Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects astrocytes from cell death

SABA J; DURAND D; CARNIGLIA L; CARUSO C; RAMIREZ D; LASAGA M

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 2nd FALAN Congress; 2016

IBRO LARC

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that promotes neuronal survival and inhibits apoptosis. We have previously shown that BDNF prevents astrocyte apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Now, we studied BDNF effects on astrocyte death induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP), a toxin widely used as an in vitro model of Huntington?s disease. Primary cultures of rat astrocytes were incubated for 24 h with 3NP 15 mM ± BDNF 50 ng/ml. 3NP induced astrocyte apoptosis and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS). BDNF blocked the decrease in cell viability and reduced ROS production induced by 3NP. We previously showed that astrocyte conditioned medium (ACM) from 24h BDNF-treated astrocytes, but not ACM from control astrocytes, blocked the decrease in PC12 neuron viability induced by 3NP. ACM from astrocytes treated with 3NP for 24h (which produce high ROS levels) decreases neuron viability (p