Neuron-astrocyte Co-cultures Research Articles

Astrocyte–neuron co-culture on microchips based on the model of SOD mutation to mimic ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease. ALS is believed to be a non-cell autonomous condition, as other cell types, including astrocytes, have been implicated in disease pathogenesis. Hence, to facilitate the development of therapeutics against ALS, it is crucial to better understand the interactions between astrocytes and neural cells. Furthermore, cell culture assays are needed that mimic the complexity of cell to cell communication at the same time as they provide control over the different microenvironmental parameters. Here, we aim to validate a previously developed microfluidic system for an astrocyte-neuron cell culture platform, in which astrocytes have been genetically modified to overexpress either a human wild-type (WT) or a mutated form of the super oxide dismutase enzyme 1 (SOD1). Cortical neural cells were co-cultured with infected astrocytes and studied for up to two weeks. Using our microfluidic device that prevents direct cell to cell contact, we could evaluate neural cell response in the vicinity of astrocytes. We showed that neuronal cell density was reduced by about 45% when neurons were co-cultured with SOD-mutant astrocytes. Moreover, we demonstrated that SOD-WT overexpressing astrocytes reduced oxidative stress on cortical neurons that were in close metabolic contact. In contrast, cortical neurons in metabolic contact with SOD-mutant astrocytes lost their synapsin protein expression after severe glutamate treatment, an indication of the toxicity potentiating effect of the SOD-mutant enzyme.

Inhibition of a novel specific neuroglial integrin signaling pathway increases STAT3-mediated CNTF expression

BackgroundCiliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) expression is repressed in astrocytes by neuronal contact in the CNS and is rapidly induced by injury. Here, we defined an inhibitory integrin signaling pathway.ResultsThe integrin substrates laminin, fibronectin and vitronectin, but not collagen, thrombospondin or fibrinogen, reduced CNTF expression in C6 astroglioma cells. Antibodies against αv and β5, but not α6 or β1, integrin induced CNTF. Together, the ligand and antibody specificity suggests that CNTF is repressed by αvβ5 integrin. Antibodies against Thy1, an abundant neuronal surface protein whose function is unclear, induced CNTF in neuron-astrocyte co-cultures indicating that it is a neuroglial CNTF repressor. Inhibition of the integrin signaling molecule Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) or the downstream c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) or p38 MAPK, greatly induced CNTF mRNA and protein expression within 4 hours. This selective inhibitory pathway phosphorylated STAT3 on its inhibitory ser-727 residue interfering with activity of the pro-transcription Tyr-705 residue. STAT3 can activate CNTF transcription because it bound to its promoter and FAK antagonist-induced CNTF was reduced by blocking STAT3. Microinjection of FAK inhibitor directly into the brain or spinal cord in adult mice rapidly induced CNTF mRNA and protein expression. Importantly, systemic treatment with FAK inhibitors over 3 days induced CNTF in the subventricular zone and increased neurogenesis.ConclusionsNeuron-astroglia contact mediated by integrins serves as a sensor to enable rapid neurotrophic responses and provides a new pharmacological avenue to exploit the neuroprotective properties of endogenous CNTF.

Brain Alanine Formation as an Ammonia-Scavenging Pathway during Hyperammonemia: Effects of Glutamine Synthetase Inhibition in Rats and Astrocyte—Neuron Co-Cultures

Hyperammonemia is a major etiological toxic factor in the development of hepatic encephalopathy. Brain ammonia detoxification occurs primarily in astrocytes by glutamine synthetase (GS), and it has been proposed that elevated glutamine levels during hyperammonemia lead to astrocyte swelling and cerebral edema. However, ammonia may also be detoxified by the concerted action of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) leading to trapping of ammonia in alanine, which in vivo likely leaves the brain. Our aim was to investigate whether the GS inhibitor methionine sulfoximine (MSO) enhances incorporation of (15)NH4(+) in alanine during acute hyperammonemia. We observed a fourfold increased amount of (15)NH4 incorporation in brain alanine in rats treated with MSO. Furthermore, co-cultures of neurons and astrocytes exposed to (15)NH4Cl in the absence or presence of MSO demonstrated a dose-dependent incorporation of (15)NH4 into alanine together with increased (15)N incorporation in glutamate. These findings provide evidence that ammonia is detoxified by the concerted action of GDH and ALAT both in vivo and in vitro, a mechanism that is accelerated in the presence of MSO thereby reducing the glutamine level in brain. Thus, GS could be a potential drug target in the treatment of hyperammonemia in patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

