Victoria Akerstrom

HIV-1 protein gp120 crosses the blood-brain barrier: Role of adsorptive endocytosis

HIV-1 infects the brain and leads to AIDS dementia complex. The viral coat glycoprotein, gp120, may facilitate the passage of HIV-1 and HIV-infected immune cells across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Since the endothelial cells of the BBB do not possess the CD4 or galactosylceramide binding sites used by gp120 to induce HIV-1 uptake into other cell types, how gp120 mediates entry into brain is unknown. We postulate that gp120 crosses the BBB and does so by acting as a weak lectin to induce adsorptive endocytosis (AE) in a fashion similar to other glycoproteins like wheatgerm agglutinin (WGA). We found in vivo that gp120 crosses the BBB and its passage is enhanced 18.7-fold by WGA. In vitro studies confirm that WGA enhances uptake of gp120 by brain endothelia; most of the uptake is membrane-associated, as expected in AE. Uptake is not dependent on clatharin, caveolae, calcium channels, or endosomal acidification. Our results suggest that gp120 crosses the BBB and does so by acting as a lectin to induce AE.

Nonsaturable entry of neuropeptide Y into brain

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is found and is active both in the periphery and brain, but its crossing of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in either direction has not been measured. We used multiple time-regression analysis to determine that radioactively labeled NPY injected intravenously entered the brain much faster than albumin, with an influx constant of 2.0 × 10-4ml ⋅ g ⋅ -1 ⋅ min-1. However, this rate of entry was not significantly changed by injection of 10 μg/mouse of excess NPY, by leptin, or by food deprivation. HPLC showed that most of the NPY entering the brain was intact, and capillary depletion with and without washout showed that the NPY did not remain bound to endothelial cells or associated with vascular elements. Perfusion in a blood-free solution eliminated binding to serum proteins as an explanation for the lack of saturation. Efflux of labeled NPY from the brain occurred at the same rate as albumin, reflecting the normal rate of reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid. Thus NPY can readily enter the brain from blood by diffusion across the BBB.

Validity of multiple-time regression analysis in measurement of tritiated and iodinated leptin crossing the blood-brain barrier: meaningful controls

Multiple-time regression analysis has been used to study the influx of radiolabeled peptides and polypeptides across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study used both tritiated and iodinated leptin to clarify several issues associated with these measurements. Recombinant murine leptin was radiolabeled with 3H by derivatization or with 125I by the iodobead method and each studied separately in mice. Intact 3H-leptin had a higher apparent influx rate from blood to brain than did intact 125I-leptin, correlating with its higher proportion of reversible association with the capillary lumen that would misleadingly appear to reflect entry. Yet the majority of 3H-leptin and 125I-leptin reached brain parenchyma. There was no significant difference in the influx rate between cerebral cortex and the subcortical regions, thus ruling out a predominant contribution of simple diffusion through the circumventricular organs or choroid plexuses outside the BBB. The influx of radiolabeled leptin, especially 125I-leptin, was decreased by excess unlabeled leptin, supporting the presence of a saturable transport system for leptin at the BBB. To identify the specificity of the transport system and determine whether it is shared by 3H-leptin and 125I-leptin, these radioactively labeled leptins were heat-denatured. Denaturation had no effect on the fast influx of 3H-leptin, but abolished the entry of 125I-leptin into brain; excess denatured leptin failed to inhibit the influx of either 3H-leptin or 125I-leptin. This indicates that the conformation of 125I-leptin is similar to that of native unlabeled leptin, so that iodination would be the better choice for investigating the interaction of leptin with the BBB. However, 3H-leptin can use the same transport system, as shown by inhibition of its influx by unlabeled leptin, whereas the derivatization procedure altered its biophysical properties such that its non-saturated influx was greatly enhanced. Finally, the rapid influx of radioactively labeled leptin contrasted greatly with that of the reference compounds 99mTc-albumin and 3H-inulin which had no significant penetration of the BBB. Thus, with additional considerations such as stability and interactions with the vasculature, multiple-time regression analysis is sensitive and selective for study of the penetration of peptides across the BBB.

