scholarly journals Disease-Induced Modulation of Drug Transporters at the Blood–Brain Barrier Level

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3742
Author(s):  
Sweilem B. Al Rihani ◽  
Lucy I. Darakjian ◽  
Malavika Deodhar ◽  
Pamela Dow ◽  
Jacques Turgeon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Drug Transporters ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Drug Distribution ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Protective Function ◽  
Transporter Protein ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective and restrictive semipermeable network of cells and blood vessel constituents. All components of the neurovascular unit give to the BBB its crucial and protective function, i.e., to regulate homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS) by removing substances from the endothelial compartment and supplying the brain with nutrients and other endogenous compounds. Many transporters have been identified that play a role in maintaining BBB integrity and homeostasis. As such, the restrictive nature of the BBB provides an obstacle for drug delivery to the CNS. Nevertheless, according to their physicochemical or pharmacological properties, drugs may reach the CNS by passive diffusion or be subjected to putative influx and/or efflux through BBB membrane transporters, allowing or limiting their distribution to the CNS. Drug transporters functionally expressed on various compartments of the BBB involve numerous proteins from either the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) or the solute carrier (SLC) superfamilies. Pathophysiological stressors, age, and age-associated disorders may alter the expression level and functionality of transporter protein elements that modulate drug distribution and accumulation into the brain, namely, drug efficacy and toxicity. This review focuses and sheds light on the influence of inflammatory conditions and diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and stroke on the expression and functionality of the BBB drug transporters, the consequential modulation of drug distribution to the brain, and their impact on drug efficacy and toxicity.

scholarly journals Neurological Diseases in Relation to the Blood–Brain Barrier

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1139-1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary A Rosenberg
Keyword(s):  
Free Radicals ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Cellular Damage ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Acute Injury ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

Disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) has an important part in cellular damage in neurological diseases, including acute and chronic cerebral ischemia, brain trauma, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, and brain infections. The neurovascular unit (NVU) forms the interface between the blood and brain tissues. During an injury, the cascade of molecular events ends in the final common pathway for BBB disruption by free radicals and proteases, which attack membranes and degrade the tight junction proteins in endothelial cells. Free radicals of oxygen and nitrogen and the proteases, matrix metalloproteinases and cyclooxgyenases, are important in the early and delayed BBB disruption as the neuroinflammatory response progresses. Opening of the BBB occurs in neurodegenerative diseases and contributes to the cognitive changes. In addition to the importance of the NVU in acute injury, angiogenesis contributes to the recovery process. The challenges to treatment of the brain diseases involve not only facilitating drug entry into the brain, but also understanding the timing of the molecular cascades to block the early NVU injury without interfering with recovery. This review will describe the molecular and cellular events associated with NVU disruption and potential strategies directed toward restoring its integrity.

Solving the challenge of the blood–brain barrier to treat infections caused by Trypanosoma evansi: evaluation of nerolidol-loaded nanospheres in mice

Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (11) ◽  
pp. 1543-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATHEUS D. BALDISSERA ◽  
CARINE F. SOUZA ◽  
ALINE A. BOLIGON ◽  
THIRSSA H. GRANDO ◽  
MARIÂNGELA F. DE SÁ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Trypanosoma Evansi ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Active Principle ◽  
Diminazene Aceturate ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

SUMMARYDespite significant advances in therapies against Trypanosoma evansi, its effective elimination from the central nervous system (CNS) remains a difficult task. The incapacity of trypanocidal drugs to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) after systemic administrations makes the brain the main refuge area for T. evansi. Nanotechnology is showing great potential to improve drug efficacy, such as nerolidol-loaded nanospheres (N-NS). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the treatment with N-NS was able to cross the BBB and to eliminate T. evansi from the CNS. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that N-NS can cross the BBB of T. evansi-infected mice, while free nerolidol (F-N) neither the trypanocidal drug diminazene aceturate (D.A.) were not detected in the brain tissue. Polymerase chain reaction revealed that 100% of the animals treated with N-NS were negatives for T. evansi in the brain tissue, while all infected animals treated with F-N or D.A. were positives. Thus, we concluded that nanotechnology improves the therapeutic efficacy of nerolidol, and enables the transport of its active principle through the BBB. In summary, N-NS treatment can eliminate the parasite from the CNS, and possesses potential to treat infected animals.

