Cited by 92Barrier Structure and Function StudiesMetabolism and Genetic DisordersDrug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms

Brain endothelial dysfunction in cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy

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Musolino, Patricia L., Gong, Yi, Snyder, Juliet M. T., Jimenez, Sandra, Lok, Josephine, Lo, Eng H., Moser, Ann B., Grabowski, Eric F. +2 more·2015·Brain

Abstract

See Aubourg (doi:10.1093/awv271) for a scientific commentary on this article. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene leading to accumulation of very long chain fatty acids. Its most severe neurological manifestation is cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy. Here we demonstrate that progressive inflammatory demyelination in cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy coincides with blood–brain barrier dysfunction, increased MMP9 expression, and changes in endothelial tight junction proteins as well as adhesion molecules. ABCD1, but not its closest homologue ABCD2, is highly expressed in human brain microvascular endothelial cells, far exceeding its expression in the systemic vasculature. Silencing of ABCD1 in human brain microvascular endothelial cells causes accumulation of very long chain fatty acids, but much later than the immediate upregulation of adhesion molecules and decrease in tight junction proteins. This results in greater adhesion and transmigration of monocytes across the endothelium. PCR-array screening of human brain microvascular endothelial cells after ABCD1 silencing revealed downregulation of both mRNA and protein levels of the transcription factor c-MYC (encoded by MYC). Interestingly, MYC silencing mimicked the effects of ABCD1 silencing on CLDN5 and ICAM1 without decreasing the levels of ABCD1 protein itself. Together, these data demonstrate that ABCD1 deficiency induces significant alterations in brain endothelium via c-MYC and may thereby contribute to the increased trafficking of leucocytes across the blood–brain barrier as seen in cerebral adrenouleukodystrophy. See Aubourg (doi:10.1093/awv271) for a scientific commentary on this article. Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy is a neuroinflammatory demyelinating disease caused by mutations in ABCD1. Musolino et al. report that the progressive demyelination coincides with blood-brain barrier disruption and endothelial changes. Silencing endothelial ABCD1 in vitro upregulates expression of adhesion molecules and downregulates expression of tight-junction proteins and c-MYC, promoting monocyte transmigration.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1093/brain/awv250

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67 of 67 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • In vitro, ABCD1 inactivation suppressed tight junction proteins in human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

    “In vitro, ABCD1 inactivation suppressed tight junction proteins in human brain microvascular endothelial cells [417].”

    From Revisiting the Pathogenesis of X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (2025) · cites this paper as [417]

  • Autopsy brain tissue from cALD patients suggested that the blood-brain barrier is compromised and can contribute to the invasion of circulating monocytes and lymphocytes into brain parenchyma.

    “The results of studying autopsy brain tissue from cALD patients suggested that the BBB is compromised [417] and can contribute to the invasion of circulating monocytes and lymphocytes into brain parenchyma.”

    From Revisiting the Pathogenesis of X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (2025) · cites this paper as [417]

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Authors
Musolino, P. L., Gong, Y., Snyder, J. M. T., Jimenez, S., Lok, J., Lo, E. H., Moser, A. B., Grabowski, E. F., Frosch, M. P., & Eichler, F. S.
Affiliations
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
  • Kennedy Krieger Institute (US)
Venue
Brain
Published
2015-09-15
Volume
138
Issue
11
Pages
3206-3220
ISSN
  • 0006-8950 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2156
OpenAlex
W1838358999
Cited by
92
References
68
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 2
FWCI
3.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (K12NS066225, K08NS094683, R25NS065743)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Clinical Biochemistry › Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
Keywords
cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, ABCD1, very long chain fatty acids, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, brain microvascular endothelial cells, demyelination, monocyte transmigration, adhesion molecules, tight junction proteins, c-Myc, claudin-5, ICAM-1, MMP-9, ABCD2
MeSH terms
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily D, Member 1, Adolescent, Adrenoleukodystrophy, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood-Brain Barrier, Brain, Calcium-Binding Proteins, Cells, Cultured, Child, Demyelinating Diseases, DNA-Binding Proteins, Endothelium, Vascular, Fatty Acids, Female, Heterozygote, Homozygote, Humans, Male, Microfilament Proteins, Middle Aged, RNA, Messenger, Up-Regulation, Case-Control Studies, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters, Microscopy, Confocal, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1, Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Endothelial Cells, Gene Knockdown Techniques, Microvessels, Young Adult, Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells, Claudin-5, Zonula Occludens-1 Protein

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