Amanda Sierra

Microglia Derived from Aging Mice Exhibit an Altered Inflammatory Profile

Microglia play a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases and in the brain aging process. Yet, little is known about the functional dynamics of microglia during aging. Thus, using young and aging transgenic mice expressing enhanced‐green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the promoter of the c‐fms gene for macrophage‐colony stimulating factor receptor, we evaluated invivo‐induced inflammatory responses of EGFP‐expressing microglia sorted by flow cytometry. Aging microglia were characterized by the presence of lipofuscin granules, decreased processes complexity, altered granularity, and increased mRNA expression of both pro‐inflammatory (TNFα, IL‐1β, IL‐6) and anti‐inflammatory (IL‐10, TGFβ1) cytokines. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge (1 mg/kg, 3 h), aging microglia exhibit increased basal expression of TNFα, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐10. Yet, the fold‐over‐basal LPS response remained constant across age, implying that the inflammatory machinery in aging microglia is functional and adjusted to the basal state. Gender differences were not overall observed across the treatments (age, LPS). The low but sustained production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines by aging microglia may have a profound impact in the brain aging process.

Localization of estrogen receptor β-immunoreactivity in astrocytes of the adult rat brain

Estrogen receptors are direct regulators of transcription that function by binding to specific DNA sequences in promoters of target genes. The two cloned forms of estrogen receptors, α and β, are expressed in the central nervous system by different neuronal populations. Astrocytes in vitro are also reported to express estrogen receptor α; however, this expression has not been confirmed in the rat brain in vivo. The apparent absence of estrogen receptors in glia in vivo contrasts with the well‐known effects of this hormone on astrocytes of different brain areas, including the hippocampal formation. In this study, the expression of estrogen receptors in the hippocampal formation of adult male rats has been assessed by confocal microscopy. Estrogen receptor α‐immunoreactivity was localized in neuronal nuclei in the pyramidal cell layer of CA1‐CA3 fields. Estrogen receptor β‐immunoreactivity was observed in the perikarya, apical dendrites, and cell nuclei of pyramidal neurons in CA1 and CA2. Furthermore, estrogen receptor β‐immunoreactive glia were observed in CA1, CA2, CA3, and in the hilus of the dentate gyrus of male and female rats. Estrogen receptor β‐immunoreactivity was localized in glial processes and perikarya and, in some cases, in glial cell nuclei. Double immunocytochemical labeling of estrogen receptor β and the specific astroglial marker glial fibrillary acidic protein revealed that estrogen receptor β‐immunoreactive glial cells were astrocytes. Estrogen receptor α was not co‐localized with glial fibrillary acidic protein. The presence of estrogen receptor β in astrocytes of adult male and female rats demonstrates a possible mechanism by which estrogen can directly modulate gene expression in these cells. GLIA 26:260–267, 1999.

Steroid hormone receptor expression and function in microglia

Steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids and estrogens are well‐known regulators of peripheral immune responses and also show anti‐inflammatory properties in the brain. However, the expression of steroid hormone receptors in microglia, the pivotal immune cell that coordinates the brain inflammatory response, is still controversial. Here we use real time RT‐PCR to show that microglia, isolated from adult fms‐EGFP mice by FACS, express glucocorticoid receptor (GR), mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα). GR was the most abundant steroid hormone receptor transcript in microglia. The presence of GR and ERα immunoreactivity was further confirmed in vivo at the ultrastructural level. To understand the role of steroid hormone receptors during the inflammation process, we evaluated the expression of steroid hormone receptors after inflammatory challenge and found a significant down‐regulation of GR, MR, and ERα in microglia. Finally, we tested the immunomodulatory properties of estrogens and glucocorticoids. Estradiol benzoate did not have any significant impact on the inflammatory profile of ex vivo sorted microglia, either in resting conditions or after challenge. Furthermore, corticosterone was a more consistent anti‐inflammatory agent than 17β‐estradiol in vitro. Our results support the hypothesis that adult microglia are a direct target of steroid hormones and that glucocorticoids, through the predominant expression of GR and MR, are the primary steroid hormone regulators of microglial inflammatory activity. The down‐regulation of steroid hormone receptors after LPS challenge may serve as a prerequisite to suppressing the anti‐inflammatory actions of endogenous steroid hormones on the immune system, and contribute to a sustained activation of microglia.

Neuroprotective effects of estradiol in the adult rat hippocampus: interaction with insulin-like growth factor-I signalling.

