Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Biology and Pathology of Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions pp 291–302Cite as

Regulation of Type III Intermediate Filament Protein Genes in Astrocytes during Development and after Injury

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Altschul Symposia Series ((ALSS,volume 2))

Abstract

Intermediate filaments (IFs) represent the major proportion of the cytoskeletal framework in astrocytes, as well as in most other eukaryotic cells, and thus, the regulation of IF gene expression is central in determining important aspects of astrocyte form and function. Of interest are the significant transitions in IF expression that occur in astrocytes during development and in pathological conditions. These transitions have been the focus of extensive study and it is widely understood that, while mature astrocytes have an IF cytoskeleton dominated by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), astrocytes at earlier developmental stages elaborate a vimentin-dominated IF cytoskeleton. When astrocytes become reactive after a traumatizing injury to the CNS they substantially upregulate expression of both GFAP and vimentin, an event which spawns dramatic morphological changes in the reactive astrocytes. Such transformations of the IF cytoskeleton in astrocytes are the result of complex interactions between environmental and genomic factors that are only beginning to be explored. The present paper will review some recent information concerning IF expression in astrocytes and its regulation and also consider the functional consequences of transitions between vimentin vs. GFAP-dominated cytoskeletal structure in developing and reactive astrocytes. Since a number of excellent and comprehensive reviews about GFAP in mature as well as in reactive astrocytes exist (Chiu and Goldman, 1985; Eng, 1985; Eng, 1988; Eng and Shiurba, 1988; Reier, et al., 1989), the present paper aims only to supplement information extant in this broad field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Angevine, J.B.J., and Sidman, R.L., 1961, Autoradiographic study of cell migration during histogenesis of cerebral cortex in the mouse, Nature 192: 766.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aquino, D.A., Chiu, F.C., Brosnan, C.F., and Norton, W.T., 1988, Glial fibrillary acidic protein increases in the spinal cord of Lewis rats with acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, J. Neurochem. 51: 1085.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aquino, D.A., Shafit-Zagardo, B., Brosnan, C.F., and Norton, W.T., 1990, Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament mRNA in gliosis induced by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, J. Neurochem. 54: 1398.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bayer, S.A., 1985, The development of the central nervous system, in: “Developmental Neurochemistry”, R. Wiggins, D. McCandless and S. Enna, ed., University of Texas Press, Austin, TX.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bignami, A., and Dahl, D., 1974, Astrocyte-specific protein and radial glia in the cerebral cortex of newborn rat, Nature 252: 55.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bignami, A., and Dahl, D., 1976, The astroglial response to stabbing. Immunofluorescence studies with antibodies to astrocyte-specific protein (GFA) in mammalian and submammalian vertebrates, Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol. 2: 99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bignami, A., Raju, T., and Dahl, D., 1982, Localization of vimentin, the nonspecific intermediate filament protein, in embryonal glia and in early differentiating neurons, Dev. Biol. 91: 286.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, F.-C., and Goldman, J.E., 1984, Synthesis and turnover of cytoskeletal proteins in cultured astrocytes, J. Neurochem. 42: 166.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, F.-C., and Goldman, J.E., 1985, Regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in CNS development and in pathologic states, J. Neuroimmunol. 8: 283.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cochard, P., and Paulin, D., 1984, Initial expression of neurofilaments and vimentin in the central and peripheral nervous system of the mouse embryo in vivo. J. Neurosci. 4: 2080.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Condorelli, D.F., Dell’Albani, P., Kaczmarek, L., Messina, L., Spampinato, G., Avola, R., Messina, A., and Giuffrida Stella, A.M., 1990, Glial fibrillary acidic protein messenger RNA and glutamine synthetase activity after nervous system injury, J. Neurosci. Res. 26: 251.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, D., Bignami, A., Weber, K., and Osborn, M., 1981, Filament proteins in rat optic nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration: localization of vimentin, the fibroblastic 100 A filament protein in normal and reactive astrocytes, Exp. Neurol. 73: 496.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, D., Rueger, D.C., Bignami, A., Weber, K., and Osbom, M., 1981, Vimentin, the 57,000 dalton protein of fibroblast filaments, is the major cytoskeletal component in immature glia, Eur. J. Cell BioL 24: 191.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeArmond, S.J., Lee, Y.-L.L., Kertzschmar, H.A., and Eng, L.F., 1986, Turnover of glial filaments in mouse spinal cord, J. Neurochem. 47: 1749.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenfield, A.J., Bunt-Milam, A.H., and Sarthy, P.V., 1984, Mueller cell expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein after genetic and experimental photoreceptor degeneration in the rat retina, Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 25: 1321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eng, L.F., 1985, Glial fibrillary acidic protein: the major protein of glial intermediate filaments in differentiated astrocytes, J. Neuroimmunol. 8: 203.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eng, L.F., 1988, Astrocytic response to injury, in: “Current Issues in Neural Regeneration Research”, P.J. Reier, R.P. Bunge and F.J. Seil, eds., Alan R. Liss, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eng, L.F., D’Amelio, F.E., and Smith, M.E., 1989, Dissociation of GFAP intermediate filaments in EAE: observations in the lumbar spinal cord, Glia 2: 308.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eng, L.F., and Shiurba, R.A., 1988, Glial fibrillary acidic protein: A review of structure, function and application., in: “Neuronal and Glial Proteins: Structure, Function and Clinical Application”, P.J. Marangos, I.C. Campbell, and R.M. Cohen, eds., Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedoroff, S., McAuley, W.A.J., Houle, J.D., and Devon, R.M., 1984, Astrocyte cell lineage. V. Similarity of astrocytes that form in the presence of dBcAMP in cultures to reactive astrocytes in vivo, J. Neurosci. Res. 12: 15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmore, S., Sims, T.J., and Leiting, J.E., 1990, Astrocyte reactions in spinal grey matter following sciatic axotomy, Glia 3: 342.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giulian, D., Woodward, J., Young, D.G., Krebs, J.F., and Lachman, L.B., 1988, Interleukin-1 injected into mammalian brain stimulates astrogliosis and neovascularization, J. Neurosci. 8: 2485.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, J.E., and Chiu, F., 1984, Dibutyryl cyclic AMP causes intermediate filament accumulation and actin reorganization in astrocytes, Brain Res. 306: 85.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goss, J.R., Finch, C.E., and Morgan, D.G., 1991, Age-related changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA in the mouse brain, Neurobiol. Aging 12: 165.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hommes, O.R., and Leblond, C.P., 1967, Mitotic division of neuroglia in the normal adult rat, J. Comp. Neurol. 129: 269.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hozumi, I., Aquino, D.A., and Norton, W.T., 1990, GFAP mRNA levels following stab wounds in rat brain, Brain Res. 534: 291.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Janeczko, K., 1988, The proliferative response of astrocytes to injury in neonatal rat brain. A combined immunocytochemical and autoradiographic study, Brain Res. 456: 280.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kost, S.A., Chacko, K., and Oblinger, M.M., 1992, Developmental patterns of intermediate filament gene expression in the hamster brain, Mol. Brain Res. in press

    Google Scholar 

  • Kost-Mikucki, S.A., and Oblinger, M.M., 1991, Changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA expression after corticospinal axotomy in the adult hamster, J. Neurosci. Res. 28: 182.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Landry, C.F., Ivy, G.O., and Brown, I.R., 1990, Developmental expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA in the rat brain analyzed by in situ hybridization, J. Neurosci. Res. 25: 194.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LePrince, G., Copin, M.-C., Hardin, H., Belin, M.-F., Bouilloux, J.-P., and Tardy, M., 1990, Neuron-glia interactions: effect of serotonin on the astroglial expression of GFAP and of its encoding message, Dev. Brain Res. 51: 295.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LePrince, G., Gages, C., Nunez, R.J., and Tardy, M., 1991, DBcAMP effect on the expression of GFAP and its encoding mRNA in astroglial primary cultures, Glia 4: 322.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LeVine, S.M., and Goldman, J.E., 1988, Embryonic divergence of oligodendrocyte and astrocyte lineages in developing rat cerebrum, J. Neurosci. 8: 3992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, S.A., Balcarek, J.M., Krek, V., Shelanski, M., and Cowan, N.J., 1984, Sequence of a cDNA clone encoding mouse glial fibrillary acidic protein: Structural conservation of intermediate filaments, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 2743.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, S.A., and Cowan, N.J., 1985, Temporal expression of mouse glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA studied by a rapid in situ hybridization procedure, J. Neurochem. 45: 913.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malloch, G.D.A., Clark, J.B., and Burnet, F.R., 1987, Glial fibrillary acidic protein in the cytoskeletal and soluble protein fractions of the developing rat brain, J. Neurochem. 723–730.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merrill, J.E., 1991, Effects of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-a on astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and glial precursors in vitro, Dev. Neurosci. 13: 130.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mikucki, S. A., and Oblinger, M.M., 1991, Vimentin mRNA expression increases after corticospinal axotomy in the adult hamster, Metab. Brain Dis. 6: 33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R.H., Abney, E.R., S., D., ffrench-Constant, C., Lindsay, R., Patel, R., Stone, J., and Raff, M.C., 1986, Is reactive gliosis a property of a distinct population of astrocytes?, J. Neurosci. 6: 22.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, R.S., De Vellis, J., Lee, Y.L., Bradshaw, R.A., and Eng, L.F., 1985, Hormones and growth factors induce the synthesis of glial fibrillary acidic protein in rat astrocytes, J. Neurosci. Res. 14: 167.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, N.R., Osterburg, H.H., Masters, J.N., Millar, S.L., and Finch, C.E., 1990, Messenger RNA for glial fibrillary acidic protein is decreased in rat brain following acute and chronic corticosterone treatment, Mol. Brain Res. 7: 1.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Callaghan, J.P., Brinton, R.E., and McEwen, B.S., 1991, Glucocorticoids regulate the synthesis of glial fibrillary acidic protein in intact and adrenalectomized rats but do not affect its expression following brain injury, J. Neurochem. 57: 860.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Callaghan, J.P., and Miller, D.B., 1991, The concentration of glial fibrillary acidic protein increases with age in the mouse and rat brain, Neurobiol. Aging 12: 171.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Callaghan, J.P., Miller, D.B., and Reinhard, J.F.J., 1990, Characterization of the origins of astrocyte response to injury using the dopaminergic neurotoxicant, 1-methyl-4phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, Brain Res. 521: 73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oblinger, M.M., and Singh, L., 1992, Reactive astrocytes in neonate brain upregulate intermediate filament gene expression in response to injury, Int. J. Dev. Neurobiol. in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborn, M., and Weber, K., 1982, Intermediate filaments: Cell-type specific markers in differentiation and pathology, Cell 31: 303.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pixley, S.A., and DeVellis, J., 1984, Transition between immature radial glia and mature astrocytes studied with a monoclonal antibody to vimentin, Dev. Brain Res. 15: 201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poirier, J., May, P.C., Ostemburg, H.H., Geddes, J., Cotman, C., and Finch, C.E., 1990, Selective alterations of RNA after entorhinal cortex lesioning, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 87: 303.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Predy, R., and Malhotra, S.K., 1989, Reactive astrocytes in lesioned rat spinal cord: Effect of neural transplants, Brain Res. Bull 22: 81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quax, W.J., Egberts, W.V., Hendricks, W., Quax-Jeuken, Y.E.F.M., and Bloemendal, H., 1983, The structure of the vimentin gene, Cell 35: 215.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quinlan, R.A., and Franke, W.W., 1983, Molecular interactions in intermediate sized filaments revealed by chemical cross-linking heteropolymers of vimentin and glial filament protein in cultured human glioma cells, Eur. J. Biochem. 132: 477.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rataboul, R., Biguet, N.F., Vernier, P., De Vetry, F., Boularand, S., and Privat, A., 1988, Identification of a human glial fibrillary acidic protein cDNA: A tool for the molecular analysis of reactive gliosis in the mammalian central nervous system, J. Neurosci. Res. 20: 165.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rataboul, R., Vernier, P., Biguet, N.F., Mallet, J., Pulat, P., and Privat, A., 1989, Modulation of GFAP mRNA levels following toxic lesions in the basal ganglia of the rat brain, Brain Res. Bull. 22: 155.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reier, P.J., Eng, L.F., and Jakeman, L., 1989, Reactive astrocytes and axonal outgrowth in the injured CNS: Is gliosis really an impediment to regeneration?, in: “Neural Regeneration and Transplantation”, F.J. Seil, ed., Alan R. Liss Inc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riol, H., Fages, C., and Tardy, M., 1992, Transcriptional regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-mRNA expression during postnatal development of mouse brain, J. Neurosci. Res. 32: 79.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schiffer, D., Giordana, M.T., Migheli, A., Giaccone, G., Pezzotta, A., and Mauro, A., 1986, Glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin in the experimental glial reaction of the rat brain, Brain Res. 374: 110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schnitzer, J., Franke, W.W., and Schachner, M., 1981, Immunocytochemical demonstration of vimentin in astrocytes and ependymal cells of the developing and adult mouse nervous system, J. Cell BioL 90: 435.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Selkoe, D.J., Salazar, F.J., Abraham, C., and Kosik, K.S., 1982, Huntington’s disease: Changes in striata] proteins reflect astrocytic gliosis, Brain Res. 245: 117.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shafit-Zagardo, P., Kume-Iwaki, A., and Goldman, J.E., 1988, Astrocytes regulate GFAP mRNA levels by cyclic AMP and protein kinase C-dependent mechanisms, Glia 1: 346.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharp, G., Osborn, M., and Weber, K., 1982, Occurrence of two different intermediate filament

