title: Activation and function of murine primary microglia in the absence of the prion protein.
abstract: The prion protein (PrP(C)) is predominantly expressed in the nervous and immune systems and is involved in relevant cell signaling. Microglia participate in neuroimmune interactions, and their regulatory mechanisms are critical for both health and disease. Despite recent reports with a microglial cell line, little is known about the relevance of PrP(C) in brain microglia. We investigated the role of PrP(C) in mouse primary microglia, and found no differences between wild type and Prnp-null cells in cell morphology or the expression of a microglial marker. Translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus also did not differ, nor did cytokine production. The levels of iNOS were also similar and, finally, microglia of either genotype showed no differences in either rates of phagocytosis or migration, even following activation. Thus, functional roles of PrP(C) in primary microglial cells are - if present - much more subtle than in transformed microglial cell lines.
authors: Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Lívia P
authors: LP
authors: Pinheiro
authors: Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Linden
authors: Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratory of Structural Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: rafaelmariante@gmail.com.
authors: Rafael M
authors: RM
authors: Mariante
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C491049:Aif1 protein, mouse; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D011328:Prions; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
keywords: Cell migration; Cytokine; Inflammation; Microglia; Phagocytosis; Prion protein