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[The blood-brain barrier: recent insights]
1Division de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie Cliniques, Departement de Médecine, Hôpital Beaumont CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. thierry.buclin@chuv.hospvd.ch
Revue Medicale Suisse
|May 19, 2005
Summary
The blood-brain barrier actively controls brain chemical access via transporters, not just passive filtration. Inhibiting these transporters can enhance drug delivery for treating brain disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is not a passive barrier but a dynamic interface.
- It regulates the passage of molecules into the brain through active transport mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the active role of the blood-brain barrier in regulating brain compound concentrations.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of modulating BBB transporters for drug delivery and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the interplay between cerebro-spinal fluid turnover and active transporter systems.
- Analyzed the effects of transporter inhibition on drug penetration and brain concentrations.
Main Results:
- Selective uptake and expulsion by drug carriers actively limit molecular access to brain tissue.
- Inhibiting transporters can increase brain penetration, impacting drug interactions and therapeutic efficacy.
- Genetic variations in transporters influence individual drug exposure.
Conclusions:
- Modulating blood-brain barrier transporters offers a strategy for enhancing the delivery of various therapeutic agents.
- Understanding transporter function is crucial for neuro-psychopharmacology and personalized medicine.