Hyperthermia assists survival of astrocytes from oxidative-mediated necrotic cell death.
In response to many stresses and pathologic states, including different models of nervous system injury, cells synthesize a variety of proteins, most notably the inducible 72 kDa heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), which plays important roles in maintaining cellular integrity and viability. We report here that cultured astrocytes from rat diencephalon express high levels of Hsp70 upon exposure to elevated temperatures, and are less vulnerable to a subsequent oxidative stress. Complex oxidative stress was induced by exposure of astrocytes to an aqueous extract of tobacco smoke. This resulted in both glutathione and ATP depletion, along with cell death that proceeded through a necrotic pathway. Pretreatment of cultures with the glutathione replenishing agent, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, prevented glutathione and ATP loss as well as necrotic cell death. Thermal stress also protected astrocytes from necrotic cell death but without affecting glutathione or ATP levels. We propose that heat shock protects astrocytes from necrosis induced by oxidative stress, probably as a result of Hsp70 synthesis, through an antioxidant-ATP independent mechanism. As Hsp70 may transfer from glial to neuronal cells, its synthesis by astrocytes may represent an important survival mechanism by which astrocytes protect neurons against oxidative-mediated cell death.
Thomas
Ginette
G
UPRESA CNRS 7079, CHU Saint Antoine, Paris, France.
Souil
Evelyne
E
Richard
Marie-Jeanne
MJ
Saunier
Bertrand
B
Polla
Barbara S
BS
Bachelet
Maria
M
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D009336:Necrosis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D012906:Smoke
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012906:Smoke; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine