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Gäberlein K, Schröder SK, Nanda I, Steinlein C, Haaf T, Buhl EM, Sauvant P, Sapin V, Abergel A, Weiskirchen R. Genetic Characterization of Rat Hepatic Stellate Cell Line PAV-1. Cells 2023; 12:1603. [PMID: 37371073 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The rat hepatic stellate cell line PAV-1 was established two decades ago and proposed as a cellular model to study aspects of hepatic retinoic acid metabolism. This cell line exhibits a myofibroblast-like phenotype but also has the ability to store retinyl esters and synthesize retinoic acid from its precursor retinol. Importantly, when cultured with palmitic acid alone or in combination with retinol, the cells switch to a deactivated phenotype in which the proliferation and expression of profibrogenic marker genes are suppressed. Despite these interesting characteristics, the cell line has somehow fallen into oblivion. However, based on the fact that working with in vivo models is becoming increasingly complicated, genetically characterized established cell lines that mimic aspects of hepatic stellate cell biology are of fundamental value for biomedical research. To genetically characterize PAV-1 cells, we performed karyotype analysis using conventional chromosome analysis and multicolor spectral karyotyping (SKY), which allowed us to identify numerical and specific chromosomal alteration in PAV-1 cells. In addition, we used a panel of 31 species-specific allelic variant sites to define a unique short tandem repeat (STR) profile for this cell line and performed bulk mRNA-sequencing, showing that PAV-1 cells express an abundance of genes specific for the proposed myofibroblastic phenotype. Finally, we used Rhodamine-Phalloidin staining and electron microscopy analysis, which showed that PAV-1 cells contain a robust intracellular network of filamentous actin and process typical ultrastructural features of hepatic stellate cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiara Gäberlein
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sarah K Schröder
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Indrajit Nanda
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claus Steinlein
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Haaf
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Eva M Buhl
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick Sauvant
- UMR CNRS 5248, CBMN, University Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France
- Feed & Food Department, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, 33175 Gradignan, France
| | - Vincent Sapin
- Team "Translational Approach to Epithelial Injury and Repair", Institute Genetics, Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Armand Abergel
- Department of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Medecine, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
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Radu R, Petrescu GED, Gorgan RM, Brehar FM. GFAPδ: A Promising Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Glioblastoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:859247. [PMID: 35372061 PMCID: PMC8971704 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.859247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
GFAPδ, the delta isoform of the glial fibrillary acidic protein, is mainly expressed in the subventricular zone of the brain, together with other neural stem cell markers like nestin. The authors of this paper were among the first that described in detail the expression of GFAPδ and its correlation with malignancy and invasiveness in cerebral astrocytoma. Later, several papers confirmed these findings, showing that the alternative splice variant GFAPδ is overexpressed in glioblastoma (CNS WHO grade 4) compared with lower grade gliomas. Other studies suggested that a high GFAPδ/α ratio is associated with a more malignant and invasive behavior of glioma cells. Moreover, the changing of GFAPδ/α ratio affects the expression of high-malignant genes. It is now suggested that discriminating between predominant GFAP isoforms, GFAPδ or GFAPα, is useful for assessing the malignancy state of astrocytoma, and may even contribute to the classification of gliomas. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review the literature with emphasize on the role of GFAPδ as a potential biomarker, and as a possible therapeutic target in glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Radu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - George E. D. Petrescu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
- *Correspondence: George E. D. Petrescu,
| | - Radu M. Gorgan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Felix M. Brehar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
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3
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Vellosillo L, Pascual-Guerra J, Muñoz MP, Rodríguez-Navarro JA, González-Nieto D, Barrio LC, Lobo MDVT, Paíno CL. Oligodendroglia Generated From Adult Rat Adipose Tissue by Direct Cell Conversion. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:741499. [PMID: 35223826 PMCID: PMC8873586 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.741499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Obtaining oligodendroglial cells from dispensable tissues would be of great interest for autologous or immunocompatible cell replacement therapy in demyelinating diseases, as well as for studying myelin-related pathologies or testing therapeutic approaches in culture. We evaluated the feasibility of generating oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) from adult rat adipose tissue by expressing genes encoding transcription factors involved in oligodendroglial development. Adipose-derived mesenchymal cells were lentivirally transduced with tetracycline-inducible Sox10, Olig2, Zfp536, and/or Nkx6.1 transgenes. Immunostaining with the OPC-specific O4 monoclonal antibody was used to mark oligodendroglial induction. O4- and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG)-positive cells emerged after 3 weeks when using the Sox10 + Olig2 + Zfp536 combination, followed in the ensuing weeks by GFAP-, O1 antigen-, p75NTR (low-affinity NGF receptor)-, and myelin proteins-positive cells. The O4+ cell population progressively expanded, eventually constituting more than 70% of cells in culture by 5 months. Sox10 transgene expression was essential for generating O4+ cells but was insufficient for inducing a full oligodendroglial phenotype. Converted cells required continuous transgene expression to maintain their glial phenotype. Some vestigial characteristics of mesenchymal cells were maintained after conversion. Growth factor withdrawal and triiodothyronine (T3) supplementation generated mature oligodendroglial phenotypes, while FBS supplementation produced GFAP+- and p75NTR+-rich cultures. Converted cells also showed functional characteristics of neural-derived OPCs, such as the expression of AMPA, NMDA, kainate, and dopaminergic receptors, as well as similar metabolic responses to differentiation-inducing drugs. When co-cultured with rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, the converted cells differentiated and ensheathed multiple axons. We propose that functional oligodendroglia can be efficiently generated from adult rat mesenchymal cells by direct phenotypic conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Vellosillo
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Pascual-Guerra
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Paz Muñoz
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Antonio Rodríguez-Navarro
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Luis Carlos Barrio
- Unidad de Neurología Experimental, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria del Val Toledo Lobo
- Departamento de Biomedicina y Biotecnología, IRYCIS, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Carlos Luis Paíno
- Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, IRYCIS, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Technology (CTB), Universidad Politécnica, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Carlos Luis Paíno,
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4
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van Asperen JV, Robe PA, Hol EM. GFAP Alternative Splicing and the Relevance for Disease – A Focus on Diffuse Gliomas. ASN Neuro 2022; 14:17590914221102065. [PMID: 35673702 PMCID: PMC9185002 DOI: 10.1177/17590914221102065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein that is
characteristic for astrocytes and neural stem cells, and their malignant analogues in
glioma. Since the discovery of the protein 50 years ago, multiple alternative splice
variants of the GFAP gene have been discovered, leading to different GFAP isoforms. In
this review, we will describe GFAP isoform expression from gene to protein to network,
taking the canonical isoforms GFAPα and the main alternative variant GFAPδ as the starting
point. We will discuss the relevance of studying GFAP and its isoforms in disease, with a
specific focus on diffuse gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessy V. van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A.J.T. Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M. Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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5
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Abstract
Fifty years have passed since the discovery of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by Lawrence Eng and colleagues. Now recognized as a member of the intermediate filament family of proteins, it has become a subject for study in fields as diverse as structural biology, cell biology, gene expression, basic neuroscience, clinical genetics and gene therapy. This review covers each of these areas, presenting an overview of current understanding and controversies regarding GFAP with the goal of stimulating continued study of this fascinating protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albee Messing
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison.,Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Michael Brenner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama-Birmingham
