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Mystery of blood-brain barrier unlocked

January 07, 2000

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -- Scientists have identified the receptor in the

brain that regulates the blood-brain barrier, a group of cells that controls

which substances enter the brain.

The discovery may lead to the development of drugs that can cross the

blood-brain barrier as well as a better understanding of diseases like

multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, the study's lead author told

Reuters Health in an interview.

Scientists have known about the blood-brain barrier for more than 100 years,

but how it works has been a mystery for the most part, according to Dr.

Alessio Fasano, of the University of land School of Medicine in

Baltimore.

" Everyone knew about the existence of the gate, but no one knew how to open

it, " Fasano said.

Earlier research has shown that two proteins, zonulin and zot, are involved

in the absorption of substances in the intestine. When these proteins bond

with receptors in the intestine, substances are able to pass between the

cells that make up the intestinal wall. In the new research, Fasano and his

colleagues have discovered that these proteins play a similar role in the

blood-brain barrier when they attach to a certain brain receptor.

In his comments to Reuters Health, Fasano said that the discovery may lead

to the development of drugs that would trigger the blood-brain barrier to

open up long enough for medication to reach the brain. This approach would

be especially helpful for people with brain cancer who need to have medicine

delivered directly to the brain.

Fasano also noted that studying how the blood-brain barrier normally works

may lead to a better understanding of what happens in illnesses like

multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and certain HIV-related brain

infections. All of these diseases involve a faulty blood-brain barrier,

which remains open when it should be closed, he said. SOURCE: Journal of

Neurochemistry 2000;74