Apical-to-Basolateral Transport of Amyloid-β Peptides through Blood-Brain Barrier Cells is Mediated by the Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-Products and is Restricted by P-Glycoprotein

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Candela, Pietra^{a; b; c} | Gosselet, Fabien^{a; b; c; *} | Saint-Pol, Julien^{a; b; c} | Sevin, Emmanuel^{a; b; c} | Boucau, Marie-Christine^{a; b; c} | Boulanger, Eric^{d; e} | Cecchelli, Roméo^{a; b; c} | Fenart, Laurence^{a; b; c}

Affiliations: [a] Univ Lille Nord de France, Lille, France | [b] UArtois, LBHE, Lens, France | [c] IMPRT-IFR114, Lille, France | [d] Department of Vascular Aging Biology, Medical School, Lille, France | [e] Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Dr. Fabien Gosselet, Université d'Artois, Laboratoire de Physiopathologie de la Barrière Hémato-encéphalique, EA 2465, IMPRT 114, Faculté Jean Perrin, Rue Jean Souvraz, S.P. 18, F-62300 Lens, France. Tel.: +33 3 21 79 17 80; Fax: +33 3 21 79 17 36; E-mail: fabien.gosselet@univ-artois.fr.

Abstract: Several studies have highlighted the close relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and alterations in the bidirectional transport of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) that compose the BBB express the receptors and transporters that enable this transport process. There is significant in vivo evidence to suggest that P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) restrict Aβ peptides entry into the brain, whereas the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) seems to mediate apical-to-basolateral passage across the BBB. However, deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying these in vivo processes requires further in vitro characterization. Using an in vitro BBB model and specific competition experiments against RAGE, we have observed a significant decrease in apical-to-basolateral (but not basolateral-to-apical) transport of Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 peptides through BCECs. This transport is a caveolae-dependent process and fits with the apical location of RAGE observed in confocal microscopy experiments. Inhibition of P-gp and BCRP using different inhibitors increases transport of Aβ peptides suggesting that these efflux pumps are involved in Aβ peptide transport at the BCECs level. Taken as a whole, these results demonstrate the involvement of the caveolae-dependent transcytosis of Aβ peptides through the BBB in a RAGE-mediated transport process, reinforcing the hypothesis whereby this receptor is a potential drug target in AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-β peptide, BCRP, blood-brain barrier, brain capillary endothelial cells, caveolae, P-gp, RAGE

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-100462

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 849-859, 2010