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Brenner M, Messing A. Regulation of GFAP Expression. ASN Neuro 2021; 13:1759091420981206. [PMID: 33601918 PMCID: PMC7897836 DOI: 10.1177/1759091420981206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of the GFAP gene has attracted considerable attention because its onset is a marker for astrocyte development, its upregulation is a marker for reactive gliosis, and its predominance in astrocytes provides a tool for their genetic manipulation. The literature on GFAP regulation is voluminous, as almost any perturbation of development or homeostasis in the CNS will lead to changes in its expression. In this review, we limit our discussion to mechanisms proposed to regulate GFAP synthesis through a direct interaction with its gene or mRNA. Strengths and weaknesses of the supportive experimental findings are described, and suggestions made for additional studies. This review covers 15 transcription factors, DNA and histone methylation, and microRNAs. The complexity involved in regulating the expression of this intermediate filament protein suggests that GFAP function may vary among both astrocyte subtypes and other GFAP-expressing cells, as well as during development and in response to perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Brenner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Albee Messing
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
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7
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Leiton CV, Chen E, Cutrone A, Conn K, Mellanson K, Malik DM, Klingener M, Lamm R, Cutrone M, Petrie J, Sheikh J, DiBua A, Cohen B, Floyd TF. Astrocyte HIF-2α supports learning in a passive avoidance paradigm under hypoxic stress. HYPOXIA (AUCKLAND, N.Z.) 2018; 6:35-56. [PMID: 30519596 PMCID: PMC6234990 DOI: 10.2147/hp.s173589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brain is extensively vascularized, useŝ20% of the body's oxygen, and is highly sensitive to changes in oxygen. While synaptic plasticity and memory are impaired in healthy individuals by exposure to mild hypoxia, aged individuals appear to be even more sensitive. Aging is associated with progressive failure in pulmonary and cardiovascular systems, exposing the aged to both chronic and superimposed acute hypoxia. The HIF proteins, the "master regulators" of the cellular response to hypoxia, are robustly expressed in neurons and astrocytes. Astrocytes support neurons and synaptic plasticity via complex metabolic and trophic mechanisms. The activity of HIF proteins in the brain is diminished with aging, and the increased exposure to chronic and acute hypoxia with aging combined with diminished HIF activity may impair synaptic plasticity. PURPOSE Herein, we test the hypothesis that astrocyte HIF supports synaptic plasticity and learning upon hypoxia. MATERIALS AND METHODS An Astrocyte-specific HIF loss-of-function model was employed, where knock-out of HIF-1α or HIF-2α in GFAP expressing cells was accomplished by cre-mediated recombination. Animals were tested for behavioral (open field and rotarod), learning (passive avoidance paradigm), and electrophysiological (long term potentiation) responses to mild hypoxic challenge. RESULTS In an astrocyte-specific HIF loss-of-function model followed by mild hypoxia, we identified that the depletion of HIF-2α resulted in an impaired passive avoidance learning performance. This was accompanied by an attenuated response to induction in long-term potentiation (LTP), suggesting that the hippocampal circuitry was perturbed upon hypoxic exposure following HIF-2α loss in astrocytes, and not due to hippocampal cell death. We investigated HIF-regulated trophic and metabolic target genes and found that they were not regulated by HIF-2α, suggesting that these specific targets may not be involved in mediating the phenotypes observed. CONCLUSION Together, these results point to a role for HIF-2α in the astrocyte's regulatory role in synaptic plasticity and learning under hypoxia and suggest that even mild, acute hypoxic challenges can impair cognitive performance in the aged population who harbor impaired HIF function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy V Leiton
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Elyssa Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Alissa Cutrone
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kristy Conn
- Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Kennelia Mellanson
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Dania M Malik
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael Klingener
- Department of Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Ryan Lamm
- Department of General Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael Cutrone
- Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John Petrie
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Bloomberg School of Public health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joher Sheikh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Adriana DiBua
- Department of Chemistry, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Betsy Cohen
- Computer Science Department, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USA
| | - Thomas F Floyd
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA,
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA,
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA,
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8
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Lin NH, Messing A, Perng MD. Characterization of a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognizing specific epitopes on GFAP. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180694. [PMID: 28700643 PMCID: PMC5503259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alexander disease (AxD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by heterozygous mutations in the GFAP gene, which encodes the major intermediate filament protein of astrocytes. This disease is characterized by the accumulation of cytoplasmic protein aggregates, known as Rosenthal fibers. Antibodies specific to GFAP could provide invaluable tools to facilitate studies of the normal biology of GFAP and to elucidate the pathologic role of this IF protein in disease. While a large number of antibodies to GFAP are available, few if any of them have defined epitopes. Here we described the characterization of a panel of commonly used anti-GFAP antibodies, which recognized epitopes at regions extending across the rod domain of GFAP. We show that all of the antibodies are useful for immunoblotting and immunostaining, and identify a subset that preferentially recognized human GFAP. Using these antibodies, we demonstrate the presence of biochemically modified forms of GFAP in brains of human AxD patients and mouse AxD models. These data suggest that this panel of anti-GFAP antibodies will be useful for studies of animal and cell-based models of AxD and related diseases in which cytoskeletal defects associated with GFAP modifications occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni-Hsuan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Albee Messing
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Ming-Der Perng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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9
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Van Poucke M, Martlé V, Van Brantegem L, Ducatelle R, Van Ham L, Bhatti S, Peelman LJ. A canine orthologue of the human GFAP c.716G>A (p.Arg239His) variant causes Alexander disease in a Labrador retriever. Eur J Hum Genet 2015; 24:852-6. [PMID: 26486469 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2015.223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Alexander disease (AxD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder of astrocyte dysfunction in man, for which already a number of causal variants are described, mostly de novo dominant missense variants in the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). A similar disorder was already phenotypically described in animals but without the identification of causal variants. We diagnosed a Labrador retriever with a juvenile form of AxD based on clinical (tetraparesis with spastic front limbs mimicking 'swimming puppy syndrome') and pathological (the detection of GFAP containing Rosenthal fibers in astrocytes) features. In order to identify a causal variant, the coding sequences of the four detected GFAP transcript variants (orthologues from human transcript variants α, γ, δ/ɛ and κ) were sequenced. From the five detected variants, a heterozygous c.719G>A nucleotide substitution resulting in a p.Arg240His substitution was considered to be causal, because it is orthologous to the heterozygous de novo dominant c.716G>A (p.Arg239His) hotspot variant in man, proven to cause a severe phenotype. In addition, the variant was not found in 50 unrelated healthy Labrador retrievers. Because the condition in dogs is morphologically similar to man, it could be a promising animal model for further elucidating the genotype/phenotype correlation in order to treat or prevent this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Van Poucke
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Valentine Martlé
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Clinical Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Leen Van Brantegem
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Richard Ducatelle
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Luc Van Ham
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Clinical Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Sofie Bhatti
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Clinical Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Luc J Peelman
- Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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10
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Brehar FM, Arsene D, Brinduse LA, Gorgan MR. Immunohistochemical analysis of GFAP-δ and nestin in cerebral astrocytomas. Brain Tumor Pathol 2014; 32:90-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s10014-014-0199-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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11
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Kamphuis W, Middeldorp J, Kooijman L, Sluijs JA, Kooi EJ, Moeton M, Freriks M, Mizee MR, Hol EM. Glial fibrillary acidic protein isoform expression in plaque related astrogliosis in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 35:492-510. [PMID: 24269023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.09.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid plaques are surrounded by reactive astrocytes with an increased expression of intermediate filaments including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Different GFAP isoforms have been identified that are differentially expressed by specific subpopulations of astrocytes and that impose different properties to the intermediate filament network. We studied transcript levels and protein expression patterns of all known GFAP isoforms in human hippocampal AD tissue at different stages of the disease. Ten different transcripts for GFAP isoforms were detected at different abundancies. Transcript levels of most isoforms increased with AD progression. GFAPδ-immunopositive astrocytes were observed in subgranular zone, hilus, and stratum-lacunosum-moleculare. GFAPδ-positive cells also stained for GFAPα. In AD donors, astrocytes near plaques displayed increased staining of both GFAPα and GFAPδ. The reading-frame-shifted isoform, GFAP(+1), staining was confined to a subset of astrocytes with long processes, and their number increased in the course of AD. In conclusion, the various GFAP isoforms show differential transcript levels and are upregulated in a concerted manner in AD. The GFAP(+1) isoform defines a unique subset of astrocytes, with numbers increasing with AD progression. These data indicate the need for future exploration of underlying mechanisms concerning the functions of GFAPδ and GFAP(+1) isoforms in astrocytes and their possible role in AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Kamphuis
