Lactacystin Stimulates Stellation of Cultured Rat Cortical Astrocytes

Proteasome inhibition has been observed in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Here, the effect of proteasome inhibition on the morphology of cultured rat cortical astrocytes was investigated. Increasing evidence suggests that the function of astrocytes is related closely to its morphology. Lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of the 20S proteasome, can induce astrocytes stellation in a dose dependent manner and reorganize the cytoskeleton of astrocytes. Furthermore, decreased levels of expression of Rho A, total Akt, and Phospho-Akt were found in the process of astrocytes stellation and lysophosphatidic acid, an activator of Rho A, can largely reverse the astrocytes stellation caused by lactacystin. This suggests that proteasome inhibition in astrocytes could stabilize signals of morphological changes that might be processed through Rho and Akt signaling cascade. Our results suggest that proteasome inhibition might function as a factor regulating astrocytes morphology in some pathophysiological conditions. Qing-Guo Ren and Ying Yu contributed equally to this work.     

Taurine Release Is Enhanced in Cell-Damaging Conditions in Cultured Cerebral Cortical Astrocytes

The release of preloaded [³H]taurine from cultured cerebral cortical astrocytes was studied under various cell-damaging conditions, including hypoxia, ischemia, aglycemia and oxidative stress, and in the presence of free radicals. Astrocytic taurine release was enhanced by K⁺ (50 mM), veratridine (0.1 mM) and the ionotropic glutamate receptor agonist kainate (1.0 mM). Metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists had only weak effects on taurine release. Similarly to the swelling-induced taurine release the efflux in normoxia seems to be mediated mainly by DIDS-(diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulphonate) and SITS-(4-acetamido-4-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulphonate) sensitive CI^– channels, since these blockers were able to reduce both basal and K⁺ -stimulated release. The basal release of taurine was moderately enhanced in hypoxia and ischemia, whereas the potentiation in the presence of free radicals was marked. The small basal release from astrocytes signifies that taurine release from brain tissue in ischemia may originate from neurons rather than glial cells. On the other hand, the release evoked by K⁺ in hypoxia and ischemia was greater than in normoxia, with a very slow time-course. The enhanced release of the inhibitory amino acid taurine from astrocytes in ischemia may be beneficial to surrounding neurons, outlasting the initial stimulus and counteracting overexcitation.     

Modulation of Adhesion Molecule Expression on Rat Cortical Astrocytes During Maturation

Abstract: During development of the vertebrate CNS the functional properties of astrocytes change significantly. Many of these functional changes result from modifications in the expression of cell surface adhesion molecules on astrocytes that mediate the interactions of astrocytes with other astrocytes, neurons, and growing axons. In this study we have compared the cell surface expression of HNK-1, NCAM, and laminin on rat cortical type-I-like astrocytes during maturation in vitro and in vivo. Both the proportion of immunoreactive cells and the relative levels of expression of these antigens on different aged astrocyte populations were assayed by flow cytometry. At birth, most cortical type-I astrocytes express high levels of HNK-1 and NCAM, while ∼50% of the cells express laminin. During maturation in vitro, the proportion of cortical astrocytes that expressed these surface molecules decreased over a period of 28 days, even though cell size and glial fibrillary acidic protein content increased. During maturation in vivo, a qualitatively and temporally similar decrease in antigen expression on astrocytes was observed. This reduction in the expression of specific cell surface molecules on maturing astrocytes results from maturation of a single population of astrocytes and not differential proliferation of a nonexpressing subpopulation of astrocytes, as shown by cell cycle analysis of both immunoreactive and nonimmunoreactive cell populations. These data indicate that during maturation of rat cortical type-I-like astrocytes, the expression of cell surface adhesion molecules is regulated. Furthermore, this regulation appears to be cell autonomous and not dependent on environmental factors. Such regulation of adhesion molecule expression may have profound consequences for the functional properties of astrocytes during CNS maturation.     

