IN VITRO MODELING OF THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF ASTROGLIOSIS

VERONICA MURTA; RAJA SEKHAR MANNAVA; PRISCILA SCHILRREFF; MARIA JOSÉ MORRILLA; ALBERTO JAVIER RAMOS

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XXX Congreso Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias; 2015

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

Astrocytes are complex, highly heterogenic cells found throughout the CNS, which make numerous contributions to normal function in healthy CNS. Their broad spectrum of activation profiles in response to insults is still poorly understood. Astrogliosis is a gradated continuum, ranging from diffuse mild or moderate astrogliosis to severe astrogliosis with scar formation. Therefore, the existence of assorted in vitro models seems essential for a better comprehension of the cellular pathways involved in different scenarios. In the present work, we used 2D or 3D in vitro models to analyze astrocyte?s response to different stimuli. In a 2D glial scar model, involving meningeal cells, astrocytes forming the scar had increased expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4, two receptors related to innate immunity. However, we didn?t see increased incorporation of a reporter nanoparticle, which is more avidly up taken by other activated astrocytes. For 3D astrocyte cultures we used a peptide nanofiber scaffold, were astrocytes grew in a more realistic environment, and survived for several weeks with excellent viability and in vivo like morphology. In this context, we were able to produce astrogliosis in response to certain DAMPs, or to leukocytes, but unable to obtain a glial scar. These results show different astrocytic responses, according to context, and indicate that the 3D model is a more realistic versatile approach for the study of astrogliosis dynamic responses. PICT2012-1424, CONICET, UBACYT