title: Effect of iron deficiency on the expression of insulin-like growth factor-II and its receptor in neuronal and glial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have demonstrated that iron deficiency modifies the normal function of the central nervous system and alters cognitive abilities. When cellular damage occurs in the central nervous system, neuroprotective mechanisms, such as the production of neurotrophic factors, are essential in order for nervous tissue to function correctly. Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF- II) is a neurotrophic factor that was recently shown to be involved in the normal functioning of cognitive processes in animal models. However, the impact of iron deficiency on the expression and function of this molecule has not yet been clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mixed primary cell cultures from the central nervous system were collected to simulate iron deficiency using deferoxamine. The expression of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF-IR, and IGF-IIR was determined with the western blot test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed increased expression of IGF-II, along with a corresponding decrease in the expression of IGF-IIR, in iron-deficient mixed primary cell cultures. We did not observe alterations in the expression of these proteins in isolated microglia or neuronal cultures under the same conditions. We did not detect differences in the expression of IGF-I and IGF-IR in iron-deficient cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vitro iron deficiency increases the expression of IGF-II in mixed glial cell cultures, which may have a beneficial effect on brain tissue homeostasis in a situation in which iron availability is decreased.
authors: Laboratorio de Neuroquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Morales González
authors: Laboratorio de Neuroquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Contreras
authors: Laboratorio de Neuroquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México. Electronic address: jose.estrada@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Estrada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology; D003676:Deferoxamine; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000502:physiology; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D017527:Receptor, IGF Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017527:Receptor, IGF Type 2; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D007501:Iron; D003676:Deferoxamine
keywords: Cell cultures; Central nervous system; Cultivos celulares; Deficiencia de hierro; Factor de crecimiento de insulina tipo II; Factores de crecimiento; Growth factors; Insulin-like growth factor II; Iron deficiency; Receptor específico del factor de crecimiento de insulina tipo II; Sistema nervioso central; Specific receptor of insulin-like growth factor II