Nutrient transport systems in brain: 40 years of progress

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Significant advancements in neurochemical and molecular techniques over 40 years have enhanced understanding of nutrient transport into the brain.
• Nutrient homeostasis in the brain is achieved through specialized transporters, often specific to individual substances or groups of related compounds.
• Focus on crucial nutrients like glucose, ascorbic acid, and folates due to recent research findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent progress in understanding the transport of key nutrients across the blood-brain barrier and choroid plexus.
• To elucidate the mechanisms of nutrient homeostasis within the brain.
• To highlight how new knowledge on nutrient transport can lead to clinical predictions and treatments for neurological disorders.

Main Methods:

• Review of neurochemical and molecular biologic techniques.
• Analysis of 'knock down' and 'knockout' models in mice and humans for specific nutrient transporters.
• Synthesis of existing literature on glucose, ascorbic acid, and folate transport.

Main Results:

• Detailed understanding of specific transporters for essential nutrients like glucose, ascorbic acid, and folates.
• Insights into the high intracellular requirements of nutrients, such as ascorbic acid in neurons.
• Identification of distinct transport systems for related nutrients (e.g., biotin, lipoic acid, pantothenic acid).

Conclusions:

• New knowledge on nutrient transport mechanisms deepens our understanding of brain physiology.
• This understanding facilitates the development of predictive models for neurological conditions.
• Clinical applications include the potential treatment of previously intractable neurological disorders through targeted nutrient therapies.