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The Role of Mfsd2a in Nervous System Diseases

Bei Huang1,2, Xihong Li2,3

  • 1Operational Management Office, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Frontiers in Neuroscience
|September 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The major facilitator superfamily domain containing protein 2a (Mfsd2a) is vital for brain health, transporting docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and maintaining the blood-brain barrier. Research highlights its role in neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and brain tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) comprises diverse membrane transporters with therapeutic potential for brain diseases.
  • Mfsd2a, an MFS member, is crucial for transporting docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), essential for brain development and integrity.
  • Mfsd2a plays a key role in maintaining blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and shows promise in treating central nervous system disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current research progress of Mfsd2a in the context of nervous system diseases.
  • To summarize the physiological functions of Mfsd2a in the pathogenesis of various neurological conditions.
  • To provide insights for future basic research and clinical applications of Mfsd2a.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of Mfsd2a research in nervous system diseases.
  • Analysis of Mfsd2a's role in maintaining BBB integrity.
  • Examination of Mfsd2a's involvement in DHA transport and its impact on brain function.

Main Results:

  • Mfsd2a-knockout mice exhibit reduced brain DHA levels, leading to neuron loss, microcephaly, and cognitive deficits.
  • Mfsd2a is implicated in inhibiting CNS endothelial cell transport and alleviating BBB injury in models of cerebral hemorrhage.
  • Mfsd2a's functions are relevant to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), Alzheimer's disease (AD), sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), microcephaly (MCPH), and intracranial tumors.

Conclusions:

  • Mfsd2a is a critical protein for brain health, BBB integrity, and DHA transport.
  • Dysfunction of Mfsd2a is associated with various neurological disorders, including neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Further research into Mfsd2a holds potential for developing novel therapeutic strategies for brain diseases.
Keywords:
ADICHMCPHMfsd2aSAEintracranial tumornervous system diseases

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