title: Neuroactive molecules and growth factors modulate cytoskeletal protein expression during astroglial cell proliferation and differentiation in culture.
abstract: Steroid hormones and neurotrophic factors regulate astroglial cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation in culture. The present study examines the interaction between glucocorticoids and growth factors (GFs) on cytoskeletal proteins and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) expression in stressed astroglial cultures at 25 days in vitro, according to the following experimental condition. Pretreatment with basic fibroblast growth factor alone or in combination with dexamethasone 10(-9) M for 48 hr induced an enhancement of glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimetin, and ERK2 expression. Treatment with "progression" GFs alone and in the last 12 hr significantly increased the above-mentioned markers' expression. The present study shows that glucocorticoids may cooperate with GFs or may abrogate their effects, depending on the experimental culture conditions used as well as the exposure time and the types of GFs added. Our findings provide evidence of interactive dialogue between GFs and neurosteroids in cultured astrocytes. This may have implications in the therapeutic approach to neurologic disorders associated with astrogliosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology, A.O.U. "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tibullo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.|Division of Haematology, A.O.U. "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giallongo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Violetta
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Brundo
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tomassoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.affiliation: School of Medicinal Sciences and Health Products, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amenta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Avola
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017490:Ichthyosis, Lamellar; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
keywords: RRID; Research Resource Identifiers; astrocyte cultures; differentiation; growth factors; proliferation; steroid hormones