Frizzled fissure to improve central nervous system drug delivery?

Abstract

Delivery of therapeutics to the brain is challenging because of efflux pumps located in the vascular endothelium. A detailed analysis of Wnt signaling in a human brain endothelial cell line indicates that expression and function of P-glycoprotein, a major efflux transporter, is controlled by non-canonical Wnt signaling. Inhibition of this pathway leads to downregulation of P-glycoprotein and increased transcellular drug transport and reveals a potential strategy for improving drug delivery for treatment of neurologic diseases. © 2014 ISCBFM.