Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
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1M NaCl
pH gradient
Figure 3.1 Proteomic analysis of astrocytes stimulated with HMGB1
. Cells were
cultured in the absence or the presence of 40 nM HMGB1. After 8 h proteins were extracted
and separated by 2D-liquid chromatography. The proteomic profiles were obtained using
ProteoVue software and compared using DeltaVue software. The resulting map of HMGB1
up-regulated proteins is shown. Spot numbers correspond to those reported in
Table 3.1
.
This proteomic evidence indicates that HMGB1 induces a pro-inflammatory-like
response in primary astrocytes and that its signaling activity promotes changes in the
level of several major gene products characteristic of reactive states of these cells.
3.2.1 Molecular Mechanisms Involved in HMGB1 Signaling
Because the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide syn-
thase (iNOS) is relevant to the inflammatory response of astrocytes, the level of these
enzymes was evaluated in primary astrocyte cultures exposed to HMGB1 and to a
complete cytokine mixture previously characterized as an artificial approximation of
a full inflammatory condition
[45]
. As reported in
Figure 3.2(A)
, resting astrocytes
