Inner Blood-Retinal Barrier Mediates L-Isomer-Predominant Transport of Serine

D-Serine, a coagonist for N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors, which mediate visual signal transmission, is thought to be generated from L-serine via serine racemase in the retina. However, the source of L-serine and D-serine in the retina are yet to be determined. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the characteristics of the blood-to-retina transport of serine at the inner blood-retinal barrier (BRB). In vivo study revealed the blood-to-retina transport of [(3)H]L-serine with an influx clearance of 49.9 mu L/(min.g retina), which is greater than that of [(3)H] D-serine. This was consistent with the L-isomer-predominant uptake of serine by conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2 cells), an in vitro inner BRB model. [(3)H]L-Serine and [(3)H]D-serine uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells took place in an Na(+)-dependent and a concentration-dependent manner with Michaelis constant values of 97.5 mu M and 9.63 mM, respectively. The uptake process of [(3)H]L-serine and [(3)H] D-serine was significantly inhibited by system ASC (alanine-serine-cysteine) substrates. Polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunocytochemistry revealed the expression of ASC transporters ASCT1 and ASCT2 in TR-iBRB2 cells. These results suggest that the system ASC at the inner BRB is a potent pathway for supplying serine in the form of the L-isomer from the circulating blood to the retina. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 100:3892-3903, 2011