Title:Opioids and the Blood-Brain Barrier: A Dynamic Interaction with Consequences on Drug Disposition in Brain
Volume: 15
Issue: 8
Author(s): Catarina Chaves, Fernando Remiao, Salvatore Cisternino and Xavier Decleves*
Affiliation:
- Variabilite de Reponse Aux Psychotropes, INSERM, U1144, 75006 Paris,France
Keywords:
Blood-brain barrier, opioids, ABC transporters, P-glycoprotein, neuroinflammation, TLR4
Abstract: Background: Opioids are widely used in pain management, acting via opioid receptors
and/or Toll-like receptors (TLR) present at the central nervous system (CNS). At the blood-brain
barrier (BBB), several influx and efflux transporters, such as the ATP-binding cassette (ABC)
P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1), Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP, ABCG2) and multidrug
resistance-associated proteins (MRP, ABCC) transporters, and solute carrier transporters (SLC), are
responsible for the transport of xenobiotics from the brain into the bloodstream or vice versa.
Objective: ABC transporters export several clinically employed opioids, altering their neuropharmacokinetics
and CNS effects. In this review, we explore the interactions between opioids
and ABC transporters, and decipher the molecular mechanisms by which opioids can modify their
expression at the BBB.
Results: P-gp is largely implicated in the brain-to-blood efflux of opioids, namely morphine and
oxycodone. Long-term exposure to morphine and oxycodone has proven to up-regulate the expression
of ABC transporters, such as P-gp, BCRP and MRPs, at the BBB, which may lead to increased
tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of such drugs. Recent studies uncover two mechanisms by
which morphine may up-regulate P-gp and BCRP at the BBB: 1) via a glutamate, NMDA-receptor
and COX-2 signaling cascade, and 2) via TLR4 activation, subsequent development of neuroinflammation,
and activation of NF-kB, presumably via glial cells.
Conclusion: The BBB-opioid interaction can culminate in bilateral consequences, since ABC
transporters condition the brain disposition of opioids, while opioids also affect the expression of
ABC transporters at the BBB, which may result in increased CNS drug pharmacoresistance.
