Expression and Cellular Distribution of P-Glycoprotein and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients

Erwin A. Van Vliet, Anand M. Iyer, Lucia Mesarosova, Hilal Çolakoglu, Jasper J. Anink, Olaf Van Tellingen, Nicholas J. Maragakis, Jeremy Shefner, Ton Bunt, Eleonora Aronica

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

For amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), achieving and maintaining effective drug levels in the brain is challenging due to the activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters which efflux drugs that affect drug exposure and response in the brain. We investigated the expression and cellular distribution of the ABC transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) using immunohistochemistry in spinal cord (SC), motor cortex, and cerebellum from a large cohort of genetically well characterized ALS patients (n = 25) and controls (n = 14). The ALS group included 17 sporadic (sALS) and 8 familial (fALS) patients. Strong P-gp expression was observed in endothelial cells in both control and ALS specimens. Immunohistochemical analysis showed higher P-gp expression in reactive astroglial cells in both gray (ventral horn) and white matter of the SC, as well as in the motor cortex of all ALS patients, as compared with controls. BCRP expression was higher in glia in the SC and in blood vessels and glia in the motor cortex of ALS patients, as compared with controls. P-gp and BCRP immunoreactivity did not differ between sALS and fALS cases. The upregulation of both ABC transporters in the brain may explain multidrug resistance in ALS patients and has implications for the use of both approved and experimental therapeutics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)266-276
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of neuropathology and experimental neurology
Volume79
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2020

Keywords

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Astrocytes
  • BCRP
  • Blood vessels
  • Motor cortex
  • Multidrug resistance
  • P-glycoprotein (P-gp)
  • Spinal cord

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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