The regulation of proenkephalin expression in a distinct population of glial cells

The expression of opioid genes was examined in isolated populations of glial cells in primary culture. Northern blot analysis of purified type I astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and mixed oligodendrocyte‐type‐2‐astrocyte lineage cells derived from cerebral cortex demonstrated robust expression of proenk...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe EMBO journal Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 791 - 796
Main Authors Melner, M.H., Low, K.G., Allen, R.G., Nielsen, C.P., Young, S.L., Saneto, R.P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.03.1990
Subjects
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Astrocytes - metabolism
Blotting, Northern
Cells, Cultured
Cerebral Cortex - metabolism
Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase - genetics
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Cloning, Molecular
Enkephalins - analysis
Enkephalins - genetics
Enkephalins - isolation & purification
Gene Expression Regulation
Humans
Isoproterenol - pharmacology
Neuroglia - metabolism
Promoter Regions, Genetic - drug effects
Protein Precursors - analysis
Protein Precursors - genetics
Protein Precursors - isolation & purification
Radioimmunoassay
Rats
RNA, Messenger - genetics
Transfection
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Summary:The expression of opioid genes was examined in isolated populations of glial cells in primary culture. Northern blot analysis of purified type I astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and mixed oligodendrocyte‐type‐2‐astrocyte lineage cells derived from cerebral cortex demonstrated robust expression of proenkephalin mRNA exclusively in type I astrocytes. The expression of proenkephalin mRNA was stimulated by the beta‐adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, and 8‐(4‐chlorophenyl thio)adenosine 3′‐5′‐cyclic monophosphate (cpt‐cAMP). Both of these compounds regulated a proenkephalin‐chloramphenicol acetyltransferase fusion gene transiently transfected into type I astrocytes. HPLC and immunoassay of the cell culture media revealed significant levels of unprocessed proenkephalin secreted by the cell and this secretion was stimulated by isoproterenol and cpt‐cAMP. The relatively high levels of proenkephalin expressed suggest that enhanced expression in astrocytes may be important during neural development, in trauma‐induced gliosis and in neuroimmune interactions.
ISSN:0261-4189
1460-2075
DOI:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1990.tb08175.x