• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2000

Substance P(SP) can stimulate production of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) from astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS). The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of Taraxacum officinale(TO) on the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. TO(100& 1000$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) significantly inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$ production by astrocytes stimulated with LPS and SP. Interleukin-1(IL-1) has been shown to elevate TNF-${\alpha}$ production from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore examined whether IL-1 mediated inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ production from primary astrocytes by TO. Treatment of TO(100 and 1000$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and substance P decreased IL-1 production significantly. Moreover, the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ by LPS and substance P in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amount of IL-1 neutralizing antibody. These results suggest that TO may inhibit TNF-${\alpha}$ production by inhibiting IL-1 production and that TO has an antiinflammatory activity in the central nervous system.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.26.1-26.11
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• 2023

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) inhibits the catalysis of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and the degradation of substance P (SP) and bradykinin (BK). While the possible relationship between ACEi and SP in nociceptive mice was recently suggested, the effect of ACEi on signal transduction in astrocytes remains unclear. Objectives: This study examined whether ACE inhibition with captopril or enalapril modulates the levels of SP and BK in primary cultured astrocytes and whether this change modulates PKC isoforms (PKCα, PKCβI, and PKCε) expression in cultured astrocytes. Methods: Immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to examine the changes in the levels of SP and BK and the expression of the PKC isoforms in primary cultured astrocytes, respectively. Results: The treatment of captopril or enalapril increased the immunoreactivity of SP and BK significantly in glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cultured astrocytes. These increases were suppressed by a pretreatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme. In addition, treatment with captopril increased the expression of the PKCβI isoform in cultured astrocytes, while there were no changes in the expression of the PKCα and PKCε isoforms after the captopril treatment. The captopril-induced increased expression of the PKCβI isoform was inhibited by a pretreatment with the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, L-733,060, the BK B1 receptor antagonist, R 715, or the BK B₂ receptor antagonist, HOE 140. Conclusions: These results suggest that ACE inhibition with captopril or enalapril increases the levels of SP and BK in cultured astrocytes and that the activation of SP and BK receptors mediates the captopril-induced increase in the expression of the PKCβI isoform.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2016

Oxidative stress activates several intracellular signaling cascades that may have deleterious effects on neuronal cell survival. Thus, controlling oxidative stress has been suggested as an important strategy for prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we found that ginsenoside Rh1 inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species generation and subsequent cell death in rat primary astrocytes. Rh1 increased the expression of phase II antioxidant enzymes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, superoxide dismutase-2, and catalase, that are under the control of Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways. Further mechanistic studies showed that Rh1 increased the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of Nrf2 and c-Jun to the antioxidant response element (ARE), and increased the ARE-mediated transcription activities in rat primary astrocytes. Analysis of signaling pathways revealed that MAP kinases are important in HO-1 expression, and act by modulating ARE-mediated transcriptional activity. Therefore, the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes by Rh1 may provide preventive therapeutic potential for various neurodegenerative diseases that are associated with oxidative stress.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.810-815
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• 2005

Previously, we have shown that astrocytes deprived of glucose became highly vulnerable to peroxynitrite, and adenosine and its metabolites attenuated the gliotoxicity via the preservation of cellular ATP level. Here, we found that adenosine and related metabolites prevented the disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) in glucose-deprived rat primary astrocytes exposed to 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), a peroxynitrite releasing agent. Exposure to glucose deprivation and SIN-1(2h) significantly disrupted MTP in astrocytes, and adenosine prevented it in dose-dependent manner with an $EC_{50}\;of\;5.08{\mu}M$. Adenosine also partially prevented the cell death by myxothiazol, a well-known inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration. Blockade of adenosine deamination or intracellular transport with erythro-9-(-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenosine (EHNA) or S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine (NBTI), respectively, completely reversed the protective effect of adenosine. Other purine nucleos(t)ides including inosine, guanosine, ATP, ADP, AMP, ITP, and GTP also showed similar protective effects. This study indicates that adenosine and related purine nucleos(t)ides may protect astrocytes from peroxynitrite-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2004

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate effects of Gwibitang on the glutamate-induced toxicity of primary rat neonatal astrocytes. Methods and Results: Gwibitang significantly recovered the glutamate-induced apoptosis and inhibited the generation of $H_2O_2$ in astrocytes. In addition, both Gwibitang and antioxidants such as GSH reduced the glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in astrocytes, indicating that Gwibitang possibly had an antioxidative effect. Moreover, Gwibitang also inhibited the glutamate-induced degradation of Bcl-2 protein and poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) in astrocytes. Conclusions: We suggest that Gwibitang has protective effects on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity via an antioxidative mechanism.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.305-311
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• 2019