Glucose and Insulin Increase the Transport of Leptin through the Blood-Brain Barrier in Normal Mice but Not in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Mice

Since fasting is one of the few factors found to change the rate of entry of leptin into brain, we used multiple-time regression analysis to study the effects of pretreatment with glucose or insulin on leptin transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Two hours after intraperitoneal injection of glucose (3 g/kg), there was a statistically significant increase in the entry rate (Ki) of leptin in fasted (from 4.91 ± 0.70 × 10–4 ml/g min to 9.03 ± 1.00 × 10–4 ml/g min) but not (p = 0.15) in nonfasted normal (from 4.90 ± 1.21 × 10–4 ml/g min to 6.42 ± 1.79 × 10–4 ml/g min) or fasted streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic mice (from 4.043 ± 0.959 × 10–4 ml/g min to 5.395 ± 1.355 × 10–4 ml/g min). Insulin (10 U/kg) increased leptin influx in fasted (from 4.77 ± 0.26 × 10–4 ml/g min to 10.6 ± 0.15 × 10–4 ml/g min at 0.5 h) and nonfasted (from 4.64 ± 0.75 × 10–4 ml/g min to 7.46 ± 1.48 × 10–4 ml/g min at 0.5 h) normal mice, but not in STZ-diabetic mice deficient in insulin (and leptin), even though basal concentrations of glucose were similarly increased in the nonfasted normal and STZ-treated mice. Moreover, the basal rate of leptin influx was the same in overnight fasted normal mice, nonfasted normal mice and STZ-diabetic mice. The results indicate that glucose and insulin can increase leptin transport, but they probably are not the principal factors responsible for the regulatory effect of the BBB on leptin entry into the brain.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor does not enter normal mouse brain

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is produced both in the central nervous system (CNS) and the periphery. Effective in ameliorating neurodegeneration in several animal models of CNS disease, its promise as a therapeutic agent would be greatly enhanced if it readily crossed the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in unmodified form. Here, we used the sensitive techniques of multiple-time regression analysis and ex-vivo perfusion in blood-free buffer to examine the entry of (125)I-GDNF into mouse brain. The integrity of GDNF in blood and brain was examined by high performance liquid chromatography and the physicochemical properties determining permeability were measured by octanol/buffer partition coefficient and hydrogen bonding. The efflux of (125)I-GDNF was determined to test for the presence of a bidirectional transport system. The results show that (125)I-GDNF differs from other peptides and polypeptides in that it does not enter brain any faster than (99m)Tc-albumin, an effect that cannot be explained by degradation, rapid efflux, protein binding, or inadequate lipophilicity. Thus, GDNF shows a different type of interaction with the BBB. In normal mice, the BBB functions as a substantial physical barrier; in pathological or traumatic situations when the barrier is partially disrupted, the lack of restriction by a saturable transport system could make GDNF a suitable candidate for peripheral delivery in promoting neuroregeneration.

Activation of urocortin transport into brain by leptin

There are several transport systems for peptides and polypeptides at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) which facilitate the passage of bioactive substances from blood to brain or from brain to blood. Nonetheless, it would be a novel concept for one peptide or polypeptide to activate the transport of another peptide with a similar function but unrelated structure. In this study, we report the first observation of such a phenomenon: activation of a urocortin transport system at the BBB by leptin. Urocortin, a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-related neuropeptide, is a more potent suppressor of food intake than leptin or CRF when injected peripherally. Radiolabeled urocortin ((125)I-urocortin) was used for these in vivo studies in mice; it remained stable and intact during the experimental period. Unlike CRF, urocortin was not saturably transported out of the brain. There was no substantial entry of (125)I-urocortin into brain as determined by sensitive multiple-time regression analysis after iv bolus injection. Addition of leptin, however, caused a dose-related increase in the influx of (125)I-urocortin and greatly facilitated its entry into brain parenchyma; this effect disappeared at higher doses of leptin. Moreover, in the presence of an activating dose of leptin, the entry of (125)I-urocortin into brain was saturable. The results indicate that the presence of leptin contributes to the potent satiety effects of urocortin after peripheral administration. Thus, the action of leptin in the periphery extends beyond its direct passage across the BBB and involves acute modulation of an inert transport system. We believe that these findings have broad physiological implications and indicate a unique function of the BBB as a regulatory interface.

Fasting, but not adrenalectomy, reduces transport of leptin into the brain.

