Abscisic acid activates the murine microglial cell line N9 through the second messenger cyclic ADP-ribose.
Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone regulating important functions in higher plants, notably responses to abiotic stress. Recently, chemical or physical stimulation of human granulocytes was shown to induce production and release of endogenous ABA, which activates specific cell functions. Here we provide evidence that ABA stimulates several functional activities of the murine microglial cell line N9 (NO and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production, cell migration) through the second messenger cyclic ADP-ribose and an increase of intracellular calcium. ABA production and release occur in N9 cells stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, phorbol myristate acetate, the chemoattractant peptide f-MLP, or beta-amyloid, the primary plaque component in Alzheimer disease. Finally, ABA priming stimulates N9 cell migration toward beta-amyloid. These results indicate that ABA is a pro-inflammatory hormone inducing autocrine microglial activation, potentially representing a new target for anti-inflammatory therapies aimed at limiting microglia-induced tissue damage in the central nervous system.
Bodrato
Nicoletta
N
Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Biochemistry, and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV/1, 16132 Genova, Italy.
Franco
Luisa
L
Fresia
Chiara
C
Guida
Lucrezia
L
Usai
Cesare
C
Salis
Annalisa
A
Moreschi
Iliana
I
Ferraris
Chiara
C
Verderio
Claudia
C
Basile
Giovanna
G
Bruzzone
Santina
S
Scarfì
Sonia
S
De Flora
Antonio
A
Zocchi
Elena
E