RESUMO
Neuroinflammation is recognized as a major factor in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis and increasing evidence propose that microglia is the main source of inflammation contributing to the dopaminergic degeneration observed in PD. Several studies suggest that astrocytes could act as physiological regulators preventing excessive microglia responses. However, little is known regarding how astrocytes modulate microglial activation. In the present study, using Zymosan A-stimulated midbrain microglia cultures, we showed that astrocytes secrete factors capable of modulating microglial activation, namely its phagocytic activity and the production of reactive oxygen species since both parameters were highly diminished in cells incubated with astrocytes conditioned media (ACM). Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), known to have a neuroprotective role in the nigrostriatal system, are among the candidates to be astrocyte-secreted molecules involved in the modulation of microglial activation. The effect of ACM on Zymosan A-induced microglial activation was abolished when the GDNF present in the ACM was abrogated using a specific antibody, but not when ACM was neutralized with anti-CDNF, anti-BDNF or with a heat-inactivated GDNF antibody. In addition, media conditioned by astrocytes silenced for GDNF were not able to prevent microglial activation, whereas supplementation of non-conditioned media with GDNF prevented the activation of microglia evoked by Zymosan A. Taken together, these results indicate that astrocyte-derived GDNF plays a major contribution to the control of midbrain microglial activation, suggesting that GDNF can protect from neurodegeneration through the inhibition of neuroinflammation.
Assuntos
Fator Neurotrófico Derivado de Linhagem de Célula Glial/metabolismo , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado de Linhagem de Célula Glial/farmacologia , Microglia/efeitos dos fármacos , Microglia/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Proteínas de Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Astrócitos/química , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/metabolismo , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/farmacologia , Células Cultivadas , Meios de Cultivo Condicionados/farmacologia , Interações Medicamentosas , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/métodos , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Transferases Intramoleculares/metabolismo , Mesencéfalo/citologia , Fatores de Crescimento Neural , Fagocitose/efeitos dos fármacos , RNA Mensageiro , RNA Interferente Pequeno/genética , RNA Interferente Pequeno/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Transfecção , Zimosan/farmacologiaRESUMO
Six transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 1 (STEAP1) is overexpressed in numerous types of tumors, especially in prostate cancer. STEAP1 is located in the plasma membrane of epithelial cells and may play an important role in inter- and intracellular communication. Several studies suggest STEAP1 as a potential biomarker and an immunotherapeutic target for prostate cancer. However, the role of STEAP1 in cell proliferation and apoptosis remains unclear. Therefore, the role of STEAP1 in prostate cancer cells proliferation and apoptosis was determined by inducing STEAP1 gene knockdown in LNCaP cells. In addition, the effect of DHT on the proliferation of LNCaP cells knocked down for STEAP1 gene was evaluated. Our results demonstrated that silencing the STEAP1 gene reduces LNCaP cell viability and proliferation, while inducing apoptosis. In addition, we showed that the cellular and molecular effects of STEAP1 gene knockdown may be independent of DHT treatment, and blocking STEAP1 may reveal to be an appropriate strategy to activate apoptosis in cancer cells, as well as to prevent the proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of DHT in prostate cancer.