Progesterone Antagonism of Neurite Outgrowth Depends on Microglial Activation via Pgrmc1/S2R

Neuronal plasticity is regulated by the ovarian steroids estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in many normal brain functions, as well as in acute response to injury and chronic neurodegenerative disease. In a female rat model of axotomy, the E2-dependent compensatory neuronal sprouting is antagonized by P4. To resolve complex glial-neuronal cell interactions, we used the "wounding-in-a-dish" model of neurons cocultured with astrocytes or mixed glia (microglia to astrocytes, 1:3). Although both astrocytes and mixed glia supported E2-enhanced neurite outgrowth, P4 antagonized E2-induced neurite outgrowth only with mixed glia, but not astrocytes alone. We now show that P4-E2 antagonism of neurite outgrowth is mediated by microglial expression of progesterone receptor (Pgr) membrane component 1 (Pgrmc1)/S2R, a putative nonclassical Pgr mediator with multiple functions. The P4-E2 antagonism of neurite outgrowth was restored by add-back of microglia to astrocyte-neuron cocultures. Because microglia do not express the classical Pgr, we examined the role of Pgrmc1, which is expressed in microglia in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown by siRNA-Pgrmc1 in microglia before add-back to astrocyte-neuron cocultures suppressed the P4-E2 antagonism of neurite outgrowth. Conditioned media from microglia restored the P4-E2 activity, but only if microglia were activated by lipopolysaccharide or by wounding. Moreover, the microglial activation was blocked by Pgmrc1-siRNA knockdown. These findings explain why nonwounded cultures without microglial activation lack P4 antagonism of E2-induced neurite outgrowth. We suggest that microglial activation may influence brain responses to exogenous P4, which is a prospective therapy in traumatic brain injury.

DJ-1 Expression Modulates Astrocyte-Mediated Protection Against Neuronal Oxidative Stress

DJ-1 deficiency is a cause of genetic Parkinson's disease (PARK7 PD). In sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), however, DJ-1 is abundantly expressed in reactive astrocytes. This may represent a compensatory protective response. In initial support of this hypothesis, we have shown in vitro that DJ-1-overexpressing astrocytes protect neurons against rotenone-induced death. Rotenone, a pesticide linked to increased PD risk, can stimulate oxidative stress. This process is implicated in PD pathogenesis. Since DJ-1 can enhance antioxidant systems, we hypothesized that augmenting its expression in astrocytes would protect cocultured neurons against oxidative stress. We report here that DJ-1-overexpressing astrocytes were significantly more protective against rotenone-induced neuronal thiol oxidation than wild-type astrocytes in neuron-astrocyte cocultures. DJ-1-knockdown astrocytes, on the other hand, were significantly impaired in their capacity to protect neurons against thiol oxidation. Each of these findings was replicated using astrocyte-conditioned media on neuron-enriched cultures. Thus, DJ-1-modulated, astrocyte-released soluble factors must be involved in the mechanism. This is the first demonstration that the manipulation of a PD-causing gene in astrocytes affects their ability to protect neurons against oxidative stress.

Astrocytic αVβ3 integrin inhibits neurite outgrowth and promotes retraction of neuronal processes by clustering Thy-1.

Thy-1 is a membrane glycoprotein suggested to stabilize or inhibit growth of neuronal processes. However, its precise function has remained obscure, because its endogenous ligand is unknown. We previously showed that Thy-1 binds directly to αVβ3 integrin in trans eliciting responses in astrocytes. Nonetheless, whether αVβ3 integrin might also serve as a Thy-1-ligand triggering a neuronal response has not been explored. Thus, utilizing primary neurons and a neuron-derived cell line CAD, Thy-1-mediated effects of αVβ3 integrin on growth and retraction of neuronal processes were tested. In astrocyte-neuron co-cultures, endogenous αVβ3 integrin restricted neurite outgrowth. Likewise, αVβ3-Fc was sufficient to suppress neurite extension in Thy-1(+), but not in Thy-1(−) CAD cells. In differentiating primary neurons exposed to αVβ3-Fc, fewer and shorter dendrites were detected. This effect was abolished by cleavage of Thy-1 from the neuronal surface using phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). Moreover, αVβ3-Fc also induced retraction of already extended Thy-1(+)-axon-like neurites in differentiated CAD cells as well as of axonal terminals in differentiated primary neurons. Axonal retraction occurred when redistribution and clustering of Thy-1 molecules in the plasma membrane was induced by αVβ3 integrin. Binding of αVβ3-Fc was detected in Thy-1 clusters during axon retraction of primary neurons. Moreover, αVβ3-Fc-induced Thy-1 clustering correlated in time and space with redistribution and inactivation of Src kinase. Thus, our data indicates that αVβ3 integrin is a ligand for Thy-1 that upon binding not only restricts the growth of neurites, but also induces retraction of already existing processes by inducing Thy-1 clustering. We propose that these events participate in bi-directional astrocyte-neuron communication relevant to axonal repair after neuronal damage.

