Primary Astrocyte Cell Cultures Research Articles

MicroRNA-338 inhibition protects against focal cerebral ischemia and preserves mitochondrial function in vitro in astrocytes and neurons via COX4I1

Brain-enriched microRNA-338 (miR-338) is known to play a central role in brain mitochondrial function, however the role of miR-338 in stroke injury remains unknown. This study investigated the role of miR-338 in injury from transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice, and in cell survival and mitochondrial function after in vitro ischemia in astrocyte and neuronal cultures. Pre-treatment of mice with intracerebroventricular injection of miR-338 antagomir 24 h prior to 1 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) significantly reduced infarct size and improved neurological score at both 24 h and 7d after injury. Levels of the miR-338 target cytochrome-c oxidase subunit 4I1 (COX4I1), which plays an essential role in maintaining brain mitochondrial ATP production, were increased in miR-338 antagomir-treated mice. Mouse primary astrocyte cell cultures subjected to glucose deprivation exhibited increased cell survival when pre-treated with miR-338 inhibitor, and greater cell death with miR-338 mimic. Decreased miR-338 levels were associated with increased ATP production, augmented cytochrome c oxidative (CcO) activity and preservation of COX4I1. In vitro protection with miR-338 inhibitor was blocked by concurrent knockdown of COX4I1 with small interfering RNA. Parallel studies in mouse neuronal N2a cultures resulted in preserved ATP content and CcO activity with miR-338 inhibition, indicating a shared miR-338-dependent response to ischemic stress between brain cell types. These results suggest that miR-338 inhibition and/or COX4I1-targeted therapies may be novel clinical strategies to protect against stroke injury via preservation of mitochondrial function in multiple cell types.

Impact of Medium-Sized Extracellular Vesicles on the Transduction Efficiency of Adeno-Associated Viruses in Neuronal and Primary Astrocyte Cell Cultures

(1) Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are safe and efficient gene therapy vectors with promising results in the treatment of several diseases. Extracellular vesicles (EV) are phospholipid bilayer-surrounded structures carrying several types of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids with the ability to cross biological barriers. EV-associated AAVs might serve as new and efficient gene therapy vectors considering that they carry the benefits of both AAVs and EVs. (2) We tested vesicle-associated AAVs and vesicles mixed with AAVs on two major cell types of the central nervous system: a neural cell line (N2A) and primary astrocyte cells. (3) In contrast to previously published in vivo observations, the extracellular vesicle packaging did not improve but, in the case of primary astrocyte cells, even inhibited the infection capacity of the AAV particles. The observed effect was not due to the inhibitory effects of the vesicles themselves, since mixing the AAVs with extracellular vesicles did not change the effectiveness. (4) Our results suggest that improvement of the in vivo efficacy of the EV-associated AAV particles is not due to the enhanced interaction between the AAV and the target cells, but most likely to the improved delivery of the AAVs through tissue barriers and to the shielding of AAVs from neutralizing antibodies.

Irisin Exerts Neuroprotective Effects on Cultured Neurons by Regulating Astrocytes

Neurons suffer detrimental effects from β-amyloid toxicity in Alzheimer's disease. The exercise hormone, irisin, is found to induce a neuroprotective gene program and facilitates the beneficial effects on cognitive function. But no effort is made to test its direct protective effects on neurons against the Aβ-induced cell toxicity so far. In the present study, we investigated whether irisin could protect neurons against Aβ- (25–35) induced cell damage and explored the possible underlying mechanisms. Primary cell cultures of astrocytes and neurons were established. Conditioned medium from astrocyte was collected for the treatment and biochemistry assay study. To explore the protein expression changes, Western blot and ELISA assays were used in these in vitro cell culture models. Exposure of hippocampal neurons to 10 μM Aβ (25–35) caused significant reduction on cell viability, and the toxic effect was not significantly reduced by the coadministration of irisin. However, pretreated astrocyte-conditioned medium with irisin for 12 hours notably protected the neurons from the toxicity of Aβ. Also, we found that irisin could attenuate the release of IL-6 and IL-1β from cultured astrocytes and decrease the expression level of COX-2 and phosphorylation of AKT. Last, we found that irisin could reduce NFκB activation in astrocyte exposed to Aβ by preventing the phosphorylation and the loss of IκBα. Our finding may provide novel evidence for the future application of irisin in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and the memory dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

Astragaloside IV attenuates penicillin-induced epilepsy via inhibiting activation of the MAPK signaling pathway