scholarly journals Human pluripotent stem cell-derived brain pericyte-like cells induce blood-brain barrier properties

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Stebbins ◽  
Benjamin D. Gastfriend ◽  
Scott G. Canfield ◽  
Ming-Song Lee ◽  
Drew Richards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Human Pluripotent Stem Cells ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Brain Pericytes ◽  
The Brain

ABSTRACTBrain pericytes play an important role in the formation and maintenance of the neurovascular unit (NVU), and their dysfunction has been implicated in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. While human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been used to model other components of the NVU including brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), astrocytes, and neurons, cells having brain pericyte-like phenotypes have not been described. In this study, we generated neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), the embryonic precursor to forebrain pericytes, from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and subsequently differentiated NCSCs to brain pericyte-like cells. The brain pericyte-like cells expressed marker profiles that closely resembled primary human brain pericytes, and they self-assembled with endothelial cells to support vascular tube formation. Importantly, the brain pericyte-like cells induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) properties in BMECs, including barrier enhancement and reduction of transcytosis. Finally, brain pericyte-like cells were incorporated with iPSC-derived BMECs, astrocytes, and neurons to form an isogenic human NVU model that should prove useful for the study of the BBB in CNS health, disease, and therapy.

scholarly journals Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms as Tools for Drug Screening in Neuropathologies Associated with Blood–Brain Barrier Alterations

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 916
Author(s):  
Cristina Elena Staicu ◽  
Florin Jipa ◽  
Emanuel Axente ◽  
Mihai Radu ◽  
Beatrice Mihaela Radu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Lab On A Chip ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Pharmacological Screening ◽  
The Brain

Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) and organ-on-a-chip (OOC) devices are highly versatile platforms that enable miniaturization and advanced controlled laboratory functions (i.e., microfluidics, advanced optical or electrical recordings, high-throughput screening). The manufacturing advancements of LOCs/OOCs for biomedical applications and their current limitations are briefly discussed. Multiple studies have exploited the advantages of mimicking organs or tissues on a chip. Among these, we focused our attention on the brain-on-a-chip, blood–brain barrier (BBB)-on-a-chip, and neurovascular unit (NVU)-on-a-chip applications. Mainly, we review the latest developments of brain-on-a-chip, BBB-on-a-chip, and NVU-on-a-chip devices and their use as testing platforms for high-throughput pharmacological screening. In particular, we analyze the most important contributions of these studies in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and their relevance in translational personalized medicine.

scholarly journals Pathology of the neurovascular unit in leukodystrophies

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parand Zarekiani ◽  
Marjolein Breur ◽  
Nicole I. Wolf ◽  
Helga E. de Vries ◽  
Marjo S. van der Knaap ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Aquaporin 4 ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Brain

AbstractThe blood–brain barrier is a dynamic endothelial cell barrier in the brain microvasculature that separates the blood from the brain parenchyma. Specialized brain endothelial cells, astrocytes, neurons, microglia and pericytes together compose the neurovascular unit and interact to maintain blood–brain barrier function. A disturbed brain barrier function is reported in most common neurological disorders and may play a role in disease pathogenesis. However, a comprehensive overview of how the neurovascular unit is affected in a wide range of rare disorders is lacking. Our aim was to provide further insights into the neuropathology of the neurovascular unit in leukodystrophies to unravel its potential pathogenic role in these diseases. Leukodystrophies are monogenic disorders of the white matter due to defects in any of its structural components. Single leukodystrophies are exceedingly rare, and availability of human tissue is unique. Expression of selective neurovascular unit markers such as claudin-5, zona occludens 1, laminin, PDGFRβ, aquaporin-4 and α-dystroglycan was investigated in eight different leukodystrophies using immunohistochemistry. We observed tight junction rearrangements, indicative of endothelial dysfunction, in five out of eight assessed leukodystrophies of different origin and an altered aquaporin-4 distribution in all. Aquaporin-4 redistribution indicates a general astrocytic dysfunction in leukodystrophies, even in those not directly related to astrocytic pathology or without prominent reactive astrogliosis. These findings provide further evidence for dysfunction in the orchestration of the neurovascular unit in leukodystrophies and contribute to a better understanding of the underlying disease mechanism.