N-Methyl-d-Aspartate- and Non-N-Methyl-d-Aspartate-Evoked Adenosine Release from Rat Cortical Slices: Distinct Purinergic Sources and Mechanisms of Release

Abstract: Excitatory amino acids, acting at both N methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors, release the inhibitory neuromodulator adenosine from superfused rat cortical slices. This study was initiated to investigate the possible purinergic sources and mechanisms of release for the adenosine release evoked by NMDA and non-NMDA receptor activation. Inhibition of the bidirectional nucleo-side transporter with dipyridamole greatly enhanced adenosine release evoked by glutamate, NMDA, kainate, and ( RS -α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA). Inhibition of ecto -5'-nucleotidase with α,β-methylene ADP and GMP had no effect on either kainateor AMPA-evoked adenosine release, but it decreased glutamate- and NMDA-evoked adenosine release by 23 and 68%, respectively. A similar inhibition of NMDA-evoked adenosine release was observed with α,β-methylene ADP alone, indicating that the inhibitory effect was not due to the reported competitive inhibition of NMDA receptors by GMP. Finally, NMDA-evoked adenosine release, but not kainate- or AMPA-evoked release, was Ca²⁺ dependent. These results indicate that activation of non-NMDA receptors releases adenosine per se in a Ca²⁺-independent manner. In contrast, NMDA receptor activation releases primarily a nucleotide that is subsequently converted extracellularly to adenosine; in this case, release is Ca²⁺ dependent. Although neither NMDA- nor non-NMDA-evoked adenosine release occurs via the nucleoside transporter, this transporter does appear to be a major route for removal of adenosine from the extracellular space.     

Creatine Kinase Activity in Postnatal Rat Brain Development and in Cultured Neurons, Astrocytes, and Oligodendrocytes

The development and distribution of cytosolic creatine kinase (CK) activity was studied in rat brain and in cell culture. The activity of CK in whole brain increased almost fivefold during the period from birth to day 40 when adult levels of 18-19 U/mg of protein were attained. The distribution of CK activity was examined in dissected regions of the adult brain and was nonuniform; the cerebellum, the striatum, and the pyramidal tracts contained significantly higher CK activity than did whole brain. The cellular compartmentation of CK was investigated using primary cultures of purified neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. The CK activity in neurons increased fourfold greater than that measured at the time of isolation to 4 U/mg of protein. The CK activity in astrocytes cultured for 20 days was 3.5 U/mg of protein and was 1.5-fold greater than that measured at the time of isolation. In contrast, the CK activity in cultured oligodendrocytes (day 20) was three- to fourfold higher than that determined in astrocytes and almost sevenfold higher than the activity measured at the time the cells were isolated. The high levels of CK in cultured oligodendrocytes suggest a role for this enzyme in oligodendrocyte function and/or myelinogenesis.     

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Cortical Astrocytes

Astrocytes are an abundant cell type in the mammalian brain, yet much remains to be learned about their molecular and functional characteristics. In vitro astrocyte cell culture systems can be used to study the biological functions of these glial cells in detail. This video protocol shows how to obtain pure astrocytes by isolation and culture of mixed cortical cells of mouse pups. The method is based on the absence of viable neurons and the separation of astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia, the three main glial cell populations of the central nervous system, in culture. Representative images during the first days of culture demonstrate the presence of a mixed cell population and indicate the timepoint, when astrocytes become confluent and should be separated from microglia and oligodendrocytes. Moreover, we demonstrate purity and astrocytic morphology of cultured astrocytes using immunocytochemical stainings for well established and newly described astrocyte markers. This culture system can be easily used to obtain pure mouse astrocytes and astrocyte-conditioned medium for studying various aspects of astrocyte biology.     

High Sensitivity of Glutamate Uptake to Extracellular Free Arachidonic Acid Levels in Rat Cortical Synaptosomes and Astrocytes

By using both synaptosomes and cultured astrocytes from rat cerebral cortex, we have investigated the inhibitory action of arachidonic acid on the high-affinity glutamate uptake systems, focusing on the possible physiological significance of this mechanism. Application of arachidonic acid (1-100 microM) to either preparation leads to fast (within 30 s) and largely reversible reduction in the uptake rate. When either melittin (0.2-1 microgram/ml), a phospholipase A2 activator, or thimerosal (50-200 microM), which inhibits fatty acid reacylation in phospholipids, is applied to astrocytes, both an enhancement in extracellular free arachidonate and a reduction in glutamate uptake are seen. The two effects display similar dose dependency and time course. In particular, 10% uptake inhibition correlates with 30% elevation in free arachidonate, whereas inhibition greater than or equal to 60% is paralleled by threefold stimulation of arachidonate release. In the presence of albumin (1-10 mg/ml), a free fatty acid-binding protein, inhibition by either melittin, thimerosal, or arachidonic acid is prevented and an enhancement of glutamate uptake above the control levels is observed. Our data show that neuronal and glial glutamate transport systems are highly sensitive to changes in extracellular free arachidonate levels and suggest that uptake inhibition may be a relevant mechanism in the action of arachidonic acid at glutamatergic synapses.     

