Neuroprotective immunity: T cell-derived glutamate endows astrocytes with a neuroprotective phenotype.

Neuroprotective Phenotype Glutamate Endows Astrocytes with a Neuroprotective Immunity: T Cell-Derived

Immunology primer for neurosurgeons and neurologists part 2: Innate brain immunity

Over the past several decades we have learned a great deal about microglia and innate brain immunity. While microglia are the principle innate immune cells, other cell types also play a role, including invading macrophages, astrocytes, neurons, and endothelial cells. The fastest reacting cell is the microglia and despite its name, resting microglia (also called ramified microglia) are in fact q...

Neuroprotective effects of levetiracetam target xCT in astrocytes in parkinsonian mice.

Astrocytes but not neurons express cystine/glutamate exchange transporter (xCT), which takes up cystine, and consequently supplies the substrate for GSH synthesis in neurons. It is recognized that GSH synthesis in neurons is dependent on the expression of xCT in astrocytes. Previous studies reported that levetiracetam (LEV), an anti-epileptic drug, increased xCT expression in vivo. The purpose ...

Neuroprotection by glial metabotropic glutamate receptors is mediated by transforming growth factor-beta.

The medium collected from cultured astrocytes transiently exposed to the group-II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor agonists (2S,1'R, 2'R,3'R)-2-(2,3-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine (DCG-IV) or (S)-4-carboxy-3-hydroxyphenylglycine (4C3HPG) is neuroprotective when transferred to mixed cortical cultures challenged with NMDA (). The following data indicate that this particular form of neuroprote...

Cystine/glutamate exchange modulates glutathione supply for neuroprotection from oxidative stress and cell proliferation.

The cystine/glutamate exchanger (xCT) provides intracellular cyst(e)ine for production of glutathione, a major cellular antioxidant. Using xCT overexpression and underexpression, we present evidence that xCT-dependent glutathione production modulates both neuroprotection from oxidative stress and cell proliferation. In embryonic and adult rat brain, xCT protein was enriched at the CSF-brain bar...