title: Clozapine reduces GLT-1 expression and glutamate uptake in astrocyte cultures.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that clozapine-induced reduction of glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) expression is mediated by astrocytes, we studied the effects of clozapine on Glu transporters and Glu uptake in primary astrocyte cultures of the cerebral cortex. Astrocyte cultures treated for 48 h with clozapine exhibited a reduction in GLT-1 levels of about 50%, whereas glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) levels remained unchanged. Glu uptake was also lowered, and this reduction was dose-dependent. Our findings indicate that clozapine reduces GLT-1 expression and function by a mechanism that directly involves astrocytes. A better understanding of the molecular events by which antipsychotics regulate Glu uptake can contribute to identify new targets for the treatment of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, Spain.
authors.forename: Ainara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallejo-Illarramendi
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres-Ramos
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melone
authors.forename: Fiorenzo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matute
mesh_terms: D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003024:Clozapine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1; D027342:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D050491:Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D027981:Symporters / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D027341:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1; D027342:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2; D050491:Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493392:Slc1a3 protein, rat; D027981:Symporters; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D003024:Clozapine