scholarly journals Brain Barriers and brain fluids research in 2020 and the fluids and barriers of the CNS thematic series on advances in in vitro modeling of the blood–brain barrier and neurovascular unit

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard F. Keep ◽  
Hazel C. Jones ◽  
Lester R. Drewes
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
In Vitro Modeling ◽  
Disease States ◽  
System Disease ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Brain Barriers

AbstractThis editorial discusses advances in brain barrier and brain fluid research in 2020. Topics include: the cerebral endothelium and the neurovascular unit; the choroid plexus; the meninges; cerebrospinal fluid and the glymphatic system; disease states impacting the brain barriers and brain fluids; drug delivery to the brain. This editorial also highlights the recently completed Fluids Barriers CNS thematic series entitled, ‘Advances in in vitro modeling of the blood–brain barrier and neurovascular unit’. Such in vitro modeling is progressing rapidly.

scholarly journals Gestational Hypoxia and Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability: Early Origins of Cerebrovascular Dysfunction Induced by Epigenetic Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio A. Herrera ◽  
Alejandro González-Candia
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Fetal Brain ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Normal Brain ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Intrauterine Hypoxia ◽  
Bbb Permeability ◽  
The Brain

Fetal chronic hypoxia leads to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which is likely to reduce oxygen delivery to the brain and induce long-term neurological impairments. These indicate a modulatory role for oxygen in cerebrovascular development. During intrauterine hypoxia, the fetal circulation suffers marked adaptations in the fetal cardiac output to maintain oxygen and nutrient delivery to vital organs, known as the “brain-sparing phenotype.” This is a well-characterized response; however, little is known about the postnatal course and outcomes of this fetal cerebrovascular adaptation. In addition, several neurodevelopmental disorders have their origins during gestation. Still, few studies have focused on how intrauterine fetal hypoxia modulates the normal brain development of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the IUGR neonate. The BBB is a cellular structure formed by the neurovascular unit (NVU) and is organized by a monolayer of endothelial and mural cells. The BBB regulates the entry of plasma cells and molecules from the systemic circulation to the brain. A highly selective permeability system achieves this through integral membrane proteins in brain endothelial cells. BBB breakdown and dysfunction in cerebrovascular diseases lead to leakage of blood components into the brain parenchyma, contributing to neurological deficits. The fetal brain circulation is particularly susceptible in IUGR and is proposed to be one of the main pathological processes deriving BBB disruption. In the last decade, several epigenetic mechanisms activated by IU hypoxia have been proposed to regulate the postnatal BBB permeability. However, few mechanistic studies about this topic are available, and little evidence shows controversy. Therefore, in this mini-review, we analyze the BBB permeability-associated epigenetic mechanisms in the brain exposed to chronic intrauterine hypoxia.

scholarly journals Peripheral Blood and Salivary Biomarkers of Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability and Neuronal Damage: Clinical and Applied Concepts

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damir Janigro ◽  
Damian M. Bailey ◽  
Sylvain Lehmann ◽  
Jerome Badaut ◽  
Robin O'Flynn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Traumatic Head Injury ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Gravitational Stress ◽  
Bbb Permeability ◽  
The Brain

