title: Effects of microenvironment on morphology and function of the microglial cell line BV-2.
abstract: Effects of microenvironmental changes were examined in the microglial cell line BV-2. In serum supplemented medium cells were ameboid shaped and exhibited thin cytoplasmatic processes at lower concentration or in absence of serum. High levels of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and of phagocytic and proliferative activity were detected. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the neuropeptide substance P (SP) induced secretion of interleukin-6. Low interleukin-3 secretion was detected only occasionally and was not influenced by LPS and SP. In defined medium, "process-bearing" cells were evident. Compared to cultures in serum supplemented medium, the cells expressed lower acetylated LDL-binding and phagocytic activity while actively proliferated, the response to LPS was reduced and to SP absent. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor increased the number of process-bearing cells, of acetylated LDL-binding and of IL-6 secretion induced by LPS. Cell morphology was not influenced by neurotrophins like nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The described phenotypical and functional plasticity makes the BV-2 cell line a useful model to investigate mechanisms of microglial activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Pathology, Pharmacology, University of Perugia, Policlinico Monteluce, Italy. neurobio@unipg.it
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Laurenzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bocchini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D003470:Culture Media; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000502:physiology; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D007377:Interleukin-3; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D013373:Substance P