Antitransferrin receptor

Alternatively, monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to the relevant receptors can be used as transport vectors. Anti-insulin (Mab83-7 and Mab83-14) and anti-transferrin (0X26) receptor antibodies have been proposed as efficient and selective BBB transport vectors. The antitransferrin receptor antibody binds to a site removed from the transferrin binding site and therefore does not compete with endogenous transferrin for transport across the BBB. Studies using radiolabeled peptides have shown that significant uptake of a... 

Taetle, R. Honeysett, J.M. Trowbridge, I. Effects of antitransferrin receptor antibodies on growth of normal and malignant myeloid cells. Int. J. Cancer 1983, 32, 343-349. 

Specific nutrient transport systems in brain capillaries can be used to facilitate drug entry into the brain. L-dopa (L-3,4-dfiiydroxyphenylalanine), a metabolic precursor of dopamine, is transported across endothelial cells by the neutral amino acid transport system [5], r-dopa permeates through capillaries into the striatal tissue, where it is decarboxylated to form dopamine. Therefore, systemic administration of L-dopa is often beneficial to patients with Parkinson s disease. Certain protein modifications, such as cationization [6] and anionization [7], produce enhanced uptake in the brain. Modification of drugs [8,9] by linkage to an antitransferrin receptor antibody also appears to enhance transport into the brain. This approach depends on receptor-mediated transcytosis of transferrin-receptor complexes by brain endothehal cells substantial uptake also occurs in the Hver. 

Shinohara H, Fan D, Ozawa S et al. (2000) Site-specific expression of transferrin receptor by human colon cancer cells directly correlates with eradication by antitransferrin recombinant immunotoxin. Int J Oncol 17 643-651... 

---