Food deprivation and adrenalectomy are associated with low concentrations of leptin in blood and the absence of obesity. Because leptin is known to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by a saturable transport system, we examined whether fasting and adrenalectomy (ADX) also act at the BBB. Multiple-time regression analysis showed that fasting, but not ADX, significantly decreased the entry of leptin into mouse brain. After 3 days of food deprivation, the influx of leptin became indistinguishable from that of the vascular control (albumin); 5 h of refeeding significantly reversed this reduced rate of influx. Thus, the results indicate that the BBB provides a dynamic site for the regulation of physiological processes involving leptin.

Differential Interactions of Urocortin/Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Peptides with the Blood-Brain Barrier

The two newest members of the urocortin (UCN)/corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family of peptides – UCN II and UCN III – bind to the CRH-2 receptor, suppress feeding, and are expressed in the periphery as well as the brain. We used several sensitive techniques to examine their interactions with the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Of the four known peptides in this family, each interacts with the BBB differently. UCN I barely enters the brain from blood unless its latent saturable influx system is activated by leptin or pretreatment with glucose. However, neither leptin nor glucose affected the entry of intact UCN II. UCN II reached brain paranchyma at a moderate rate that was not self-inhibited or cross-inhibited by UCN/CRH peptides. The apparent, but misleading, rapid influx of UCN III (stresscopin) could be explained by degradation at the BBB itself. Influx of CRH into brain was slower than UCN II but faster than UCN I; it was inhibited by excess CRH but not by excess UCN I, II, III, or leptin. CRH is the only member of this family to have a saturable efflux system out of the brain. Determination of hydrogen bonding, newly applied here to ingestive peptides, was not helpful in explaining these differential interactions of the UCN peptides with the BBB.

Entry of CART into brain is rapid but not inhibited by excess CART or leptin

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is a new anorectic peptide found in the brain and periphery. It is closely associated with leptin, an anorectic agent saturably transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Using multiple time-regression analysis, we found that CART has a rapid rate of entry into brain from blood. However, there was no self-inhibition with CART, even when perfused in blood-free buffer or in fasted mice, showing a lack of saturation. HPLC showed that at least 58% of the injected CART reached brain tissue in intact form, and capillary depletion with and without washout showed that the CART was not bound to endothelial cells or adherent to vascular components. There was no evidence for an efflux system out of the brain for CART. Thus CART can cross the BBB from blood to brain, but its rapid rate of entry is not inhibited by excess CART or leptin.Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is a new anorectic peptide found in the brain and periphery. It is closely associated with leptin, an anorectic agent saturably transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Using multiple time-regression analysis, we found that CART has a rapid rate of entry into brain from blood. However, there was no self-inhibition with CART, even when perfused in blood-free buffer or in fasted mice, showing a lack of saturation. HPLC showed that at least 58% of the injected CART reached brain tissue in intact form, and capillary depletion with and without washout showed that the CART was not bound to endothelial cells or adherent to vascular components. There was no evidence for an efflux system out of the brain for CART. Thus CART can cross the BBB from blood to brain, but its rapid rate of entry is not inhibited by excess CART or leptin.

Neuregulin‐1‐β1 enters brain and spinal cord by receptor‐mediated transport

Proteins of the neuregulin (NRG) family play important regulatory roles in neuronal survival and synaptic activity. NRG‐1‐β1 has particular potential as a therapeutic agent because it enhances myelination of neurites in spinal cord explants. In this study, we determined the permeation of NRG‐1‐β1 across the blood‐brain and blood–spinal cord barriers (BBB and BSCB respectively). Intact radioactively labeled NRG‐1‐β1 had a saturable and relatively rapid influx rate from blood to the CNS in mice. Capillary depletion studies showed that NRG‐1‐β1 entered the parenchyma of the brain and spinal cord rather than being trapped in the capillaries that compose the BBB. The possible mechanism of receptor‐mediated transport was shown by the ability of antibodies to erbB3 and erbB4 receptors to inhibit the influx. Lipophilicity, less important for such saturable transport mechanisms, was measured by the octanol : buffer partition coefficient and found to be low. The results indicate that NRG‐1‐β1 enters spinal cord and brain by a saturable receptor‐mediated mechanism, which provides the opportunity for possible therapeutic manipulation at the BBB level.