Astrocytes perform several functions in the brain and spinal cord. Penicillin is commonly used for establishment of experimental epilepsy models. Previous studies have demonstrated that astragaloside IV (3-o-β-d-xylopyranosyl-6-o-β-d-glucopyranosyl-cycloastragenol; AS‑IV) has comprehensive pharmacological functions on the attenuation of inflammation. In the present study, primary astrocyte cell cultures were divided into three groups: Control group, penicillin (2,500µM) treatment group (epilepsy model), and penicillin+AS‑IV (20, 40, 80 and 160µmol/l) treatment group. The expression levels of inflammatory factors, including interleukin‑1β and tumor necrosis factor‑α, were determined in the groups using western blot and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. The levels of members of the phosphorylated‑mitogen‑activated protein kinase (p‑MAPK) family, including p‑c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase 1/2, p‑extracellular signal‑regulated protein kinase 1/2 and p‑p38, were determined using western blot analysis. Cell viability of the astrocytes was detected using a 3‑(4,5‑dimethyl‑2‑thiazolyl)‑2,5‑diphenyl‑2‑H‑tetrazolium bromide assay and cell proliferation was evaluated using a Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay. The results revealed that AS‑IV significantly suppressed the expression of penicillin‑induced inflammatory factors in the astrocytes at the transcriptional and translational levels, and occurred in a dose‑dependent manner. The penicillin‑induced increase in the protein levels of the the p‑MAPK family were notably decreased by AS‑IV. In addition, the penicillin‑induced downregulation of primary astrocyte viability/cell proliferation was significantly reversed by the administration of AS‑IV. From these results, it was concluded that AS‑IV suppressed the penicillin‑induced upregulation of inflammatory factors and p‑MAPK in astrocytes, ultimately attenuating epilepsy.

Hyperhomocysteinemia causes ER stress and impaired autophagy that is reversed by Vitamin B supplementation.

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is a well-known risk factor for stroke; however, its underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Using both mouse and cell culture models, we have provided evidence that impairment of autophagy has a central role in HHcy-induced cellular injury in the mouse brain. We observed accumulation of LC3B-II and p62 that was associated with increased MTOR signaling in human and mouse primary astrocyte cell cultures as well as a diet-induced mouse model of HHcy, HHcy decreased lysosomal membrane protein LAMP2, vacuolar ATPase (ATP6V0A2), and protease cathepsin D, suggesting that lysosomal dysfunction also contributed to the autophagic defect. Moreover, HHcy increased unfolded protein response. Interestingly, Vitamin B supplementation restored autophagic flux, alleviated ER stress, and reversed lysosomal dysfunction due to HHCy. Furthermore, the autophagy inducer, rapamycin was able to relieve ER stress and reverse lysosomal dysfunction caused by HHcy in vitro. Inhibition of autophagy by HHcy exacerbated cellular injury during oxygen and glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R), and oxidative stress. These effects were prevented by Vitamin B co-treatment, suggesting that it may be helpful in relieving detrimental effects of HHcy in ischemia/reperfusion or oxidative stress. Collectively, these findings show that Vitamin B therapy can reverse defects in cellular autophagy and ER stress due to HHcy; and thus may be a potential treatment to reduce ischemic damage caused by stroke in patients with HHcy.

PPAR- γ impairment alters peroxisome functionality in primary astrocyte cell cultures.

Peroxisomes provide glial cells with protective functions against the harmful effects of H2O2 on neurons and peroxisome impairment results in nervous lesions. Agonists of the γ-subtype of the Peroxisome-Proliferator-Activated-Receptors (PPAR) have been proposed as neuroprotective agents in neurodegenerative disorders. Nevertheless, the role of PPAR-γ alterations in pathophysiological mechanisms and the relevance of peroxisome functions in the PPAR-γ effects are not yet clear. In a primary cell culture of rat astrocytes, the irreversible PPAR-γ antagonist GW9662 concentration-dependently decreased the activity of catalase, the most important antioxidant defense enzyme in peroxisomes. Catalase functionality recovered in a few days and the PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone promoted reversal of enzymatic damage. The reversible antagonist G3335 reduced both the activity and expression of catalase in a rosiglitazone-prevented manner. G3335 reduced also the glutathione reductase expression, indicating that enzyme involved in glutathione regeneration was compromised. Neither the PPAR-α target gene Acyl-Coenzyme-A-oxidase-1 nor the mitochondrial detoxifying enzyme NADH:ubiquinone-oxidoreductase (NDFUS3) was altered by PPAR-γ inhibition. In conclusion, PPAR-γ inhibition induced impairment of catalase in astrocytes. A general decrease of the antioxidant defenses of the cell suggests that a PPAR-γ hypofunction could participate in neurodegenerative mechanisms through peroxisomal damage. This series of experiments could be a useful model for studying compounds able to restore peroxisome functionality.

