have a significant contribution to the toxicity in the regions directly exposed to the CSF (periventricular organs) remains to be determined. Specifically, in the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus of the BCSFB, P-gp and MRP1 together serve a protective role by preventing the accumulation of their overlapping and often toxic substrates. A concerted action of P-gp and MRP1 at the choroid plexus might contribute to the maintenance of the role of the BCSFB in brain homeostasis.     

Conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines as new tools for study of the blood-placenta barrier

Syncytiotrophoblasts play an essential role in restriction of drug delivery through the blood-placenta barrier (BPB). Conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines, TR-TBTs, were established at gestational day 18 from pregnant transgenic rats (Tg-rats) harboring the temperature-sensitive SV 40 (ts SV40) large T-antigen. TR-TBTs exhibit temperature-sensitive cell growth due to the expression of SV 40 large T-antigen, and thus the cell growth can be regulated by changing the culture temperature. TR-TBTs exhibit typical properties of syncytiotrophoblast cells, such as syncytium-like morphology, the expression of cytokeratins and hormones, and polarized expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and GLUT3. TR-TBTs express in vivo influx and efflux transporters, such as taurine transporter (TauT), betaine/GABA transporter (BGT-1), amino acid transporter 2 (ATA2), organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (oatp2), organic cation/carnitine transporter (OCTN2), P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2). Moreover, TR-TBTs exhibit taurine, GABA, and DHEA-S uptake activity via TauT, BGT-1, and oatp2, respectively. Therefore, TR-TBTs can be used for the analysis of these functions and would be a good in vitro models for investigating carrier-mediated transport functions at the BPB.     

Transporter mRNA expression in a conditionally immortalized rat small intestine epithelial cell line (TR-SIE)

Small intestine epithelial cell lines (TR-SIE), which are established from the small intestine of transgenic rats harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene (tsA58 Tg rat), were used to characterize the mRNA expression of small intestine transporters. TR-SIE cells had a polygonal morphology and expressed cytokeratin protein and villin mRNA. Although the large T-antigen was strongly expressed at 33 degrees C, this was reduced at 37 and 39 degrees C. Concomitantly, the cell growth was arrested at 37 and 39 degrees C compared with that at 33 degrees C, suggesting that TR-SIE cells are conditionally immortalized cell lines. RT-PCR analysis revealed that TR-SIE cells expressed ABCB1 (mdr1a and mdr1b), ABCB4 (mdr2), ABCC2 (mrp2), ABCC6 (mrp6), ABCG1, ABCG2 (bcrp/mxr), Slc21a7 (Oatp3), Slc15a1 (PepT1), and Slc16a1 (Mct1). Conditionally immortalized rat small intestine epithelial cell lines were established from tsA58 Tg rats and expressed the mRNA of intestinal transporters.     

Evaluation of an Immortalized Retinal Endothelial Cell Line as an In Vitro Model for Drug Transport Studies Across the Blood-Retinal Barrier

Purpose. To evaluate the growth and barrier properties of an immortalized rat retinal endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB) maintained on permeable membrane for drug transport studies. Methods. TR-iBRB cells were grown on permeable membrane filters. The effect of coating material on cell growth was investigated. Transport of [¹⁴C]-3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3-OMG), AGN 194716, AGN 195127, AGN 197075, acebutolol, alprenolol, atenolol, brimonidine, carbamazepine epoxide (CBZ-E), metoprolol, nadolol, rhodamine 123, and sotalol was measured across the cultured cell layer to determine the apparent permeability coefficients (P_app). Rhodamine 123 uptake into these cells in the presence of these test compounds was evaluated. Western blot was performed to detect the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Bidirectional transport in MDR1-MDCK cell monolayers overexpressing the human P-gp was measured for AGN 197075. Results. TR-iBRB cells form confluent cell layers when grown on fibronectin-coated membrane and exhibit characteristic spindle-shaped morphology. A good correlation between P_app and cLogD (pH 7.4) of the compounds tested was observed, except for 3-OMG, AGN 197075, and rhodamine 123, which are substrates of carrier-mediated transport systems such as P-gp and a glucose transporter (GLUT1). When grown on permeable membrane, TR-iBRB cells expressed functional P-gp and GLUT1. Conclusions. TR-iBRB cells, when grown on permeable membrane, provide a useful tool for predicting permeability across the BRB. The usefulness of this model for high-throughput screening and rank ordering of drug candidates intended for the back of the eye in treatment of ocular diseases needs further characterization upon correlation with in vivo data.     

New approaches to in vitro models of blood-brain barrier drug transport

The pharmaceutical industry has been searching for an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model that preserves in vivo transporter functions in CNS drug discovery and development. The application of conditionally immortalized cell lines derived from transgenic animals harboring temperature-sensitive SV40 large T-antigen gene, is a rational and promising approach to such a workable in vitro BBB model. The established brain capillary endothelial cell lines retain the in vivo transport rate of several compounds and various forms of gene expression. Furthermore, this new approach has enabled the development of stable and reproducible co-culture models with a pericyte cell line and/or an astrocyte cell line.     

Involvement of P-Glycoprotein in the Transport of Saquinavir and Indinavir in Rat Brain Microvessel Endothelial and Microglia Cell Lines

PURPOSE: Membrane-bound efflux transporters, such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), may limit the brain entry and distribution of HIV-1 protease inhibitors and be in part responsible for HIV-1-associated dementia treatment failure. The purpose of this study was to characterize the transport properties of saquinavir and indinavir in a brain microvessel endothelial cell line and in microglia, the immune cells of the brain and primary HIV-1 cellular target. METHODS: Biochemical and transport studies were performed in an immortalized rat brain endothelial cell line (RBE4), a rat microglia cell line (MLS-9), and a P-gp overexpressing Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHRC5). RESULTS: Western blot analysis using the P-gp monoclonal antibody C219 detected a single band at approximately 170 to 180 kDa (a size previously reported for P-gp) in all cell lines. Cellular accumulation of [14C]saquinavir and [3H]indinavir by RBE4, MLS-9, and CHRC5 monolayers was significantly enhanced in the presence of P-gp inhibitors, HIV-1 protease inhibitors, the ATPase inhibitor sodium azide, and the ATP depleting agent 2',4'-dinitrophenol respectively. [14C]Saquinavir and [3H]indinavir efflux from both cell systems was rapid and significantly reduced in the presence of PSC833. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence for P-gp mediated transport of saquinavir and indinavir in RBE4 and MLS-9 and suggest that this transporter can restrict, at least in part, the permeation of HIV-1 protease inhibitors at both the brain barrier site and in brain parenchyma.     

Hypertonicity enhances GABA uptake by cultured rat retinal capillary endothelial cells

We have reported previously that taurine transporter (TauT) mediates γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a substrate in a conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2 cells). This study investigates how TauT-mediated GABA transport is regulated in TR-iBRB2 cells under hypertonic conditions. [3H]GABA uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells exposed to 12 h- to 24 h-hypertonic culture medium was significantly greater than that of isotonic culture medium. [3H]GABA uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells was Na(+)-, Cl(-)-, and concentration-dependent with a Michaelis-Menten (K(m)) constant of 3.5 mM under isotonic conditions and K(m) of 0.324 and 5.48 mM under hypertonic conditions. Under hypertonic conditions, [3H]GABA uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells was more potently inhibited by substrates of TauT, such as taurine and β-alanine, than those of GABA transporters such as GABA, nipecotic acid, and betaine. These results suggest that an unknown high-affinity GABA transport process and TauT-mediated GABA transport are enhanced under hypertonic conditions. In conclusion, hypertonicity enhances GABA uptake by cultured rat retinal capillary endothelial cells.     

