title: L-serine-mediated release of apolipoprotein E and lipids from microglial cells.
abstract: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), one of the genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, is considered to have a critical role in transporting lipids in the brain. In the present study, we investigated ApoE release in primary rat microglial cultures. Microglial cells released ApoE in response to L-Ser in culture medium, and ApoE-immunoreactivity was detected in granules in the cell periphery and in perinuclear structures. Immunocytochemical studies, immunoblotting, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results all supported the notion that microglial cells are the potential source of ApoE in the brain. L-Ser enhanced ApoE release in a concentration-dependent manner without upregulating ApoE mRNA expression. Astrocytes presumably enhanced production and release of ApoE by microglial cells through secretion of L-Ser. As revealed by gel chromatography, ApoE was secreted as a component of lipoproteins, and L-Ser enhanced release of cholesterol and triglycerides together with ApoE. Activation of microglial cells by lipopolysaccharides and serum resulted in an overall decrease of the ApoE release. These findings suggest that microglial cells are a significant source of lipoproteins containing ApoE in the brain under physiological conditions, and that L-Ser is an important mediator of the neuron-astrocyte-microglia network in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ehime University, Ehime 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Nobuji
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitsuda
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012694:Serine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D012694:Serine; D002784:Cholesterol