Transport of opioids from the brain to the periphery by P-glycoprotein: peripheral actions of central drugs

Nat Neurosci. 2001 Mar;4(3):268-74. doi: 10.1038/85115.

Abstract

Many peptides and transmitters found within the brain also have peripheral sites of action. We now demonstrate that the brain releases functionally active neurotransmitters/neuromodulators directly from the brain into the blood through a saturable P-glycoprotein (Pgp) transport system. Downregulating Pgp1 expression with antisense reduced the brain-to-blood transport of morphine, beta-endorphin and other opioids. Lowering Pgp expression significantly enhanced systemic morphine analgesia and prevented tolerance, but diminished the analgesic activity of centrally administered morphine, implying that supraspinal analgesia resulted from a combination of central and peripheral mechanisms activated by morphine transported from the brain to the blood. Similarly, mice with a disruption of the Mdr1a gene were more sensitive to systemic morphine and less sensitive to morphine given centrally. This ability of the Pgp transport system to pump functionally active compounds from the brain to periphery defines a potentially important mechanism for the central nervous system to modulate peripheral systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / drug effects
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / genetics
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / metabolism*
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / physiology
  • Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / pharmacokinetics
  • Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)- / pharmacokinetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Morphine / pharmacokinetics
  • Narcotics / blood*
  • Narcotics / pharmacokinetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • beta-Endorphin / pharmacokinetics

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Narcotics
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-
  • beta-Endorphin
  • Morphine
  • Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-
  • multidrug resistance protein 3