A sensitive HPLC-based method to quantify adenine nucleotides in primary astrocyte cell cultures

In mono-layered primary cell cultures baseline AMP and ADP levels are found nominally in the mid to low picomolar range and are thus difficult to measure with conventional HPLC methods that often require the pooling of samples or require indirect detection methods using radiotracers or enzyme coupled assays. To address this issue, we developed a highly sensitive and selective ion-pairing HPLC method with fluorescence detection to quantify adenine nucleotides and the adenylate energy charge in primary astrocyte cell cultures. To accomplish this, we optimized the fluorescence derivatization conditions and the HPLC parameters to achieve baseline separation and quantification of all adenine nucleotides. Nucleotides were converted to their respective 1, N6-etheno derivatives by incubating with chloroacetaldehyde at pH 4.5 and 60°C for 60min. Under these conditions, the loss of the adenine nucleotides due to hydrolysis was minimized with a derivatization yield of 94.1% for 1, N6-ethenoadenosine. The optimal concentration of tetrabutylammonium phosphate, the ion-pairing reagent, required to achieve a reproducible separation of the adenine nucleotides was found to be 0.8mM. Calibration curves of nucleotide standards were linear within the range of 0.16–10.4pmol for adenosine, 0.16–20.6pmol for AMP, 0.15–19.2pmol for ADP, and 0.15–19.5pmol for ATP. The limits of detection and quantification for all adenine nucleotides were approximately 0.08 and 0.16pmol, respectively. The intra- and inter-day variability for this method was less than 5.1 and 3.4%, respectively. This method was successfully used to measure all adenine nucleotides and an adenylate energy charge of 0.92±0.02 in primary astrocyte cell cultures.

Influence of rat substrain and growth conditions on the characteristics of primary cultures of adult rat spinal cord astrocytes

Primary astrocyte cell cultures have become a valuable tool for studies of signaling pathways that regulate astrocyte physiology, reactivity, and function; however, differences in culture preparation affect data reproducibility. The aim of this work was to define optimal conditions for obtaining primary astrocytes from adult rat spinal cord with an expression profile most similar to adult human spinal cord astrocytes. Hence, we examined whether different Sprague–Dawley substrains and culture conditions affect astrocyte culture quality.Medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum from three sources (Sigma, Gibco, Hyclone) or a medium with defined composition (AM medium) was used to culture astrocytes isolated from spinal cords of adult Harlan and Charles River Spraque–Dawley rats. Purity was significantly different between cultures established in media with different sera. No microglia were detected in AM or Hyclone cultures. Gene expression was also affected, with AM cultures expressing the highest level of glutamine synthetase, connexin-43, and glutamate transporter-1.Interestingly, cell response to starvation was substrain dependent. Charles River-derived cultures responded the least, while astrocytes derived from Harlan rats showed a greater decrease in Gfap and glutamine synthetase, suggesting a more quiescent phenotype. Human and Harlan astrocytes cultured in AM media responded similarly to starvation. Taken together, this study shows that rat substrain and growth medium composition affect purity, expression profile and response to starvation of primary astrocytes suggesting that cultures of Harlan rats in AM media have optimal astrocyte characteristics, purity, and similarity to human astrocytes.

Differential Modulation of Growth and Glutathione Metabolism in Cultured Rat Astrocytes by 4-Hydroxynonenal and Green Tea Polyphenol, Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer and prominent neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Apoptosis and cell cycle deregulation appear to be the mode of cell death in these disorders. Green tea polyphenol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been shown to be a potent anti-inflammatory, apoptotic and cancer chemopreventive agent. 4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE), a by-product of lipid peroxidation (LPO), has been reported to induce apoptosis and inhibit growth in many cell systems including neuroglial cultures. We have studied both the dose and time dependent effects of HNE and EGCG on the viability of primary astrocyte cell cultures prepared from neonatal rats. HNE was found to be cytotoxic at a higher dose (0.1 mM) and markedly reduced (up to 80%) the astrocyte viability while EGCG did not appear to be cytotoxic under similar conditions. In addition, we have also studied the alterations in glutathione (GSH) and LPO levels and the activities of GSH metabolizing enzymes after treatment with HNE and EGCG. A 40% decrease in GSH level and a moderate increase in LPO were observed in HNE treated cells suggesting an increase in oxidative stress. HNE treatment caused a 50% decrease in GSH reductase and a 35% increase in GSH peroxidase activities. Although HNE treatment did not lead to any significant alterations in GSH- S-transferase (GST) activity, an increased expression of GST isoenzymes was seen following the exposure to HNE. EGCG treatment caused a significant increase in LPO even in the presence of elevated GSH content. In contrast to HNE, EGCG treatment resulted in a significant decrease (50%) in the activity and expression of GSTs. Treatment of astrocyte cultures with HNE, resulted in a severe impairment in mitochondrial respiration as measured by MTT exclusion assay, while treatment with EGCG had no effect on mitochondrial respiratory activity. Both HNE and EGCG were found to initiate apoptosis in astrocytes as measured by DNA fragmentation assay. However, HNE seems to be a stronger apoptotic and cytotoxic agent than EGCG. These results suggest that HNE and EGCG differentially modulate oxidative stress and regulate the growth and survival of astrocytes.