INTRODUCTION: Astrocytic Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channels, together with Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), are suspected to be the key players in cellular volume regulation, and therefore may affect the development and severity of cerebral edema during ischemia. In this study, we examined astrocytic swelling/volume recovery in mice with TRPV4 and/or AQP4 deletion in response to in vitro ischemic conditions, to determine how the deletion of these channels can affect the development of cerebral edema. METHODS: We used three models of ischemia-related pathological conditions: hypoosmotic stress, hyperkalemia, and oxygenglucose deprivation (OGD), and observed their effect on astrocyte volume changes in acute brain slices of Aqp4-/-, Trpv4-/- and double knockouts. In addition, we employed single-cell RT-qPCR to assess the effect of TRPV4 and AQP4 deletion on the expression of other ion channels and transporters involved in the homeostatic functioning of astrocytes. RESULTS: Quantification of astrocyte volume changes during OGD revealed that the deletion of AQP4 reduces astrocyte swelling, while simultaneous deletion of both AQP4 and TRPV4 leads to a disruption of astrocyte volume recovery during the subsequent washout. Of note, astrocyte exposure to hypoosmotic stress or hyperkalemia revealed no differences in astrocyte swelling in the absence of AQP4, TRPV4, or both channels. Moreover, under ischemia-mimicking conditions, we identified two distinct subpopulations of astrocytes with low and high volumetric responses (LRA and HRA), and their analyses revealed that mainly HRA are affected by the deletion of AQP4, TRPV4, or both channels. Furthermore, gene expression analysis revealed reduced expression of the ion transporters KCC1 and ClC2 as well as the receptors GABAB and NMDA in Trpv4-/- mice. The deletion of AQP4 instead caused reduced expression of the serine/cysteine peptidase inhibitor Serpina3n. DISCUSSION: Thus, we showed that in AQP4 or TRPV4 knockouts, not only the specific function of these channels is affected, but also the expression of other proteins, which may modulate the ischemic cascade and thus influence the final impact of ischemia.

• Keywords
• aquaporin 4, astrocytes, brain edema, ischemia, transient receptor potential vanilloid 4,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

In this study, we aimed to disclose the impact of amyloid-β toxicity and tau pathology on astrocyte swelling, their volume recovery and extracellular space (ECS) diffusion parameters, namely volume fraction (α) and tortuosity (λ), in a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (3xTg-AD). Astrocyte volume changes, which reflect astrocyte ability to take up ions/neurotransmitters, were quantified during and after exposure to hypo-osmotic stress, or hyperkalemia in acute hippocampal slices, and were correlated with alterations in ECS diffusion parameters. Astrocyte volume and ECS diffusion parameters were monitored during physiological aging (controls) and during AD progression in 3-, 9-, 12- and 18-month-old mice. In the hippocampus of controls α gradually declined with age, while it remained unaffected in 3xTg-AD mice during the entire time course. Moreover, age-related increases in λ occurred much earlier in 3xTg-AD animals than in controls. In 3xTg-AD mice changes in α induced by hypo-osmotic stress or hyperkalemia were comparable to those observed in controls, however, AD progression affected α recovery following exposure to both. Compared to controls, a smaller astrocyte swelling was detected in 3xTg-AD mice only during hyperkalemia. Since we observed a large variance in astrocyte swelling/volume regulation, we divided them into high- (HRA) and low-responding astrocytes (LRA). In response to hyperkalemia, the incidence of LRA was higher in 3xTg-AD mice than in controls, which may also reflect compromised K+ and neurotransmitter uptake. Furthermore, we performed single-cell RT-qPCR to identify possible age-related alterations in astrocytic gene expression profiles. Already in 3-month-old 3xTg-AD mice, we detected a downregulation of genes affecting the ion/neurotransmitter uptake and cell volume regulation, namely genes of glutamate transporters, α2β2 subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase, connexin 30 or Kir4.1 channel. In conclusion, the aged hippocampus of 3xTg-AD mice displays an enlarged ECS volume fraction and an increased number of obstacles, which emerge earlier than in physiological aging. Both these changes may strongly affect intercellular communication and influence astrocyte ionic/neurotransmitter uptake, which becomes impaired during aging and this phenomenon is manifested earlier in 3xTg-AD mice. The increased incidence of astrocytes with limited ability to take up ions/neurotransmitters may further add to a cytotoxic environment.

• Keywords
• Alzheimer’s disease, ECS diffusion, astrocyte heterogeneity, astrocytes, ion uptake, volume changes,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The main energy source powering the brain is glucose. Strong energy needs of our nervous system are fulfilled by conveying this essential metabolite through blood via an extensive vascular network. Glucose then reaches brain tissues by cell uptake, diffusion and metabolization, processes primarily undertaken by astrocytes. Deprivation of glucose can however occur in various circumstances. In particular, ageing is associated with cognitive disturbances that are partly attributable to metabolic deficiency leading to brain glycopenia. Despite the crucial role of glucose and its metabolites in sustaining neuronal activity, little is known about its moment-to-moment contribution to astroglial physiology. We thus here investigated the early structural and functional alterations induced in astrocytes by a transient metabolic challenge consisting in glucose deprivation. Electrophysiological recordings of hippocampal astroglial cells of the stratum radiatum in situ revealed that shortage of glucose specifically increases astrocyte membrane capacitance, whilst it has no impact on other passive membrane properties. Consistent with this change, morphometric analysis unraveled a prompt increase in astrocyte volume upon glucose deprivation. Furthermore, characteristic functional properties of astrocytes are also affected by transient glucose deficiency. We indeed found that glucoprivation decreases their gap junction-mediated coupling, while it progressively and reversibly increases their intracellular calcium levels during the slow depression of synaptic transmission occurring simultaneously, as assessed by dual electrophysiological and calcium imaging recordings. Together, these data indicate that astrocytes rapidly respond to metabolic dysfunctions, and are therefore central to the neuroglial dialog at play in brain adaptation to glycopenia.

• Keywords
• astrocytes, calcium, connexins, energy deprivation, glucose, hippocampus, neuroglial interactions, volume,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Cortical glial cells contain both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Despite several efforts, a comprehensive analysis of the entire family of glutamate receptors and their subunits present in glial cells is still missing. Here, we provide an overall picture of the gene expression of ionotropic (AMPA, kainate, NMDA) and the main metabotropic glutamate receptors in cortical glial cells isolated from GFAP/EGFP mice before and after focal cerebral ischemia. Employing single-cell RT-qPCR, we detected the expression of genes encoding subunits of glutamate receptors in GFAP/EGFP-positive (GFAP/EGFP(+)) glial cells in the cortex of young adult mice. Most of the analyzed cells expressed mRNA for glutamate receptor subunits, the expression of which, in most cases, even increased after ischemic injury. Data analyses disclosed several classes of GFAP/EGFP(+) glial cells with respect to glutamate receptors and revealed in what manner their expression correlates with the expression of glial markers prior to and after ischemia. Furthermore, we also examined the protein expression and functional significance of NMDA receptors in glial cells. Immunohistochemical analyses of all seven NMDA receptor subunits provided direct evidence that the GluN3A subunit is present in GFAP/EGFP(+) glial cells and that its expression is increased after ischemia. In situ and in vitro Ca(2+) imaging revealed that Ca(2+) elevations evoked by the application of NMDA were diminished in GFAP/EGFP(+) glial cells following ischemia. Our results provide a comprehensive description of glutamate receptors in cortical GFAP/EGFP(+) glial cells and may serve as a basis for further research on glial cell physiology and pathophysiology.