A new indirect co-culture set up of mouse hippocampal neurons and cortical astrocytes on microelectrode arrays

Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are widely used to investigate neuronal network activity in vitro at multiple sites. While this system has been successfully used with primary embryonic rat hippocampal or cortical neurons, its applicability for mouse hippocampal neurons has so far not been reported in detail. As mouse genetics offer a large variety of models, it is highly desirable to close this gap. For that purpose, we established and characterized an indirect co-culture assay of mouse hippocampal neurons in the presence of astrocytes on MEAs. Embryonic day 15.5 (E15.5) mouse hippocampal neurons were cultivated on MEAs in completely defined medium. We show, that the co-culture with postnatal primary mouse astrocytes allows the establishment and the maintenance of neuronal networks under these conditions. We were able to cultivate the neurons for at least 28 days in vitro (DIV) and observed the first neuronal network activity around 7 DIV. Hippocampal neurons showed early bursting behavior and synchronous activity that evolved further with increasing time in culture. The application of bicuculline increased network activity, which revealed the presence of active GABAergic interneurons. Taken together, this study provides a novel MEA-based assay for investigating the activity in neuronal networks in an indirect neuron–astrocyte co-culture setting, and leads to first insights into the physiological development of mouse hippocampal neurons under these conditions in vitro.

TRPA1 channels regulate astrocyte resting calcium and inhibitory synapse efficacy through GAT-3

Astrocytes contribute to the formation and function of synapses and are found throughout the brain where they display intracellular store mediated Ca2+ signals. Here, using a membrane tethered genetically encoded calcium indicator (Lck-GCaMP3), we report the serendipitous discovery of a novel Ca2+ signal in rat hippocampal astrocyte-neuron co-cultures. We found that TRPA1 channel mediated Ca2+ fluxes give rise to frequent and highly localised near membrane “spotty” Ca2+ microdomains that contribute significantly to resting Ca2+ levels of astrocytes. Mechanistic evaluations in brain slices show that decreasing astrocyte resting Ca2+ levels mediated by TRPA1 channels decreased interneuron inhibitory synapse efficacy by reducing GABA transport via GAT-3, thus elevating extracellular GABA levels. Our data indicate how a novel transmembrane Ca2+ source (TRPA1) targets a transporter (GAT-3) in astrocytes to regulate inhibitory synapses.

Modified Wu-Zi-Yan-Zong prescription, a traditional Chinese polyherbal formula, suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammatory processes in rat astrocytes via NF-κB and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathways

Neuroinflammation plays an important role in several neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of modified Wu-Zi-Yan-Zong prescription (MWP), a traditional Chinese polyherbal formula, in primary cultured rat astrocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results showed that MWP significantly inhibited release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E (PGE), as well as expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in LPS-induced rat astrocytes. Mechanism study indicated that MWP significantly inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) inflammatory signaling pathway through attenuating inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (IκB) degradation and down-regulating IκB kinases (IKKs) phosphorylation level. Moreover, MWP also decreased c-Jun NH 2-terminal kinase (JNK)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, which play an important role in the induction of proinflammatory gene expressions. At last, MWP protected neurons from LPS-activated astrocytes in neuron–astrocyte co-culture system. Taken together, our results suggest that MWP may act to suppress neuroinflammatory response in LPS-stimulated rat astrocytes via NF-κB and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling cascades, and MWP may be a useful agent for prevention and treatment of neuroinflammatory disease.

