Mfsd2a, a member of the major facilitator superfamily, is a sodium-dependent lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) transporter. It plays a crucial role in transporting the essential omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into the brain as LPC-DHA, which is vital for normal brain growth, cognitive function, and maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) [2,4-6]. It is also involved in lipid metabolism pathways and may regulate endothelial transcytosis [2,3,5]. Genetic models, such as knockout (KO) mice, have been instrumental in studying its functions.

In Mfsd2a-knockout mice, there is a marked reduction in brain DHA levels, leading to neuronal cell loss in the hippocampus and cerebellum, cognitive deficits, severe anxiety, and microcephaly, highlighting its importance in brain development [1]. Mfsd2a-deficient mice also show a leaky BBB due to increased CNS-endothelial-cell vesicular transcytosis, indicating its role in maintaining BBB integrity [3]. In the context of acute kidney injury, Mfsd2a haploinsufficient mice exhibit delayed renal function recovery, and treatment with LPC-DHA can improve this situation, suggesting Mfsd2a-mediated LPC-DHA transport is important for renal recovery [4].

In conclusion, Mfsd2a is essential for brain and eye development, maintaining BBB integrity, and renal recovery after acute kidney injury as revealed through KO mouse models. Its role in these processes has significant implications for understanding and potentially treating related neurological and renal diseases.

References:

1. Nguyen, Long N, Ma, Dongliang, Shui, Guanghou, Goh, Eyleen L K, Silver, David L. 2014. Mfsd2a is a transporter for the essential omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid. In Nature, 509, 503-6. doi:10.1038/nature13241. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24828044/

2. Xie, Yuan, He, Liqun, Zhang, Yanyu, Wang, Liang, Zhang, Lei. . Wnt signaling regulates MFSD2A-dependent drug delivery through endothelial transcytosis in glioma. In Neuro-oncology, 25, 1073-1084. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noac288. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36591963/

3. Ben-Zvi, Ayal, Lacoste, Baptiste, Kur, Esther, Yan, Han, Gu, Chenghua. 2014. Mfsd2a is critical for the formation and function of the blood-brain barrier. In Nature, 509, 507-11. doi:10.1038/nature13324. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24828040/

4. Loke, Randy Y J, Chin, Cheen Fei, Liang, Gao, Torta, Federico, Silver, David L. 2023. Mfsd2a-mediated lysolipid transport is important for renal recovery after acute kidney injury. In Journal of lipid research, 64, 100416. doi:10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100416. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37467896/

5. Lei, Shuang, Li, Jian, Yu, Jingjun, Zhao, Weidong, Tang, Xiaolin. 2023. Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteremia increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier via the Mfsd2a/Caveolin-1 mediated transcytosis pathway. In International journal of oral science, 15, 3. doi:10.1038/s41368-022-00215-y. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36631446/