P-glycoprotein and caveolin-1alpha in endothelium and astrocytes of primate brain.
P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and caveolin-1alpha are both involved in membrane transport, and studies in rodent brain show that these proteins are specifically localized at the microvascular endothelium, which forms the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In humans, P-gp is also expressed in astrocytes, especially in pathological tissue. The present study examines the cellular expression of P-gp and caveolin-1alpha in fresh-frozen brain from healthy rhesus monkey using confocal microscopy and polyclonal antibodies against either P-gp or caveolin-1alpha co-labeled for astrocytes or microvascular endothelium. P-gp and caveolin-1alpha are expressed in both astrocytes and endothelium of healthy primate brain. These findings suggest that P-gp and caveolin-1alpha share a broad spectrum of cellular expression and may play a role in drug transport within the brain in addition to the BBB.
Schlachetzki
Felix
F
Department of Medicine, UCLA, Warren Hall 13-164, 900 Veteran Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA.
Pardridge
William M
WM
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000502:physiology; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010599:Pharmacokinetics
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins