L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1/Lat1)-Utilizing Prodrugs Can Improve the Delivery of Drugs into Neurons, Astrocytes and Microglia.

ABSTRACT: L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1/Lat1) is responsible for carrying large, neutral L-amino acids as well as several drugs and prodrugs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, the BBB is not the only barrier that hinders drugs acting effectively within the brain; the brain parenchymal cell membranes represent a secondary barrier for the drugs with intracellular target sites. In this study, expression and function of Lat1 was quantified in mouse primary neuron, astrocyte and immortalized microglia (BV2) cultures. Moreover, ability of Lat1 to carry prodrugs inside these brain cells was evaluated. The results showed that Lat1 was localized at the similar level in all studied cells (3.07 ± 0.92-3.77 ± 0.91 fmol/µg protein). The transporter was also functional in all three cell types,

SUBMITTER: Huttunen J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6731241 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature