Original research
Blood–brain barrier P-glycoprotein function in healthy subjects and Alzheimer's disease patients: effect of polymorphisms in the ABCB1 gene
1 Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1007 MB, The Netherlands
2 PET Centre, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, S 751 85, Sweden
3 Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1007 MB, The Netherlands
4 Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, Rotterdam, 3000 CA, The Netherlands
5 Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Research, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, Amsterdam, 1007 MB, The Netherlands
6 Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
EJNMMI Research 2012, 2:57 doi:10.1186/2191-219X-2-57
Published: 16 October 2012Abstract
Background
P-glycoprotein is a blood–brain barrier efflux transporter involved in the clearance of amyloid-beta from the brain and, as such, might be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. P-glycoprotein is encoded by the highly polymorphic ABCB1 gene. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the ABCB1 gene have been associated with altered P-glycoprotein expression and function. P-glycoprotein function at the blood–brain barrier can be quantified in vivo using the P-glycoprotein substrate tracer (R)-[11C]verapamil and positron emission tomography (PET). The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T single-nucleotide polymorphisms in ABCB1 on blood–brain barrier P-glycoprotein function in healthy subjects and patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Methods
Thirty-two healthy subjects and seventeen patients with Alzheimer's disease underwent 60-min dynamic (R)-[11C]verapamil PET scans. The binding potential of (R)-[11C]verapamil was assessed using a previously validated constrained two-tissue plasma input compartment model and used as outcome measure. DNA was isolated from frozen blood samples and C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T single-nucleotide polymorphisms were amplified by polymerase chain reaction.
Results
In healthy controls, binding potential did not differ between subjects without and with one or more T present in C1236T, G2677T and C3435T. In contrast, patients with Alzheimer's disease with one or more T in C1236T, G2677T and C3435T had significantly higher binding potential values than patients without a T. In addition, there was a relationship between binding potential and T dose in C1236T and G2677T.
Conclusions
In Alzheimer's disease patients, C1236T, G2677T/A and C3435T single-nucleotide polymorphisms may be related to changes in P-glycoprotein function at the blood–brain barrier. As such, genetic variations in ABCB1 might contribute to the progression of amyloid-beta deposition in the brain.