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience-an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Department of Astrocyte Bology and Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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12
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Tate CM, Wang KK, Eonta S, Zhang Y, Carr W, Tortella FC, Hayes RL, Kamimori GH. Serum Brain Biomarker Level, Neurocognitive Performance, and Self-Reported Symptom Changes in Soldiers Repeatedly Exposed to Low-Level Blast: A Breacher Pilot Study. J Neurotrauma 2013; 30:1620-30. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2012.2683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin K.W. Wang
- Banyan Laboratories, Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., Alachua, Florida
- Center for Neuroproteomics and Biomarker Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | | | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Behavioral Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Walter Carr
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Frank C. Tortella
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection Neurorestoration Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Ronald L. Hayes
- Banyan Laboratories, Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., Alachua, Florida
| | - Gary H. Kamimori
- Department of Behavioral Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
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13
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Rosenkranz K, May C, Meier C, Marcus K. Proteomic analysis of alterations induced by perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. J Proteome Res 2012; 11:5794-803. [PMID: 23153068 DOI: 10.1021/pr3005869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is an important cause of neurological deficits still causing mortality and morbidity in the early period of life. As efficient clinical or pharmaceutical strategies to prevent or reduce the outcome of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage are limited, the development of new therapies is of utmost importance. To evolve innovative therapeutic concepts, elucidation of the mechanisms contributing to the neurological impairments upon hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is necessary. Therefore, we aimed for the identification of proteins that are affected by hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats. To assess changes in protein expression two days after induction of brain damage, a 2D-DIGE based proteome analysis was performed. Among the proteins altered after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, Calcineurin A, Coronin-1A, as well as GFAP were identified, showing higher expression in lesioned hemispheres. Validation of the changes in Calcineurin A expression by Western Blot analysis demonstrated several truncated forms of this protein generated by limited proteolysis after hypoxia-ischemia. Further analysis revealed activation of calpain, which is involved in the limited proteolysis of Calcineurin. Active forms of Calcineurin are associated with the dephosphorylation of Darpp-32, an effect that was also demonstrated in lesioned hemispheres after perinatal brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Rosenkranz
- Department of Functional Proteomics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
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14
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Kamphuis W, Mamber C, Moeton M, Kooijman L, Sluijs JA, Jansen AHP, Verveer M, de Groot LR, Smith VD, Rangarajan S, Rodríguez JJ, Orre M, Hol EM. GFAP isoforms in adult mouse brain with a focus on neurogenic astrocytes and reactive astrogliosis in mouse models of Alzheimer disease. PLoS One 2012. [PMID: 22912745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042823]] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the main astrocytic intermediate filament (IF). GFAP splice isoforms show differential expression patterns in the human brain. GFAPδ is preferentially expressed by neurogenic astrocytes in the subventricular zone (SVZ), whereas GFAP(+1) is found in a subset of astrocytes throughout the brain. In addition, the expression of these isoforms in human brain material of epilepsy, Alzheimer and glioma patients has been reported. Here, for the first time, we present a comprehensive study of GFAP isoform expression in both wild-type and Alzheimer Disease (AD) mouse models. In cortex, cerebellum, and striatum of wild-type mice, transcripts for Gfap-α, Gfap-β, Gfap-γ, Gfap-δ, Gfap-κ, and a newly identified isoform Gfap-ζ, were detected. Their relative expression levels were similar in all regions studied. GFAPα showed a widespread expression whilst GFAPδ distribution was prominent in the SVZ, rostral migratory stream (RMS), neurogenic astrocytes of the subgranular zone (SGZ), and subpial astrocytes. In contrast to the human SVZ, we could not establish an unambiguous GFAPδ localization in proliferating cells of the mouse SVZ. In APPswePS1dE9 and 3xTgAD mice, plaque-associated reactive astrocytes had increased transcript levels of all detectable GFAP isoforms and low levels of a new GFAP isoform, Gfap-ΔEx7. Reactive astrocytes in AD mice showed enhanced GFAPα and GFAPδ immunolabeling, less frequently increased vimentin and nestin, but no GFAPκ or GFAP(+1) staining. In conclusion, GFAPδ protein is present in SVZ, RMS, and neurogenic astrocytes of the SGZ, but also outside neurogenic niches. Furthermore, differential GFAP isoform expression is not linked with aging or reactive gliosis. This evidence points to the conclusion that differential regulation of GFAP isoforms is not involved in the reorganization of the IF network in reactive gliosis or in neurogenesis in the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Kamphuis
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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15
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Rai A, Maurya SK, Sharma R, Ali S. Down-regulated GFAPα: a major player in heavy metal induced astrocyte damage. Toxicol Mech Methods 2012; 23:99-107. [DOI: 10.3109/15376516.2012.721809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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16
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Kamphuis W, Mamber C, Moeton M, Kooijman L, Sluijs JA, Jansen AHP, Verveer M, de Groot LR, Smith VD, Rangarajan S, Rodríguez JJ, Orre M, Hol EM. GFAP isoforms in adult mouse brain with a focus on neurogenic astrocytes and reactive astrogliosis in mouse models of Alzheimer disease. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42823. [PMID: 22912745 PMCID: PMC3418292 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the main astrocytic intermediate filament (IF). GFAP splice isoforms show differential expression patterns in the human brain. GFAPδ is preferentially expressed by neurogenic astrocytes in the subventricular zone (SVZ), whereas GFAP(+1) is found in a subset of astrocytes throughout the brain. In addition, the expression of these isoforms in human brain material of epilepsy, Alzheimer and glioma patients has been reported. Here, for the first time, we present a comprehensive study of GFAP isoform expression in both wild-type and Alzheimer Disease (AD) mouse models. In cortex, cerebellum, and striatum of wild-type mice, transcripts for Gfap-α, Gfap-β, Gfap-γ, Gfap-δ, Gfap-κ, and a newly identified isoform Gfap-ζ, were detected. Their relative expression levels were similar in all regions studied. GFAPα showed a widespread expression whilst GFAPδ distribution was prominent in the SVZ, rostral migratory stream (RMS), neurogenic astrocytes of the subgranular zone (SGZ), and subpial astrocytes. In contrast to the human SVZ, we could not establish an unambiguous GFAPδ localization in proliferating cells of the mouse SVZ. In APPswePS1dE9 and 3xTgAD mice, plaque-associated reactive astrocytes had increased transcript levels of all detectable GFAP isoforms and low levels of a new GFAP isoform, Gfap-ΔEx7. Reactive astrocytes in AD mice showed enhanced GFAPα and GFAPδ immunolabeling, less frequently increased vimentin and nestin, but no GFAPκ or GFAP(+1) staining. In conclusion, GFAPδ protein is present in SVZ, RMS, and neurogenic astrocytes of the SGZ, but also outside neurogenic niches. Furthermore, differential GFAP isoform expression is not linked with aging or reactive gliosis. This evidence points to the conclusion that differential regulation of GFAP isoforms is not involved in the reorganization of the IF network in reactive gliosis or in neurogenesis in the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Kamphuis
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience - an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Department of Astrocyte Biology & Neurodegeneration, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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17
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Serum biomarkers of neurologic injury in cardiac operations. Ann Thorac Surg 2012; 94:1026-33. [PMID: 22857981 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2012.04.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2012] [Revised: 04/19/2012] [Accepted: 04/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of subtle neurocognitive decline after surgical procedures has been hampered by heterogeneous testing techniques and a lack of reproducibility. This review summarizes the sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers of neurologic injury to determine whether they can be applied in the postoperative period to accurately predict neurocognitive decline. Creatine kinase-brain type, neuron-specific enolase, and S100B can be released into serum during operations by extracranial sources. Glial fibrillary acidic protein is a sensitive marker, and there are extracranial sources that are antigenically different from the brain-derived form. Serum levels of tau protein after acute neurologic injury do not reliability correlate with incidence.