Transmembrane tumour necrosis factor is neuroprotective and regulates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis via neuronal nuclear factor-κB

Tumour necrosis factor mediates chronic inflammatory pathologies including those affecting the central nervous system, but non-selective tumour necrosis factor inhibitors exacerbate multiple sclerosis. In addition, TNF receptor SF1A, which encodes one of the tumour necrosis factor receptors, has recently been identified as a multiple sclerosis susceptibility locus in genome-wide association studies in large patient cohorts. These clinical data have emphasized the need for a better understanding of the beneficial effects of tumour necrosis factor during central nervous system inflammation. In this study, we present evidence that the soluble and transmembrane forms of tumour necrosis factor exert opposing deleterious and beneficial effects, respectively, in a multiple sclerosis model. We compared the effects, in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, of selectively inhibiting soluble tumour necrosis factor, and of both soluble and transmembrane tumour necrosis factor. Blocking the action of soluble tumour necrosis factor, but not of soluble tumour necrosis factor and transmembrane tumour necrosis factor, protected mice against the clinical symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Therapeutic benefit was independent of changes in antigen-specific immune responses and focal inflammatory spinal cord lesions, but was associated with reduced overall central nervous system immunoreactivity, increased expression of neuroprotective molecules, and was dependent upon the activity of neuronal nuclear factor-κB, a downstream mediator of neuroprotective tumour necrosis factor/tumour necrosis factor receptor signalling, because mice lacking IκB kinase β in glutamatergic neurons were not protected by soluble tumour necrosis factor blockade. Furthermore, blocking the action of soluble tumour necrosis factor, but not of soluble tumour necrosis factor and transmembrane tumour necrosis factor, protected neurons in astrocyte-neuron co-cultures against glucose deprivation, an in vitro neurodegeneration model relevant for multiple sclerosis, and this was dependent upon contact between the two cell types. Our results show that soluble tumour necrosis factor promotes central nervous system inflammation, while transmembrane tumour necrosis factor is neuroprotective, and suggest that selective inhibition of soluble tumour necrosis factor may provide a new way forward for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and possibly other inflammatory central nervous system disorders.

DJ-1 knock-down impairs astrocyte mitochondrial function

Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD brain tissues show evidence for mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I deficiency. Pharmacological inhibitors of Complex I, such as rotenone, cause experimental parkinsonism. The cytoprotective protein DJ-1, whose deletion is sufficient to cause genetic PD, is also known to have mitochondria-stabilizing properties. We have previously shown that DJ-1 is over-expressed in PD astrocytes, and that DJ-1 deficiency impairs the capacity of astrocytes to protect co-cultured neurons against rotenone. Since DJ-1 modulated, astrocyte-mediated neuroprotection against rotenone may depend upon proper astrocytic mitochondrial functioning, we hypothesized that DJ-1 deficiency would impair astrocyte mitochondrial motility, fission/fusion dynamics, membrane potential maintenance, and respiration, both at baseline and as an enhancement of rotenone-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. In astrocyte-enriched cultures, we observed that DJ-1 knock-down reduced mitochondrial motility primarily in the cellular processes of both untreated and rotenone treated cells. In these same cultures, DJ-1 knock-down did not appreciably affect mitochondrial fission, fusion, or respiration, but did enhance rotenone-induced reductions in the mitochondrial membrane potential. In neuron-astrocyte co-cultures, astrocytic DJ-1 knock-down reduced astrocyte process mitochondrial motility in untreated cells, but this effect was not maintained in the presence of rotenone. In the same co-cultures, astrocytic DJ-1 knock-down significantly reduced mitochondrial fusion in the astrocyte cell bodies, but not the processes, under the same conditions of rotenone treatment in which DJ-1 deficiency is known to impair astrocyte-mediated neuroprotection. Our studies therefore demonstrated the following new findings: (i) DJ-1 deficiency can impair astrocyte mitochondrial physiology at multiple levels, (ii) astrocyte mitochondrial dynamics vary with sub-cellular region, and (iii) the physical presence of neurons can affect astrocyte mitochondrial behavior.