Background: Gintonin is a ginseng-derived exogenous ligand of the G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor. We previously reported that gintonin stimulates gliotransmitter release in primary cortical astrocytes. Astrocytes play key roles in the functions of neurovascular systems. Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to influence the normal growth and maintenance of cranial blood vessels and the nervous system, there is little information about the effect of gintonin on VEGF regulation in primary astrocytes, under normal and hypoxic conditions. Methods: Using primary cortical astrocytes of mice, the effects of gintonin on the release, expression, and distribution of VEGF were examined. We further investigated whether the gintonin-mediated VEGF release protects astrocytes from hypoxia. Results: Gintonin administration stimulated the release and expression of VEGF from astrocytes in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The gintonin-mediated increase in the release of VEGF was inhibited by the LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, Ki16425; phospholipase C inhibitor, U73122; inositol 1,4,5- triphosphate receptor antagonist, 2-APB; and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, BAPTA. Hypoxia further stimulated astrocytic VEGF release. Gintonin treatment stimulated additional VEGF release and restored cell viability that had decreased due to hypoxia, via the VEGF receptor pathway. Altogether, the regulation of VEGF release and expression and astrocytic protection mediated by gintonin under hypoxia are achieved via the LPA receptor-VEGF signaling pathways. Conclusion: The present study shows that the gintonin-mediated regulation of VEGF in cortical astrocytes might be neuroprotective against hypoxic insults and could explain the molecular basis of the beneficial effects of ginseng on the central nervous system.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 1999

We investigated whether an aqueous extract of Chong-Myung-Tang inhibits secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ $(TNF-{\alpha})$ from primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. Chong-Myung-Tang dosedependently inhibited the $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with substance P (SP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to elevate $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore investigated whether IL-1 mediated inhibition of $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion from astrocytes by Chong-Myung-Tang. Treatment of Chong-Myung-Tang to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL-1 secretion. Moreover, incubation of astrocytes with IL-1 antibody abolished the synergistic cooperative effect of LPS and SP. These results suggest that Chong-Myung-Tang may inhibits $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion and that Chong-Myung-Tang has a antiinflammatory activity in the central nervous system.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.942-947
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• 2005

Peroxynitrite is a potent neurotoxic molecule produced from a reaction between NO and super-oxide and induces NO-mediated inflammation under neuropathological conditions. Previously, we reported that glucose deprivation induced ATP depletion and cell death in immunostimulated astrocytes, which was mainly due to peroxynitrite. In this study, the role of MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38MAPK, and JNK/SAPK) signal pathway in the SIN-1/glucose deprivation-induced death of astrocytes was examined. A combined treatment with glucose deprivation and $50 {\mu}M$ SIN-1, an endogenous peroxynitrite generator, rapidly and markedly increased the death in rat primary astrocytes. Also, SIN-1/glucose deprivation resulted in the activation of MAPKs, which was significantly blocked by the treatment with $20{\mu}M$ MAPKs inhibitors (ERK1/2, PD98059; p38MAPK, SB203580; JNK/SAPK, SP600125). Interestingly, SIN-1/glucose deprivation caused the loss of intracellular ATP level, which was significantly reversed by MAPKs inhibitors. These results suggest that the activation of MAPKs plays an important role in SIN-1/glucose deprivation-induced cell death by regulating the intracellular ATP level.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2013

Astrocytes are reported to have critical functions in ischemic brain injury including protective effects against ischemia-induced neuronal dysfunction. Na-K ATPase maintains ionic gradients in astrocytes and is suggested as an indicator of ischemic injury in glial cells. Here, we examined the role of the Na-K ATPase in the pathologic process of ischemic injury of primary cultured astrocytes. Chemical ischemia was induced by sodium azide and glucose deprivation. Lactate dehydrogenase assays showed that the cytotoxic effect of chemical ischemia on astrocytes began to appear at 2 h of ischemia. The expression of Na-K ATPase ${\alpha}1$ subunit protein was increased at 2 h of chemical ischemia and was decreased at 6 h of ischemia, whereas the expression of ${\alpha}1$ subunit mRNA was not changed by chemical ischemia. Na-K ATPase activity was time-dependently decreased at 1, 3, and 6 h of chemical ischemia, whereas the enzyme activity was temporarily recovered to the control value at 2 h of chemical ischemia. Cytotoxicity at 2 h of chemical ischemia was significantly blocked by reoxygenation for 24 h following ischemia. Reoxygenation following chemical ischemia for 1 h significantly increased the activity of the Na-K ATPase, while reoxygenation following ischemia for 2 h slightly decreased the enzyme activity. These results suggest that the critical time for ischemia-induced cytotoxicity of astrocytes might be 2 h after the initiation of ischemic insult and that the increase in the expression and activity of the Na-K ATPase might play a protective role during ischemic injury of astrocytes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2023

Mitochondria are important organelles that regulate adenosine triphosphate production, intracellular calcium buffering, cell survival, and apoptosis. They play therapeutic roles in injured cells via transcellular transfer through extracellular vesicles, gap junctions, and tunneling nanotubes. Astrocytes can secrete numerous factors known to promote neuronal survival, synaptic formation, and plasticity. Recent studies have demonstrated that astrocytes can transfer mitochondria to damaged neurons to enhance their viability and recovery. In this study, we observed that treatment with mitochondria isolated from rat primary astrocytes enhanced cell viability and ameliorated hydrogen peroxide-damaged neurons. Interestingly, isolated astrocytic mitochondria increased the number of cells under damaged neuronal conditions, but not under normal conditions, although the mitochondrial transfer efficiency did not differ between the two conditions. This effect was also observed after transplanting astrocytic mitochondria in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model. These findings suggest that mitochondria transfer therapy can be used to treat acute ischemic stroke and other diseases.