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18
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Boyd SE, Nair B, Ng SW, Keith JM, Orian JM. Computational characterization of 3' splice variants in the GFAP isoform family. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33565. [PMID: 22479412 PMCID: PMC3316583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament (IF) protein specific to central nervous system (CNS) astrocytes. It has been the subject of intense interest due to its association with neurodegenerative diseases, and because of growing evidence that IF proteins not only modulate cellular structure, but also cellular function. Moreover, GFAP has a family of splicing isoforms apparently more complex than that of other CNS IF proteins, consistent with it possessing a range of functional and structural roles. The gene consists of 9 exons, and to date all isoforms associated with 3' end splicing have been identified from modifications within intron 7, resulting in the generation of exon 7a (GFAPδ/ε) and 7b (GFAPκ). To better understand the nature and functional significance of variation in this region, we used a Bayesian multiple change-point approach to identify conserved regions. This is the first successful application of this method to a single gene--it has previously only been used in whole-genome analyses. We identified several highly or moderately conserved regions throughout the intron 7/7a/7b regions, including untranslated regions and regulatory features, consistent with the biology of GFAP. Several putative unconfirmed features were also identified, including a possible new isoform. We then integrated multiple computational analyses on both the DNA and protein sequences from the mouse, rat and human, showing that the major isoform, GFAPα, has highly conserved structure and features across the three species, whereas the minor isoforms GFAPδ/ε and GFAPκ have low conservation of structure and features at the distal 3' end, both relative to each other and relative to GFAPα. The overall picture suggests distinct and tightly regulated functions for the 3' end isoforms, consistent with complex astrocyte biology. The results illustrate a computational approach for characterising splicing isoform families, using both DNA and protein sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Boyd
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Betina Nair
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sze Woei Ng
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan M. Keith
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jacqueline M. Orian
- Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
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Hyder CL, Isoniemi KO, Torvaldson ES, Eriksson JE. Insights into intermediate filament regulation from development to ageing. J Cell Sci 2011; 124:1363-72. [PMID: 21502133 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.041244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filament (IF) proteins comprise a large family with more than 70 members. Initially, IFs were assumed to provide only structural reinforcement for the cell. However, IFs are now known to be dynamic structures that are involved in a wide range of cellular processes during all stages of life, from development to ageing, and during homeostasis and stress. This Commentary discusses some lesser-known functional and regulatory aspects of IFs. We specifically address the emerging roles of nestin in myogenesis and cancer cell migration, and examine exciting evidence on the regulation of nestin and lamin A by the notch signalling pathway, which could have repercussions for our understanding of the roles of IF proteins in development and ageing. In addition, we discuss the modulation of the post-translational modifications of neuronally expressed IFs and their protein-protein interactions, as well as IF glycosylation, which not only has a role in stress and ageing, but might also regulate IFs during development. Although many of these recent findings are still preliminary, they nevertheless open new doors to explore the functionality of the IF family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L Hyder
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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20
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Maltman DJ, Brand S, Belau E, Paape R, Suckau D, Przyborski SA. Top-down label-free LC-MALDI analysis of the peptidome during neural progenitor cell differentiation reveals complexity in cytoskeletal protein dynamics and identifies progenitor cell markers. Proteomics 2011; 11:3992-4006. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2011] [Revised: 05/26/2011] [Accepted: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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21
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Liu Y, Zhu H, Liu M, Du J, Qian Y, Wang Y, Ding F, Gu X. Downregulation of Pax3 expression correlates with acquired GFAP expression during NSC differentiation towards astrocytes. FEBS Lett 2011; 585:1014-20. [PMID: 21371476 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2010] [Revised: 02/21/2011] [Accepted: 02/24/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a principal intermediate filament in mature astrocytes of the central nervous system (CNS), and the regulation of GFAP transcription has not been well understood yet. In the present study, we reported paired box 3 protein (Pax3) as a novel regulator of GFAP transcription, which could bind the promoter region of GFAP and down regulate the GFAP level during the serum-induced astrocyte differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Moreover, the overexpression and suppression of Pax3 could inhibit and promote NSC differentiation, respectively. These data suggest that Pax3 negatively regulates GFAP expression during astrocyte differentiation in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, PR China
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22
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Magill CK, Moore AM, Yan Y, Tong AY, MacEwan MR, Yee A, Hayashi A, Hunter DA, Ray WZ, Johnson PJ, Parsadanian A, Myckatyn TM, Mackinnon SE. The differential effects of pathway- versus target-derived glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor on peripheral nerve regeneration. J Neurosurg 2010; 113:102-9. [PMID: 19943736 DOI: 10.3171/2009.10.jns091092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECT Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has potent survival effects on central and peripheral nerve populations. The authors examined the differential effects of GDNF following either a sciatic nerve crush injury in mice that overexpressed GDNF in the central or peripheral nervous systems (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]-GDNF) or in the muscle target (Myo-GDNF). METHODS Adult mice (GFAP-GDNF, Myo-GDNF, or wild-type [WT] animals) underwent sciatic nerve crush and were evaluated using histomorphometry and muscle force and power testing. Uninjured WT animals served as controls. RESULTS In the sciatic nerve crush, the Myo-GDNF mice demonstrated a higher number of nerve fibers, fiber density, and nerve percentage (p < 0.05) at 2 weeks. The early regenerative response did not result in superlative functional recovery. At 3 weeks, GFAP-GDNF animals exhibit fewer nerve fibers, decreased fiber width, and decreased nerve percentage compared with WT and Myo-GDNF mice (p < 0.05). By 6 weeks, there were no significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS Peripheral delivery of GDNF resulted in earlier regeneration following sciatic nerve crush injuries than that with central GDNF delivery. Treatment with neurotrophic factors such as GDNF may offer new possibilities for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina K Magill
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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23
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Immunohistochemical characterization of the out-of frame splice variants GFAP Δ164/Δexon 6 in focal lesions associated with chronic epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 2010; 90:99-109. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2010.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2009] [Revised: 03/24/2010] [Accepted: 03/31/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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24
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Doncel-Pérez E, Caballero-Chacón S, Nieto-Sampedro M. Neurosphere cell differentiation to aldynoglia promoted by olfactory ensheathing cell conditioned medium. Glia 2009; 57:1393-409. [DOI: 10.1002/glia.20858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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25
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Iwatsuki H, Suda M. Transient expression of keratin during neuronal development in the adult rabbit spinal ganglion. Anat Sci Int 2009; 85:46-55. [PMID: 19629632 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-009-0054-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2008] [Accepted: 06/19/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
A few neurons of the adult rabbit spinal ganglion express keratin. To examine the characters of these keratin-positive neurons, six kinds of intermediate filament proteins, namely keratin 8, keratin 14, nestin, vimentin, neurofilament 68 (NF-L) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), were investigated immunohistochemically in developing and adult rabbit spinal ganglia. At 15 days of gestation, the spinal ganglion increased rapidly in volume and mainly consisted of three kinds of cells: small cells expressing vimentin, spindle-shaped cells co-expressing vimentin and nestin, and ovoid cells with an eccentric nucleus expressing nestin. Since some ovoid cells co-expressed nestin with either NF-L or GFAP, the ovoid cell may be considered to be an embryonic neural stem cell of the ganglion. In addition, a few keratin-positive polymorphic cells could be observed among these three kinds of cells. These polymorphic cells expressed five kinds of intermediate filament proteins, namely keratin 8, keratin 14, nestin, NF-L and GFAP. These cells were also detected in newborn and adult ganglia. A few neurons in the adult ganglion also expressed these five kinds of proteins as a Golgi-associated network. However, neurons expressing these proteins could not be detected in embryonic and newborn ganglia. Therefore, it may be considered that the keratin-positive polymorphic cell is a postnatal neural stem cell of the ganglion and that neurons transiently express keratin when polymorphic cells differentiate into neurons.
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26
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Kim DS, Figueroa KW, Li KW, Boroujerdi A, Yolo T, Luo ZD. Profiling of dynamically changed gene expression in dorsal root ganglia post peripheral nerve injury and a critical role of injury-induced glial fibrillary acidic protein in maintenance of pain behaviors [corrected]. Pain 2009; 143:114-22. [PMID: 19307059 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2009.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2008] [Revised: 12/22/2008] [Accepted: 02/09/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
To explore cellular changes in sensory neurons after nerve injury and to identify potential target genes contributing to different stages of neuropathic pain development, we used Affymetrix oligo arrays to profile gene expression patterns in L5/6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) from the neuropathic pain model of left L5/6 spinal nerve ligation at different stages of neuropathic pain development. Our data indicated that nerve injury induced changes in expression of genes with similar biological functions in a temporal specific manner that correlates with particular stages of neuropathic pain development, indicating dynamic neuroplasticity in the DRG in response to peripheral nerve injury and during neuropathic pain development. Data from post-array validation indicated that there was a temporal correlation between injury-induced expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for activated astrocytes, and neuropathic pain development. Spinal nerve ligation injury in GFAP knockout mice resulted in neuropathic pain states with similar onset, but a shortened duration compared with that in age, and gender-matched wild-type littermates. Intrathecal GFAP antisense oligonucleotide treatment in injured rats with neuropathic pain states reversed injury-induced behavioral hypersensitivity and GFAP upregulation in DRG and spinal cord. Together, these findings indicate that injury-induced GFAP upregulation not only serves as a marker for astrocyte activation, but it may also play a critical, but yet identified, role in the maintenance of neuropathic pain states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doo-Sik Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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27
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Andreiuolo F, Junier MP, Hol EM, Miquel C, Chimelli L, Leonard N, Chneiweiss H, Daumas-Duport C, Varlet P. GFAPδ immunostaining improves visualization of normal and pathologic astrocytic heterogeneity. Neuropathology 2009; 29:31-9. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2008.00936.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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28
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Cloning and expression of rat GFAP cDNA in Escherichia coli. Bull Exp Biol Med 2007; 143:68-71. [PMID: 18019016 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-007-0019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A cDNA fragment encoding GFAP was amplified by reverse transcription PCR from total mRNA isolated from primary culture of rat astrocytes and cloned for expression in Escherichia coli using pET-28a vector. High level of GFAP expression was confirmed by SDS-PAGE, while immunochemical identity was verified by immunoblotting. The constructed producer strain is a cheap source of GFAP and can be used for diagnostic purposes.
