Transferrin receptor on endothelium of brain capillaries

It is shown that monoclonal antibodies against rat and human transferrin receptors label blood capillaries in the brain but not in other tissues, suggesting that transferrin receptor expression on neuronal and glial cells may allow transport of transferrin into brain tissues.

Abstract

The blood/brain barrier prevents the passive diffusion of proteins and metabolites from cerebral blood vessels into tissue spaces around neuronal and glial cells. To provide nutrients for these cells, transport mechanisms must exist and indeed have been demonstrated for metabolites. We now show that monoclonal antibodies against rat and human transferrin receptors label blood capillaries in the brain but not in other tissues. In the rat this labelling occurs after injection of antibody into the blood, thus the receptors seem to be accessible at the endothelial surface. It is possible that transferrin receptors are expressed on these cells to allow transport of transferrin (and thus iron) into brain tissues.