title: Resveratrol increases glutamate uptake, glutathione content, and S100B secretion in cortical astrocyte cultures.
abstract: Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a polyphenol present in grapes and red wine, which has antioxidant properties and a wide range of other biological effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of resveratrol, in a concentration range of 10-250 microM, on primary cortical astrocytes; evaluating cell morphology, parameters of glutamate metabolism such as glutamate uptake, glutamine synthetase activity and glutathione total content, and S100B secretion. Astrocyte cultures were prepared of cerebral cortex from neonate Wistar rats. Morphology was evaluated by phase-contrast microscopy and immunocytochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Glutamate uptake was measured using L-[2,3-3H]glutamate. Glutamine synthetase and content of glutathione were measured by enzymatic colorimetric assays. S100B content was determined by ELISA. Typical polygonal morphology becomes stellated when astrocyte cultures were exposed to 250 microM resveratrol for 24 h. At concentration of 25 microM, resveratrol was able to increase glutamate uptake and glutathione content. Conversely, at 250 microM, resveratrol decreased glutamate uptake. Unexpectedly, resveratrol at this high concentration increased glutamine synthetase activity. Extracellular S100B increased from 50 microM upwards. Our findings reinforce the protective role of this compound in some brain disorders, particularly those involving glutamate toxicity. However, the underlying mechanisms of these changes are not clear at the moment and it is necessary caution with its administration because elevated levels of this compound could contribute to aggravate these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 anexo, Porto Alegre 90035-003 RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia Maria Vieira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Cristopher Celintano
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Piñeiro
authors.forename: Marina Concli
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brolese
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tramontina
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Feoli
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gottfried
authors.forename: Carlos-Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077185:Resveratrol; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C579158:S100b protein, rat; D013267:Stilbenes; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005974:Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase; D005978:Glutathione; D000077185:Resveratrol