Receptor-mediated transcytosis of transferrin through blood-brain barrier endothelial cells

A cell culture model of the blood-brain barrier consisting of a coculture of bovine brain capillary endothelial cells (BBCECs) and astrocytes has been used to examine the mechanism of iron transport to the brain. Binding experiments showed that BBCECs express 35,000 high-affinity (concn at 50% receptor saturation = 11.3 +/- 2.1 nM) transferrin (Tf) receptors per cell. In contrast to apo-transferrin (apoTf), we observed a specific transport of holo-transferrin (holoTf) across BBCECs. This transport was inhibited completly at low temperature. Moreover, the anti-Tf receptor antibody (OX-26) competitively inhibited holoTf uptake by BBCECs. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that only 10% of Tf was recycled to the luminal side of the cells, whereas the majority of Tf was transcytosed to the abluminal side; double-labeling experiments clearly demonstrated that iron crosses BBCECs bound to Tf. No intraendothelial degradation of Tf was observed, suggesting that the intraendothelial pathway through BBCECs bypasses the lysosomal compartment. These results clearly show that the iron-Tf complex is transcytosed across brain capillary endothelial cells by a receptor-mediated pathway without any degradation.