Peroxynitrite Anion Stimulates Arginine Release from Cultured Rat Astrocytes

The biosynthesis of the physiological messenger nitric oxide (*NO) in neuronal cells is thought to depend on a glial-derived supply of the *NO synthase substrate arginine. To expand our knowledge of the mechanism responsible for this glial-neuronal interaction, we studied the possible roles of peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-), superoxide anion (O2*-), *NO, and H2O2 in L-[3H]arginine release in cultured rat astrocytes. After 5 min of incubation at 37 degrees C, initial concentrations of 0.05-2 mM ONOO- stimulated the release of arginine from astrocytes in a concentration-dependent way; this effect was maximum from 1 mM ONOO- and proved to be approximately 400% as compared with control cells. ONOO(-)-mediated arginine release was prevented by arginine transport inhibitors, such as L-lysine and N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, suggesting an involvement of the arginine transporter in the effect of ONOO-. In situ xanthine/xanthine oxidase-generated O2*- (20 nmol/min) stimulated arginine release to a similar extent to that found with 0.1 mM ONOO-, but this effect was not prevented by arginine transport inhibitors. *NO donors, such as sodium nitroprusside, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, or 1-[2-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium+ ++-1,2-diolate, and H2O2 did not significantly modify arginine release. As limited arginine availability for neuronal *NO synthase activity may be neurotoxic due to ONOO- formation, our results suggest that ONOO(-)-mediated arginine release from astrocytes may contribute to replenishing neuronal arginine, hence avoiding further generation of ONOO- within these cells.     

Cyclic GMP Inhibits a Pharmacologically Distinct Na+/H+ Exchanger Variant in Cultured Rat Astrocytes via an Extracellular Site of Action

Abstract: There is growing evidence that cyclic GMP (cGMP) plays important roles in the brain. In cultured rat astrocytes, we observed that the cGMP-inducing C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and cGMP analogues caused a decrease in intracellular pH (pH_i). To examine whether this effect was due to inhibition of an Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger (NHE), we acidified cells by replacing extracellular Na⁺ by choline and examined the kinetics of the pH_i recovery that occurred on reintroduction of Na⁺ in the extracellular medium. Both CNP and amiloride analogues inhibited the Na⁺-dependent pH_i recovery, even in the nominal absence of CO₂/HCO₃^?. This indicated that CNP inhibited the activity of an exchanger that was Na⁺-dependent, HCO₃^?-independent, and sensitive to known inhibitors of NHE. However, comparison of the potencies of four distinct amiloride analogues revealed a pharmacological profile that was different from that of any other NHE characterized to date. cGMP mimicked the effect of CNP on sodium-dependent pH_i recovery, but the native nucleotide was as potent as membrane-permeant analogues. Intracellularly produced cGMP was very rapidly exported out of astrocytes. Probenecid and niflumic acid slowed down the rate of cGMP egression and inhibited the effect of CNP on Na⁺-dependent recovery, but not that of extracellular cGMP. Altogether, our data indicate that cGMP inhibits a novel type of NHE in astrocytes via an extracellular site of action. If these results with primary cultures transfer to brain, this phenomenon may constitute a mechanism by which natriuretic peptides exert some of their actions in the brain, as pH_i transients have been shown to modulate several important astrocytic functions.     

Potentiation by Thrombin of Hyposmotic Glutamate and Taurine Efflux from Cultured Astrocytes: Signalling Chains

Activation of protein-activated receptor (PAR-1) by thrombin potentiates the hyposmotic efflux of ³H-d-aspartate and ³H-taurine from cultured cerebellar astrocytes. This effect is mediated by a thrombin-elicited increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels [Ca²⁺]_i and the activation of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K). These signalling pathways operate independently showing additive effects if prevented simultaneously. The contribution of the Ca²⁺-mediated pathway to thrombin-increased d-aspartate or taurine efflux, evaluated by the inhibitory effect of preventing [Ca²⁺]_i rise, was higher for d-aspartate (64% efflux decrease) than for taurine (40% decrease). The PI3K blocker decreased 48% and 36% d-aspartate and taurine efflux, respectively. Hyposmolarity increases phosphorylation of EGFR and c-src, but thrombin did not enhance this effect. Blockade of EGFR/src phosphorylation marginally reduced (11–14%) the hyposmolarity plus thrombin efflux of d-aspartate; taurine efflux was more sensitive to these blockers (18–26%). Since thrombin has no effect increasing EGFR/src phosphorylation in astrocytes, the contribution of this transactivation pathway may represent the inhibition of the hyposmotic efflux solely. Special issue article in honor of Dr. Ricardo Tapia.     