Differential effects of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines alone or in combinations on the metabolic profile of astrocytes

We have previously reported that the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induce profound modifications of the metabolic profile of astrocytes. The present study was undertaken to further characterize the effects of cytokines in astrocytes and to determine whether similar effects could also be observed in neurons. To do so, selected pro-inflammatory (IL-6 and interferon-γ, in addition to the above-mentioned TNFα and IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β1 and interferon-β) were applied to primary neuronal and astrocytic cultures, and key metabolic parameters were assessed. As a general pattern, we observed that pro-inflammatory cytokines increased glucose utilization in astrocytes while the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 decreased astrocytic glucose utilization. In contrast, no significant change could be observed in neurons. When pairs of pro-inflammatory cytokines were co-applied in astrocytes, several additive or synergistic modifications could be observed. In contrast, IL-10 partially attenuated the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, the modifications of the astrocytic metabolism induced by TNFα + IL-1β and interferon-γ modulated neuronal susceptibility to an excitotoxic insult in neuron-astrocyte co-cultures. Together, these results suggest that pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines differentially affect the metabolic profile of astrocytes, and that these changes have functional consequences for surrounding neurons.

Morphine Modulation of Thrombospondin Levels in Astrocytes and Its Implications for Neurite Outgrowth and Synapse Formation

Opioid receptor signaling via EGF receptor (EGFR) transactivation and ERK/MAPK phosphorylation initiates diverse cellular responses that are cell type-dependent. In astrocytes, multiple μ opioid receptor-mediated mechanisms of ERK activation exist that are temporally distinctive and feature different outcomes. Upon discovering that chronic opiate treatment of rats down-regulates thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) expression in the nucleus accumbens and cortex, we investigated the mechanism of action of this modulation in astrocytes. TSP1 is synthesized in astrocytes and is released into the extracellular matrix where it is known to play a role in synapse formation and neurite outgrowth. Acute morphine (hours) reduced TSP1 levels in astrocytes. Chronic (days) opioids repressed TSP1 gene expression and reduced its protein levels by μ opioid receptor and ERK-dependent mechanisms in astrocytes. Morphine also depleted TSP1 levels stimulated by TGFβ1 and abolished ERK activation induced by this factor. Chronic morphine treatment of astrocyte-neuron co-cultures reduced neurite outgrowth and synapse formation. Therefore, inhibitory actions of morphine were detected after both acute and chronic treatments. An acute mechanism of morphine signaling to ERK that entails depletion of TSP1 levels was suggested by inhibition of morphine activation of ERK by a function-blocking TSP1 antibody. This raises the novel possibility that acute morphine uses TSP1 as a source of EGF-like ligands to activate EGFR. Chronic morphine inhibition of TSP1 is reminiscent of the negative effect of μ opioids on EGFR-induced astrocyte proliferation via a phospho-ERK feedback inhibition mechanism. Both of these variations of classical EGFR transactivation may enable opiates to diminish neurite outgrowth and synapse formation.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects neurons from GdCl3-induced impairment in neuron-astrocyte co-cultures

Gadolinium (Gd3+) complexes are important contrast agents in medical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and of great potential value in brain research. In order to better understand the mechanisms of the action of Gd3+ on neurons in the complex central nervous system (CNS), the neurotoxic actions of GdCl3 have been investigated in both neuron monoculture and astrocyte-neuron co-culture systems. Measurements of lactate dehydrogenase release showed that GdCl3 causes significant cell death of monocultured neurons as a result of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and down-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, GdCl3 does not affect the viability and BDNF expression of astrocytes. Both co-culturing of neurons with astrocytes and addition of BDNF ameliorated GdCl3-induced neurotoxicity by decreasing ROS generation and facilitating recovery of BDNF levels. The results obtained suggest that astrocytes in the CNS may protect neurons from GdCl3-induced impairment through secreting BDNF and thus up-regulating BDNF expression and interfering with Gd3+-induced cell signaling in neurons. A possible molecular mechanism is suggested which should be helpful in understanding the neurotoxic actions of gadolinium probes.

Angiotensin receptor type 1 antagonists protect against neuronal injury induced by oxygen–glucose depletion

