title: Mitochondria in activated microglia in vitro.
abstract: In the CNS, microglia become activated, i.e. change their functional state and phenotype, in response to a wide variety of pathological stimuli. Since this activation is triggered at a very low threshold and at the same time remains territorially restricted, the spatial distribution of activated microglia can be used as a sensitive, generic measure of the anatomical localisation of ongoing disease processes. One protein complex, undetectable in resting microglia but highly up-regulated upon activation in vivo and in vitro, is the 'peripheral benzodiazepine binding site', as measured by binding of the isoquinoline derivate PK11195. Particularly numerous in the outer membrane of mitochondria, this binding site has also been referred to as the 'mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor'. The de novo expression of this receptor by activated microglia suggests that the process of activation may be associated with important qualitative changes in the state of mitochondria. Here, we provide confocal light- and electron microscopic evidence that the activation of microglia indeed entails conspicuous mitochondrial alterations. In cultured rat microglia stained with the fluorescent probe, JC-1, a sensitive indicator of mitochondrial membrane potential, we demonstrate that stimulation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma increases the number of microglial mitochondrial profiles and leads to marked changes in their morphology. Prominent elongated, "needle-like" mitochondria are a characteristic feature of activated microglia in vitro. Electron microscopically, an abundance of abnormal profiles, including circular cristae or ring- and U-shaped membranes, are found. Our observations support the notion that the previously reported increase in microglial binding of PK11195, that labelled with carbon-11 ([11C] (R)-PK11195) has clinical use for the visualisation of activated microglia in vivo by positron emission tomography, may at least in part relate to an increased number and altered functional state of microglial mitochondria.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Radiation Sciences, and Ramaciotti Centre for Brain Imaging (Brain-Mind Research Institute), University of Sydney, East Street PO Box 170, Lidcombe NSW 1825, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Banati
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Egensperger
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maassen
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hager
authors.forename: Georg W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Kreutzberg
authors.forename: Manuel B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Graeber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002232:Carbocyanines; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005911:Gliosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000494:pharmacology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D002232:Carbocyanines; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007546:Isoquinolines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C069997:Tspo protein, rat; C068624:5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolocarbocyanine; C037850:PK 11195