Guanosine 5''-O-Thiotriphosphate and Sodium Fluoride Activate Polyphosphoinositide Hydrolysis in Rat Cortical Membranes by Distinct Mechanisms

NaF and guanosine 5'-O-thiotriphosphate [GTP(S)] stimulated the accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]InsP) in rat brain cortical membranes, with half-maximal stimulation at 2 mM and 1 microM, respectively. Calcium also increased basal [3H]InsP formation over a range of concentrations from 10(-7) to 10(-4) M. The stimulatory effect of GTP(S) (30 microM) on [3H]InsP production was insensitive to Ca2+, whereas NaF-evoked [3H]InsP formation was dependent on Ca2+ concentrations. Guanosine 5'-O-thiodiphosphate significantly attenuated GTP(S)- but not NaF-stimulated [3H]InsP production. Coincubation of GTP(S) (30 microM) and submaximal concentrations of NaF (1 or 3 mM) stimulated [3H]InsP formation to a degree that was nearly additive with that produced by either drug alone. However, the resultant accumulation of [3H]InsP in the presence of maximally effective concentrations of GTP(S) and NaF was not different from that produced by NaF alone. Incubation of cortical membranes with GTP(S) and NaF for 1 min stimulated the accumulation of [3H]inositol bisphosphate (InsP2) but not [3H]InsP. [3H]InsP2 production elicited by GTP(S) was markedly enhanced by the muscarinic cholinergic agonist carbachol. In contrast, NaF-stimulated [3H]InsP2 formation was not potentiated by carbachol. Our findings of different characteristics of GTP(S) and fluoride activation of polyphosphoinositide (PPI) hydrolysis suggest that separate regulatory mechanisms are involved in these two modes of stimulation in brain membranes. Activation of PPI hydrolysis by fluoride may be mediated by a direct stimulation of PPI phosphodiesterase or by activating a putative guanine nucleotide regulatory protein at a location distinct from the GTP-binding site.     

Substrate Competition Studies Demonstrate Oxidative Metabolism of Glucose,Glutamate, Glutamine,Lactate and 3-Hydroxybutyrate in Cortical Astrocytes from Rat Brain

Neurochemical Research - It is well established that astrocytes can utilize many substrates to support oxidative energy metabolism; however, use of energy substrates in the presence of other...     

Effects of Hypoxia and Oxidative Stress on Expression of Neprilysin in Human Neuroblastoma Cells and Rat Cortical Neurones and Astrocytes

Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterised by accumulation of extracellular deposits of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) in the brain, has recently been linked to vascular disorders such as ischemia and stroke. Aβ is constantly produced in the brain from amyloid precursor protein (APP) through its cleavage by β- and γ-secretases and certain Aβ species are toxic for neurones. The brain has an endogenous mechanism of Aβ removal via proteolytic degradation and the zinc metalloproteinase neprilysin (NEP) is a critical regulator of Aβ concentration. Down-regulation of NEP could predispose to AD. By comparing the effects of hypoxia and oxidative stress on expression and activity of the Aβ-degrading enzyme NEP in human neuroblastoma NB7 cells and rat primary cortical neurones we have demonstrated that hypoxia reduced NEP expression at the protein and mRNA levels as well as its activity. On contrary in astrocytes hypoxia increased NEP mRNA expression. Special issue dedicated to Dr. Moussa Youdim.     

Potassium-Stimulated Release of Radiolabelled Taurine and Glycine from the Isolated Rat Retina

Abstract: The release of preloaded [³H]glycine and [³H]taurine in response to a depolarising stimulus (12.5-50 m M KCl) has been studied in the superfused rat retina. High external potassium concentration immediately increased the spontaneous efflux of [3H]glycine, the effect of 50 m M K⁺ apparently being abolished by omitting calcium from the superfusing medium. In contrast, although high potassium concentrations increased the spontaneous emux of [³H]taurine from the superfused rat retina, this release was not evident until the depolarising stimulus was removed from the superfusing medium. The magnitude of this "late" release of [³H]taurine was dependent on external K⁺ concentrations, and appeared immediately after cessation of the stimulus irrespective of whether it was applied for 4, 8, or 12 min. Potassium (50 m M )-induced release of taurine appeared partially calcium-dependent, being significantly reduced (p < 0.01) but not abolished by replacing calcium with 1 mM EDTA in the superfusate. High-affinity uptake systems for both [³H]glycine and [³H]taurine were demonstrated in the rat retina in vitro ( K _m values, 1.67 μ M and 2.97 μ M ; V_max values, 19.3 and 23.1 nmol/g wet weight tissue/h, respectively). The results are discussed with respect to the possible neuro-transmitter roles of both amino acids in the rat retina.     

