Expression and function of Abcg4 in the mouse blood-brain barrier: role in restricting the brain entry of amyloid-β peptide

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 17;7(1):13393. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13750-0.

Abstract

ABCG4 is an ATP-binding cassette transmembrane protein which has been shown, in vitro, to participate in the cellular efflux of desmosterol and amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). ABCG4 is highly expressed in the brain, but its localization and function at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) level remain unknown. We demonstrate by qRT-PCR and confocal imaging that mouse Abcg4 is expressed in the brain capillary endothelial cells. Modelling studies of the Abcg4 dimer suggested that desmosterol showed thermodynamically favorable binding at the putative sterol-binding site, and this was greater than for cholesterol. Additionally, unbiased docking also showed Aβ binding at this site. Using a novel Abcg4-deficient mouse model, we show that Abcg4 was able to export Aβ and desmosterol at the BBB level and these processes could be inhibited by probucol and L-thyroxine. Our assay also showed that desmosterol antagonized the export of Aβ, presumably as both bind at the sterol-binding site on Abcg4. We show for the first time that Abcg4 may function in vivo to export Aβ at the BBB, in a process that can be antagonized by its putative natural ligand, desmosterol (and possibly cholesterol).

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G / chemistry
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G / genetics*
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G / metabolism*
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Capillary Permeability
  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Desmosterol / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression*
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genetic Loci
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Abcg4 protein, mouse
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Biomarkers
  • Desmosterol