Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects astrocytes from cell death

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

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XXX Congreso Anual de la SAN; 2015

SAN

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that promotes neuronal survival and inhibits apoptosis of neurons and oligodendrocytes. Nevertheless, little is known about BDNF effects on astrocytes. We have previously shown that BDNF increases astrocyte viability through ERK and Akt pathways. Now, we studied the effects of BDNF on astrocyte death. Primary cultures of rat astrocytes were incubated for 24 h with or without BDNF 50 ng/ml and apoptosis was induced by serum deprivation. We found that BDNF blocked the decrease in cell viability induced by serum deprivation. BDNF decreases the percentage of hypodiploid (Sub G1) astrocytes (p