We have previously shown that 17‐β‐estradiol protects neurons in the dentate gyrus from kainic acid‐induced death in vivo. To analyse whether this effect is mediated through estrogen receptors and through cross‐talk between steroid and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) systems, we have concomitantly administered antagonists of estrogen receptor (ICI 182,780) or the IGF‐I receptor (JB1) with estradiol. In addition, we have also administered IGF‐I with or without the estrogen receptor antagonist. JB1 (20 μg/ml), ICI 182,780 (10‐7 M), and IGF‐I (100 μg/ml) were delivered into the left lateral ventricle of young ovariectomized rats via an Alzet osmotic minipump (0.5 μl/hr) for 2 weeks. All rats received kainic acid (7 mg/Kg b.w.) or vehicle i.p. injections at day 7 after minipump implant. Also on day 7, rats treated i.c. v.with only ICI 182,780 or JB1 received a single i.p. injection of 17‐β‐estradiol (150 μg/rat) or vehicle. On day 14 after minipump implant, the rats were killed, brains processed, and the number of surviving hilar neurons estimated by the optical disector technique. Both IGF‐I and estradiol treatments resulted in over 90% survival of hilar neurons. The neuroprotective action of estradiol was blocked by ICI 182,780 and by JB1. Furthermore, IGF‐I enhancement of neuronal survival was significantly reduced by ICI 182,780. These results indicate that in this model of hippocampal lesion, the neuroprotective effect of estradiol depends both on estrogen receptors and IGF‐I receptors, while the protection exerted by IGF‐I depends also on estrogen receptors. In conclusion, an interaction of estrogen receptor and IGF‐I receptor signalling may mediate neuroprotection in the adult rat hippocampus. J. Neurosci. Res. 58:815–822, 1999.

An antagonist of estrogen receptors blocks the induction of adult neurogenesis by insulin-like growth factor-I in the dentate gyrus of adult female rat

Interdependence between estradiol and insulin‐like growth factor‐I has been documented for different neural events, including neuronal differentiation, synaptic plasticity, neuroendocrine regulation and neuroprotection. In the present study we have assessed whether both factors interact in the regulation of neurogenesis in the adult rat dentate gyrus. Wistar albino female rats were bilaterally ovariectomized and treated with estradiol, insulin‐like growth factor‐I and/or the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. Estradiol was administered in a subcutaneous silastic capsule. Insulin‐like growth factor‐I and ICI 182,780 were delivered in the lateral cerebral ventricle. Animals received six daily injections of 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine and were killed 24 h after the last injection. The total number of 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine‐positive neurons was significantly increased in animals treated with insulin‐like growth factor‐I, compared with rats treated with vehicles, while rats treated with both insulin‐like growth factor‐I and estradiol showed a higher number of 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine‐positive neurons than rats treated with insulin‐like growth factor‐I or estradiol alone. The antiestrogen ICI 182,780 blocked the effect of insulin‐like growth factor‐I on the number of 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine neurons with independence of whether the animals were treated or not with estradiol. These findings suggest that estrogen receptors are involved in the induction of adult neurogenesis by insulin‐like growth factor‐I in the dentate gyrus, and that estradiol and insulin‐like growth factor‐I have a cooperative interaction to promote neurogenesis. The interaction between insulin‐like growth factor‐I and estradiol may participate in changes in the rate of neurogenesis during different endocrine and physiological conditions, and may be related to the decline in neurogenesis with ageing.

Aromatase expression by reactive astroglia is neuroprotective.

Abstract: The enzyme aromatase catalyzes the conversion of testosterone and other C19 steroids to estradiol. Under normal circumstances, the expression of aromatase in the central nervous system of mammals is restricted to neurons. However, the expression of the enzyme is induced in astrocytes in vitro by stressful stimuli. Furthermore, different types of brain injury induce in vivo the expression of aromatase in reactive astrocytes. The expression of aromatase by reactive astrocytes is neuroprotective, because the pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme in the brain exacerbates neuronal death after different forms of mild neurodegenerative stimuli that do not significantly affect neuronal survival under control conditions. These findings indicate that the induction of aromatase in reactive astrocytes, and the consecutive increase in the local production of estradiol in the brain at injured sites, may be an endogenous neural response to reduce the extent of neurodegenerative damage.

Estradiol prevents kainic acid-induced neuronal loss in the rat dentate gyrus.

