Constitutive expression of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase in a microglial cell line: transcriptional modulation by lipopolysaccharide and serum factors.
J Neurosci Res
; 50(1): 44-9, 1997 Oct 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9379492
ABSTRACT
We investigated the expression of the alpha- and beta-subunits of the lysosomal enzyme beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase in the BV-2 microglial cell line under different culture conditions. Beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from BV-2 microglia cells was separated into its constituent isoenzymes on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose, and its activity was monitored with 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-N-acetylglucosamine and 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulphate substrates. Forms corresponding to the mouse isoenzymes A and B were present in the cells incubated in serum-supplemented medium as well as in serum-free medium. Lipopolysaccharide, a well-known activator of microglia in vitro, added to the BV-2 cells in serum-supplemented medium induced a decrease in the specific enzymatic activity determined with the 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-N-acetylglucosamine substrate. Lipopolysaccharide had no effect on hexosaminidase isoenzyme pattern of BV-2 cells in serum-supplemented medium. The level of alpha-subunit mRNA was increased and the level of beta-subunit mRNA was decreased in BV-2 cells incubated in serum-supplemented medium plus lipopolysaccharide. In the cells incubated in a serum-free medium no significant changes in the hexosaminidase-specific activities towards the above substrates were observed. Interestingly, increased expression of alpha- and beta-subunit mRNA was evident in comparison with cultures in serum-supplemented medium. The present results suggest that the BV-2 cell line may be a useful tool to study the possible role of microglia in the metabolism of brain glycolipids.
Search on Google
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases
/
Blood Proteins
/
Lipopolysaccharides
/
Microglia
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
J Neurosci Res
Year:
1997
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy