Endogenous GDNF Is Unable to Halt Dopaminergic Injury Triggered by Microglial Activation.

Overactivation of microglial cells seems to play a crucial role in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons occurring in Parkinson's disease. We have previously demonstrated that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) present in astrocytes secretome modulates microglial responses induced by an inflammatory insult. Therefore, astrocyte-derived soluble factors may include relevant molecular players of therapeutic interest in the control of excessive neuroinflammatory responses. However, in vivo, the control of neuroinflammation is more complex as it depends on the interaction between different types of cells other than microglia and astrocytes. Whether neurons may interfere in the astrocyte-microglia crosstalk, affecting the control of microglial reactivity exerted by astrocytes, is unclear. Therefore, the present work aimed to disclose if the control of microglial responses mediated by astrocyte-derived factors, including GDNF, could be affected by the crosstalk with neurons, impacting GDNF's ability to protect dopaminergic neurons exposed to a pro-inflammatory environment. Also, we aimed to disclose if the protection of dopaminergic neurons by GDNF involves the modulation of microglial cells. Our results show that the neuroprotective effect of GDNF was mediated, at least in part, by a direct action on microglial cells through the GDNF family receptor α-1. However, this protective effect seems to be impaired by other mediators released in response to the neuron-astrocyte crosstalk since neuron-astrocyte secretome, in contrast to astrocytes secretome, was unable to protect dopaminergic neurons from the injury triggered by lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia. Supplementation with exogenous GDNF was needed to afford protection of dopaminergic neurons exposed to the inflammatory environment. In conclusion, our results revealed that dopaminergic protective effects promoted by GDNF involve the control of microglial reactivity. However, endogenous GDNF is insufficient to confer dopaminergic neuron protection against an inflammatory insult. This reinforces the importance of further developing new therapeutic strategies aiming at providing GDNF or enhancing its expression in the brain regions affected by Parkinson's disease.

Development of a bioreactor system for cytotoxic evaluation of pharmacological compounds in living cells using NMR spectroscopy.

INTRODUCTION: The evaluation of drug's cytotoxicity is a crucial step in the development of new pharmacological compounds. 31P NMR can be a tool for toxicological screening, as it enables the study of drugs' cytotoxicity and their effect on cell energy metabolism in a real-time, in a non- invasive and non-destructive way. This paper details a step-by-step protocol to implement a bioreactor system able to maintain cell viability during NMR acquisitions, at high cell densities and for several hours, enabling toxicological evaluation of pharmacological compounds in living cells. METHOD: HeLa cells were immobilized in agarose gel threads and continuously perfused with oxygenated medium inside a 5 mm NMR tube. Signals corresponding to intracellular high-energy phosphorous compounds were continuously monitored by 31P NMR to assess cell energy levels, intracellular pH and intracellular free Mg2+ concentrations ([Mg2+]f) under control and in the presence of two different cytotoxic drugs, calix-NH2 or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). RESULTS: The bioreactor system was effective in maintaining cell energy levels as well as intracellular pH and [Mg2+]f along time, with a good 31P NMR signal to noise ratio. Calix-NH2 and 5-FU decreased cell energy levels by 35% and 39%, respectively, with a negligible increase in intracellular [Mg2+]f, and without affecting intracellular pH. DISCUSSION: The immobilization and perfusion system here detailed, along with 31P NMR, is useful in toxicological evaluation of new pharmacological compounds, enabling the continuous assessment of drugs' effect on energy levels, intracellular pH and [Mg2+]f in intact cells, for several hours without compromising cell viability.

23Na multiple quantum filtered NMR characterisation of Na+ binding and dynamics in animal cells: a comparative study and effect of Na+/Li + competition.

Double quantum and triple quantum filtered (23)Na nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were used to characterise in detail the isotropic and anisotropic binding and dynamics of intra- and extracellular Na(+) in different cellular systems, in the absence and presence of Li(+). The kinetics of Li(+) influx by different cell types was evaluated. At steady state, astrocytes accumulated more Li(+) than red blood cells (RBCs), while a higher intracellular Li(+) concentration was found in chromaffin than in SH-SY5Y cells. Anisotropic and isotropic motions were detected for extracellular Na(+) in all cellular systems studied. Isotropic intracellular Na(+) motions were observed in all types of cells, while anisotropic Na(+) motions in the intracellular compartment were only detected in RBCs. (23)Na triple quantum signal efficiency for intracellular Na(+) was SH-SY5Y > chromaffin > RBCs, while the reverse order was observed for the extracellular ions. (23)Na double quantum signal efficiency for intracellular Na(+) was non-zero only in RBCs, and for extracellular Na(+) the order RBCs > chromaffin > SH-SY5Y cells was observed. Li(+) loading generally decreased intracellular Na(+) isotropic movements in the cells, except for astrocytes incubated with a low Li(+) concentration and increased anisotropic intracellular Na(+) movements in RBCs. Li(+) effects on the extracellular signals were more complex, reflecting Li(+)/Na(+) competition for isotropic and anisotropic binding sites at the extracellular surface of cell membranes and also at the surface of the gel used for cell immobilisation. These results are relevant and contribute to the interpretation of the in vivo pharmacokinetics and sites of Li(+) action.

Mechanisms underlying Li+ effects in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmissions in the adult rat brain and in primary cultures of neural cells as revealed by 13C NMR.

We investigated by (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) the mechanisms underlying Li(+) effects on glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission systems in the adult rat brain and in primary cultures of cortical neurons and astrocytes during the metabolism of (1-(13)C) glucose or (2-(13)C) acetate. Adult male rats receiving a single dose of Li(+) intraperitoneally (7 mmol/kg) were infused 2 hr later, for 60 min, with (1-(13)C) glucose (80 mumol/min/kg) or (2-(13)C) acetate (240 micromol/min/kg). High-resolution (13)C NMR spectra of brain extracts prepared after the infusion revealed that Li(+) significantly decreased the incorporation of (13)C in glutamate and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) carbons from (1-(13)C) glucose, but not from (2-(13)C) acetate. To complement the in vivo approach, primary cultures of cortical neurons or astrocytes were incubated with 1 mM uniformly (13)C-labeled glucose or 5 mM (2-(13)C) acetate, in the absence and presence of increasing Li(+) concentrations up to 15 mM. Under these conditions, Li(+) significantly decreased neuronal glucose uptake in a concentration-dependent manner without apparent effects on astrocytic acetate uptake. Extracts prepared at the end of the incubations showed that Li(+) significantly decreased the incorporation of (13)C labeling into GABA carbons from its precursor glutamate in neurons, but such a decrease into glutamine carbons in astrocytes was not statistically significant. Our results indicate that the effects of Li(+) are mediated through a reduction of neuronal glucose uptake, resulting in a decrease of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission without apparent effects on astrocytic metabolism.

The redox switch/redox coupling hypothesis.

We provide an integrative interpretation of neuroglial metabolic coupling including the presence of subcellular compartmentation of pyruvate and monocarboxylate recycling through the plasma membrane of both neurons and glial cells. The subcellular compartmentation of pyruvate allows neurons and astrocytes to select between glucose and lactate as alternative substrates, depending on their relative extracellular concentration and the operation of a redox switch. This mechanism is based on the inhibition of glycolysis at the level of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase by NAD(+) limitation, under sufficiently reduced cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH redox conditions. Lactate and pyruvate recycling through the plasma membrane allows the return to the extracellular medium of cytosolic monocarboxylates enabling their transcellular, reversible, exchange between neurons and astrocytes. Together, intracellular pyruvate compartmentation and monocarboxylate recycling result in an effective transcellular coupling between the cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH redox states of both neurons and glial cells. Following glutamatergic neurotransmission, increased glutamate uptake by the astrocytes is proposed to augment glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle activity, balancing to a reduced cytosolic NAD(+)/NADH in the glia. Reducing equivalents are transferred then to the neuron resulting in a reduced neuronal NAD(+)/NADH redox state. This may eventually switch off neuronal glycolysis, favoring the oxidation of extracellular lactate in the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) equilibrium and in the neuronal tricarboxylic acid cycles. Finally, pyruvate derived from neuronal lactate oxidation, may return to the extracellular space and to the astrocyte, restoring the basal redox state and beginning a new loop of the lactate/pyruvate transcellular coupling cycle. Transcellular redox coupling operates through the plasma membrane transporters of monocarboxylates, similarly to the intracellular redox shuttles coupling the cytosolic and mitochondrial redox states through the transporters of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Finally, transcellular redox coupling mechanisms may couple glycolytic and oxidative zones in other heterogeneous tissues including muscle and tumors.

Tricarboxylic acid cycle inhibition by Li+ in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line: a 13C NMR isotopomer analysis.

Li+ effects on glucose metabolism and on the competitive metabolism of glucose and lactate were investigated in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line using 13C NMR spectroscopy. The metabolic model proposed for glucose and lactate metabolism in these cells, based on tcaCALC best fitting solutions, for both control and Li+ conditions, was consistent with: (i) a single pyruvate pool; (ii) anaplerotic flux from endogenous unlabelled substrates; (iii) no cycling between pyruvate and oxaloacetate. Li+ was shown to induce a 38 and 53% decrease, for 1 and 15 mM Li+, respectively, in the rate of glucose conversion into pyruvate, when [U-13C]glucose was present, while no effects on lactate production were observed. Pyruvate oxidation by the tricarboxylic acid cycle and citrate synthase flux were shown to be significantly reduced by 64 and 84% in the presence of 1 and 15 mM Li+, respectively, suggesting a direct inhibitory effect of Li+ on tricarboxylic acid cycle flux. This work also showed that when both glucose and lactate are present as energetic substrates, SH-SY5Y cells preferentially consumed exogenous lactate over glucose, as 62% of the acetyl-CoA was derived from [3-13C]lactate while only 26% was derived from [U-13C]glucose. Li+ did not significantly affect the relative utilisation of these two substrates by the cells or the residual contribution of unlabelled endogenous sources for the acetyl-CoA pool.

Effects of Li(+) transport and Li(+) immobilization on Li(+)/Mg(2+) competition in cells: implications for bipolar disorder.

Li(+)/Mg(2+) competition has been implicated in the therapeutic action of Li(+) treatment in bipolar illness. We hypothesized that this competition depended on cell-specific properties. To test this hypothesis, we determined the degree of Li(+) transport, immobilization, and Li(+)/Mg(2+) competition in lymphoblastomas, neuroblastomas, and erythrocytes. During a 50 mM/L Li(+)-loading incubation, Li(+) accumulation at 30 min (mmoles Li(+)/L cells) was the greatest in lymphoblastomas (11.1+/-0.3), followed by neuroblastomas (9.3+/-0.5), and then erythrocytes (4.0+/-0.5). Li(+) binding affinities to the plasma membrane in all three cell types were of the same order of magnitude; however, Li(+) immobilization in intact cells was greatest in neuroblastomas and least in erythrocytes. When cells were loaded for 30 min in a 50 mM/L Li(+)-containing medium, the percentage increase in free intracellular [Mg(2+)] in neuroblastoma and lymphoblastoma cells ( approximately 55 and approximately 52%, respectively) was similar, but erythrocytes did not exhibit any substantial increase ( approximately 6%). With the intracellular [Li(+)] at 15 mM/L, the free intracellular [Mg(2+)] increased by the greatest amount in neuroblastomas ( approximately 158%), followed by lymphoblastomas ( approximately 75%), and then erythrocytes ( approximately 50%). We conclude that Li(+) immobilization and transport are related to free intracellular [Mg(2+)] and to the extent of Li(+)/Mg(2+) competition in a cell-specific manner.

Quantification and localization of intracellular free mg in bovine chromaffin cells.

Magnesium is an essential element for all living systems. The quantification of free intracellular Mg(2+) concentration ([Mg(2+)](i)) is of utmost importance since changes in its basal value may be an indication of different pathologies due to abnormalities of Mg(2+) metabolism. In this work we used (31)P NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the resting [Mg(2+)](i) in bovine chromaffin cells, a neuron-like cellular model, as well as confocal laser scanning microscopy to study the free Mg(2+) spatial distribution in these cells. (31)P NMR spectroscopy did not prove to be effective for the determination of [Mg(2+)](i) in this particular case due to some special morphological and physiological properties of this cell type. A basal [Mg(2+)](i) value of 0.551 +/- 0.008 mM was found for these cells using fluorescence spectroscopy and the Mg(2+)-sensitive probe furaptra; this value falls in the concentration range reported in the literature for neurons from different sources. This technique proved to be an accurate and sensitive tool to determine the [Mg(2+)](i).lntraceilular free Mg(2+) seems to be essentially localized in the nucleus and around it, as shown by confocal microscopy with the Mg(2+)-sensitive probe Magnesium Green. It was not possible to derive any conclusion about free Mg(2+) localization inside the chromaffin granules and/or in the cytoplasm due to the lack of sufficient spatial resolution and to probe compartmentalization.