THE neuroprotective role of 17 β-estradiol in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of adult rats treated with kainic acid has been investigated. The systemic injection of a single low dose (7 mg/kg) of kainic acid to ovariectomized rats produced a marked loss of Nissl-stained and somatostatin-immunoreactive hilar neurons. A single simultaneous systemic dose of estradiol (150 μg per animal) prevented the kainic acid-induced decrease in Nissl-stained and somatostatinergic hilar neurons. These results indicate that estradiol may protect adult hilar neurons in vivo from neurotoxic-induced cell death.

Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in the rat brain: cellular distribution, developmental regulation and overexpression after injury.

The central nervous system synthesizes steroids which regulate the development and function of neurons and glia and have neuroprotective properties. The first step in this process involves the delivery of free cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane where it can be converted into pregnenolone. This delivery is mediated by steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Here, we present a detailed analysis of the distribution of StAR expression in neurons and glia, in the developing, adult and aged male rat brain. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that StAR is widely distributed throughout the brain, although in each brain area it is restricted to very specific neuronal and astroglial populations. In most regions expressing StAR, immunoreactivity appeared at P10 and the levels of expression then either increased or remained constant until adulthood. In 2‐year‐old rat brains, StAR immunoreactivity was increased compared to young adults. StAR was expressed in the subventricular zone of the adult brain, in proliferating cells which incorporate BrdU as well as in germinal layers in the developing brain. These findings indicate that StAR expression is developmentally regulated and that StAR may play some function in regulating cell proliferation in the brain. Furthermore, StAR mRNA and protein levels were acutely and transiently increased in the hippocampus following excitotoxic brain injury induced by the administration of kainic acid. This raises the possibility that the up‐regulation of StAR expression and the subsequent modifications in steroidogenesis may be part of the mechanisms used by the brain to cope with neurodegeneration.

Gonadal hormones affect neuronal vulnerability to excitotoxin-induced degeneration.

The role of endogenous gonadal secretions in neuroprotection has been assessed in a model of hippocampal degeneration induced by the systemic administration of kainic acid to adult male and female rats. A low dose of kainic acid (7 mg/Kg b.w.) induced a significant loss of hilar dentate neurons in castrated males and did not affect hilar neurons in intact males. The effect of kainic acid on hilar neurons in female rats was different depending on the day of the estrous cycle in which the neurotoxin was administered; while no significant effect of kainic acid was observed when it was injected in the morning of estrus, there was a significant loss of hilar neurons when it was injected in the morning of proestrus as well as when it was injected into ovariectomized rats. Estradiol or estradiol plus progesterone prevented hilar neuronal loss when injected simultaneously with kainic acid in ovariectomized rat. Progesterone by itself did not prevent neuronal loss induced by kainic acid and estogen was only effective when it was injected either 24 h before or simultaneously with kainic acid and not when it was injected 24 h after the administration of the toxin. These findings indicate that endogenous gonadal hormones protect hippocampal hilar neurons from excitotoxic degeneration. In addition, the timing of exposure to ovarian hormones and the natural fluctuation of ovarian hormones during the estrous cycle may influence the vulnerability of hilar neurons to excitotoxicity. These findings are relevant to possible modifications in neurodegenerative risk in humans as endogenous levels of gonadal hormones change during the menstrual cycle and during aging.

Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in the brain.

The nervous system synthesizes steroids that regulate the development and function of neurons and glia, and have neuroprotective properties. The first step in steroidogenesis involves the delivery of free cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane where it can be converted into pregnenolone by the enzyme cytochrome P450side chain cleavage. The peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor and the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein are involved in this process and appear to function in a coordinated manner. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein mRNA and protein are widely expressed throughout the adult brain. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression has been detected in many neuronal populations, in ependymocytes, in some astroglial cells, in Schwann cells from peripheral nerves and in proliferating cells of the developing and adult brain. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein is colocalized in the same neural cells with P450side chain cleavage and with other steroidogenic enzymes. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression in the brain shows marked changes with development, aging and injury. The steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene may be under the control of diverse mechanisms in different neural cell types, since its expression is upregulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP) in gliomas and astrocytes in culture and downregulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP) in Schwann cells. In addition, activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, and the consequent rise in intracellular calcium levels, activates steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and steroidogenesis in hippocampal neurons. In conclusion, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein is regulated in the nervous system by different physiological and pathological conditions and may play an important role during brain development, aging and after injury.