Within the neurovascular unit (NVU), the blood–brain barrier (BBB) operates as a key cerebrovascular interface, dynamically insulating the brain parenchyma from peripheral blood and compartments. Increased BBB permeability is clinically relevant for at least two reasons: it actively participates to the etiology of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, and it enables the diagnosis of neurological disorders based on the detection of CNS molecules in peripheral body fluids. In pathological conditions, a suite of glial, neuronal, and pericyte biomarkers can exit the brain reaching the peripheral blood and, after a process of filtration, may also appear in saliva or urine according to varying temporal trajectories. Here, we specifically examine the evidence in favor of or against the use of protein biomarkers of NVU damage and BBB permeability in traumatic head injury, including sport (sub)concussive impacts, seizure disorders, and neurodegenerative processes such as Alzheimer's disease. We further extend this analysis by focusing on the correlates of human extreme physiology applied to the NVU and its biomarkers. To this end, we report NVU changes after prolonged exercise, freediving, and gravitational stress, focusing on the presence of peripheral biomarkers in these conditions. The development of a biomarker toolkit will enable minimally invasive routines for the assessment of brain health in a broad spectrum of clinical, emergency, and sport settings.

scholarly journals Multicellular 3D Neurovascular Unit Model for Assessing Hypoxia and Neuroinflammation Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Goodwell Nzou ◽  
Robert T. Wicks ◽  
Nicole R. VanOstrand ◽  
Gehad A. Mekky ◽  
Stephanie A. Seale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokine ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Dynamic Component ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
The Brain

AbstractThe blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic component of the brain-vascular interface that maintains brain homeostasis and regulates solute permeability into brain tissue. The expression of tight junction proteins between adjacent endothelial cells and the presence of efflux proteins prevents entry of foreign substances into the brain parenchyma. BBB dysfunction, however, is evident in many neurological disorders including ischemic stroke, trauma, and chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, major contributors to BBB dysfunction are not well understood. Here, we employed a multicellular 3D neurovascular unit organoid containing human brain microvascular endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and neurons to model the effects of hypoxia and neuroinflammation on BBB function. Organoids were cultured in hypoxic chamber with 0.1% O2 for 24 hours. Organoids cultured under this hypoxic condition showed increased permeability, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and increased oxidative stress. The anti-inflammatory agents, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, demonstrated protection by reducing inflammatory cytokine levels in the organoids under hypoxic conditions. Through the assessment of a free radical scavenger and an anti-inflammatory endocannabinoid, we hereby report the utility of the model in drug development for drug candidates that may reduce the effects of ROS and inflammation under disease conditions. This 3D organoid model recapitulates characteristics of BBB dysfunction under hypoxic physiological conditions and when exposed to exogenous neuroinflammatory mediators and hence may have potential in disease modeling and therapeutic development.

scholarly journals A review: Brain specific delivery

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 068-079
Author(s):  
Deepti R. Damle ◽  
Dr. Archana D. Kajale ◽  
Dr. Madhuri A. Channawar ◽  
Dr. Shilpa R. Gawande
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Drug Distribution ◽  
Drug Dose ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Brain Targeting ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Clinical Benefits ◽  
The Brain

The overall prevalence rate for CNS pathology has demonstrated that approximately more than one billion people are undergoing from disorders of central nervous system. The most distressing fact about delivery of drugs to the CNS is the presence of blood brain barrier that have a tendency to impair the drug distribution and denotes the major impediment for the development of CNS drugs. Neuropeptides and many drugs which are hydrophilic in nature possibly will encompass the intricacy while passing the blood brain barrier. The net amount of delivered drug (medicinal agent) and its capability to gain access to the pertinent target sites are the main considering points for CNS drug development. Brain targeted drug delivery to the brain is valuable in the diseases of brain. (Alzheimer’s diseases, meningitis, brain abscess, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neuromylitis optica, sleeping disorders etc). Whereby high concentration can be gained with lesser side effects that occur because of release of drugs. The simplest method of targeting to brain is to obtain a therapeutic. Brain targeting systems to remain in the brain region by crossing BBB and hence significantly helps in increasing therapeutic activity. There is an increasing attraction towards brain targeting and sue to its immense application in the treatment of various CNS diseases because mostly drugs are unable to cross the BBB. This review article discuss one of the novel technology “nanotechnology” and other aspects that has been developed to target the brain and possess various clinical benefits such as reduced drug dose, less side effects, non-invasive routed, and better patient compliance.

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