Species differences of inhibitory effects on P-glycoprotein-mediated drug transport

Previously, we clarified the species differences in P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated drug transport activity using human MDR1, monkey MDR1, canine MDR1, rat MDR1a, rat MDR1b, mouse mdr1a, and mouse mdr1b transfected LLC-PK(1) cell lines. However, the species differences in the inhibitory effects on P-gp-mediated drug transport have not been clarified yet. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the species differences in the inhibitory effects of typical P-gp inhibitors, quinidine and verapamil, on P-gp-mediated drug transport using MDR1 transfected cell lines. The transcellular transport of [(3)H]daunorubicin, [(3)H]digoxin, and [mebmt-beta-(3)H]cyclosporin A across monolayers of the MDR1 transfected cells were measured in the presence or absence of P-gp inhibitors. On daunorubicin transport, the relative IC(50) value (quinidine IC(50)/verapamil IC(50)) of human P-gp was 5.25 and those from other species ranged from 0.89 to 10.70. The transport of digoxin and cyclosporin A also showed different relative IC(50) values among human, monkey, canine, rat, and mouse P-gps. The present study revealed that species differences in the inhibitory effects on P-gp-mediated drug transport should not be disregarded among human, monkey, canine, rat, and mouse. This study will provide useful information for predicting drug interactions mediated by P-gp.     

Donepezil, tacrine and α-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) inhibit choline transport by conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell lines (TR-BBB)

In the present study, we have characterized the choline transport system and examined the influence of various amine drugs on the choline transporter using a conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB) in vitro. The cell-to-medium (C/M) ratio of [3H]choline in TR-BBB cells increased time-dependently. The initial uptake rate of [3H]choline was concentration-dependent with a Michaelis-Menten value, Km, of 26.2 +/- 2.7 microM. The [3H]choline uptake into TR-BBB was Na+-independent, but was membrane potential-dependent. The [3H]choline uptake was susceptible to inhibition by hemicholinium-3, and tetraethylammonium (TEA), which are organic cation transporter substrates. Also, the uptake of [3H]choline was competitively inhibited with Ki values of 274 microM, 251 microM and 180 microM in the presence of donepezil hydrochloride, tacrine and alpha-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), respectively. These characteristics of choline transport are consistent with those of the organic cation transporter (OCT). OCT2 mRNA was expressed in TR-BBB cells, while the expression of OCT3 or choline transporter (CHT) was not detected. Accordingly, these results suggest that OCT2 is a candidate for choline transport at the BBB and may influence the BBB permeability of amine drugs.     

Involvement of reduced folate carrier 1 in the inner blood-retinal barrier transport of methyltetrahydrofolate

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of methyltetrahydrofolate (MTF) transport at the inner blood-retinal barrier (inner BRB). The characteristics and function of MTF transport at the inner BRB were examined using a conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2) as an in vitro model of the inner BRB. The [3H]MTF uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells increased with lowering extracellular pH and was Na+- and Cl--independent. The [3H]MTF uptake was concentration-dependent with a K(m) of 5.1 microM. This process was inhibited by reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1) substrates, such as methotrexate and formyltetrahydrofolate, in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 8.7 and 2.8 microM, respectively, suggesting that RFC1 mediates MTF uptake in TR-iBRB2 cells. Although both RFC1 and proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) mRNA, which are pH-sensitive folate transporters, are expressed in TR-iBRB2 cells and isolated rat retinal vascular endothelial cells, the expression level of RFC1 mRNA was 83- and 49-fold greater than that of PCFT, respectively. Taken together, the above findings are consistent with the involvement of RFC1 in the inner BRB transport of MTF.     

Usefulness and limitation of primary cultured porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells as an in vitro model to study drug transport at the blood-CSF barrier

The epithelial cells of the choroid plexus form the anatomical structure responsible for the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. Here we present our recent progress in the application of porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells in the investigation of permeability and transport properties of this tissue in vitro. Isolated cells are seeded on permeable supports where they grow to confluent monolayers. The cell differentiation is significantly increased under serum-free culture conditions, verifiable by an improvement of barrier properties and enhanced characteristics of the epithelial phenotype. We underline the importance of a tight model system for the investigation of transport processes by showing that permeability and transport properties critically depend on the electrical tightness of the monolayer. The mechanisms of vectorial transfer of micronutrients across the epithelial layer have been investigated in detail for ascorbic acid and myo-inositol transport. Additionally, we describe the transfer of organic anions and the expression of the corresponding transport proteins in vitro. The model system was applied to determine permeation rates of various drugs into the CSF. In conclusion our porcine in vitro model of the blood-CSF barrier provides a reliable system to study the transport characteristics of the choroid plexus epithelium and to probe the passage of drugs.