Diesel exhaust particles induce oxidative stress, proinflammatory signaling, and P-glycoprotein up-regulation at the blood-brain barrier.
Here, we report that diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), a major constituent of urban air pollution, affect blood-brain barrier function at the tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Isolated rat brain capillaries exposed to DEPs showed increased expression and transport activity of the key drug efflux transporter, P-glycoprotein (6 h EC(50) was approximately 5 microg/ml). Up-regulation of P-glycoprotein was abolished by blocking transcription or protein synthesis. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase or pretreatment of capillaries with radical scavengers ameliorated DEP-induced P-glycoprotein up-regulation, indicating a role for reactive oxygen species in signaling. DEP exposure also increased brain capillary tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. DEP-induced P-glycoprotein up-regulation was abolished when TNF-receptor 1 (TNF-R1) was blocked and was not evident in experiments with capillaries from TNF-R1 knockout mice. Inhibition of JNK, but not NF-kappaB, blocked DEP-induced P-glycoprotein up-regulation, indicating a role for AP-1 in the signaling pathway. Consistent with this, DEPs increased phosphorylation of c-jun. Together, our results show for the first time that a component of air pollution, DEPs, alters blood-brain barrier function through oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine production. These experiments disclose a novel blood-brain barrier signaling pathway, with clear implications for environmental toxicology, CNS pathology, and the pharmacotherapy of CNS disorders.
Hartz
Anika M S
AM
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Chemistry, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Bauer
Björn
B
Block
Michelle L
ML
Hong
Jau-Shyong
JS
Miller
David S
DS
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; C506236:Tnfrsf1a protein, mouse; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; C488842:Cybb protein, mouse; C500593:Cybb protein, rat; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases