Sodium-calcium exchanger modulates the L-glutamate Ca(i) (2+) signalling in type-1 cerebellar astrocytes

Activation of Glutamate Transport Increases Arteriole Diameter in v ivo: Implications for Neurovascular Coupling

In order to meet the energetic demands of cell-to-cell signaling, increases in local neuronal signaling are matched by a coordinated increase in local blood flow, termed neurovascular coupling. Multiple different signals from neurons, astrocytes, and pericytes contribute to this control of blood flow. Previously, several groups demonstrated that inhibition/ablation of glutamate transporters attenuates the neurovascular response. However, it was not determined if glutamate transporter activation was sufficient to increase blood flow. Here, we used multiphoton imaging to monitor the diameter of fluorescently labeled cortical arterioles in anesthetized C57/B6J mice. We delivered vehicle, glutamate transporter substrates, or a combination of a glutamate transporter substrate with various pharmacologic agents via a glass micropipette while simultaneously visualizing changes in arteriole diameter. We developed a novel image analysis method to automate the measurement of arteriole diameter in these time-lapse analyses. Using this workflow, we first conducted pilot experiments in which we focally applied L-glutamate, D-aspartate, or L-threo-hydroxyaspartate (L-THA) and measured arteriole responses as proof of concept. We subsequently applied the selective glutamate transport substrate L-THA (applied at concentrations that do not activate glutamate receptors). We found that L-THA evoked a significantly larger dilation than that observed with focal saline application. This response was blocked by co-application of the potent glutamate transport inhibitor, L-(2S,3S)-3-[3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzoylamino]benzyloxy]-aspartate (TFB-TBOA). Conversely, we were unable to demonstrate a reduction of this effect through co-application of a cocktail of glutamate and GABA receptor antagonists. These studies provide the first direct evidence that activation of glutamate transport is sufficient to increase arteriole diameter. We explored potential downstream mechanisms mediating this transporter-mediated dilation by using a Ca2+ chelator or inhibitors of reversed-mode Na+/Ca2+ exchange, nitric oxide synthetase, or cyclo-oxygenase. The estimated effects and confidence intervals suggested some form of inhibition for a number of these inhibitors. Limitations to our study design prevented definitive conclusions with respect to these downstream inhibitors; these limitations are discussed along with possible next steps. Understanding the mechanisms that control blood flow are important because changes in blood flow/energy supply are implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders and are used as a surrogate measure of neuronal activity in widely used techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Astrocyte Mitochondria in White-Matter Injury

This review summarizes the diverse structure and function of astrocytes to describe the bioenergetic versatility required of astrocytes that are situated at different locations. The intercellular domain of astrocyte mitochondria defines their roles in supporting and regulating astrocyte-neuron coupling and survival against ischemia. The heterogeneity of astrocyte mitochondria, and how subpopulations of astrocyte mitochondria adapt to interact with other glia and regulate axon function, require further investigation. It has become clear that mitochondrial permeability transition pores play a key role in a wide variety of human diseases, whose common pathology may be based on mitochondrial dysfunction triggered by Ca2+ and potentiated by oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species cause axonal degeneration and a reduction in axonal transport, leading to axonal dystrophies and neurodegeneration including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. Developing new tools to allow better investigation of mitochondrial structure and function in astrocytes, and techniques to specifically target astrocyte mitochondria, can help to unravel the role of mitochondrial health and dysfunction in a more inclusive context outside of neuronal cells. Overall, this review will assess the value of astrocyte mitochondria as a therapeutic target to mitigate acute and chronic injury in the CNS.

Glutamate Transporters and Mitochondria: Signaling, Co-compartmentalization, Functional Coupling, and Future Directions

In addition to being an amino acid that is incorporated into proteins, glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS, the precursor for the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid, and one metabolic step from the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate α-ketoglutarate. Extracellular glutamate is cleared by a family of Na⁺-dependent transporters. These transporters are variably expressed by all cell types in the nervous system, but the bulk of clearance is into astrocytes. GLT-1 and GLAST (also called EAAT2 and EAAT1) mediate this activity and are extremely abundant proteins with their expression enriched in fine astrocyte processes. In this review, we will focus on three topics related to these astrocytic glutamate transporters. First, these transporters co-transport three Na⁺ ions and a H⁺ with each molecule of glutamate and counter-transport one K⁺; they are also coupled to a Cl^- conductance. The movement of Na⁺ is sufficient to cause profound astrocytic depolarization, and the movement of H⁺ is linked to astrocytic acidification. In addition, the movement of Na⁺ can trigger the activation of Na⁺ co-transporters (e.g. Na⁺-Ca²⁺ exchangers). We will describe the ways in which these ionic movements have been linked as signals to brain function and/or metabolism. Second, these transporters co-compartmentalize with mitochondria, potentially providing a mechanism to supply glutamate to mitochondria as a source of fuel for the brain. We will provide an overview of the proteins involved, discuss the evidence that glutamate is oxidized, and then highlight some of the un-resolved issues related to glutamate oxidation. Finally, we will review evidence that ischemic insults (stroke or oxygen/glucose deprivation) cause changes in these astrocytic mitochondria and discuss the ways in which these changes have been linked to glutamate transport, glutamate transport-dependent signaling, and altered glutamate metabolism. We conclude with a broader summary of some of the unresolved issues.