    Google Scholar 

  • proteins in the same filament in situ within a human glioma cell line, Exp. Cell Res. 141: 385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, D.N., and Mathew, T.C., 1989, Immunocytochemical studies of astrocytes following injury to the cerebral cortex of the rat, Acta. Anat 134: 156.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M.E., Somera, F.P., and Eng, L.F., 1983, Immunocytochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein and the metabolism of cytoskeletal proteins in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, Brain Res. 264: 241.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steinert, P.M., and Liem, R.K.H., 1990, Intermediate filament dynamics, Cell 60: 521.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steinert, P.M., and Roop, D.R., 1988, Molecular and cellular biology of intermediate filaments, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 57: 593.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steinert, P.M., Steven, A.C., and Roop, D.R., 1985, The molecular biology of intermediate filaments, Cell 42: 411.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steward, O., Torre, E.R., Phillips, L.L., and Trimmer, P.A., 1990, The process of reinnervation in the dentate gyms of adult rats: time course of increases in mRNA for glial fibrillary acidic protein, J. Neurosci. 10: 2373.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takamiya, Y., Koshaka, S., Toya, S., Otani, M., and Tsukada, Y., 1988, Immunohistochemical studies on the proliferation of reactive astrocytes and the expression of cytoskeletal proteins following brain injury in rats, Brain Res. 466: 201.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tapscott, S.J., Bennett, G.S., Toyama, Y., Kleinbart, F., and Holtzer, H., 1981, Intermediate filament proteins in the developing chick spinal cord, Dell. Biol. 86: 40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tardy, M., Fages, C., LePrince, G., Rolland, B., and Nunez, J., 1990, Regulation of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and of its encoding mRNA in the developing brain and in cultured astrocytes, in: “Molecular Aspects of Development and Aging of the Nervous System”

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Lauder, A. Privat, E. Giacobini, P. Timaris and A. Vernadakis, eds., Plenum Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tardy, M., Fages, C., mol, H., LePrince, G., Rataboul, P., Charriere-Bertrand, C., and Nunez, J., 1989, Developmental expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA in the central nervous system and in cultured astrocytes, J. Neurochem. 52: 162.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tetzlaff, W., Graeber, M.B., Bisby, M.A., and Kreutzberg, G.W., 1988, Increased glial fibrillary acidic protein synthesis in astrocytes during retrograde reaction of the facial nucleus, Glia 1: 90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, E., Cairncross, J.G., and Liem, R.K.H., 1984, Identification of glial filament protein and vimentin in the same intermediate filament system in human glioma cells, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 2102.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Health Sciences, USA

    Monica M. Oblinger, Susanne A. Kost & Leelabai D. Singh

  2. The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA

    Monica M. Oblinger, Susanne A. Kost & Leelabai D. Singh

Authors
  1. Monica M. Oblinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susanne A. Kost
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leelabai D. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Sergey Fedoroff , Bernhard H. J. Juurlink  & Ronald Doucette ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Oblinger, M.M., Kost, S.A., Singh, L.D. (1993). Regulation of Type III Intermediate Filament Protein Genes in Astrocytes during Development and after Injury. In: Fedoroff, S., Juurlink, B.H.J., Doucette, R. (eds) Biology and Pathology of Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions. Altschul Symposia Series, vol 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9486-1_26

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9486-1_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9488-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9486-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation