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Alpha-Lipoic Acid Modulates GFAP, Vimentin, Nestin, Cyclin D1 and MAP-Kinase Espression in Astroglial Cell Cultures

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Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated the expression of some proliferation and differentiation markers in 15 DIV astrocyte cultures pretreated or not with 0.5 mM glutamate for 24 h and than maintained under chronic or acute treatment with 50 μM R(+)enantiomer or raceme alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). GFAP expression significantly increased after (R+)enantiomer acute-treatment and also in glutamate-pretreated ones. Vimentin expression increased after R(+)enantiomer acute-treatment, but it decreased after raceme acute-treatment. Nestin expression drastically increased after acute raceme-treatment in glutamate-pretreated or not cultures, but significantly decreased after (R+)enantiomer acute and chronic-treatments. Cyclin D1 expression increased in raceme acute-treated cultures pretreated with glutamate. MAP-kinase expression slightly increased after (R+)enantiomer acute treatment in glutamate-pretreated or unpretreated ones. These preliminary findings may better clarify antioxidant and metabolic role played by ALA in proliferating and differentiating astrocyte cultures suggesting an interactive cross-talk between glial and neuronal cells, after brain lesions or damages.

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Acknowledgment

The authors particularly acknowledged Prof. Abel Lajtha, Editor in Chief of this prestigious International journal, excellent scientific guide, who contributed greatly to stimulate the development and advancement of international neurochemical research. In addition, the authors are very grateful to Prof. Anna Maria Giuffrida Stella, mentor of Prof. Roberto Avola, for excellent scientific suggestions and advices given during the preparation of this manuscript. The authors wish to thank very much the MDM Monza Italy for the financial support given to Prof. Roberto Avola’s research group and particularly to Dr. Roberto Gabriele.

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Correspondence to R. Avola.

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V. Bramanti, D. Tomassoni authors contributed equally.

Special issue article in honor of Abel Lajtha.

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Bramanti, V., Tomassoni, D., Bronzi, D. et al. Alpha-Lipoic Acid Modulates GFAP, Vimentin, Nestin, Cyclin D1 and MAP-Kinase Espression in Astroglial Cell Cultures. Neurochem Res 35, 2070–2077 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-010-0256-6

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