Astrocyte‐astrocytoma cell line interactions in culture

Abstract

Astrocytomas are the most common brain tumors arising in the CNS and account for 65% of all primary brain tumors. Astrocytes have been shown to have the highest predisposition to malignant transformation compared to any other CNS cell type. The majority of astrocytomas are histologically malignant neoplasm. Previous studies have shown that resident astrocytes are the first cell type to react to tumors and surround them. However, the role of these astrocytes in tumor formation and progression has not been determined. In the present study, we have co-cultured astrocytes with a permanent cell line S635c15 (derived from anaplastic astrocytoma) in order to understand the cellular interactions between astrocytes and astrocytoma cells. Our studies demonstrate that astrocytes in contact with the tumor cells become reactive and fibrous with an increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity as early as 4 days in culture. By 8 days, astrocytes formed glial boundaries around the tumor cells which grew as round colonies. The astrocytic processes surrounding the tumor cells were also intensely GFAP positive. Since the behavior of these cells observed in culture is very similar to their interaction seen in vivo, this co-culture system may serve as an in vitro model for astrocyte and astrocytoma cell line interaction and aid in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms during early stages of tumor formation and cell interactions.

Glioma-astrocyte interactions on white matter tract-mimetic aligned electrospun nanofibers

“…This data is consistent with previously published work involving similar co‐culture methods on two‐dimensional surfaces. Whereas these results are consistent with previous work that utilized 2D culture, a number of factors identified as possible causes for the observed GFAP increase were also investigated. Culture of astrocytes with conditioned media from GBM cells and culture with fixed GBM cells presumably displaying surface markers yielded no significant difference in GFAP expression, implying that GBM‐released soluble factors and surface markers contribute minimally, if at all, to astrocytic GFAP response.…”

“…Interestingly, reactive astrogliosis is also evidenced in the presence of glioma and GBM cells in vivo 9 and in vitro. 8,10 Previous work investigating GBMastrocyte interactions has demonstrated that astrocytes upregulate expression of GFAP and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the presence of GBM cells 11,12 and has also shown that astrocytes play a supportive role in GBM migration. 13 Thus, in these investigations, we evaluated the relationship between these two well-established characteristics of normal astrocytes and GBM cells, respectively: GFAP expression and cell migration.…”

“…In response to pathological states such as infraction or neoplasia, resident astrocytes undergo a process called reactive gliosis, whose morphological hallmarks include transcriptional upregulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cytoplasmic hypertrophy, and arborization of glial processes (illustrated in Figure D). Interestingly, reactive astrogliosis is also evidenced in the presence of glioma and GBM cells in vivo and in vitro . Previous work investigating GBM‐astrocyte interactions has demonstrated that astrocytes upregulate expression of GFAP and matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) in the presence of GBM cells and has also shown that astrocytes play a supportive role in GBM migration .…”

Glioma‐Associated Stem Cells: A Novel Class of Tumor‐Supporting Cells Able to Predict Prognosis of Human Low‐Grade Gliomas

“…Instead, the cell type that characterizes the CNS' response to injury is represented by reactive astrocytes . Importantly, in murine models, non‐neoplastic astrocytes could be converted, by the glioma microenvironment, into a reactive phenotype that could acquire stem cell features similar to GASC . Alternatively, GASC may derive from a recently described population of perivascular mesenchymal stem cells endowed with both mesodermal and neuroectodermal differentiation capacities .…”

Roles of Vitamins E and C on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cognitive Performance

“…13,14 These compounds appear to underlie pathologic processes and functional disturbances in acute and chronic neurologic disease. 2,[15][16][17] Several cells of the body can produce IL-1, although macrophages are the main source; antioxidants appear to modulate its secretion. 18,19 This cytokine is involved in in ammatory process and is an important stimulator of arachidonic acid metabolism (prostaglandin production).…”