Assessment of C-phycocyanin effect on astrocytes-mediated neuroprotection against oxidative brain injury using 2D and 3D astrocyte tissue model

• DOI: 10.1038/srep14418
• Publication Date: 2015-09-24T08:47:11Z
• Authors: Seul Ki Min; Jun Sang Park; Lidan Luo; Yeo Seon Kwon; Hoo Cheol Lee; Hyun Jung Shim; Il-Doo Kim; Ja-Kyeong Lee; Hwa Sung Shin
• Keywords: Male; Neurons; 0301 basic medicine; Cell Survival; Phycocyanin; Apoptosis; Cell Communication; Article; Antioxidants; Brain Ischemia; Rats; Tissue Culture Techniques; Disease Models, Animal; Oxidative Stress; 03 medical and health sciences; Neuroprotective Agents; Astrocytes; Animals; Nerve Growth Factors; Inflammation Mediators; Cell Proliferation

AbstractDrugs are currently being developed to attenuate oxidative stress as a treatment for brain injuries. C-phycocyanin (C-Pc) is an antioxidant protein of green microalgae known to exert neuroprotective effects against oxidative brain injury. Astrocytes, which compose many portions of the brain, exert various functions to overcome oxidative stress; however, little is known about how C-Pc mediates the antioxidative effects of astrocytes. In this study, we revealed that C-Pc intranasal administration to the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats ensures neuroprotection of ischemic brain by reducing infarct size and improving behavioral deficits. C-Pc also enhanced viability and proliferation but attenuated apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of oxidized astrocytes, without cytotoxicity to normal astrocytes and neurons. To elucidate how C-Pc leads astrocytes to enhance neuroprotection and repair of ischemia brain, we firstly developed 3D oxidized astrocyte model. C-Pc had astrocytes upregulate antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and catalase and neurotrophic factors BDNF and NGF, while alleviating inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-1β and glial scar. Additionally, C-Pc improved viability of 3D oxidized neurons. In summary, C-Pc was concluded to activate oxidized astrocytes to protect and repair the ischemic brain with the combinatorial effects of improved antioxidative, neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.