• Keywords
• Astrocytes, Calcium imaging, MCAo, NG2 glia, Single-cell RT-qPCR,
• MeSH
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein analysis   biosynthesis   MeSH
• Receptors, Glutamate analysis   biosynthesis   MeSH
• Brain Ischemia metabolism   MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cerebral Cortex chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Mice, Transgenic MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Neuroglia chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate analysis   biosynthesis   MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins analysis   biosynthesis   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• enhanced green fluorescent protein MeSH Browser
• glial fibrillary astrocytic protein, mouse MeSH Browser
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein MeSH
• Receptors, Glutamate MeSH
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins MeSH

Brain edema accompanying ischemic or traumatic brain injuries, originates from a disruption of ionic/neurotransmitter homeostasis that leads to accumulation of K(+) and glutamate in the extracellular space. Their increased uptake, predominantly provided by astrocytes, is associated with water influx via aquaporin-4 (AQP4). As the removal of perivascular AQP4 via the deletion of α-syntrophin was shown to delay edema formation and K(+) clearance, we aimed to elucidate the impact of α-syntrophin knockout on volume changes in individual astrocytes in situ evoked by pathological stimuli using three dimensional confocal morphometry and changes in the extracellular space volume fraction (α) in situ and in vivo in the mouse cortex employing the real-time iontophoretic method. RT-qPCR profiling was used to reveal possible differences in the expression of ion channels/transporters that participate in maintaining ionic/neurotransmitter homeostasis. To visualize individual astrocytes in mice lacking α-syntrophin we crossbred GFAP/EGFP mice, in which the astrocytes are labeled by the enhanced green fluorescent protein under the human glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter, with α-syntrophin knockout mice. Three-dimensional confocal morphometry revealed that α-syntrophin deletion results in significantly smaller astrocyte swelling when induced by severe hypoosmotic stress, oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) or 50 mM K(+). As for the mild stimuli, such as mild hypoosmotic or hyperosmotic stress or 10 mM K(+), α-syntrophin deletion had no effect on astrocyte swelling. Similarly, evaluation of relative α changes showed a significantly smaller decrease in α-syntrophin knockout mice only during severe pathological conditions, but not during mild stimuli. In summary, the deletion of α-syntrophin markedly alters astrocyte swelling during severe hypoosmotic stress, OGD or high K(+).

• MeSH
• Aquaporin 4 genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Astrocytes metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Biological Transport MeSH
• Potassium metabolism   MeSH
• Potassium Channels genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Brain Edema genetics   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein MeSH
• Glucose deficiency   MeSH
• Microscopy, Confocal MeSH
• Membrane Proteins deficiency   genetics   MeSH
• Microtomy MeSH
• Cerebral Cortex metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Mice, Transgenic MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Osmolar Concentration MeSH
• Osmotic Pressure MeSH
• Promoter Regions, Genetic MeSH
• Nerve Tissue Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Calcium-Binding Proteins deficiency   genetics   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation MeSH
• Signal Transduction MeSH
• Stereotaxic Techniques MeSH
• Muscle Proteins deficiency   genetics   MeSH
• Tissue Culture Techniques MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Aquaporin 4 MeSH
• Aqp4 protein, mouse MeSH Browser
• Potassium MeSH
• Potassium Channels MeSH
• enhanced green fluorescent protein MeSH Browser
• glial fibrillary astrocytic protein, mouse MeSH Browser
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein MeSH
• Glucose MeSH
• Membrane Proteins MeSH
• Nerve Tissue Proteins MeSH
• Calcium-Binding Proteins MeSH
• Muscle Proteins MeSH
• syntrophin alpha1 MeSH Browser
• Green Fluorescent Proteins MeSH

The interest to analyze single and few cell samples is rapidly increasing. Numerous extraction protocols to purify nucleic acids are available, but most of them compromise severely on yield to remove contaminants and are therefore not suitable for the analysis of samples containing small numbers of transcripts only. Here, we evaluate 17 direct cell lysis protocols for transcript yield and compatibility with downstream reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR. Four endogenously expressed genes are assayed together with RNA and DNA spikes in the samples. We found bovine serum albumin (BSA) to be the best lysis agent, resulting in efficient cell lysis, high RNA stability, and enhanced reverse transcription efficiency. Furthermore, we found direct cell lysis with BSA superior to standard column based extraction methods, when analyzing from 1 up to 512 mammalian cells. In conclusion, direct cell lysis protocols based on BSA can be applied with most cell collection methods and are compatible with most analytical workflows to analyze single-cells as well as samples composed of small numbers of cells.

