A barreira hematoencefálica canina: mecanismos de proteção cerebral na saúde e na doença

Abstract

This narrative review examines the role of the canine blood-brain barrier (BBB) in health and disease, focusing on the impact of the multidrug resistance (MDR) transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the ABCB1/MDR1 gene. The BBB is critical in maintaining central nervous system homeostasis and brain protection against xenobiotics. We examine the role of the MDR1 gene mutation in specific dog breeds that exhibit truncated P-gp activity and disrupted drug brain pharmacokinetics. The review also covers factors that may disrupt the canine BBB, including the actions of inflammatory conditions, infection, aging, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy, underlining their significant health implications and the BBB's role as a therapeutic target.