title: Role of the blood-brain barrier in the nutrition of the central nervous system.
abstract: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic and complex interface between the blood and the central nervous system regulating brain homeostasis. Major functions of the BBB include the transport of nutrients and protection of the brain from toxic compounds. This review summarizes the most important transport pathways contributing to the nutrition of the brain. Carrier-mediated transport selectively delivers small molecules like sugars, amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements. Large biomolecules, lipoproteins, peptide and protein hormones cross the BBB by receptor-mediated transport. Active efflux transporters participate in the brain efflux of endogenous metabolites as well as toxins, xenobiotics and drugs. Dysfunction in the transport of nutrients at the BBB is described in several neurological disorders and diseases. The BBB penetration of neuroprotective nutrients, especially plant polyphenols and alkaloids, their potential protective effect on brain endothelium and the interaction of nutraceuticals with active efflux transporters at the BBB are discussed. In vitro BBB models to examine nutrient transport are also presented.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México, D.F., México. Electronic address: camposbedollap@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campos-Bedolla
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári körút, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Fruzsina R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári körút, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veszelka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári körút, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Mária A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Deli
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010455:Peptides; D014118:Toxins, Biological
keywords: ABC transporters; Blood–brain barrier; Nutraceuticals; Nutrition; Solute carriers