Transferrin receptor on endothelium of brain capillaries
Abstract
The blood/brain barrier prevents the passive diffusion of proteins and metabolites from cerebral blood vessels into tissue spaces around neuronal and glial cells. To provide nutrients for these cells, transport mechanisms must exist and indeed have been demonstrated for metabolites. We now show that monoclonal antibodies against rat and human transferrin receptors label blood capillaries in the brain but not in other tissues. In the rat this labelling occurs after injection of antibody into the blood, thus the receptors seem to be accessible at the endothelial surface. It is possible that transferrin receptors are expressed on these cells to allow transport of transferrin (and thus iron) into brain tissues.
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Transferrin receptor, insulin receptor, and leptin receptor mediate blood-to-brain transport of transferrin, insulin, and leptin across the blood-brain barrier, respectively.
“Transferrin receptor (TfR) (78, 290, 461), insulin receptor (IR) (283, 458), and leptin receptor (LEP-R) (41, 206, 699) mediate blood-to-brain transport of transferrin (iron-protein carrier), insulin, and leptin across the BBB, respectively.”
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- Authors
- Jefferies, W. A., Brandon, M. R., Hunt, S. V., Williams, A. F., Gatter, K. C., & Mason, D. Y.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- John Radcliffe Hospital (GB)
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 1984-11-08
- Volume
- 312
- Issue
- 5990
- Pages
- 162-163
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2066912376
- Cited by
- 1,061
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 18.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- Keywords
- transferrin receptor, brain capillary endothelium, blood-brain barrier, monoclonal antibodies, iron transport
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antigen-Antibody Complex, Capillaries, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Endothelium, Humans, Receptors, Cell Surface, Receptors, Transferrin, Tissue Distribution, Transferrin, Rats
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