• Keywords
• DNA spike, RNA purification, RNA spike, cell lysis, direct lysis, real-time PCR, single-cell biology, single-cell gene expression,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Astrocytes perform control and regulatory functions in the central nervous system; heterogeneity among them is still a matter of debate due to limited knowledge of their gene expression profiles and functional diversity. To unravel astrocyte heterogeneity during postnatal development and after focal cerebral ischemia, we employed single-cell gene expression profiling in acutely isolated cortical GFAP/EGFP-positive cells. Using a microfluidic qPCR platform, we profiled 47 genes encoding glial markers and ion channels/transporters/receptors participating in maintaining K(+) and glutamate homeostasis per cell. Self-organizing maps and principal component analyses revealed three subpopulations within 10-50 days of postnatal development (P10-P50). The first subpopulation, mainly immature glia from P10, was characterized by high transcriptional activity of all studied genes, including polydendrocytic markers. The second subpopulation (mostly from P20) was characterized by low gene transcript levels, while the third subpopulation encompassed mature astrocytes (mainly from P30, P50). Within 14 days after ischemia (D3, D7, D14), additional astrocytic subpopulations were identified: resting glia (mostly from P50 and D3), transcriptionally active early reactive glia (mainly from D7) and permanent reactive glia (solely from D14). Following focal cerebral ischemia, reactive astrocytes underwent pronounced changes in the expression of aquaporins, nonspecific cationic and potassium channels, glutamate receptors and reactive astrocyte markers.

• MeSH
• Antigens genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Astrocytes metabolism   MeSH
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Immunohistochemistry MeSH
• Cerebral Cortex cytology   metabolism   MeSH
• Mice, Transgenic MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Neuroglia cytology   metabolism   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Proteoglycans genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Flow Cytometry MeSH
• S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Antigens MeSH
• chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 MeSH Browser
• enhanced green fluorescent protein MeSH Browser
• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein MeSH
• Proteoglycans MeSH
• S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit MeSH
• Green Fluorescent Proteins MeSH

The polymodal transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel, a member of the TRP channel family, is a calcium-permeable cationic channel that is gated by various stimuli such as cell swelling, low pH and high temperature. Therefore, TRPV4-mediated calcium entry may be involved in neuronal and glia pathophysiology associated with various disorders of the central nervous system, such as ischemia. The TRPV4 channel has been recently found in adult rat cortical and hippocampal astrocytes; however, its role in astrocyte pathophysiology is still not defined. In the present study, we examined the impact of cerebral hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) on the functional expression of astrocytic TRPV4 channels in the adult rat hippocampal CA1 region employing immunohistochemical analyses, the patch-clamp technique and microfluorimetric intracellular calcium imaging on astrocytes in slices as well as on those isolated from sham-operated or ischemic hippocampi. Hypoxia/ischemia was induced by a bilateral 15-minute occlusion of the common carotids combined with hypoxic conditions. Our immunohistochemical analyses revealed that 7 days after H/I, the expression of TRPV4 is markedly enhanced in hippocampal astrocytes of the CA1 region and that the increasing TRPV4 expression coincides with the development of astrogliosis. Additionally, adult hippocampal astrocytes in slices or cultured hippocampal astrocytes respond to the TRPV4 activator 4-alpha-phorbol-12,-13-didecanoate (4αPDD) by an increase in intracellular calcium and the activation of a cationic current, both of which are abolished by the removal of extracellular calcium or exposure to TRP antagonists, such as Ruthenium Red or RN1734. Following hypoxic/ischemic injury, the responses of astrocytes to 4αPDD are significantly augmented. Collectively, we show that TRPV4 channels are involved in ischemia-induced calcium entry in reactive astrocytes and thus, might participate in the pathogenic mechanisms of astroglial reactivity following ischemic insult.

• MeSH
• Astrocytes physiology   MeSH
• DNA Primers MeSH
• Hippocampus pathology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Immunohistochemistry MeSH
• TRPV Cation Channels physiology   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Patch-Clamp Techniques MeSH
• Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain pathology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Rats, Wistar MeSH
• Base Sequence MeSH
• Blotting, Western MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA Primers MeSH
• TRPV Cation Channels MeSH
• Trpv4 protein, rat MeSH Browser