Isolation of the Bovine Transferrin Receptor and Studies of its In Vitro Expression and Regulation
Abstract
Bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMEC) are used as an in
vitro model of the blood brain barrier. These cells express transferrin
receptor on their surface in order to be able to supply neighboring brain
cells with iron in vivo. Since transferrin is taken UP by BMEC, it may be
possible to somehow couple a drug to it which might then be able to
transverse the blood brain barrier (BBB) which has proven to be a
formidable barrier to the delivery of drugs to the brain. In order to study
the possible regulation of the bovine transferrin receptor, BMEC were
treated with the glucocorticoid steroid, dexamethasone and the compound
U-72,74SG which was alleged to have glucocorticoid-like actlvity. In
addition, the transferrin receptor was isolated from bovine placenta and
injected into New Zealand white rabbits which formed antibodies to it.
The anti-bovine transferrin receptor antiserum was used to stain tissue
sections and revealed the presence of transferrin receptor in the
capillaries of the brain and heart as well as the hepatocytes and
reticuloendothelial cells in the liver. With honors.