Endomorphins exit the brain by a saturable efflux system at the basolateral surface of cerebral endothelial cells.
Endomorphin-1 (EM-1) and endomorphin-2 (EM-2) are two highly selective mu-opiate receptor agonists. We recently demonstrated that EM-1 and EM-2 have a saturable transport system from brain-to-blood in vivo. Since the endothelial cells are the main component of the non-fenestrated microvessels of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), we examined whether these endogenous tetrapeptides have a saturable transport system in cultured cerebral endothelial cells. EM-1 and EM-2 binding and transport were studied in a transwell system in which primary mouse endothelial cells were co-cultured with rat glioma cells. We found that binding of both endomorphins was greater on the basolateral than the apical cell surface. Flux of EM-1 and EM-2 occurred predominantly in the basolateral to apical direction, each showing self-inhibition with an excess of the respective endomorphin. Transport was not influenced by the addition of the P-glycoprotein inhibitor, cyclosporin A. Neither the mu-opiate receptor agonist DAMGO nor the delta-opiate receptor agonist DPDPE had any effect on the transport. Thus, the results show that a saturable transport system for EM-1 and EM-2 occurs at the level of endothelial cells of the BBB, and unlike beta-endorphin and morphine, P-glycoprotein is not needed for the brain-to-blood transport. Cross-inhibition of the transport of each endomorphin by the other suggests a shared transport system that is different from mu- or delta-opiate receptors. As endormorphins are mainly produced in the CNS, the presence of the efflux system at the BBB could play an important role in pain modulation and neuroendocrine control.
Somogyvari-Vigh
Aniko
A
Tulane University Department of Medicine and VA Medical Center, 1601 Perdido Street, 8F165, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. avigh@tulane.edu
Kastin
Abba J
AJ
Liao
Jie
J
Zadina
James E
JE
Pan
Weihong
W
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D009842:Oligopeptides; C105293:endomorphin 1; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; C105294:endomorphin 2