Roles and Regulation of Ketogenesis in Cultured Astroglia and Neurons Under Hypoxia and Hypoglycemia
Exogenous ketone bodies (KBs), acetoacetate (AA), and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) act as alternative energy substrates in neural cells under starvation. The present study examined the endogenous ketogenic capacity of astroglia under hypoxia with/without glucose and the possible roles of KBs in neuronal energy metabolism. Cultured neurons and astroglia were prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats. Palmitic acid (PAL) and l-carnitine (LC) were added to the assay medium. The 4- to 24-hr production of AA and BHB was measured using the cyclic thio-NADH method. 14C-labeled acid-soluble products (KBs) and 14CO2 produced from [1-14C]PA...
Source: ASN Neuro - September 11, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Takahashi, S., Iizumi, T., Mashima, K., Abe, T., Suzuki, N. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
MAL Overexpression Leads to Disturbed Expression of Genes That Influence Cytoskeletal Organization and Differentiation of Schwann Cells
This study shows that MAL overexpression leads to a significant reduction of Mpz and p75NTR expression in primary mouse Schwann cell cultures, which was already evident before differentiation, implicating an effect of MAL in early Schwann cell development. Their transcription was robustly reduced, despite normal expression of essential transcription factors and receptors. Further, the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathways important for Schwann cell differentiation were correctly induced, highlighting that other so far unknown rate limiting factors do ...
Source: ASN Neuro - September 10, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Schmid, D., Zeis, T., Sobrio, M., Schaeren-Wiemers, N. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Induction of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and In Vitro Myelination by Inhibition of Rho-Associated Kinase
In this study, we analyzed the effects of modulating the Rho-A/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway, by the use of selective inhibitors of ROCK, on the transformation of OPCs into mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes. Here we demonstrate, with the use of cellular cultures from rodent and human origin, that ROCK inhibition in OPCs results in a significant generation of branches and cell processes in early differentiation stages, followed by accelerated production of myelin protein as an indication of advanced maturation. Furthermore, inhibition of R...
Source: ASN Neuro - June 25, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Pedraza, C. E., Taylor, C., Pereira, A., Seng, M., Tham, C.-S., Izrael, M., Webb, M. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Functions of FUS/TLS From DNA Repair to Stress Response: Implications for ALS
Fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS or FUS) is a multifunctional DNA-/RNA-binding protein that is involved in a variety of cellular functions including transcription, protein translation, RNA splicing, and transport. FUS was initially identified as a fusion oncoprotein, and thus, the early literature focused on the role of FUS in cancer. With the recent discoveries revealing the role of FUS in neurodegenerative diseases, namely amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, there has been a renewed interest in elucidating the normal functions of FUS. It is not clear which, if any, en...
Source: ASN Neuro - June 1, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Sama, R. R. K., Ward, C. L., Bosco, D. A. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Role of the Intracellular Nucleoside Transporter ENT3 in Transmitter and High K+ Stimulation of Astrocytic ATP Release Investigated Using siRNA Against ENT3
This study investigates the role of the intracellular adenosine transporter equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (ENT3) in stimulated release of the gliotransmitter adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from astrocytes. Within the past 20 years, our understanding of the importance of astrocytic handling of adenosine, its phosphorylation to ATP, and release of astrocytic ATP as an important transmitter has become greatly expanded. A recent demonstration that the mainly intracellular nucleoside transporter ENT3 shows much higher expression in freshly isolated astrocytes than in a corresponding neuronal preparation leads to the sugg...
Source: ASN Neuro - June 1, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Song, D., Xu, J., Bai, Q., Cai, L., Hertz, L., Peng, L. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Cell-Type-Specific Jumonji Histone Demethylase Gene Expression in the Healthy Rat CNS: Detection by a Novel Flow Cytometry Method
Our understanding of how histone demethylation contributes to the regulation of basal gene expression in the brain is largely unknown in any injury model, and especially in the healthy adult brain. Although Jumonji genes are often regulated transcriptionally, cell-specific gene expression of Jumonji histone demethylases in the brain remains poorly understood. Thus, in the present study we profiled the mRNA levels of 26 Jumonji genes in microglia (CD11b+), neurons (NeuN+) and astrocytes (GFAP+) from the healthy adult rat brain. We optimized a method combining a mZBF (modified zinc-based fixative) and FCM (flow cytometry) to...
Source: ASN Neuro - March 1, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Smith, S. M. C., Kimyon, R. S., Watters, J. J. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Psychiatric Indicators and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review
This study is aimed to conduct a systematic literature review regarding the associations between psychiatric symptoms, functional impairments, and quality of life in patients with CMT (Charcot—Marie—Tooth). The PUBMED, PsycInfo, SCIELO, and LILACS electronic databases were used, and the following search terms were employed: CMT, HMSN (hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy), mental disorder, quality of life, psychiatry, psychiatric, and psychological without the use of time-limit filters. According to the adopted inclusion criteria, 20 studies were included and appraised. These studies indicated that patients ...
Source: ASN Neuro - March 1, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Cordeiro, J. L. C., Marques, W., Hallak, J. E. C., Osorio, F. L. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Proinflammatory-Activated Glioma Cells Induce a Switch in Microglial Polarization and Activation Status, From a Predominant M2b Phenotype to a Mixture of M1 and M2a/B Polarized Cells
Malignant gliomas are primary brain tumors characterized by morphological and genetic complexities, as well as diffuse infiltration into normal brain parenchyma. Within gliomas, microglia/macrophages represent the largest tumor-infiltrating cell population, contributing by at least one-third to the total tumor mass. Bi-directional interactions between glioma cells and microglia may therefore play an important role on tumor growth and biology. In the present study, we have characterized the influence of glioma-soluble factors on microglial function, comparing the effects of media harvested under basal conditions with those ...
Source: ASN Neuro - March 1, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Lisi, L., Stigliano, E., Lauriola, L., Navarra, P., Russo, C. D. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Temporal Patterns of Cortical Proliferation of Glial Cell Populations after Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice
In conclusion, our data suggest that the specific glial cell types respond differentially to injury, suggesting that each cell type responds to a specific pattern of growth factor stimulation at each time point after injury. (Source: ASN Neuro)
Source: ASN Neuro - March 1, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Susarla, B. T. S., Villapol, S., Yi, J.-H., Geller, H. M., Symes, A. J. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Transcriptional Regulation Induced by cAMP Elevation in Mouse Schwann Cells
In peripheral nerves, Schwann cell development is regulated by a variety of signals. Some of the aspects of Schwann cell differentiation can be reproduced in vitro in response to forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator elevating intracellular cAMP levels. Herein, the effect of forskolin treatment was investigated by a comprehensive genome-wide expression study on primary mouse Schwann cell cultures. Additional to myelin-related genes, many so far unconsidered genes were ascertained to be modulated by forskolin. One of the strongest differentially regulated gene transcripts was the transcription factor Olig1 (oligodendrocy...
Source: ASN Neuro - March 1, 2014 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Schmid, D., Zeis, T., Schaeren-Wiemers, N. Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