Several clinical trials and in vivo animal experiments have suggested that blockade of angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT(1)) improves ischaemic outcomes. However, the mechanism(s) underlying these effects has not been elucidated. Here, we have investigated the protective effects of pretreatment with AT(1) receptor antagonists, losartan or telmisartan, against ischaemic insult to neurons in vitro. Primary rat neuron-astrocyte co-cultures and astrocyte-defined medium (ADM)-cultured pure astrocyte cultures were prepared. Ischaemic injury was modelled by oxygen-glucose depletion (OGD) and lactate dehydrogenase release after OGD was measured with or without AT(1) receptor antagonists or agonists (L162313), AT(2) receptor antagonist (PD123319) or agonist (CGP-42112A) pretreatment, for 48 h. Activity of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) was evaluated by [(3)H]-glutamate uptake assays, after AT(1) receptor agonists or antagonists. Immunoblot and real-time PCR were used for analysis of protein and mRNA levels of GLT-1. AT(1) receptor agonists augmented OGD-induced cellular damage, which was attenuated by AT(1) receptor antagonists. AT(1) receptor antagonists also suppressed OGD-induced extracellular glutamate release, reactive oxygen species production and nitric oxide generation. GLT-1 expression and glutamate uptake activity were significantly enhanced by AT(1) receptor antagonists and impaired by AT(1) receptor agonists. AT(1) receptor stimulation suppressed both ADM-induced GLT-1 protein expression and mRNA levels. AT(1)b receptor knock-down with siRNA enhanced GLT-1 expression. In postnatal (P1-P21) rat brains, protein levels of GLT-1 and AT(1) receptors were inversely correlated. Suppression of AT(1) receptor stimulation induced GLT-1 up-regulation, which ameliorated effects of ischaemic injury.

A genetically targeted optical sensor to monitor calcium signals in astrocyte processes

Calcium signaling is studied as a potential form of astrocyte excitability that may control astrocyte involvement in synaptic and cerebrovascular regulation. Fundamental questions remain unanswered about astrocyte calcium signaling, as current methods can not resolve calcium in small volume compartments, such as near the cell membrane and in distal cell processes. We modified the genetically encoded calcium sensor GCaMP2 with a membrane-tethering domain, Lck, increasing the level of Lck-GCaMP2 near the plasma membrane tenfold as compared with conventional GCaMP2. Using Lck-GCaMP2 in rat hippocampal astrocyte-neuron cocultures, we measured near-membrane calcium signals that were evoked pharmacologically or by single action potential-mediated neurotransmitter release. Moreover, we identified highly localized and frequent spontaneous calcium signals in astrocyte somata and processes that conventional GCaMP2 failed to detect. Lck-GCaMP2 acts as a genetically targeted calcium sensor for monitoring calcium signals in previously inaccessible parts of astrocytes, including fine processes.

Amyloid-β Aggregates Cause Alterations of Astrocytic Metabolic Phenotype: Impact on Neuronal Viability

Amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptides play a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and exert various toxic effects on neurons; however, relatively little is known about their influence on glial cells. Astrocytes play a pivotal role in brain homeostasis, contributing to the regulation of local energy metabolism and oxidative stress defense, two aspects of importance for neuronal viability and function. In the present study, we explored the effects of Abeta peptides on glucose metabolism in cultured astrocytes. Following Abeta(25-35) exposure, we observed an increase in glucose uptake and its various metabolic fates, i.e., glycolysis (coupled to lactate release), tricarboxylic acid cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, and incorporation into glycogen. Abeta increased hydrogen peroxide production as well as glutathione release into the extracellular space without affecting intracellular glutathione content. A causal link between the effects of Abeta on glucose metabolism and its aggregation and internalization into astrocytes through binding to members of the class A scavenger receptor family could be demonstrated. Using astrocyte-neuron cocultures, we observed that the overall modifications of astrocyte metabolism induced by Abeta impair neuronal viability. The effects of the Abeta(25-35) fragment were reproduced by Abeta(1-42) but not by Abeta(1-40). Finally, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) pathway appears to be crucial in these events since both the changes in glucose utilization and the decrease in neuronal viability are prevented by LY294002, a PI3-kinase inhibitor. This set of observations indicates that Abeta aggregation and internalization into astrocytes profoundly alter their metabolic phenotype with deleterious consequences for neuronal viability.

In Situ Mitochondrial Ca2+ Buffering Differences of Intact Neurons and Astrocytes from Cortex and Striatum

