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A Novel Relationship Between Creatine Transport at the Blood-Brain and Blood-Retinal Barriers, Creatine Biosynthesis, And its Use for Brain and Retinal Energy Homeostasis

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Creatine and Creatine Kinase in Health and Disease

Part of the book series: Subcellular Biochemistry ((SCBI,volume 46))

Abstract

Evidence is increasing that the creatine/phosphocreatine shuttle system plays an essential role in energy homeostasis in the brain and retina to ensure proper development and function. Thus, our understanding of the mechanism of creatine supply and creatine usage in the brain and retina and of creatine supplementation in patients with creatine deficiency syndromes is an important step towards improved therapeutic strategies for brain and retinal disorders. Our recent research provides novel molecular-anatomical evidence that,(i) at the blood-brain barrier and the inner blood-retinal barrier, the creatine transporter (CRT/SLC6A8) functions as a major pathway for supplying creatine to the brain and retina, and that (ii) local creatine is preferentially synthesized in the glial cells, e.g., oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and Müller cells, in the brain and retina. Thus, the blood-brain barrier and inner blood-retinal barrier play important roles not only in supplying energy sources (glucose and lactate), but also in supplying an energy ‘buffer’ (creatine). These findings lead to the novel insight that the creatine/phosphocreatine shuttle system is based on an intricate relationship between the blood-brain barrier, inner blood-retinal barrier, glia, and neurons (photoreceptor cells) to maintain and ensure energy homeostasis in the brain and retina

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan

    Masanori Tachikawa & Ken-Ichi Hosoya

  2. Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan

    Sumio Ohtsuki & Tetsuya Terasaki

  3. SORST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan

    Sumio Ohtsuki & Tetsuya Terasaki

Authors
  1. Masanori Tachikawa
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  2. Ken-Ichi Hosoya
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  3. Sumio Ohtsuki
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  4. Tetsuya Terasaki
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Gajja S. Salomons

  2. DSM Nutritional Products Ltd, Basel, Switzerland

    Markus Wyss

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Tachikawa, M., Hosoya, KI., Ohtsuki, S., Terasaki, T. (2007). A Novel Relationship Between Creatine Transport at the Blood-Brain and Blood-Retinal Barriers, Creatine Biosynthesis, And its Use for Brain and Retinal Energy Homeostasis. In: Salomons, G.S., Wyss, M. (eds) Creatine and Creatine Kinase in Health and Disease. Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 46. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6486-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6486-9_5

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