title: Translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) is expressed in reactive retinal microglia and modulates microglial inflammation and phagocytosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) is a mitochondrial protein expressed on reactive glial cells and a biomarker for gliosis in the brain. TSPO ligands have been shown to reduce neuroinflammation in several mouse models of neurodegeneration. Here, we analyzed TSPO expression in mouse and human retinal microglia and studied the effects of the TSPO ligand XBD173 on microglial functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  TSPO protein analyses were performed in retinoschisin-deficient mouse retinas and human retinas. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged BV-2 microglial cells were treated with XBD173 and TSPO shRNAs in vitro and pro-inflammatory markers were determined by qRT-PCR. The migration potential of microglia was determined with wound healing assays and the proliferation was studied with Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) analysis. Microglial neurotoxicity was estimated by nitrite measurement and quantification of caspase 3/7 levels in 661 W photoreceptors cultured in the presence of microglia-conditioned medium. The effects of XBD173 on filopodia formation and phagocytosis were analyzed in BV-2 cells and human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived microglia (iPSdM). The morphology of microglia was quantified in mouse retinal explants treated with XBD173.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TSPO was strongly up-regulated in microglial cells of the dystrophic mouse retina and also co-localized with microglia in human retinas. Constitutive TSPO expression was high in the early postnatal Day 3 mouse retina and declined to low levels in the adult tissue. TSPO mRNA and protein were also strongly induced in LPS-challenged BV-2 microglia while the TSPO ligand XBD173 efficiently suppressed transcription of the pro-inflammatory marker genes chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), interleukin 6 (IL6) and inducible nitric oxide (NO)-synthase (iNOS). Moreover, treatment with XBD173 significantly reduced the migratory capacity and proliferation of microglia, their level of NO secretion and their neurotoxic activity on 661 W photoreceptor cells. Furthermore, XBD173 treatment of murine and human microglial cells promoted the formation of filopodia and increased their phagocytic capacity to ingest latex beads or photoreceptor debris. Finally, treatment with XBD173 reversed the amoeboid alerted phenotype of microglial cells in explanted organotypic mouse retinal cultures after challenge with LPS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that TSPO is highly expressed in reactive retinal microglia and a promising target to control microglial reactivity during retinal degeneration.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karlstetter
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nothdurfter
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aslanidis
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: Felicitas
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Bernhard H F
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, D-50931 Cologne, Germany. rainer.rupprecht@medbo.de.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Langmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000187:drug effects; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C112986:AIF1 protein, human; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C502525:N-benzyl-N-ethyl-2-(7,8-dihydro-7-methyl-8-oxo-2-phenyl-9H-purin-9-yl)acetamide; D011687:Purines; D018079:Receptors, GABA; C499229:TSPO protein, human