title: Effect of methotrexate on glial fibrillary acidic protein content of astrocytes in primary culture.
abstract: We have recently reported that methotrexate (MTX) causes degenerative as well as reactive-like astroglial changes and alters the cell cycle kinetics of astrocytes in vitro. To further characterize the nature of the reactive-like changes that were noted by light and electron microscopy following MTX exposure, the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) content of astrocytes in culture was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry and double-immunofluorescent staining. An increase in GFAP content which did not correlate with drug dosage or DNA synthesis was noted in the MTX-treated cultures. It is postulated that this increase in GFAP content of astrocytes reflects an adaptive response to MTX-induced injury and partly explains the gliosis that is seen in methotrexate encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Florida.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bruce-Gregorios
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Soucy
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Norenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D003994:Bucladesine; D008727:Methotrexate