Opposite Regulation of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Nerve Growth Factor Gene Expression in Rat Cortical Astrocytes Following Dexamethasone Treatment

Abstract: Growth factors are peptides that exert different activities in the CNS, supporting the survival of different cell populations and playing an important role in the maintenance of cell homeostasis. Much evidence has suggested that these molecules can protect neurons from degeneration induced by mechanical injury or excitotoxic stimuli. Different factors can contribute to the regulation of neurotrophic factor expression in the brain. Such mechanisms may therefore be important in the manipulation of the levels of these peptides in specific brain areas as a therapeutic intervention in acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases. We have used a primary culture of rat cortical astrocytes to investigate the regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene expression in comparison with other neurotrophic molecules. Our results indicate that the glucocorticoid analogue dexamethasone markedly elevates bFGF mRNA levels but reduces the expression of nerve growth factor. The induction of bFGF was transient, as it peaked after 6 h and returned to basal levels within 24 h and was not blocked by coincubation of cycloheximide, thus indicating that it did not require de novo protein synthesis. This effect was also observed in vivo, as systemic injection of dexamethasone (1 or 10 mg/kg) produced a significant increase in the amount of bFGF mRNA in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The effect we describe can contribute to the regulation of bFGF expression in the brain and may be important in relation to the protective effect exerted by this growth factor in different models of neuronal injury.     

Manganese Uptake and Efflux in Cultured Rat Astrocytes

Astrocytes play a central role in manganese (Mn) regulation in the CNS. Using primary astrocyte cultures from neonatal rat brains, these studies demonstrate a specific high-affinity transport system for Mn2+. Saturation kinetics are clearly indicated by both 1/v versus 1/s plots (Km = 0.30 +/- 0.03 microM; Vmax = 0.30 +/- 0.02 nmol/mg of protein/min) and plots of v versus [s]. Several divalent cations (Co2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+) failed to inhibit the initial rate of 54Mn2+ uptake. In contrast, extracellular Ca2+ at 10 microM decreased 54Mn2+ uptake. Exchange with extracellular Mn2+ was not obligatory for the efflux of 54Mn2+ into extracellular medium because efflux occurred into Mn(2+)-free extracellular medium, but efflux of 54Mn2+ was enhanced when astrocytes were equilibrated in the presence of unlabeled Mn2+. Efflux of 54Mn2+ was biphasic with both a rapid and a slow component. Efflux was most rapid during the first 10 min of incubation, with 27.5 +/- 2.2% of 54Mn2+ transported extracellularly, and 37.2 +/- 1.2% of preloaded 54Mn2+ was retained by the astrocytes at 120 min. These studies show, for the first time, that mammalian astrocytes can transport Mn via a specific transport system.     

Cyclic AMP Inhibits Activation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Cell Proliferation in Response to Growth Factors in Cultured Rat Cortical Astrocytes

Abstract: The cyclic AMP (cAMP)-induced inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was examined through inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) activation in cultured rat cortical astrocytes. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) at 10 ng/ml maximally stimulated MAP kinase activity, which peaks during 10 min and prolonged for 24 h. Likewise, DNA synthesis was maximally potentiated with 10 ng/ml bFGF and correlated with MAP kinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) at 1 m M and isoproterenol at 10 µ M inhibited MAP kinase activation and DNA synthesis potentiation with bFGF and platelet-derived growth factor to the control level in cultured astrocytes and C6 glioma cells. The stimulation with bFGF caused a prominent translocation of MAP kinase from the cytosol to the nucleus after 1 h in astrocytes. Treatment of the cells with dbcAMP and isoproterenol completely prevented the translocation of MAP kinase. In experiments with ³²P-labeled cultured astrocytes, phosphorylation of Raf-1 was apparently stimulated with bFGF. Treatment with dbcAMP or isoproterenol had a greatly inhibitory effect on the stimulation of Raf-1 phosphorylation with bFGF. Consistent with the effect on Raf-1 phosphorylation, dbcAMP and isoproterenol completely prevented bFGF-induced phosphorylation of MAP kinase kinases, target proteins of Raf-1. Our observations suggest that cAMP-induced suppression of cell growth in astrocytes is due to the inhibitory effect on activation of MAP kinase and its translocation to the nucleus and that the site of the cAMP action is located at Raf-1 or the upstream site of Raf-1.