The striatum is particularly vulnerable to neurological disorders, such as Huntington disease. Previous studies, with nonsynaptic mitochondria isolated from cortical and striatal homogenates, suggest that striatal mitochondria are highly vulnerable to Ca(2+) loads, possibly influencing striatal vulnerability. However, whether and how neuronal and glial mitochondria from cortex and striatum differ in Ca(2+) vulnerability remains unknown. We test this hypothesis using a novel strategy allowing comparisons of mitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering capacity in cortical and striatal neuron-astrocyte co-cultures. We provide original evidence that mitochondria not only in neurons but also in astrocytes from striatal origin exhibit a decreased Ca(2+) buffering capacity when compared with cortical counterparts. The decreased mitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering capacity in striatal versus cortical astrocytes does not stem from variation in mitochondrial concentration or in the rate of intracellular Ca(2+) elevation, being mechanistically linked to an increased propensity to undergo cyclosporin A (CsA)-sensitive permeability transition. Indeed, 1 microm CsA selectively increased the mitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering capacity of striatal astrocytes, without modifying that of neurons or cortical astrocytes. Neither thapsigargin nor FK506 modified mitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering differences between cell types, excluding a predominant contribution of endoplasmic reticulum or calcineurin. These results provide additional insight into the mechanisms of striatal vulnerability, showing that the increased Ca(2+) vulnerability of striatal versus cortical mitochondria resides in both intact neurons and astrocytes, thus positioning the striatum at greater risk for disturbed neuron-astrocyte interactions. Also, the selective effect of CsA over striatal astrocytes suggests that in vivo neuronal sheltering with this compound may indirectly result from astrocytic protection.

Progesterone Influence on Neurite Outgrowth Involves Microglia

Progesterone (P4) antagonizes estradiol (E2) in synaptic remodeling in the hippocampus during the rat estrous cycle. To further understand how P4 modulates synaptic plasticity, we used entorhinal cortex lesions, which induce E2-dependent neurite sprouting in the hippocampus. In young ovariectomized rats, the E2-dependent entorhinal cortex lesion-induced sprouting was attenuated by concurrent treatment with P4 and E2. Microglial activation also showed the E2-P4 antagonism. These findings extend reports on the estrous cycle synaptic remodeling without lesions by showing the P4-E2 antagonism during simultaneous treatment with both E2 and P4. Glial mechanisms were analyzed with the wounding-in-a-dish model of cocultured glia and embryonic d-18 cortical neurons from rat. In cocultures of mixed glia (astrocytes plus 30% microglia), P4 antagonized the E2-dependent neurite outgrowth (number and length) and neuron viability in the presence of E2, as observed in vivo. However, removal of microglia (astrocyte-neuron coculture) abolished the antagonism of E2 by P4 on neuron sprouting. The P4 receptor antagonists ORG-31710 and RU-486 blocked the antagonism of P4 on E2-dependent sprouting. These findings suggest a new role for microglia in P4 antagonism of E2 in neuronal plasticity and show its dependence on progesterone receptors. These findings are also relevant to the inclusion of progestins in hormone therapy, which is controversial in relation to cognitive declines during aging and in Alzheimer's disease.

P2Y1 receptor signaling enhances neuroprotection by astrocytes against oxidative stress via IL‐6 release in hippocampal cultures

Cell survival is a critical issue in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases and following pathological events including ischemia and traumatic brain injury. Oxidative stress is the main cause of cell damage in such pathological conditions. Here, we report that adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) protects hippocampal astrocytes from hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-evoked oxidative injury in astrocyte monocultures. The effect of ATP was prevented by a selective antagonist of or siRNAs against P2Y(1)R. Interestingly, in astrocyte-neuron cocultures, ATP also produced neuroprotective effects against H(2)O(2)-evoked neuronal cell death, whereas ATP did not produce any neuroprotective effects in monocultures. The ATP-induced neuroprotection in cocultures was completely inhibited by silencing of astrocytic P2Y(1)R expression, indicating that ATP acts on astrocytes and enhances their neuroprotective functions by activating P2Y(1)R. Furthermore, this neuroprotective effect was mimicked by applying conditioned medium from astrocytes that had been stimulated by ATP, implying an involvement of diffusible factors from astrocytes. We found that, in both purified astrocyte cultures and astrocyte-neuronal cocultures, ATP and the P2Y(1)R agonist 2-methylthioadenosine 5' diphosphate (2MeSADP) induced the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6), but this did not occur in neuron monocultures. Moreover, exogenous IL-6 produced a neuroprotective effect, and the neuroprotection induced by P2Y(1)R-stimulated astrocytes was prevented in the presence of an anti-IL-6 antibody. Taken together, these results suggest that P2Y(1)R-stimulated astrocytes protect against neuronal damage induced by oxidative stress, and that IL-6 is a crucial signaling molecule released from astrocytes. Thus, activation of P2Y(1)R in astrocytes may rescue neurons from secondary cell death under pathological conditions.