Changes in antioxidant enzyme expression in response to hydrogen peroxide in rat astroglial cells

• Published in: Archives of toxicology 2001-05, Vol.75 (3), p.150-158
• Main Authors: RÖHRDANZ, Elke, SCHMUCK, Gabriele, OHLER, Sandra, TRAN-THI, Quynh-Hoa, KAHL, Regine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants; Astrocytes - drug effects; Astrocytes - enzymology; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; Catalase - genetics; Catalase - metabolism; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzymes; Gene Expression - drug effects; Glutathione - metabolism; Glutathione Peroxidase - genetics; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Hydrogen Peroxide - toxicity; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Medical sciences; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Miscellaneous; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - physiology; Oxidative stress; Rats; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Rodents; Superoxide Dismutase - classification; Superoxide Dismutase - genetics; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0340-5761; 1432-0738
• DOI: 10.1007/s002040000206

Oxidative stress has been causally linked to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. To clarify the role of the antioxidant enzyme (AOE) system in oxidative brain damage primary cultures of rat astroglial cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Expression of AOEs and several parameters for cell viability and functionality were measured. In our experiments astrocytes responded to low concentrations of H2O2 exposure with a pronounced generation of ROS which ran parallel with induction of lipid peroxidation. This distinct oxidative stress was not reflected in cell viability or functionality parameters measured. Cytotoxicity, a decrease in glutathione content of astrocytes, and impairment of mitochondrial functions became obvious only for higher concentrations of H2O2. After H2O2 exposure catalase, manganese superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase expression levels were found to be increased, whereas copper/zinc superoxide dismutase mRNA expression was not affected. These data indicate that the AOE system of astrocytes can be directly regulated by oxidative stress and may thus contribute to protection of cells against oxidative insults.