The dual face of glutamate: from a neurotoxin to a potential survival factor-metabolic implications in health and disease

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Beyond this function, glutamate also plays a key role in intermediary metabolism in all organs and tissues, linking carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Under both physiological and pathological conditions, we have recently found that the ability of glutamate to fuel cell metabolism selectively relies on the activity of two main transporters: the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) and the sodium-dependent excitatory amino-acid transporters (EAATs). In ischemic settings, when glutamate is administered at the onset of the reoxygenation phase, the coordinate activity of EAAT and NCX allows glutamate to improve cell viability by stimulating ATP production. So far, this phenomenon has been observed in both cardiac and neuronal models. In this review, we focus on the most recent findings exploring the unusual activity of glutamate as a potential survival factor in different settings.

Role of Astrocytic Mitochondria in Limiting Ischemic Brain Injury?

Until recently, astrocyte processes were thought to be too small to contain mitochondria. However, it is now clear that mitochondria are found throughout fine astrocyte processes and are mobile with neuronal activity resulting in positioning near synapses. In this review, we discuss evidence that astrocytic mitochondria confer selective resiliency to astrocytes during ischemic insults and the functional significance of these mitochondria for normal brain function.

Neurointegrity and neurophysiology: astrocyte, glutamate, and carbon monoxide interactions

Astrocyte contributions to brain function and prevention of neuropathologies are as extensive as that of neurons. Astroglial regulation of glutamate, a primary neurotransmitter, is through uptake, release through vesicular and non-vesicular pathways, and catabolism to intermediates. Homeostasis by astrocytes is considered to be of primary importance in determining normal central nervous system health and central nervous system physiology - glutamate is central to dynamic physiologic changes and central nervous system stability. Gasotransmitters may affect diverse glutamate interactions positively or negatively. The effect of carbon monoxide, an intrinsic central nervous system gasotransmitter, in the complex astrocyte homeostasis of glutamate may offer insights to normal brain development, protection, and its use as a neuromodulator and neurotherapeutic. In this article, we will review the effects of carbon monoxide on astrocyte homeostasis of glutamate.

Regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in astrocytes: Mechanisms, consequences, and unknowns

Astrocytes are the major glial cell in the central nervous system. These polarized cells possess numerous processes that ensheath the vasculature and contact synapses. Astrocytes play important roles in synaptic signaling, neurotransmitter synthesis and recycling, control of nutrient uptake, and control of local blood flow. Many of these processes depend on local metabolism and/or energy utilization. While astrocytes respond to increases in neuronal activity and metabolic demand by upregulating glycolysis and glycogenolysis, astrocytes also possess significant capacity for oxidative (mitochondrial) metabolism. Mitochondria mediate energy supply and metabolism, cellular survival, ionic homeostasis, and proliferation. These organelles are dynamic structures undergoing extensive fission and fusion, directed movement along cytoskeletal tracts, and degradation. While many of the mechanisms underlying the dynamics of these organelles and their physiologic roles have been characterized in neurons and other cells, the roles that mitochondrial dynamics play in glial physiology is less well understood. Recent work from several laboratories has demonstrated that mitochondria are present within the fine processes of astrocytes, that their movement is regulated, and that they contribute to local Ca²⁺ signaling within the astrocyte. They likely play a role in local ATP production and metabolism, particularly that of glutamate. Here we will review these and other findings describing the mechanism by which mitochondrial dynamics are regulated in astrocytes, how mitochondrial dynamics might influence astrocyte and brain metabolism, and draw parallels to mitochondrial dynamics in neurons. Additionally, we present new analyses of the size, distribution, and dynamics of mitochondria in astrocytes performed using in vivo using 2-photon microscopy.

Transient Oxygen/Glucose Deprivation Causes a Delayed Loss of Mitochondria and Increases Spontaneous Calcium Signaling in Astrocytic Processes

Recently, mitochondria have been localized to astrocytic processes where they shape Ca(2+) signaling; this relationship has not been examined in models of ischemia/reperfusion. We biolistically transfected astrocytes in rat hippocampal slice cultures to facilitate fluorescent confocal microscopy, and subjected these slices to transient oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) that causes delayed excitotoxic death of CA1 pyramidal neurons. This insult caused a delayed loss of mitochondria from astrocytic processes and increased colocalization of mitochondria with the autophagosome marker LC3B. The losses of neurons in area CA1 and mitochondria in astrocytic processes were blocked by ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) antagonists, tetrodotoxin, ziconotide (Ca(2+) channel blocker), two inhibitors of reversed Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange (KB-R7943, YM-244769), or two inhibitors of calcineurin (cyclosporin-A, FK506). The effects of OGD were mimicked by NMDA. The glutamate uptake inhibitor (3S)-3-[[3-[[4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]amino]phenyl]methoxy]-l-aspartate increased neuronal loss after OGD or NMDA, and blocked the loss of astrocytic mitochondria. Exogenous glutamate in the presence of iGluR antagonists caused a loss of mitochondria without a decrease in neurons in area CA1. Using the genetic Ca(2+) indicator Lck-GCaMP-6S, we observed two types of Ca(2+) signals: (1) in the cytoplasm surrounding mitochondria (mitochondrially centered) and (2) traversing the space between mitochondria (extramitochondrial). The spatial spread, kinetics, and frequency of these events were different. The amplitude of both types was doubled and the spread of both types changed by ∼2-fold 24 h after OGD. Together, these data suggest that pathologic activation of glutamate transport and increased astrocytic Ca(2+) through reversed Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange triggers mitochondrial loss and dramatic increases in Ca(2+) signaling in astrocytic processes.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Astrocytes, the most abundant cell type in the brain, are vital integrators of signaling and metabolism. Each astrocyte consists of many long, thin branches, called processes, which ensheathe vasculature and thousands of synapses. Mitochondria occupy the majority of each process. This occupancy is decreased by ∼50% 24 h after an in vitro model of ischemia/reperfusion injury, due to delayed fragmentation and mitophagy. The mechanism appears to be independent of neuropathology, instead involving an extended period of high glutamate uptake into astrocytes. Our data suggest that mitochondria serve as spatial buffers, and possibly even as a source of calcium signals in astrocytic processes. Loss of mitochondria resulted in drastically altered calcium signaling that could disrupt neurovascular coupling and gliotransmission.

Astroglial glutamate transporters coordinate excitatory signaling and brain energetics

In the mammalian brain, a family of sodium-dependent transporters maintains low extracellular glutamate and shapes excitatory signaling. The bulk of this activity is mediated by the astroglial glutamate transporters GLT-1 and GLAST (also called EAAT2 and EAAT1). In this review, we will discuss evidence that these transporters co-localize with, form physical (co-immunoprecipitable) interactions with, and functionally couple to various 'energy-generating' systems, including the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, glycogen metabolizing enzymes, glycolytic enzymes, and mitochondria/mitochondrial proteins. This functional coupling is bi-directional with many of these systems both being regulated by glutamate transport and providing the 'fuel' to support glutamate uptake. Given the importance of glutamate uptake to maintaining synaptic signaling and preventing excitotoxicity, it should not be surprising that some of these systems appear to 'redundantly' support the energetic costs of glutamate uptake. Although the glutamate-glutamine cycle contributes to recycling of neurotransmitter pools of glutamate, this is an over-simplification. The ramifications of co-compartmentalization of glutamate transporters with mitochondria for glutamate metabolism are discussed. Energy consumption in the brain accounts for ∼20% of the basal metabolic rate and relies almost exclusively on glucose for the production of ATP. However, the brain does not possess substantial reserves of glucose or other fuels. To ensure adequate energetic supply, increases in neuronal activity are matched by increases in cerebral blood flow via a process known as 'neurovascular coupling'. While the mechanisms for this coupling are not completely resolved, it is generally agreed that astrocytes, with processes that extend to synapses and endfeet that surround blood vessels, mediate at least some of the signal that causes vasodilation. Several studies have shown that either genetic deletion or pharmacologic inhibition of glutamate transport impairs neurovascular coupling. Together these studies strongly suggest that glutamate transport not only coordinates excitatory signaling, but also plays a pivotal role in regulating brain energetics.

Reciprocal Regulation of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Calcium Signaling in Astrocyte Processes

We recently showed that inhibition of neuronal activity, glutamate uptake, or reversed-Na(+)/Ca(2+)-exchange with TTX, TFB-TBOA, or YM-244769, respectively, increases mitochondrial mobility in astrocytic processes. In the present study, we examined the interrelationships between mitochondrial mobility and Ca(2+) signaling in astrocyte processes in organotypic cultures of rat hippocampus. All of the treatments that increase mitochondrial mobility decreased basal Ca(2+). As recently reported, we observed spontaneous Ca(2+) spikes with half-lives of ∼1 s that spread ∼6 μm and are almost abolished by a TRPA1 channel antagonist. Virtually all of these Ca(2+) spikes overlap mitochondria (98%), and 62% of mitochondria are overlapped by these spikes. Although tetrodotoxin, TFB-TBOA, or YM-244769 increased Ca(2+) signaling, the specific effects on peak, decay time, and/or frequency were different. To more specifically manipulate mitochondrial mobility, we explored the effects of Miro motor adaptor proteins. We show that Miro1 and Miro2 are both expressed in astrocytes and that exogenous expression of Ca(2+)-insensitive Miro mutants (KK) nearly doubles the percentage of mobile mitochondria. Expression of Miro1(KK) had a modest effect on the frequency of these Ca(2+) spikes but nearly doubled the decay half-life. The mitochondrial proton ionophore, FCCP, caused a large, prolonged increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) followed by an increase in the decay time and the spread of the spontaneous Ca(2+) spikes. Photo-ablation of mitochondria in individual astrocyte processes has similar effects on Ca(2+). Together, these studies show that Ca(2+) regulates mitochondrial mobility, and mitochondria in turn regulate Ca(2+) signals in astrocyte processes.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

In neurons, the movement and positioning of mitochondria at sites of elevated activity are important for matching local energy and Ca(2+) buffering capacity. Previously, we demonstrated that mitochondria are immobilized in astrocytes in response to neuronal activity and glutamate uptake. Here, we demonstrate a mechanism by which mitochondria are immobilized in astrocytes subsequent to increases in intracellular [Ca(2+)] and provide evidence that mitochondria contribute to the compartmentalization of spontaneous Ca(2+) signals in astrocyte processes. Immobilization of mitochondria at sites of glutamate uptake in astrocyte processes provides a mechanism to coordinate increases in activity with increases in mitochondrial metabolism.

Neuronal activity and glutamate uptake decrease mitochondrial mobility in astrocytes and position mitochondria near glutamate transporters

Within neurons, mitochondria are nonuniformly distributed and are retained at sites of high activity and metabolic demand. Glutamate transport and the concomitant activation of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase represent a substantial energetic demand on astrocytes. We hypothesized that mitochondrial mobility within astrocytic processes might be regulated by neuronal activity and glutamate transport. We imaged organotypic hippocampal slice cultures of rat, in which astrocytes maintain their highly branched morphologies and express glutamate transporters. Using time-lapse confocal microscopy, the mobility of mitochondria within individual astrocytic processes and neuronal dendrites was tracked. Within neurons, a greater percentage of mitochondria were mobile than in astrocytes. Furthermore, they moved faster and farther than in astrocytes. Inhibiting neuronal activity with tetrodotoxin (TTX) increased the percentage of mobile mitochondria in astrocytes. Mitochondrial movement in astrocytes was inhibited by vinblastine and cytochalasin D, demonstrating that this mobility depends on both the microtubule and actin cytoskeletons. Inhibition of glutamate transport tripled the percentage of mobile mitochondria in astrocytes. Conversely, application of the transporter substrate d-aspartate reversed the TTX-induced increase in the percentage of mobile mitochondria. Inhibition of reversed Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange also increased the percentage of mitochondria that were mobile. Last, we demonstrated that neuronal activity increases the probability that mitochondria appose GLT-1 particles within astrocyte processes, without changing the proximity of GLT-1 particles to VGLUT1. These results imply that neuronal activity and the resulting clearance of glutamate by astrocytes regulate the movement of astrocytic mitochondria and suggest a mechanism by which glutamate transporters might retain mitochondria at sites of glutamate uptake.

Glutamate-induced ATP synthesis: relationship between plasma membrane Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and excitatory amino acid transporters in brain and heart cell models

It is known that glutamate (Glu), the major excitatory amino acid in the central nervous system, can be an essential source for cell energy metabolism. Here we investigated the role of the plasma membrane Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) and the excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) in Glu uptake and recycling mechanisms leading to ATP synthesis. We used different cell lines, such as SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma, C6 glioma and H9c2 as neuronal, glial, and cardiac models, respectively. We first observed that Glu increased ATP production in SH-SY5Y and C6 cells. Pharmacological inhibition of either EAAT or NCX counteracted the Glu-induced ATP synthesis. Furthermore, Glu induced a plasma membrane depolarization and an intracellular Ca(2+) increase, and both responses were again abolished by EAAT and NCX blockers. In line with the hypothesis of a mutual interplay between the activities of EAAT and NCX, coimmunoprecipitation studies showed a physical interaction between them. We expanded our studies on EAAT/NCX interplay in the H9c2 cells. H9c2 expresses EAATs but lacks endogenous NCX1 expression. Glu failed to elicit any significant response in terms of ATP synthesis, cell depolarization, and Ca(2+) increase unless a functional NCX1 was introduced in H9c2 cells by stable transfection. Moreover, these responses were counteracted by EAAT and NCX blockers, as observed in SH-SY5Y and C6 cells. Collectively, these data suggest that plasma membrane EAAT and NCX are both involved in Glu-induced ATP synthesis, with NCX playing a pivotal role.