Summary
The functionality of isolated brain microvessels — used as anin vitro model of the blood-brain barrier — can be influenced by interaction with cationic proteins. The various polylysines (Mr ranging from 0.9 to 180 kDa) tested affected the activity of both the Na+-dependent (“A”) and the Na+-independent (“L”) systems for neutral amino acid transport. Exposure to the 180 kDa polylysine caused a conspicuous inhibition of both transport systems, associated to an increased passive permeability. There was a constant, Mr-dependent, inhibition of the the L-system-mediated uptake of hydrophobic neutral amino acids. The activity of the A-system was enhanced, upon exposure to polymers larger than 22 kDa reaching its peak at 68 kDa and and declining at higher Mr values. The effect which was Na+-ions dependent and abolished by phloretine, could be essentially ascribed to an increased affinity of the MeAIB for its carrier (Km value decreasing from 265 to 169µM in presence of 68 kDa polylysine).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bradbury MWV (1979) The concept of a blood-brain barrier. Wiley & Sons, Chichester U.K.
Bradbury MWV (1985) Circ Res 57: 213–222
Cangiano C, Cardelli-Cangiano P, James JH, Rossi-Fanelli F, Patrizi MA, Brackett KA, Strom R, Fischer JE (1983a) J Biol Chem 258: 8949–8954
Cangiano C, Cardelli-Cangiano P, Cascino A, Patrizi MA, Barberini F, Rossi-Fanelli F, Capocaccia L, Strom R (1983b) Biochem Int 7: 617–627
Cangiano C, Cardelli-Cangiano P (1989) Active and facilitated amino acid transport mechanisms across the brain capillary endothelial cells in physiological and pathological conditions. In: Battaini C (ed) Regulatory mechanism of neuron-to-vessel communication in the brain. NATO ASI Series, vol H33, pp 37–64
Cardelli-Cangiano P, Cangiano C, James JH, Jeppsson B, Brenner W, Fischer JE (1981) J Neurochem 36: 627–632
Cardelli-Cangiano P, Cangiano C, James JH, Ceci F, Fischer JE, Strom R (1984) J Biol Chem 259: 5295–5300
Cardelli-Cangiano P, Cangiano C (1990) Isolation and transport properties of brain microvessels. In: Osborne NN (ed) Current aspects of neurosciences, vol. 1. MacMillan, London, pp 155–181
Cardelli-Cangiano P, Fiori A, Cangiano C, Barberini F, Allegra P, Peresempio V, Strom R (1987) J Neurochem 49: 1667–1675
Charonis AS, Wissig SI (1983) Microvasc Res 25: 265–285
Crone C (1965) J Physiol London 181: 103–113
De Bruyn PPH, Michelson S, Becker RP (1978) J Cell Biol 78: 379–389
Hardebo JE, Johansson BB (1980) Acta Neuropathol 51: 33–38
Hardebo JE, Kahrstrom J (1985) Acta Physiol Scand 125: 495–499
Hart M, Vandyk L, Drevyanko T, Shasby M, Cancilla P (1985) In vitro neutralization of the brain endothelial surface charge influences transport of small neutral molecules. Abstract at the Symposium on Blood Brain Barrier, Copenhagen, 1985
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) J Biol Chem 193: 265–275
Nag S, Arsenau R (1983) J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 3: S624-S625
Pardridge WM (1983) Physiol Rev 63: 1481–1535
Reese TS, Karnovsky MJ (1967) J Cell Biol 34: 207–212
Seilor MW, Venkatachalam MA, Cotran RS (1975) Science 189: 390–393
Simionescu N (1983) Physiol Rev 63: 1536–1579
Strom R, Scioscia-Santoro A, Crifò C, Bozzi A, Mondovì B, Rossi-Fanelli A (1973) Eur J Cancer 9: 103–112
Trout JJ, Koenig H, Goldstone AD, Lu CY (1986) Lab Invest 55: 622–631
Wilkinson GN (1961) Biochem J 80: 324–332
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fiori, A., Ceci, F., Savi, M.R. et al. Effect of the cationic polypeptide polylysine on neutral amino acid transport in isolated brain microvessels. Amino Acids 3, 253–260 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00806000
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00806000