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29
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Benfenati V, Caprini M, Nobile M, Rapisarda C, Ferroni S. Guanosine promotes the up-regulation of inward rectifier potassium current mediated by Kir4.1 in cultured rat cortical astrocytes. J Neurochem 2006; 98:430-45. [PMID: 16805837 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.03877.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Guanosine (Guo) is an endogenous neuroprotective molecule of the CNS, which has various acute and long-term effects on both neurones and astroglial cells. Whether Guo also modulates the activity/expression of ion channels involved in homeostatic control of extracellular potassium by the astrocytic syncytium is still unknown. Here we provide electrophysiological evidence that chronic exposure (48 h) to Guo (500 microm) promotes the functional expression of an inward rectifier K+ (Kir) conductance in primary cultured rat cortical astrocytes. Molecular screening indicated that Guo promotes the up-regulation of the Kir4.1 channel, the major component of the Kir current in astroglia in vivo. Furthermore, the properties of astrocytic Kir current overlapped those of the recombinant Kir4.1 channel expressed in a heterologous system, strongly suggesting that the Guo-induced Kir conductance is mainly gated by Kir4.1. In contrast, the expression levels of two other Kir channel proteins were either unchanged (Kir2.1) or decreased (Kir5.1). Finally, we showed that inhibition of translational process, but not depression of transcription, prevents the Guo-induced up-regulation of Kir4.1, indicating that this nucleoside acts through de novo protein synthesis. Because accumulating data indicate that down-regulation of astroglial Kir current contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases associated with dysregulation of extracellular K+ homeostasis, these results support the notion that Guo might be a molecule of therapeutic interest for counteracting the detrimental effect of K+-buffering impairment of the astroglial syncytium that occurs in pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Benfenati
- Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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30
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Abstract
The enteric nervous system is composed of both neurons and glia. Recent evidence indicates that enteric glia-which vastly outnumber enteric neurons-are actively involved in the control of gastrointestinal functions: they contain neurotransmitter precursors, have the machinery for uptake and degradation of neuroligands, and express neurotransmitter-receptors which makes them well suited as intermediaries in enteric neurotransmission and information processing in the ENS. Novel data further suggest that enteric glia have an important role in maintaining the integrity of the mucosal barrier of the gut. Finally, enteric glia may also serve as a link between the nervous and immune systems of the gut as indicated by their potential to synthesize cytokines, present antigen and respond to inflammatory insults. The role of enteric glia in human disease has not yet been systematically studied, but based on the available evidence it is predictable that enteric glia are involved in the etiopathogenesis of various pathological processes in the gut, particularly such with neuroinflammatory or neurodegenerative components.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rühl
- Department of Human Biology, Technical University of Munich, Germany.
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31
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Byers MR, Maeda T, Brown AM, Westenbroek RE. GFAP immunoreactivity and transcription in trigeminal and dental tissues of rats and transgenic GFP/GFAP mice. Microsc Res Tech 2005; 65:295-307. [PMID: 15662620 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Sensory mechanisms in teeth are not well understood and may involve pulpal-neural interactions. Tooth cells that proliferate in vitro have polyclonal immunoreactivity (IR) for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), growth-associated protein (GAP-43), and vimentin, plus glial-like ion channels. Here, we analyzed GFAP-IR patterns in dental and trigeminal tissues of rats, for comparison with green fluorescent protein (GFP) associated with GFAP transcription in transgenic mice, in order to better characterize glial-like cells in dental tissues. Astrocytes, ganglion satellite cells, and epineurial Schwann cells were demonstrated by anti-GFAP antibodies and GFP-GFAP, as expected. Odontoblasts did not stain by any of these methods and cannot be the glial-like cells. Fibroblasts and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in pulp had polyclonal GFAP-IR and vimentin-IR, while nerve fibers reacted only with polyclonal antibody. Some Schwann cell subtypes in trigeminal nerve and oral mucosa were positive for GFP and for polyclonal anti-GFAP, but not for monoclonal antibody. In pulp almost all Schwann cells were unstained, but many Schwann cells in periodontal ligament had polyclonal GFAP-IR. These results show greater heterogeneity for Schwann cells than expected, and suggest that the glial-like pulp cells are fibroblasts and/or undifferentiated mesenchymal cells or stem cells. We also found that polyclonal GFAP revealed intermediate filaments in preterminal sensory nerve fibers, thereby providing a useful marker for that neural subregion. GFP transcription by some Schwann cell subtypes in oral mucosae and trigeminal nerve, but not trigeminal root was a novel finding that reveals more complexity in peripheral glia than previously recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret R Byers
- Anesthesiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
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32
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Campos-Torres A, Touret M, Vidal PP, Barnum S, de Waele C. The differential response of astrocytes within the vestibular and cochlear nuclei following unilateral labyrinthectomy or vestibular afferent activity blockade by transtympanic tetrodotoxin injection in the rat. Neuroscience 2005; 130:853-65. [PMID: 15652984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated whether changes in the vestibular neuronal activity per se influence the pattern of astrocytes morphology, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression and ultimately their activation within the vestibular nuclei after unilateral transtympanic tetrodotoxin (TTX) injections and after unilateral inner ear lesion. The rationale was that, theoretically the noninvasive pharmacological functional blockade of peripheral vestibular inputs with TTX, allowed us to dissociate the signals exclusively related to the shutdown of the resting activity of the first-order vestibular neurons and from neuronal signals associated with trans-ganglionic changes in first order vestibular neurons induced by unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL). Since the cochlea was removed during the surgical procedure, we also studied the astrocytic reaction within the deafferented cochlear nuclei. No significant changes in the distribution or relative levels of GFAP mRNA expression, relative levels of GFAP protein or immunoreactivity for GFAP were found in the ipsilateral vestibular nuclei at any post-TTX injection times studied. In addition, no sign of microglia activation was observed. In contrast, a robust increase of the distribution and relative levels of GFAP mRNA expression, protein levels and immunoreactivity was observed in the deafferented vestibular and cochlear nuclei beginning at 1 day after inner ear lesion. GFAP mRNA expression and immunoreactivity in the cochlear nucleus was qualitatively stronger than in the ipsilateral vestibular nuclei. The results suggest that astrocyte activation in the vestibular nuclei is not related to drastic changes of vestibular nuclei neuronal activity per se. Early trans-ganglionic changes due to vestibular nerve dendrites lesion provoked by the mechanical destruction of vestibular receptors, most probably induced the glial reaction. Its functional role in the vestibular compensation process remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Campos-Torres
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 845 19th Street South, BBRB/842, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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33
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Zhao Z, Alam S, Oppenheim RW, Prevette DM, Evenson A, Parsadanian A. Overexpression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the CNS rescues motoneurons from programmed cell death and promotes their long-term survival following axotomy. Exp Neurol 2004; 190:356-72. [PMID: 15530875 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2004.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2004] [Revised: 06/02/2004] [Accepted: 06/07/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
To study the role of one of the most potent motoneuron (MN) survival factors, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) derived from the CNS, we generated transgenic animals overexpressing GDNF under the control of an astrocyte-specific GFAP promoter. In situ hybridization revealed that GDNF was expressed at high levels in astrocytes throughout the brain and spinal cord. We analyzed the effects of CNS-derived GDNF on MN survival during the period of programmed cell death (PCD) and after nerve axotomy. In GFAP-GDNF mice at E15, E18, and P1, the survival of brachial MNs was increased on average by 30%, lumbar MNs by 20%, and thoracic MNs at P1 by 33%. GDNF also prevented MN PCD in several cranial motor nuclei. We demonstrated for the first time that the number of MNs in the mouse abducens nucleus was also increased by 40%, thus extending known MN populations that are responsive to GDNF. Next, we tested if GDNF could support complete and relatively long-term survival of MNs following neonatal facial nerve axotomy. We found that virtually all MNs (91%) in GFAP-GDNF mice survived for up to 18 weeks post-axotomy. This is the longest GDNF-mediated survival of neonatal MNs reported following axotomy. Most of surviving MNs were not atrophic, and MN-specific ChAT and neurofilament immunoreactivity (IR) were preserved. Furthermore, GDNF attenuated axotomy-induced astroglial activation. These data demonstrate that overexpression of GDNF in the CNS has very profound effects on MN survival both during the PCD period and after neuronal injury. GFAP-GDNF mice will be valuable to study the effects of CNS-derived GDNF in mouse models of MN degenerative diseases and axonal regeneration in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqiu Zhao
- Center for the Study of Nervous System Injury, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Tomassoni D, Avola R, Di Tullio MA, Sabbatini M, Vitaioli L, Amenta F. Increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the brain of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Hypertens 2004; 26:335-50. [PMID: 15195688 DOI: 10.1081/ceh-120034138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Astrogliosis, consisting in astroglial proliferation and increased expression of the specific cytoskeletal protein glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) is common in several situations of brain damage. Arterial hypertension, which induces cerebrovascular changes, can cause also brain damage, neurodegeneration and dementia (vascular dementia). This study was designed to assess astroglial reaction in different brain areas (frontal cortex, occipital cortex, hippocampus and striatum) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in the pre-hypertensive phase (2 months of age), in the developing phase of hypertension (4 months of age) and in established hypertension (6 months of age). SHR were compared to age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Analysis included reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of GFAP mRNA, GFAP immunochemistry (Western blot analysis) and immunohistochemistry. A significant increase of GFAP mRNA and an increase of GFAP immunoreactivity were noticeable in different brain areas of SHR compared to normotensive WKY rats at 6, but not at 2 or 4 months of age. Immunohistochemistry revealed a numerical augmentation (hyperplasia) and an increase in size (hypertrophy) of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes in frontal cortex, occipital cortex and striatum of SHR. In the hippocampus of SHR only a numerical increase of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes was found. These finding demonstrating the occurrence of astrogliosis in the brain of SHR with established hypertension suggest that hypertension induces a condition of brain suffering enough to increase biosynthesis and expression of GFAP similarly as reported in several neurodegenerative disorders and in brain ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Tomassoni
- Sezione di Anatomia Umana, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Medicina Sperimentale, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Sousa VDO, Romão L, Neto VM, Gomes FCA. Glial fibrillary acidic protein gene promoter is differently modulated by transforming growth factor-beta 1 in astrocytes from distinct brain regions. Eur J Neurosci 2004; 19:1721-30. [PMID: 15078546 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03249.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the major intermediate filament protein of mature astrocytes, is regulated under developmental and pathological conditions. Recently, we have investigated GFAP gene modulation by using a transgenic mouse bearing part of the GFAP gene promoter linked to the beta-galactosidase reporter gene. We demonstrated that cerebral cortex neurons activate the GFAP gene promoter, inducing transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) secretion by astrocytes. Here, we report that cortical neurons or conditioned medium derived from them do not activate the GFAP gene promoter of transgenic astrocytes derived from midbrain and cerebellum suggesting a neuroanatomical regional specificity of this phenomenon. Surprisingly, they do induce synthesis of TGF-beta 1 by these cells. Western blot and immunocytochemistry assays revealed wild distribution of TGF receptor in all subpopulations of astrocytes and expression of TGF-beta 1 in neurons derived from all regions, thus indicating that the unresponsiveness of the cerebellar and midbrain GFAP gene to TGF-beta 1 is not due to a defect in TGF-beta 1 signalling. Together, our data highlight the great complexity of neuron-glia interactions and might suggest a distinct mechanism underlying modulation of the GFAP gene in the heterogeneous population of astrocytes throughout the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian de Oliveira Sousa
- Departamento de Anatomia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco F, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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36
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Hermann DM, Hossmann KA, Mies G. Expression of c-jun, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1, caspase-3 and glial fibrillary acidic protein following cortical cold injury in rats: relationship to metabolic disturbances and delayed cell death. Neuroscience 2004; 123:371-9. [PMID: 14698745 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2003.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The expression of c-jun, mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (mkp-1), caspase-3 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (gfap) was examined at 1, 3 and 7 days after cortical cold injury in rats by in situ hybridisation and immunocytochemistry. Alterations of gene expression were related to metabolic disturbances and delayed cell death, as revealed by cerebral protein synthesis autoradiography, ATP bioluminescence, pH fluorescence and terminal transferase biotinylated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL). Protein synthesis autoradiographies depicted sharply demarcated cortex lesions, which were almost congruent with areas exhibiting ATP depletion (lesion volume: 16.9+/-11.8 mm(3) after 7 days). Lesions were surrounded by a region of tissue alkalosis, which was most prominent 1 day after trauma. Delayed cell injury, as revealed by TUNEL, was noticed in a thin rim around the lesion border on day 1 (tissue volume: 1.7+/-0.8 mm(3)) and, to lesser extent, days 3 and 7 post-lesioning. However, only a small percentage of cells in this area were positive for activated caspase-3 protein. TUNEL(+) cells were further seen in the ventrobasal thalamus after 7 days. In the thalamus, the appearance of DNA-fragmented cells was closely accompanied by activated caspase-3 expression. In situ hybridisations revealed that cell injury both in the peri-lesion rim and ventrobasal thalamus was associated with increased c-jun and gfap, but not mkp-1 and caspase-3 mRNA levels. Gene responses were not confined to areas revealing irreversible cell death: mkp-1 mRNA was bilaterally upregulated in the lesion-remote entorhinal cortex, cingulate cortex and reticular thalamus at 7 days after trauma, and caspase-3 mRNA was slightly, but significantly downregulated in the entorhinal cortex after 3 and 7 days. Gfap mRNA was elevated in all regions exhibiting tissue alkalosis. Our data suggest that delayed cell injury after cortex trauma may be apoptotic in the ventrobasal thalamus, but not the peri-lesion rim. The dissociated responses of c-jun, mkp-1 and caspase-3 mRNAs may represent important factors influencing tissue viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zürich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
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37
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Hol EM, Roelofs RF, Moraal E, Sonnemans MAF, Sluijs JA, Proper EA, de Graan PNE, Fischer DF, van Leeuwen FW. Neuronal expression of GFAP in patients with Alzheimer pathology and identification of novel GFAP splice forms. Mol Psychiatry 2003; 8:786-96. [PMID: 12931206 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4001379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is considered to be a highly specific marker for glia. Here, we report on the expression of GFAP in neurons in the human hippocampus. Intriguingly, this neuronal GFAP is coded by out-of-frame splice variants and its expression is associated with Alzheimer pathology. We identified three novel GFAP splice forms: Delta 135 nt, Delta exon 6 and Delta 164 nt. Neuronal GFAP is mainly observed in the pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus of Alzheimer and Down syndrome patients and aged controls, but not in neurons of patients suffering from hippocampal sclerosis. Apparently, the hippocampal neurons in patients with Alzheimer's disease pathology are capable of expressing glia-specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Hol
- Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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38
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Wiggins AK, Shen PJ, Gundlach AL. Delayed, but prolonged increases in astrocytic clusterin (ApoJ) mRNA expression following acute cortical spreading depression in the rat: evidence for a role of clusterin in ischemic tolerance. BRAIN RESEARCH. MOLECULAR BRAIN RESEARCH 2003; 114:20-30. [PMID: 12782389 DOI: 10.1016/s0169-328x(03)00124-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Clusterin is a sulfated glycoprotein produced by neurons and by resting and activated astrocytes that has several putative functions, including protective responses to brain injury. Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a powerful yet largely benign stimulus that acutely is capable of providing long-lasting ischemic tolerance. The current study investigated possible alterations in expression of clusterin mRNA in the cerebral cortex of the rat at various times after unilateral CSD. Using semiquantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry, significant increases (30-100%; P< or =0.05) in clusterin mRNA were detected in layers I-III and IV-VI of the ipsilateral cortex at 1, 2, 7 and 14 (layers I-III only) days after CSD. Transcript levels in the ipsilateral cortex were again equivalent to contralateral (control) levels at 28 days after CSD. These molecular anatomical studies also revealed that both neurons and nonneuronal cells (presumed reactive astrocytes) increased their expression of clusterin mRNA following CSD. Notably the time-course of increases in clusterin mRNA after CSD (1-14 days) overlaps that during which CSD reportedly provides neuroprotection against subsequent cerebral ischemia. These findings along with other evidence suggest that increased clusterin production and secretion, particularly by astrocytes, could be neuroprotective-perhaps via one or more of its putative actions that include inhibition of complement activation and cytolysis, effects on chemotaxis and apoptosis, and actions as an anti-stress protein chaperone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Wiggins
- Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine and Department of Medicine, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Lipson AC, Widenfalk J, Lindqvist E, Ebendal T, Olson L. Neurotrophic properties of olfactory ensheathing glia. Exp Neurol 2003; 180:167-71. [PMID: 12684030 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-4886(02)00058-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) constitute a specialized population of glia that accompany primary olfactory axons and have been reported to facilitate axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury in vivo. In the present report we describe OEC neurotrophic factor expression and neurotrophic properties of OECs in vitro. Investigation of the rat olfactory system during development and adulthood by radioactive in situ hybridization revealed positive labeling in the olfactory nerve layer for the neurotrophic molecules S-100beta, CNTF, BMP-7/OP-1, and artemin, as well as for the neurotrophic factor receptors RET and TrkC. Ribonuclease protection assay of cultured OEC revealed expression of NGF, BDNF, GDNF, and CNTF mRNA, while NT3 and NT4 mRNA were not detectable. In vitro bioassays of neurotrophic activity involved coculturing of adult OEC with embryonic chick ganglia and demonstrated increased neurite outgrowth from sympathetic, ciliary, and Remak's ganglia. However, when culturing the ganglia with OEC-conditioned medium, neurite outgrowth was not stimulated to any detectable extent. Our results suggest that the neurotrophic properties of OEC may involve secretion of neurotrophic molecules but that cellular interactions are crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C Lipson
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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40
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Al-Khatib K, Campbell IL, Carr DJJ. Resistance to ocular herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in IL-12 transgenic mice. J Neuroimmunol 2002; 132:41-8. [PMID: 12417432 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-5728(02)00305-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a potent inflammatory cytokine that influences the innate and adaptive immune response to microbial pathogens including viruses. It was reasoned that constitutive IL-12 production in mice would enhance resistance to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. To test this hypothesis, transgenic mice expressing the p35 and p40 genes of IL-12 under a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter were ocularly infected with HSV-1. These mice displayed increased survival and reduced viral titers in the eye, trigeminal ganglion (TG), and brain stem in comparison to wild type controls. Consistent with these results, HSV-1 immediate early and early gene expression were reduced to 50-130-fold in the trigeminal ganglion of infected transgenic mice compared to infected, non-transgenic counterparts as determined by real time PCR. Associated with viral resistance, IL-12 and IFN-gamma mRNA levels and IL-12 protein were elevated in the eyes of the transgenic versus non-transgenic mice during the acute infection. Collectively, the data show the inherent resistance of mice constitutively expressing IL-12 to ocular HSV-1 infection-an outcome that is independent of the adaptive immune system at the time of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaldun Al-Khatib
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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41
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Nielsen AL, Holm IE, Johansen M, Bonven B, Jørgensen P, Jørgensen AL. A new splice variant of glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP epsilon, interacts with the presenilin proteins. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:29983-91. [PMID: 12058025 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112121200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a new human isoform, GFAP epsilon, of the intermediary filament protein GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein). GFAP epsilon mRNA is the result of alternative splicing and a new polyadenylation signal, and thus GFAP epsilon has a new C-terminal protein sequence. This provides GFAP epsilon with the capacity for specific binding of presenilin proteins in yeast and in vitro. Our observations suggest a direct link between the presenilins and the cytoskeleton where GFAP epsilon is incorporated. Mutations in GFAP and presenilins are associated with Alexander disease and Alzheimer's disease, respectively. Accordingly, GFAP epsilon should be taken into consideration when studying neurodegenerative diseases.
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42
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Bélanger M, Desjardins P, Chatauret N, Butterworth RF. Loss of expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in acute hyperammonemia. Neurochem Int 2002; 41:155-60. [PMID: 12020615 DOI: 10.1016/s0197-0186(02)00037-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) is a major component of the glial filament network and alterations in expression of this protein in cultured astrocytes have been reported in response to acute ammonia exposure in vitro. In order to determine the effects of acute hyperammonemia in vivo on GFAP expression, brain extracts from rats with acute liver failure due to hepatic devascularization (portacaval anastomosis followed 24h later by hepatic artery ligation, HAL) were analyzed for GFAP mRNA using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and appropriate oligonucleotide primers. GFAP protein was assayed by immunoblotting using a polyclonal antibody. Hepatic devascularization resulted in a significant 55-68% decrease (P<0.01) of GFAP mRNA and a concomitant loss of GFAP protein at precoma and coma stages of encephalopathy when brain water content was significantly increased and brain ammonia concentrations were in the millimolar range (1-5mM). Expression of a second glial filament protein S-100beta was unaffected by acute hyperammonemia. These findings suggest a role for GFAP in cell volume regulation and that loss of GFAP expression could contribute to the pathogenesis of brain edema in acute hyperammonemic syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Bélanger
- Neuroscience Research Unit, Hôpital Saint-Luc du Chum, University of Montreal, 1058 St-Denis Street, Que., H2X 3J4, Montreal, Canada
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43
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Damodaran TV, Bilska MA, Rahman AA, Abou-Doni MB. Sarin causes early differential alteration and persistent overexpression in mRNAs coding for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin genes in the central nervous system of rats. Neurochem Res 2002; 27:407-15. [PMID: 12064357 DOI: 10.1023/a:1015508132137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurotoxic effects of single dose of 0.5 x LD50 sarin (O-isopropylmethylphosphonoflouridate) on central nervous system (CNS) of male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. We investigated the mRNA expression of the astroglial marker genes glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin to evaluate the fate of astroglial and neuronal cells, because reactive gliosis is very often used to assess the extent of CNS damage. Rats were treated with 50 microg/kg/ml of sarin and terminated at the time-points 1 and 2 hours and 1, 3, and 7 days post-treatment. Control rats were treated with normal saline. Total RNA was extracted and Northern blots were hybridized with cDNA probes for GFAP and vimentin, as well as 28S RNA (control). The data obtained indicate that a single dose of sarin (0.5 x LD50) showed induction in the transcript levels of GFAP and vimentin in the cortex, cerebellum, brainstem and midbrain, and spinal cord. The induction showed distinct spatial-temporal differences for each tissue studied. Both GFAP and vimentin were induced at 1 hour in all the tissues studied except brainstem, where moderate and high levels of GFAP induction were noted at 1 and 3 days. Overexpressed transcript levels of GFAP and vimentin remained high in more responsive tissues such as the brainstem and midbrain. Other tissues, such as the cortex, spinal cord, and cerebellum showed a more downward trend for either GFAP or vimentin, or both, transcript levels at 7 days. It is noteworthy that both cortex (318 +/- 12%) and spinal cord (368 +/- 12%) showed relatively higher induction of GFAP, whereas cortex alone showed the highest level of overexpressed vimentin transcript levels (284 +/- 11%). Overall it is also clear that both GFAP and vimentin are needed for the effective recovery involving co-ordinated alternating up- and downregulation of these two key astrocyte genes, depending on tissue specificity. The changes seen in the transcript levels of GFAP and vimentin may be the result of astrocyte dysfunction and loss, accompanied by compensatory proliferation and dedifferentiation of the astroglia. These changes could affect the neuronal cell types, thus altering the neuron-glia homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirupapuliyar V Damodaran
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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Awatramani R, Shumas S, Kamholz J, Scherer SS. TGFbeta1 modulates the phenotype of Schwann cells at the transcriptional level. Mol Cell Neurosci 2002; 19:307-19. [PMID: 11906205 DOI: 10.1006/mcne.2001.1094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We have examined the effects of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) on gene expression in cultured rat Schwann cells (SCs). TGFbeta1 decreased the steady-state mRNA levels of several genes that are expressed by myelinating SCs but had varied effects on the mRNA levels of NCAM, L1, GAP-43, and p75-genes that are expressed by denervated and nonmyelinating SCs. TGFbeta1 antagonized the effects of forskolin on the mRNA levels of the transcription factors Oct-6/tst-1/SCIP and Krox20. Transcriptional run-off analysis demonstrated that the effects of TGFbeta1 on gene expression occur at least in part at the level of transcription. Thus, TGFbeta1 suppresses the expression of genes that characterize the different phenotypes of SCs, and these changes occur at least in part at a transcriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeshwar Awatramani
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Elliman Building 3206, 421 East Canfield, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
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45
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Ajima H, Kawano Y, Takagi R, Aita M, Gomi H, Byers MR, Maeda T. The exact expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in trigeminal ganglion and dental pulp. ARCHIVES OF HISTOLOGY AND CYTOLOGY 2001; 64:503-11. [PMID: 11838710 DOI: 10.1679/aohc.64.503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The expression in various cell types of peripheral tissues of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), first discovered as an intermediate filament specific for astrocytes, remains controversial owing to numerous reports of a wide distribution for GFAP-immunoreactivity in various cells. The present study employed immunohistochemistry to investigate the precise expression of GFAP in the dental pulp and trigeminal ganglion of adult rats and wild-type mice as well as GFAP-knockout mice. The exhibition of GFAP-immunoreactivity in the trigeminal ganglion was further examined by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, and in situ hybridization histochemistry using a specific cRNA probe prepared by us. The immunoreaction for GFAP was recognizable in the axons, Schwann cells, and the fibroblasts in the dental pulp of rats and wild-type littermate mice. However, mice with null mutations in the GFAP gene remained immunoreactive for GFAP in all these locations. Intense GFAP-immunoreactivity was found in a small number of satellite cells in the trigeminal ganglion in all animals examined in this study. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated bands for the GFAP gene corresponding to the length expected from the primer design in the samples of trigeminal ganglion and dental pulp. In situ hybridization histochemistry also showed intense signals for GFAP mRNA in some satellite cells of the trigeminal ganglion, but never in the neurons. These data suggest that the GFAP-immunoreactive molecules in the pulpal axons and fibroblasts react non-specifically with the polyclonal antibody and are probably a closely related type of intermediate filament.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Ajima
- Department of Oral Biological Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan.
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46
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Taus NS, Mitchell WJ. The transgenic ICP4 promoter is activated in Schwann cells in trigeminal ganglia of mice latently infected with herpes simplex virus type 1. J Virol 2001; 75:10401-8. [PMID: 11581408 PMCID: PMC114614 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.75.21.10401-10408.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) establishes a latent infection in neurons of sensory ganglia, including those of the trigeminal ganglia. Latent viral infection has been hypothesized to be regulated by restriction of viral immediate-early gene expression in neurons. Numerous in situ hybridization studies in mice and in humans have shown that transcription from the HSV-1 genome in latently infected neurons is limited to the latency-associated transcripts. In other studies, immediate-early gene (ICP4) transcripts have been detected by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) in homogenates of latently infected trigeminal ganglia of mice. We used reporter transgenic mice containing the HSV-1(F) ICP4 promoter fused to the coding sequence of the beta-galactosidase gene to determine whether neurons in latently infected trigeminal ganglia activated the ICP4 promoter. Mice were inoculated via the corneal route with HSV-1(F). At 5, 11, 23, and 37 days postinfection (dpi), trigeminal ganglia were examined for beta-galactosidase-positive cells. The numbers of beta-galactosidase-positive neurons and nonneuronal cells were similar at 5 dpi. The number of positive neurons decreased at 11 dpi and returned to the level of mock-inoculated transgenic controls at 23 and 37 dpi. The number of positive nonneuronal cells increased at 11 and 23 dpi and remained elevated at 37 dpi. Viral proteins were detected in neurons and nonneuronal cells in acutely infected ganglia, but were not detected in latently infected ganglia. Colabeling experiments confirmed that the transgenic ICP4 promoter was activated in Schwann cells during latent infection. These findings suggest that the cells that express the HSV-1 ICP4 gene in latently infected ganglia are not neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- N S Taus
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
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47
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Ray SK, Matzelle DD, Wilford GG, Hogan EL, Banik NL. Inhibition of calpain-mediated apoptosis by E-64 d-reduced immediate early gene (IEG) expression and reactive astrogliosis in the lesion and penumbra following spinal cord injury in rats. Brain Res 2001; 916:115-26. [PMID: 11597598 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(01)02874-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Upregulation of calpain, a Ca(2+)-activated cysteine protease, has been implicated in apoptosis and tissue degeneration in spinal cord injury (SCI) that over time spreads from the site of injury to the surrounding regions. We examined calpain content and activity, regulation of immediate early genes (IEGs) such as c-jun and c-fos, reactive astrogliosis as the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and apoptosis-related features such as caspase-3 mRNA expression and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in 1-cm long spinal cord segments (S1, distant rostral; S2, adjacent rostral; S3, lesion or injury; S4, adjacent caudal; and S5, distant caudal) following SCI in rats. Calpain content and production of 150 kD calpain-cleaved alpha-fodrin fragment, expression of IEGs, reactive astrogliosis, and apoptotic features were highly increased in the lesion (S3), moderately in adjacent areas (S2 and S4), and slightly in distant areas (S1 and S5) in SCI rats when compared to sham animals. Administration of the calpain-specific inhibitor E-64-d (1 mg/kg) to SCI rats continuously for 24 h inhibited calpain activity and other factors contributing to apoptosis in the lesion and surrounding areas, indicating that calpain played a key role in the pathophysiology of SCI. The results obtained from this animal model of SCI suggest that calpain inhibitor can provide neuroprotection in patients with SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Ray
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 309, P.O. Box 250606, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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48
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Zhuo L, Theis M, Alvarez-Maya I, Brenner M, Willecke K, Messing A. hGFAP-cre transgenic mice for manipulation of glial and neuronal function in vivo. Genesis 2001; 31:85-94. [PMID: 11668683 DOI: 10.1002/gene.10008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 508] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
With the goal of performing astrocyte-specific modification of genes in the mouse, we have generated a transgenic line expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the human glial fibrillary acidic protein (hGFAP) promoter. Activity was monitored by crossing the hGFAP-cre transgenics with either of two reporter lines carrying a lacZ gene whose expression requires excision of loxP-flanked stop sequences. We found that lacZ expression was primarily limited to the central nervous system, but therein was widespread in neurons and ependyma. Cell types within the brain that notably failed to activate lacZ expression included Purkinje neurons of the cerebellum and choroid plexus epithelium. Onset of Cre expression began in the forebrain by e13.5, suggesting that the hGFAP promoter is active in a multi-potential neural stem cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Zhuo
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705-2280, USA
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Akbar MT, Wells DJ, Latchman DS, de Belleroche J. Heat shock protein 27 shows a distinctive widespread spatial and temporal pattern of induction in CNS glial and neuronal cells compared to heat shock protein 70 and caspase 3 following kainate administration. BRAIN RESEARCH. MOLECULAR BRAIN RESEARCH 2001; 93:148-63. [PMID: 11589992 DOI: 10.1016/s0169-328x(01)00199-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Kainate-induced status epilepticus is associated with both apoptotic and necrotic cell death and induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in hippocampal and cortical regions of the rodent brain. In the present study we have examined the temporal, spatial and cellular expression patterns of mRNAs for the highly inducible HSPs, HSP70 and HSP27, together with the apoptotic marker, caspase 3 (CPP32) in rat brain after systemic administration of kainate. HSP70 mRNA was transiently induced in the forebrain by kainate, principally in the CA1, CA3 and hilar cells of the hippocampal formation, in piriform cortex and discrete thalamic nuclei. Maximal expression was seen at 8 h after kainate which then declined to background levels by 7 days. Labelling was predominantly neuronal. In contrast, HSP27 mRNA expression was more widespread. Intense labelling was observed in CA1, CA3 and the hilar region at 8 h after kainate but the expression profile for HSP27 mRNA expanded considerably with intense signals seen in corpus callosum, cortex and thalamus at 24 h post kainate. Emulsion autoradiographs indicated a predominantly glial localisation for HSP27 mRNA. In the hilus, a distinct subpopulation of interneurones were found to express HSP27 mRNA. CPP32 mRNA was upregulated in CA1, CA3 and hilus of the hippocampal formation and in piriform cortex. CPP32 mRNA expression was more restricted and similar in distribution to HSP70 mRNA being localised to neurones. The present study demonstrates the unique early expression of HSP27 mRNA by glial cells and distinct populations of neurones which extends beyond those in which HSP70 and CPP32 induction occurs with subsequent cell loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Akbar
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Division of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, W6 8RF, London, UK
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Smith DR, Hoyt EC, Gallagher M, Schwabe RF, Lund PK. Effect of age and cognitive status on basal level AP-1 activity in rat hippocampus. Neurobiol Aging 2001; 22:773-86. [PMID: 11705637 DOI: 10.1016/s0197-4580(01)00240-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Activator protein-1 (AP-1) was examined at multiple levels (mRNA, DNA binding, composition) in hippocampus of young and aged rats that were behaviorally characterized for spatial memory. GFAP mRNA was measured as a gene product known to increase with aging and to be regulated by AP-1. The activity of Jun-amino terminal-kinase (JNK) was also assessed. Levels of c-jun and c-fos mRNAs were unchanged with aging or spatial learning ability. Abundance of GFAP mRNA was significantly increased in aged hippocampus but did not correlate with spatial learning. Total AP-1 binding activity was unaltered with age or cognitive ability. In hippocampus of young, aged unimpaired and aged impaired rats, AP-1 consists mainly of c-Jun, phosphorylated c-Jun (p-c-Jun), JunD, and smaller amounts of c-Fos. JNK is constitutively active in young and aged hippocampus. We conclude that the basal expression of c-fos and c-jun mRNA, overall AP-1 binding activity and AP-1 composition are not influenced by aging or cognitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Smith
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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