Astrocytes shed extracellular vesicles that contain fibroblast growth factor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor.
We previously set a three-cell-type coculture system in which neurons and astrocytes synergistically induce brain capillary endothelial cells to form a monolayer with permeability properties resembling those of the physiological blood-brain barrier. Moreover, we recently found that neurons produce fibroblast growth factor-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor and secrete them at least in part by shedding extracellular vesicles. In this study, on the basis of immunofluorescence, scanner electron microscopy and Western blot analyses, we concluded that also astrocytes in culture shed extracellular vesicles that contain the same angiogenic factors, as well as beta1-integrin, a membrane protein that is considered a marker of shedding. Vesicles released by astrocytes are smaller than the ones produced by neurons and have an average size of 150-500 nm.
Proia
Patrizia
P
Dipartimento Universitario di Neuroscienze Cliniche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Schiera
Gabriella
G
Mineo
Marco
M
Ingrassia
Antonia Maria Rita
AM
Santoro
Graziella
G
Savettieri
Giovanni
G
Di Liegro
Italia
I
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D051381:Rats; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D019012:Integrin beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2